I lose my temper...

I deeply regretted agreeing to go into work today, and even more so when Sheila started to explain what she wanted me to do. She's lovely, but she does include a lot of unnecessary fluff when she explains procedures! In the end, she gave me a simple task to do, and it kept me occupied for the six hours I was working (thankfully, not an eight-hour shift today!).

At 2pm, I drove home, collected Keith, and we went to the hospital. When I arrived, the curtains were closed around the bed, as Mum was on the commode, and when I eventually saw her, I was shocked. She looked terrible, could hardly talk and seemed more confused than ever. She had awful staring eyes, and I truly believed that she wouldn't make it. I went and found a nurse and demanded to speak to someone in charge. I was furious. What a terrible deterioration in just twenty-four hours. Next to Mum is an elderly woman who has both her daughters in all the time, caring for her, and they were angry as well, as they'd been keeping an eye on my Mum and had noticed she hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day. She was obviously dehydrated.

Of course, no one came to see me, so I had to go and find someone again, and this time I really let rip about how she was to one of the nurses. Ten minutes later, a senior nurse came over and said she'd see me with a doctor when she finished a meeting she was having. A little while later, I went into an office with the senior nurse and the doctor, and they had answers for all my concerns. They made me feel like I was overreacting, but I told them I'd never seen her like that in the care home.

Back on the ward, there was a definite air of militancy about as the two daughters told me what was happening, and another visitor complained about her Mum and her swollen leg. It was a most unpleasant experience. I kissed her goodbye and said I would see her tomorrow. While visiting, I'd made her drink a bottle of juice I'd brought in and some water.

I re-joined Keith, and he suggested a meal out tonight at the pub in the village, which both Sophie and I readily agreed to. We went home, I did the usual chores and even managed half an hour on the bed in front of the fan with my book before we left. You've got to grab those small moments of joy when you can!

We had a lovely evening at the pub with good food, a bottle of lovely Chenin Blanc and a natter. It was heaven to get home, though, and relax before bed!