Best Laid Plans

Drive to Birmingham to see Ruth before picking Jamie up from his train up from Bournemouth.  Then to Norwich for tea before camping at Cromer.  Simples!



So why the picture of Birmingham New Street Station?

A call from Jamie as I approached Shrewsbury.  He's overslept.   I was stopping anyway to drop off the empty bulb crates with my friends and managed to rearrange assistance for a later train.  Sorted!   More time with Ruth.

A call from from an unknown number as I approached Ruth's.   He's left his phone in his friend's car and will have to get off the train at the first stop and wait for it to catch him up.    Several phone calls later and all is sorted out.   He will be another two hours behind schedule.  Sorted!  Even more time with Ruth.  

Phone call from Jamie once he got his phone back.   There's another problem.  He left his case behind in the rush to get off the first train!   They have talked to customer services - we have to collect it from Manchester Piccadilly which is where that train will terminate .... but of course Jamie's still in Bournemouth and I am in Birmingham.    Time for a re-think.  Jamie will stay over another night with his friend and travel tomorrow while I work out the issue of the case.

Head in hands time :-(

Meanwhile, negotiations to get me into Ruth's bedsit had drawn a blank.   Ruth has not been well and at that stage did not feel like coming out.  Moreover, in the absence of her regular carer, she needed help with cleaning, washing up and cooking some proper food.  The management team ruled that the no visitors rule still applied even though the local lockdown rules state clearly that visitors are allowed to provide care and support to vulnerable people.   It's a good job I'm a calm person.   The whole set-up for Ruth's care is a disgrace and was before Covid.  For a parent to be refused access to provide care is a disgrace.   That Social Services have failed, in two years of being pushed, to find a more suitable placement is an even bigger disgrace.  Angry!

However.   

There have been some positives since the mid day lowpoint.   

The train with Jamie's case on it was due to pass through Birmingham in the afternoon.  With Ruth's help by text and message, I caught a bus to New Street Station where the excellent customer services team took me down to meet the train ..... and we retrieved the case :-)  :-)  :-)      A lot less time and expense than a drive to Manchester.  Thanks Ruth x

Later in the afternoon, Ruth did finally manage to come out with me for a while and with an overnight stay in Birmingham now required, I will see more of her tomorrow.

So that's why it's a picture of Birmingham New Street Station today.