Old Friends and Family

I decided to take a wee detour on our way back to Gourock. Firstly I went to the West Park Care Home in Leslie, Fife, where my mum's oldest friend, neighbour and bridesmaid is in residence. She was SO overwhelmed that we had called in - so gratifying to see that although confined to her wheelchair, she looks happy and unchanged. She was so alert and so delighted to see mum and dad. it was a good move and I'm so happy for mum that she got to see her.

Off over the Forth Road Bridge - and on to visit my Uncle - mum's brother who is in the Erskine Care Home in Edinburgh and has been for the past 14 years! He was not aware of who mum as but she persevered with old photos and then he said her name. It was so hard not to just burst into tears!! Dad was flagging so we had to bid them farewell. It's such a long trip to take mum on for a day visit so she doesn't see him every often.

We lunched at The Steading where I came to the aid of a lady who tripped up the damn step right in the middle of the floor - why can't they just make it a ramp??? She was very shaken and the staff obviously had no first aid training as they were going to just pull her up to her feet...I wouldn't let them till we had checked her out - she had banged her glasses into her face and had fallen awkwardly on her handbag. It didn't help that she was already on crutches and had a walking disability. We got her up and onto a chair with some water. She was a very bad colour and her friend just went off and paid the bill. I went and sat with her and she told me she was recovering from a knee and hip replacement and was terrified she had damaged them. I felt so sorry for her but was completely helpless to do any more.

BY now dad was desperate to get home - so off we went and just an hour and a half later, the bags were all in and mum was once again blaspheming about travelling and unpacking and that dad just sits and does nothing!!!!

Once dinner was out, all was well again - such a roller coaster!!