School choir

As a volunteer at the library I was invited to their coffee morning and to listen to a local school choir sing for Christmas. There were a couple of traditional carols but most of them were new to me and some were very entertaining!

I did not stay long as I needed to get out to Richard’s care home. I had to buy him a small still orange juice from M&S before I caught the bus and whilst on the bus I decided to look at my jacqui Lawson advent calendar. Today’s event was a new game which I then proceeded to play!

When I looked up I had sailed past my stop and was on the moor at Roborough Down! I got out of the bus and contemplated my fate! The road is not one which can be walked down so having crossed and recrossed the road I decided to stop a car which was just leaving.

The man had just walked a beautiful dog so I made the assumption that dog people are friendly. I apologised and explained what had happened and asked if he was heading back to Plymouth! He was and not only that he actually drove me to the nursing home which was exceedingly kind! I felt very blessed.

Richard was not in a good way when I got there, he was shouting and saying that the staff are killing him by feeding him poison and making him drink contaminated fluid and eat bad food. There is no arguing with him! But then he asked if I had brought him some drink! He proceeded to to drink about three quarters of the bottle and he shouted that it was the forbidden fruit and he would die in the next twelve hours because I had given it to him! I leant forward to try and reassure him and he grabbed hold of me and pulled me towards him and said I had to stay with him and I would die with him! I stayed very calm and said I was not ready to go and had an advent carol concert to sing in this evening!

He eventually let me go and the threw the orange juice bottle across the room at me. I took it and poured it down the sink! He then told me to get his dinner, no please or thank you! Fish and chips and yoghurt for sweet. He refused the fish and chips and began the yoghurt. I tried a chip and said they were delicious. He refused to eat them but managed to eat most of the fish in batter! He is convinced he has diabetes! He then demanded that I take the food away! To my surprise he then asked for the orange juice again! When I said I had binned it he asked for a cup of tea. I had at this point asked him not to shout at me as it was not kind. The staff were truly amazed when he drank the whole cup.

I picked up his bible and he asked me to read psalm 23. It does give him comfort and he was much calmer when I left. We talked about the wooden walking stick which he has requested for Christmas. I now know what he would like and how long it needs to be! It seems a good sign in s way as it means he wants to go out!

I was very glad to get home and relax a little before our concert which was well attended despite the awful weather!