Friday, we had a good visit with Mum. She was pretty alert, and even used my name so she clearly remembered who I was. She hadn’t eaten much breakfast, though did say she was looking forward to lunch and she was hungry. We’re still having to wear bright orange aprons, and blue gloves on the ward - such a clash lol, due to an infection. There’s also a note on the main door stating that the whole ward is closed though they let us visit providing we gloved up. My kid sister and I are sharing the washing, but it’s hard work keeping up. She frequently spills things and I’m not clear why they don’t give her a bib for grownups, whilst she’s eating. On a ‘good’ day she feels bad about the amount of times we visit, take things in for her, and do her laundry. Dad felt the same in his lucid moments before he died but as I told him; they looked after us, now it’s our turn to look after them – now just Mum of course.

Mum is convinced she’s been in hospital a year; in reality, about 2 months, and keeps asking for clothes to go home in. We have to ‘forget’ to take them as I fear if she has clothes, she will try to ‘escape’. She’s on a closed ward, and you have to buzz to be let in, however Friday the door hadn’t closed properly, and we were able to walk in. That means, they could just walk out. Anyway, she walks so slowly, I’m sure they’d see her if she tried to leave the ward.

Afterwards, we went to a shopping area that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. My sister loves a shop there that sells outdoor gear, but I find them expensive and not that good. In the same area, was a Cotton Traders and I espied a coat I liked. It’s a light coat, with a removable inner fleecy, so, suitable for most weather. Complete with hood, and waterproof. A bargain at £20! I snapped it up, along with a hooded fleecy jacket, also heavily reduced in a sale. These new purchases mean I can put my old Parka in the recycling, along with my raincoat. The zipper is broken on the parka and whilst it’s a really warm coat, it does now look very scruffy. The raincoat isn’t warm at all and is very old.

We then went for lunch but had forgotten it was a Bank Holiday. There was a 20-minute wait for a table, the place was packed, and it was already almost 2pm so we gave up on lunch and instead bought a sandwich. I hadn’t eaten since 6.30am and was getting quite a headache so a sandwich was a good option. We did a little grocery shop, then I went home. A good day :)