The garden, mother and me

page 9 A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush. Sorry birds that thorn bush has to go. At the far end of mothers garden there is a large grass area, this is just mown during the summer and occasionally sheep grazed on it. This year when the sheep were put on to graze, some were intent on getting as caught up in the brambles as possible. “Can you come over the sheep are caught up again” mother always phones me never the farmer.  So off I go to free the sheep. Thorny brambles and wool is not the best combination and secateurs in hand I go to cut the sheep out. Obviously I get scratched in the process and the sheep, she gallops of without a second glance. “Oh look at your arms those sheep are a nuisance” says mother. The sheep are doing a good job of keeping the grass down, plus mother gets plenty of exercise going to the window checking to see if their alright. So no the sheep aren’t a nuisance but the bramble bush is. “I am going down to remove ...

Page 8 If anything can go wrong, It will. We are off to the doctors today, the yearly eye test is due. Where we go changes every year, which is a pain as we never know what the access is like or how far mother has too walk. “Are you fit and able to go for your eye test mother” (thought I would give her the option of saying no) “It is something I have to go for, so yes. Have you found out where this place is?” “of course mother, so let’s get your bag packed, letter, purse anything else” I am just wanting to get it over with, this is one thing I really don’t look forward to. “Are we taking the walker” mother asks. “Because I can manage with the walking stick” “You walk better with the walker” (please mother change her mind) “No I can manage with my stick” (oh help this is not good) Getting mother into the car, meant using the walker down the steps. I was just about to put it in the car when mother said…. “We are not taking that thing, I am usi...

page 7 Wonders will never cease, And my mother amaze me. Mother is getting on well with her new trolley, its crammed full of all sorts. It’s her office, vanity table and general work horse. Everything is pushed around on it.   Visitors to the house are regaled with an account of how I knew exactly what to do when she was on the floor, (this did get embarrassing) followed by how everyone should have a trolley. Mother was happy. When I go into the garden I see her take the rubbish to the dustbin using the walker with the seat, it took a slip for her see what she needed, but we got there. I’m in the house today helping out with the bed changing, ironing and general dogs body stuff. The trolley is being used to the max, sheets to the washing machine, then to the dryer and in to the lounge for folding. (Mother sits down and helps). “Isn’t winter a dreadful time for TV programs to watch” mother declares “everything is either repeats or animated kids’ stuff”...

page 6 To drive or not to drive that is the question Mother keeps herself busy, but often gets a bit frustrated when she can’t get out as much. With the new walker (with the seat attached) she has got quite confident about getting up and down the steps when going for a wander around the drive. As mother says when she’s tired she just sits down.  I was up there recently mother announced that she was going out the next day to visit her friends, another couple that are unable to get around much, to see if they were alright. “That’s fine mother but how are you going to manage it” “Use my walker out to the car and then drive there” mother stated. “Yes a good idea, what are you going to do when you get there?”  “Use my stick!” mother looks at me as if I am stupid. Mother’s mobility has not been very good since I found her on the floor, she has relied on mobility aids a lot more recently and not used her walking stick as much. “Yes you can but there i...