50th...

Some pics from my parents' 50th birthdays ...... Not bad for 50, are they?!



Left: me and dad... I'd never need a paternity test, would I?!










Below: Mum and shrek. Wierd, huh? Below: mum and dad



I am leaving for Laramie a week today to live with my lovely future husband :). I am at the stage of having to 'put my affairs in order', or is that just what people do before they die? Must check. I have lots of things to sort out, but at least it is stopping me from worrying about my new job. Not that the job I'm leaving is an old job- I've only been there 2 months and I'll be sorry to leave. I have got passed the stage of floating around in a kindly cloud of benevolance- it's hard to be kindly and benevolent when you have a four foot wizend bag of evil screaming abuse and waving a walking stick in your face. Like all carers eventually do, I've evolved a set of coping stratagies:
1) bad taste jokes at the expense of, but out of earshot of, the offending resident
2) a thick skin (I know I'm not terrible and stupid, so I don't really worry if said four foot wizened bag thinks I am)
3) knowing when to walk away and get help (we are only human)
4) Finding humor in the situation... 2 examples:
-Me: Would you like some gravy on your dinner
Bag: Yes
(pour gravy)
Bag:Urrghh... not THAT sort of gravy, take it away!!
Me: Oh I'm sorry , I didn't realise you wanted the OTHER sort of gravy.

-Today, we stood a lady up to pull up clean pants and trousers 3 times, every time she started peeing and we had to sit her down and change her pants. The last time, the pee was a raging torrent that soaked her, her knickers, clean trousers and her slippers. What can you do, other than giggle and get a flannel, and try and hold on to your sanity?

Well, I love it anyway. It's a shame to leave, but I can't have everything my own way.

I've been poorley again, just a cold and exhausted all the time. The exhaustion remains, but doesn't it always? I can't remember the last time I felt properly alive and energetic. I feel better when I'm running, but getting my kit on and getting out of the door is a real challenge. I hate feeling like this, but I'm making the best of it.

That's it for now, see y'all in Laramie (save a horse, ride a cowboy!)