Respite

At 12.30 pm yesterday the Blue Care Carer arrived to look after Margaret while I took time off to attend my local computer club meeting. She wasn't S but another lady with a name beginning with S so she is now referred to S2. I had Louis on the lead but immediately after his usual enthusiastic greeting he made friends with S2 and was sitting beside her on our settee. She is a dog owner and lover and soon had Louis eating out of her hand. This, of course, went down well with Margaret who takes to anybody who loves her dog.

I was able to leave at 12.45 pm and after a thirty minute drive arrived in time for the meeting in Yandina which is a small hinterland town. The meeting is held in the RSL hall which is a seventy year old timber building but in lovely condition. The club has a wireless broadband internet connection coupled to a wireless router so we can take our laptops and download and try out software from the club's server. It was interesting just being a normal member as for the last three years I have been giving short talks at the, now defunct, Noosa meetings. Until Margaret's future is more settled I shall not be giving any talks but will make myself available to give advice to other members when I can attend. As the carer was due to leave at 4.30 pm I left the meeting ten minutes early to get home b 4.20 pm.

At home all was well S2 had had a good chat with Margaret and given her a recipe for Cottage Pie for me to cook. She said that Margaret had been happy but her conversation was pretty difficult to follow. I now know that I can take an afternoon a month respite from caring for Margaret. As S2 left I asked Margaret what she wanted for dinner and she pointed a S2's recipe. S2 explained to her that I had to buy the ingredients and we would probably have it another day.

Margaret was very tired and went to bed at 9.00 pm and after being tucked in etc. was soon asleep.

This morning she is quite bright and when I was out doing our shopping, including the ingredients for cottage pie, the Blue Care RN called and missed me. The interesting thing was that Louis sat with Margaret during the visit and was no problem.

We will be going out for lunch and Margaret is looking forward to Sizzling Garlic Prawns.