Caring for Margaret: A Quiet Christmas Day

Christmas lunch at the Reef Hotel Noosa was a great success. I had managed to get Margaret dressed in a colourful kaftan instead of her normal blouse and pants. Lunch was due to start at 11.30 am so I got there early to maneuver her wheelchair into position. Unfortunately the access from the car park to the restaurant was locked and the only other access was up a steep flight of stairs. I had the Hotel's phone number and after a couple of minutes we were let in.

We had a nice central table with just enough space for the wheel chair protected by a rail which meant that Margaret could see everything that was going on but was out of the way of passing diners and of course playing kids.

We started with a selection of nuts and fruits accompanied by a crusty wholemeal loaf and herb butter. Next was a huge seafood platter with prawns, oysters, sushi rolls, smoked salmon and some lobster. It was a meal on its own. I ate the oysters and Margaret most of the prawns and we made inroads into the salmon, sushi and lobster but were couldn't eat it all. I saved six large tiger prawns for later along with some beautiful peaches and plums.

We had a good half an hour's break until the main course of cooked honey glazed ham, roast chicken, roast potatoes etc. We managed to eat some of this.

During dinner we had a visit from Father Christmas - not just the kids. We were given little presents and sweets etc as gifts. Margaret really enjoyed it, especially a cuddle from Santa!

We finished off with Christmas Pudding, custard and ice cream. Margaret had two glasses of sparkling white wine and I had two diet cokes but caught up at home later with beer. We left about 2.00 pm and Margaret was very tired so I got her in a nightie and put her to bed.

I snoozed in the lounge for while before taking Louis, who had been sleeping of a massive Christmas bone, for a walk.

Margaret got up about 7.00 pm and had her prawns with bread and butter for tea while I just had some Christmas Cake.

We watched a movie together before getting Margaret to bed about 10.00 pm.

This morning Margaret is a little breathless and needs watching as she also says she has a sore throat. She had a good night's sleep in spite of it being a warm humid night.