With Covid-19 lockdown keeping people at home, there have been sightings of wild animals in our deserted cities. We had our own encounter when, early one morning, I spotted a beautiful pair of wild mallard ducks floating in our pond. They seemed happy, and stayed for about 20 minutes. They returned next morning but the male mallard landed on the lawn, outside the low paling fence surrounding the pond. He waddled over to the fence but seemed surprised when he couldn’t squeeze through the gaps. He tried twice more before backing off and flying over. Not very bright!!
My scheduled quarterly hospital visit this month was replaced by a ‘virtual MND clinic’. I was asked if I could weigh myself which, with Doreen’s help, I was able to do. The ‘good’ news, as far as the clinicians are concerned, is that my weight remains stable, even though I’m definitely well overweight. A pre-clinic telephone conversation with the MND nurse allowed the Neurology team to discuss my progress ‘in absentia’. Actually, much easier than the normal trek into the hospital.
For quite some time now, unable to manage buttons and zips, I have been wearing elastic-waisted tracksuit bottoms. Doreen decided a few weeks ago that both pairs were looking shabby so I should order new ones, and the same size (XL – yes, I know, but exercising isn’t easy in a wheelchair). Delivery tracking told me which day they would arrive, but I was surprised when the doorbell rang at 7.40 am. Doreen was in the bathroom so I had to deal with it.
My normal experience with delivery drivers is that they allow 5 seconds after ringing, and then make a dash for it, so I wasn’t optimistic. Having struggled to open the door into the hall, and then wrestled with the still-locked front door, to my amazement the Parcelforce driver was still there! Seeing me in a wheelchair, he looked a little perplexed but then, asking me to back off, he slid the parcel across the hall so I could easily re-close the door. Good thinking.
Social distancing rules have created a problem for delivery companies: How do they prove delivery when they can’t obtain a signature? UPS delivered to us recently, and asked Doreen if they could take a photograph of her holding the parcel. She happily agreed, but I did wonder how the driver would react if she’d asked him to wait while she applied some make-up for the photo!!
My physical deterioration continues but with no major changes. Getting to my feet continues to become more difficult. I did suffer the indignity of being unable to get up from the toilet, and having to call Doreen for help. The elevated toilet seat has been raised another notch but that’s as high as it will go. Further practice using the home hoist had, I thought, honed our technique to perfection until I had a call from Lesley, my NHS OT. She’d read my last 2 blogs and asked if I knew the hoist had an internal battery, so didn’t need the power lead connected when in use? Ever felt foolish?
This month saw the 75th anniversary of VE-Day. Several friends and family reported having socially-distanced street parties. We didn’t have one here but we did receive a message from my sister to say the Red Arrows would be flying over Nottingham at about 10.30am. We dashed out to the garden and sat, staring skywards. By 10.50, with cricks in our necks, we decided they weren’t coming. I don’t know what Nottingham did to upset them but apparently they’d flown further east. Someone from Skegness very kindly posted a video clip of the fly-past on YouTube (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opg7tu1aBDg ). I think we might have been somewhat underwhelmed even if they’d stuck to the original flight plan!!