1 Yes, one has to, as I had too earlier this morning when I attended 0900 Mass in Forest Row. Cometh the homily cometh the weaving path. The Angry Young Man, Look Back in Anger, Jimmy Porter (and Richard Burton who played the part in the film), Algernon Swinburne, a passionate atheist (and with unusual sexual practices), an early version of Richard Dawkins, Jensenists, the Wee Frees, the danger of putting religion into God as opposed to putting God into religion - they were all to be found along the path. And did that path lead to a clear conclusion. Yes. God is love.
2 As I listened I thought of myself. Ah, I thought, I'm listening to myself. It can be entertaining to hear the speaker, to follow as the speaker leads the way along the winding trail; it can be illuminating; but a person has to listen, has to listen carefully.
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Locked in the corridor
05/09/2009
1 I left East Grinstead at 0915; I arrived at Castlehill at 1330. A long journey. Yet the Lady was not put out. She greeted me with her customary reserve. And she entertained me in the Garden room, where she sat in her wheeled chair and I sat more-or-less opposite her. We were in each other's company for an hour or more.
2 There was the occasional sign of recogntion, the occasional one; for the most part, she dozed; she said nothing. Did she recognise me? I can't tell. Her hair was still fresh; the skin on her face was still smooth. Her stockinged legs though were like sticks: they were straight at the sides, no roundnesses.
2 When the time came for me to leave, I wheeled her through the doorway into the corridor and then through a second door; ahead was a third. Ah. That door, locked, required a numerical code to open it; ah, I discovered that the door behind me, through which I had passed, also required a numeric code. Ah, there was no signal on my mobile telephone. The door to one of the resident's room was open; Elsie was in her room. Ah, she was amiable but was of little help.
3 I pulled the red-knobbed (rope) in her bathroom and waited for a response. Whilst waiting, a lively (late) middle-aged woman opened the door from the other side. I began to explain. She wanted to know whether I was a resident. Whilst we were talking, one of the staff arrived. Escape.
4 The member of staff, Sheila, and one who followed her, Helen, had known Lilian when she was living alone in Ashmore and they were carers. Lilian entered Castlehill in November 2002.
5 A good visit.
1 I left East Grinstead at 0915; I arrived at Castlehill at 1330. A long journey. Yet the Lady was not put out. She greeted me with her customary reserve. And she entertained me in the Garden room, where she sat in her wheeled chair and I sat more-or-less opposite her. We were in each other's company for an hour or more.
2 There was the occasional sign of recogntion, the occasional one; for the most part, she dozed; she said nothing. Did she recognise me? I can't tell. Her hair was still fresh; the skin on her face was still smooth. Her stockinged legs though were like sticks: they were straight at the sides, no roundnesses.
2 When the time came for me to leave, I wheeled her through the doorway into the corridor and then through a second door; ahead was a third. Ah. That door, locked, required a numerical code to open it; ah, I discovered that the door behind me, through which I had passed, also required a numeric code. Ah, there was no signal on my mobile telephone. The door to one of the resident's room was open; Elsie was in her room. Ah, she was amiable but was of little help.
3 I pulled the red-knobbed (rope) in her bathroom and waited for a response. Whilst waiting, a lively (late) middle-aged woman opened the door from the other side. I began to explain. She wanted to know whether I was a resident. Whilst we were talking, one of the staff arrived. Escape.
4 The member of staff, Sheila, and one who followed her, Helen, had known Lilian when she was living alone in Ashmore and they were carers. Lilian entered Castlehill in November 2002.
5 A good visit.
Monday, 9 March 2009
04/03/2009
1 After a GDWG meeting here, Christa and I drove to Shaftesbury. We had a snack in a nearby café (where a RAFA meeting was being held). A companionable place; we should go again.
2 There was a ready welcome at Castlehill. Lilian was sitting in a chair in the day-room (with others sitting in chairs around the room). She had had a hair-cut; her body seemed to be shrunken; Christa did not recognise her immediately.
3 The staff were helpful. A hoist was used to lift Lilian from the chair; she was then placed in a wheelchair, and she was moved to the dining-room. It seemed - it was evident - that Lilian has lost the use of her legs.
3.1 Whilst the movements were being accomplished, a young member of staff hovered. It turned out she was working for the first time in the Home. We chatted to the young woman (Sophie) later on.
4 We sat on either side of Lilian. A pot of tea, with biscuits, was delivered on a tray. The Lady continues to move her move - rather like chewing the cud - ceaselessly. She needed help with drinking tea and eating some cake. But she was neatly dressed. There was no sign of recognition. Whilst her skin was generally clear, her face was more blotchy.
5 As we sat in the dining-room so snow-flakes began to fall. There was thus a sense of urgency to the visit. We stayed with her for about 45 minutes. Then Christa pointed the car towards the east, and we sought to escape from the (following) snow. We had to take the Salisbury road (because the Warminister road had been closed). By Wilton, snow and clouds were past. We took the Amesbury road to the A303. A pleasant route. No longer than the usual one.
6 Our general impression was that the Lady is being well cared for. She seemed to be in quiet, good health for her age. She may have lost mental functions, she may be chair-bound, yet the body seemed to be doing its business.
1 After a GDWG meeting here, Christa and I drove to Shaftesbury. We had a snack in a nearby café (where a RAFA meeting was being held). A companionable place; we should go again.
2 There was a ready welcome at Castlehill. Lilian was sitting in a chair in the day-room (with others sitting in chairs around the room). She had had a hair-cut; her body seemed to be shrunken; Christa did not recognise her immediately.
3 The staff were helpful. A hoist was used to lift Lilian from the chair; she was then placed in a wheelchair, and she was moved to the dining-room. It seemed - it was evident - that Lilian has lost the use of her legs.
3.1 Whilst the movements were being accomplished, a young member of staff hovered. It turned out she was working for the first time in the Home. We chatted to the young woman (Sophie) later on.
4 We sat on either side of Lilian. A pot of tea, with biscuits, was delivered on a tray. The Lady continues to move her move - rather like chewing the cud - ceaselessly. She needed help with drinking tea and eating some cake. But she was neatly dressed. There was no sign of recognition. Whilst her skin was generally clear, her face was more blotchy.
5 As we sat in the dining-room so snow-flakes began to fall. There was thus a sense of urgency to the visit. We stayed with her for about 45 minutes. Then Christa pointed the car towards the east, and we sought to escape from the (following) snow. We had to take the Salisbury road (because the Warminister road had been closed). By Wilton, snow and clouds were past. We took the Amesbury road to the A303. A pleasant route. No longer than the usual one.
6 Our general impression was that the Lady is being well cared for. She seemed to be in quiet, good health for her age. She may have lost mental functions, she may be chair-bound, yet the body seemed to be doing its business.
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