Friday, June 01, 2012
Out to lunch with madame.
I can count today as a success.
And what did we do to achieve such a triumph? We went to the pub for lunch!
It might not seem much of a challenge, but to our elderly French friend it was a mighty achievement.
Since being in hospital in February, she has sat at home, feeling that all her capabilities have disappeared.
She cannot absorb that life changes - that chapters close and evolve into the next chapter. She wanted life to go on as it had been for ever.... well don't we all?
She has shown an understandable stubbornness - if I can't have life the way I want it, then I will sit at home and get depressed.
I do understand - I truly do.
Fortunately I had family around me, who, when the time was right, could prod me in the right direction.
Today I did a bit of prodding for Madame.
I think she was ready for a trip out - the first for all that time.
She didn't need much prodding today.
She walked out to the car and we drove the short distance to her local pub, where she has been many times in the past.
She loved it!
She loved all the Jubilee bunting. She loved seeing people. She loved the food - she and I had curry.
She loved being a part of the big wide world.
And a very pretty part of the world it is too!
Another achievement for me - I got that scarf off of her head!
Her hair is not as neat and chic as it used to be, of course. She felt embarrassed by that and covered her head with a scarf.
She looks younger and more elegant without it, I think.
Standing her in front of The Union Jack was deliberate.
This French Madame is a Royalist and adores the British Royal Family.
After all she was married to an Englishman.
She may well have become a Brit by marriage before the Queen's Coronation.
She is a bit cagey about giving away clues to her age.
But I know it.....she had an armband on in the hospital, remember.
Now honestly is that the face of a very aged, depressed invalid?
No!
Believe it my friend and find a way to live within this chapter of life.
Life this weekend will centre for her around the TV and all the Diamond Jubilee events.
And I have just enjoyed the programme presented by Prince Charles about family life as a Royal, especially when he was a boy.
There was warmth in this programme.
And he spoke sincerely about the advantages of a long serving monarch, providing stability in a rapidly changing world. The British people maybe should value that. This weekend ahead will almost certainly show that most do value it.
And what did we do to achieve such a triumph? We went to the pub for lunch!
It might not seem much of a challenge, but to our elderly French friend it was a mighty achievement.
Since being in hospital in February, she has sat at home, feeling that all her capabilities have disappeared.
She cannot absorb that life changes - that chapters close and evolve into the next chapter. She wanted life to go on as it had been for ever.... well don't we all?
She has shown an understandable stubbornness - if I can't have life the way I want it, then I will sit at home and get depressed.
I do understand - I truly do.
Fortunately I had family around me, who, when the time was right, could prod me in the right direction.
Today I did a bit of prodding for Madame.
I think she was ready for a trip out - the first for all that time.
She didn't need much prodding today.
She walked out to the car and we drove the short distance to her local pub, where she has been many times in the past.
She loved it!
She loved all the Jubilee bunting. She loved seeing people. She loved the food - she and I had curry.
She loved being a part of the big wide world.
And a very pretty part of the world it is too!
Another achievement for me - I got that scarf off of her head!
Her hair is not as neat and chic as it used to be, of course. She felt embarrassed by that and covered her head with a scarf.
She looks younger and more elegant without it, I think.
Standing her in front of The Union Jack was deliberate.
This French Madame is a Royalist and adores the British Royal Family.
After all she was married to an Englishman.
She may well have become a Brit by marriage before the Queen's Coronation.
She is a bit cagey about giving away clues to her age.
But I know it.....she had an armband on in the hospital, remember.
Now honestly is that the face of a very aged, depressed invalid?
No!
Believe it my friend and find a way to live within this chapter of life.
Life this weekend will centre for her around the TV and all the Diamond Jubilee events.
And I have just enjoyed the programme presented by Prince Charles about family life as a Royal, especially when he was a boy.
There was warmth in this programme.
And he spoke sincerely about the advantages of a long serving monarch, providing stability in a rapidly changing world. The British people maybe should value that. This weekend ahead will almost certainly show that most do value it.
