Here, the weather has been very changeable. Monday, we had a very hard frost and my bedroom got down to 13C. The cold was making me cough and I got up at 4am and put the heating on. Tuesday it rained, heavily, most of the day but at least it was warmer. Wednesday it drizzled, all day long. We then had some frost on the car late in the night. Thursday has started damp. It’s hard to know what to wear from one day to the next.

My landlord was supposed to call over on Wednesday to ‘measure up’ for when I leave. My sister was due a hospital appointment and her car was supposed to be collected by the garage. I texted the landlord, Sunday, to move our appointment to Thursday instead: no reply. I texted again on Monday: no reply. I hung around on Wednesday until the last possible moment then left to take my sister to hospital. No idea if he’ll call today so I might just go out anyway.

My sister’s treatment for her psoriasis went well, and we then sat with our Mother for a couple of hours. She was sitting in a chair and didn’t look too bad though she keep on about going home. An auxiliary member of staff was overheard by a visitor telling our Mother she could go home if she got a ‘care package’ and a nurse to visit every day. She’s on an air bed because her skin is so bad from the septicaemia, on oxygen, IV drugs, and can barely walk. How can anyone think she could go home yet? She’s insisted on having a DNR as she’s had enough, and her specialist is not entirely sure that she will go home; she’s 79 and extremely frail and poorly. My kid sister, bless her, is dealing with the medical staff as I’ve been feeling ‘emotional’ over the whole thing. I know nobody lasts forever, but she’s my Mum…

We had a good visit, though I’m always glad to leave and get some fresh air. I know patients must be kept warm, but I find the wards airless and stiflingly hot. Back again on Friday. I have 3 siblings, numerous nieces and nephews, yet my kid sister and I are the only ones visiting. Shame on them!

I’ve broken out in small patches of eczema, including in my hair (!) which I can only assume are stress related. In my teens, any anxiety always showed up in the form of rashes that used to fascinate my GP, though this looks like eczema. I have cream which is very soothing, though trying to put it in my hair is a real game. Once flu season is over with, I’ll go and see my GP; at present, the surgery car park is overflowing, and flu and measles are rife. I’m staying away…

I was listening to BBC radio2 whilst surreptitiously eating lunch in my car Wednesday prior to collecting my sister and listened to an article about renters and pets. The Labour party state they will try and make it so that renters can be allowed pets, and one man was saying how he doesn’t think landlords should be allowed to ban pets. Tell that to the 23 landlords who have turned me down because I have a dog! The RSPCA were onboard, stating that the numbers of animals in their care has risen, with many stating they had to move into rented accommodation and the landlords wouldn’t allow a pet. I’m anxious about finding a place, in time, that will a dog, even an ‘old’ one.

My Mum offered to buy me a house, and a bigger car, and pay my son’s tuition fees. Apparently, a solicitor has been in touch regarding family who lived in NZ and are now all dead and she has been left millions. Nice! There is no evidence of this, no paperwork, and definitely no money in the bank. Whilst it would be a dream come true, I’m not aware of any distant family having money and this ‘story’ has to be tempered by my Mother also wearing hospital gowns despite having a good supply of her own nighties; she insists that there are large furry creatures living in her bedside locker and she won’t wear her own clothes because they’re damp from the creatures. We’ve show her the open locker, confirmed nothing is damp, but she won’t hear of it. I fear she is losing the plot, though some of her ‘stories’ do make me smile.