Monday round-up

Good morning all. I'm having a surprise early start to this week after the intruder alarm at a business opposite went off at a very unappreciated time this morning. I don't really know what good those alarms that just go off and make a racket, do. The owner of the business is miles away, probably still snoring, and the neighbours of the business are tossing and turning and the only thing on their minds is the racket, not intruders! When I rule the world I shall decree that each business with an unattended alarm shall have a contact number displayed large on the wall outside, so we know who to call to be awoken to deal with it!

But... back to business. Firstly to anyone who has come to the Care Community for the first time this week, welcoming you warmly. Sometimes, and especially since the beginning of the pandemic, our posts aren't strictly about care-giving, but that's what's at the heart of our group, and we do have many members with excellent knowledge and understanding of care, who'll be happy to help with any practical matters and also to provide shoulders when needed. The vast majority of us have been care-givers and know only too well what a tough job it is and how little support is available without a struggle. We're here for you.

Over the weekend I noticed what a disgraceful accumulation of dust there is around my home. (It didn't worry me enough to want to get out the dusters though). Instead I sought help from any words of encouragement to feel better about ignoring it, and here's what I found, which does the job wonderfully well.

DUST IF YOU MUST

by Rose Milligan

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better

To paint a picture, or write a letter,

Bake a cake, or plant a seed;

Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,

With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;

Music to hear, and books to read;

Friends to cherish, and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there

With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;

A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,

This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,

Old age will come and it's not kind.

And when you go (and go you must)

You, yourself, will make more dust.

So that's my message for you this week. No matter what its challenges, life flies by and we may as well get as much pleasure from it as we can. If there's anything remotely more interesting than dusting going on, go and embrace that. The dusting will wait!

Have a great week everyone. 🌸

Photo by Sylas Boesten -Unsplash

[sassy59]

Good morning earlier-than-usual Callendersgal,

Lovely to see your post this overcast morning. So sorry to read of your rude awakening. I agree with you about such pointless alarms. They just conspire to wake everyone apart from the business owner.

I also welcome any newcomers, we’re here for everyone.

The poem is brilliant and I agree, the dusting can wait for a day or so. Lol. Life does indeed fly by.

Have a good week and stay safe. Xx😍❤️💜😃

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

Enjoy yours too sassy59! 👍😊🙏🌸🔆💖xx

[Jennymary]

I like to think that if the dust found its way into my flat it can find its way out again 😊. Had vaccine this morning no problem just really tired now and injection site aches 🌈🍰🌻🥀🌷

[Hidden in reply to Jennymary]

I love that ethos Jenny! Adopting it immediately! 🤣. Congratulations on getting through with your injection. My daughter had hers on Saturday and has reported back much the same as you. Hers was OK after a good night's sleep, so hope yours will go just as quickly! 🙏🌈🌸👍🙏🔆

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I had mine and survived and in myself I am OK and had a headache earlier and feel tired but paracetamol has been of help though.

I did manage a gentle walk out earlier.

[FredaE in reply to Jennymary]

Sums it up exactly . It joins the poem about "When I am old I shall wear purple" in my treasure chest

My dusting has company in my personal rubbish bin - the ironing which seems to dominate so many people's lives. My daughters French mother-in-law just Loves ironing. When we rented a cottage for family holidays her idea of Heaven was to be up in a silent house in the small hours turning clean washing into beautifully ironed, crisp pillow cases. We had to learn not to feel guilty about her "slaving away" so we bought her a bottle of really nice ironing water and went off to our beds thinking "funny woman"

My MIL on the other hand was a slave to her housework. They lived a short door-to-door bus ride from the river at Huntingdon where they could have sat by the river on fine days and watched the swans and the boats. They never did because " I can't do that, its Tuesday and I have to do the sitting room" Even when they went in to pay the gas bill (as you did in those days) they caught the next bus back.

A week after she went into a care home the cobwebs began to move in. I have never forgotten the expression on her face later when she said There were so many things I wanted to do. Why didn't I do them?

Somewhere along the way she had grown up and lost the art of enjoying life. So sad. If you can find joy in little things like sunshine and the sparrows on the next door roof it will help you through whatever life throws at you..

Take care

FredaE

[Hidden in reply to FredaE]

Hi FredaE, your reply really made me smile when you spoke of going off to bed and leaving an ironer so happy in her work! My own mother too absolutely loved to do it and worked well into her 70s doing ironing as paid work. Her daughter (me), couldn't be bribed with anything to touch an iron and I haven't done any for years. I can smooth most stuff out sufficiently and my lovely husband does any for me that needs it, and all of his own!I also recognise the sort of person like your MIL. I had a neighbour just like that. I'd be sitting enjoying the sun in a deckchair in my garden and she'd lean over the fence, sigh and say "all these JOBS I have to do", to which I'd reply "mmmmmmm" and go back to my book!

I completely agree about those small things in life which suddenly catch your attention and really gladden your heart. And I too love the 'purple' poem! 🔆🌸🌈👍

[Sara_2611]

I dont dust -i wash surfaces -because of my lungs

[Hidden]

That sounds essential Sara_2611. Still, don't overdo that either! It's always good to be clean and tidy but not to let it take over your life! 👍😊

[Goldenanny]

Hi Callendersgal

I love your ‘dusty’ poem. I was brought up by my lovely grandmother who was once a housekeeper and always had a spotless two up and two down house with a tiny back yard but little enjoyment. She scrubbed her front step and flags and had a job to complete every day. She made delicious pies and baked cakes every Thursday. She was left a widow with five children in 1921 aged 28 years old and always put her children first. My grandad fought all through the First World War and then died with pneumonia!

I learnt a lot from my grandmother but I also appreciated balancing my life with great holidays and lots of enjoyment. I have realised during the lockdown how lucky I have been to have spent time with my family enjoying fantastic holidays and celebrations together. My grandmother never had this option and never left England once in her lifetime so I consider myself to have had the best of both worlds! I sometimes say to my hubbie we would have lots of money and live in a big house if we hadn’t gone on all those holidays with the children and he says “probably .... but we wouldn’t have all those lovely memories to talk about and take with us!”

My grandmother was my inspiration ❤️❤️

[Hidden in reply to Goldenanny]

I completely agree with your hubby Goldenanny. I've always been a great fan of grabbing every passing opportunity to have an adventure and no doubt that's contributed to my staying fairly financially poor in my old age! But when I look back over my life, it's filled with the loveliest memories - (even some of the bad ones seem funny from a distance). The generations who came before us were often fun-deprived and the struggle to survive much harder, I think. I definitely think we have a much better balance now, if we choose that, and I definitely do..... 🙏😀🌈