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| Nanna and Owen September 2010 |
I've just returned from my bi-annual visit with my Nanna Jenkins at Mount Gambier in the south-east. Nanna has been in a nursing home for nearly two years. I don't stay at her place anymore. We used to have such good times at her place. We would always sleep in the bed together at a night time and enjoy the days.
At the nursing home we just sat around enjoying the moment. She loved playing with the boys. Charlie went straight for the lolly tin, so we ate at least half that during our first visit. The lollies were a real hit.
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| Spending time in Nanna's room |
I tried to see her everyday. Its a bit harder with the boys, so by the time I had got them and myself ready I could only be there for an hour or two and one day I spent the whole day with her. I enjoyed just hanging out with my Nanna, chatting and drinking cups of tea.
Nanna's short term memory has deteriorated but she still remembers who I am and other close relatives too, although she gets the boys names mixed up a bit but that doesn't matter. Every now and then she asks me if her husband Tom is there. This time I responded with a no and then changed the subject that her son Tom will be at a party tomorrow for Zac's eleventh birthday. I often change the subject now when she asks who is living and who is dead out of her family because she mourns each time she is reminded about a death especially her sisters. I always remind her that they had such good times and are all so lovely.
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| Charlie giving love to Owen |
Nanna gave Owen a little teddy bear that had a green and white scarf and matching hat. It was really cute. She enjoys giving things to the boys especially lollies and teddys.
Nanna has made close friends with the other ladies in her area. Their names are Dawn, Jean, and Jessie. There was a new lady Irene that arrived on a day I was there. I think they are lovely and we all talked together in the sitting room. There were some other ladies there but they seemed to be sticking to themselves.
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| Jessie |
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| Mary Dermody playing botchi |
I shared some bakers delight bread and dried fruit as a treat as they can't get out from the nursing home very often. An old man came walking along, so I offered him some fruit too. He took the biggest handful you could imagine and it was great to see him enjoy the fruit and try fit it all in his mouth in one go!
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| Charlie playing botchi |
On the Tuesday all of the oldies were gathered in the activities hall to play bocchi. It's a game where there are two teams the red and the blue. The aim is to throw their ball at a white ball and whatever team has a ball closest to the white ball is the winner. They are pretty good at it and they all enjoy this activity. It even gets a bit competitive but they laugh a lot too. When we first arrived the lady who works at the nursing home asked me to introduce the children. They were all so thrilled to see the boys. Then the lady took baby Owen around to each of them. It was like show and tell. It was amazing to see the happiness the two children gave them. Charlie played bocchi too.
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| Botchi in the activities room |
On the last day we had a little party in Nanna's room with some yummy food, ginger ale and lemonade, some bakers delight bread and dark chocolate coated ginger. I wouldn't be surprised if Nanna didn't eat her lunch after that. We sat around talking and playing with the boys.
My Nanna and I are very good friends. I said that to her and she agreed that we were good mates and that she had raised us since we were little ones. I think that has definitely strengthened our bond. When Dale and I were growing up she often had us at her place. The little things have stuck in my mind like cuddles and laughs, hot baths and fresh hot water in a jug to rinse the soap out of our hair, cheese on toast, sausage rolls, the big lolly tin, cream puffs, hot milk before bed, cuddles, card games, fruit trees, playing in the garden and more. She was a lovely Nanna to us when we were kids. I'm so glad we are great friends now and she now knows my two boys.
It was wonderful to spend time with my Nanna at her nursing home and I'm so happy that she is happy and cheerful, and cracking jokes at every opportunity. She is lovely and I love her dearly. I'm trying to cherish every moment.
That was lovely Cherie, the gift of a grandparent is truely wonderful and like you, Shane and I have such fond memories and still enjoy our catch up with Nanna either at the nursing home, up at mum and dads, or Shanes and at my house. Normally any special occassion from the many birthdays throughout the year, mothers and fathers day and Christmas or at any opportunity etc etc is celebrated with an outing.
ReplyDeleteShane has fond memories of his regular Friday nights and fish and chips, heavens forbid if I was to stay over too and share nans time(sibling rivalry), he even had his own special tea cup.
Sleeping over at Nan's house was a treat, from all the wonderful things you mentioned, (yes I admit, I too slept in Nans bed with the electric heater on), it was Nan that taught me how to play solitaire, I always felt like I had Nans undivided attention.
When I started working every Wednesday we would share lunch together for many many years, even when I had my children Nanna would have such great delight in catching up with her great grand kids and dad would always be there too. She even made sure that they had their very own special plate and cup. They had much pleasure in the pampering and all the yummy foods that came our way. I always had my fingers crossed for Nan's traditional sausage rolls. My children both go to school now and I work at a school so having our Wednesday lunch doesn't happen anymore, but I enjoy seeing Nan on the weekends and every second Tuesday afternoon. Mum who spends the most time with Nanna than all of us, goes through the ups and downs of watching Nan light up when mum visits with her daily fill of fruit and chocolate/lollies to fill the lolly box, then to the sadness of the short term memory and forgetfulness especially about the memories of her siblings as to whether they are alive or not.
Cherie we are so blessed to have a Nanna who loves us all dearly and unconditionally and it was nice for you to be able to have some good times with Nan while you were here the photos are lovely. Kids and I miss you already.
Love ya
Donna
She's a lovely Nanna isn't she. We are so lucky..... Love you too Donna....will visit again soon.
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