'Handsome Agitator'.....(mixed up!)

Shirley has been busy today.We got to the hospital a little before 11. Dulcie was dressed but lying in bed. She had had a shower.The ward was busy. Two women were chatting to Celia who was crying.Nurses were bustling about and then a 'dose' of doctors arrived. They pulled the curtains around Maureen while they chatted to her then went out again to discuss her around a trolley full of files.Celia's son arrived...but it did not stop her from crying.The doctors came back in again and went to see Celia.I suspected Dulcie might be next so thought I would make some room by leaving. Dulcie was looking good and more perky than usual but feeling clean and being dressed would do that.I left Shirley to her day with her mum and drove home.I had a lovely relaxing day, making lunch and then practising some guitar this afternoon before heading off to pick up Will.We were back at the hospital by 4.00.Dulcie and Shirley had had a productive day. Dulcie had been out in the communal area for lunch. Shirley had sorted it. It seems they have not been taking her out before because the oxygen tube was not long enough. They brought a portable oxygen cylinder for her.Shirley ensured Dulcie rang regularly for toilet visits...even if she did not feel like going.Shirley chatted to Damian, the doctor and discovered that they had not been doing physiotherapy because of her lungs. He told Shirley that it was 50/50 that she would leave hospital.Rubbish! There is no way any of us are leaving her in there! Even if we have to break in at night and lower her down with tied sheets out of the window!Shirley told him she had had breathing problems for ages. He seemed surprised but I told him two weeks ago that she had smoked since she was 19.She went off to the loo on her walker while we were there and looked really steady. She has been told to slow down!...but that's Dulcie.She was looking really good today and had got a bit of her old spark back.....50/50 chance my foot!I took the Ipad in and got up a map of the British Isles and we asked Celia to show us where she had lived in the UK. It was somewhere north of London but she couldn't seem to pin point in on the map.A bit later she called me over again. She wanted something but she couldn't get through to me. It is so frustrating for her."Is it about your bed?" I asked....she shook her head."Is it about the light?".........it wasn't."Do you want me to get the nurse?" .......Definitely not! "They're horrible!" She said clearly.She started to cry and then pointed at the TV. She wanted the remote......why didn't she just point at the TV in the first place?Tea came. Dulcie ate all hers and needed  no helpI cut up Celia's beef for her.Jennifer had been moved to Dulcie's old room....with Anne....would you believe it? It seems she has been trying to get out of bed at night and they have moved her there to keep a better eye on her.In her place was a little Asian lady, Insook....she was eating very slowly.....she seemed very zen.Maureen was eating her spaghetti bolognese with her fingers. I went over and opened her carton of orange juice for her and poured it into her cup."Oh thank you!" She said.Celia groaned....she had no milk for her tea."I'll get some," I said.Nazi Nurse was sorting out the communal fridge.(I haven't mentioned Nazi Nurse before....but she has been around a few times when we have been there and her manner and attitude tell of someone unhappy in her work. She is not suited to her job any more.)"Is this general milk?" I asked, grabbing a big milk carton."Ya vole!" she said.....well......she actually said 'yes'......but I wouldn't have been surprised by a 'ya vole'.I carried it to Celia, poured some in her tea, and took it back.Maureen was trying to open her banana....I peeled it for her."Oh, thank you!" She said.Celia had eaten her ice cream but it had dribbled all down her chin. I went over and wiped it with her towelling bib.Crikey!If there is a time when people need visitors in hospital.....it is at mealtimes.Dulcie manages well on her own now, unless her food needs cutting up, but these poor other people are just left.Celia is left to eat her meals with her left hand....her right arm is still paralysed.Shirley is going back all day tomorrow to keep up the momentum with Dulcie....Will and I will be back for tea- time.