Dad

[erastes]

I’ve made a decision today, and that is to apply to be a carer for my father.  It will solve many problems in one fell swoop – Not only will it be company for both father and me, it will mean that I can continue to write without the constant stress of looking for work, it means that I can actually earn up to 95 quid a week without losing benefits and that he will have someone there which will HOPEFULLY stop him getting into a panic about the smallest little thing.

However, there are many hoops to be jumped through, so I don’t expect any major change instantly – need to speak to the Job Centre and find out how to apply, etc etc.  There’s a 17 mile commute, but I had that distance when I was working in Norwich, and this is a nice country commute, and not on the mad commuter road – and I need to be there 35 hours a week – so the cats are going to miss me, but again – when I was working I saw a lot less of them than I have for the last two years.  They’ll cope!  It means I’ll probably eat more healthily, and I’ll eat there for 2 meals a day, and perhaps even go for a walk which will help hugely.  Also – we can even go  out for jollies – we don’t have to sit in the house, after all!  So I think, it will be the best thing for both of us.  He doesn’t need physical care—yet—when that happens I wouldn’t be able to manage, but even at 81, he’s as fit as a flea, far fitter than me, and has no underlying health issues other than the Alzheimer’s.

I’ll probably write more too, as Dad doesn’t have internet, and I’ve checked, there’s no hotspot in the street, so I’ll have no bloody distractions!

So I do think it’s time.  I’m pretty sure he qualifies, so we’ll just see what the bureaucrats have to say!

- - - -