Monday 13 March 2023

Indolence

 When I worked in school full time I had to be up with the lark, showered, breakfasted and off to work to be there as long as possible before the pupils came - to get my 'stall set out' so to speak.  However I felt when I awoke I had to get going.

Now, of course, long retired (forty years) I am free to do as I please.   Some mornings I am eager to get up and get going - other mornings I keep looking at the clock and thinking 'I'll just have another five minutes'.   The danger with this is the tendency to 'drop off' (bears no relation to how well or otherwise I have slept).  If I get into a really deep sleep my carer has to gain entry via my key safe (this happens only rarely).

But what does happen is that if I get up like this I find it hard to snap out of it and get anything done.   I can sit for an hour doing the Mind Games in The Times, then I can decide to read the paper from cover to cover.   Then perhaps I think I will just finish whatever book I happen to be reading.   When I look at the clock it is lunch time.

After lunch I always watch the One O'clock News on BBC1 - well I switch it on but on the kind of day I am talking about (an indolent day) I usually drop off and wake up in the middle of that rather silly (inane) Doctors.

Why am I telling you this (apart from the fact that  I have had that sort of day today) - well I sure sure it would be the regular pattern if it became necessary for me to go into full time care.   I would join that brigade of oldies, sitting round the edge of the room, heads on chests, dozing all day.   Heaven forbid it should ever come to that.   Unless that is, some handsome ninety something year old should come through the door looking for a spritely lover - then maybe, just maybe I might rise to the occasion.  (and I want no rude jokes here John or Tom).

Sadly the weather has not made things easier today.   Although the sun has shone on and off it has mostly at the same time been pouring with rain.  But my goodness me, how the snow and now the rain has brought out the purple and white crocus.  I could see no sign of them among their golden cousins, but this morning they are peppered all over the garden and they look majestic.

Yes, Spring is just around the corner  and I must be firm with myself and when the clock says SIX there must be no snuggling down again under the duvet - it must be up, up, up and away, scooting with my trolley into the kitchen to put Flahavans Organic Jumbo Oats and milk into the microwave for their four minute twirl so that by half past six I am sitting watching Today on BBC1,

See you tomorrow.

24 comments:

Susan said...

I think you are very disciplined to be up at 6am.
Getting up in an nursing home pretty much depends on when the nursing staff can get to you. Sadly not really your choice. I'm not sure if UK nursing homes have recreation therapists but in Canada we do. A little different from Activity staff but complementary. In nursing homes that are run by the local health authority, as opposed to private ones, there is a full slate of activities from after breakfast to bedtime. There is a lot of fun and laughter. The role of an RT is to meet the needs of the client, emotional, social, pyschological, cognitive and physical by the use of recreational activities.

JayCee said...

I would struggle to find enough to keep me occupied if I got up at 6 a.m. every day.
Perhaps I am too indolent!

the veg artist said...

Feeling that the best of the day can be gone is common among early birds. I like to have productive mornings and more gentle afternoons. I don't get up until 7am though!

gz said...

When living in a pensioners block of flats that had a warden and common room with TV, grandma, in her 90s would call the TV dozers Perishing Pensioners!! She was much happier with a walk or a book.
It is too easy to have just another 5 minutes on a chilly morning..but like you say. It's not worth it!!

Susan said...

You have established an excellent routine for yourself at your own home. I'm impressed. Once Spring and warm sunny days are with us, we will all experience the Spring time rebirth. It is a great time of the year. It is raining in Massachusetts. The rain is predicted to turn in to snow tonight as temperatures drop. Winds are to increase and the storm is now categorized as a late season Northeaster. Good thing I did not put away my snow shovel!

Heather said...

I have lived alone for over 5 years and still have to remind myself that there is no need to hurry in the morning. It doesn't matter if I don't get out until 10 am or even later. I feel as if I have more energy but only until I need to use it! A busy morning will see me nodding off at 11.30am, and if I wake up too early and go back to sleep the entire day is hard work. Oversleeping is exhausting!

marlane said...

For me in retirement ( with hubby) I thrive best on a mix of indulgence and getting things done. So I will let myself linger in bed in the morning and read for an hour or so. I get up early because of our cat, up at 6am. Then I will get something done such as laundry, house work. We drive out to our horses every day later in the morning except Sunday when daughter in law goes out. Come home have lunch take a nap. Read blogs such as this one. Then do gardening if the weather permits. Or some other task such as cleaning kitchen counters. More reading. Also I list and sell things on ebay and etsy. ( I make pedigrees for horses) Then time for bed and TV I am asleep by 9pm.

Joanne Noragon said...

And I work that hard to be up and going by 8 am!

Bea said...

If a catch could be had in a care home, then I'd volunteer to be put in one. ;)

Red said...

Some days it's hard to get up and going. Yes, going back to school I was always there early. I ran off any assignments that had to be ready . and some of the students who arrived early came to my room rather than stay in the front entrance and be teased.

Cro Magnon said...

I also watch the BBC One-O-Clock news, but only for the first 5 minutes; just to make sure we're not going to be 'nuked' by Putin.

Anonymous said...

Now that husband and I have retired from teaching we can't believe the hours and energy we put in,(42 years!) and those early morning starts you mention. Exhausting. We both have 'teaching nightmares' these days, where we have an out of control class, or are not prepared, parents are horrible, or in my last dream, the school play went out of control being nothing like I'd worked so hard to present, and parents in the audience walked out in disgust at the chaos. Sometimes I dream I have a whole day being a reception teacher of a class of 30 noisy little ones dispersisng their excess energy everywhere, and needing to be kept on task. I wake up exhausted! - Pam.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

When my gran was in a care home she always perked up when the fire alarms went off - she had a fantasy of being carried down the fire escape by a young fireman!

Librarian said...

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with an occasional slow day. But I agree with you that allover, for our minds and bodies it is better to keep going, give them something to do. I saw it with my Dad (I know I keep going on about that); his inactivity ultimately killed him.

When it comes to getting up early, I must admit I am a big fan of sleeping in - not necessarily very late, but just waking up when my body is ready and not because someone or something tells me to get up.

Rachel Phillips said...

My guess is that if you didn't have a carer coming in at 7am you would not be rising at 6am each and every morning.

Derek Faulkner said...

I always believe in getting up as soon as one wakes up, which in winter is around 5.30 and in summer often earlier. I see lying in bed for the sake of it as a waste of life, much better to be up and about.

Donna said...

We are up around 3am most mornings...when we worked, we had to get there early...6ish.
hugs
Donna

The Weaver of Grass said...

NotQuite correct Rachel but my body clock is firmly set at that .
Not a bad fantasy John.
Agree Rachel.


I have to rise at 6am because it does me good to get my own breakfast before my carer comes and she comes at 7am

The Weaver of Grass said...

Rachel - sorry about that 'not' at the beginning - don't know how it got there.

Thanks for calling in everyone.

Debby said...

Lol. You have given me a good laugh this day! You probably should be realistic. With your spunk, you'd best go for a younger man, perhaps in his 70s.

Barbara Anne said...

I'm right much younger than you are, Pat, and I would say much of what you've written an is enjoyable retirement - as long as it's not every day!

Ta for the smiles. :)

Hugs!

Granny Sue said...

My word, I fell righteous if I m up before 8, and I am almost 20 years younger. But I suppose I stay up longer in the evenings, often not going to bed until 11, because evenings are my reading/games time. I like to be up and doing as soon as my feet hit the floor usually.

But that 90 year old man, he may yet be out there. Why not?Remember the story of the elderly couple who met at the border of, was it Poland and somewhere?--during the pandemic? I wish I could find that story again. It was so touching.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Debby - I thought more someone about 35!!!

Thanks everyone - have been sidetracked looking for some papers - haven't found them but have given up looking for now.

Debby said...

Lol, Weaver! You are a scandal! Why not?