Um....

Well -the cats are having a GREAT time, once the painters have left!

Um. Okaasan didn't do her Lady of the House chance. Not sure why. 

We left her a whiteboard sign on the kitchen table, next to her lunch, telling her to dole out the cold teas bottles in the fridge at 3 pm.

But she didn't. In the evening she said the painters had GONE by 3 pm....which doesn't sound likely. Maybe she looked out at about 3 pm, and they were already on their break round the corner at the drinks vending machine buying their own stuff - so she just went back to sleep.

Don't know. 

At dinner Yujiro did a long, long lecture-like talk all about workmen-in-Japan-don't-really-expect-drinks-from-homeowners-anymore-but-if-you-can-you-should-give-them-the-tea....on and on....I am pretty sure the details of his lecture didn't settle anywhere near Okaasan's memory. He hasn't learned the Simplify Instructions concept of dementia care :-(

Meanwhile I scared myself looking at dementia care forums on the Net where many carers/families said their loved one's condition had plunged when there were house repairs and major changes in the usually stable home environment.

I can understand it: 2 hours in the monring before work with taped up windows and scraping/banging sounds all around is making MY condition worse...and Okaasan is here all day. Wish we could get her to go OUT earlier and escape it.

But. The cats are happy with their new jungle gym after 5 pm.

There are LOTS of strange men!!!!

Let the chaos begin!


Our home is about to disappear under scaffolding and stuff for TEN???? days of outside house painting.
All thankfully paid for by the building owner, so we will be happy to get an old house looking like new.


But. In the meantime...the cats are spinning into stressy orbit in a house with all the curtains closed and strange crashes, shouts, scrapings outside....we decided to try and keep them in daytime and only let them out after 5 pm when the workmen have gone.


Oh, and my dear garden....all the spring flowers just emerging as big boots tramp around...


And Okaasan? What will all of this do to her peace of mind?
She's all very excited about it right now, the greetings with the work foreman at the door etc, the comings and goings....but...but...we will see what 10 days of strangers being constantly around will do.


Guess she won't be hanging pink underpants outside for a while.:=)