A Bottle of Prosecco 03

  Another Bottle of Prosecco

Jane Scoggins 

Carolyn worked in an old people's home on the edge of town. It was almost at the end of the last row of houses. The Limes was originally a large quite imposing Victorian detached house in its time. There was no sign of any Lime trees now, probably died years ago or were removed to make way for the car park. Over the years since it had been acquired for use as a care home, the property had sprouted several extensions and add ons. Not particularly sympathetic to the original building but all had somehow managed to pass building regulations and now provided the right size and type of accommodation needed for its purpose. It took Carolyn two buses or one bus and a longish walk to get to work. During the two years she had worked there she had considered getting a bike but did not know where she would safely store it at home as she lived upstairs above a newsagent shop with no storage space and not even a hallway in which to stand it. So at twenty one years old and fit and well, she had continued with the bus and walk option.  At first, she was not sure if it would be the right sort of work for her, but it now seemed to be after all. Leaving school she had not got the grades for university and had not wanted to go anyway, Academic life was not for her. She had first tried hairdressing but found it rather boring washing and blow-drying hair and sweeping up. She was not the sort of person to indulge in gossip either, and in her particular salon, it seemed to be a requirement. So she didn’t feel she fitted in with the other staff or the clients for that matter.  Her friends had been more ambitious and could not understand why she would want to look after old folk for a pittance. But once she had got her head around the work at the care home and developed an understanding of dementia and emotional needs as well as the practical ones she felt useful, confident, and best of all appreciated by the residents. The manager had offered to put her name forward for NVQ training, which she explained could lead to promotion and take her on to being a senior carer. If she really wanted to go further she may in time, consider training in management. Carolyn was not sure what she wanted to do in the future but it was nice to think her boss thought enough of her abilities to make these suggestions. Meanwhile, it was all go on the shop floor so to speak with residents needing help with washing, showering, dressing, feeding, toileting, getting up, and putting to bed. Just as important to them was being entertained, socially stimulated, and chatted to. Carolyn had learned so much about these frail residents that amazed her. The lives they had led and the careers and adventures they had had. Some had families close by who visited, others had family who only came occasionally and others had no one at all who came to see them. Carolyn would sit with these residents more often when time allowed and talk with them. The ones with dementia were often confused but had occasional moments of memory of past events. Carolyn tried to be available at those times to encourage those memories and share and store them for a later time when their brain fog had misted them up. Everything was done to maintain stimulation and activity on a regular basis. Bingo, chair exercises, music and singing, pet therapy, arts and crafts. Every so often there was a raffle and staff, residents, families, and visitors were encouraged to buy tickets. All prizes were donated, and all proceeds went towards the annual resident’s day trip to the seaside. When Margaret’s ticket won the Marks and Spencer hamper, she insisted that Carolyn have it, saying to her that it was she, Carolyn, that made her life bearable with her smile, gentleness patience, and willingness to help.

‘What do I want with all that stuff? I was hoping for the furry slippers if anything’ she laughed.   ‘But Mary’s daughter won those for her. By the look of her old tea stained slippers, looks like she needs them more than me’ she whispered to Carolyn behind her hand, and smiled. In the end, the manager agreed to Margaret’s request that she accept the hamper. Carolyn graciously accepted with the proviso that Margaret kept the chocolates; Ben had the biscuits Ron the Cheesy Nibbles and Alice the fudge. Carolyn went home with the diminished hamper with a light heart.  She and her three old school friends met up every so often and this time the venue was Carolyn's little studio flat above the newsagent's shop. It was a bit rundown but the rent was what she could afford on her rather basic wage as a carer. She had made it cosy and her Mum had bought her some lovely bright curtains. All in all, it looked very nice when her friends came round for the evening a few days later. They were impressed, which delighted Carolyn as out of them all she had the least well paid job with the least status. Carolyn served the treats from the hamper and poured them all a glass from the bottle of prosecco. Tasha made note of the deliciousness of the food and prosecco and teasingly asked Carolyn if she had had a raise, knowing well enough that she had not. The other girls also complimented Carolyn on the tasty spread and quality of the prosecco before raising their glasses to her. While they ate and drank Tasha, then Kelly and Jules shared their moans about their jobs. Tasha worked long hours to keep up with her bad tempered Boss’s demands, Kelly had to endure a very boring job, and Jules wasn't sure she even understood what was expected of her half the time, and the other people in the office weren't very friendly. None of them particularly enjoyed their jobs, but were all going to stay because the pay wasn't at all bad, it was as good as they thought they would get elsewhere, and they had got used to having spending money. When Carolyn told them why she enjoyed her job and that it gave her satisfaction, and with promotion on the cards too, they were full of admiration.  Tasha said she thought that more prosecco was definitely called for, and offered to pop down to the off-licence and buy more. Carolyn sipped her drink and thought of Margaret, and her gift. The frail elderly lady with Parkinson's disease who had once been an Olympic athlete and an overseas ambassador.  She thanked her lucky stars to be part of the lives of some amazing people who were inspiring her.

 

Copyright Jane Scoggins