Thank you everyone for your wise words on hydration.
I particularly liked the home-brew recipe from Mary in TN for a rehydrating drink containing salt, honey and vinegar. Clever! I actually purchased some Oral Rehydration Salts (tablets you dissolve in water) and made him drink a single glass. I was afraid to give him more than that because the label said they were not suitable for people with kidney trouble. But lots of his medicines say that and he still has to take them, so I thought a single dose was worth the risk.
He is very much better, but extremely tired and low. He was coughing all night, which worries me.
This is not helped by the prospect of yet another close-family funeral next week.
There are only two men of that generation left now and he says it is his turn next. BIG HUGE SIGH.
He doesn’t feel well enough to drive to the funeral and it is being held on the day I am due to travel south by train to meet my daughter for our mini-break. So I have rearranged my travel so we can both go to the funeral and on to the “reception” and then I will travel onwards to meet The Girl, leaving him with assorted relatives for the afternoon. I have found him a hotel near the reception for the night and written out details of how to get from the hotel to the station for his return journey on his own. But it involves a 6 minute walk to the bus stop and I have my doubts about him managing that. A taxi? Well, wouldn’t you think so! (Did I say stubborn?)
I can only hope he will give in and allow a cousin to either drive him all the way home (which is reasonable since at least three half-empty 4×4 cars will be heading to the funeral from this area) or at least to the station in the morning. I am actually writing this in the hope that one of them is stalking my blog. You never know, now that they have traced my email address. (Wry smile.)
His unwillingness to drive comes as quite a shock. FL always tells me he loves driving and needs the independence of having his own car in such situations, so he can get away when he has had enough. So for him to travel by train…? Unheard of. I just hope he manages to negotiate the change at Dundee. Maybe I should ask my son to meet him off train one and put him on train two? Or am I being too much of a mother?! Maybe the challenge will be good for him!
So I will write it all out, with maps and times and bus numbers. I will make two copies and put one in his pocket and one in his bag. Because he is likely to lose his jacket or his bag, but hopefully won’t lose both. I can’t say this will be the most relaxing start to my holiday! I am looking forward to a text message that says: “Home safe”!
There. Got that off my chest.
Thank you for listening!
Knitting next time – I have a very sheepy shawl to block tonight!