Wednesday, 2 January 2013

Sunday, December 30/2012

Visit Margaret, who is now resident in the rest home run by the Franciscan sisters. She broke hip and shoulder and dentures in a fall, and after two weeks in hospital moved to the rest home, adjacent (and in fact attached) to the Catholic church. It's clean and attractive with pretty, serene gardens on either side. But probably too quiet and serene. Most of the other residents don't speak English and some are beyond intelligent conversation in any case. The sisters seem kind, but the worst part is that everyone has meals brought to their rooms on trays - and therefore each person eats alone. it seems a sad arrangement. The rooms themselves seem nice enough, though; Margaret has one door opening onto the corridor and one opening on an outside garden. Inside, besides the bed, there are two chairs, a fridge covered with magnets (souvenirs of her past travels), a dresser well covered with Christmas cards and photographs and a television. Comfortable, but lonely.