Wednesday 7 September 2005

DEAR OLD PALS JOLLY OLD PALS

Before I retired and before I was a scheme Manager I worked in a residential home for the elderly, and have a store of happy memories from those days,one particularly lovely couple I remember,Isay couple simply because they sat side by side,and looked out for each other.Kate was a dear old cockney lady, the most important things in her life were her teeth and her corset,the teeth would come out and wrapped in her napkin and put beside her plate most meal times I think they also spent as much time in the rubbish bin and we could often be found delving into the rubbish to rescue them.Helping her to get ready for bed was a ritual that had to be adhered to!first we had to unpin the little religeous medal she wore on her vest , she would kiss it pass it to me to do the same ,then I had to pin it to her nighty ,then "Oh get me stays off gel" wait till she gave her belly a good scratch.nighty on and then  into bed,"Night night Kate God bless"she would reply "Gor bless ya darrlin.     Now its her partner in crimes turn to go to bed, she was quite deaf with a lovely sense of humour her bedtime,comment in reply to mine was always "Thank you Janit goodnightO and thank your mother for the kippers"(the mother was pronounced to rhyme with bother) wonderful ladies,and then Amy she used to say "you are a good girl I hope there will be some one to look after you when your old" Oh Amy says I they will have recycled you by then  to which she would roar with laughter.Sadly these old sweethearts went to a better place some years ago ,I often think of them     So since Im late posting today, Have agood evening,Night Night ,OO and dont forget to Thank your Mother for the kippers!!

           Janxx 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jan thats sweet and sad - My daughter was a carer was in charge of about 10 girls and on Sundays we would sit in the conservatory making out the sheets for their workload for the next week - these girls were the ones that visited their  people in their own homes. and the stories she has told me I'm sure she could write a book.  So sad when they have to leave their own homes - but  what would we do without these wonderful people who do care for them.......Ally

Anonymous said...

Ah lovely.  I could just picture those three old dears as you wrote about them, a real bunch of characters. And if I still have a mother I would certainly thank her for the kippers!  More stories like this please if you can.

Anonymous said...

Hi Jan I hope there is someone to look after you in old age as the old lady said, if not I will !!  You said Kates teeth were very important to her and I can understand that!!! They sounded dear old gals, bet you were always good with them and said the right thing.
Much love Jeanxx

Anonymous said...

Sounds as if you took good care of those ladies and was patient with them & have fond memories of them.

Anonymous said...

Jan
Thanks for droping by my journal and leaving your nice comment.  Welcome to J-Land.  I have gone back and read all your entries since the first.  You sound like such a nice person and your stories of the ones you have cared for like in this post are precious, indeed.  I'm looking forward to reading more.
Sam

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful story!

Anonymous said...

Awwwwwww bless them :-)  Thanks for sharing your memories!!  It's people like that, that make you realise how good your job is isn't it?

Anonymous said...

I worked with old ladies for 18yrs, they were great characters. Enjoyed hearing about your old ladies. Jeannette.

Anonymous said...

Oh I loved this entry :o)
My Granny looked after elderly ladies in a similar place for years, she loved them all dearly, and I know that she enjoyed working there very much.  This pair sound like such characters!!  Did you ever find out what the kipper thing was about, lol?!
Sara   x

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed reading your journal about the old folk.   mark
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