hanging my head in shame

worried_jim

On Wednesday I took the racist pensioner neighbour, Reg, to the opticians, its the first time he has left his flat since December but he managed very well down in the village and I mange to get him back up the stairs when we return- job done, no issues.
It's 3am Thursday and the phone rings. I jump out of bed and answer and its the panic alarm for Reg who had fallen out of bed, I race around there to find him in a right state, half in bed and half out of it and unable to move. There is a bit of blood from a small cut on his hand, I've forgotten to put my glasses on so I cant see how bad it is. he tried to get up in the night and fell whilst walking to the bathroom, although he doesn't really remember. His knees are all red for kneeling on the carpet and his arms and chest hurt from the fall, I suspected that he may have broken his collar bone so I push to speak on the panic alarm and arrange an ambulance. Within a minute the ambulance control centre have called me and I've told them what has happened, because he cant remember anything I suspect he may have had a mini stroke and they talk me through what to do and I ask him some questions and look at his face which seem peculiar anyway as he hasn't got any teeth in.
Whilst I am doing this the ambulance has arrived, in under three minutes, they know him as they have been out before and dress his hand and do a load of checks. Fortunately nothing is broken and we are able to go back to bed. I really fear that next time may do some serious damage and I think Reg is thinking the same as has entrusted me to sort through his papers and get them in order.
He has mountains of the stuff and I started sorting it yesterday, receipts for glasses bought in 2003, bank statements from last year etc. Whenever he’s had a statement it always arrives with some leaflet from the bank trying to flog some crap and he never just throws it out, because he cant see so well he saves it and there is five years of this crap to go through, old used envelops with phone messages scrawled on them,it’s going to take me all week to get this done, but he wants it doing so his daughter hasn’t got to do it all when he’s gone as she is not to well herself at present and Reg is concerned of the effects his death is going to have on her health. I think I am impressed with his pragmatic approach to his coming end which could be many years away or today. I found a box with his evacuation card, birth certificate, national service docs in it and we had a good chat about his armed service in Palestine in the 1940’s where he was shot at by the Stern gang with bullet whizzing past his face.That night and when he awoke the next day his hair had turned white and he said if anyone ever says that they are not scarred when being shot at or doing the shooting back then they are either mad or a liar- I believe him!

MrsPorridge

Jim - what a fantastic neighbour you are. I hope Reg appreciates you (I am sure he does). Its people like you who are the unsung heroes of this world - me I'm all for the unsung heroes.

Take care.

savingwannabe

Jim you are fantastic. I am going to meet you one day. What a nice person you are. I know he is a racist but he is still a human being and maybe he has reasons for thinking the way he does. bless ya sweetie.

worried_jim

We've moved on from casual racism now... He remarked yesterday that he was glad the weather was grim because it would ruin the day for all the "poofs" at Pride. I said that I think they would still be poofs if it was raining or not but it did make me laugh thinking of a young person confronting their parents for the first time..."mum,dad I have something to tell you, I am gay, but it's all your fault for making me holiday in a caravan in Aberystwyth, if we'd have gone to Ayia Napa and I'd have got more sunshine I may have been all about the funnel and not the tunnel". Charming.

savingwannabe

Dude he (the neighbour) would scare the shoite out of me!

worried_jim

Just started paying the £1000 back I owe my parents. Sent my Dad £50, its a small drop in the ocean but I aim to do at least this amount every month now.

savingwannabe

Well done!

notanothergreyhair

worried_jim wrote: »

We've moved on from casual racism now... He remarked yesterday that he was glad the weather was grim because it would ruin the day for all the "poofs" at Pride

You should have told him that we wear PVC 24 hours a day (when not naked) and that the rain would have dripped straight off of us to the floor

savingwannabe wrote: »

Well done!

What s/he said.

worried_jim

I watched the hospital on 4 last night with interest as it was all about diabetes-
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-hospital/episode-guide/series-2/episode-4
It about scared the living daylights out of me, it was riveting viewing but really shook me up. I immediately went and took my full dose of medicine even though I hate it and it can make me feel quite sick at times. Well at 2am I awoke having a massive hypo and had to stagger to the kitchen for a bowl of special k followed by 4 rounds of toast with peanut butter. I was shaking and was nearly sick, I climbed back into bed and lay they waiting for the hypo to finish. When I awoke this morning I felt battered and today has been a real struggle at work, feeling exhausted and finding it hard to concentrate. Getting really fed up and nervous every time I pop a pill.

MrsPorridge

Jim - please go back and speak to your Dr.

I am on pills for high blood pressure and the last week or so have had pains in my arm and chest - and was terrified I was having a heart attack and going to die. Also had trouble sleeping as my imagination was running riot. Finally plucked up courage and went to dr. yesterday who has diagnosed golfers elbow - which strangely enough I have had no pain in it at all since seeing dr. Was probably all in my mind and believe me I am not one of those people who dwells on their health. Think taking medication does mess with your mind.

Please go back to your dr. and hopefully you can get some piece of mind.