North-South Friends

Isabel has a new friend and together they are growing amaryllis.

Isabel's room faces north. She loves the huge window that drops close to the floor and covers most of one side of a long wall. Her view is of caragana trees in the distance with lots of open space before the shelter belt that stops wintery winds. Closer to her window is a long brick wall and the BICC garbage takes its leave from the other side of the wall. Suppliers with large trucks drop their wares at a door near the garbage disposal. There is action outside many times each day.

When you have a large window and a private room, you give THANKS even if it is not sunlit or facing a park.

So what do you do when friends gift you with amaryllis and you don't have a sunny warm window?

You make friends with your across-the-hall neighbour.

Until the arrival of the amaryllis bulbs, Isabel and her neighbour have had little to do with each other. But Lil was the first guest at Isabel's birthday party in December and they have had their own style of conversation ever since. Lil is very very hard of hearing. One has to listen carefully to understand Isabel at the best of times even if you have good hearing. Conversation is not easy.

But Lil has a large sunny window facing south and that's all it took for a friendship to develop. Isabel's amaryllis bulbs have grown 2-3 feet in Lil's windows this winter. Lil had never seen an amaryllis but was a plant lover for many years before she moved to the BICC.

Lil talks loudly so she can hear herself (we think) and gesticulates about many things. Isabel uses varied facial expression and points. Together they discuss the progress of the bulbs and whether a nurse or housekeeper needs to be consulted about watering. They each cruise the BICC independently with their wheelchairs so this makes for easier consultations.

Isabel has learned that Lil loves watching curling as much as she does.

There are four more amaryllis bulbs to bloom. And there are four major curling events that are televised. The Scotties have kept the attention of these new friends this week. And there is still The Briar and the Women's Worlds and Men's Worlds to come.

So far the bulbs have bloomed red. We will see what March and four more weeks of calling shots from behind the glass brings before the next bulbs bloom.

Gratitude for large windows and new friendship on a cold blizzardy day in February. Scotties finals tomorrow!

February Ice-Fishing & Picnicing

With an above average warm winter and less snow than usual, Isabel took care of February cabin-fever by springing out of the BICC for three different outings this week. We drove to the valley and toured Katepwa & Mission Lakes, Katepwa townsite and Sandy Beach. If you have a cottage there, and Isabel knows where it is, we probably saw it. We noted many less fishing huts on the lakes than usual and only three vehicles on the ice on that sunny afternoon. Any idea how thick the ice is this winter? The sun was warm enough shining through the car windows to open the windows a crack as we cruised along.

Yesterday at (early) supper time, Isabel's nurse hooked her food PEG bag to a telescopic pole on her power-chair and we headed outside to sit in the sun. Isabel declared that she was going on a picnic in February. Today she sat in the sun at the main entrance and dreamt of Mexico (where she has never been!).

A coffee party in Abernethy and attending another hockey game in the Balcarres Rink made for a good week! Isabel was able to walk through all the rooms of her friend's new four-room suite in Abernethy. Thank you Wascana therapists for your dedication that helped enable an outing and a walk like this one!

Robbie Burns and Saturday Hockey

Isabel enjoyed Robbie Burns Day (January 25) once again this year with her usual visit from Eileen and lively activities with BICC friends. Her Irish friend, George, shared Scottish sayings (with an English translation provided by the Recreation Staff). Mum wore her Dad Charlie's Robertson Tartan hand-sewn shirt circa 1960. Tartan in today's image.

Three days later she was off to the Balcarres hockey rink! Her first outing to an ice rink in 5 winters! Mum sat out near the ice for most of three periods bundled up and cheering on grandson Josh from the sidelines (enclosed building but not heated where she sat). Others of us jumped up and down to stay warm. It was a great outing on a wonderful sunny winter day.

Who would have ever predicted that this could happen again in Isabel's life?

Oh, and those Scottish sayings? Here are a few:

• I'll gie ye a skelpit lug! - I'll give you a slap on the ear.
  
  
• Whit's fur ye'll no go by ye! - What's meant to happen will happen.
  
  
• Skinny Malinky Longlegs! - A tall thin person.
  
  
• Lang may yer lum reek! - May you live long and stay well.

• Black as the Earl of Hell's Waistcoat! - Pitch black.
  
  
• Failing means yer playin! - When you fail at something at least you're trying.
  
  
• Mony a mickle maks a muckle! - Saving a small amount soon builds up to a large amount.
  
  
• Keep the heid! - Stay calm, don't get upset.
  
  
• We're a' Jock Tamson's bairns! - We're all God's children, nobody is better than anybody else - we're all equal.
  
  
• Dinnae teach yer Granny tae suck eggs! - Don't try to teach someone something they already know.
  
  
• Dinnae marry fur money! - Don't marry for money - you can borrow it cheaper.
  
  
• Is the cat deid? - Has the cat died? Means your trousers are a bit short - like a flag flying at half mast.
  
  
• Haud yer wheesht! - Be quiet.
  
  
• Noo jist haud on! - Now just hold it, slow down, take your time.
  
  
• Hell slap it intae ye! - Means it's your own fault.
  
  
• I'm fair puckled! - I'm short of breath.
  
  
• Ah dinnae ken. - I don't know.
  
  
• It's a dreich day! - Said in reference to the weather, when it's cold, damp and miserable.