V is for Visitors

So the first of my visitors from home arrives this week; my mum is coming over today and staying until Saturday. She booked it before we knew the dates for chemo etc. so in one way it's not ideal because I will be in hospital from 9 a.m. Thursday until Friday afternoon, but in another way, it will be nice to have her here for that and she can sit with me while I'm having the stuff through the IV.

I wouldn't describe my mum as my friend, we don't have that kind of relationship, but there is something innately reassuring about having her here.

The good thing about mum is that she wants to help and that is usually in a practical way, (I 've got a list of things she can help with if she gets bored!) so she will help with cleaning, weeding and tidying up in the garden, making food etc. All sounds quite dull and mundane but it's such a huge help and relief for someone else to do it. However, there is the discussion aspect I am slightly apprehensive about; if we get in to a conversation about something and we disagree, or actually if she is incredulous and angry at someone else's behaviour (usually my dad's!) and I do not back her up and make similar sounds of disbelief and frustration I could be facing a stony silence and pursed lips. I'm sure it will be fine, there are so many things going on now, daily niggles sort of become minor.

I had a conversation with mum on the phone about food: I asked about her food preferences while she's here.... foods she does/doesn't eat, things which she would normally have for breakfast, fruit she's into at the moment etc. and she just said "I don't eat much, I'll eat what you eat".... yes, ok, but what do you like?! Why can't she be specific and just say what she would like?! I know it doesn't matter in the end, but it frustrates me!

The reason people have decided to come now is shitty, but the outcome is that we're going to have quite a few visitors coming over in the next couple of months (and hopefully it will continue!) which is lovely. Yippee! I'm still getting used to the fact that I'm not really working so now when I do have visitors I don't need to worry about the small matter of fitting in teaching around socialising! The only limitation is how I'll be feeling physically but whether I'm feeling good or bad, having friends around will make it better.