The traffic was heavy going on the way to my wife's care home so the pantomime was just underway when I got there. Fifteen residents were packed into the residents' lounge together with several staff dressed in festive tee shirts. I couldn’t get near my wife to wake her up with my cold hands but she did come round for a while, seemed to enjoy some of the panto, then fell asleep again.
There were just 2 young ladies taking all of the main roles – Oliver, Fagin, the Artful Dodger and Nancy - plenty of songs and a few “oh no he isn’t” type moments. Bill Sykes was just a voice and a gunshot over the speakers. To her delight, Mrs Bumble was played by one of the residents, complete with blue wig. After the panto the 2 ladies led a sing song, a mix of carols and other Christmas songs. My wife was awake by then and joined in with the singing, which she enjoyed. She was in a good mood afterwards too and it seems that the staff have noticed that she is more settled and less aggressive since her medication was altered.
It was only at home later that I remembered that it was our 20th wedding anniversary. Once we would have celebrated with a special meal or a weekend break. In our current circumstances, sharing the obvious joy of my wife and her fellow residents seemed a good way of celebrating our 40 years together.
There were just 2 young ladies taking all of the main roles – Oliver, Fagin, the Artful Dodger and Nancy - plenty of songs and a few “oh no he isn’t” type moments. Bill Sykes was just a voice and a gunshot over the speakers. To her delight, Mrs Bumble was played by one of the residents, complete with blue wig. After the panto the 2 ladies led a sing song, a mix of carols and other Christmas songs. My wife was awake by then and joined in with the singing, which she enjoyed. She was in a good mood afterwards too and it seems that the staff have noticed that she is more settled and less aggressive since her medication was altered.
It was only at home later that I remembered that it was our 20th wedding anniversary. Once we would have celebrated with a special meal or a weekend break. In our current circumstances, sharing the obvious joy of my wife and her fellow residents seemed a good way of celebrating our 40 years together.
