Vegetarian for Life

Life After Retirement? Food for Thought

Posted by Guest on 10/02/14 in

Two months has passed since my accident. I feel that I am making good progress because my right hand is now in ‘very gentle’ working mode. However, my leg with the broken hip is still non-weight-bearing. This means that I’m still sleeping downstairs, I haven’t had a shower since 10 December, I can’t do housework, I can’t really prepare my own food and drinks, and I definitely can’t go shopping. I am totally dependent on others. My sister reminded me last week that I had originally said it could take up to a year until I’m fully recovered – and even after that it’s possible I may have to have a hip replacement if the blood supply doesn’t mend. My mind had apparently chosen to forget this time scale – and I’m definitely trying to do so again! I try to live one day at a time but, being virtually housebound, it can feel like imprisonment. This morning I was in a What’s the point/I can’t be bothered to write a blog mode. So what changed my mind? Two things. First a couple of friends came round; we had a chat and a laugh. (There’s no standing on ceremony now, I call out directions, drinks are made and I am served in my own home by my own guests.) Second, I read one of the other blog-posts for this month about the nutritional biscuits. I’ve been so fortunate in having people call round, but they all seem to think they are obliged to arrive bearing gifts. It’s so kind, and that kindness helps to keep me positive. However, I now have a growing mountain of chocolates and biscuits. The problem with this is that when you’re sitting around all day, with that temptation to hand, it’s very easy to put weight on. Everything Alan says in his blog makes sense for me except for the title ‘Getting older doesn’t have to mean getting smaller’, because from my viewpoint the reverse could well be true. I had made a mental note to myself that – when I am again able to visit people just out of hospital, the housebound or the elderly – I will take flowers or maybe make a savoury dish, but avoid the very sugary stuff. However CalBisc 100 might be a good alternative, because they are not full of empty calories and actually provide important nutrition in an easy-to-take way. I will be sending for my free sample. Does anyone have any other good ideas for what to give someone who is convalescing, housebound or in a care home? A small gift can be such a morale booster. To quote the Beatles: “I get by with a little help from my friends”. But there are people out there who don’t have the support of a network of friends. So, what can we do to help them? As vegetarians, I guess many of us would like to think we are compassionate, but sometimes it is easy to forget to extend that compassion to “all the lonely people”.

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10/02/14

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