- Joined
- Sep 28, 2013
- Messages
- 2,663
Jambalaya|1416359282|3786079 said:Hi AGBF,
I care for three elderly relatives, since the other siblings are older than me and very impatient - they are good people but wholly unsuited to caring. They also have many small kids in one case, and a wife who is terminally ill in the other case (she's only 5. I used to look after four relatives but one died a few months ago after an illness and a traumatic end-stage, and now the remaining ones are somewhat worse. I've been somewhat at the end of my tether and exhausted even after a full night's sleep, so they've gone for a bit of respite care, as I didn't get a break after caring for the deceased relative during the final months.
I was so happy to find this site as I've allowed myself to become quite isolated due to my responsibilities, i.e. I don't see much of my friends and I don't have time for the gym or hobbies as it's difficult to get out in the evenings. In fact, some of my friends have dropped me as I don't have much time and I was particularly tied up earlier this year.
However, it's very fulfilling to be a carer and I wouldn't have it any other way. But right now I'm exhausted and glad of a break. Spending some of my savings on jewelry, and time to read!
I hang out mainly with people aged 75-90, since I take my relatives to all their lunches, Rotary clubs, Freemason meetings, miscellaneous outings, and the occasional dinner party. We've even managed three trips away to see their old friends in the last few weeks! We were visiting friends in New York state who are aged 77 and 80, and the woman, the younger, said I should discover an author called Jane Gardam, who I'd never heard of. I look up to the woman - she's very well-read and well-educated, so I got the book.
Oh, this author is just wonderful. The book is called Old Filth, and Filth stands for Failed In London, Try Hong Kong. It's a story of a British lawyer in Hong Kong (nicknamed Old Filth) and his wife Betty, who refer to themselves as Raj orphans. It flashes back and forth between the present day and the Thirties/Forties.
The author has written many books and has a list of literary prizes as long as your arm, but I'd never heard of her. The story is mysterious and the writing is wonderful - she refers to the main character as ¨swirling himself into his coat¨ and another time an elderly person calls out and it's described as a ẗhreadbare voice.¨ It's a trilogy - the Old Filth trilogy. I can't recommend it highly enough.
So sorry for the essay. I don't have that many people around to talk to!
Hi Jambalaya, it sounds like what you do is challenging but meaningful. Not an easy job being a carer, so your relatives are so fortunate that they have you. I come from a family of doctors and other medical professionals, so I observed first hand how frequently carers forget to take care of themselves and let their responsibilities overwhelm them. It's great you are making time for yourself, and glad to have you here on PS.
I am living in HK and the book you mentioned piqued my curiosity. I have downloaded the Kindle sample and will read it later this weekend. Thanks for the rec~!!
Dioptase said:Pretty much all of Marcel Pagnol's books are a must read.I really enjoyed « Souvenirs d’enfance » (Childhood memories) and « L'eau des Collines » (The Water of the Hills).
I always enjoy re-reading Maurice Leblanc's Arsène Lupin books ("813" is still my favourite).
A few others favourites include « Bel-Ami » by Guy de Maupassant, All the books from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, « PПиковая дама» (The Queen of Spades) by Alexander Pushkin, « Le Grand Meaulnes » by Alain Fournier, « Iliad» by Homer, The Trilogy « Vipère au poing » « La mort du petit cheval » « Le cri de la chouette » by Hervé Bazin.
Dioptase, I am sooooo happy to find another Pagnol and Alain-Fournier admirer on PS. I love Le Grand Meaulnes, and I read (and re-read) Pagnol's Souvenirs d'enfance religiously when I first discovered his books. I like Souvenirs d'enfance more than his L'eau des Collines series, even though it is more simple in theme.
Do you read Illiad in the Greek? I am all in awe of anyone who can do so, my ancient Greek has long been forgotten and my Latin these days is only rudimentary. For the Illiad, I only read the Lattimore and Fagles translations but I prefer Fagles' translations of both the Illiad and Odyssey, they are truly magnificent.. I did read some of the Aeneid in Latin way back in the day when my Latin was better, but stick to the Fagles translations (again) these days. Do you like the Greek playwrights? I admire Sophocles and Euripides but have a soft spot for the ridiculousness of Aristophanes' plays.