Backwards In High Heels: Why We Should All Care

Chez Hobbs is currently Infirmary Hobbs. Mum has full on sciatica and as such is under house arrest upstairs, though the merest movement at the moment is enough for her to let out a volley of swearwords I can't even spell. Some moons ago she was attacked at work where a delightful piece of rubbish pinned her against a wall and the damage was done. Like the Spice Girls, the sciatica has decided to have an unneccessary comeback.

She is being a marvellous patient though this is her idea of hell. My mum does not do 'still'. Whereas I can wile away the hours with a book or on the computer she is the Queen of practical, diy, gardening and decorating.

So I am wearing my Florence Nightingale hat ensuring she is okay and then the not so small matter of 16 cats of whom 3 are on medication. A nice dose of flu has broken out amongst some of the cats too. So as long as I don't get the meds mixed up and worm my mother...

Thankfully, working for myself and from home I at least have the flexibility and a very nice set of neighbours who did the run to the pharmacy for me after the doctor visited Mum yesterday. Yes everyone does need good neighbours. But, it is tiring, the treadmill of cleaning, meds, meals, more cleaning and trying to shoehorn some work in.

But my tiring run has an end with at the light of the tunnel. Mum's back will heal, the cats will mend and be rehomed (ready for a new batch to take their place). We will celebrate with a few days out and treat ourselves to a day of pampering no doubt. For some that is not an option.

I have friends who are full time carers to a loved one(s). My admiration knows no bound and if I am not in the physical locality to go and help I at least hope a funny email or daft text message will remind them what a hero the are. But what can we do as a society to help and ensure their efforts are truly appreciated and dually rewarded?

The amount of children who are carers is a frightening statistic. One place that offers support for carers and where if you are able to give a donation or time is the wonderful www.carers.org