Irina's Day One, and I Go in a Wheelchair

Leaves are falling off trees, I'm losing my hair - yet again - also in drifts, floating down, but we are now also employers of one Irina, who moved here from Romania five years ago, and is now studying her UK citizenship booklet ready to apply for nationality. (Have you come across this booklet? It's all about Saints George and Thomas and Stephen etc). Yes, Elon has a nanny, one of the hordes of East Europeans who answered my ad; not a single reply from an Australian or a New Zealander - let alone anybody from the UK. If Irina wasn't working, she'd watch the Discovery Channel all day - she loves the forensic science programs. For now though, she's with us, mornings and evenings (and it's a difficult call for a nanny, because that dreaded beast, the mother, is around in the background all the time too), and she's lovely and bright and extremely kind. So: job done.

Today was my first day out of four walls in forever...we took the wheelchair out to Elon's school to pick him up. Anthony and Irina took turns pushing, and every so often I got up and walked as well, which made it all look like one of those on-stage evangelicals ("she's cured, she's cured"). Thought being in a wheelchair might bring forth all sorts of different viewpoints, but in fact all I can say about it really is that it's extremely comfortable, particularly when you feel your legs buckling.

Comments

[Isobel Mags Buchan]

I am pleased that you made it out today. It's hard to submit to using a wheelchair so good for you. Getting out in one is far better than not getting out at all. Now have you thought about one of those motorised scooters? From what I have seen the users seem to be getting younger and younger and as a result there are some pretty natty personalised modifications on the streets.

I do hope that your Nanny is the find she appears to be. I shared a nanny many moons ago, for my son and she was worth her weight in gold and I will never forget her...for all the right reasons. Wonderful young woman.

[dalia]

dearest dina,

'kol hakvod' to you and to anthony and elon, and all your wonderful family, (including your new addition!) for your possitive attitude and encouragement!!
am always greatful to read whatever you write!

with much love from a secret admirer.

[grannyp]

Yeah -can see you in personalised/motorised version mowing us all down, Dina. Sorry about hair Dina, but still glad you're out, watching leaves fall. As for the Eastern Europeans.... what would we do without them? My part of London is run by Poles - nothing would get built/cleaned/served/driven without them. Your nanny is OK. (Hope Elon likes her too.) xp

[Brian Abbott]

Dina,

Yes, it's a pity about the lack of power. We could be looking forward to the newspaper headline "Local hairdresser injured in hit and run incident".

Take care out there.

Brian xx

[Lindsey]

Well done on getting out there. It can't be easy. We really missed you! The new wheels could provide a great half-term project for the girls - 'pimp my ride' (although the hospital might be a little surprised when you return it). Keep on keeping on xx

[Barbara]

I once put my daughter in a wheelchair for a pre-Christmas dash around IKEA. She was newly out of hospital after appendicitis and I was anxious not to tire her. But when she got out to wander over to see things more closely she got the most terrible looks, as though she was a malingerer all along!

[joan]

Whenever I have looked at the UK citizenship booklet - there's usually a copy at the tills at WH Smith - I am amazed at what applicants are expected to know. I would definitely fail. Mind you I'm also a cradle Catholic who wouldn't know the catechism if it fell on her!

[Beverley Julius]

You probably looked more like Andy in Little Britain! At least it was a good upper body workout for Anthony and he didn't even have to go to the gym (you know how much we love people who go to the gym!!!)

[Ms Baroque]

Dina my dad is currently in a wheelchair, I had the very interesting experience of pushing him around in it this summer. It's a different perspective for the person pushing it too! (As in, "watch out for that treeeee...")

Glad you got out and walked a bit, glad you got out in the fresh air and did the school run... glad you're writing about it and glad you're out of the hospital! And, having been through the whole childcare mill all those years ago, very glad you've found a promising nanny! She's lucky to be working for such wonderful people. I'm sure she'll be great.

Lots of love.

[Nanny]

Hi Dina
I was my husband's 14th nanny after his first wife died of breast cancer at 32, leaving two children aged five and eight. We became good friends in the two years I worked with the family, and I loved the children very much. About seven years after I went back to my home country, he came out to visit, we had a whirlwind romance and we now have had more children, who are adored by their step siblings. I think a lot about his first wife, who was also a writer, and so I've read many of her thoughts and feelings(nothing private) and feel very close to her. Whenever I read your articles, I think of her too, and how I would like to reassure her that I am always there for her daughter when she needs me, and will be there when she has her own babies. I'm not sure why, but I just wanted to tell you that. I sincerely wish you all the very best.

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