Category Archives: Ageing

Perth Museum

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Some years ago it was announced that Perth Museum would be moving into an old building that had been lying empty for a long time, but was in the process of being refurbished. In March 2024, it opened its doors in the city centre, and Lorna and I had been wanting to go and see what it was like. Yesterday, we decided it was time for a bit of museum fun.

Standing outside the south side of Perth Museum.

There is no parking at the museum, even for disabled badge holders. There are parking areas nearby, but the closest parking was closed off because of roadworks. This meant a longer than usual walk for me, which I found quite an effort, but I was glad I was still able to do it.

We were ready for lunch by the time we arrived, and the Stone Cafe was just inside the doorway, with a welcoming sign.

Sign welcoming visitors to the Stone Cafe.

Inside, the cafe was bright and airy, with very high ceilings and magnificent tall windows.

Stone Cafe, Perth Museum.

We did as the sign had instructed, chose a table and put in our order at the counter,

Sitting in Stone Cafe with a cloudy apple juice.

I chose their quiche of the day, which was presented as two small tartlets, containing a Cajun vegetable mixture. It came with coleslaw and chutney.

Cajun vegetable quiche at Stone Cafe, Perth.

Lorna was intrigued to try a ‘sausage’ roll containing vegetarian haggis and sweet potato.

Vegetarian haggis sausage roll with chutney, salad and coleslaw.

She also ordered tea, and was delighted by the size of the pot, which contained three full cups of flavoursome breakfast tea.

Breakfast tea at Stone Cafe, Perth.

Neither of us wanted anything else to eat, and we were keen to see the museum. I was feeling quite tired and wasn’t sure if I had the energy for walking around, but we decided to have a quick look and see what the space was like. At the entrance, Lorna spotted a couple of wheelchairs, and asked if we could borrow one. A helpful member of staff assisted us in unfolding it, and I sat myself down. My rollator was stored safely behind the reception counter while Lorna wheeled me off to look at the exhibits.

Sitting comfortably in a wheelchair in Perth Museum.

It was the first time we had borrowed a wheelchair like this, and it was quite a revelation. Lorna found it quite easy to push, and there was a lift to take us to the upper floor. I enjoyed being able to see everything without getting tired.

Admiring some stuffed animals in Perth Museum.
On the upper floor of Perth Museum.

As always with such places, there was far more to read and take in than we had brain space for, but we enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere and appreciating how nicely the building had been modernised.

When we’d seen enough, we went back down in the lift, collected my rollator, and trudged back to the car. I found the walk back more tiring than the walk in, but I managed it, and was very glad to settle into the car. By this time we felt we had room for a hot drink and a snack, and decided to drive the short distance to the Macmillan cafe at Quarrymill, on the outskirts of Perth.

The Macmillan cafe is a place we’ve been visiting for many years, and it would soon be closing for the season. It was good to be able to call in again and enjoy the excellent service provided by the volunteers who run it so cheerfully.

I was tempted by a meringue with fruit and cream, which proved quite challenging (but well worth the effort) to consume.

Meringue with fruit and cream at the Macmillan Cafe, Quarrymill.

Lorna was delighted to find that there was one scone left, and that it was a variety she’d never had before: prune and honey.

Prune and honey scone at the Macmillan Cafe, Quarrymill.

We both greatly enjoyed our treats, washed down with large decaf Americanos. We wrote a couple of postcards we’d bought in the museum shop, and felt as if we were on our holidays.

Writing postcards at Quarrymill.

Colour

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Towards the end of last year I wrote a post entitled Ageing. In it I mentioned that my ability to concentrate had diminished. I said that I accepted this, and a sense of increased confusion, as a natural part of getting older. I think I might be changing my mind about that.

There are times when I feel that, at 96, I’m on an inevitable decline towards death. There are other times, however, when I feel quite the reverse. I believe I’m coming to the conclusion that whatever remains left of my life on Earth, it doesn’t necessarily need to include decline or diminishment.

In recent days I have begun reading John Buchan’s ‘The Thirty-nine Steps’ aloud to Lorna, a practice I believe is improving my concentration and clarity. The first time I tried it, I made many mistakes, kept losing my place, and had difficulty getting some of the words out. With each day of reading, however, my reading has become more confident and fluent. I feel I’m still making too many mistakes, but Lorna assures me that in only a few days my reading skill has improved dramatically.

Reading practice: a well-worn copy of John Buchan’s Hannay adventures.

Certain areas of interest and appreciation are opening up in my 90s that I had never anticipated, and these seem to be giving me a new zest for life. One of these is a love of colour. Lorna takes responsibility for purchasing my clothing these days, but I very much share her enthusiasm for dressing me in colourful clothes. My wardrobe now contains an array of colours I would never have thought of wearing in my younger years.

Here are some examples of my new-found love of colour, with many thanks to House of Bruar for supplying much of my current wardrobe.

Purple and pink.
Pink and pink.
Sunshine yellow.
Yellow and blue.
Red.

I suspect this appreciation for colour might have started with the purchase of my blue jacket, which was a birthday present made for me by Piob Mhor, and my blue shoes, which were made for me by RED Shoes in Wales. Before the shoes were made, I was sent samples of different colours of leather (for the outers) and suede (for the lining) and I enjoyed making my choice of Lifeboat blue for the outers and Petrol blue for the lining.

Prior to owning these shoes I had been in the habit of wearing off-the-shelf brown shoes for many years, and the new blue shoes put something of a spring in my step. I’ve been wearing, and enjoying, them for several years now.

Blue jacket, blue shoes

The most recent addition to my wardrobe is a multicoloured fleece jacket that I got a few days ago. I’ve been enjoying its warmth and vibrancy, and look forward to it brightening up the winter weather.

Multicoloured winter warmer.

Ageing

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It’s been nearly 11 months since my last blog post, towards the end of January 2024.

Out on a frosty day in January 2024.

I had meant to post more frequently than this, but the past year has been a very sleepy one for me and I haven’t had energy for much other than the basic necessities of life.

At 95, I’m interested in how I’m ageing, and in recent months I’ve noticed that my ability to concentrate has diminished. This is evident in how I follow (or fail to follow) conversations, the almost immediate forgetting of something I’ve just been told, and being unable to process information transmitted to me in television programmes or through the written word. The term I often use to describe myself is ‘confused’.

I see all of this is as a natural progression into old age and I’m not overly concerned about it, although I would quite like to feel more engaged with what’s going on around me at times. However, one of the great benefits of this way of life is that I find it very easy to switch off, and I get a lot of sleep, which is something I enjoy.

In the first half of 2024 I had several falls. I’m glad to say they all happened in the house, and none of them resulted in serious injury, but they did knock my confidence in walking. I underwent physiotherapy treatment, which focussed on improving my strength, balance and confidence, and that led to the purchase of a piece of equipment that has made a big difference to my life.

In September, after trying out something similar supplied by my local hospital, I purchased a 4-wheeled walking frame (also known as a rollator) from a specialist shop Dundee.

I’ve been using it every day since then, both indoors and outside, and the physiotherapist has discharged me with a clean bill of health.

We’re fortunate to have a car with a spacious, flat-level entry boot, which the rollator slides in and out of easily. The rollator also folds up nicely so that when I’m in a restaurant or other place with limited space, it can be tucked out of the way.

As well as keeping me stable when walking, it provides a comfortable seat if I need a little rest.

As well as this excellent new piece of equipment, I now have a blue disabled badge, which allows anyone driving me to park in a variety of places for free. Lorna gains considerable pleasure from parking in disabled spaces when she’s taking me out, and I must say it is very helpful to be close to the entrances of shops and restaurants, and to have the extra space marked out around the car in disabled parking spaces.

As we approach the end of 2024, I’m hopeful that 2025 will bring new rollator adventures, and possibly even a little extra energy for some of the things I’d still like to achieve.

Comments are closed on this post but if you wish to contact me you can email me on bennet@sent.com.