Hello everyone, 

Well it’s funny how they say that things from your past can come back into significance in your life in your twilight years. 

My dads , dad , 

my grandfather , 

way back in the day had a fruitshop in Graham St , Wonthaggi, 

and that was the family’s business,

And It was called 

Gardners something, Im not really sure. 

I used to years ago have in my possession a stained and  a plain photo slide projector advertising slides for the shop , with a picture of the loaded fruit truck on the street outside the shop. 

They were used as an advertisement during interval at the movies at the old Union Theatre just down the road . 

As everyone knows that dad is currently staying in respite care in Rose Lodge , for a few weeks of respite. 

I thought tonight that id better go and check in with him and see how things were. 

I had a bit of trouble getting in , as it was after five and the front desk was closed and in the end a staff member opened the main door to let me in . 

Its a facility that is built on two levels with the rear entrance being the high care section. 

So from that entrance I have to walk through the high care dining area to access the lift in the hall for the quick one story plunge down to the lower level retirement section that dads staying in. 

I then went straight to the lower level dining area and I did a quick visual scan of the room, 

I saw lots of tables with lots of our elderly people sitting there having dinner around the tables . 

I thought then in that instant in my mind at that time,  

just look at all the amount of knowledge and life experiences that are surrounding me in this room. 

Dad was sitting up eating tea on a table of four people . 

I went to the table and sat down on the end . 

Dad was petty pleased to see me and he happily introduced me to the two ladies on the opposite side of end of the table . 

When dad introduced me to the first one  as Michael, 

she looked straight at me and called me Rodger? 

This just after several attempts couldnt be corrected and we both had a laugh about it as I said to her that I like that name and I might use it sometimes instead of mine,

this pleased her a lot . 

Dad then asked me if I knew the man sitting next to him ? 

He then told me his name and it turned out that I did actually know him to be the grandfather of a young training partner of mine at Judo so many years ago. 

He also remembered me . 

The drinks people kindly offered me a coffee , 

Desert was then delivered to the residence, 

They also offered me a dessert but I declined, and  I just instead chatted to dad , thats when the next thing that happened caught my attention. 

The orderly came around to our table pushing a trolley containing a box of mixed fruit for everyone. 

So dad then asked them for a mandarine and a green pear . 

Mum had told me once of him saving some fruit there on another earlier respite stay. 

It raised my suspicions and I thought hmm , 

He has picked the fruit that keeps longest. 

Old Curls then went over to retrieve his walking frame and return back to the table . 

I said I have an idea pop, what about I make it easy and I put these bits of fruit in your walker for  you. 

I actually accidentally did the wrong thing , as he already had a plan and he had waiting lying in the bottom of his walker like a solitary piece of hand paper towel that he then slowly took out and  he so then carefully wrapped up the fruit in the paper . 

As he wrapped it the other man on the table also gave dad a banana that was cut in half still in its skin. 

Dad was pleased then added it to his wrapped up stash . 

I was laughing saying to dad he was turning into Curl the fruiterer . 

So then we made our getaway and a mad dash to dads room . 

I was still giggling to myself as we entered dads room. 

I then nearly wet my pants laughing in the next second , when  he turned to me and all seriously he said Michael do you want some kiwifruit? 

I said what? 

He said , I have at least six in the drawer. 

I burst out laughing and said you need to be careful dad if you collect too much fruit everyone here will be calling you 

Curly Chizz  lol

I said you better remember to eat that banana by tomorrow as because its cut it will quickly go brown in your drawer and spoil. 

Dad told me that he was so lucky to have his fruit stash as he was hungry there the other day and he had to eat two pieces. 

I just smiled. 

He then started talking to me about getting an electric walker . 

I though what ? 

Do they actually make them ? 

But a few questions later and im quickly aware that he really means a mobility scooter . 

He stated it will be easier for him to commute to the block and he wouldn’t get stuck down there anymore waiting for mum to pick him up . 

I tell him straight out that he just cant have one , as his vision is too poor so he would be a dangerous operator. 

He shook his shoulders and put his hands up in protest and stated that all of the people using them down  the street now are all the same and  they cant see either. 

Hmm

Another smile and a nice visit with old Curls 

So a thought that 

Maybe next visit I can bring with me a big bowl and a can of whipped cream , and we can open his draw and together we can make some special free fruit salad together. 

Thats gold 

Cheers xxx