My Gran said to most
People that she would
Be lost without our Alexandra.
But she was short
And snappy with her.
I know a lot of people
Would not understand,
But my ol'mum had
To buy the whiskey
And hide it from
Gran until the evening
Where Gran would
Phone up and ask
Where it was.
When Gran phoned
The taxi driver
And asked if they
Would go to the
Shop and buy whiskey
And then drop it off,
They obviously refused.
And my Gran was
Ushered inside by the
Neighbour when they
Saw her struggling
Accross the road
On a quest to make
It to the Shop when
She was not fit to.
And she fell down
The stairs and it
Is an awful feeling,
Heart in your mouth
Type of feeling
When you get
A call saying that
Someone found her
At the bottom of
The stairs, but the
Paramedics have
Been and gone
So she is ok.
The nurses
Who tended to Gran
To give her the
Insulin for diabetes
Said when Gran
Was out of ear shot
That they knew
The mind of addicts
And they will do
What it takes for
In my Grans case alcohol.
It was reassuring
For my ol'mum
But it meant
That even though
They were professionals,
There was no
Hiding from the truth.
Who found out was
Completely out of
The families hands.
My Grandfather would
Have been furious.
Even though it
Was not a closely
Guarded secret, there
Were staff in and
Out at least four
Times a day.
We were not ashamed
Of Gran though.
She just wanted
Someone to yap to!
And I can fine
Well imagine what
The caring staff
Would say in the brief.
My Gran was hard work.
And a drinker. And
A smoker. Coffee
And a fag is the
Only thing on her mind.
Try your best but
Be prepared for resistance.