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As you might imagine, since she has nothing else to do, my mother has become obsessive over a large number of small, petty things (like the plots of Emmerdale, Corronation Street ...), switching off every minor appliance at the plug the moment you stop using it (which makes sense for old TVs overnight, but not every single time you use the kettle during the day); about the 1001 different types of trash that have to be discarded and that are lurking about in different bags all around the house; about double-locking doors and windows - at 6 p.m.
Prisoners get more freedom!
Also unsurprisingly (contrary to what she says), she doesn't really do anything all day: she might go out or do odd chores in the mornings, but by lunch time, she's looking for things to do; reading, knitting, watching TV, but mostly sleeping.
That's absolutely fine, unless I do it: then she calls it "lazy".
Oh and, she suddenly decided to tell me that 11.30 a.m. is her lunch time and that it ALWAYS has been. No, I don't need to tell you that I know when she usually ate and that I can read a clock at my age. Clearly, she thinks that I can't. The reality was that she just made this up as she was bored-style hungry.
One of the major reasons she's always given for not leaving this prison of her own making was that she would not have anything to do elsewhere. On the contrary, I think it would be really hard to find anywhere left in the world - certainly not in Spain which was what she mostly applied the objection to - where English books, knitting wool and (if necessary), Satellite TV couldn't be had and, where there would indeed be plenty more to do, places to see, weather to enjoy ...
