Resident Story: The Joy of Simple Pleasures
Ranfurly Hospital
A long lost, lasting childhood memory was sitting in the park on a sunny day with the family having fish and chips with lemonade and Fanta, then playing on the swings and slides at the playground. Many, many, many years later as an infirmed old man, bent over and barely able to walk, with serious medical issues and a resident in a care facility with many others, the very thought of reliving that childhood memory seemed very distant indeed. BUT, as the advert says, “wait there’s more”, on Thursday, 15th of February 2024 at my facility, Ranfurly Veteran’s Hospital in Three Kings, Auckland I was approached by an extremely vivacious nurse aide named Rabina who is from Nepal, inviting me out to lunch-and of course, how could I refuse. I enthusiastically said yes!
Along with other fortunate residents we assembled at the entrance to be loaded into a purpose-built Mercedes mobility 10-seater van piloted by the cheerful, jolly, happy Jim. Jim and Rabina skillfully and with the patience of saints seated us and made sure we were all safe and belted up. The weather was lovely, warm, sunny, and very calm and we were off on a “tiki tour!”. It wasn’t long before we were on the motorway, it was a real adventure for all us oldies, we felt like tourists as we gazed at our surroundings. In a short while we arrived at the beautiful, picturesque seaside village of Mangere Bridge where Jim found a car park then disappeared to go and see his “Maori mate”, but it wasn’t long before he was back and immediately the van was filled with the unmistaken aroma of fish and chips! Well, our lips started to smack and we were hungrily looking forward to lunch. Jim moved the van to a lovely shaded spot underneath the Pohutukawa trees right beside the calm serene seaside of the Manukau where there was a picnic table big enough to seat us all. Once again, Jim and Rabina handled everybody safely and with dignity then they graced the table with this amazing feast. We could not believe our eyes, there was buttered bread for chip butties, Watties tomato sauce, pieces of battered snapper which was golden brown, and the chips were cooked just right crunchy on the outside and fluffy in the middle. And right next door there it was…the slide, the swings!
Thank you, Ranfurly Hospital, Ngā mihi maioha, Arthur.
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