Alone

This year will see both my In-Laws sleeping alone on Christmas Eve for the first time since being a couple. This is my Mother-In-Law's nativity display in her own room where she sleeps in an old folks home. The initial plan was to take a long exposure picture of the tree on our visit, but suddenly found myself exploring the festive still life on the table. You see Ann is an Irish Catholic and is very passionate about it, especially when it comes to Christmas. She's sort of lady who crucifies people who spell Xmas instead of Christmas and will make a show of store managers who don't sell nativity Christmas cards. Don't get me wrong, she is a wonderful Mum-In-Law and being an English, Methodist myself is saying something! Sadly we, as a family can only catch glimpses of this wonderful-ness as her dementia and parkinson's has taken it's toll on her over the last few years. And today was one of those glimpses as she cracked some jokes with myself & Mrs Tuttle at lunchtime in the orangery.
What saddened me most was whilst editing this shot, I found myself drawn to the pictures on the wall, the sink, flannel, bathroom cabinet, the "poof", towel rail, soap dispenser and the compactness of the room (though to be fair her room is sizable in comparison, but everything has to be "at hand" for Ann's sake in a practical sense).
The staff are wonderful and she has the privilege of being allowed out with family and friends.