Wednesday 16 May 2012

Settling in . . .

Where to start, I really don't know. I think I'll save the camping post until I have the photos on-line. We all used my Brother's new camera so I have to wait for him, or more likely his wife, to send me the pics.  I will just say it was freakishly good weather for North Wales. Three days of sunshine with one session of heavy wind and rain during the night on Sunday. Yes, I'll do a holiday post when the photos come through.
We were back quite late last night but I sat up till one am to catch up on all your posts, I didn't get time to comment and was a little too tired and irritable anyway.

For most of my life, visits to North Wales have been over-shadowed by too many bad memories. In the last year I've felt much more at peace with it all and can now appreciate the beauty of the place. It really does take some beating and I think coming home to this town with neither sea or mountains got me down a bit. Also seeing my Dad in the latter stages of Parkinson's disease is very sad. Heart-breaking. They've prescribed him more drugs to calm his anxiety attacks and he is very quiet and lost. He is frail, incontinent and in a wheelchair. It's hard to see the strong man I knew as Dad in this way. I gave him a hug as we left and told him properly that I loved him, he cried like a small boy. His wife is an angel. She is only fifty-six, he is eighty-six. She has loved him since she was twenty-one, truly loved him. He is her first love and might even be her last. Who knows.

Stropster has been signed off work onto the pittance that is "sick pay" due to a hernia, he is just a tad more stroppy than his usual stroppy self . . . He's bored at home, without money, having to rest . . . . O dear, just when I thought I would get some time at home, alone, in peace. My Brother said we should be grateful for our trials as well as our blessings. I said nothing for now. I'll keep that one up my sleeve for another day.

Hamper G started school this morning, just mornings for the first week . . . . she loves it! How good is that? I was worried when I went to collect her at lunch time that I might find a tear stained little face but there was no need, she was fine. More than fine, she was excited about it all and looking forward to going back tomorrow. It's a huge relief that she settled in so quickly.

I had some very strange dreams last night but I won't go into all that just now. I think once I've completed Higgins part three and moved on to France part one (Lost in Nice) those dreams will stop. They'll no doubt be replaced by others but a change of "scenery" will be more than welcome.

I'll get back into my fitness routine this week with an extra four mile daily walk thrown in. I pretty much stuck to my eating plan whilst we were away but I didn't do my daily work out or weights . . . I'll allow myself a week to catch up, then weigh-in and up-date.

It's past midnight and I need to be up at seven, so I better get to bed. I've been very tired and a bit flat since we got back, I reckon I'll be settled in by the weekend and find my enthusiasm again for my Springtime purge!

Meantime, I hope you're all doing well in whatever you want to be doing. I'm looking forward to getting back into the rhythm of it all. Sweet dreams and thoughts to all. Thanks, as always, for reading.

19 comments:

  1. Wonderful. I missed you, and I am glad to hear that it was (mostly) a good trip away. I cannot tell you how sorry I am to hear about your father. Telling him that you loved him sounds to have been a gift to you, to him, and also to his wife.
    How long does Stropster have to rest up his hernia? As I know, the testosterone laden do recuperation very, very badly.
    Sending good wishes (and lots of them) your way. And I am impressed at the four mile walk and at Hamper's blessed joy at school.

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    1. Hi The E'sC,
      when I saw "one comment" this morning, I had a good feeling it might be you. Thanks.
      I told my Dad's wife that she's the best wife he could possibly have. She really is.
      Stropster has to go and see the specialist on Monday then most likely will be put on a waiting list (?) until he can get an operation. I don't think it will be considered urgent so it could be months. You're right though, he is not resting!
      Hey the four mile walk is not out of choice . . . the school is a mile away and I have to walk there and back twice a day. I've just been to collect Hamper G and she was horrified that she had to strip down to her pants with THE WHOLE CLASS to get changed for P.E.!! . . . Bless her. I suppose I didn't think to warn her, it didn't cross my mind that it would bother her. Apart from that, she had a great morning there.
      I didn't get time to comment the other night but I was very impressed with your quilting skills, what a beautiful quilt and bed. I'm so nosy, I was looking on the bed-side tables!
      Great to hear from you, thanks x

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  2. Wales without rain?! Actually last trip I made to Mordor - sorry Aberystwyth with my son I left there at 9am in glorious sunshine, no clouds, no wind, absolutely beautiful day. Time I got back to Kent about 4pm it was leaden skies, heavy rain and a wind bordering on hurricane force! There is much to question in this climate change stuff you know

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    1. Furtheron,
      I'm just having my coffee before getting kids ready for school . . . Wishing I was still in Wales. Yes it was always known for it's greyness and rain; it's like a different country when the sun shines on it. Beautiful. If Geekster wasn't half way through senior school, (and their various Dads didn't live locally) I would seriously consider a move. Maybe I'll retire there!
      OK time for the morning rush . . . back later. Take care, belated Happy Birthday! (hope you're over the PBDBlues)x

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  3. Glad you had a good time away although it is sad to see your once fearsome parents reduced.

    Here, your child would be bused to school with such a distance. We were one house off from the cut-off - literally - the kids across the street were eligible but mine weren't - although for the first couple years they took them anyway as the neighborhood and the bus were not full yet. Later, they were cut off - so I often drove - but I'll bet the kids would say they walked all the time. Everyone remembers the past a little different. They do remember me taking their lunches to them when they forgot.

    Welcome back!

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    1. Hi Jeannie,
      Yeah I did look into transport . . . The school has to be more than 2 miles away to qualify for free transport. Even if I was willing to pay, there are no public bus routes from our house to the school. The only other option is £5 taxi fare each way, £20 per day! . . . I'll walk.
      We had tears this morning when I had to leave her, she's decided she doesn't like it after all. O dear. Such is life.
      Let's be positive at least I have two hours in peace ;-)

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  4. I spent a couple of years living on the Shropshire/N Wales border. The weather was always dreadful; I really don't remember it being nice at all! But a lovely place even so.

    Hope you get good rest; life is always better when one is properly rested.

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    1. Cro Magnon,
      Yes, that's the first time I've seen three days of sunshine in Wales, it makes all the difference.
      I'm still looking for some good rest, I'll probably have to count my six hours sleep as good rest for today.
      I read your gypsy caravan post the other day . . . What a great idea.

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  5. Glad you are back. I'm looking forward to seeing the pics and hearing about your adventure!

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    1. Brabara,
      Hey me too, I'm really looking forward to seeing the pics. I didn't even check them out on the camera, so have no idea what's there . . . Unfortunately Bro and wife are always "busy, busy", I'm not sure how as they don't have kids but I can see them dragging this one out.
      I've just had their dog for the night and all of today . . . Maybe I should hold him hostage until I get the disc!

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  6. Welcome home! So glad your holiday was a good one.

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    1. Hi Sherry
      Thanks . . . I've had so much to catch up on that I've not had time to comment, but well done on kicking the sugar habit; I know how hard it is. I had to be very strict with myself on holiday as Bro and wife start planning what they're going to eat next, as soon as they finish eating! Yes, well they're almost ten years younger than I, although they both could do with losing a few poounds ;-)

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  7. Welcome back, Lovey! I can't wait to see the pictures, tell your sister in law to hurry it up LOL

    I'm glad Hampster G is happy at school - whew!

    Be well =)

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    1. O Lovey . . . I wish I could tell her to hurry it up, they don't "get" what the rush is. I can see it taking at least a week, I've no idea why, that's just them (grrrr!)

      Hamper G is no longer happy at school :-( She cried this morning and I wanted to just give in and say "come home" .. . But I know that won't help in the long run. Why are there so many lessons in self-discipline in one day.
      Really sorry I've not had chance to comment yet, I've been reading though and will try some of your coping mechanisms when I get stuck in my loop of "anger/stress=text dealer" . . . I will try to remember to try. Take care.

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  8. I am so glad you are back. :o) Loved your comment today.....thanks for not being bored. lol I am looking forward to hearing all you want to share with us in the next weeks.

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    1. Hi Annette,
      How could I be bored, I loved the story; I could just imagine you asking the cops how far you had run ;-)
      You are really going some . . . and some more!
      Good for you x

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  9. I'm glad that you had a good trip without rain. How sad about your father and seeing him cry. That made me a bit misty eyed too. I think that having old age come on can be a really sad thing when ones health declines. I maybe have 30 really good years left which suddenly seems too short (if I am a lucky one and keep my good health).
    Anyway, I look forward to your photos and camping stories.

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    1. Hi Syd,
      Yes it was sad, I've rarely seen him cry before, and never like that. It is hard but we have to be thankful that he has a young, healthy, caring wife who adores him. (a nurse by profession) They've had thirty very happy years together.
      Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing the photos too.
      Take care Syd, I loved your garden photos.

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  10. N. Wales will always be a special place for me ,even if it is where some painfull memories lie. My 2nd daughter was born there, we gave her a Welsh name, Eswen, it means shining white light. She is the mother of my Grand daughter, the 2nd shining white light in my life. xKarl

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