~~~~~ VALE BETTY 29.7.2011 ~~~~~

One moment she had a pulse --- the next she didn't.  It was as simple as that.  

One could argue that such an important event as death should receive more fanfare.    We are happy that it did not.  With family around her, Betty quietly and peacefully breathed her last, at the age of 77.

Her funeral will be on August 2nd, a graveside service at the cemetery on the windswept plains of Patho, where her husband is buried.

We met with the undertaker(ess) today and have planned most of what is needed.  We're awaiting confirmation on a couple of things.

Last night was amazing.  Steve's siblings Deb and Andrew stayed here and we talked, reminisced and laughed for hours.  It was just a shame that their brother Greg couldn't be here.   Funny how a death can do this, isn't it?  Lovely, though.

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OFF HOME TO SUPPORT BETTY IN HER LAST BATTLE

I am booked on the train that leaves Moree on Wednesday, 8am.

It gets into Sydney around 5pm and I then have a 3.5 hour wait for the next train.  I told Steve that would be enough time for me to go into the heart of Sydney and have a good look around.  It was nearly Steve's heart that was explored!   He wasn't at all impressed with my idea. hee hee

Steve plans to meet the train in Albury around 4.30am on Thursday.   I'm going to have a sleeping berth for that leg of the trip.  From there, it's only about 3 hours to home.

We are leaving the van here.  Everyone has been so helpful to me and Marion next door will take some of my things into her van for safe keeping.  People are so kind.

It is time for Steve's Mother to begin the next stage of her life.  There had been plans to send her to Melbourne for an operation to enlarge some blood vessels in her lower legs.  Those plans were abandoned and palliative care has continued in Cohuna Hospital.  She will be much happier there than being bounced around to Melbourne and prodded and poked in hospital there.  Our doctor rang Steve to put this to him and we and the family were very relieved.

Steve is doing a wonderful job at home.  He sees his Mum at least twice a day, feeds her and helps her to receive phone calls from the rest of the family.  He keeps her sisters and brothers updated daily.  He tells me that some people burst into uncontrollable crying when he said that she probably had about 10 days left.  That was very hard on him.  He's keeping it together for his Mum's sake and for the sake of his sister and brothers.  He speaks on the phone and sends texts dozens of times each day, to keep everyone in the loop.  I'm very proud of him.  I just hope that people can keep their emotions under control while he is trying to organise things.

Betty has had a bad heart and diabetes for a very long time.  She has had end stage heart disease and end stage kidney disease for many months but she managed to stay at home.  

She never wanted to go into the Nursing Home and she has achieved this.  Good on you, Betty.  You won that last battle.  Only one more to go and then you can read every book in the Library, without interruption.

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IT WASN'T A FROG

My detective work was wrong.   It wasn't Steve's cough and it wasn't a frog. 

I have two air freshener 'machines' that run on batteries and give a burst of spray  every so often.   It was one of them, on a shelf behind me. 
Only one makes the noise, so  I've turned it off for the moment.  I'm not unhappy to do without it as the smell is a bit like coconut and it makes me hungry!!    I have to hunt around to find one that makes me feel full.   I'd really like one that smells like tobacco!!!  It has been 10 months and I really miss my cigarettes............ boo hoo

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Hard Week

This has been a difficult week for a few people.

Steve left by train on Monday morning, 8am.  He arrived in Cohuna at 9am on Tuesday.  He found his Mother in a lot of pain and not able to walk easily.  He took her to the doctor and then immediately to the hospital, where she is now.

Her diabetic/heart/vascular condition has worsened significantly.

We wait every day for a bed to become available in Box Hill Hospital.  Betty's GP in Cohuna has contacted a vascular surgeon who is willing to perform a particular operation for public patients.  There is a vascular surgeon in Echuca who can do this fiddly op but he will only treat private patients.  Same for a number of other vascular surgeons in Melbourne.  

Box Hill hospital is well out of the way for my SIL, Debbie and her family, which is a shame, but what can we do?   

Betty's GP was irate about the situation, particularly about the doctor in Echuca.   He no doubt wants a country life but with a city pay and I suppose I couldn't blame him for that.  But the European GP is a humanitarian and he insists that we country people urgently need DOCTORS, not someone catering only to people who can afford private health insurance.

I am alone in the caravan and missing Steve.  He is alone in our very cold house and missing me.  Tonight, he told me of his plans to come up and take me and the van home this weekend, if Betty doesn't go to Melbourne on Friday.  Such over-the-top adventurous plans which would be super exhausting, especially as we would have to be prepared to leave early on Monday if Betty's hospital bed becomes available.  I've persuaded him to wait until Betty has had the op and is completely settled, preferably back in Cohuna.

We did a big lot of shopping before Steve left but my fresh vegies are getting low so I might get a taxi into town at the weekend.   I need to "fly under the radar" to do this, as the family will be alerted when I go to find the taxi number and then I'll have 5 different offers of help.  I do appreciate the help but I like to be independent.

It's consoling that Betty is happily settled into the Cohuna hospital and not in need of pain relief.  As long as she has her feet up, the pain stays away.

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Someone stole my washing

I washed clothes yesterday and sheets today.   It was a furiously windy day and I thought they would dry quickly.  I have a tiny rotary clothes line, very popular for caravans these days.  It lives inside the annexe on wet days and outside on sunny days.  It has to be watched carefully on windy days, or it and it's load could take off.   I tried hard to get it outside today but I just couldn't do what Steve does;  never mind, I pegged the washing on it and left it right up at the entrance.

I would have thought that it was impossible to get into the annexe past the clothes line, but Lindy managed.  When she heard that I had sheets to hang out, she grabbed them from the machine and headed to the big outside clothes line.   It was blowing a gale and we were struggling with them and laughing.  We made enough noise to attract Marion and between the 3 of us we made sufficient noise to get everyone in the park to visit!  

Lindy decided that the clothes on the small line were still a little damp and should be taken elsewhere.  I was perfectly happy to leave them there until they dried but neither Lindy nor Marion were.  They were gathered up and taken away.

Later, I went out to get the sheets from the line but they had gone the way of the other clothes.
Marion arrived here later, with all the clothes and sheets dry and folded.  They had been through her tumble dryer.

  Some people are so kind.

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coughing and hawking

When we arrived here, we were both dealing with the after effects of a wretched cold.    All sorts of obnoxious noises were emanating from every orifice and we agreed that we would skip saying "pardon me."   Slowly the symptoms disappeared.  One night, I mentally noted that Steve was still bringing up a bit of muck.  I had heard him give a couple of deep snorts, as he sat beside me.

Steve left on the train on Monday morning, so I have been alone in the caravan.  Early in the evening, I heard Steve snort.  I even accepted it for a split second!!   I realised that it was exactly the same noise that I had heard previously.   I went outside and looked if anything was banging up against the back of the van ---- nothing.   Throughout the evening, I heard the noise a few more times.  Gradually, it became more familiar but it took me hours to put my finger on it. 

 

A  FROG

Steve's journey takes 25 hours.  Although this time, it could take 28 hours.  He booked his train tickets at a Travel Agent in Moree ---------from Moree to Sydney then Sydney to Albury.  When he looked on the internet to book a bus ticket from Albury to Cohuna, he found that you had to do it well in advance, as they post the ticket to you.  We rang Sydney station and located the bus depot there.  They were very helpful and told us how and when to get the bus ticket from them.   

BUT ------ when Steve attempted to buy his ticket, the man refused to sell him one for the 4.30am bus.  If the train happened to be late and missed the bus, the railways don't want to be held responsible.  They would sell him a ticket for the 7.30am bus.  The thought of spending a very cold 3 hours at a railway station was giving Steve goose bumps.  He said that he was happy to buy 2 tickets, one for each bus.  But the man wouldn't sell him that!!   So, I wait to receive a text telling me how he fares.   I do hope that he can talk his way onto the first bus.  I gave him some devious ideas!!

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Lost in the translation!!

Annie said, "Come early.  I show you through  house."   I thought.

I was ready early, thank goodness and just playing around on the computer, when she unexpectedly arrived here at the van. 

Her conversation with me should have been..... I come early.  I show you to house.  There's a world of difference between through and to.

Her kind idea had been to come here, pick me up, take me to her house for a massage, then bring me back home, so that I would know where to go in future.   

She honoured me!!!    Turn me around once and I'm lost.

I went with Annie, with Steve loudly repeating, "I will come to Annie's and Tom's house to get you at 4pm" as I was getting in the car.  

An hour and one welcome massage later, I walked out the back of their house and had Annie greet me at the front, "I take you back to caravan."

I sat on their patio and waited for Steve, thinking that it wouldn't hurt me to learn to speak a bit of basic Chinese.

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Is it time to wake up yet??

I've been asleep since Rachel, Tom and Indy left on Monday.   The weather has been cold and dreary, so I didn't miss too much.   One failure is that I haven't seen anything of Caroline for a few days.   We  had two long chats earlier but nothing recently.  Her husband Cliff died 6 weeks ago and it's hard for her, of course.   They lived 2 sites up from us and we came to know them quite well over the years.  Caroline is here to pack up their van.  She is doing it in a couple of bursts; she will go home to Quirindi by train on Monday and return later for another session.  Cliff has left Caroline with a wonderful legacy, which she possibly doesn't see yet.  He had a cheeky wit and a good knowledge of people; he had sayings for just about everything.  He has left her with so many of his thoughts, which I think will sustain her in the bad times.

Steve is also going on the train on Monday at 8am.  He will have a slightly different journey to last year, when he went all the way to Melbourne and then to Kerang, by train.  This time he will go only as far as Albury by train, then will catch the bus to Cohuna at about 4am.  Hopefully there will be someone around to drive him home on Tuesday.

He will be there to take his Mother to see the eye specialist in Echuca on Wednesday morning then to the GP in Cohuna in the afternoon.  There are a few little problems to attend to and then he will be on his way back here, in the car. 

I have made an appointment with Tom for a massage tomorrow.  The main town pool is being refurbished and Tom is practising from home.  When I rang for an appointment I was given a lovely welcome, with both Tom and Annie referring to me by the name they call me ---- Laurie-uh.  I used to be Rorrie-uh.  Annie asked me to come early so that she could show me through her house.   I wonder if there are any Chinese customs that I should observe during this time?

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They've gone

Boo hoo.....  family have gone.   It was wonderful having them here.  They left only this morning but I'm missing them already.  They join the growing band of people who have holidayed with us here but not at home --- these people appear to be happy to drive 1200 kms but not 300 kms!!   

I think I understand that, though.  Here in Moree, we all have the same interest.  In a caravan park, no one is staying with anyone, no one is imposing on anyone else.  We're all free to come together or move separately, without consulting others.

We had a lovely dinner out last night, meeting the others at the Golf Club, where the three of them had played 9 holes.   Indy went particularly to drive the golf cart!   He had driven my Gopher the day before and was pretty chuffed with himself.   The Thai restaurant at the Golf Club is very nice but my food wasn't.  That pays me back for having a  nice meal at The Tavern, while Tom and Indy had soggy pizzas.

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Cranky Rock

Long time readers are entitled to groan,"Oh no, not Cranky Rock again".  

As always, it was a spectacular trip.  I could never get sick of looking at the rather unusual scenery. 

The rocks are amazing and I feel so small and young beside them.  Sometimes it's possible to see where a rock has split.   The original shape is still there;  it's just slightly askew from where it was originally.  I can see in my mind's eye how a huge rock was spewed up from the depths of the earth, to land with an ear splitting thump.  A weaker piece at the bottom can't take the violent landing and splits along its fault line.  It slides a little forward of the rest of the boulder and there it stays for hundreds of thousands of years.

Indy had a wonderful time and declared himself to be an explorer.  He loved walking on the swaying suspension bridge and leapt over the rocks like a mountain goat.

Making the bridge sway for Nana

Rachel and Indy After climbing to the observation deck at the top of the hill, we went down to the creek below.  Tom and Indy walked across the creek on a log and Indy eagerly went off for more mountaineering.   In my effort to find the smoothest path, I put one foot in mud and went for a big, sliding fall.  I had to call for help, as I couldn't get up from my seated position.  Intuitively, I told Steve and Rachel that I had "fallen over."  I'm so glad that was the first phrase to come to mind.  I'm not old enough to "have a fall." Indy on the far side. Eventually, we headed back to the picnic area for lunch.  Tom had come so well prepared!!!   Like a magician, he produced various meats to barbecue, tongs, bread, eggs and cheese.  The Cranky Park reserve provides free BBQs, which is a wonderful service and Tom conjured up a delicious lunch.  Indy then decided to do some rock climbing in the opposite direction.  Three peacocks scurried passed him and Rachel and frightened the daylights out of them.   We headed up to the kiosk and passed some caged birds so we stopped for a chat.  The sulphur crested cockatoo was very pleased to have our company and requested a scratch.  He clung to the wire and put his head on one side, so we obligingly scratched, very cautiously at first.   He stretched out his wings and raised his crest for a dance routine, looking so pretty as he bobbed around in the late afternoon sun.    A few drab peahens wandered around and were soon greeted by the peacocks.   Indy kept us entertained on the trip home, with his version of the old fashioned car games.  It was lovely to see my daughter playing the games with her son that I had played with her!! Steve and I were too pooped to go for a swim but the others were eager.   It was a lovely day all round...... made all the more pleasurable by the enthusiasm and excitement of a 6 year old boy. Lunch ~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~

I'm Bad at Getting Up

This morning, I got up early because I knew that Rachel and the guys would be getting going early.  I was having breakfast when they arrived!   They had been up for ages!!   Tomorrow, the alarm will have to be set for an hour earlier --- about 8am.  lol.   Now if that doesn't work, I might as well stay up all night. ha ha ha

I've always been a night owl.  My Mother despaired of me.  In our house, it was "early to bed and early to rise, makes you healthy, wealthy and wise ."     I used to get chilblains, styes in the eyes and cold sores and you know what caused them????   Going to bed too late.  Ask Mum;  she'll tell you. 

Actually, it wasn't that I went to bed too late;  I read under the blankets with a torch for half the night.

By the time I was in Year 10, Mum had started work outside of the house and I had to get up early to cut lunches, help my little brother etc.   I once overheard Mum telling a friend, "I'm so proud of her.  If she's too sleepy when she gets up, she puts her head under the cold tap to wake up."    I'm thankful that I've never been proud of any of my kids for putting their head under a cold tap!!!

We had another lovely swim today and Rachel did laps in the cool pool.  I admired her 1 kilometre effort but she told me that she usually aims for 3 kms!   We came home to change and then go back to have a BBQ with them but I dropped out.  Too pooped.  Must have been my early start!

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FAMILY

Is there anything nicer and more comforting than having family around?

Rachel, Tom and Indy arrived this afternoon and it seems as if they've been here for ages.

Indy and I started at the coolest of the warm pools and went to increasingly hotter pools and then spent quite some time in the 25 metre tepid pool.  Indy had a great time.  He's a neat little swimmer.

Steve and I got a pot roast into the Dream Pot before they arrived.  We took it down to their cabin where there was room for all of us to eat.  Although I had left it cooking for 6 hours, the meat was still too pink for any of us.  Fortunately, it was a large roast and we were able to cut plenty of meat from the sides.  It was really tasty and everyone enjoyed it.

I saw Indy's school photos, portfolio of work and his report for the first half of the year.   I nearly cried when I read the opening sentence ---- "Indy is a bright, inquisitive boy, with a heart of gold."   What a lovely thing to write!  What a perceptive teacher!

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This new ablutions block is most annoying.

It is divided into Ladies and Gents and each has 2 showers, 2 toilets and 3 "dressing rooms". 

This is the first time that toilets have been placed near the pool and that is wonderful.    

In the past, the obligatory 'shower before entering the pool' has been carried out in a central area but it was simply two constantly running showers in a little tin box with no doors and no roof.  There was nothing wrong with it but I suppose it was pretty primitive.  One advantage, it gave 99% of the elderly men the chance to repeat (frequently), "This is the first time I've showered with a lady I don't know!"

The new showers are lovely -- hot and cold water and a soap dispenser, and a door, walls and ceiling!

The dressing rooms are utterly ridiculous.  They have one small hook on the door and nowhere to sit.  The water runs down from the shower end, so these rooms and the toilets have permanently wet floors.  There's not a grab rail in sight.  I thought it would have been obligatory to have disabled access or aids.  The small hook isn't large enough to hold your clothes so they dangle on the wet floor.

There's no mixed sexes room so therefore no place for husbands and wives to assist each other and what do parents do with little kids?

I hate seeing a good idea spoiled because of lack of planning and forethought.

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Hot artesian water!!! Oh wow! .............. Sigh

Another lovely day on Friday.   

The kangaroos didn't think so!   So many of them were dead on the side of the road.   We presume that trucks got them during the night or early morning.  

We had lunch at the RSL Club in Narrabri and enjoyed the light and sound show put on in the Bushrangers'  bar.   The sounds of the cracking lightning, rolling thunder and falling rain were all very realistic.  Water dripping from a tin roof beside us, completed the picture.

From Narrabri to Moree, the sides of the road were decorated with cotton, even though the harvest must have finished 6 to 8 weeks ago.

We had a happy, noisy arrival here.  Friends came out to greet us and other people came along to see what the commotion was.  Poor Steve!!!  As if backing into this difficult site wasn't hard enough!!

It was getting dark by the time we were ready for a swim but surprisingly, it wasn't freezing cold on the return journey.

As Marion had told us, there was a new ablutions block opening into the pool area down near the newest pool.   Prior to this, there had been only the permanently running shower and no toilets.  The new block has toilets and dressing rooms as well as showers.  The dressing rooms have nothing to sit on and nowhere to put clothes to protect them from the wet floors.  So what's the point of having them????

Lindy gave us more than the usual greetings.   I wondered why the extra exuberance until she pulled back from me and said,  "Wow, still no smoking!"

We wallowed in the 37C pool and I had a quick rush into the cool pool.  I pretended to exercise and Steve enjoyed the very hot pool for a bit.  It was dark when we came home but not tooo cold.

Today. Saturday, has been rather different.  Although it was another beautiful day, 21Cm with no wind, I slept.  I started watching tennis on Friday night but went to sleep before the game finished and Steve woke me up at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon.  I was sitting upright in my chair, so my legs and feet were very swollen.  Steve suggested that I should recline the chair and try to get rid of some fluid.   That I did, but I was woken by little visitors at 4.30pm.

Sleep is my normal reaction to energetic, bouncing around days.  I'll be better tomorrow.   I feel awake and brighter since Lily, her baby sister Codey and Carissa arrived.   Carissa turned 14 yesterday and is now 6'1", looking stunning.  We went to Lily's and Codey's Christening last year and now Codey is walking and can say anything at all.  We haven't seen Emily yet.  She is either working or at church.

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