In the blink of an eye

It has been along time since my last blog.  My whole life has been completely turned upside down and it is only now that I am doing things just for me.  That may sound selfish but after the last year I am allowed some me time to breathe.  

Mum and me at Claridges Hotel

On January 21st last year my mum suffered a stroke in the night and was found by the police the following day after I had called and asked them to do a check.  She was taken into hospital and because the stroke had paralysed her right side it was evident early on that she would not be returning to her home.  The stroke had also affected her speech and that did frustrate her very much.  

Mum moved into a Bupa owned care home called Gallions View which she had chosen herself.  She had a lovely room with a door that opened out onto her own patio area.  We made her room a home from home with lots of things brought from her own home.  The heart of Duncan House was the large lounge/dining room which was where most things happened.  Mum made friends very quickly with other residents and staff.  As well as settling mum into her new home I had to sort and dispose of her home which I could not have done with out the help of my best friend.  For nearly seven months we travelled down to London every weekend and looking back I don't know how we managed, we were just running on adrenaline.

Mum settled in well and made a lasting impression on everyone she met.  In September she went into hospital and passed away after a short illness.  I am mum's executor and after her funeral I am now shorting her estate.  I have what is called an executors year and I intend to take my time doing it right.

If someone had told me at the end of 2013 that this was going to happen I would never have believed them.  There were no indications and mum was a strong independent lady. 

I miss mum everyday and I miss her daily phone calls.  I have so many memories of things

Christmas Day 2013

that we had done together in 2013.  To celebrate mum's 90th birthday I took her and my best friend to Claridges for a festive afternoon tea.  I also organised a party to celebrate her birthday with friends and family.  But by far the best memory I have with mum was our last Christmas together.  As a treat mum took me to The Connaught Hotel in Mayfair for Christmas, it was a very surreal experience but a wonderful one to have.  I remember her smile and laughter on that Christmas morning and fun we had on the horse drawn carriage ride.

I promised her that when she was not around anymore that I would continue to live life to the full and I intend to keep that promise to her.  I know she is with me always.