Month: June 2024

Things are starting to settle down and I am attending to things I need to attend to – which at the moment – mainly – involves Benji. Benji has been very attentive these last few weeks and I look after him as he looks after me. We have been out in the mornings, but not all mornings. Some mornings it is cold and damp, so we just don’t go out. Once things have settled down and I am organized, we  drive to the Wetlands and spend several hours wandering about there. Still a bit on the cool side so not a lot of activity from the Swans. There have been a few but too far out in the pond to take any decent photographs.  The sun might have been out but so was her mate – the wind-  and at times the wind could be quite cutting and cold. Mind you it is winter.

Generally, in the morning we go out with Benji in the stroller. When we go round the Wetlands, he was also in his stroller, but he seems to be quite content to sit quietly and let the world go by and let “daddy” do the work. Benji will be 14 next month so he deserves a bit of pampering. The disadvantage with the wetlands is that once he is in the stroller, that’s him until the end of the walks. When we do the district walk here at home, we go three quarters of the walk in the stroller, which brings us back to the house – I cross over and  get him out of the stroller, attach a leash and we finish the walk together, but I think I mentioned that before :o)  This morning I had a visit from Barry and we sat for a few hours chatting and drinking coffee.

During the week I spent time with some good friends that were over from Canberra.  Although I write to them fairly regularly, I have not seen them for some time, so it was good

to catch up and have coffee with them.    They have their caravan parked at Port Augusta and  will  be heading to Quorn – Andrew is a steam train enthusiast and is a member of the Quorn Steam Train Group. Once things settle down and the weather improves, I’ll start going a bit further from the house. I have a small camp griller, so if I was  away for  hours, I could make coffee and something to eat for both of us.

I  photographed this little fellow the other day. Not quite sure what he/she is – some kind of wading bird I suppose. We have  two resident pelicans but  they alternate between the Foreshore and the Wetlands. Didn’t see either of them on the day we were at the wetlands so I assumed they were  “holding court” at the foreshore.  There was a time when we only had one Pelican and he was named “Percy” Now we seem to have two and since no  one seems to know which is which, they both get referred to as  “Percy”.

This weekend the boys, are doing their grading for their next Karate Belt.  Since it’s a regional thing it’s being held in Port Augusta and I said I would go through and be there to watch them.. I have already been watching some of the practice sessions here with them. I found these quite interesting. And yes, I was asked if I was interested in joining. I thought this was a joke, so I laughed – but I also said NO.   I don’t think that it really is my “style”.

As a follow up from yesterday I decided to take a wander around Ada Ryan Gardens. Not such a great move. Been ages since we had been there and   he was stopping every feet or so. It was  a frustrating walk so I cut it short and came home. By the time we cleared the Gardens it was starting to become quite cold and the wind was getting up.  The best place was in a warm room with a hot coffee  – which is where I am now. We had only just got home when it started raining. I have to mention that  this morning I had a hand delivered  lovely Sympathy Card from a former student. Her comments were very touching and I was much moved.

Annabell’s funeral was held on Wednesday 12th June. It was very well attended because she was much loved. Since then it has been a very trying time getting things sorted out, but I think I am slowly getting there. At least I am holding things together. The staff at Whyalla Funerals have been wonderful – very helpful, friendly and very considerate. They could not do enough. The boys are both working so they have not been able to give as much help as they would like. Benji has been very attentive and has looked after me. – I feel much loved.   However there is still so much to do, and this cold weather is not really helping things., We have missed our morning walk sometimes because I have been unwilling to get ready and face the cold, or he has decided not to go out. Still, we have made it up in other ways – like afternoon wanders around the wetlands, followed by coffee and treats. Interestingly, in the last few days I have been asked by a few people if I  have stopped walking the dog in the morning, because they haven’t seen me as they head off to work

Actually, it has been quite interesting with Benji, and I can hardly move and he’s at my side – as for going out in the car without him– Forget it! I think I said before that Benji is not a “Head out of the Window”  kind of dog – he’s more of a “curl up on the front seat and go to sleep” kind of dog, but if he thinks I am going out in the car – he’s at the door before I am. Even if I am only going to check the mail, he’s there. Well, you can never be too sure! The photograph of Benji and me was taken by Andrew

 

At the weekend Andrew will be in Adelaide, so  I want to get some help from John – depending on the weather – and have the trailer taken to the dump and emptied. Yes, I dare say I could do it myself, but it would be quicker and more efficient with the both of us working on it. I also want to try and  drive through to Port Augusta and get some things for Benji that the shop here doesn’t  seem to be stocking at the moment.

Both  John & Andrew have placed a kind of dilemma on me. They want to know why I do not go back to the church. My reply was that I did not think I would we welcome back. Andrew suggested that it didn’t seem like that when they were all over me at the funeral. My comment was  that funerals are different – so don’t judge – that was all for the sake of your mother – not for me. I resigned for a reason and although the reason behind my resignation may no longer valid, my thoughts and feelings for  doing so  are not.

As I said above, the weather these last weeks has been cold – particularly in the mornings and in the evenings. The days are not too bad but as winter progresses that will probably change. The swans are still around although I have not seen much of them recently and I have noticed when I have been there that the water level has dropped considerably. I hate to say it, but we really need rain – lots of rain – to  recharge the ponds and bring the water level back up. There has been no rain to speak of for quite some considerable time.

. You know the old saying – “always be careful what you wish for” well, I didn’t quite wish for rain but I did suggest that we could do with some and it has been chucking it down all day. Still, I suppose I should look on the bright side and think about how this is all helping to refill the wetlands ponds.  If this weather keeps up, the next few days should be interesting. I really don’t mind the rain but I dislike the cold.

 

 

It has been a tumultuous two weeks- all things considered. On Monday (13th) – as I was shopping – I had a telephone call. I never go without my mobile (cell) phone these days in case the hospital or doctor calls and in this instance, it was Quorn Hospital, and it was a call that changed everything. What they told me was that Annabell is being moved back to Whyalla perhaps this week – or early next week. To say that I was overjoyed is putting it mildly. I have been waiting for such a call for over four months. Not quite sure how I finished the shopping – but I did. This was followed by telephone calls from Whyalla to tell me that there was a place for Annabell, and they were preparing to get her back. They could not promise but they were trying for this week. After that,  telephone calls came thick and fast, and I spent the rest of the day running around signing forms here and there. However, it was all worth the stress and on Thursday 16th May (TODAY ) Annabell was driven by ambulance from Flinders House in Quorn and  transported back to  Yeltana here in  Whyalla. Annabell is home – well not actually in the house with me, but ‘ home’ as in town. I have had the boys at hospital with me and they need me to gain entrance since I have the only security pass for the moment. They will get their passes next week. In the meantime, we go together.

Howeffer…. while all her clothes were packed and sent down from Quorn a lot of her things were left behind. They were supposed to go with her but in the rush they were missed – so – I am heading up to Quorn in the morning to get the rest of her things and – most importantly – her prized Teddy Bear Blanket. I have decided to leave as soon as I can, get there, get the things and – possible stop off for coffee and scones at Ticklyebelly Hill on the way back. Depends – not sure if Benji is acceptable, so we’ll see.

Annabell, when I finally get to see her, was glad to be back. She was a very different person from the one in Quorn – bubbly, cheerful and full of laughter. But it had been a long day for her and she was tired so when the boys and I came after dinner, she was sleepy and tired so we didn’t stay very long. I did ask her if  she wanted to come from a drive in the car up to Quorn but she wasn’t keen on that idea at all.

I will miss Quorn. The people there were really nice, thoughtful and considerate and looked after Annabell  very well. I will not miss the driving – even although I was starting to come to terms with Pichi Richi Pass, I am thankful that I do not have to do it anymore.

So, a very busy and exciting few days but things will settle down , and we are just so very happy to have Annabell close to us again. I have to say that there was very little improvement but she was well looked after and cared for. I visited her every day and the boys visited

her most evenings, We did not understand at this stage that internally nothing was good. and that her body was starting to s

hut down

She was only a few weeks in  Yeltana when we were told that the resident doctor was concerned and was having her moved to hospital. She was three days in the word when the boys and I were taken outside and told by the medical staff that she was not responding to treatment and that she was being moved to Palliative Care.

The nurses were very kind and they made up a bed for me in Annabell’s room. I slept there for three days. On the third day I woke very early and understood  it was ending. I went over and through God’s Good Grace, I was beside her when she passed. She did not pass alone – I was with her and to me that this was fitting. We began our life together side by side and we ended our life together, side by said and I feel that is how it should have been. I called the boys and then Mrs, Mashford, the Church Session Clerk.. After Mrs. Mashford left, the boys and I stayed for a while longer then we went home. Andrew wanted me to come and stay with him. but I needed to be home and I wanted to be with Benji.

The boys and I arranged the funeral which was held at 11am on Wednesday 12th June. It was well attended.

Yes, it all happened so fast and never for a single moment did  ever imagine when she was moved to  the hospital that she would not be                                                                            coming back.

When she was moved to Palliative Care then we realized that this was heading towards the end.  I am glad that all her pain is now over and she is at peace. I loved her all my life, from start to finish and I miss her so very much.