Continuing
on from yesterday’s blog
(7th February 2020) I found blogging about
it then emailing and sharing a link was a really good way of keeping friends
and family informed.
"As
lockdown commenced I realised some people were actually looking forward to the
daily updates, and other tales from Chateaux Midden, so resolved to keep
blogging daily until there was no longer any need. Having got into the habit I continued into the
‘new normal’, although I’m sure some people thought I’d amused them for long
enough long before that.
"If,
dear reader, you were wondering what was meant by “Family commitments, being poorly,
holidays and generally looking after myself” in the blog “It never rains” then
the next two blogs will elucidate and explain.”
In
February Middlesister’s husband celebrated his 80th birthday.
Shortly
thereafter his health deteriorated and he passed away at the end of April.
Whilst
he was poorly the siblings and their spouses rallied around, as did
Middlesister’s friends from her nurse-training days. They stayed with her and helped care for
him.
We
knew it was not an illness he would recover from so my plan was to go down and
stay for a little while ‘afterward’. At
that time I was the only one of us to have been widowed.
Thunderthighs
came down to Derbyshire for two nights with me for the funeral on
26th
May and I intended returning on 1st June for a long weekend.
But
when I got up that morning the room started spinning and I had to quickly lie
down again.
Labrynthitis.
It’s
an inner ear infection and I’ve had it before, usually after a head cold or
sore throat.
The
only thing to do is to lie still, drink loads and wait for it to go away.
It’s
best to close your eyes so you can’t see the ceiling tiles moving.
It’s
a bit like when I was young, drank too much and got ‘the swirling pits’, but
without any of the fun.
Walking
to the loo was interesting as my balance was gone. I bounced off every door jamb and worried I
might not get past the top of the stairs without tumbling down them (going
downstairs was a no no). When I
eventually sat on the loo I put my hands to the sides of my head and braced my
elbows against the walls to try and persuade my brain it wasn’t moving. I was seriously worried I might throw up and
what that would do to the cork floor-tiles.
I
had to phone Middlesister and explain I couldn’t go (thank the Lord for
cordless phones).
She
and the family were very understanding.
But
the message from them, most of my friends and, I think, my body was
“slow down
and get a rest.”
As
Mrs Quilt said “For goodness sake woman!
When I go and see people our age they’re sitting in front of day time tv
with all their chores done by lunchtime.
Give yourself a break.”
We
had a family holiday booked for the third week of June, which involved me
driving to Sheffield, Exeter, Bournemouth and then back home. Knowing that I made an effort to be still and
get properly rested and fit.
Something
had to go.
So
instead of coming in here and doing the blog every morning I took time to get
breakfast and not stress myself by being rushed and rushing Ferretfingers to be
ready.
I acquired a sunlounger and spent
a day reading in the garden. I spent
another day reading on the chaise longue.
I forgave myself for the time spent sitting staring into the pond, or up
at the leaves. I allowed myself to get off
the hamster wheel from time to time.
I
did get to see Middlesister. We had an
afternoon together when the boys were exploring the outer reaches of the Sheffield
tram and bus systems. She also stayed at
our hotel in Bournemouth for a couple of nights. We were all down there to see the niece, her
daughter and her twins on their first birthday.
There
will still be a blog.
But
not necessarily first thing in the morning.
And
only on those days when I don’t need to be somewhere.
Unless
there’s a doozie of a Facebook memory or incident chez Chateaux Midden.
Let’s
call it the new normal service.
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