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Starcraft more

Sunday night we had a lovely time with Matt. He had brought home a card, rose and small bag of chocolates for Mothers’ Day. Of course, this was organised by his staff, but I appreciated that it was what he wanted as well. He was juggling the little white gift bag on his lap, with help from Haidar. He was cheerful and ate well during the visit. When Haidar picked him up he introduced us to Gul, his wife, who is training to be a wheelchair taxi driver.

On Monday I worked at the East Vic Park house and quite enjoyed the day, taking one client out for her 1:1 and shopping and being kind to the boys.

I negotiated an earlier finish at 1.30 p.m. with the staff member when she came on at 1.00 p.m.

I went and had a photo for the client printed at Officeworks on the way home. 10 cents.

At home  had a rest and we packed up to go back to the caravan at Mt Helena. We enjoyed drinks and nibbles on the verandah. We had a frozen meal that just needed some vegetables to make a meal, followed by fruit and chocolate. We haven’t tried the TV, just watched a DVD from the library.

This morning (Tuesday) we got up late and had a leisurely  breakfast. We went to Mundaring and had a walk along a trail to the Mundaring Weir. Not that we walked that far, but it was a first go in a while of going out for a walk. We are enjoying fine weather at the moment, quite cold up here in Mt Helena, but with warmish days in the early 20’s. After lunch at an open air cafe we drove to Mundaring Weir, had a rest in the car, then walked down to the lookout. Walking back up was quite difficult for both of us, perhaps we are just unfit.

Then we went to call on Mum. A surprise for her, but it was lovely to see her happy in her new home. We asked permission to leave the caravan at her old place for a couple of weeks in case we have a chance to spend a couple of night here again. She said that of course it was OK. I will see her tomorrow and have offered to take her shopping if she wants to go out. Stephen plans to catch the bus down to Midland and catch the train, heading home independently.

 

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After the move

The actual day went pretty well. Marie and Geoff arrived and we did all the last moment stuff together. After the truck arrived I took Mum over to Jamie and Tracy’s house. Tracy was there with her, so came back to the house to help. After all of the furniture and boxes had arrived, plus the stuff we brought over, I faced the unpacking and went back to Kingswood to get Marie to help. When we got back again, Tracy was working on unpacking and setting up the kitchen. Geoff went back and forth a couple of times, picking things up, whilst Marie, Tracy and myself did a great deal of the unpacking and setting up.

Jamie was busy also. We began ditching some of the household stuff that we felt was no longer useful.

By later in the day we had all done an amazing job of getting the house set up. Mum was delighted with it, she said the flat was much prettier than her house. The combined kitchen, dining and lounge is light and airy, with large windows on three sides looking out into trees.

Mum did get tired and was able to get into bed in her newly set up bedroom. Before she arrived Jamie had put up her hanging baskets and put pot plants on the patio, which made it look very welcoming.

Stephen and I went out and bought Chinese for Mum, Tracy and ourselves. After eating, we  went back to Kingswood Street to our caravan for the night. We had arranged to meet Marie and Geoff at Mum’s new house to do some more unpacking the next morning (Sunday). In fact, we just made sure the spare bedroom was habitable for Robyne in case she went ahead with her plan to stay on Sunday night and did a little bit of unpacking.

We enjoyed talking with Marie and Geoff, seeing the children, who had come over for Mothers’ Day, and finding that Mum was still feeling very happy about the move. We left and went back to the caravan for lunch, then headed home so that we would have a rest before having Matt to tea.

In the end, Robyne was too tired to go to Mum’s for Sunday night. Instead she went on Monday.

 

 

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Boxed in…

This is the last night of being at Kingswood Street, at least for Mum. Stephen and I will come back tomorrow night to sleep in the caravan. That way, we can spend the full day helping with the move and not have to drive home in the dark. That’s the theory anyway. We also want to offer our help on Sunday if needed. Jamie is getting ready to leave for prospecting again on Monday, so we really want her to be settled in as much as possible.

We are being as bright an optimistic as possible, but I certainly feel sad that this is no longer to be her home. We hope the buyer will get the finance and that the sale will go through as planned, but nothing is certain.

There are boxes all around the house now, and some things still to be sorted, but we feel that lots has been achieved and we should have it easily sorted out in the morning before the removal van arrives.

Stephen and I watched the final episode of the second series of Grantchester tonight and both got a little teary at the ending. It felt quite fitting.

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A wedding and preparing for Joy’s move

The wedding went quite beautifully, with everyone looking glamorous and nice vows and speeches. My photos from the ceremony worked out better than those from the reception. They had a photobooth which was used all the time we were there, which was until the dancing got underway.

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Big cousin looking after little cousin
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The wedding party at the signing stage.

An exciting journey home with Google Maps taking us for a journey through the hills, including 3 kms on a gravel road.

The following day it was up early to go down to E’s to leave our car and take the train with her to Fremantle. We arrived in good time for the sound check. With help from Bernie and Stuart I was able to document our day.

Photo by me of Glynda, Eleanor, Eversley and Geoff waiting for our first gig on stage
Working Voices at the Workers Club. Photo by Stuart.

At the end, Eversley took us to Wearne Hostel to see her friend and look around. Although the location is so wondering (near Cottesloe Beach and actually facing the ocean), it still felt very institutional to me.

It was a day with a lot of walking.

On Monday Stephen and I were able to make a bit later start. We helped Jamie and Tracy with packing before leaving later in the day.

Tuesday was a working day, a six hour shift at a group home which will soon be handed over to a new agency. I was very stressed and rather took it out on Stephen,  but there was a reason. E was talking about her brother taking a day out of his relationship each week, and Stephen gestured to me as if to say ‘why don’t I get this’. I was furious because he does actually get lots of time on his own whilst I am working or seeing Mum. He even gets nights to himself.

I am quite worried about my stress levels which get so bad that I can feel my body sort of vibrating. Talk about setting myself up for having a stroke! One of the stresses is that no matter how much the rest of us do Mum keeps asking for Robyne. Who is seeing less of Mum than any of us and is not available to help pack up or on the moving day.

On Wednesday I went to see Mum again. We had to go to Brookwood RE agency in Mundaring for an ID check and had lunch at the Dome next door. Tracy and Jamie had been there in the morning helping pack and sort things. I did some packing as well. Jamie also got impatient about Mum going on about Robyne. Mum keeps saying that she wishes she was moved already, which I understand, but it isn’t helpful when we are all doing so much to make it happen.