Wednesday, January 03, 2007

January rose

Things are still not fantastically good. Thank you to those who have commented kindly. It’s lovely to have sympathy!

My mother is a bit better – no longer confused, but still very weak and shaky, and I’m sleeping at her house and spending much of my time there with her. Fortunately she lives only about five minutes’ drive away and I’m zooming up and down. Luckily I’m still on holiday but have quite a lot of work to do before I go back on Monday.

My parents have a grandfather clock that strikes every hour right outside the room where I sleep. It’s loud. “BOINNNGGG!” at 1 am; BOINNNGGG!” BOINNNGGG!” at 2 am; BOINNNGGG!” BOINNNGGG!” BOINNNGGG!” at 3 am… you get the picture. My mum says that she never notices it. Hmm.

My dad has had an operation to clear out an infected sinus but is still in a pretty poor state otherwise. I’m visiting him every afternoon at the moment since no one else is available. Brother and family back down south; mother and husband ill; Daughter 2 back at work; Son visiting girlfriend’s family north of here.

My husband has a bad cold and is having to fend for himself quite a lot – poor old chap comes at the end of the line at the moment.

On the positive side, Daughter 2 had a nice social time over New Year when not visiting grandparents. She had some of her (high) school friends and their husbands/boyfriends/girlfriends over to dinner one evening, and then various of her friends from Sheffield University came to stay with us and were here for New Year dinner with our family. Which was lovely. It’s so nice to see young folk, all full of life and optimism.

Above you see a rose, which is blooming in our garden in Scotland, in January. I like to think of it as a symbol of hope, but have a nasty feeling that instead it’s a symbol of global warming. It shouldn’t be blooming; nor should all the tender plants such as pelargoniums and begonias be still clinging to life, as they are. Where’s the frost?

Still, let’s go for the hope idea.

7 comments:

  1. Oh you poor thing, I really hope you don't come down with something too! But I'm glad to hear that your mother is starting to feel better and hopefully you'll be able to get a good night sleep soon.
    On the subject of things not of this season, I saw a bee shortly before Christmas!

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  2. Poor old Mum. I hope you are not even now being woken by the clock. (I always think it's the doorbell.)

    Trying to think of something cheering... Zara has posted a picture of her baby on her blog, all smiley - have you seen it?

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  3. Sounds like you are even further down the line than your poor sick husband, what with the worry and dashing about and caring for everyone. I hope you find a moment for yourself, just to breathe calmly, maybe.

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  4. Yes, I too, hope you have time to 'smell the roses'!
    My first thought when I saw the rose was 'HOPE' so here's hoping...

    Seems like a lot of stress for you.
    I used to stay at a house with a chiming clock.. never did get used to it.

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  5. I'm really sorry to hear of the health problems in your family. Sending healthy wishes your way!

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  6. I'm with you on the hope, and what a beautiful symbol it is. Might as well see the glass as half full....unless forced to do otherwise. And for heaven's sake ,take time for a nice cup of tea once in a while--from your description of your zooming around, you could use it, not to mention someone to make it for you....

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  7. Hi Isabelle,

    Thanks for visiting my blog! From reading yours, it would appear that I also have another regular to visit.

    I particularly like your comment in your profile about being cheery but a bit of a worrier, that just about sums me up perfectly! I even worry about things that never DID happen, let alone what WILL.

    I hope your parents' health improves soon. It must be very worrying for you!

    That rose can be considered nothing but a gift, as all roses are. It's gorgeous, does it have a scent?

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