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Sorry for the lack of ramblings

The ramblings from my mad mind have been lacking for past few months due to things going on in my life, and these things meant my mind was (and still is to be honest) taken up with other things.

A quick bit of background: My Mum was diagnosed with Lung Cancer back in August/September 2024 (not going to get into the ins & outs of smoking here - but smoking DOES NOT guarantee you will get cancer!). She had been ill for quite a while before the 'official diagnosis' and looking back we now know what was causing it. Forward to Christmas 2024, and whilst having good days and bad ones, it wasn't too bad for her.

But after Christmas, things started to get worse for her, and we ended up having to have a hospital bed put in the sitting room of her little cottage and get carers involved (there is another story there, but that one isn't going to be aired other than to say that the teams of carers we got for mum we brilliant).

On Saturday 22nd February 2025, myself and my wife (as usual) called in to see Mum around 7.30am to see how she was etc., and she wasn't good! Called the community nurses (and again, they were bloody brilliant) and while waiting on them to arrive, Mum had about 10 minutes of the most lucid she had been for a while, and was sitting up with me kneeling in front of her. She was picking her lips, and when I asked what she was doing, she had a silly grin and said 'picking my lip', I asked why and the reply was typical Mum 'because I can!'.

Emily came out mid morning and gave Mum some drugs to make her settle. We also talked about needing to get the drugs that would probably be needed in the next few days for the driver - I spent probably an hour on the phone getting this sorted, and then another couple of hours driving about getting a doctor to sign off this and also get the drugs we needed.

Both myself and Michelle stayed with Mum over night as we knew it wouldn't be that long. Early on Sunday morning, we quickly drove back home to feed the cats & dog and then drove back again, this time, we brought our woof Maddie with us.

Mum passed away just after 11am on Sunday 23rd February with Me, Michelle & Maddie there as she wanted.

I will admit, I wasn't in the best place when Mum passed, so Michelle made a few calls on my behalf to members of the family and friends. But I needed and was able to make the call to the funeral home and over the next couple of days we got everything sorted (thanks to Faith and all at Rosedale for what they did).

Mums funeral was at the end of March as we wanted a Friday. The funeral was well attended by friends and family, and a I think we did mum proud (I have to say a massive thanks to my wife Michelle for standing up and 'running' the service - you know I would not have been able to do it).

Since then, I have been getting all the paperwork dealt with, bank accounts etc., sorted and then to massive task of clearing out the little cottage - I honestly don't know how mum go so much stuff in such a small cottage - and over the past few months getting the cottage redecorated and ready for sale.

There are still a few bits left to do, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel.

Hopefully in the next couple of months, I'll be back to general ramblings.

Thanks for reading.
R.




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