When is too soon?

Introducing Luna - our new dog! Actually, I have a confession to make, she is not that new. Beloved Dougal died on Sunday 16th September and we got Luna from the shelter the next Saturday the 22nd September . We only waited that long because I didn't get back from the UK till the Thursday...

Missing the Queen of Christmas

My mum was the Queen of Christmas. Starting in November with the making of aromatic brandy, cinnamon, raison Christmas puddings and ending in January with sweeping up the needles from the always impeccably decorated real Christmas Tree hung with twinkling lights and glinting baubles with the pine cone 'Nissa' hidden in the centre. For a...

My beloved dog Dougal died in his sleep last night

I'm back in the UK. Tuesday is the one year anniversary of my mum's death. We had a simple ceremony by her woodland grave today with family and a few special friends. Afterwards we all have lunch back at my parent's house. As I am eating I get a message from my husband who is...

Waves

Waves of grief homesickness and nostalgia as my son leaves another school

Looking for the positive

I am sitting on my bed, with the bedroom door shut, hiding from, but also listening to, the Insurance Adjuster Outside talking to my husband about the damage I caused to the garage and most of its contents. I sit ignoring the glorious honey rays of sun as it gently slips away and instead I...

Flowering a death

I missed Jill's funeral yesterday. Not that I had had much enthusiasm for a third flight back across the Atlantic for a funeral in less than 6 months. But I did want to be there to share the grief. To say goodbye. But in the end, as many expats find, the cost, distance and organization...

Farewell beloved Earth Mother

Jill Nickalls died this morning. She was an amazing woman loving and welcoming. Her house, and especially her kitchen, was always open to visitors. Her kitchen was so cosy and relaxing with its paintings, overflowing open shelves, AGA and long wooden table you felt you could sit for hours.  Jill always seemed to have something...

Update on grief – the Upward turn

So its nearly five months since Mum died. I thought I would give an update on how things are going. If you remember ages ago I shared the 7 stages of grief. I would guess that now I have reached 5 - the Upward Turn. But it isn't simply a one way journey I do...

Missing Mum at Magnolia

I have coffee in my hand. I'm sitting in my favorite chair by the window with the view of the woods bathed today in beautiful sunshine. My iPad buzzes. It's my Dad wanting FaceTime. With a characteristic squeal the  picture stabilizes to a view of the white wooden door with aprons hanging from it, the...

Genetic Bypass

Grief has eased its stranglehold and memory reasserted its right to travel through time and bring us back to those we love.