Skip to main content

Taking Responsibility

We have finally finished emptying Bebe's flat. 
The keys have been handed in, the sale is going through - we've met with the estate agent, the solicitor, the new owner & said goodbye.
Bebe was never into clutter, her home was always spotless & free of stuff, but when it came to clearing it out - it was still hard work!

This is another reason why for us it is increasingly important to free ourselves of our own stuff... The thought of leaving all of it behind for the kidlets to sort out in years to come feels selfish, especially knowing what a nightmare it has been for us. No parent wants to become a burden to their kids, but it happens. We plan on leaving very little in the way of possessions, so when the end comes - the clear out will be a breeze!

At least Bebe is still alive...
 Many middle aged kids are left with property to clear & not only is it difficult to organise around their own family & work, but they are dealing with their grief too. 

Caring for Bebe over the last 10 years has been a real hard slog, especially for Sime - being her only child has been tough. All the phone calls, the meetings, appointments, care packages & the care - all of it has needed hours & hours of mainly Sime's time & patience. Bebe is very lucky.

We closed the door on a flat which has been in the family for over 50 years, the income from the sale will just about cover 2 years of care & when it runs out... Who knows? 

For now, she is safe & we are free to get on with our lives. 


Which is why we spiced up our road trip to Stoke. 
After stopping overnight to see Dr John from New Orleans perform in Bristol & catching up with Sal, Ryan & friends from Canada, we decided to avoid the motorway & just see what happened... 
We came across a jumbo jet graveyard, an overgrown Roman amphitheatre, a fantastic Roman villa with mosaic flooring & we ate curry in the Venice of the Cotswolds. We stayed in a small studio outside of Stoke for a change, so we could make our own food - it was perfect!
On the way home, we breakfasted on Staffordshire oatcakes in Hanchurch hills, had a lunch of spinach bhajis & vegetable samosas in Ludlow, pizza for dinner in Monmouth & finished off with a soya milk hot chocolate in Exeter... Great fun!  

Kay & Sime
xx

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diet And Drugs

Some of you know about my fight with Graves Disease, an auto immune system disorder, which causes an overactive thyroid. Since I was diagnosed 7 years ago, I have made it my business to know everything I possibly could about the condition & this has probably saved my life. I have blood tests on a regular basis & in November last year, I was told that my T4 levels are normal & again in January the same.  My thyroid stimulating hormone was finally starting to work too, after 7 years of lying dormant, so I suggested I came off the anti thyroid drug & my GP's response was to continue for a while longer. A month ago, I rang my GP & suggested again that I come off the drug or at least halve it, as I was feeling so well  & was concerned about the drug pushing me into being under active. Again, she said to be patient & they would send for me when it's time for a blood test. I don't normally do as I'm told, but decided to stick with it a b

Our Neighbours

The ladies next door have been giving birth in the field. Their babies are like any other babies - they sleep, they feed, they follow their mums everywhere, they run around, then fall asleep again.  These little beauties are completely unaware of their fate... But we know... And this is one thing which makes living here difficult. How can people eat other beings without feeling terrible?     It just doesn't make sense. Both the posters are from the  Cornwall Vegans  website. If you are in Cornwall or will be on Saturday 22nd April - do support this event! Perhaps you have been considering veganism - this  Vegan Starter Kit  will help you to get started and if you have any questions, need help or ideas for recipes - just ask, we are always happy to talk to folks who want to change their diet for the better. And in case you haven't seen this on iplayer - Here is  Simon Amstell's Carnage . Please, please think seriousl

Nettles

Our garden yesterday. Tall Nettles TALL nettles cover up, as they have done These many springs, the rusty harrow, the plough Long worn out, and the roller made of stone: Only the elm butt tops the nettles now. This corner of the farmyard I like most: As well as any bloom upon a flower I like the dust on the nettles, never lost Except to prove the sweetness of a shower. ~ Edward Thomas ~ Every time we venture out to pick nettles, Sime always goes on about this poem! Anyway, thought I'd share with you the article I've written for next month's Parish Magazine... Our hedgerows are coming alive with food aplenty, but hardly anyone really notices the nettles that surround us, they grow quietly while using their juices to produce a medicine that can bring health. Anaemia, arthritis, rickets, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases, colds, catarrh and lymphatic problems can all benefit from this wonderful wild and free super food. Nettles are rich in ca