It's been busy here. I've been back to Glen Innes several times since the last post. I went down with the boys to Margot and Dave's wedding which was just wonderful. There was dancing, eating, laughing and catching up with old friends all outside in a paddock under a marquee. I saw one poor girl being rescued by my nephew with a touch. She went outside to do a quick pee against the fence and ended up getting her dress caught on the barbed wire. She was literally stuck to the fence. I did wonder how long she had been there.
The next time I went back to Glen Innes was for my Mother's funeral. She died on 27th May, Wednesday night at about 9.30pm. I was expecting the call but not that quickly. Pattie had called to say that the nursing staff had got her out of her bed and put her into the chair, because she couldn't walk anymore, and she had a strokeas they placed her in the chair. They thought it was a brain stem injury because she didn't have a gag reflex. Because she was on a do not resuscitate order they just had to make her comfortable. I think I got that call at about 9am that morning. That was a very weird day. I felt like I should not be at work but really what was I going to do. So about 12 hours later she took her last breath.
We had the funeral on the 1st June as we were waiting for Paula to arrive from the UK. I didn't end up going down to GI until the Sunday. I was going to go the next day but I felt really unwelcome so my next plan was just to stay put until it the day before. I had no place to stay down there so it was best that I just stayed the essential nights Sunday and Monday. The boys came and their Dad + Robyn + Phil and we all stayed down at the Clansman Motel which ended up having most of the rooms filled with someone attending the funeral. There were 2 nieces and their children, Jono, Kevin, Colleen, Jacquie and Justin so it was nice to have everyone together, all the outsiders, people who did not have accommodation within the family.
The funeral was pretty amazing really and it was a fitting farewell to such a wonderful woman. Jono made a remembrance blog about her. This pretty much explains the entire funeral and her life really. All 10 of her children where there, a lot of her grandchildren and some great grandchildren also. The church was full which I'm sure she would have loved.
I was booked to go to NZ on the day before the funeral so I had to postpone that by 2 weeks. I absolutely loved NZ and I can't believe it's so beautiful and so close. I had a great time for someone that was working the entire time. There was another girl that went (to do different stuff than me) and she sits about 3 desks away so I had company. A work colleague of hers that is from NZ and now works in Melbourne for the same company was there too. They both have expense accounts so they took me out to dinner, lunch and breakfast when we had the chance. It was lovely.
I was based in Auckland and flew down to Wellington. What a beautiful city that is, so pretty and it just hugs the harbour and all the houses are built into the hills surrounding the water. I fell in love with Wellington, it was freezing though and the wind just went right to your bones. I flew back to Auckland then took a road trip to Hamilton to go to another office then on the way back we rushed over to a west coast beach – extremely rugged and with black sand to watch the sun set. Remember the movie "the Piano"? Well same location. It was magnificent. Peter the NZ guy was so full of knowledge it was great to have him take us everywhere. He called them "tiki tours"
I'm back at work after kind of being away for a while which is hard to settle back into it.
I feel tired and a little down really. I'm sure it's because of Mum. I feel like I have been grieving on and off for the last 3 years or more. Each time I saw her and experienced her downward slide I grieved. I have not shed that many tears but I do feel a deep sadness that she is not here anymore. She was an amazing woman.
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