dear diary ~ a quiet Easter 

What disappointing weather for Good Friday, it started off fine and I planned to go into the garden, but my plans had to change with the weather and I caught up with some ironing instead whilst watching YouTube.

DH made the tomato soup and stewed the plums, I had emails to answer, things that couldn’t wait and a couple of discounted items I wanted to buy online using the Easter offers that had dropped into my inbox.

I was also disappointed that I didn’t find the time to make any Easter cards this year. I had in mind to do another lino cut like at Christmas, but I couldn’t really carve out enough time.

After our family get together last weekend it has been unusually quiet here, a funny kind of Easter and in fact, I haven’t done many of the things I would normally have done this year at all – so much time has been taken up with the car and my mum, both are getting old and cranky now and each day I brace myself wondering what the issue will be today.

Mum seems to be sliding down hill at the moment, not so much in her health but in refusing to co-operate fully with the carers.  Last night she decided she wouldn’t change into her pyjama top and went to bed in her jumper.  I think she may have just been too tired.  She is also reluctant to change her clothes too often or have the bed linen changed (partly because her cataracts don’t allow her to see all the stains that we can see and partly that she doesn’t want to generate more washing for my sister).  Some days she is eating very little other than the chip sandwich on a Wednesday and Friday from the deli cafe across the road, even worse she is not drinking very much so that she doesn’t have to walk down the hallway to the bathroom.  I am not sure what can be done. If we say anything she becomes even more stubborn…it is frustrating.  I think she just gets too tired to be bothered much now. When she isn’t on the phone calling me, she is sleeping a lot in the day but not through the night. I expect anyone would get drowsy from the boredom of sitting in the same room day after day with nothing to do. My heart goes out to all the elderly people who are at a similar stage in their lives as my mum. We all try to do what we can to help but we cannot make her well and young again.

By the time you read this, we will be on our way to visit mum and I am hoping the weather is fine enough this afternoon to take her to the park; she lives to go out now. I have no plans for the rest of Easter, I find it too busy now to contemplate going anywhere and I would welcome a nice relaxing day in the garden, but that will be weather dependant.

At last the car is working again…just in time for the petrol shortage. Sainsbury’s had closed their petrol station completely on Tuesday – I was shocked to see the cones across the entry and the shutters down on the little shop where you pay. It seemed at odds with the government’s message that there are no shortages! Luckily, we will have enough to do the 180 mile round trip to see my mum.

We haven’t unpacked the garden furniture yet, we need to keep it dry so that we can sand and paint the wooden bench with a fresh coat, and spray the metal furniture, after giving it a good brush down to remove any rust patches. I managed to order a can of spray paint online from Dunelm, taking advantage of their special offer and using the free click and collect service. We can pick it up next time we pass through town. It is yet another job that is waiting for a run of good weather.

Thursday was a lovely dry and sunny day and we went for a longer walk than usual – I needed the fresh air and time to reset myself and being in nature does that so well. We took in a few steep hills for a good cardio workout!!

The pretty celandines along the roadside….

….and everywhere the trees have little buds about to burst open.

The hidden resevoir down the track was like a mirror…..

….with the ducks gliding across to see if we had food.

In the garden the primroses are still covered in flowers creeping over my broken pot. The white camelia is about to flower and everything is starting to grow in the borders. We just need some sunshine and warmth.

Have a lovely day today, whatever you are doing.

Back soon x

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