Saturday, October 17, 2020

NEW NORMAL STARTS

 It is time to start our 'New Normal'. 

Life without Mum.

Yes, she died 5 days ago, but until we had said our final goodbye, it didn't feel like we could move on.

Now I feel at peace.  And able to start life without Mum.  It is going to very different.

No more just ringing her up to see how she is, or tell her a funny story, or just to have a yak.

We used to yak every week without fail, and in the last 9 weeks we had talked every single day, sometime more than once.

I am going to miss hearing her voice, asking her for advice, and just ... I don't know... just knowing she was only a phone call away.

I wonder how long it will take to get used to not having her here?  Something tells me I might never get used to it.

God I'm going to miss her so much.

After the funeral yesterday, I was determined to go down to the beach and put my feet in the water.

So, Richard took me.

ABOVE: This is Richard, my brother in law. He came down from Western Australia, and he returns on Monday.  He is being allowed to Self-Isolate at his home (inland from Perth), on his return.

Maxine flies back to New Zealand tomorrow, and will have to do two weeks quarantine, as will I when I get home.

Just to clarify :  Maxine is my niece, she is the younger of my sister's two daughters.  Richard is her Dad.  My sister Lorraine could not attend Mum's funeral as it would have meant she had to go into Quarantine (again) on her return to Brisbane. 

Lorraine and her elder daughter, Rowena; were lucky enough to visit Mum a couple of weeks before I arrived.

So ... back to the beach:

ABOVE: There ya go... on the beach.  If felt so RIGHT to be there yesterday.

I am bound to visit the beach again.  

BTW: I bought that black jumpsuit for Mum's funeral, and I just love it!

Richard and Maxine are calling in early this morning to say goodbye, then they are driving back to Sydney to catch their respective flights home.

I have NO PLANS for today.  And that is fine by me.

Ron and I are both very tired... a quiet day is probably exactly what we need.

ABOVE:  Let the countdown begin.  27 days until I am in my own HOME again. 

ONWARD...

8.29 am:  And Richard and Maxine have just been in, had a hug and kisses... photos... and off they go.  Back to Sydney, a 6 and a half hour drive away.


ABOVE:  I just love that photo of Ron and Maxine.  

NOW... I'm freakin' well gunna put some damn make up on!

I've not worn any in WEEKS!  None.  

Time to get back to at least the basics.

ABOVE: The back of me bedroom door. 9 more sleeps here, then on DAY 18 I fly to Sydney.

OH and talking of sleeps, both Ron and I slept well last night!

I woke at three, but went back to sleep very quickly, and didn't wake again until 6 am! Same with Ron.  

That felt so good.

12.44 pm:  I was getting low on Diet Coke, so I went down the the supermarket.

So did 50,000 other people.

OMG what a nightmare.

But... I got what I needed, and enough food to last us till I leave, and came home.

It's pretty hot out there, I couldn't wait to get inside I tell ya.  AND it's not even summer here yet!

My god I'm so thankful I won't be here over summer, as I expected to be.  I think I would have melted for sure.

4.53 pm: This afternoon Ron took me on a Tiki Tour.  Up some rather STEEP hills... to look at the views.

AMAZING!  But scary.  Then we went to a couple of other places where markets are held... so I know where to go when they are on.

One is tomorrow I think.

The other is next weekend in Sawtell, and I've been 'commandeered' to help out at the Country Women's Association's stall!  Seems Mum used to do it, so I have to as well.  lol

Well, it's only 7.49 pm and I'm so tired!  So I shall be winding up this day and heading off to bed soon.

I'm sure my internal clock is still on NZ time!



16 comments:

  1. I love the photos of you in the water. The outfit and you look great! You might need to make that your profile pic! The countdown cards are a clever idea. I dread your next quarantine -

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous7:59 AM

    Hello Ma, I'm so glad you got to the Beach xx
    #Lacy 💙

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why do you show up as anonymous? You should be "Lacy"!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:41 PM

      I haven't signed in on a Google account thing, I always forget my sign in or my pass word, hence why I always sign off as
      #Lacy 💙
      but yea I guess anyone can do that aye....oh well
      not sure why its a problem 😕
      xx
      #Lacy 💙

      Delete
  3. Anonymous8:08 AM

    It was a lovely service Chris can you please give Ron a hug. The beach looks beautiful a nice way to end a very difficult day. George's Mum.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's nice to see you smiling again after the shitty few months you've had. The beach is most definitely your happy place xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. So nice to see you made the waves and loving that outfit very funky jumpsuits are in that’s for sure.
    Blondie

    ReplyDelete
  6. i think it's funny that there is a noticeable difference between the climates of New Zealand and Australia. Being an ignorant gal from the USA - I would imagine them to be about the same.

    But from what I have learned, I want to move to New Zealand. I'd like to be your neighbor!

    Ok ok, that's not very likely to happen..... But, seriously, I would LOVE TO!

    I know it's very easy to take things for granted.
    But seriously.....
    My country is so divided.
    The president is a wanna be dictator....
    I would LOVE to magically leave here and drop my arse down in New Zealand and take it from there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:19 PM

      Australia is such a big country that the climate varies a great deal. Currently it is 77 where Chris is, 55 where I am, Darwin is 84 and central Queensland is 90 and its still only Spring
      Dee

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:15 PM

      Gawd they sound worse in Fahrenheit lol

      Delete
  7. Love that top on you mum 💙
    Cool that you got to the beach!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kiwionholidays7:05 PM

    Aww doing a Sawtelll stall will be awesome ,Good on you ,
    There are lovely spots around there , Lovely Ron and you enjoyed the Tiki Tour ,

    Hope you do the cuppa T n scones n jam n cream they are famous for in Aus

    Take care

    Cheers 🥂

    ReplyDelete
  9. My mum died 14 years ago and thats what I miss most, picking up the phone for a chat and her telling me she loves me. Chris I can say that the first year was the hardest , but not long after that I didn't cry when I thought of her. Now I smile and think of how lucky I was to have her for most of my adult life and I only think of her with love and gratitude.

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  10. So glad you got to go to the beach.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous12:39 AM

    They might make you an honorary CWA member

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love the countdown! I've pretty much stopped wearing make up. When I go anywhere I have a mask on anyways lol

    ReplyDelete

Comments will be published once approved by a blog admin. Thank You.