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I saw my Father today. Dad died over 3 years ago.
It was at about 3:30am. I’d been awake for a couple of hours. I’d been in the lounge watching a bit of BBC World News. It was time to get back to bed. In our bathroom I’ve installed a concealed light around a large mirror that stays on for 7 minutes with a simple wave below. With the bathroom and bedroom doors open the light is enough to find my way back to bed. As I walk into the bedroom I pass a mirror. Out of the corner of my eye I glimpsed Dad. Of course it wasn’t Dad it was me but something in my reflection looked, to me, like Dad.
Dad’s kidneys got him in the end. Renal failure dogged him for the last couple of years of his life. I was with him when he decided not to have dialysis. He was in his late 80s, dialysis would have robbed him of any quality of life he had remaining. At 89 Dad was still sharp, with a completely intact sense of humour, still living in the house he’d been in for 50 years. He died at home, where he wanted to be. He was a pleasure to spend time with. I’m significantly younger and I, on the other hand, have decided to take the treatment that’s available. If I can remain sharp and maintain my sense of humour I’ll be happy. I've been in our house for 21 years. Perhaps I’ll be able to stay here until the end of my story. Hopefully, what I saw, was a bit of Dad in me this morning at 3:30am.
Something else happened yesterday. Tricia and I went for a walk. Not together! When Covid traps you in your home with one overwhelming, life absorbing topic you sometimes need just to divert your thinking a bit. At 7am Tricia and Lauren walked to the stone circle at Carn Grey. (Possibly a bit too much for me at the moment, well see). At 7:30 I did a bit of beachcombing and strolling at Porthpean beach with Emma and Charlie. Your overwhelming, life absorbing topic is probably Covid, lockdown and all that entails. Ours is different. It was good to spend time in someone else’s company. I think sometimes there's benefits for all.
On the 29th of March, according to our great leaders “People will be allowed to meet outside, either with one other household or within the "rule of six", including in private gardens”. That means next week I can resume our walks. So I’ve been thinking I may just gather a group of 6 and try a mini walk. You, of course, can do your own thing......just sayin'.
In the meantime I’m planning a small walk with Tricia back up to the stone circle at Carn Grey tomorrow. The weather forecast is looking OK.
It’ll be an early-ish start probably about 9am. If successful I’m thinking of a 10am walk on Good Friday starting at the Coffee shops at Charlestown, walking up to the Church, along past Charlestown school then down the lane back to Charlestown. (our normal Thursday's are turning into a bit of a challenge for an early start. I have my blood test followed by increasingly important conversations with my consultant. Unfortunately my consultant holds the trump card).
So if you’re wondering about our starting point tomorrow it’s here....... mind you I may not be able to get to the stones. I can but try.
Carn Grey Car Park
Perhaps this Good Friday idea may turn out to be an enjoyable stroll starting at;
Tallships Creamery in Charlestown.
Now, where are those walking boots? Will they hurt?