Mixed emotions today ...

I am feeling very sad ... I tried to speak to my Mum yesterday evening .. again. Haven't spoken to her for about 4 weeks now - I have had difficulty getting through to the sister's station or she's asleep and last Sunday she was 'having a bad day'. Phoned last night and the sister very very kindly told me "My dear, she just can't come to the phone anymore" in that Cape Coloured accent ..... the sisters and staff are always so kind and gentle. "She is too frail and can't hear, and gets herself into such a state" she said.


I told her that I will be visiting in three weeks time and she said she already knew that as my brother had been to see her during the day and told her ... but I said I will keep phoning her (the sister) to find out how my Mum was doing. "That's fine, my dear, we look forward to it"

Mum and I in 2005 when she became a resident of the Home ..



And ... now for the HAPPY stuff ... .. look where we went yesterday ....

A St Patrick's Day Festival was held over the weekend at Monte Casino and we went along yesterday. Got there early to avoid the crush of people ... Elaine and friends had been on Saturday evening and they had a blast! She said everyone was dressed up in their Irish greens and there were bands, pipers, dancers etc. ... so ...

... we decided to go along and have a look ....

... and a taste ..... of traditional cheeses ... and Irish salmon on "freshly baked brown 'my-mum's-secret-recipe-bread-spread-thickly-with-Irish-butter" ... he said ...straight from Cork !!! YUM!!

And as the crowds gathered ....


.. the Blarney Brothers played traditional jolly Irish songs to get the people clapping and stamping their feet !!!

Soooooo .. guess what we came home with .......

.... plans for a holiday to Ireland ... yippee !!!