Mollie is delighted because, doing our usual morning walk around the castle this morning, we found a carrier bag full of old balls. The grass has been strimmed around the moat and evidently loads of elderly rubber and tennis balls have been found. Bingo! So we nabbed a few to put in the car for future use. To any non-dog owner, this might sounds strange, desperate even. Dog owners will know how many balls are apt to to missing.
Our break was much needed as we were both run down. We collapsed, read a lot, walked Moll a bit and slept (with a bit of chemical intervention on my part still as normal services have not been entirely resumed just yet).
We got back and both went down with flu and colds. You know, those streaming ones that make you feel utterly dire, shivery and achey. Really what a couple! So for the next week I am trying to persuade Himself Not to go up the scaffolding and help Mike (some hope) and not to overdo things myself.
Wise words eh? We'll see if it works.
While we were away I had some wonderful, close talks with my mum. We either get on very well or not at all, but this time, we were very close. Like sisters. The best it could be.
I am so grateful to have this relationship which means so much to me, that I started wondering, with a sense of black terror, how on earth I will manage when she goes. Not something I care to contemplate. Then I read a piece about Imelda Staunton who lost her mother several years ago and it had a huge effect on her. She said it felt like a huge hole appeared on her left side - apparently our left side is our mother - which she thought would never be filled.
"Now I think what you have to do is fill it with yourself because your mother is part of you," she said. "I'm easing into that space, using it and being comforted by it."
I shall endeavour to remember that.
PS Normal service will be resumed shortly
