More Ups and Downs

Another one of Marazion, because it was such perfect weather....

Last Easter was, despite having good friends around, utterly horrendous. Not that Pip and I ever celebrated – in fact I would get frustrated with him for not wanting to go out for the day, but it was nice to have someone to get cross with. If you get my drift.

I was unprepared, last Easter, for the effect of a long weekend. Loneliness and grief descended like a thick fog bank and, despite wonderful friends around me, I spent much of last Easter unable to function. Wishing that there was a government health warning about bank holidays for the vulnerable.

Although this year we are all worried about poor Mum, at least she is now in a nursing home and being well looked after. We are taking it one step at a time but it looks like she may need looking after for a long while. We’ll know more at the end of this week, when I’m going up to see her. It’s a very difficult time, but my brothers have been great, and whereas when Pip was so ill it was just me trying to deal with it, now it makes a terrific difference having siblings to help. It’s also brought us a lot closer.

But this Easter was great. I was taken out and fed and watered. I went to two gigs, two car boots, walks and to see a variety of friends. On Sunday we also went to the Roseland and the Victory pub in St Mawes and had a really lovely day out despite both being somewhat knackered.

Of course there were the Easter Disasters - a friend round the corner managed to get a socking splinter in his hand which has now meant going to Treliske to have it Dug Out (it is huge). Then Howard (who still hasn’t finished painting the flat but may, one day) bent down to pat next door’s dog who bit him on the hand, going right through Howard’s thumbnail. He stood on the doorstep, dripping blood, so I rushed him in and patched him up. Men, eh?

My weekend was full of lovely friends, good music and fun. A welcome interlude in a somewhat stressful time. But life always has its ups and downs, doesn’t it? It’s a question of enjoying the good times, savouring them and holding onto the images for when the bad times come. While the good times may not last, it's encouraging to know that the bad ones don't either.