Lost.

March 6, 2019 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.8 Comments

I don’t know what other word to use, I’m absolutely and totally lost. So much has happened since my last couple of blog posts. I had meant to continue with my story of Mom’s broken wrist which resulted in her becoming immobile which then resulted in a ten-day hospital stay due to severe dehydration, chest infection and low levels of various vitamins we need in our body. Mom is currently on a hospital bed in our lounge. She is happy, she is much healthier and she can walk; as in she has the strength and ability to walk, it’s just down to fear/confidence and of course the state of confusion from her cognitive degeneration on the day which dictates if she will walk or not.

But I didn’t get to blog in-depth about these things, to write it down, to let it out because other events took over. Dad was not well. He had various medical issues for years which were all being managed by the Doctor and his medication. However the end of last year he was getting weaker, feeling dizzy and his blood pressure was becoming very low.

Dad’s 92 birthday was on 19th January and the following week he became very ill indeed. We had an emergency admission to hospital on the Thursday evening after the Doctor had been to see us twice at home due to Dad’s increasing weakness. On the Saturday afternoon Dad took a turn for the worse and the Doctor said he was very sorry but Dad didn’t have long left, his body was shutting down. What happens to our brains when we hear these words? I was still standing up? I was crying but I was still breathing and I immediately went into protection mode for my Dad. I stayed with him, I held him, I cuddled him, I talked to him, I told him I loved him and thanked him for being the most amazing Dad. I told him I would always look after Mom. I held his hand, I told him to go fly with the angels and he did in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The feeling of what I can only call energy around his bed was incredible, it steadily grew all afternoon, into the evening and onwards until he crossed over. Half of my worst nightmare had happened, I had lost my Dad. Yet I felt some peace as I was with him and he had been at peace and no pain. Two of my cousins were with me as was my best friend and they took over to look after me. My boyfriend was home looking after Mom. Mom knew we were at hospital but not how bad things were.

Somehow, with the help of my cousins I did all the formalities and arranged a funeral. I’m sure I had guidance from above as I just seemed to know what hymns to choose, what clothes Dad would have wanted to wear, the appropriate readings etc. We had the funeral on 14th February, Valentines Day and it was a day full of perfect love. It was even warm and sunny.

Mom doesn’t yet know what has happened, under medical advice for now not to tell her as it could have a detrimental effect on her health. I am however convinced by middle of the night talks she is having with “someone” and the words that are being spoken, that she knows somewhere deep inside what has happened.

The loneliness is indescribable; Dad and I were always chatting about something or other. Once the carer leaves mid afternoon that’s it for me and Mom until the following day. Sometimes Mom is chatty, sometimes we put our music on and sometimes Mom is sleepy and I sit there, thinking, reading, online, catching up on messages but my heart isn’t in anything much apart from looking after Mom.

My man has been so supportive, he was over here every night for a month, cooking in advance to make sure I eat and generally looking after me so I can look after Mom. We got this down to three nights a week and this week we are down to two nights a week. It is a fifty mile round trip for him and he has his own Mom to look after plus he works from home. He was getting so tired out and I know, I have to learn to live with this horrible new normal. My friends and cousins too have been so supportive with their calls and messages and my online friends too have been great. It’s one of those times isn’t it when no-one knows exactly what to say.

I wasn’t sure whether to blog about this, writing has helped me in the past and I can’t let my tears out unless there is someone to sit with Mom and I can escape so perhaps this blog post will be a little therapeutic for me.

I feel like a lost little girl who is having to be very grown up and responsible and look after things the grown up’s always looked after. People tell me how strong I am. I don’t feel strong, I feel I’m a mess yet we keep going. Our world has fallen apart never to be the same again yet the world keeps on turning.

I’m rambling, more so than usual. I had so many happy things to blog about; my music, going to see Home Free but I never got around to those posts. We started to put a website together for my music and that too has been left.

It has helped in a scrambled kind of way to offload on my blog. I was wondering if I would bother to blog again. Then I thought of a favourite blogger Often Called Cathy who always manages to find something positive no matter how bad things are and it made me think. I was truly blessed to have Dad as my Dad, I was also blessed to have him for so long in my life and it was a complete privilege to be able to care for him over the past years and to be with him as he crossed to the next life.

I made Dad three promises in January; that I would always look after Mom, that I wouldn’t lose my sparkle and that I wouldn’t give up on my music. The first is easy right now, I’ll work on the other two.

Roses Mom and I sent to Dad for his birthday.

The Snowdrops are out.

The love goes on.

I had a walk around the block yesterday, get some fresh air, the daffodils are in abundance.

Every day x

Life Sparkles

Is it too late…

January 10, 2019 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.2 Comments

…to wish you all a very happy 2019!

For the first time ever Christmas appears to have fitted in around our life at home whereas it usually becomes the main focus of December for us. This Christmas though things were very different at home. Christmas seems to have come and gone with little or no recognition at all. We watched Midnight Mass from Knock Shrine live on You Tube. We had some visitors popping in and out and I did manage to get Christmas cards written and sent and gifts organised. Thank goodness for the Internet!

A beautiful surprise on Christmas Day in the evening when some neighbours arrived at the door with home made soup, Christmas dinner, dessert, cheese and biscuits and Christmas crackers. They knew I would struggle to put together a Christmas dinner as the caring role continues as usual whatever day it is, so they decided to share. To me, this was the true meaning of Christmas, love, caring, sharing and kindness.

A few photo’s below of my Christmas time. I wish you all a very happy, healthy and blessed 2019. (I will continue my update from the last blog post as soon as I can).

I just love this photo, my sparkles and my boyfriend’s trainers.

A beautiful surprise gift from a school friend.

I couldn’t put up our usual tree so I bought a small sparkling one for Mom and Dad. It was lovely to sit and watch the colours changing.

Life Sparkles

A broken wrist…

December 21, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.Leave a comment

…that’s how this latest sequence of events got started. I heard movement via the baby monitor, I rushed out of bed but I just didn’t get to Mom in time, I heard the thud as I entered her room as she fell to the floor. Dad presses his Careline alarm, the ambulance was on the way, it was 6 am on a late September Tuesday morning.

Thankfully the only bone breakage was Moms wrist. She hit her head and knee when she fell but all appeared to be well. After all the X-ray’s and tests we were taken to the “Elder Care Day Unit” for further assessment prior to discharge. Not much happened here to be honest. A Doctor spoke to me about DNR (do not resuscitate), which frightened the life out of me, what were they talking about, Mom had broken her wrist and her obs were fine! Blood tests all fine too. A lady spoke to me about it being better to be home to heal which I agreed with especially as Dad was currently at home with the carer. The lady made a comment about older people who stay in hospital “not going home if you understand me”. Again I was perplexed, we are dealing with a broken wrist, not heart surgery.

The unit closes at 4pm, it was obvious they wanted us gone by then. They wheeled us down to the coffee shop to await our lift home. I didn’t check Mom’s mobility, I never even thought about it, neither did they. When it was time to get into the car Mom couldn’t stand up, never mind walk. She was frightened and had pain. Two paramedics were close by and they helped Mom to get into the car. We started the journey home.

Half way home Mom experienced a low blood pressure crash, she was quite unwell. We stopped the car and called for the paramedics. They arrived within thirty minutes by which time Mom had recovered. They didn’t want to traumatise her day further by taking her from the car to the ambulance for further checks. Better to get home and call them again if required. We were just five minutes from home. I asked if they could follow us home but unfortunately they couldn’t.

We reached home. It was 7pm, a very long, exhausting day for Mom. It took four of us, thirty minutes to get Mom from the car to the chair lift seat in the hallway. She was so tired out she was bent double with her eyes closing, desperately trying to put one foot in front of the other with the aid of the walking frame and four of us. I honestly thought we’d never get inside. Another low blood pressure crash and more paramedics. They lifted Mom into her chair in the lounge, checked her obs which were all good and Mom was a little more settled. Dad was crying with the trauma of it all and I honestly don’t know how I held it together. A friend who lives close by had come to support me and once Mom was safely in the lounge I cried and cried and cried as my friend comforted me in the kitchen.

Slowly as it became late night, carers left, neighbours left and my friend also had to leave. I started to make some phone calls. I needed some support. I was alone, I felt isolated and unprepared to deal with things alone. There was nothing. For all the emergency back up I thought I had in place for these situations, everything failed, I was the wrong type of emergency.

It had been one hell of a day, it was just the start of things to come.

This is why I have been missing from my blog for three months and very sporadic on social media. Life has altered so much at home, a lot of changes and I’ve been full on, all things to everyone is how it feels. Trying to get to grips with everything, keep on top of everything, looking after the changing care needs of my parents has been exhausting. I decided to write about it all in chunks, it will help me process the journey to where we are now as Christmas rapidly approaches. Who would think a small break to the wrist could be so life altering?!

Over the following few days we received some beautiful flowers from friends and relatives who came to visit us. I was struck by the Yellow theme, it made me feel my Sister was close to us, helping us from heaven.

I’ll be back with the next chapter as soon as I can.

With love and sparkles xx

Life Sparkles

Has it been that long?

September 17, 2018September 16, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.4 Comments

Well yes it appears it has been a month since I managed to get to my blog. Mid September already, the long hot beautiful Summer is already becoming a memory as we drift into the cooler days and shorter evenings of Autumn.

It has been busy, as usual. Caring really is a full time, 24/7, no days off, no night off, profession so I take my breaks when I can. As you know the past five months Dad has experienced illness after illness after illness. It has been so tough on him, on Mom and on me. Dad has gone from being able to do quite a few things for himself and his chosen jobs around the house to not being able to do very much at all, so it has fallen to me.

We’ve had a great run again of getting to bed at night, 42 nights in a row broken only the other night when Mom decided to stay up. So we start counting again. 42 nights is amazing, it has been years and years since we have had any good run of getting to bed and we’ve had two good runs so far this year. I’m aware that Sundown season is approaching but fingers crossed.

Over the past two weeks Dad has slowly, and I mean slowly, started to show signs of improvement. He has managed to eat small amounts regularly which in turn has assisted with keeping that dreadful gunk he was coughing up all night and day, at bay. He still has the cough and the gunk but it is vastly reduced. He is managing to get some sleep at night, another benefit. He is feeling a bit better in himself, he is chatting more, watching the news again and has even reached for his diary and prayer books. These are all good signs of Dad feeling a little better in himself.

Mom bless her has been so supportive of him, caring for him, advising him and trying to help him in her own way. Sometimes she has been very frightened when the cough and gunk has been in full flow. Somehow we have managed to come through the past five months. I thank God every night for giving us another blessed day together as a family.

In the meantime, I have lots to share on the music front, some of which you may have seen on my social media which I have stepped up a gear. I will update the music blog as soon as I can. I have been reading your blogs as they come through on my email, when you are up at night and you need to stay awake they make excellent reading and I love them, they make me feel connected, thank you.

A few photo’s from the past month or so, with love and sparkles xxx

A random lunch with one of my friends and yes I had that dessert again but we did share. Love my cup of coffee in the mornings.

Delighted that my Shamrock has started to grow again after the heavy snow and frost had killed it off earlier this year. My little tubs and baskets didn’t do too badly either this Summer.

And Snapchap still makes me giggle and does away with the wrinkles…Go Snapchat!!!

The Music Sparkle.

Here it is!

August 17, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.5 Comments

I wrote in my blog post yesterday that I would share my cover version of the Randy Crawford classic “Almaz” so here it is…

https://youtu.be/G89N3onMDJY

I’m both excited and nervous about sharing this, there is something a little scary about putting yourself out there but I love singing and I just wanted to share this beautiful song. I really hope you enjoy it.

With love and sparkles xxx

The Music Sparkle.

This is like work!

August 16, 2018August 15, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.1 Comment

Well a quick update, actually can I do a quick update? A quick update for me is something like 1,000 words!! I’ll do my best, honest.

There has been much going on, on the singing front. The singing it appears is the easy bit, it all the other bits that take the real effort, organisation, research and time oh yes that precious commodity time. So far we have the tracks recorded and all bar one is completed. Everything is on course at the moment for the video shoot at the end of August. I’m very lucky to be working with Rivermade Films Mulk is so easy to work with, he is aware of my restrictions as a carer with regards to location being close at hand in case I get a call to come home, keeping things simple yet effective and listening to my thoughts on the songs and turning them into a vision. Mulk has already provided me with lots of information on his thoughts and plans for the video shoot and every time I read them I get goosebumps. Mulk has such vision and creativity and I’m so looking forward to the day and also nervous about how I will be in front of a camera.

I had a very insightful and useful hour with Paul Dunphy Esq Paul is a Social Media Curator who I “met” on Twitter some years ago. His knowledge is incredible and to anyone looking for advice on how to use social media for their business or hobby I would highly recommend Paul. Paul advised me to just be me, don’t bother with a separate Facebook page or Twitter account for the music, just use what I have already, be me. Paul pointed out that as a full time carer I won’t have time to keep two lots of accounts going so keep it simple and keep it sparkly.

I told Paul I am not very confident in pushing myself forwards, self promotion but he put me completely at ease with this. As Paul says, most people are nice, most people like to engage with people they like, people want to know more about the person, the back story behind the music or whatever passion it is you have. My Instagram is already filling up with pictures of me. It still doesn’t sit quite right but I would love to share the music with as many people as possible and this is the way to go.

I have been researching the various licences I require in order to release a couple of my tracks commercially. This is time consuming as I want to be 100% sure of what I am signing up to. I have done hours of research over the weeks on music aggregation and I have narrowed it down to two organisations. Digital music is changing all the time it seems and having the correct licences for what you want to do is very important. I’m still hoping to release “Summer Love” by the end of the Summer, it just all depends on how fast people get back to me, how quickly license applications are handled and how fast the music aggregator will work once things are in place. I probably could have done this quicker with more time to hand but I don’t have that luxury so dipping in and out of things is how I’m getting things done.

I have located the Musicians Union website and located it is all I have done so far. I switch the laptop on in the morning, access a website and then sometimes get no further and I end up switching the laptop off before I go to bed. Just depends how the day goes caring wise.

I know the above all sounds like hard work and I suppose it is but I am really enjoying learning all about this industry and what you need to do if you want to do anything at all with your music. I have scribbled a few songs, sudden inspiration would hit me and I’d reach for the phone to record the tune and lyrics whilst it is fresh in my mind. I was brave enough last week to play two to my guitar tutor and he said they were good!! I was amazed. He has given me the guitar chords to the tune in my head so that I can practice. It just is so exciting and it does give me an escape in my head to the stresses of the day and I think too brings peace to my soul.

I’m hoping to upload a song to You Tube this weekend. It’s my cover of the Randy Crawford classic “Almaz”. I love this song so much. There isn’t a video, just a photo of myself. I will do a quick post to let you know when it has been uploaded.

My chap has been practising his photography skills taking some photo’s of me in the garden, for social media purposes. I have included some below, I do hope you like them.

With love and sparkles until the next musical update xxx

Life Sparkles

How long has it been?!!

August 15, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.7 Comments

Mid August already!! How is this possible? I have come to the conclusion that the reason I am on the go all the time and still don’t get everything done is because time is just moving too quickly these days…or am I just getting old?

I have a “to do” list a mile long but I have missed writing my blog so I’ve made myself a cup of coffee and decided to do a quick catch up post. Thankfully I receive emails updates from my favourite blogs so I have kept more or less up to date with your lovely blog posts and of course I have my comments to make…that’s on the “to do” list.

Well since I last wrote poor Dad has been unwell again bless him. We had that slight improvement and then things went downhill. Once again the throat played up and we have a vicious circle going on. Dad has no appetite as he has no taste on the food and his throat is sore. Because he is not eating so well he is weak, frail and has a mixture of reflux and other acid forcing it’s way up in the most awful coughing I have ever heard.

Another attack of Thrush or so we thought but after a week of treatment the white patches were still there. The Dr tried another medication which has helped clear up the patches, reduce the soreness and in turn Dad has persevered to eat more substantial food which in turn has meant that the acid is reducing, the cough is reducing and he is getting some sleep at night. I feel for him, this bout of illness, one thing after another, has been going on since just before Easter. He is wore out.

In my last update I was celebrating a run of 33 days of going to bed, Oh I spoke too soon. July ran at two nights a week no bed and also into the start of August, we are having a good week this week…shhhh. Mom is such a little darling though, she has been amazing looking after Dad in her way. All that nursing knowledge is still there. So beautiful to watch them sitting hand in hand watching the TV and singing along with You Tube. One night when I was tucking her into bed she thanked me for caring. I said “Mom you don’t have to thank me at all” and her reply was that it isn’t everyone that would give up their life to look after two old spirits. I could have just wept there and then. I don’t feel I have given up my life. Undoubtedly my life has completely changed but I have to say that I have an inner happiness and peace now that I didn’t have whilst on the corporate daily slog although I enjoyed that. Such importance is placed on meetings, deadlines, payment times, performance reviews etc in that world but to me, in the grand scheme of things, those things don’t really matter to life. I don’t miss the stress and anxiety of the corporate world.

In the midst of all of this, it was my birthday and we actually had a lovely weekend. My chap was over for the weekend, I was so lucky to receive so many cards and some beautiful gifts. Himself even bought me flowers which he never does and oh yes, I asked him what he had done!! I have a few photo’s to share with you below. There is much happening with the singing at the moment which I will write in another post. I’m hoping that this is just the busy period, setting everything up and once it’s done, it’s done and I can get back to just singing when I can.

With love and sparkles until the next time xxx

A simple thing but I really love the Twitters birthday balloons!

My chap and I actually got out for a birthday meal together and this was my dessert and I enjoyed every single mouthful. Meringue, Strawberries, Chantilly Cream, Pistachio’s, absolutely delicious and it was like a holiday. The carer sat with M & D and I had a whole three hours out.

img_7804-1

My beautiful flowers from himself.

The snapchat fun photo – is anyone else missing the heatwave? I loved the hot weather especially for getting the washing dry…we have loads of washing in this house!!

The Music Sparkle.

Recording!

July 9, 2018July 5, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.6 Comments

I can’t believe it is just over two weeks ago already, but I actually fulfilled a dream to record some songs. What an experience. The week before I was suffering with a sore throat, achy bones and felt I was definitely coming down with some horrible bug. Why that week?!!! Why the week I was due to sing my heart out?!!! I lived on paracetamol, honey and lemon drinks, Lemsip (which is gross even with added honey to sweeten it) and some of Dad’s throat spray as advised by the Doctor. I had ordered some VocalZone pastilles under recommendation. They didn’t arrive until the day of the recording and I was advised not to take them on the day I am due to sing. Happily my throat had recovered somewhat by Thursday evening. I didn’t sleep a wink Thursday night I was so excited and also full of apprehension.

Friday morning I felt my throat was totally constricted, “just nerves” I kept telling myself. My boyfriend arrived early; he was going to look after M & D whilst I was singing. My Guitar tutor arrived with his mobile recording studio and we made a sound booth with two music stands and a duvet…amazing. Then my vocal coach arrived. I wanted her to be there plus she was very interested in how the recording would all work out at home.

I was really nervous but we got started with the songs that are easier to sing. It was weird to hear myself singing in my own ears alongside the backing track. To stop and start. to break in later in the song, to rephrase a lyric, to put my own sound on it. In two hours we had managed to record seven tracks; some Irish, some Country and some from totally different genres…all will be revealed in due course. I was hoarse afterwards and I was on a high. This was one huge tick off my “dreams come true” list. I am very lucky that I managed to choose such wonderful people as Christine (Vocal Coach) and Roger (Guitar Tutor).

A week later I received the unedited tracks to listen to. They sounded amazing, I really can’t believe that it is me. The sound quality is excellent, you’d never think we recorded the songs at home.

Over that weekend my boyfriend took some photographs in the garden with a camera, rather than a mobile phone, so that I could start on my music social media work. I had been out the night before to see John McNicholl so a tad tired looking but I do like some of the photo’s and have used them for my Music page. I’ll use them for the You Tube channel when I get that up and going. There is so much to do and so limited time to do it. However, I have no great expectations of ambitions. Singing and music is my respite, my stress buster from the caring role which takes up the majority of my time. This is my hobby. I have a lot to research regarding licensing, commercial obligations, royalties, CD’s etc but it will all have to be done in my own slow available time.

I also have the opportunity later in the year to make a video or two for a couple of the recorded tracks. I’m very excited about this and yet this too will pose problems to get around. I can’t not be at home in the morning so a full day out is out of the question. I will need cover whilst I am out so I’m looking at £20 per hour before I do anything with a video. Location is another question, I can’t be too far from home in case I need to get back quickly. I want to keep things as simple as possible as I don’t have people who want to appear in videos and I don’t want to have to hire rooms, theatre’s, bars etc. So before I start I have some obstacles to overcome but as the saying goes, where there’s a will there’s a way.

I spotted some dresses on Instagram in June and when I visited the website I was amazed that they were so reasonably priced, plus there was a sale and a first purchase discount. So I bought two, one in Black and one in White. They arrived at the end of last week…from China. The Black one is huge but I can work with it, that’s what we have clothes pegs for 🙂 The White one is a perfect fit. These are for photos and also for wearing in the videos. How exciting life has become. I am so grateful and blessed to be getting the opportunity to do these things albeit at a very slow pace.

Dad made me laugh the day after the recordings when he asked me what was going to happen to him and Mom. I asked him why he asked that question and he said now that I’ve recorded the tracks things will change. I laughed and said that I had only recorded a few songs, I didn’t think I would be taking on a World Tour next week and in any case, him and Mom are my priority. I’m here 100% for them and that won’t change, global stardom will have to wait.

Pictures are mine or via Pinterest.

With love and sparkles xxx

The Music Sparkle.

New Music.

July 6, 2018July 3, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.2 Comments

We have some fantastic new Summer tunes from my favourite Irish Country music stars. I’m waking up each morning humming one of these, the tunes are so catchy and the video’s are excellent.

First up is the lovely John McNicholl with his song “The Brightest Road” written by Derek Ryan. I was lucky enough that on the release day, June 22nd, when it was number one in the Irish country charts and number five here in the UK country charts, to hear it performed live as John was appearing in Birmingham that evening. It was like a huge party at the dance as we all celebrated the single being number one. So proud of John and happy for him to reach the number one spot, a fantastic song.

Next up is Michael English with his summer tune “Then it’s Love”, I absolutely love this. Unfortunately Michael didn’t sing this one at the concert I attended at the end of April (that’s another blog post I need to do), the video is very summer like. I find myself singing this one almost all day long, I really need to learn more of the lyrics though than just the chorus, I’m driving folk crazy repeating the same thing over and over 🙂

Derek Ryan just keeps rocking out those hits, here he is with another country/pop type of tune “Hayley Jo” which has got folk dancing up and down the country, he really is just pure class. I really like this one, I just can’t work out who is Hayley Jo in the video?

My last selection for today is from our homegrown, Irish country music superstar Nathan Carter. Self penned with his singer/songwriting manager John Farry “Give it to Me” is a sure fire summer hit for Nathan. Great song, fun video and Nathan Carter, what’s not to love?!!!

I hope you have enjoyed these fab four summer hits from some of my favourite Irish music stars. I have a few more to share which I will leave for a future post.

With love and music sparkles xx

Life Sparkles

Dear diary…

July 3, 2018 Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.10 Comments

…as usual it’s been a while since I have managed to update my blog. So much seems to be happening and for a change, most of it is good, WHOOP!

Thankfully Dad continues to improve. The Doctor was correct when he said it would be a slow process but I don’t care how slow it is as long as Dad is improving. We are still battling away with the cardiac water cough, lack of appetite and regaining strength. Sleep has much improved, Dad has started to eat proper food again and he looks much more like his usual self. Mom has just been the most amazing little fairy, the love shines through and her nursing returned to her. I have been so happily surprised at how she has been looking after Dad, it has been beautiful and emotional to watch.

Another plus point…oh I wish I had a fan fare here…we have managed a whole month of going to bed every single night. We haven’t done that for almost four years…FOUR YEARS!! I still have bags under my eyes but at least they aren’t Black anymore.

We are experiencing the most fantastic Summer weather we have had in years here in the UK. I love it. Apart from ensuring that “The Kids” are kept cool I am loving this sunshine. I’m not getting out in it much but just the fact is there is just wonderful. Long may it continue. This was a sunset from my bedroom window a couple of weeks ago. Such beautiful colours.

I’m doing my bit in these lovely long, bright, Summer evenings to try and keep the garden as Mom and Dad used to. You can see how scorched the earth is through the lack of rain. I’ve bought myself a watering can. I’ve done quite well with some small tubs of flowers and it’s actually quite therapeutic a little bit of gardening.

Last Friday one of my forever friends came over to see us and I had booked the carer to cover for me for a couple of hours so that we could escape to a local pub, sit outside and eat a late lunch/early dinner and enjoy a glass or two of Prosecco. After not being out for such a long time it felt like a holiday. It is so true that carer’s need a break!!

I have news to update you on the music front which I will do as soon as I can. There’s a lot of work involved now with the setting up, music aggregation, licences etc and finding time is difficult as I’m always on the go. But find time I will!

A little snapchat filter to close off for today…gosh if only I could get my make up like this!!