A Quarter of a year

The immense differences in a way that cannot be seen. A few trips in environments that helped in the recovery space. 

A busmans holiday that is becoming a way forward to approach the avoidance. The latest one last month whereby the three of us in a home welcoming a new pup. Mum is sweeping through the home with a zest to catch up from the time when our late Dad was slipping away from us. And more impending things were happening. The task this time to get another room spruced up and cleaned out to make way for the perpetual modern changes that usually happens in the home as time moves on ... The belongings shared to a different way of life. The reminders of Dad speedily removed on his death. Everyone deals with this in their own way. The shoes, coats, dressing gown. toothbrush long gone now. I had none of this process in the usual way. It is the same but not in our situation... 

A complete away from it all on an island for a long weekend of board games, the films watched of an evening. A short while out each day exploring the Welsh scenery... a daughter easing the pain of life outside subtly and quietly for me. The autumnal crisp cold air not putting us off. We were completely away from all our adjustments of life without  a close family member deceased. This particularly bereavement being out of the natural order of life ... 

A road that was travelled on the North Wales Expressway leading to watching a film that is now festively apt ... The Polar Express. There are classic new traditions that happen, not only when someone passes during the festive season, but when your children set up home themselves with a partner with their extended family. A family where there is the birth Mum and a foster Mum. I have met the birth Mum once, the foster Mum more times including getting to share the forthcoming two meals planned for the festive period this year. One meal out. The other at her home with the extended family including those who reside in Spain, who are over for the holidays on Christmas Day. 

This forthcoming time with my family and new friends, along with once again becoming a National Trust Member ... the benefits of the partially open places out of season to visit in the North West of England. That is if the weather is mild. Otherwise movies and the magic of more board games ...  and staying local. This along with those crochet hooks and knitting or sewing needles creating on a more regular basis, busy with projects for others. I really get to achieve a little more when away from the tasks in progress in my own home ...