I flew back to Australia a few days ago and lay here, in my nieces Princess bed (yes, tis a sight indeed), living through my second night with jet lag.
Actually, its not so bad...I am just not use to getting up at 5am and can't wait to get back to my 8am sleep ins.
It's wonderful to be back in the homeland again, hanging with the family and eating all the foods that I have missed. My mum, Muriel, turns 80 while I am here and really, this is the reason why I am here.
Time for a photo no doubt:
I only get to see my ma once year and it's tough. I miss her and I always have to go through a period of adjustment time when I get here because of the changes age is bringing her. She has just been diagnosed with the first level of dementia...which is scarey, for all of us. My heart has already felt achy to witness some of her fear around it and I find myself just wanting to remind her to keep positive and active and surely that will help, right? I'm all about giving space for all that we feel....and then moving on...but that's easier said and done when you are my age than it is at her age.
So...here we be, in the country that sells bananas at the moment for $9.99 a kilo (almost $4.50 a pound). Eating meat pies, red snakes, twisties and cherry ripes (mmm) and hanging out with my mum as much as I can. Taking her in, watching her closely, re-learning her and burning her face on my memory and trying to have a laugh in the midst of it all.
Wish me luck peeps
xxM
