It’s officially hot. We have had extremely hot weather here over the last few weeks (I am stating the obvious to my Australian readers!) and I am officially declaring that it’s “A Stinking Hot Summer”!
They do say on the news that Australia is the hottest place in the world at the moment but that’s not a record any of us want to covet I wouldn’t think. We have been mercifully spared of more terrible bushfires. As hot as it has been there hasn’t been a lot of wind so the tinderbox that is the Australian countryside hasn’t gone up in flames during this last little bout of heat, thank God. Touching 40 degrees from all accounts here again today so there is no let up.
I got home yesterday afternoon and the house was a veritable furnace. I had the air-conditioner on full blast all evening yet it was still very hot at the other end of the house and really didn’t cool down that much after I went to bed. I slept under a ceiling fan which was straining all night. Slept okay though and that is what counts.
The hot days are punctuated by sad nights. Linda managed to get home for a few days which was a relief but unfortunately, she deteriorated somewhat on Sunday evening and by Monday morning it was clear she was quite ill. The palliative care nurse came out and it was decided to take her back to Clare Holland House Hostel again. She receives excellent care at the hostel and she is doing much better now than what she was on Monday. The doctors had prepared us all for the worst but have now taken a more positive view of Linda’s immediate prognosis.
The family are staying with Linda around the clock on a roster system which seems to be working well, giving us all a required break though it does mean for me some sad nights at home alone with my thoughts and feelings, surrounded by the physical remains of Linda’s regular life.
I know lot of people are worried about me and that is very humbling to be honest, but I am okay. I have a good support network, people I can talk to and hang with when not keeping Linda company and for that I am very grateful. I will survive.
As I said, Linda has improved somewhat which isn’t surprising given the excellent, around the clock care she receives from the nursing staff at Clare Holland House. She will be looked after at the facility for another week and then the next route her journey will take will be decided by the doctors looking after her. She is comfortable, happy and in very little pain.
The doctors have suggested she may be allowed to come home again, but I think there is a strong chance that she may stay at the hostel now until the end. It was nice to have her home for three nights, but we all understand she is probably in the best place for her now. The picture on today’s blog is of Linda enjoying her garden out the back of our house last Sunday. I hope she gets to see it again.
As I said, lots of people are looking out for me which I appreciate beyond words and friendships have been deepened and will continue will into the future I hope. Until then the hot days and sad nights will continue. We go on.
Until next time.
Strange Notations From a Laborious Life 