Wed, 13th Nov, 2019 Mum & Dad’s place, Cairns, Qld

Woke at 3am to Mum and Dad talking. Dad had tumbled out of bed and grazed his knee and opened up his eyebrow on his side cupboard. He had done the same just before I came home and ended up with a huge bruise on his cheek. We cleaned him up and I rearranged the cupboard then went back to bed.

After breakfast I padded the corners of the cupboard and shelves by Dad’s bedside. He didn’t want things moved  as he couldn’t see there was a problem – one of the issues of Dementia.

Pottered around the house doing a few bits and pieces and enjoying chatting with Mum. Dad has been watering his orchids every day which gets him wandering around so his knees must have seen some improvement from the plasma injection – just he can’t remember how it was to be able to say if he feels any difference.

After lunch I went to Kaylene’s for a cuppa then around to Daniel and Fran’s to say bye. Fran’s Mum, Valerie was there too. Jon was still at golf so rang him to say by. His new lounge room and lounge looks lovely. He is getting over renovating though. Jess was still at her new work which she is enjoying so she rang me back later to wish me a good flight home.

Greg came over for dinner then Mum, Greg and I played Skipbo – no mercy this time – I won the 2 games we played. Dad watched Andre Rieu concerts that Mum has taped – so we were entertained with wonderful music. Andre and his orchestra and singers are amazing and they are fabulous entertainers as well as musicians.

Last night here. I feel like I have been here for months and it was funny that when I arrived it didn’t feel that I had been away for over a year. Time just flows on. So glad to be able to spend time with Mum and Dad and help them out. Looking forward to being back next year for an extended time to be with them.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Tues, 12th Nov, 2019 Mum & Dad’s place, Cairns, Qld

Still needed to pull up the sheet in the early morning which is nice though the days have been warming up enough to put the fans on.

Rang Maralyn as I have run out of time to drive up to Yungaburra for a visit.

Karen popped in from over the back so we had a quick chat before I headed out. Will go over for a drink this afternoon.

Met Kerry and Brian at Earlville for a cuppa and caught up on what they have been doing.

Around to Rebecca’s for lunch as Clive had a lunch meeting. Chatted away until Clive came back then we chatted about all his hard work renovating the house.

Picked up some more groceries then headed home. Lorraine had rung this morning to say that Aldo had passed away after having a massive stroke. He was 94. It was so lovely to think we had seen him recently and that he has passed on without any suffering. Will be hard for Lorraine but she has wonderful children around her.

Popped over the back to Karen and Claude for a chat. As I was coming back Mum, Dad and baby Curlew were in the garage and didn’t want me to come near them. Lots of hissing but they went one side of the car and I went the other so I was able to get back inside. Grabbed my camera but it was a bit dark and when I waved my arm to get the sensor light to come on they rang around the other side of the car. I did get the baby and Mum is a blurr then I got the Mum and the baby is a blurr. Shame I didn’t get the Dad with his wings out.

Cooked dinner then Valerie picked me up to join Christine for a cuppa at Cazaly’s. Susan had rung to say she farewell as she had forgotten about a birthday dinner. On our way back Valerie and I spotted heaps of Curlews on our street – all making a racket as we drove by.

Mon, 11th Nov, 2019 Mum & Dad’s place, Cairns, Qld

Another lovely morning with clear sky and light breeze.

Took Mum into her bank and we sorted out a few things.

Home for lunch then I met Louis for a cuppa at the Pier.

Got a few groceries and script filled then popped around to Anita and Brian’s for a chat. Glen is getting married next June in Brisbane. He went to school with Daniel.

Decided to go to Brothers for dinner one last time. Jon and Jess joined us and Ray and Marian arrived too so we had a great night chatting.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Sun, 10th Nov, 2019 Mum & Dad’s place, Cairns, Qld

Another lovely cool morning with clear sky. The Rose of Sharon has given us a few blooms everyday – so unusual for this time of year but it has been lovely, a gift for my homecoming.

After breakfast took Mum and Dad for a leisurely drive up to Ellis Beach to enjoy the beautiful day. The sea was nearly flat. Jess was going out on her new work’s catamaran, Passions of Paradise. Should be perfect – hope she has lots of sunscreen.

Looking back to Ellis Beach. Dad used to stop here and snorkel around the rocks, spotting barramundi etc.

Headed back to Palm Cove. Lots of people fishing off the jetty. Found a park at the northern end so I could get a photo of Double Island and Scout Hat.

Drove down to the other end – looking south to Yorkey’s Knob. All the parking bays are full so we didn’t stop for a cuppa here. Not bad looking beaches today except the water is warm and the stingers or crocs might make your day miserable.

Back to the highway then into Clifton Beach. All quiet here as this is mainly residential compared to the units and holiday rentals at Palm Cove. No coffee shop here.

Passed the turn off into Kewarra Beach as it is mainly residential too.

Into Trinity Beach where I found a park under a tree across from a coffee shop. Bought coffees and we relaxed in the car (too hard for Mum and Dad to wander too far these days) and enjoyed the view.

Back home for lunch. Dad’s orchid is still looking lovely.

I headed over to Brian’s to watch the Sandown 500 Supercars race with him and Ian. Rang Steve as he was watching it with Mickey in Sandstone. The boys had a chat too. Very hot there but the fridge is working fine.

Home for a drink with Mum and Dad then we headed over to Tracy’s place for dinner with her, Katie, Helen and Greg. Katie’s high school graduation is on Thursday afternoon so I will be able to see her all dressed up before I fly back to Perth. She is heading overseas on a school organised holiday for her ‘schoolies’ which sounds wonderful.

Back home for a cuppa and a bit of TV before bed. Mum is very good at taping all her TV programs.

Sat, 9th Nov, 2019 Mum & Dad’s place, Cairns, Qld

Lovely clear sky today – the first one since I came home.

Kaylene picked me up and we headed to the shops for some Christmas present shopping. Had a nice time wandering then a bite to eat for lunch. Got all my gifts.

Warmer day so put the fan on as I wrapped up my presents which I will leave with Mum for Christmas morning.

Called down to the boys again and had a nice afternoon chatting with them and Fran. Jess was doing her last shift for Disability Care as she starts her new job for Passions of Paradise Dive/Cruise Company on Monday – she will be doing admin/account work with normal hours which will fit in better with her studying. Dan helped Jon carry in the new lounge he bought.

Dinner and movies with Mum and Dad. It has been wonderful to be home to help them out – making meals, washing and cleaning and bits and pieces as they need it.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Fri, 8th Nov, 2019 Mum & Dad’s place, Cairns, Qld

Warmer morning as the sky is a lot clearer today.

Drove out to Andrea’s for a cuppa and to return her fascinator I borrowed for the Melbourne Cup lunch. She has been hard at work putting up her many Christmas decorations. Forgot to take my camera but she will post photos on Facebook when she completes the amazing display.

On the way home I called into the Crematorium to see our son Anthony’s plaque. Hard to believe that was 28 years ago. I also got some information about plaques for us – boy the price has gone up but I might get prepared so the boys won’t have to worry about that when the time comes – hopefully not for a long time yet.

Met up with old friends for a lovely lunch at Palm Cove.

Quiet afternoon.

Watched one of Mum’s DVDs – Sound of Music, made in 1965. Still an amazing movie and of course the songs are fabulous so we had fun singing along.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.

Thurs, 7th Nov, 2019 Mum & Dad’s place, Cairns, Qld

Another nice cool morning.

Took Dad to Dept of Transport to get his new Identity Card now he doesn’t have a driver’s licence any more. They use face recognition software and as he had his chin up a bit it came up for the lady to investigate as it was just a bit different to his previous photo. Luckily they said it was ok so we didn’t have to do it again.

Continued on to visit Mum’s painting friend, Lorraine and her husband Aldo on their cane farm near Gordonvale. Had a nice time chatting over lunch and then I checked out Lorraine’s latest paintings before we headed back home.

Dropped Mum and Dad home then went down to visit Daniel and Fran and check in on Jon and Jess with their renovating of their lounge room.

Home for drinks then I cooked dinner and we settled in to watch a few TV shows.

NO PHOTOS TODAY.