Of late
Family life has been strange, and strained, of late: a real mixture of death and new life. The year started with the sudden death of Uncle Philip Kirkwood, closely followed by admission to hospital of Doug Little. Owen's elderly allotment neighbour died - meaning Owen could take over the adjoining plot and fulfill all his grand planting plans. Meanwhile Pat Little's vascular dementia has been putting increased strain on her family around her.
Doug's health deteriorated and he was put on the 'Liverpool care pathway for the dying patient'. Frantic drive to Leicester for Owen. We all found it hard, including Katy, who suddenly became very tearful when she realised she was unlikely to see her grandpa again - and she did a horrible black scribbled picture, quite unlike her usual art work. Doug didn't want Katy traumatised by seeing him, but a retired child psychologist friend helped us persuade him otherwise, and we all went to visit him the other week - now discharged from hospital into a local nursing home.
Katy was a tiny bit over-awed at the nursing home but gradually overcame her shyness. She was indeed pleased just to be able to see Doug and hold his hand for a bit, and show him some of her pictures. We only stayed about 10 minutes but it seemed to be very significant.
Since then all her behaviour has been back to normal. At Lytton Rd she was bubbly and entertaining, and started dancing beautifully to the music Ian had chosen ... which was a late Beethoven string quartet (written 2 years before the composer's death, when he was stone deaf). Later she asked "Could we have that opus 130 on again, I liked that music."
In the meantime Doug has been phoning people up from his little room.
Doug's health deteriorated and he was put on the 'Liverpool care pathway for the dying patient'. Frantic drive to Leicester for Owen. We all found it hard, including Katy, who suddenly became very tearful when she realised she was unlikely to see her grandpa again - and she did a horrible black scribbled picture, quite unlike her usual art work. Doug didn't want Katy traumatised by seeing him, but a retired child psychologist friend helped us persuade him otherwise, and we all went to visit him the other week - now discharged from hospital into a local nursing home.
Katy was a tiny bit over-awed at the nursing home but gradually overcame her shyness. She was indeed pleased just to be able to see Doug and hold his hand for a bit, and show him some of her pictures. We only stayed about 10 minutes but it seemed to be very significant.
Since then all her behaviour has been back to normal. At Lytton Rd she was bubbly and entertaining, and started dancing beautifully to the music Ian had chosen ... which was a late Beethoven string quartet (written 2 years before the composer's death, when he was stone deaf). Later she asked "Could we have that opus 130 on again, I liked that music."
In the meantime Doug has been phoning people up from his little room.
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