The week before last was the anniversary of our Mum’s death. Frenchie and I like to be together to mark the day but it wasn’t possible this year.
We nursed mum in the last weeks of her life, with support from carers, the district nurse team and the doctor.
You might imagine that it was a traumatic experience, and you’d be right but it was also heart warming, an honour and at times an absolute joy. The Duchess was funny and she didn’t lose her sense of humour. She was 93 years old, well aware that she was dying having refused treatment that would have kept her going for a few months more. When the doctor first administered the morphine from the ‘just in case box’ Mum said, I hope it’s not habit forming.
Both Frenchie and I lost weight during this time and I would love to get to what we refer to as funeral weight again. However I don’t recommend the death of a loved one diet if you can possibly avoid it.
The duchess loved to shop and had a Baileys coffee every morning at 11am. If asked about her alcohol consumption she would say she didn’t drink. She honestly didn’t think Baileys counted. She wasn’t lying, she didn’t lie, but much like her attitude to swearing (see bad language diet) she could find ways around tricky truth moments when necessary.
My Dad, let’s call him Mr T, knew that the duchess on a shopping trip with me, Frenchie or heaven forbid, both of us, had the potential to result in a severe financial hit. On one trip she bought three pairs of shoes. Shoes were a specific weakness and source of joy for her and that has been inherited by her daughters, consequently we couldn’t be relied on to curtail her shoe habit. For the shopping show and tell when we got home, a tradition in our house, she displayed two pairs. The third pair went straight into the wardrobe. Several weeks later when she wore them, Mr T asked if this was yet another new pair of shoes, no Mr T, I’ve had these for ages. she said indignantly, and she had. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t fooled but he played along.
So to mark the anniversary of her death I bought a bottle of Baileys and a lovely watch that I really don’t need.
She would be so proud
fat tart 