under another sun

This was the morning of the cremation of Janet, my friend of thirty years. A call from Rod as I was sorting out sombre clothes to wear. He and Claire took it in turns to literally scream at me about something to do with Ken and Janet's house. It seems that the Canadians had moved possessions around in preparation for taking things back to Canada. Nothing to do with me of course. But I was treated to a stream of abuse from both of them, about the house and how nobody was thinking about Ken. This from the family I had to persuade to take Ken's wellbeing seriously, as I was emptying their father's piss bag and chasing carers and catching Janet's puke in bowls and so on. I gave both of these fucking idiots what for in no uncertain terms. Unfortunately, after I ended this call I was shaking with anger.  It was only by talking to Lorraine, that I began to calm down a bit. But I was too furious and upset to go to the cremation, where apparently there were unseemly scene...

A quieter day today, dealing with correspondence from Janet's pals, many of whom are sending lovely messages about the benign influence Janet has had on them, as I have sent out lots of emails to people in Janet's address books. I walked into town to pick up the now redundant Power of Attorney documents that had been taken by Rod and Claire, which had been returned. I was at last left to process all that had happened during the week, and enjoyed walking in Preston Park.  Later, I cooked a good chicken stew in the evening, ate with my lovely Lorraine and then popped along to the Preston Park Tavern for a cheeky beer with Anton. Spoke to Mum, and messages with Toby during the day. An earlyish night.

Janet died this evening. I had been to the hospice at lunchtime and I found Hus and Ken in his wheelchair in the car park. Ken had just been taken to see Janet, and was about to be driven off to Leamington in the car with Rod and Claire and Caroline. I heard later that Ken had said in a moment of clarity that she would not last the day. He seemed very sad then, but apparently was singing in the car most of the way north. I went into the hospice and said hello to Ken's family who were just leaving, and to Kim and Heather who were staying put.  I spent a little time with Janet, who was not conscious, and breathing hard. I held her hand, Kim and Heather asked me if I wanted to be alone with her, but there is no unfinished business between us I didn't need this.  When the nurses came to change her position, and then move her into a single room with a view of the garden. Hus and I left and drove back to Ken and Janet's house.  I thought I might pick up the power of ...

Up with the sparrows and working on the French brief, from just gone seven as yesterday. Hus phoned me at nine asking me when I was arriving to look after Ken. I had to tell him this was impossible today, which made me feel bad. Then on with the day's work from my pals in Paddington. I have told them about what's going on, and luckily this particular job is coming to an end soon. They are lovely people, but this particular project is one that even with an electron microscope I would not be able to locate any interest. This all ended around 6:30. But hurrah! No commute. Feeling under the weather today, and Lorraine coughing and tired when she got home. Luckily I had cooked a chicken curry and this turned out quite well, and we watched the other half of Back to the Future, which, I suppose, was mildly entertaining. Felt bad that I hadn't done anything on the Janet and Ken front today, but badly needed to focus on work, and just step back for a bit.  Rod and Claire are t...