Generations

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and hearts on my milestone blip yesterday.  I will continue even if not every day.

My mother was in good spirits when I visited today, accompanied by my daughter and her two daughters -  so four generations in the room - I should have got someone else to record the occasion!  Mum loves children and has always had empathy with them so it was great to see the youngest and oldest family members laughing together. Mum's care home has been decorated beautifully and Sophie was persuaded to pose for me in front of a fireplace with Santa disappearing up (or down?).

I find it depressing to see so many of the residents just sitting in their rooms staring at a television (I sneaked a picture of one) - there is a communal lounge where they can go but this is equally depressing to my eyes with chairs ranged around the edges.  I suppose that's the way it has to be.  They are all well cared for but I dread it.

We met with my brother who passed on to me several boxes of photos from my mother's house as it has just been sold.  In among these are many showing mum as a beautiful young woman through to an active grandmother - now although she is not unhappy, she is one of many in care homes just sitting and waiting....