R.I.P. Rosie Bond

Had some sad new yesterday, my mums cousin, who lives down the road from mum died yesterday. She was 81, but up until a couple of months ago she was fit and well. Before Christmas she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she went into hospital and had a mastectomy. She had the op on the Monday and was out of hospital on the Thursday, apparently this is normal procedure. I think it is disgusting that after major traumatic surgery she was discharged, with no one at home to look after her. A nurse came in once a day to dress the wound!!

Rosie being Rosie she said that this wasn't going to beat her. She was a good living catholic, she'd had 7 children, 2 died, 4 out of the remaining 5 are all well adjusted adults, one of the girls (53) is out for anything she can get thats for free. Rosie and her husband brought the kids up on one wage,no mean feat. They were well clothed and well fed and best of all well behaved. When I was a kid I used to go down to her house every Friday night, George (her husband) used to go out, she would get out her accordian and entertain us all with songs and tunes, her one vice, she smoked like a chimney. She used to iron the daily paper, after she had read it, because George didn't like to read a creased newspaper!!

She new all the gossip, and was a great support to mum when dad died. I think had she not been discharged from hospital so soon she might have lived. The hospital made no provision for social services to come and asses her needs until it was too late. On the Sunday after her discharge from hospital she was at the bingo, her usual Sunday afternoon activity and on the Monday and Wednesday. She also went to church a couple of times a week.

It's rather ironic that whilst she was in hospital the kids came along ang gutted her kitchen, painted and decorated, bought her new carpet and a new cooker and she never lived to appreciate it. When dad was in hospital Roy & I came over from Spain and did the same to his bedroom, he never lived to see it, except that his ashed are in a little pine chest in a captains sea chest at the foot of his bed, and everytime I stay at mums I sleep in his bed and usually have a conversation with him!!

So Rest in Peace Rosie, you had a hard life, although you complained now and again it was never let things get you down. I wish more people were like you.

Had a busy day today, cleaned the kitchen, washed all the tiles and cupboards, even washed the light bulbs, I need my sunglasses now as its so bright. Took the lounge curtains and pelmets down, washed them and put them back up. Went to the clinic with Roy he had a hearing test, he is officially classed as deaf in both ears, he says its selective hearing, so we need to get him a couple of hearing aids. I'll have to be careful when he gets the hearing aids as I won't be able to talk about him in case he hears me!!