Page 332 - She's One Crazy Lady!

Family and friends
I’m digressing again... a break from Crazy Hats... back into the ‘real world’...
In 2004 there were other things going on my life other than school issues and Crazy Hats. We were still concerned about Mum coping on her own in the family bungalow but we didn’t put too much pressure on her – that is until we heard of a flat being available at Sunley Court in Kettering. Without Mum, we went to see it – a little ground floor flat that had access to a little garden and somewhere to sit. She would be independent – with her own front door, kitchen, bathroom, lounge area and access to the communal areas where she could eat in their restaurant and join in the many clubs and activities on offer – with help and care, at various levels on site if needed.
“We’ll see.” Mum said, when we excitedly told her all about it, suggesting she went to have a look, knowing the flat could be quickly sold. After seeing it she was still unsure – but later rang saying:
“Let’s go for it!”
Well done Mum! It was a big decision.
There was a lot to do but thankfully, Mum and Dad’s bungalow was
bought by a lovely couple even before the For Sale notice went up – they were so nice to Mum, feeling her nervousness. Bit by bit we helped to sort out what she would need and wanted to take with her and arranging for charities and individuals to collect items that Mum wanted to give away. She was (outwardly) very calm about everything but it was when the dining room table and chairs went that we saw just how much this move affected her:
“We used to have so many lovely get-togethers didn’t we? – if only that table could talk.” I will always remember seeing Mum the day before she moved, sitting in her comfy chair in the now-barren lounge, surrounded by the filled storage boxes that contained what remained of her seventy-nine years – everything else – gone!
When the removal men came the next morning Mum seemed to be quite happy and they, like the new purchasers of the bungalow, were so lovely with her (no doubt used to situations such as these). In the transition period my Auntie took Mum to her house while Cas and I stayed behind to do all the last minute jobs and to unload at Sunley to set up her new home. For us, it was such an emotional moment when Mum stepped out of the house for the very last time – telling us she didn’t want to go!!! Oh, no! What had we done? My Auntie whisked her off quickly.
Auntie Connie and Uncle Ray brought Mum back. Mum was excited. Cas and I, having made her new home as comfortable as possible were feeling very tense. Once on our own with her we gently asked her why she didn’t want to leave ...
“I wanted to stay with you and the removal men; I didn’t want to go to Connie’s.”
“We used
to have so many lovely get-togethers didn’t we? – if only that table could talk.”
I will always remember seeing Mum the day before she moved, sitting in her comfy chair
in the now- barren lounge, surrounded
by the filled
storage boxe”
s.
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