A son came from Abu Dhabi to join the very minor celebration of my 80th birthday. But his Dad, already ill, got carted off to hospital, then another, and son chased the ambulance. Then, despite Mr G’s condition, I felt that with sufficient help I could accept the present from son and wife, celebrate our diamond wedding in a luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi. A disaster. He was terrified on the train, collapsed at the Hyatt Hotel, then wheelchair assistance. Fabulous hotel, he loved swimming but would not enter a pool. Made the beach boys move his shelter every half hour. Six hours back in plane, a nightmare. He wanted to get off, undid seat belt, pulled earphones of others out, tried to snatch their blankets, thought I would have to have him restrained or sedated.

We did get to the UK for actual celebration, family decision that I would buy old shop opposite to make it possible to look after Mr G, impossible in much loved house. Took some months, but done, then could not sell other house, scams, false offers. I had a derisory offer when Mr G was already in a care home. Then told I could not sell, did not have the power, had to go to a tribunal to get a ruling. It turned out to be wrong advice, got permission; Mr G died two weeks later. By that time I had run out of money.

2019 saw me busy doing up the shop into a showroom and house. I went to the UK for two weddings, driving. The second was near Windsor, traffic awful. I do not know how I got back to France without an accident, but that was the end of UK driving. 2020 saw me confined, like the world, with Covid. Moodscope and Future Learn kept me going. At the end of 2021 I had nearly made up my mind to  move into this Residence. Decision made early 2022, house put on market, Then my son died and I had to cadge a lift back to UK with friends. A wedding in UK later that year, decided to go by train, another nightmare. In June 2023 I moved into the Residence, expecting the house to be sold, a date had been set for completion. The man pulled out on a trick, and the house went back on the market. It was eventually sold in January 2024, at half the first offer. Then I discovered I could afford to move to another Residence, further South, in Lyon. So here I am. Six months saw the disposal of 60 years of possessions. I gave my car away. A week later phone call, man not allowed to drive it, I had no right to dispose of it as Mr G’s name still on registration document. Death certificate to insurance.

So, in those 10 years of course there were some good times, great-grandchildren being a high point. But in those tumultuous years I was kept afloat by family and the good ship Moodscope, clinging to it like a life raft. 

Thank you. 

The Gardener

A Moodscope member