This week I am officially on holiday for the first time in almost a decade. My daughter insisted I join her and her kids in a tiny south coastal town of Peterborough in Victoria. And It feels strange.. Dont get me wrong. Its a good time.. And I am glad to be here. But I havent done anything like this for so long it just feels odd.Sleeping an a cabin in a caravan park. The weather gets cold at night. And I cant turn the heating on half an hour before I get up.. I spent hours rigging 4 fishing rods to take 3 teenagers fishing for their first time (and mine in nearly 40 years) and 2 hours later had all 4 lines hopelessly tangled. But no one got speared with a hook somehow. So it was a great day. I havent started my car since we arrived. Everything is either close enough to walk or I get driven with the whole family. I am really not used to the constant presence of other people after so long. Its out of my comfort zone.. But good for me.. Tonight, teaching the grandkids to play poker..😷
Welcome to the world of 'family ties'. 10 years without a VAYCAY - and you're as old as me? My counsellor told me 15 years ago, "Spend everything you've got before you turn 80 because after that anything left is going to go to doctors and nursing homes. So: We travel! AND: It gets more difficult each year!
@JollyRoger And there is a lot or truth to that. We were planning to make one more trip that to the US and criss cross it by rail. But wifes dementia made itself known to the family and we switched plans to give her the pilgrimage back to Scotland that all Scots have to make. For various practical reasons I sent my daughter to supervise and guide her and stayed home. Then along came Trump and Covid and no one we know wants to set foot in America and my own country shut down (and saved a lot of lives) and by the time all that was over I was her full time carer. Only the last 18 months she got too difficult to handle..Now I am coming out of my shell with the help of family and friends.. 2027 here I come. But staying in OZ.. I am hoping for 5 decent years😷
@whowasthatmaskedman I am saddened to think of the hardships you've experienced! I'm gladdened to hear you speak of a better future - even without the person you've loved and shared so much with. May God be your guide to letting you learn to know the new you.
@JollyRoger Please dont be sad for me (or us) I have "been there and done that " a lot in my time. And we have had over 50 years together, which is more than most get. Along with a few little miracles on the way. We want for nothing. I regard us as lucky..😷
@whowasthatmaskedman I love that - how you all continued to make important what she still remembered was important to her. Honestly, everyone should have a family like yours. Not everyone does, but they should. She was having a ball and I can only imagine that 3 week break you had was so needed.
@LadyBronte Thank you and I mean that. My family has always been everything to us. We put everything we had in and with good management and more luck than I deserved, it all paid off. And Yes. The three weeks gave me a recharge to keep going..😷
@Lilnonames Of course. Thats the point. They have lost two grandmothers in the last couple of years. One to cancer. One to Dementia. I am the last man standing and I hope to give them some mileage..😷
