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A birthday burden
Posted on November 26, 2020 Leave a Comment
(Images: My 30th birthday cupcake, Me & Martha 1985, Mum + Dad, My birthday 2015) I have a strange relationship with my birthday, I think lots of people do. Society at large places a lot of expectation on birthdays, the cards, the wrapping paper, the cake, really it is a lot (go checkout @jtfirstman “this […]
A well of sadness…
Posted on November 25, 2020 Leave a Comment
There is this bit in the Simpsons Movie where Bart says, “this is the worst day of my life” to which Homer responds “this is the worst day of your life, so far.” And it really sums up 2020, just when things are getting better; seemingly out of nowhere they go haywire again. The last […]
4am
Posted on November 13, 2020 Leave a Comment
It’s early, 4am to be precise, I haven’t been up long, but I’m up. It is also the perfect time to be awake. There is a stillness that lingers in the air that doesn’t exist at any other time. I think about what others are doing, sleeping, dreaming, starting to stir as spirits move freely […]
Love is Everything
Posted on October 28, 2020 Leave a Comment
I was inspired by these words by Jaiya John, the poetic nature, the imagery, the intentional acts of Love. In my lifetime I’ve found it hard to say I Love You, not something that easily rolls off my tongue, and harder still to receive. It pierces the ears in an unfamiliar tone and I’ve never […]
Gathered Words (part 1)
Posted on August 11, 2020 Leave a Comment
Gathered Words (part 1) is a small collection of poems and musings inspired by My Mum Martha and her courageous journey with alzheimers. This is also the beginning of the final step into publishing a novel which I have been working on for the past 5 years. My hope is to beautifully articulate the journey […]
Bloc Cafe
Posted on July 4, 2020 Leave a Comment
Welcome to the Bloc Cafe. This is one of my fave places to visit with Martha and gets the tui of approval for being Dementia Friendly, so let’s talk a bit more about it. 20 Normanby Road, Mt Eden, Auckland, Level 2.Monday – Friday 730am – 3pmSaturday + Sunday 9am – 3pm09 630 0102Instagram: Bloc […]
Dementia Friendly Places + Spaces
Posted on July 4, 2020 Leave a Comment
What makes somewhere Dementia Friendly? A question I have been asking for 7 years and now I’m starting to answer. I’ve thought about it a lot, mostly in retrospect to places I visit frequently, why do I go there? First and foremost, the people of course, the atmosphere and the ambiance of a place has […]
With a little help from my friends…
Posted on September 18, 2019 Leave a Comment
Kia ora e te whānau, It has been a while since I have updated this blog, things have been increasingly busy and unfortunately stressful. This year has seen many ups and downs, one was having to move from the home we had been in for 5 years. Fortunately, we found a beautiful new home within […]
Grief, loss and alzheimers
Posted on March 24, 2019 2 Comments
In 2013 I had my first experience of grief, true, moving, heart-wrenching grief. It was a time in my life where I wasn’t sure if I could carry on. Simultaneously I became a carer to Martha, I supported her through her grief, I remember on the 2nd morning of Dad passing, his body laid out […]
Dealing with S**T (some tips)
Posted on August 15, 2018 1 Comment
Today I picked Martha up after a 5-night stint in respite. It is a funny space respite because on one hand, I feel relief from the day to day pressures of being on a caregiver, but that is quickly replaced by the anxiousness of the quality of care in her care home, by worrying if […]
Me, Martha and Alzheimer's 