A little break today from #dementiachallengers and #MatExp and generally trying to change the world. Instead I am using the blog to say ‘Happy Birthday – 93 today” to my lovely Mum.
Many of you follow Mum’s ups and downs through her occasional blogs and intermittent tweets; she tweets as @Gills_Mum – until she gets fed up and sends her trademark ‘over and out’ message.
Mum has settled really well in her excellent assisted living accommodation. It is a whole new life with many new friends. Today my daughter and I will be joining them all for lunch, taking some wine and a big cake and generally having a good time. Tonight she will be enjoying a very good standard of ‘no holds barred’ Scrabble.
Mum lives in the centre of a very nice town – right in the middle of her old stomping ground, with everything to hand, but she cannot really go out on her own now.
She gave me this little poem a few weeks ago and I found it really poignant. I am hoping that as time passes her new residence really will become ‘home’ – but I think as a hugely independent person, she will always hanker after catching the little bus into town.
We both know that at 93 and with a big sparkle in her eye, we are both extremely lucky. So I intend to carry on loving her to bits, live from day to day and not worry too much about what the future may bring.
HERE
I used to catch the Little Bus
Now I am here in clover
This really is the perfect place
But am I lost without a trace
Just being well looked after?
It’s not a care home with everything done
We really have a lot of fun
But I don’t want to disappear
So I am saying, loud and clear
Here I am – I’m HERE.
Please say ‘hello’ in the comments so that Mum knows there is still
a big wide world out there and lots of lovely people
keen to keep her from ‘disappearing’. 🙂
Whose Shoes? A catalyst for change in health and social care 
Happy birthday Gill’s Mum! It’s great to hear how well your new home is working out and please make sure Gill keeps us up to date. There’s lots of us who love to hear your news and thoughts! With 93 years of life experience you’ve got a lot to teach us. Have a wonderful celebration today. Best wishes, Zoe
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A really big Happy Birthday Gill’s Mum – hope you have a great day.
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Hi Gill’s mum – and happy 93rd birthday! With a brain as sharp as yours (and a daughter like Gill) I think there’s little likelihood of you disappearing any time soon. Hope you have a really wonderful day – and it was lovely to catch a few words with you last week. All the very best, Pippa PS When is your next blog coming out, I’m missing your writing?
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Hi Gill’s Mum and a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
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Happy Birthday and keep on scrabbling!
Love Beryl x
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Happy birthday Gill’s mum!! Enjoy your special day and celebrate well x
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Happy Happy Birthday to you, Gill’s mum. I hope you have a lovely day 🙂 x
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Happy Birthday Gill’s Mum. Have a lovely day and wishing you many double and triple scoring words in Scrabble tonight.
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I hope you are all enjoying yourselves. Many happy returns x
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A very happy birthday Gill’s mum and know your presence and thoughts are very much appreciated even if you can’t catch the little bus. Twitter and Gill’s blog can take you further than the little bus – enjoy the ride and the company!
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Have a fabulous birthday Gill’s Mum – enjoy your day! Best Wishes from up here in the Wirral. Angie 🙂
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Happy Birthday, Gill’s Mum and many , many more. My mother was 98 last November but is sadly , at the moment, under the weather. Roll on the warmer weather, I say, nothing like a patch of daffodils to brighten the spirit.
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