Life and Death

Firstly hi to the 2 people in the US reading this. I hope you find it interesting and if you have a blog send me a link in the comments. This is my first time writing a blog so I am interested in what others write about.

Today was busy shopping, visiting my sister to sort out last minute preparations for our brother's funeral tomorrow, and helping with the granddaughter - as daughter is writing her dissertation for Uni. Hopefully she will graduate this year. My brother died of a heart attack very suddenly. Apparently he went to the GP with a bad throat and chest pains to make an appointment in the morning. Afterwards he went to the bank and food shopping with his best friend and carer (he was disabled with mental health problems.) They went to his carer's house and he said he felt unwell so his carer made him a cup of tea. He found him dead in the chair when he came in with the tea - just like that gone in less than 5 minutes. It's a shame really as for the last 10 years he had turned his life around, given up drugs (he was an IV drug user on heroin), and was living independently in a flat where he was very happy. He had good friends at the church he attended regularly and was saving up to go abroad for the first time. Coming off drugs was down to the wonderful dedication and care of the Salvation Army who gave him a bed when he was homeless and arranged rehab for him. They provided wonderful support and were far better than all the other agencies who had worked with him previously. His friend and carer had known him since junior school as my mother and his mother were best friends.

I have always told my kids if you really want to do something (swim with dolphins, jump out of a plane etc.) or visit somewhere or someone do it while you can, as none of us know what tomorrow may bring.

On a brighter note we were babysitting again tonight as daughter works Monday and Tuesday evenings until 11pm. Granddaughter was much happier, still coughing but not as bad and has started eating a little now. She sat with my husband watching the Frozen DVD and fell asleep. We have popped her into bed - fingers crossed she will sleep, at least until daughter gets home! We gave her a bath tonight for the first time (daughter always baths her) so that probably wore her out.

Time to go now will write again soon. All the best x

The youngest granddaughter busy building