ELEVEN DAYS

Tests, papers to sign, papers to find, taxis,(lovely driver who recognised stress especially after I hit my head on the plastic safety bubble not once but twice) buses,(lovely driver who insisted on parking just up from the stop so I could step down easily on the curb) walking, stress and more stress.

But today, in all that freezing wind and rain, with a list of nursing homes to visit, we got lucky with our first choice. I had to go to Bonbeach to see a home there so I decided to get in a visit to the one in Mentone to put her name on the waiting list.

We particularly wanted this place as the nursing staff has a beaut reputation and Mum's lived in this area for nearly 60 years. So before I sat down the director said they'd had a cancellation and would we like the bed.

Okay it's a four bed ward but large and Mum's bed is right next to a floor to ceiling window and sliding door which looks out onto a small patio but huge garden with birds everywhere. She can see the street and any passerby.

I rang my sister who was there in a flash, took one look at the window and said we'll take it.

This was at 11 a.m. and Mother moved in at 5 p.m. There'll be a few tears tonight but in a week she'll be right. Her nurse tonight has the same doctor in Hampton. The lady across the way, although completely out of it, lived two streets away in the early days. The home itself is in Brindisi Street, the first street she walked with my father to see his family.

Not everything is done yet. There is a special place in Hell for writers of Centrelink booklets. I'm still trying to get that done and posted. Everybody has said, post do not hand in, they lose it as a matter of course. Tomorrow instead of nightdresses, I have to go over and pick out clothes and label every one.

I've had two visits today and not once did I see a miserable face on a nurse. The home is surrounded by gardens and lawns, bricked pathways for walkers and wheelchairs. I'm relieved but so tired I'm off to bed with a couple of painkillers for my spine and knees, lotion for the stress rash on both legs and dreams not nightmares for a change.