Wednesday W’s #138.

What’s top of my mind: Having a rest.

It’s been almost 3 weeks since I got home from the South America trip. Man, I was tired. There were 16 flights, 4 countries, and it was often at a pretty fast clip. I also needed a little blogging break. It was a big trip to have to be posting every day. I know, I know… it’s a job I gave myself.

So I’ve been blobbing around for the past couple of weeks, just taking things slow. It’s been nice.

Where I’m going: To see Mum later today.

Mum is not doing well. She is completely immobile now, and has trouble using her arms. Her voice has all but disappeared, so it’s difficult to have conversations.

She likes seeing Scout, so most days I take the dogs in with me to see her. Hazel is so good – she knows to be calm and quiet.

Mum’s days are spent parked in front of the tv, watching free-to-air. She has a new chair now, like an armchair on wheels, so we can take her outside when the weather is good.

It’s not a great way for her extroverted, bubbly life to come to a close.

Where I’ve been: to Bunnings (see photo.)

It was a nice day yesterday, so I decided to bring the girls with me to Mum’s, then we stopped off at Bunnings.

For overseas readers, Bunnings is a huge hardware chain which allows dogs to visit their stores – which is unusual in Australia. So Hazel and Scout got lots of pats, while Hazel got called a cocker spaniel and Scout was called a terrier. The nerve of some people!

What I’m reading: LOTS.

I read 15 books while I was away. All of that time sitting in airports, and then flying on small planes with no screens on the back of the seats means plenty of book time. I always take my iPad and use my local library’s Borrowbox to make sure I have something to read.

Because Borrowbox is far more limited than the usual library, I find books that I would probably never come across before. This can be bad, but is often surprisingly good.

*The Other Bennet Sister – Hadlow. Just as good as the tv series. So wonderful.

*Lady Macbeth – Reid.

*I Remember Everything – Wilkes. This is about the AIDS era. So sad, and as the mother of a trans woman, this is one story I’ll never forget.

*Iluka – Stroud. A family saga type novel.

These were the stand-outs.

What I’m watching: The Traitors.

I’ve watched UK, UK Celebrity, US, Australia ad now I’m on the second NZ season.

I needed something entertaining, yet easy to watch while I got over jet lag.

What I’m listening to: The rain pounding on my tin roof.

It’s such a lovely sound.

What I’m eating: a chicken.

I defrosted a Costco chook two days ago. I’ve had 2 roast dinners, and one of today’s jobs is to make a chicken pizza, and then make a huge chicken and veggie soup to have for lunches. I have heaps of frozen beans, green cubes and chillies from last year’s garden to use.

What I’m planning: to get my routine back in order.

Productivity is at an all-time low. I need to get back into the garden and the sewing room.

Who deserves a thumbs-up: My kids.

All 4 of them have put their lives on hold to watch the dogs for me this year while I’ve been travelling. Georgia31 has looked after the small Taiwan and Balkans trips, and will be moving back here to cover Nepal/Bhutan and Egypt. The other three shared out this long Sth American trip between themselves.

They’ve allowed me to finish this crazy three years of constant travel without the added expense of boarding kennels. How lucky am I?

Hazel was a huge bundle of anxiety while I was gone, which didn’t make her easy to live with, by all accounts. Scout took all of the changes in her stride, because she has enough experience to know that Mum always comes back, but Hazel is yet to learn this.

Hazel is fine with Georgia31, probably because Georgia31 lets her sleep on the bed with her. Evan29 said, “On the last night, we gave up and said, “OK, come up on the bed ‘”, and we all had the BEST night’s sleep!”

In my head, I was like, ‘That’s what I told you all to do…’

What has made me smile: Today’s Dad joke.

Dad joke of the day: