Friday 23rd September 2016 : off to visit Brooklyn, once again in blazing heat. We took the train to Jay Street and walked through traffic choked streets back towards the water, through the area known as Dumbo. Very noisy under Brooklyn railway bridge but what a view of the bottom of Manhatten - iconic of course.
We walked along the water past developed wharehouses of cafes and retail stores and settled for a cafe just below Brooklyn Bridge for a crab roll and coffee. It's hard work walking in this heat and after wandering some more, we decided to stop in a cool park and watch the water traffic.
At this point I received a message from Dan concerned about Mum. I had not wanted the boys to be bothered with decisions about her care, but this was not to be so. We went back to our neighbourhood in order to get online where I could have a 3 way discussion with my sons via Whatsapp ( thank goodness for Whatsapp and what a shame my mum can't use it herself). The long-arrived-at decision was that Dan would go to visit her whilst carer was there tomorrow morning to see for himself what her physical health was like.
We had a beer at Schillers Bar, but (for the second time here; the time before totally ignored by barman regaling some girl with his life story and we walked out after he had absentmindedly thrown down a menu for us) we sat for a long time at an unbusy bar and received no service. I angrily alerted the barmaid (not like me) at which point I realised how upset I was by the worry that is my mother coming at me from this distance. I recovered enough for a Rizzos pizza with Pete propping me up and sensibly coming up with 'solutions' of a sort. Upshot was that I set my alarm for 4am in order to call Dan and the carer in their morning. A strange moment sitting on the edge of the bath (to try not to wake Pete too much) talking to Dan, who has been so caring and helpful. I now know how hard it is for any of my scattered family to get the right picture of Mum's state when you are far away. Dan and carer Emily and I decided she did not need to return to hospital at this stage and all returned to the status quo. My sister has stepped into the frame big time now and has let the carers know that she is first point of contact all the way away in Oz, kindly allowing me my holiday. Thanks Nicky.
We walked along the water past developed wharehouses of cafes and retail stores and settled for a cafe just below Brooklyn Bridge for a crab roll and coffee. It's hard work walking in this heat and after wandering some more, we decided to stop in a cool park and watch the water traffic.
At this point I received a message from Dan concerned about Mum. I had not wanted the boys to be bothered with decisions about her care, but this was not to be so. We went back to our neighbourhood in order to get online where I could have a 3 way discussion with my sons via Whatsapp ( thank goodness for Whatsapp and what a shame my mum can't use it herself). The long-arrived-at decision was that Dan would go to visit her whilst carer was there tomorrow morning to see for himself what her physical health was like.
We had a beer at Schillers Bar, but (for the second time here; the time before totally ignored by barman regaling some girl with his life story and we walked out after he had absentmindedly thrown down a menu for us) we sat for a long time at an unbusy bar and received no service. I angrily alerted the barmaid (not like me) at which point I realised how upset I was by the worry that is my mother coming at me from this distance. I recovered enough for a Rizzos pizza with Pete propping me up and sensibly coming up with 'solutions' of a sort. Upshot was that I set my alarm for 4am in order to call Dan and the carer in their morning. A strange moment sitting on the edge of the bath (to try not to wake Pete too much) talking to Dan, who has been so caring and helpful. I now know how hard it is for any of my scattered family to get the right picture of Mum's state when you are far away. Dan and carer Emily and I decided she did not need to return to hospital at this stage and all returned to the status quo. My sister has stepped into the frame big time now and has let the carers know that she is first point of contact all the way away in Oz, kindly allowing me my holiday. Thanks Nicky.
Good old Nicky! Hope all has settled down now and you are continuing to have a great time. Some fab photos! Lots of love XX
ReplyDeleteGood old Nicky! Hope all has settled down now and you are continuing to have a great time. Some fab photos! Lots of love XX
ReplyDelete