Two little brothers just hanging out together !

MY ROGER

Most of you who follow our lives will know that my beloved and most cherished husband Roger died from Motor Neurone Disease (ALS or Lou Gehrig's) on 15 December 2011. This was 2 years and 4 months after he had received the official diagnosis of MND. Roger was 58 years old and we had been married 35 years and 7 months.

As he donated his brain and spinal cord to research there was an unattended cremation and then on 20 December we had a Thanksgiving Service at our Church, St Barnabas Anglican Church in West Leederville. Jocelyn had flown over from Melbourne to help with Roger's care on 7 December. Tim, Amy, Glenda, Tom and babies flew over from Melbourne and we were able to love and support each other through this difficult time. Tim and Amy stayed for 2 weeks. Jocelyn, Glenda, Tom and the twins flew back on 10 January.

Roger had planned his funeral service with the following readings and songs to sing.

Psalm 103

John 9: 1 - 10:10

How deep the Father's love for us

Blessed by your Name

Hope of the Nations

Crown Him with many crowns

Each of our children shared reflections on what their father had meant to them and then Roger's brother David shared "Requiem of a Hero" by Derek Webster (who was instrumental is getting this blog of mine started in April 2006 whilst we were living in Germany), then a friend from Church Saul read "A walk in the clouds with my friend Roger" by our lovely friend Kevin who lives in Basel, Switzerland. (These pieces can be read of our working blog rogngayn@blogspot.com) or click on the link from this blog.

How Roger would have loved his service. Afterwards most of the people who attended the service shared a light lunch supplied by the wonderful people of St Barnabas. German beer was flowing freely - a lovely touch - thank you to whoever supplied I. I must ask!! Then the family went back to my sister Irene's home, just around the corner from the Church to spend time together. All a bit of a blur for me, but good to see all the extended family, especially those who had come from interstate.

So now it is 8 weeks since Roger passed away. It is very hot in Perth with temps hovering between 32C and 40C!! I am taking comfort in my wonderful family who I talk to most days, in the company of my sisters and especially Irene (we escape to the beach and enjoy each others company very much), I had a wonderful 4 nights away down the coast 1 hr from Perth with my friend Mary from Adelaide, truly a special time together. Then there's my lovely garden, that needs watering almost every day with the temps we have been having.

I especially miss my darling Roger in the evenings. We had such lovely companionship together. Mind you, I am now able to watch whatever I like on the TV, which was a bit of a novelty at first, but not being that fond of TV, this is running thin. Last night I listened to the radio, which was planning such beautiful classical music, so it was LOUD. A few tears fell as I thought about Roger and his absolute love for classical music.

I am trying to take each day as it comes, not do too much and just potter around the house and try and sort out some of the mountains of paperwork that needs to be done. I am slowly becoming more socially and ventured out for dinner at friends last Tuesday.

CHILLING ON THE LOUNGE WITH THEIR SOPHIES ! ! !

EDWARD and NATHAN

It's about time I introduced you to my beautiful grandbabies Edward and Nathan. They are twins, but as you can see, not identical. They were born on 1 July 2011 at 36 weeks. So now they are 7 months old and are just an absolute delight. I just love their big blue eyes (Daddy has brown eyes!!), their smiley faces, their giggles and sounds. What a joy it was to spend time with them when they visited Perth with their Daddy Tom and Mummy Glenda. Even though it was sad circumstances because their darling Gramps had died. It won't be long and I will be seeing them again when I visit Melbourne on 25 February for 11 days. Glenda turns 30 on 7 March so I will be there to celebrate with the family. It's going to be lots of fun, and lots of work too I guess.

VISIT TO HYDEN

Here I am with the dirty car and a net over a hat to keep the flies at bay!!
Cherith has since bought me 3 so I am all geared up for
my overseas friends to beat the flies!!

On 2 November Irene drove us to Hyden, approx 370km's east of Perth to spend 5 days with our sister Cherith and her husband Ken. It was also the annual Hymnfest in Hyden. Roger and I attended last year, which is when I formed the idea I would love us 5 girls to get together and have a singing reunion!! Jillian, Cherith, Irene and myself were able to sing at the Hymnfestin Hyden on Friday night. Brenda could not make it up for the weekend as she had been to Kalgoorlie the weekend before.

What fun we had, even though darling Roger wasn't well the whole time we were there. Very weak, continual coughing and just not feeling like partying. But we all took it in turns to look after him, sit with him and keep him company.

Jillian and Jonathan drove from their farm in Badgingarra (about 6 hours). It had been raining quite a bit and they had to come through some parts with water across the road. But they made it safely on the Thursday.

We talked, ate, sang, walked, laughed and basically had a wonderful time together. It was so wonderful to get together and sing. We still haven't lost it and can harmonize well together. Maybe we will make a comeback (ONLY JOKING)!!

Cherith and Irene. Irene being very silly with a net food cover over her head.
No, she didn't wear it on the walk!!

Gaynor and Roger at Gerry's place. She cooked scones for us all on the Saturday morning. What a precious thing to do. Gerry is my nephew Darian's wife.
Their son Jasper is gorgeous.

Cherith, Jillian and Jonathan over morning tea.

Our Front Garden

At last I have taken a couple of photo's of our new garden and fence. No volunteer's to paint the fence yet!! Maybe our son Tim will do it whilst he is here (only joking Tim!!). I am very pleased with the garden and everything in it is growing nicely. The petunia's have started to flower with a flurry, especially after all the rain we have had.






So we have lavender, rosemary and roses and lots of petunia's to add instant colour. Watch this space and I hope I will be able to post photo updates.

Bathroom renovations

Bathroom renovations started last Monday 3 October. I was silly enough to think I could live in the house whilst they were taking place!! I also was silly enough to think I could work as well!! Who do I think I am! What a mess! The dust! I've never seen anything like it.

Got home from work Monday night and decided I would clean - SO I DID!

Got home from work Tuesday night and decided I would clean - SO I DID!

But as I was sitting in Roger's chair Tuesday night, I was thinking that my glasses were very dirty and needed a clean - WRONG! The dust was just whizzing around and settling where I had cleaned. Needless to say I was beside myself so Irene took me in hand and made me move to her place - SO I DID!

Irene told me I had to stay in bed all day Thursday - SO I DID!! I can't believe I actually slept all night, all day and all night again! What is this telling me! It's Friday and I am walking around in a bit of a daze and wondering how on earth I am going to cope with all the cleaning.

There were complications with the plumbing, but all is sorted now. The lovely big white tiles are on the walls and Eric has started on the small floor tiles. He has been so good and caring to me. He was the one who said STOP CLEANING!!

I had a Porta Loo delivered but have hardly used it. Roger comes home from Respite at Bethesda Hospital on Monday. He would have been there 2 weeks. Just as well it has been a lovely experience for him. It has made life easier for me not having to look after him as well, especially now he has the tube feeding, which we will now refer to as 'mains' (dear Colette's idea).

Everything seems to be so complicated at the moment and I seem to have so many little things to do. If only I had a secretary for a day.

Today I received the most beautiful card from my lovely, lovely 'Girls' in Schopfheim. If only they knew how much this thoughtful gesture has lifted my spirits and arrived just at the right time. How very special it is to have friends who care.

This post is the colour of our floor tiles in the bathroom!! Ha! Ha!