11th October – 20th October 2015

Day 25 until Day 34

What a brilliant holiday and what a relaxing time. I spent the 11th of October packing my cases and explaining what my mums routine is to the person who would be caring for her whilst I was away. I left with my children for our holidays on the 12th of October, we were all excited especially my children, who were also nervous about the flight.

Our holiday was relaxing and care free and hot hot hot……. It was fantastic. Whilst on holiday I closed my mind to all that was happening at home and concentrated on fun with my children.

We went to the green caves of Lanzarotte – what an amazing excursion, it was brilliant, we learned the secret of Lanzarotte which was amazing, anyone going to Lanzarotte should go to the caves and learn this secret….. they will get a fun surprise…..

We went to the Aqua Park and everyone enjoyed it, I think I had the most fun though. I managed all the slides bar one which looked too steep and too scary.

We went cycling along a promenade

We sun bathed daily.

We went to the beach on a few occasions.

I danced on a stage (after one too many). My children were horrified.

We went shopping that many times that I lost count.

We went to the Teguise Market and saw a camel. My daughter’s hair was braided and although extremely painful, she loved the finished result. The lady who braided her hair said that she was loopy!!!!!!

I had spent three years saving for this holiday, I had given a close friend money every month to ensure that the holiday happened and I am so glad that I did as we all felt relaxed and we spent lots and lots of quality time together.

On our return journey the flight was delayed which meant we never arrived home until 2.30pm on the 20th of October – total exhaustion.

I was in bed for 3.30am. My dad and his carer left at 5am. I woke up a 9am, just as the carer was arriving…… aaargh! here we go again.

We woke my mum and began the task of washing and dressing her. I gave my mum her breakfast and then walked her through to her chair in the livingroom. I decided to keep my mum home as I was feeling to tired to drive her in. I was glad to be back home but I was also thinking of the different situations that I would need to begin dealing with again.

On top of this I was thinking about the pain which I have had in my upper arm for the last few months, which I had hoped would go away whilst I was on holiday – it is still there. I need to go to the doctors as I am worried that the pressure of lifting and moving my mum has pulled a muscle or trapped a nerve. Who knows!!!

I collected the post and checked my emails.

I had received an email from the financial assessment officer from my local authority, he had stated that he was going on holiday and asked me if I could email any evidence regarding my mums expenditure to his manager, as soon as possible. This made me feel annoyed and fed up.

The thought of having to try to collate this information made me feel totally unmotivated and made me think about the call that I received from the financial assessment officer a few days before I went on holiday. This brought to mind the degrading way I felt during the call, due to the intrusion of my family’s privacy.

AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! here we go again….

I keep thinking about how peaceful things were and how smoothly everything was going in my mums life, my children’s life and my life prior to the call regarding the perceived and unjust arrears that my mum apparently has accrued her local authority.