Firstly the good news is that it wasn't a stroke, it was a brain haemorrhage. The really crap news is that in Ireland if you get sick on a bank holiday you don't get any treatment until the bastard consultants come back from their holiday. Anyway, she's in and out of it but apparently has stepped back from the edge. Thanks for all the good wishes.
Today has been such an intense day.
Up very early. Phone call to the wonderful kitchen fitters which wasn't quite what I was hoping for - there's been a miscommunication and I found out that they weren't coming today to replumb the radiators. So a chilly weekend in store. It all got a bit much and I burst into tears (after I got off the phone) and then regained a sense of perspective and remembered I have an electric heater. Must make sure I pack it near the top of a box.
As some of you who know me well will have realised, I have been stretched quite thinly for the last while. Not physically (unfortunately) but there's been a lot going on - partly my own doing, my own fault let's say - and keeping your head above water isn't the same as 'dealing' as our cousins across the pond might say. I have a soft spot for Halloween, the night when the veil is thinnest...exactly a year ago I was thinking about embarking on Nanowrimo, and then over a mediocre last supper, MPH finally confessed to what I'd suspected all along - that he was having an affair. Basically, it's been a surreal year. I am so glad of lovely friends who've subtly held me together and continue to do so - and this mainly refers to the kindness of knitters who've propped me up and continue to organise me (and assemble flat pack furniture - thank you Claire, Ian, Gruff and Ting!) and be utterly sympathetic. You're right, he is a big silly bastard and I am wonderful and deserve better. (that's the gist of what you all tell me and I choose to believe you're right!)
I find it rather fitting that the year has come full circle and 365 days after my world fell apart, it's been reconstructed and expanded and has become that much richer and more colourful and I think that somehow I am more me. A year ago I wouldn't have been coming home from lunch with a publisher, an author and four talented aspiring writers, invigorated and inspired to write (and starting over but that's news for another post), although I'm simultaneously scared silly about all sorts of things. I have some regrets and some sadness but lots of hope and optimism. Anyway, thanks to all you lovely people (virtual and real friends) for keeping me on my toes. Both alert, and upright.
Better keep packing the boxes. Jesus, there are a lot of them and I'm only about 80% there...cross your fingers that it all goes ok tomorrow!
Mwah mwah to you all....
Big (Virtual) hug across cyperspace. I have lots of hats and scarves you can wrap yourself up with this weekend if needs be. You can be the woolly mummy and terrorise the local kiddies when you go Trick or Treating. Xx
Posted by: Ting | Wednesday, 31 October 2007 at 18:27
So much luck for the move tomorrow - I have had a similarly stressful year to you, but it's amazing what a difference a change of scenery and 365 days can make :) x
Posted by: Fliss | Wednesday, 31 October 2007 at 19:01
Oh, sending good wishes that the next 365 days see you feeling stronger and settled in your new home!
Posted by: dottycookie | Wednesday, 31 October 2007 at 19:22
Well done well done for surviving all those 365 days so positively and for getting such a lot out of it. Wishing all the best luck in your new house and can't wait to hear how that author's lunch went. Doesn't that sound fabulously grand?!
P.s. Also best wishes for a speedy recovery for your Granny.
Posted by: Lucy | Wednesday, 31 October 2007 at 19:58
Do you think it's a coincidence that the Irish-Celtic New Year started on Nov. 1st and that you're Irish??? See, this will be the start of your new year. A move and a new exciting life! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | Wednesday, 31 October 2007 at 20:56
sounds like a lovely, calm life as always....!
Glad to hear such positive thinking, here's to a fabulous year!
x
Posted by: ruth singer | Wednesday, 31 October 2007 at 22:00
Big virtual hugs from me too! You can always borrow my stash to sleep in if you get really cold... Cosmo lunch sounded very exciting, can't wait for you to tell all! Good luck for the move, see you on the other side! x
Posted by: Lucy | Wednesday, 31 October 2007 at 22:32
Well done! Betcha didn't think you had vast stores of strength in you. Hope the next year is even better! And hope your gran gets better soon, too.
Posted by: Jade | Thursday, 01 November 2007 at 01:59
Gail, you have done so well and as you say you have come full circle and survived. Well done! You are so much better than he is, he's not even worth a bad name on your beautiful blog. Keep going and the flat will be worth and you will be so happy when you move in and have settled. Good luck with the future
Posted by: Claire (not Bahrain) | Thursday, 01 November 2007 at 06:18
You're an inspiration, Miss FG! I'm so happy to hear that life is full again. And that your granny is going to be OK.
I would so love to be able to visit and help you pack and unpack and decorate and shop and...um...other stuff like that!
Posted by: kirsty | Thursday, 01 November 2007 at 11:34
Aw hope it all went well today - we've missed you lately. God what a year for you but hopefully more ups than downs and you're really such a legend.
All the best wishes for your Granny. Grandparents are such a worry aren't they? Hmmm sounding like a true Nanna myself there.
Posted by: Helen | Thursday, 01 November 2007 at 18:55
I'm sorry to hear about your Granny - I hope she's on the mend x
And yay you! for having the strength you have to build yourself a better life :)
Posted by: Clare | Saturday, 03 November 2007 at 15:05