Coming home

'Circle round the back,' I say to Ben. We've been driving for six hours. Stopped at a roadside motel and spent a night in a flea-ridden bed. We both rose at 5AM, itchy and groggy. I briefly contemplated a hot shower to wake up and maybe burn off the fleas, but one glance at the…

Losing Mia

Barry and I were in a small room, just off from triage. It was styled with a sofa, two arm chairs, a small occasional table with a lamp, and cheap art work. Also on the table were brochures: organ donation, funeral homes, cancer foundations, and SIDS. And a vase of plastic flowers. We knew instinctively…

A morning in the life of

'Harriet, don't tease your sister!' I yell for the umpteenth time. I wipe my forehead with my gloved hand. I am washing the breakfast dishes. The dishwasher's kaput. Died mid-cycle three weeks ago, so I had to empty it of half-clean crockery and then bucket out the excess water. Since then, my lower back is…

Mothers’ Day

I've just risen out of bed. Had a lie-in, joined by Our Girl for cuddly snuggles. Hubster then made brekkie for me and brought it on a tray to the bed. On the tray was a hand-picked rose from our garden by T2, an espresso coffee made by T1. Brekkie was avocado, fetta and bacon…

Waiting for answers

Part B to Smashing Morning. Click here if you missed it. Six weeks and many rage-turns later, we are no closer to an answer to what is plaguing Erich. I am on the chaise longue, reading a book. Erich is sleeping after his latest turn. He becomes exhausted afterwards. Never remembers, just crawls into our…