Apparently there is no set pattern for grief and mourning.
That's good. Because I can't see any pattern to mine either.

Either I'm totally matter of fact, stating the BALDLY that W is DEAD. Or well, the strangest things set me off.

When Edinburgh's finest Care Equipment Services came to collect the equipment yesterday for some reason they were un-informed as to why they were collecting the bed etc. One of them cheerfully asked me "Wull he be wantin' his walking stick?"
"No" I said deadpan, "he's dead".
The look on their faces was good.

Stopped for a street survey, and asked how many adults were resident chez Macy, I was quite calm replying "Well, one as of last Wednesday. My partner died on Tuesday night".
And I was sorry for the researcher immediately I remembered my manners.

But asked today, at Scotmid's newsagent counter of all places, "How are we today?" I lost it.
"Well.. one of us is ....sob....DEAD...." Tears, oceans of tears. In SCOTMID.

Going to take a long time before they stop looking embarassed around me in Scotmid. That's for sure.

1. Because it's always nice to end the week on a happy note.
2. Because Jock doesn't have his own blog (although at this rate he might need it)
And 3. because I like this photo of him....

Let's all cheer for Kirsti and her offering to home JOCK!!!! Yes Jock Dog is now off to live with Kirsti in her Cat Free Home.



And, despite all previous predictions, Jock Dog is Refusing to Pine. Being 15 years old and senile has apparently helped him forget already....

• Walk dog
• Hand over honorarium to minister for W's funeral service
• Meet with cherub's teachers before he goes back to school
• Update CV
• Return library books
  
• Start thank you letters
• Get urn for the ashes
• Sort out carers allowance
• Take donations and gifts to hospice
• Blog

Well that's one of them done then.

Edinburgh Equipment Services that is. W is dead - and so he no longer needs the hospital bed, the bedside table, all the other EQUIPMENT, kindly given - and hardly used, he went so fast!!!

The medical equipment, diffusers, oxygen tanks, sharps boxes, suction tanks, all went earlier. Now it's the turn of the homecare equipment. Not wanting to think too hard about this Other People now need it just as much as he did... So EES is coming today at 10am to collect it all.

I'm not going to miss the frame around the toilet (don't ask, if you don't know already, you won't want to know). The bedside table was never that practical, and the hospital bed is a terrible, terrible reminder of the last days, so they can go too.

Luckily (?) W died before they got round to more structural alterations around bannisters and handrails in the ensuite.

But the cherub and I are going to miss that three-way faux leather recliner. It was supplied so that W could find some comfortable position with his back pain, and get out of the chair more easily. Without wanting to be too maudlin, there's a terrible metaphor in here - with us re-arranging the living room to accommodate this chair, and missing it terribly now it's going after too short a time.

Plus, um, well it's comfy.

No really - JOCK DOG that is. (Sorry, who'd you think???? Bad joke.. I just liked the title...)

Deep sigh...

SO to re-cap, Jock had been re-homed with the nurse who looked after W during his last days. This was perfect; he couldn't stay here, where despite looking small cute and adorable, he was taking CHUNKS out of Ned. Nurse Laura and her family LOVED Jock to bits, there was a connection with W, and Jock would still be in Cheesetown, so we could keep in touch...

BUT

Nurse Laura's cat was having none of it.

After three days of dirty protest from the cat, which was going mental Jock was returned, along with his bed, his meds, and tears from his new family. Who are going to miss him.

Cheeses. Let's make up a sentence with the words "rains", "pours" and "never" in it why don't we..?

So, in a new twist to the funeral yesterday, I managed to slip in a few pleas for a billet for Jock Dog, with W's workmates, the minister, friends.....a disturbing number of whom have developed Allergies to Dogs.

To Be Continued.