Saturday, June 16, 2012

Saturday 16th June

Quite a day.  First thing I had a phone call letting me know that a friend, who I have known since coming to New Zealand in 1965 and now lives in Sydney, had come home to find her partner on the couch.  When she tried to wake him she realised he was dead.  In the meantime  his son phoned the ambulance which duly arrived.  Her G.P. who she had only just visited arrived but, apparently, used the wrong form for the death certificate which meant that she ended up with the coroner coming and the police.  She looks after children for a solicitor and she phoned up in the middle of all this and also came to the flat.  I really don't know how so many people managed to fit into the small flat but they did.  It was all most traumatic for her.  Finding J. dead was bad enough but to have all the extra drama was too much.  She is also due to have a thyroid operation in August and has trouble talking and swallowing.

I phoned her later in the day and, in the circumstances, she sounded quite good.

When I received the call I was just about to go on a walk with a lady I met a couple of weeks ago.  We went to A.H. Reed Park in Whareora Road and walked alongside the river to the Whangarei Falls.  It took us an hour there and back.  That was long enough for me as the Scottish Country Dancing yesterday was quite tiring.

After a quick lunch I then went to a Scottish Country Dancing School being held in Kamo for more experienced dancers (just to watch).

On coming home I had a phone message to say that my hubby had two more falls today.  I just don't know what can be done about this (I was even thinking of bringing him home but then reality came to the fore and I realise that would not help anyone).

Still it was a beautiful sunny day but with a chill wind from the snowy south.







I took this last photo on the drive home to show what a lovely day it was although I wasn't very hopeful of it coming out.

17 comments:

  1. Did you walk on that swing bridge? I panic and freeze after 2 small steps!! looks like your day was better than here, a frost,then cloud, and a coolish breeze in the shade. Cheers from Jean

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  2. Yes, it was a weird sensation with us both walking on the swing bridge. A wonderful day but a bit on the chilly side.

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  3. I do feel for your friend: that realisation of death and then all the 'business.' Australian procedure presumably different to NZ. It was an awful shock to find that my husband's natural death needed police attendance, and removal of the body for post-mortem for the rest of the weekend.
    Nice to have a look at that sunshine of yours. Glad you got out into it. Don't stop the dancing.

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    1. 6 degrees here this morning. I opened the door to let Kath (above) out and she turned around and ran behind the pot belly stove. I don't think a post mortem was necessary in the end - just a muddle.

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  4. Blimey! But then I'm always expecting to find MYSELF dead on the sofa! I hope she has family nearby to give support.

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    1. One of her daughters is in the Sydney, the other and the grandchildren are on the Gold Coast so she has support.

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  5. The scenery is lovely. Reminds me of the glens area in New York state. I'm amazed at your very active life. Good.

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    1. Life has only been active in the last couple of months since hubby went into care. Before that it was zilch.

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  6. An awful shock for your friend - I expect she coped because the adrenaline kicks in to help us through a crisis. Sadly it is a few weeks later when the reality usually takes hold.
    Lovely photos of the Whangarei Falls. I think that you are going into early winter but it still looks warmer than here.

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    1. Yes, it is early winter - I am getting through the firewood fast and my supplier died suddenly after I got my wood for this year. Must ask around. At least I have a load promised for the pot belly later this month.

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  7. Your blog just emphasises the importance of making the most of each day and not worrying about tomorrow too much.
    How awful for your friend though.

    I remember going to barn dances years ago, very,very exhausting but fun. Couldn't do it now. lol
    Briony
    x

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    1. Yes, I am trying to do that hence all the activity. it is difficult though as I do worry about hubby and am still having difficulty with the guilt. I think it was the fact that I had to make the decision that is the hard part. Yes, the dances are quite tiring. I got very out of breath on the hill around the waterfall. Cold weather asthma.

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  8. Your poor friend! And you (((hugs))) it must be very hard what you are dealing with re your husband.
    I love your walks thank you for taking your camera and then us. Isn't New Zealand Beautiful!
    Love Leanne

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    1. Yes, New Zealand is a wonderful country. Supposed to do a walk alongside yesterdays tomorrow but rain forecast. If it is bad I will pass.

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  9. The GP had just seen your friend's husband, whilst he was still alive, and in UK law - the basis of so much Commonwealth law - I believe this means the patient had been in the care of the doctor in the three weeks immediately before the time of death so there was no mystery about the likely cause. Using the wrong form must have meaant this fact was not recorded. I hope they put the matter right. And swiftly.

    Sadly a PM is necessary where the deceased was not under the care of their doctor in the three weeks leading up to the death. This may seem arbitrary and cruel, when a sudden death is bad enough in itself, but the law is there to protect everyone in the exceptional circumstances where any suspicion could be aroused. A death certificate cannot be issued without an attempt to ascertain cause of death.

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    1. It was my friend the GP had just seen - that was why she was late home. I do think it got sorted in the end without a post mortem.

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