Being a carer can be utterly exhausting. There are times that are pretty cruisy and then several crises will descend on us, usually all at once. I liken it to putting out spot fires; I resolve one issue and then another and another and another. And so on.
Most of these women I have known for ten or fifteen years. We have laughed and cried and shared together. A lifeline for us all has been taking a break a couple of times a year. We really don't need to be trained or educated or counselled. Most of us have had a gutfull of that. What we need is to recharge our batteries, rejuvenate body and soul and relax together in an emotionally safe place.
As for me, I've had a rollercoaster of a year. Michael's illness and recovery dominated several months. In addition to my care of him and our children, I had gone into battle with the Australian Health Professional Regulation Agency and the insurance company for the WA Education Department. The matter with the Education Department has been finalised. The other is still ongoing after seven months.
Due to a familiar respite option becoming unavailable, we took the bit between our teeth to create our own break. Slowly, the Beverley Blossoms were born. Brenda and I e-mailed, phoned and met to plan for a weekend in Beverley. The number of women had to be limited because of pressures of sleeping and toilet facilities. We could only invite non smokers due to Michael's ongoing respiratory issues. We wanted to have women who knew each other and would be comfortable with each other without any angst.
I organised a visit from a representative of MIFWA (Mental Illness fellowship of WA) for an interactive session, a close friend providing massage, a new friend giving us laying on of hands, two morning teas at the Red Vault Cafe and dinner at the Freemasons Tavern. We traipsed through the renovations at the shops and dropped into the East End Studio, Secrets, Stickybeaks and Lucky Find, all businesses on our main street in Heavenly Beverley.
And we talked and hugged and cried and laughed and played. We ate and drank all weekend. Bed arrangements were chaotic and hilarious. Two gazebos in the back yard, all well as our study and guest room were all filled at night. The toilet received some first aid on Saturday and performed admirably for the rest of the weekend.
Sunday was very hot, so massage tables were hastily moved into our air conditioned house. With nine extra bodies, the House that Rocks was jammed to the gunnels. Tolerance and good humour were essential for the success of the day. We were all happy to oblige.
Michael became an honorary lady for the weekend. Denese, masseur extraordinaire, had to bring her seven year old energetic dynamo, Caleb, on Sunday. He was cheerful and well behaved and enjoyed morning tea at the cafe along with the rest of us.
The Three Stooges were reunited with old friends and made new ones, all of whom showered them with cuddles and attention. The cat left in a huff and retired to Somewhere Else for the duration of the weekend. She returned on Sunday evening in a dignified and disapproving manner.
We all had a blast. The weekend had the potential to go pear shaped if the Blossoms had not jelled so well. But we did. And we reinvigorated a long standing mantra that added to the break's success - make no judgements, make no comparisons, delete the need for understanding.
Roll on the next Beverley Blossoms Break.
Sunday Morning Tea @ the Red Vault Cafe, Heavenly Beverley.
9 November 2014
A great weekend was had by all (and we all needed it) Must do it again :-)
ReplyDeleteAround April is beautiful. How about then, Mrs Pitcher? :-)
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