Heavenly Beverley : Remembering

Two days after Remembrance Day. The hundred year armistice of the War to End All Wars. Sorry...I can't help myself - what a crock of shit. Not for the servicemen and women, the service animals and the civilians caught up in wars past and present, most of whom become refugees. The pain, the heartbreak, the horror and the trauma are never-ending. These are the people we ought to be focused on - how to cease terrible wars in so many corners of the world. If only the Powers That Be would pack up their bats and balls and call stumps. And then collaborate to end the suffering and rebuild all those countries shattered by conflict.

I have a dream...

This last week has also been a time of reminiscing. On Thursday, the absolutely fabulous Kerri Adams turned her hire car in the direction of Heavenly Beverley and stayed for an action-packed seventeen hours. We had a wonderful evening, catching up with memories that involved Michael, Gary, Leigh and herself. Flying backwards and forwards from the early seventies. Laughter and reflection, delights and regrets. All from the long-ago viewpoints of a group of teenagers and young adults. I have never had those lengthy and meaningful friendships that last a lifetime. I must admit to a touch of envy for the closeness and the camaraderie that the three of them still shared after forty-five years.

Kerri is still stunning - and has a beautiful soul to go with her outward appearance. However, being slim does have its drawbacks. Whilst the rest of us sat outside with the addition of a cardigan or light jacket, Kerri added layer upon layer upon layer, before admitting she needed to return indoors. She managed to sneak a few hours in the morning with Gary, admired his house, had a coffee with him and bought us two disgustingly delicious and calorific pies for lunch. And then she was gone. We can't wait to see her next time.

She did leave a lasting impression of our lives here in Beverley. She commented on how much we have achieved. The building, the East End Gallery, Station House, the courtyards and our ongoing commitment to restoration and revitalisation. She reminded us that every now and then, we need to return to the photographs of our journey and bask in this continuing story.

This time four years ago, Michael was in Joondalup Hospital. This was his third admission in seven months, another heart in the mouth exercise that confirmed he had developed asthma on top of emphysema on top of a chest infection. Since that momentous year, hospital admissions have become fewer, although not less scary.

Being an inpatient is not fun. The only episodes that have gone less than well are times when we are separated. April 2014 when I had to return home whilst Michael was still in St John of God Hospital, becoming sicker and sicker without me there to advocate for him. And May this year when Michael had to return home for a furphy during my final thirty-six hours in hospital following my knee replacement. I hadn't realised how much Michael had helped me until he wasn't there...

Which just confirms we perform very well as a team. I remember being terrified I'd have to be admitted to hospital during a major depressive recurrence. Our new psychiatrist looked at us for about five seconds and commented that we were such a close partnership that we shouldn't ever be apart. I will forever be grateful for her observation.

As we move towards the end of 2018, I shake my head at the wave of events this year. A Queensland trip to scatter Mum and Dad's ashes, a Northern Odyssey and then another sudden return to North Queensland to see our beloved Leigh and then farewell him. I think of the people who have touched our lives this year, particularly Leigh's children Natalie and Michael and their partners. The O'Mullanes boys, Lesley, Eric and especially Solly. The towns - Coolum, Cairns, Meekatharra, Tom Price, Mullewa, Mukinbukin and so many more.

We still have a crazy diary until the New year. Three birthdays, a wedding, a Sundowner, an early Christmas are just the beginning. And grappling with a new lifestyle to hopefully reverse Michael's diabetes early in 2019.

And then, we'll start all over again.