My Mum Joan

My mum is 88 this year (2012) & really has led a full life. Life for mum was full of hard times growing up then again mid life but she has worked her way to a long & adventurous life, all down to her streangth of character & mind. I was going to just write a little blog on her but realised her life is so full she deserves a dedicated blog to document her life. Now I will do this as fully as I can within the restrictions of memory (both hers & mine) & it may drift back & forward as memories ebb & flow!
My mum like all of us is in no way perfect but I never realised what an amazing woman she was/is till I was 38 years old. Oh how I regret those lost years of butting heads with each other :( but this is often a common problem with mothers & daughters who are stubborn & hot headed, she can still make me extreemly exasperated at times,as I can her!

Present day, mum has two really bad knee's,literally nothing but bone on bone. How she puts up with & lives with the pain is testament to her streangth & I would say stubbornness ;-) I have been asking her to see the doctor as I was sure she could get a new knee but it took 3 yrs before she finally "mentioned it" The doctor had no idea & she was refered immediately to the Concord hospital in Hastings. I don't think they can comprehend how she has been getting about in them! See exasperating!!!! So finally she goes in tomorrow for the first knee replacement, the second will be 6 months later :-)
I am going to the UK to help look after her. I will do all the cooking etc so she can concentrate on her excersizes.  I am so looking forward to spending quality time together, I am sure there will be many animated debates on the present government & previous governments, we have the same heart but differing political views, not sure how that works hahaha. We will talk of her death, she likes to be prepared, & her funeral, we always have a laugh when arranging this.
Mum wants Frank Sinatra "I did it my Way" Shirley Bassey  "Big spender" & Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman  "Time to say goodbye" All brilliant & very mum.