Someplace to stash my stuff

Shaunna and I are currently in Tasmania due to her sister Janice being rather ill and in hospital.  Sadly, Janice lost her battle with illness and passed away yesterday afternoon, Saturday May 12 at 4.00pm.  She was 74.

Shaunna and Janice were very close and they were best friends as well as sisters, hence Shaunna is finding it hard to come to terms with right now.  I normally don't travel too well due to vertigo and etc, but I am glad that I came with her this time to be of support during this diffecult time.  Besides, I got on really well with Janice and her husband, Denny, and think the world of them, so it just felt right to be here for them, too.

On another note, a sour one at that, we briefly stayed with the daughter, Bianca, but that was not good and it ended badly.  To cut a long story short, she was out drinking every night while we were there, leaving us to house and pet sit, and when she was there, she was loud, rude and abusive, angry all the time and aggressive.  Not only that, the house was a complete pig sty and stunk because of the pets not being house trained, etc. We did what we could to help, but it was not appreciated in any way, shape or form.  No, we just copped her abuse and bad temper, and we'd had enough so moved into a hotel room until we go back home on Wednesday May 16.


Comments (Page 2)
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on May 23, 2018

Hey Mark. Have some this.       

Not sure what you can with them though. 

Been there, done that.

on May 24, 2018

Thanks, mate.  We certainly did not need her creating self-centred dramas after losing Janice just days before.  I've since been told that she really spat the dummy after my son rejected her advances while we were gone and wouldn't roll like thunder under the covers with her.  He has enough on his plate without taking on damaged goods..... and no, I don't mean her Parkinsons.  She still has all her faculties, mentally speaking, but lately she has become so mean, spiteful and selfish, stabbing anyone and everyone in the back, including Shaunna, her aunt, her father and three of her own sibings.  We met her father at the funeral and says that she owes them all money but refuses to pay up.

l know that she will regret leaving us here and will want to come back when that dawns on her, but too bad, she has burnt her bridges with us.  Not only could we never trust her again, she belongs in a nursing home because we found caring for her became increasingly difficult as time passed, and not just because of her disease.  Rather it was her obstinance, arrogance and frequent refusal to co-operate with us regarding her ongoing care.  At least in a nursing home they are trained and better able to deal with contrary patients.

Yup, given what we know now, we dodged a bullet with her leaving, but it's the way in which it was done that cuts like a knife.  We'll get back on top, but it will take a while.

on May 25, 2018

I'm so sorry, Shaunna. My condolences to you, Mark, and your family.

on May 25, 2018


I'm so sorry, Shaunna. My condolences to you, Mark, and your family.

Thank you sViz, it is much appreciated.  Shaunna is still trying to come to terms with everything that's happened and isn't up for commenting just now.  She reads everyones posts but isn't in the best head space to reply as yet.  I was a bit that way when my brother passed and some family members became argumentative and disruptive after his funeral.  The hurts eventually went away, though, as they will for Shaunna as time goes on.

on May 26, 2018

My condolences to you and Shaunna , it's sad to loose a loved one, and then have someone add more pain to your situation, may peace, strength, and comfort be upon you and your Mrs.

on May 27, 2018

Thanks, Don, for your kind thoughts.  If only certain relatives had been as considerate.

Thing is, things are starting to get back to normal, though we need to get a car sooner rather than later so's my son can get to and from work.  I may need to borrow a bit from my sister to get a decent 2nd-hand one because the trip to Tassie chomped into my savings more than first expected, but it'll be okay.   We'll get there.

on May 29, 2018

Yup. Just put Shaunna at the helm. That'll straighten 'em up. Hi Shaunna...how you?     

on May 29, 2018


Yup. Just put Shaunna at the helm. That'll straighten 'em up. Hi Shaunna...how you?     

I would put Shaunna at the helm but I don't wan't her to get caught in possession of a pirate ship while intoxicated.

   

Nah, she hasn't been drinking to down her sorrows. 

Nah, I told her to give me the bottle and I'd do it for her.      

Seriously, Shaunna is doing better and has brightened up some in the last couple of days, but it may be a while before she's 100%, given what we came home to. 

However, we got some good news on the car.  My mother rang me last night and said that she will pay for the it, no strings attached, and my nephew has located a 2007 Holden Commodore station wagon for AU$2,500, which 'll suit us just fine.  We're just waiting on the owner to come back from Sydney later in the week.

If that one does'nt work out for some reason, my nephew is good friends with a car yard owner and he could source us a good deal there.

on Jun 03, 2018

AS Promised I came back in here tonight, and again I just want to thank you all for your kind words  thoughts and prayers, it has been a hard and lonely road  but I am getting there. Janice was the greatest sister anyone could have wished for, she seen me through my ups and downs  Bianca's father Chris  treated us badly  and money wise we had none  i was lucky if I had $10.00 to my name  I would spend that on Bianca rather than myself as I would never see her go without, I went to Janice's for a visit as she lived not far from me  and I was in tears she asked me what was wrong and I told her i had no money to buy food cos Chris Bianca's dad wouldn't help me  so she goes into her bedroom and hands me $50 here she said take this  and when you can give it back to me if you can't  don't worry about it ,that is one of many memories I have of her. I miss her too bits ..... this is Janice sitting up 5 days before she passed away

 

The bottom one is of Janice and i am in the light blue top sitting next to her,this was taken the day after Mark and I arrived in Tasmania as you can see she  picked up in the top picture and was gone 5 days later

on Jun 03, 2018

here are some more but these are before Janice became very ill ,   Janice ad Denny are at their Daughters wedding about 4 years ago give or take ...... before Janice took ill she weighed 54kg and then went to 34 kg sorry guys and gals I don't know what that is in pounds  my bad lol

on Jun 03, 2018

mrs_starkers

Janice was the greatest sister anyone could have wished for

She was a pretty darned good sister-in-law as well.  Janice - and Denny too - were there for us both when we had to travel back to Tasmania for Family Court and no place to stay.  They put us up for a few weeks until we got ourselves sorted out with a place of our own.... and then they refused to take a cent for it.  I loved the chats Janice and I used to have.... and her stories of family and friends were fantastic to listen to.

I couldn't have asked for a better sister-in-law.  Miss you Jan.  

on Jun 03, 2018

Memories never fade. They grow richer with age.   

on Jun 07, 2018


Memories never fade. They grow richer with age

so true i can still her Janice voice from time to time especially when she would go off at poor old Denny when he would say " how bout that cuppa tea Darls"  then she would say "oh wait on"  and a few other explicit s lol

on Jun 08, 2018

Or get up off your backside and get it yourself. that's what I was told.

on Jun 08, 2018


Or get up off your backside and get it yourself. that's what I was told.

Yup, that was Janice's response most of the time.  Often she'd be busy cooking dinner and didn't have time to stop when the 'cuppa' request came in, so very often it was: "Get off yer ass and make it yourself you lazy bastard, can't you see I'm busy.

So often Denny would smooch up behind her and show a bit of affection in hopes of getting his cuppa, but Janice would shrug that off with a tongue-in-cheek 'bugger off, you're not getting any of that tonight' and would carry on preparing dinner.   It was like an evening ritual and funny to watch.  Denny would often get his own cuppa and make one for Janice as well, or if Shaunna and I were there we'd make them instead.

Sadly, Denny lost an eye after a work accident and is almost blind in the remaining eye, so he's not as adept at making cuppas as he once was, but he still manages to get around the kitchen to fend mostly for himself.  He does have the support of a son and daughter-in-law just next door, though, so he's not without help when needed.

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