This afternoon we joined Elizabeth and Danni at Woodpeckers for a visit to Mum. Pre-Christmas limited four-fold family visits have been arranged by Colten Care.
On arrival we were issued with the usual forms explaining who we are with our temperature recorded. We were also required to sanitise our hands and don face masks, gloves, and aprons. Our own masks, etc. had to be changed for those available at reception. On departure the supplied PPE were disposed of in a bin provided.
Chairs were spread out in the allocated room, ensuring that we kept the correct distances. Teas, coffee, sausage rolls, mince pies, and Christmas cake were brought in for us.
The visit was timed for an hour, but we were given an extra ten minutes.
Jackie photographed the rest of us. The second picture shows Mum nursing our present.
Danni added by e-mail the Assistant Photographer and me, and Mum. The second photograph demonstrates the problem with social distancing which made it difficult for her to see us clearly. In the circumstances this could not be avoided.
Afterwards my Chauffeuse drove me through driving rain to catch the sunset at Barton.
For a while I stayed in the car before battling with gusting winds when the rain ceased.
Jackie captured me near the clifftop where the wind was throwing me about a bit. I was somewhat further from the edge than this perspective suggests, and refrained from picturing the strip just in front of me which was rent by a deep cleft suggesting it will be the next stretch to fall. I just couldn’t be stable enough to risk it;
neither could I get near enough to focus on the very choppy waves,
so I settled for some longer distance sunset shots.
As I walked back to the car a woman came into view with three small children and a dog excitedly running towards her. The pooch, as they do, raced towards the cleft. I called to the woman and warned her. She gathered up her brood and led them further inland.
Yesterday I pictured Jackie’s beef and mushroom pie with unbroken crust.
Today we enjoyed a second helping complete with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, and gravy, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Malbec.
A Christmas greeting for your mum, one she had never seen the likes of before.. so unusual Derrick, but so necessary 😊
Thanks very much, Ivor
I am glad you were able to meet your Mum.
Thank you very much, Rupali
How lovely to be able to see your mum in these strange and exceptional times.
Special memories.
x
Thanks very much, Melanie X
😊
Oké … , in Amsterdam heerst de ‘rivival van de Engelse pie’ die is hot, met de Kerst een pastei op tafel dat is het helemaal! In restaurants kan je ze bestellen, maar ik noteer niks, want voor een paté en croute van een top kok in een vijf sterren restaurant in Oldenzaal … Schuif me eigen pasteitje met of zonder eitje wel de oven in …
Maar, mocht u toevallig in London zijn: Ga naar chef kok Calum Franklin van restaurant: The Holborn Diningroom. Deze kok schreef ook pie-boeken: ‘The Pie Room’ in het Nederlands vertaald: In de pastei kamer, dus van Calum Franklin …
Nederlandse auteur: :Manon Henzen, ‘Taarten en pasteien’, ondertitel: ‘pronkstukken uit de hystorische keuken’. Eet ze! * http://www.friedabblog.wordpress.com * Amsterdam, 19 – 12 – 2020
Heel erg bedankt, Frieda
lovely to see your mum, albeit in these weirdy ways we have these days. As for you on the cliff, it looks like you might hurtle inland at any moment!
Thanks a lot, Geoff
So glad you had the chance for an in room get together with Mum. Also glad you stayed away from the cliff edge!
Thanks a lot, Maj
How wonderful that Colten Care made it possible for you to spend some time with your Mum! What a joy it must’ve been for her <3
Thank you so much, Rosaliene
I’m glad you were able to see your mom, even with the necessary restrictions.
I really like those hazy sunset shots.
Thank you so much, Merril
Your visit will have meant so much to your Mum.
Thanks very much, Sheree
So pleased this happened
Thanks very much, Gary
I’m not quite sure why the apron or the gloves – especially since it appeared you couldn’t actually touch “Mum” – maybe it was to protect the staff washing up your cups! I wouldn’t even call that full PPE but I guess it did mean you could actually be in the same room as Mum and have a nice cuppa with cake…
Thanks very much Catherine. It did seem a bit OTT – but6 at least it made the visit possible
So goodto see your mum looking so spry and happy! And I’m glad you stayed well back from the scarp in the cliff — it looks like a day in which there might have been some erosion! Do be careful there!
Thanks a lot, Janet. I was very careful – the wind was much stronger than usual
It was so good to see that you were able to have a visit with your Mum without the barrier, even with the PPE. I hope she’s keeping her spirits up.
She is, indeed, Liz. Thanks very much.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Your mother looks wonderful, Derrick! I am glad you got to visit her in person. I also love the photos you both took of the wind blowing wild on the shore, and setting sun.
Thank you very much from us both, Lavinia
You are important to me. I am glad to see your mum smiling.
Thank you very much indeed, Flower X
I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you were able to visit your mum, Derrick. Her smile is the best present!
Thanks very much, Jill X
I am glad that you had a fully protected pre-holiday visit with your mother, Derrick. She seems happy with her present.
Thanks a lot, Dolly.
My pleasure, Derrick.
Sadly, all nursing homes in the wider Sydney suburbs are back to window visits. We were booked in for lunch and the afternoon at Dad’s nursing home on Christmas Day. We had even booked accommodation for Christmas Day night in the post code area. That means if we stay, we have to quarantine when we return home on Boxing Day. Everything is up in the air now. We’re not even sure where we’ll be or if we will eat at all Christmas Day. A 6 hour drive home Christmas day is not a good plan either.
Beef and mushroom pie sounds lovely. 🙂
Merry Christmas to you and Jackie.
Thank you very much, Chrissy. I hadn’t realised it has got so bad for you again. We have just heard we must cancel our Christmas plans. Let us all have as good a Christmas as we can in our little capsules.
It was very much out of the blue and at immediate notice in the Sydney Northern Beaches suburbs. Then shut downs Sydney wide over night, A reminder that Covid is still very real.
Be safe.
I’m happy you got to visit your mum in person with excellent precautions. She looks happy. What an exciting photo of you near the edge, but not too near. I love the golden sunsets.
Thank you so much, JoAnna
Glad you could go see your mom.
Thanks very much, Mrs W.
Your welcome.
That’s a heartwarming family gathering at Woodpeckers. Your photo near the cliff is one of the best of Jackie’s compositions —it has captured the ardent photographer in you forever willing to brave the elements and dangers in pursuit of his passion.
Thank you very much, Uma. A nice appreciation of Jackie’s picture.
Oh, I have joy-tears in my eyes! I’m so happy you all got to spend some quality time with your beautiful Mum!!! 🙂 She looks so healthy and so happy! 🙂
Jackie’s photo of you braving the elements to get such amazing photos is wonderful! Great photo, Jackie! 🙂
Gorgeous photos, Derrick! But, please stay safe as you adventure out to take photos! Wind can be very scary.
(((HUGS)))
Thanks very much from us both, Carolyn. The wind was scary enough for me to keep my distance and refrain from the best wave shots. X
Those are beautiful pictures of your meeting with your mum. The love just shines through.
Thanks very much, John
Lovely shots, as ever – not least the delicious pie. At least we can visit relatives in care homes, if under such strange conditions. It’s been so hard on them.
Thanks very much, indeed, Libre
Social distancing but I guess you all had a good time 😉
Better be careful with the cliff 🙈 but gorgeous views 😍 and again that pie….super delicious 😋
Thanks very much, Ribana. I certainly kept my distance from that cliff edge – although I know it doesn’t look it
I’m so glad you got a ‘proper’ visit with your mum. The cliff pictures did scare me. I do not want to hear in the news that one of my favourite bloggers has tumbled over the edge.
Thank you so much, Susan. I promise I will keep out of the news 🙂