It has been quite a week.
Last weekend my mother’s health took a turn for the worse. I planned to take half a day off work on Wednesday to visit, but on Tuesday her nursing home suggested I come sooner. She was very woozy when we arrived, but when I spoke she opened one eye, and after a while she opened the other. I told her that she had been a good wife, a good mother, a good teacher, and that though I would miss her terribly I understood that it might be time for her to go, to a place where she believes she will see my father and my brother again.
But it seemed that it wasn’t time yet. She rallied and by teatime she was able, with help, to eat a little and drink a cup of tea. She is still very weak though, physically and mentally frailer than she was before.
And so you will understand why I have read little and why I lack the concentration to write.
This might be the end or it might be a plateau – that’s the nature of the condition she has.
Time will tell ….
So things may be quiet here for a while, or I may come and go.
For now, I leave you with an A to Z ….
A is for Anna Karenina
A is for ANNA KARENINA. I’ve been comparing translations and narrations, and I’ve settled on the Maude translation read by David Horovich as my next audio book.
B is for BIRTHDAY BOOK TOKEN. I’ve had it for a month now, but that’s only because I keep forgetting to take it out with me.
C is for THE COUNT OF MONTE CHRISTO. I have reached the last hour of the story ….
D is for DARK AEMILIA by Sally O’Reilly. A wonderful Tudor novel that I will write about when I can.
E is for ELLIE GOULDING. I kept hearing this on the radio and it rather grew on me.
F is for FLOWERS. I bought roses for Mothering Sunday and tulips yesterday to brighten my mother’s room.
F is for Flowers
G is for THE GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE. I was so sorry to see Lynda leave last Tuesday, and now I am hoping that Chinelo wins.
H is for HEROES OF CLONE by Margaret Kennedy – soon to be reissued under its American title – ‘The Wild Swan’.
I is for IN MAREMMA by Ouida – lined up for the 1882 slot in my 100 Years of Books.
J is for JACKDAWS. They come to the garden every day, to pick up Briar’s hair – it’s lucky that the grooming season and the nesting season coincide!
K is for KNITTING. I wanted something simple, so I’m knitting this scarf with a ball of green wool that I wound a long time ago. I’m not quite sure what it is, or what I’d been planning to make, but it’s lovely. I think it might be Malabrigo sock ….
L is for Leo Walmsley
L is for LEO WALMSLEY. I’m reading chronologically at the moment, so ‘Phantom Lobster’ comes next ….
M is for MADAME BOVARY READ-ALONG. I’m re-reading at the rate of a chapter a day.
N is for NEVER FOR EVER. It was love all those years ago, and it’s still love today …
O is for PROMENADE. The gaps where our lovely pink paving slabs were ripped up by the storm have been filled in with black tarmac. We have been told that it’s temporary and it had better be, because it looks horrible,
Q is for THE QUICK by Lauren Owen. I think the verdict is flawed but fabulous.
R is for RUMER GODDEN. My Classics Club spin book was ‘Black Narcissus’. I’ve read it but I have yet to write about it.
S is for Shiny New Books
S is for SHINY NEW BOOKS. Launching next Monday …..
T is for TUDOR ROSES. The loveliest, most inspirational knitting book ever. It was my birthday present to myself.
U is for UNDER THE DINING TABLE, where a certain small dog is sleeping.
V is for VICTORIAN CITY by Judith Flanders. I pulled my copy off the shelf tonight. I don’t have time to read it, but Darlene’s words made me do it
W is for WRISTWARMERS. I have these in mind, as I have a certain amount of sock yarn but I’m not really a sock knitter.
X is for EXHIBITION. I’m looking forward to ‘Penzance 400’ at Penlee House.
Y is for YOUNG. I was thrilled to find a copy of ‘Jim Redlake’ by Francis Brett Young on the Oxfam Shop last weekend.
Z is for ZOLADDICTION. I have Pot-Bouille lined up to read next week.
Fleur in her World 
I always enjoy your A to Z when I read them. Today was no different. Thinking about your mother. I have an 88 year old mother and I know how we worry about them. She sounds as though she is comfortable. I send you both well wishes. All the best, Pam
take good care…
My dad, too… thinking of you and your mom. Take care.
Thinking of you and your mother.
You & your mom are both in my thoughts & prayers. Take care of yourself too – I know it’s easier said than done, in these kinds of situations.
Thinking of you and your mum. Take care and seek solace in your knitting, listening to music, walking briar or whatever it is. Warm wishes.
My thoughts are with you. May you and your mother both have peace.
Love your A-Z – they must be as hard work as normal posts! (and thank you for the SNB link). Take care – thinking of you all. Sending hugs.
Sending love & strength to you…
Dear Fleur,
I don’t know you well enough to call you Jane so I’m using your nom de plume.
A few years ago my mother was suffering from the same complaint as your mother so you have my deepest sympathy and the fellow feeling of one who has had to travel that lonely path themselves. All your followers will quite understand that you cannot be expected to be up-dating at your usual rate and, speaking for myself, my thoughts are with you at this sad and difficult time. I know this may not be the end as my mother also rallied and lived for another twelve months but losing your mother to this terrible illness is stressful and heartbreakingly hard.
I send you tears and love. xx
So sorry to hear about your mother, Jane – sending you love and thoughts and take care of yourself and Briar too.
Your A-Z posts are always so interesting – I read the Maudes Anna Karenina and loved it.
Thinking of you at this difficult time, Jane.
(I must read Black Narcissus — I have been meaning to for AGES.)
I’m so sorry to hear about your mother, Jane, and I’m thinking of you both.
I’m pleased you enjoyed Dark Aemilia and The Quick as I have both of those to read.
My mother did the same thing three years ago. I empathise and wish you and your mother whatever you need as whatever happens unfolds.
So sorry to hear about your mother, best wishes to you both. Take care x
Thinking of you and your mom.
Sigh…having just gone through this my heart is deeply pained for you. It is obvious you are a wonderful daughter, and you can take comfort in that. I am picturing your dear mother perking up at the beautiful flowers and warm pot of tea. If thoughts and cyber words can be hugs you have many. Take all the time you need….
Sorry to hear about your mother and wish you both the best. Take care.
Lovely A-Z. Good wishes to you and your mother.
Hugs for the days ahead, Jane. Here’s to a fair bit of tea for your Mum still to come.
So sorry to hear about your mother, Jane. My thoughts are with you both. I love that you can see the good things in life even when times are tough.
I have a hold on Dark Aemilia and am looking forward to reading it when it comes out here at the end of May.
Take care.
Thoughts and prayers. Well done for you getting an A-z Post when things aren’t normal for you at the present. All the best with your Madame Bovary Read a long.
Hope you mother gets better soon, Fleur. Sending positive thoughts, prayers and wishes to her and to you and your family.
Sending best wishes for you and your mom, and an extra big hug for you.
I loved Madame Bovary when I read it a few years ago, it’s one of those books I will read again one day for sure.