Rehab Recommences for Son (T.) - a Fresh Start??

Hello readers -

Today a new phase in our lives may have truly started - Tom was driven down to a rehabilitation centre in Kent, in the English countryside near Edenbridge. To be exact, this place is at Toys Hill, Four Elms - really rural. It is in a large C19th (Victorian) mansion at Boons Park, part of the Kenward Trust. We went for an assessment interview on Monday - having to go down the M25 motorway, into unfamiliar territory, though quite close to D.'s Stepfather's home near Croydon and Bromley - and Tom had his assessment. D. and I were shown around the estate by a rather talkative resident. At the end of 2 hours, the people in charge made Tom a definite offer of a place! (The last assessment turned him down, on account of one of his mental illnesses - the Tourette's Syndrome.) After that, we just had to confirm his funding fromt he local health authority - this was a tense situation, as we could not contact the mental health/alcohol worker at first who was arranging this. All came good, finally - so today we had a rush to get away, as Tom was due there by 12 noon. We got there 5 minutes before we were due - D. (who had to drive) had an anxiety attack early on when he woke up; then when we left we got into a traffic jam, Later on the roads were clear, and we found the place more easily than last time we went.

It was strange, almost unreal to say goodbye to Tom - we cannot see him for the first 4 weeks. I pray that he does not mess it up this time, like he did in January at another rehab in London (Kairos). He know what went wrong then, when he got into an angry encounter - but this place has a strong Christian emphasis, which appeals to him (as he's "born again"). The clients may be easier to get on with,a dn he has his own room too. We were very cast down when the other place we tried, Yeldall Manor turned Tom down - this place at Boons Park was his last chance of somewhere really good - and it finally worked out! An answer to prayer, Tom and I think - thank you, God!

Whitton (our very old cat) too is getting better and stronger, after his 'chemo' treatment for a lymphoma - but he has developed an annoying habit of miaowing harshly whenever he is not satisfied, which is quite often, This is despite the fact that we are now leetting him out again. When shut in at night, he is still acting like a caged lion - we can't let the local foxes attack and eat him...!

That's all for time being - I may add to this again soon (as not much time for now).
Also I now have Windows XP instead of Win. 98; it is much faster to use! (Am just getting used to it on my PC). Well it takes getting used to my new situation - will let you know how it all pans out. Wish Tom well with his new placement and alcohol abuse treatment programme (which is 12-step, as in AA)-

Much love to anyone who reads this - Tigey