I'm still here.... and visited Venice in April...

Every time I rejoin this blog, the login details have changed, it seems.   But I am back! This year's been a  struggle again - my son T. still battles his alcoholism, and  my husband D. is getting worse in his mental powers - ie he has dementia, and it is becoming more of an issue for us.  He is needing more treatment now, and I can't really go to stay away, though I did manage it twice this year for 3 days on each occasion. I really have to be around every day as his carer - I can go out for up to one day OK, but I have to leave notes - if I am away longer I need to phone up, and make sure there is food he can prepare without burning it.  He is unhappy with how he is, and worries that I may not be accepting it, may want to kick him out - or similar.  I see it is my duty and responsibility to stay, and try to live within the day - "keep it simple" etc.

It is similar to dealing with alcoholism - for that it's "one day at a time", and when my son is OK, I do not project forward to a time that he may struggle again.  He was in prison twice earlier this year, because he tends to offend when he is drunk. He has a retraining order against him, so that he can be arrested if he is found drunk outside. This is what he broke twice, so ended up in jail, but for short periods of 2 months or so.  Even this he found bad enough, and is trying his best now not to lapse again and be sent back. [The first time he was in there over Christmas and New Year - he had a horrid, bleak time, with no Xmas dinner ...]

When I went away, the first time I went to Venice in late April for 3 sunny days. [See my picture above, of gondolas tied up at St. Mark's Basin.] It was very quick, but I managed to see many sights, and really get into wandering around this lovely, ancient city. The atmosphere was superb...  I did not ride in a gondola as it was too expensive [I went solo], but I walked a lot, and travelled on the vaporetto which took me to places like the Accademia Gallery, and the old Rialto Bridge, where I browsed the small shops, and bought two ornate moulded and painted masks - doll-sized and cat-faced. I walked back there for a meal outside by the river, that same night, and met an English couple. On my last morning I walked back to St. Mark's Square and went up the Campanile in a very fast lift. [Elevator - to those in USA.]  From there you could see all over the city to the mainland, or across the Grand Canal towards the other islands. St. Mark's Square was laid out below.  I also went around the Doge's Palace on day 2 - it was sombre and fascinating. The prison was rather sinister, but interesting as being the first "modern" European jail.  The Basilica of St. Mark was always too busy for me to queue up to explore  - it awaits!

I stayed at a hotel based in a converted palazzo on the Piazza di Santa Maria Formosa - quiet at night, but lively during the day. Hotel was comfortableand friendly, with dark, cool, shuttered rooms, and a good, modern bathroom. Nearby was a small cafe where you could sit outside and sip coffee or a soft drink, and watch the market and the passing parade of Venetians and tourists.  I must go back - it was not long enough!

In July I also had 3 days at a good English Christian centre [Othona] on the Dorset coast. A friend of ours is connected with and recommended it. My son stayed there in April for a week's walking. I opted to go for the shorter "Quiet Weekend" - a semi-retreat with walking and art or reading, but talking was allowed on one of two tables at meals.  I will say more on this in a new blog.  My son T. recently returned for another walking week - it's helped to substitute as a rehab for him, but sadly the time he spends there is too short. It has been a healing experience for us both, and the journey is only 4 hours from our home S.W. London.


Hope you find this...  To be continued!       -   Greetings from Tigey