Still here after a longish absence - life changes, but more travels

Well it's been a while.  After last year, I have retired from my lecturing work, and am now dealing with a husband who is developing dementia fast, and increasingly immersed in my role as a carer.  My son, who has alcohol and mental health issues, still lives with us at age 35.  Last month, June, my husband, D., turned 70. As he was ill with shingles, and developing in his mixed dementia, we did nothing special for his birthday, apart from having a cake and a deent meal. This is sad, as some people throw big parties at 70 and 80...

This is not to say I still can't do things I like to do.  This year in March I went away on a 4 day trip to Bruges, aka Brugge in Belgium. [I came back to find my husband developing shingles]. While there I toured Bruges' lovely canals [a smaller system than in Venice], and also visited the war graves near Ypres, at Tyne Cot - the biggest Brit. Commonwealth & British war grave in Europe. Some of the trenches from World War I are still preserved in the area, so I went with my travel group around these at Hill 62 - a powerful, moving experience. Even on a sunny day it was chilling.  Bruges itself offered many delights - chocolate and beer among them.  This photo shows the landing stage for canal boats in central Bruges, near the Flea Market and main museums.

At the end of May I went with my son T to a Christian restreat on the S. Dorset Jurassic coast - the Othona Centre. You can find them on the web in UK. They are an "open" or non-strict Christian organsation, with a lovely chapel, and accomodation for many. They do a programme of themed stays over the year.  We did the Quiet Space, or retreat, for 4 days. While there we took a bus to Lyme Regis, an elegant seaside town where there are fossil beaches. I went there for my honeymoon in 1965.  My son likes to go on the Othona Walking Weeks in Spring and Autumn. They also  do events for families.  This was my second stay there - I also did a retreat stay last July.  Two of my friends work there as volunteers.

And yesterday I went on one of several visits to Kew Gardens over the past year.  I get free entry with my local Carers' group. I am a keen photographer, adn take pictures there when I can.  I will include a photo with this blog - maybe of Bruges though.  I still do some voluntary English teaching this summer with my church in London - however, I am not sure how long I can go on with this, as my husband has been so unwell this year. I am also a member of my local University of the 3rd Age [Richmond, Surrey], and go to some of their educational groups. Among these is learning Spanish as a beginner - and also a study group on Asia and the Orient, to which I gave a talk on Asian animals recently.  I really enjoy their outings and went with them to Hampton Court - near us, the home of Henry VIII - Tudor monarch and serial womaniser!
That's all for now but I hope to return sooner than last time.  Life is more of a struggle now but still worth it.

All my best wishes, take care - adios, Tigey