Friday, April 5, 2013

Funeral service


Hi to all,

Diana's funeral service will be held on this coming Tuesday 9th April, at 1pm at St. Augustine's Church at the following address:
5 Cracroft Terrace 
Cashmere
Christchurch 

The best way to reach the church is to head onto Cracroft Terrace off Dyer's Pass Road. Please click on the link below if you wish to see where the chapel is on google maps.

Diana was brought home today and we (her carers) carried her into the house accompanied by a pair of fantails and under a light sprinkling of rain. She will rest at home until Tuesday; if you want to visit Diana during this time, please do so. There will be always someone in the house but if you prefer to call beforehand, this is the number: [64] (03) 3660 650

Thanks to everyone who has sent kind, caring messages either by email, blog or via the heart. We, her friends and family really appreciate the support. 

Warm regards 
Gabrielle

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Diana has died

Today at 4 AM, Diana slipped out of this life. She had scheduled 15 April as the day she would accept morphine for the unbearable pain she was suffering. On 4 April, she asked for morphine, knowing that after all these years, her poor body would not tolerate it easily. I am told that she was lucid yesterday, and died in peace and dignity.

Her funeral service is likely to be on Monday at 11 AM.

(This note contributed by Rachel McAlpine.)

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Update



My black humour, it seems, will follow me into the grave. 

I rather like the idea of dying like a French heroine lying back on a chaise longue bringing my hand to my forehead from time to time and sighing piteously. There are two problems in that: I can't independently move my right arm and I would have to buy a new outfit of clothes as well as a chaise longue. I could manage the sighs. But, I am finding that these last ten days or so are full to bursting with arrangements and re-arrangements: cancelling the fish delivery, setting up a new bank account for the carer's money so that, at the last, it won't be put into a frozen account. I even suggested to my nephew that I should contact the post office with a change of address. He found that dubious as I cannot be sure of what address. I've rather liked the idea of being “thrown into outer darkness where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth”. But, with the universe expanding at the speed which it is, it will have to an enormous throw and, anyway, the glittering galaxies would probably catch me up before too long. It's unlikely the post office would allow a worker to travel that distance to deliver my mail. And I've always wondering at the “wailing and gnashing of teeth”. Whose teeth? Mine, or will there be a theatrical cast of extras or would those of you left behind have to undertake these activities? 

It will be a lot easier to leave out the word “outer”. I could be thrown into darkness via a trapdoor being opened in the floor and that would certainly allow for the delivery of mail even if, as I will be in darkness I will not be able to read it. 

All this having to take responsibility is making me live in a third person novel. I'm having trouble getting in touch with the first person. What exactly am I feeling?

Well I can tell you this: I've experienced a pregnancy craving. I found myself longing for souvlaki. The longing was fortunately, at a reasonable time of day when the Greek shop round the road was open, so my longing could be satisfied. Birthing and 'deathing' would seem to have something in common. 

Throughout all this rigmarole I need to say something about my carers who have been endlessly supportive. The difficulty in getting me supported so that the sling, which will catapult me from the bed to the wheelchair, can be inserted is horrendous. Every time I remember the speed with which my two morning carers complete this task, so that I am not in such dreadful pain for more that 2 – 3 minutes, brings tears to my eyes. So that puts me in a first person novel. I feel such love and gratitude.