Thursday 16 July 2015

Thank You Mum...

 
 
 
My Mum never had very much, she was always on the cusp of balancing her finances, despite working incredibly hard for all her life. What she did have however, she shared freely with her daughters, her family, and her friends.
 
 
When my Dad died, she realised just how expensive the cost of funerals were, and she was determined not to pass on the expense to her daughters. She opened up her Funeral Fund account, we renamed it her Holiday Fund, determined to ship her off somewhere nice as soon as enough cash was saved. She also took out a few funeral insurances too, just to be on the safe side!
 
 
However, her Alzheimer's developed very quickly, not being particularly clued up on all things financial, we didn't think to get Power of Attorney. This meant that although Mum did have a little left over from her pension each week, (most of it went on care fees), we couldn't access it. So for the years she spent in the home, between us we bought what she needed. Clothes, toiletries, oh and lots of chocolate.
 
 
When she died, the little bit of money she had was signed over to the three of us. It was a very sad moment, sat there on the bank, signing the papers. We told the bank clerk what a wonderful woman she had been. We also told him our plans...
 
 
Mum had always wanted to go to Florence, I think that's why I jumped at the chance of going a few years ago with my friend. Sadly she never went. So with her Holiday Fund we are off to Florence. Her three daughters and her grown up Grandaughter. We are off to Florence, to enjoy life, and to celebrate one wonderful life, Our Mum. We are going in September, when it would have been her birthday. We shall sit somewhere lovely, on her birthday, and we will open a bottle of champagne. We will remember her beautiful soul, and what a great person she was. I can't wait.
 
 
But that's only part of the story. There was still a little left over, we divided it equally between us. My sisters knew immediately how they wanted to use theirs, it took me a while. But in the Spring I knew, my garden. So raised beds were bought, and those bee hive compost bins too. All curtesy of my lovely, lovely Mum. I know she would be very happy with my choice. I'm on the lookout now for a sturdy black metal arch, I've seen one here Agriframes and a climbing yellow rose. Mum had one in her garden, then it will be perfect.
 
 
Here's a list of the companies I've used...
 
 
Raised Vegatable beds.....Sutton Seeds
 
Bee Hive Composter...SunnyField Poultry Housing.
 
And I've had lots of interest in our garden studio, so here's the details of that again.....Crusoe Garden Rooms.
 
 
I've been very happy with the quality and service of all these companies. (Post not sponsored!).
 
 
 
 
Hope you all have a lovely weekend...we've got end of primary school celebrations going on here...I'm an emotional mess!
 
 
Amanda :) xxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

53 comments:

  1. What a lovely post - I even had a little tear, enjoy your holiday lovely way to remember your mum
    Julie xxxxxxx

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    1. Thank you Julie, Mum would be so pleased we are doing this :) xxx

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  2. What a beautiful post, thank you for sharing x

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  3. What a beautiful post Amanda, and such lovely ideas for remembering your mum. She sounds like a very wonderful person. CJ xx

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  4. your backyard is absolutely gorgeous, a great honour to your mother!
    And have a good and beautiful trip in Florence!
    Miss, xx

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    1. Thanks Miss, I think this is just what my Mum would have done too, her garden meant so much to her :) xxx

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  5. What a lovely post and dedication to your mum ... I have a tear in my eye. I'm sure she is looking down and smiling at your lovely garden and will be with you in spirit in beautiful Florence. M x

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  6. Ada, this is the loveliest story, such a special tribute and wonderful living memory of your special mum xxx

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  7. i bet your mum will be with you in spirit on your trip! what a wonderful way to remember her and walk in the footsteps she never was able to do. When my grandad died he'd lived on peanuts for years after nanny went but we realised he had been very good with his money saving it for a rainy days~ i think a lot of people did that after the war after going so long without things. My grandad loved motorbikes had one in his younger years with asidecar that my mum and nan sat in...my mum did route 66 for 6 weeks to remember him by but also a holiday of a life time as my mum had not had a proper holiday for a good 20 years!. hope you have a really special time. Your garden looks lovely! x

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    1. Your Grandad sounds like a right character, just brilliant, and what a way to remember him...bet your Mum loved every minute! :) xxx

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  8. Lovely , just lovely !
    As always i can relate to this post in so many ways ..
    Be well and happy ,its what your mama would really ,really want !
    Maria( Rosey tinted of course ) xxx

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    1. Yes, I know you know, exactly :) xxx (weren't we lucky)

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    2. In a lot of ways , yes Ada Bea ! But in others no ! Because we both know the suffering involved in this cruel , cruel disease .. 😙 I only commented here , because I dreamt of mum , last night and thankfully after 4 years , it wasn't a nightmare dream ! She was well and young and pretty and the feelings were immense in waking ! Then I read your post and it made me smile as we adored ,Florence too ! My mum like yours probably ( never left this little island ) I'm ever so happy that your celebrating her birthday this way ! I know you will have your first anniversary coming up next month too ! It's a very beautiful post ! 🌹 with kindest thoughts Maria x

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    3. We were lucky to have such lovely mums but such a trauma to see them go in this way, I don't think I've acknowledged yet how traumatic it was watching her die, gangrene is a truly awful disease, but much worst for her. It's lovely to here about your dream, I'm not there yet, but will be I'm sure :) xxx

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  9. Such a beautiful post Amanda. What a special way to remember your Mum. I hope you have a fantastic time when you go to Florence. x

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  10. Such lovely ways to remember your Mum. I'm sure your trip to Florence will be wonderful. Debbie x

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    1. Thanks Debbie, it will be the first time we've been away together, we are really looking forward to it :) xxx

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  11. Lovely and very sweet post, thank all Mums, greetings from anna

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  12. Your Mum would have been so pleased that you have used the money in this way. The memory of her will never fade . Her legacy will help you to create new happy memories to share with others. Sarah x

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    1. She's locked in my heart that's for sure Sarah :) xxx

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    2. sorry comments box just disappears when I try to comment so once again in reply box.
      Such a moving post and what a lovely way to spend your money form Mum, your garden is looking so good and the veg seem to grow as I look at them. Have a lovely time in Florence, no doubt you will share it with us when you are back.

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    3. I'm glad I didn't just rush out and buy something without giving it proper consideration, this is just right. Of course I will share! ;) xxx

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  13. Make sure you get a group photo taken raising the glasses for a memory that will live on

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  14. Your Mum would be so proud of you and your garden it looks gorgeous and I love the summer house. I have a few tears in my eyes about you all going to Florence your mum will be there with you in spirit and I am sure she will be over joyed that you are all making the trip together as a family. Have a lovely weekend, Dee xx

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    1. Thank you Delia, I think she would be very pleased and very proud that we've chosen this :) xxx

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  15. What a lovely way to celebrate your Mum - I hope you have a wonderful trip in September. And of course, very many happy days in your beautiful garden :)

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    1. We are all so excited Zoe, there will be a lot of giggling! ;) xxx

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  16. What a wonderful way to always remember your mum (not that you'd forget her, but you know what I mean!) LOVE your raised beds especially, and admire your studio - only this week we agreed that we would spend an annuity long waited for, on a summer house at the bottom of OUR garden - a long time dream of mine. It won't be a sewing room, I have one in the house, and don't want this to become a mess, just somewhere we can sit, and read, and enjoy the garden from a different aspect. Oh, I'm sure a little bit of stitching and crochet will find its way in there too! Your mum will be tickled pink to see what you've done….whereever she is! xxxx

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    1. Lynne, I don't think I'd have got my Mum out of the studio! She would have loved her cup of coffee down there, perhaps she sits in there with me. How exciting, you will love it, lots of sipping something nice and watching the birds! :) xxx

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  17. I am sure that your Mum would not only approve of what you have done, but would love that you have done it too!! You can look around you and enjoy all that you survey and remember happy lovely things about your Mum. How good is that! xx

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    1. Thank you Amy, I think about her so much as I potter in the garden, I can almost hear her admiring the flowers and plants :) xxx

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  18. This is my first visit and I'm glad that I'm just in time to read this moving tribute to your mom and see your lovely garden.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thank you so much Amalia, and thank you for letting me know you stopped by :) xxx

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  19. So sad; so beautiful. Enjoy Florence!

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    1. Thank you Catherine, this next year I'm going to try and find more of the beautiful, and to remember less of the sad. Florence will be enjoyed to the full! :) xxx

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  20. What a lovely idea for you and your sisters, your mum must have been so wonderful to lhave such loving, thoughtful girls. Your garden's lovely too, it's so big and looks so pretty, I especially like the beehive composters xx

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    1. She was wonderful Cheryl, and she did a great job raising us :) xxx

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  21. I love your raised beds, they look so tidy, and so abundant. I think I will go back to raised beds when we get back to the UK, they are so much easier to maintain I think
    Thanks for popping by my new blog by the way, but would you do me a favour. I'm having problems setting things up, and want to make sure people actually can comments. I know the few people who have decided to follow me are t getting an email when I do a new post either. I'm a newbie to all this, so I'm obviously doing something wrong! Xx I look forward to a little comment from you - just a 'hi' will do!

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    1. Hi Claire, I've popped by and there doesn't seem to be any problems with comments. It can take a little while for people to find you but they will, looks like you live in a lovely part of the world! :) xxx

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  22. Such a lovely post dear Amanda and sweet memories of your wonderful Mum. I hope you find a garden arch and plant a yellow rose.
    Enjoy your trip to Florence, you can see all that your Mum had hoped to see.
    I miss my Mum very much, she was a loving and kind lady always helping others. Her garden was her favourite place.
    xoxoxo ♡

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    1. Thank you Dianne, you mum sounded lovely, we were very lucky to be raised b such great women :) xxx

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  23. Bless your heart! What a wonderful tribute to your Mum.
    Enjoy your trip, I am sure she would be happy for you.
    Mickie, Indiana USA

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  24. I'm reading this with tears in my eyes Amanda, what a lovely holiday you will have remembering your lovely Mum. Love what you've done with your garden too, every time you look at it you'll think of her and she'll always be with you ... I think you've spent it really wisely ... it's a gift that will keep on giving forever xxx Just having a catch up on here, it's been too long xxx

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    1. We are all really looking forward to experiencing Florence together, think I might be their tour guide having been twice now! ;) xxx

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  25. Why am I not following your blog? Tears here. I've been a crappy crabby mum today. What a lovely post about your mum. What a wonderful idea going to Florence is. Soon now... And adding to your garden. Perfect xxx Sarah from thepitts on IG xxx

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