10,000 Hits!!

This blog has just crossed over 10,000 hits!  If I didn't know better, I'd say it was just one little person, sitting on their basement computer, hitting the refresh key for want of something better to do!  But I do know better... so many have reached out to say they have been thinking of us and to share their best wishes.

What started as a place for me to share a bit of the struggle of what it is to have a family member suffer with Parkinson's Disease D (OK, and maybe have a bit of a vent) has morphed into an account of the decision to move to Australia, the setbacks prior to leaving, then the sheer volume of work of settling dad into a care home and wrapping up outstanding items. I laugh now at how I naively thought I'd have dad settled by the end of 2011 and then get back to living my life. Now, seven months in, I'm still not sorted out! Definitely the majority is behind me, but still quite a bit to go.

Looking back, I'm amazed by how things fell into place, as difficult as it has been. People often ask if dad was on a wait list very long for his care home. Indeed, that had always been a worry... to get dad settled in a chosen place in case the choice was take out of our hands. But the room was waiting for him in Rose Bay when we arrived, he went into it as respite and was able to remain there. In hindsight, it was a smooth transition, but at the time, the not-knowing was very much a worry. So I am truly thankful that that room was waiting for dad...

Once dad was settled into care, well... at least the paperwork was sorted out.  We were given six months to get the financials sorted out.  Next up was Canadian taxes, and organizing all that paperwork to send back to the Canadian accountant.  No rest for the wicked, as the very next day, we went into getting the house sold, and all the paperwork that went along with that.

Which brings us up to now.  Still left with transferring finances from Canada to Australia, which is turning out to be another headache.  Am shaking my head at the lack of professionalism from, well, professionals.  A common courtesy email to say that they are in my receipt of my request would be nice.  I have lost count of the number of times I have had to follow up on work I have sent out, only to find out nothing has been done... basically doubling my work load!  There I go, venting again!!

Our six month grace period with the care home will just about be here... so as frustrating as all of this is, I am thankful that the house did sell in the nick of time.  Seems like we'll be in just under the wire once again.  Ah well, wouldn't be the same without my old friend, Mr. Panic.

Hmmm... by the time I am finally finished sorting dad out... this blog will probably be up to 100,000 hits!!  Thanks again to everyone for your support and understanding... seems we are going to need it for just a while longer!!  ;) 

~ Donna ~