Comments on: Regeneration #3: Grandson

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 16 May 2010 19:19:19 +0000

Thanks Rob. I really do hope you’re able to convince her. I didn’t mention above how stressful and painful it was trying to convince my grandmother to leave Cairo – there’s no concept of nursing homes or care for the elderly there as it’s the family’s responsibility to care for their elders, and her only family were of course several thousand miles away. Initially she agreed to be repatriated in one of those rare moments where she was aware of her deteriorating condition, only to deny all knowledge and not recognise us when we finally arrived to take her home.

If your mother’s as stubborn as my grandmother was, it may sadly take her condition to get worse before she accepts the move. I hope she comes round to the idea before that happens and that things will indeed get better for you both once she does.

By: Rob Inukshuk

Rob Inukshuk — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:54:08 +0000

Ben, a wonderful post, beautifully written and so poignant for me as I try to convince my more and more forgetful widowed old Welsh Mother to return to Wales where she will be safe, cared for and loved. It’s a difficult time.

By: mkf

mkf — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 09:31:21 +0000

as i was reading this post and admiring the care that attended its construction, it was with the thought that your grandmother must’ve been very old indeed–until the end, when i realized your subject was a woman who was born a mere eleven years before my own mother.

that can’t be, can it?

By: Jamie

Jamie — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:55:05 +0000

What a moving tribute, lovely writing. Thanks very much for posting.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 19:28:17 +0000

Ben, you write beautifully. This was a touching and wonderful tribute to your gran. I got a real sense of her, and her life, and she sounds a wonderful lady.

Love all the details about the Welsh village as well… ‘Roger the pheasant’. Teehee.

By: Ray

Ray — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:05:26 +0000

That’s a loving tribute, and what a list of early 20th century happenings. (The link to Hit & Run has introduced me to an interesting site, thanks for that!)

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:36:36 +0000

That was beautiful, Ben. I had a tear in my eye reading the bit about the watch and the key.

By: isabelle

isabelle — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:23:08 +0000

You write beautifully about your grandma, Ben. I really enjoyed reading this, a mixture of sad images and comic ones too. I know those little welsh villages all too well, and it is just so. I’m rubbish at comments, but , well, I just loved this, I could see it all before my eyes, thank you.