Canada

Canada was as always...fantastic.
The boys (my cousin and his partner but who I always refer to as the boys), were amazing.
They left me to my own space, I had company when I wanted it, hugs when I needed them, peace when nothing but solitude would help.
We saw the stage musical, the Lion King, wow, fantastic, I cried my eyes out through a lot of it, but the subject of Simba losing his father was all too close to me at that point. I am so glad I saw it though.
We had a break on Vancouver Island which, to me, always feels like going home, and even the dog, my new friend Dougal, got to come too.
The boys arranged for us to stay at the Delta in Victoria, a room for me all to myself, with a view overlooking the harbour! I cried again, just because of their thoughtfulness and generosity. I was not allowed to do or pay for anything, they had told my family they would treat me like a queen, and they did!!
I missed my Dad at times when it caught me off guard. Seeing old motorbikes and thinking, oh, must take a picture for Dad, then sinking realising he would never see it. Seeing things we would have talked about, doing things we would have discussed. Places he had seen and we had seen.
Never expected it to be so hard, never expected it to be so soon.
I delayed my trip home, I was having panic attacks at the thought of being alone at home with Mum's birthday so soon. I stayed on longer but with the best support I could ever have had. I will never be able to thank my boys enough!