Back to France - what a drag! / myLot

Ireland

April 17, 2025 11:37am CST

Yes, I’m off on the trot again and it wasn’t planned. Hot on the heels of my May sojourn in Athens I feel the need to visit my brother - he’s just moved permanently into a care home due to the limitations brought on by Parkinson’s disease. He and his wife just moved from Paris to the north of France, and it isn’t working out for him. But there is no alternative - he keeps falling and breaking limbs and needs a high level of care. So off I shall go in June for a few weeks, flying from Dublin to Rennes in one of those wee propellor jobs, then train to Bayeux where his home is. We hope to be in Bayeux for a week then follow that with time in Dinard, returning in time to wash our dirty clothes before heading back to the airport to go to Manchester for a while to look after grandchildren. So much for a quiet retirement.

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6 responses

Marie Coyle

@MarieCoyle (42932)

•

17 Apr

Oh, I'm sorry about your brother. Parkinson's disease is tough, I have a good friend who has it, and she is slowly losing her ability to walk, and needs more and more care. It sounds like you will be busy. I am glad you are going to spend time with him.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (351220)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Apr

Sounds like it's very lucky that you've retired. Bayeux was one of the first places in France that we visited. We went to see the tapestry while we were there.

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Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (13468)

• Ireland

18 Apr

@judyev We’ve found an apartment quite near the tapestry museum. I’m glad I’m able to get over to see him and his wife at short notice - they’ve just moved to near Bayeux recently so don’t know many people. There’s not much I will be able to do practically to help - that’s not needed, but just to chat while he still has his speech should be something. Glad too I’ve found a way of getting there without going through expensive Paris.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (351220)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Apr

@xFiacre I hope the visit goes well. Life can get tough as we age. Living in separate countries doesn't help either. Parkinson's is no fun for either spouse.

Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (13468)

• Ireland

19 Apr

@JudyEv No fun at all. My mother had it for the last 5 years of her life. She and my brother were diagnosed around the same time as each other when she was 80 and my brother was 50.

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