When we woke up this morning, I had concerns that our walking session was taking a backseat as Wee Daftie had a friend coming to visit this morning. Which is great obviously, but also gives us less time to plan a purposeful walk.
I need not to have worried! We smashed out a ridiculous amount of steps before dinner but we’ll get to that later. For now, let’s think about our morning.
Wee Daftie’s friend who came to visit has been a best friend since nursery. Which is going on 6 years now; a very long time in both their lives. And I love having her over. They get on so well, they’re both creative, imaginative, silly and there is always giggling. So much giggling.
It was also good that Wee Daftie had company as I had a phone consultation with the midwifery team from Simpson’s Maternity. I am, as I think I have mentioned, open to talking about losing Saoirse. Wee Daftie and I have had conversations about it. Wee Daftie likes picking flowers and sticks and giving them to Saoirse. However, I also like to give Wee Daftie some space from my grief sometimes. She’s is incredibly mature at times and such an empathic kid, but my sadness is not her burden to bear.
The call today is a second one of four offered by the bereavement team at the hospital and they have been amazing. It’s just a chat to check in and see how things are. I don’t think I will every be able to put into words how much I appreciate all the support I have had with all this. From friends, family, medical professionals, my work, Wee Daftie’s school, the bubble of love and comfort has fully surrounded the Daft Family Household and I don’t have words. Which is unusual for me.
From the midwife who helped me deliver Saoirse, through tears and the best hug I can remember to my own GP, I’ve never felt unheard or dismissed. The midwives and doctors in the hospital who cared for me and gave me time with Saoirse showed us both such understanding and patience. We have had some level of professional care at every step, from delivery to organising her service and I cannot be more grateful.
I don’t think they will ever truly know how much they have done for me, for us, and I know I won’t forget them or their grace and kindness. And I definitely don’t know how to thank them. Hopefully by telling anyone who’ll listen how great they all is a start.
After my call with Jude, making lunch for the girls, stabbing myself repeatedly with a crochet needle and listening to the girls cause mild mayhem, I decided we needed to stretch our legs a bit.
We ended up stretching them a lot.
We dropped Wee Daftie’s friend off to her house and then jumped on a bus to Crammond for a stroll in the evening sun along the water. Or the Crammond Floor Show as my old Dad would say. (Less of the old, Callipie!)
Now. As with lots of Edinburgh, I have walked the length of Crammond plenty of times. I may have forgotten just how long it is. Not that I am complaining at all. We had warmth in the air, sun on our skin and we even saw some deer near Gypsy Brae. It was gorgeous…and utterly exhausting, in the best possible way.
We walked all the way to Wardie Bay, picking up some chippies on the way, and sat in the early evening sun, eating and watching the wild swimmers.
We took the longest walk to get chips and I think it was definitely worth it.
Once we made it home, we warmed up with hot chocolate and the Repair Shop, which is genuinely one of her very favourite things.
We will have a gentler day tomorrow but we will definitely make time to Stroll for Simba. Which is another way for me to say thanks.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/carolynne-murphy-3?newPage=true
Travels With My Daftie 