We returned to the UK and started putting the wheels in motion. We had three valuations on our house, always get three because one will have no idea of value and go way to low, one will go way to high just to get the business and the third will be about right !
I know this because I was an estate agent in London for a number of years, so know what I am talking about ! I also did my own research so I knew what the house was worth before they arrived and would recommend that others do the same, look to see how much other properties are on the market for, how long they have been on the market and most importantly how much similar properties have sold for. I chose the Agent I liked the most and felt would do the best job and told him how much to market it for, backed up with my research ! Unless you haven't done your research they will never disagree with your asking price !
The house went on the market.
But then life changed big style my Mum was diagnosied with a terminal brain tumour. This put everything on hold, the house was withdrawn from the market, my Spanish lessons stopped. My life revolved around caring for my Mum, supporting my Dad and looking after my family.
She had an biopsy to find out which sort of tumour it was and it was downhill from there. The school holidays were spent with the girls and I looking after Mum, she became like an old lady over night, hardly able to talk and walking was very differ cult. However I made sure we had as much fun as possible on the better days we would meet her friends and even managed a trip to her favourite seaside. As the holidays went on we went out less and less. The girls were brilliant only five and six years old I had explained that ' Nanny was very poorly, she had something growing in her head and that she may not get better' they understood and made the most of every second with her !
When school started again in September so did the hospital trips for Radiotherapy and chemotherapy, she was having a six week course of them both together. Thats when things got really hard, she was now in pain, headaches, vomiting, her speech was now limited to a word at a time, she was unable to even get to the toilet. I smiled and just got on with it,until I was driving home, everyday I cried the whole way home. It was heart breaking seeing My Mum, the life and soul of the party become a shell and in so much pain.
Mum lasted only a week of her treatment. We were going as a family to see Mum and Dad on that fateful Sunday ! I had sat the girls down on the Saturday and explained that Nanny was getting worse and would die. I also told Barry if I told him to leave, to take the girls and go, don't ask any questions, just leave. He was brilliant through out Mums illness I could not have wished for a more supportive husband.
As we drove into the driveway of my Parents house, my dad was outside on the phone to the ambulance, he told Barry to go. I jumped out of the car and ran upstairs. mum had started fitting in the bath and was now lying on the bed, fighting for her breath, but I knew it was the end. She was there, still alive but not. She draw her last breath in the arms of my dad and me, I watched as her spirt rose to the ceiling. It felt strangely calm and peaceful. That soon changed when the paramedics arrived ! I ran downstairs to show them where she was and tell them she had gone. They spent the next 20 minutes trying to bring her back, it seemed like hours ! Then still trying to resuscitate her they put her in the ambulance. I went with her and Dad followed it the car. They must have thought I was insane as all I kept saying was why are they doing that she's dead, repeating for most of the 15 mile journey !
She died that day in the middle of September aged just 58 and life would never be the same again !
To find out how I managed to compose myself to read a poem at her funeral in front of over 250 people read my other blog 'weird and wonderful life'.
By November it was time to start planning our future, Dad was coping well. I had cleared Mums things and sorted out the loft at my Parents house. So we put the house back on the market, however in those long months the housing Market had started to crash, so we now were putting it on at a lower price.
With my Dad we all got on a plane to start house hunting. Nothing had started at the Mill so Barry hadn't lost out on any work.
My beautiful mum, with one of her oldest friends on our wedding day.