John Rutherford and his con flab e dab e dozie family tree
John Rutherford's family tree
John Rutherford's family tree
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
teeth come loose, but when she scooped it out it was the remnants of a previous<br />
meal just hanging about in <strong>his</strong> mouth. He seemed in pain <strong>and</strong> in some distress <strong>and</strong><br />
we all agreed we just wanted him free of pain <strong>and</strong> comfortable for the remaining<br />
days of <strong>his</strong> life. Both Anne <strong>and</strong> Nancy approached the nurses with t<strong>his</strong> <strong>con</strong>cern but<br />
were fobbed off – he’s not a priority as he is not really ill, he should not really be<br />
there, <strong>and</strong> they are just keeping an eye on him? It seems he may have a place at<br />
Natal Settlers, if the paperwork goes OK, but only from Monday, <strong>and</strong> that’s five days<br />
away...<br />
In the evening Anne, Jade <strong>and</strong> I make a huge vegetable lasagne for Bruce <strong>and</strong><br />
Madelaine, Ruth <strong>and</strong> Harry, Jade <strong>and</strong> Robbie, Anne <strong>and</strong> Charles, Mel, <strong>and</strong> me. Its<br />
OK. Anne mentions her plans to move to Bethulie in the Orange Free State to Ruth<br />
who, surprisingly, is dismissive of the idea to the point of being rude – I thought she<br />
would have been supportive of an adventurous idea like t<strong>his</strong>, but there you go.<br />
48<br />
Ann phones like she has each night <strong>and</strong> I tell her about the day, we both end up<br />
sobbing <strong>and</strong> I really miss her. Anne gives me a shake, it’s early Thursday the 10th,<br />
‘dad died at about 2 last night’. I am relieved, happy <strong>and</strong> sad, he is gone. Talking<br />
about him brings tears to my eyes, <strong>and</strong> then you realise you can’t talk for fear of just<br />
breaking down <strong>and</strong> the <strong>con</strong>versation dies in a strangled half sentence <strong>and</strong> averted<br />
watery eyes.<br />
We set off to tell Nancy, <strong>and</strong> she is very upset repeating that ‘she knew ...’ We meet<br />
Trevor, Nancy’s son who is deaf, <strong>and</strong> I have a longish chat with him where I get the<br />
feeling that Nancy’s plans to have him live with her <strong>and</strong> eventually leave him the flat<br />
are not what Trevor wants – he wants to go over to Engl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> live with <strong>his</strong> sisters<br />
...? Anne <strong>and</strong> I find that Nancy agrees with us when we say that dad would not have<br />
wanted any fuss or religion at <strong>his</strong> funeral. Then, with some documents we set off<br />
to find Doves the Undertakers. A friendly man called Dirk talked us through it <strong>and</strong><br />
made arrangements for a service in their smallest chapel, 12 noon Friday. Dad’s<br />
ashes would be scattered in the Garden of Rememberance.<br />
JOHN RUTHERFORD AND HIS CON-FLAB-E-DAB-E-DOZIE FAMILY TREE
Change language