Southern View: July 02, 2020

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4 Thursday July 2 2020 Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz SOUTHERN VIEW July Holidays Decorate your own drawstring bag (6 July - 10 July) Let your creativity run wild, by decorating a Dinosaur or Puzzle bag. These bags are perfect for a day at the beach or a trip to the library. Use as a sport or swim bag or even sleep over bag! Uses are unlimited. Max 16 Kids per session Join the fun! Three 30-minute sessions daily: 11.00 am - 11.30 am, 12.00 noon - 12.30 pm and 1.00 pm - 1.30 pm Located in empty tenancy next to Life Pharmacy. FREE WIFI www.barringtonshopping.co.nz
SOUTHERN VIEW Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Thursday July 2 2020 5 News Club a chance for dementia carers to connect JOURNEY: Jeff and Kathy Bradley have been married for 26 years, after they were introduced to each other by a friend. • By Bea Gooding JEFF BRADLEY met the love of his life at a food and wine festival 26 years ago. Instantly, he knew he wanted to marry her. He and Kathy tied the knot six weeks later, ushering in years of “blissful” marriage. But now the couple are caught in the “long goodbye”. Mrs Bradley was diagnosed with dementia about nine years ago. It was a twist in their decades-long love story, but Mr Bradley’s love did not falter. “They called it a ‘long goodbye.’ There was a lot of crying, but the love is pretty strong between us,” he said. “We’re madly in love with each other.” Mr Bradley, of Avondale, remembered the life the pair led before the dementia diagnosis. The accomplished clarinet player would often play around the world, including in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. “She [Mrs Bradley] never missed a gig in 26 years, and I played at hundreds of gigs,” he said. “Wherever she was, I played a special number for her, which was an original and became her tune.” It started to get tough for the pair when everyday tasks such as putting on clothes, going to the bathroom and cooking became a challenge for Mrs Bradley. Mr Bradley admitted it had not been an easy journey. His own health suffered as the couple faced their greatest challenge. ‘I’ve just gone through 12 weeks of sheer hell living by myself’ – Jeff Bradley “It was getting me down at some points, it was very hard on me and I ended up having a nervous breakdown.” Mrs Bradley now lives in a home. Before the Covid-19 lockdown, he would visit her twice a day. Lockdown left him “completely alone” and unable to see her. “I’ve just gone through 12 weeks of sheer hell living by myself,” he said. “I had no other support as all of my family have passed, aside from my niece who visited occasionally.” Mr Bradley knew he would not be alone in either his experience of lockdown or in the challenge of caring for a seriously ill partner. So, he has started a club for the partners of those with dementia, Parkinsons and other serious illnesses. It was a struggle to find a group in Christchurch where he could connect emotionally with others who related to his position, he said. There was a chance his club was a first for the city, he said. Everyone had their own story of coping and loss. “One lady I spoke to was devastated and said she just sits at home and cries. “A lot of people are in the same situation.” Mr Bradley said the club will be “a place to grab a tea or coffee and meet others, see what they’ve gone through and how they’re facing it”. He said he hoped grow the club beyond Christchurch, to places such as Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin, and so create a support network across New Zealand. •Nib’s Lost Partners Club will host its first meeting on July 7 at the Sydenham Lounge, Cashmere Club, from 10.30am, phone Jeff on 388 5903 for more information. Discover Christchurch’s best pet accommodation • Daycare - all breeds • Long stay/short stay Call now to book in your fur baby, inspections welcome anytime! ALAMEDA KENNELS & CATTERY 271 Dyers Road | Ph 384 1297 www.alameda.nz UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT WOOLSTON Bumper to Bumper repairs þ ALL MECHANICAL REPAIRS Servicing. lubes, cambelts, tyres, exhausts, suspension, batteries, water pumps, etc. þ VTNZ WOF ON SITE þ VTNZ CERTIFIED REPAIRER þ COURTESY CAR AVAILABLE BE IN TO WIN YOUR SERVICE Book in your vehicle for a service and go into our monthly draw to *WIN back the cost of your service. *Conditions apply WOOLSTON AUTO SURGERY 693 FERRY RD | PH 03 384 9092
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Southern View: July 02, 2020

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