Guest Speaker Lynne Lotter

Part 2

When a client you love passes away, you are flooded with many emotions. Sadness, grief, panic, and loss. This human being who has become a huge part of your life has gone. For almost 3 years I had looked after D. He became my friend, I was friends with his friends. 

 I lived in Chelsea. Kings Road was my hood! I knew people, they knew me, I said hello to the shopkeepers and bought food for the old man and his dog Pip, who sold The Big Issue.

This is where caring becomes so transient, scary, and lonely. And the fear of finding a new client, a new job becomes a reality.

I was lucky and spent the month of October clearing the flat, looking for work, and coming to terms with my loss.

November and South Africa went into 2nd lockdown, beaches closed again, and covid started spreading. I had a ticket “banked”. BA direct.

‘You can’t risk it Mum’ my youngest said, ‘what if you get covid in SA?’

Fear again gripped my heart and throat. I so desperately wanted to get back but had to make some heart-breaking decisions.

3^rd December 2020.

After a couple of private jobs I finished work and travelled to my sister in East Sussex, Etchingham. They were in a bubble and I was part of their bubble, we were excited as we had booked a cottage in Norfolk for Christmas week.

And then the call came, Byron, ‘Mum, Nanny has had a stroke, she is in hospital’. My worst nightmare. Mum was strong though, we managed to get her into a wonderful, step-down/rehabilitation facility in Benoni and communicated with her regularly.

We booked our tickets to fly 2^nd January, which were then cancelled. By then 2 more strokes and Mum was paralysed.

March 2021

Hi Byron, love to get your calls’, I chattered, at 5.30am UK time, ‘where are the boys?’

‘Mum, mum’, quietly serious, ‘Nanny passed away this morning, I’m so sorry’.

 Mum, I sobbed. My mum gone and I am all on my own! The carers plight, we are so often alone, for good news and bad.

I was lucky enough to have a wonderful client, and his family rallied round so I could spend the weekend with Sue.

April 2021 

I started making preparations to return to SA, booked the 6th May to fly back.

The fear has gone, I’ve had my 2nd vaccine and it is time to go back. To see my family and friends. To the bush and sea. To make peace with myself, and to make new memories. Soul food mum, unexpected joys. I’m excited now, my family and friends are excited, and I’m once more counting sleeps as I did before Covid…is it too soon to start packing?!

For those of you trying to go back to SA Here is my advice.

Get yourself a good travel agent and book your ticket, mine is Mark Benson. You can find him on face book. Join Community Circle Home SA on face book. They are fantastic and answer all questions and Mark Benson is on there. Don’t panic!

There are no direct flights at the moment. Turkish Air seem to be the most reliable. Be prepared to go for a few months. 

Book into the Hilton Gardens Heathrow, telephone number 442039729700, £179 including test. 24-hour turnaround. You need to have a valid reason to travel. Google it and you will get the govt form to fill in.

A flip file with all your papers is advisable.

Try to fill in and print all forms before flying.

Know that there is a possibility that the £1750 hotel quarantine will probably be around for a while. It’s 2 weeks work, or thereabouts so think of it that way.

Good luck and be brave