My Olive was a planner. She was the one who kept the diary – if you needed to know a date – she was the one to ask. She organised a whole trip to India – every little detail, from the train journeys to the safari where we saw elephants and Bengal tigers.
We were married for over 50 years when Olive became ill with liver cancer. That’s when Eden Valley Hospice came into our lives. The services they offered were a sanctuary for Olive, who was always so busy. It gave her a place to do the arts and crafts she loved, a place to chat to other people. With all she was going through, it lifted her. For me, as her main carer, it gave me a bit of rest.
The Hospice felt like home for both of us; I am smiling thinking of the memory. It wasn’t a sad or scary place for us. It was somewhere we could both relax and feel amongst friends.
We had a gorgeous garden; Olive was always in it and people would walk past and say how beautiful it was. Some friends even asked if we’d grow some plants to sell them. That’s when our church sales started – it was a way to share all we’d grown with others who love them as much as we do. It’s something I still do today – and it’s a way to give back to the hospice, who gave Olive time to do the things she loved.
I think the Garden of Memories will bring so many people, like me, peace when they experience it. This a special event for everyone in our community – I would recommend taking part and spending time to think of people like
Olive and the joy they brought to our lives.
