Sticky Icky Situation

I know it's demoralizing to start a blog with that word but................

SIGH.

Just came back from a terribly long day. First, I was at a trade fair the whole of today, till about 630. Then had dinner with Lawrence and went hospital to visit grams. She fell down last week at Auntie Julie's place. REAL nasty fall it was.. Fractured her right femur bone into 3. Doc gave us the option of operation or the slow-mo recuperation without operation.

We decided to go ahead with the op coz it makes no sense to disapprove - without the op, she'll be bedridden for all of 3 months and relying too much on her left leg. At least with the metal plates in her leg, she can recover faster with physio n regular re-visits.

Then came the first pressing issue: medical bills. With or without the op, she still has to undergo physio and take medicine etc. Plus we need to hire a private nurse to take care of her and to bring her for physio sessions. Someone young enough, strong enough, and free enough to look after her during the recovery period. How about selling her house (she stays alone in a 4-room apartment), then use the money for medical expenses? Good suggestion, but... where'd she stay?

Uncle Richard suggested clearing up the house and renting out two rooms. The collected rental can go to her nurse and medication. Everyone's happy with the suggestion, until we realise there's another BIG problem.

Clearing her house.

You ain't seen nuthin' if you ain't seen my ah ma's house. It's a typical 4-room HDB flat, but crammed FULL of things, or junk. Well, not all.... but most are unwanted/useless stuff. Sentimental tokens like childhood photos aside, the rest are stuff like plastic containers, plastic bags, old newspapers, discarded furniture..... Basically her house looks like it belonged to the Grand Dame of Garang Guni. Even the Banglahs we hired to clear out the rubbish commented that "this auntie very dirty".

On our way home just now, mum got a call from Uncle Hwa Beng. Her face turned pale immediately -

They had lost the newspaper ad of Grandpa and Grandma's wedding, as well as a framed photo of Grandpa.

My worst fear had come true. Last night when dad was sharing with us how they cleared the rubbish and junk, mum and I were quite worked up already. Coz Uncle Beng is as rash as a bull, and a stubborn one too. He lets his temper get to him, and we all know he's not on the best of terms with grams. According to dad, he even threw away stuff like Auntie Josephine's trophies. Which to me, is being a bit too much cos i'd wanna keep my kids' trophies. Know what I mean?

And now, this. Mum couldn't take it, and tears of frustration starting streaming down her face. She's already very pekchek at the way her mule-headed brother does things, wanted to go clear up the house but had some dizzy spells. We're all worried how ah ma'd take it when she's discharged. Especially when that newspaper article that means so much to her...... Grandad came from a filthy rich family (until the evil first wife ursurped all the inheritance), and hence the newspaper article on his son's marriage, albeit son of third wife.

I dunno la, so tired. I'm physically drained out, mentally drained out and financially drained out.. Have to re-work my i's and o's cos have to give more to the family now.