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Today would have been my Mum’s 100th birthday. Wow!

For those of you who used to enjoy tweeting with her @GIlls_Mum, this is a bit of a trip down memory lane.

A bit of a self-indulgence, getting a chance to chat about Mum, what made her tick, some snippets from our recorded conversations together ... and a String Quartet!

We dip in and out of health care - in the shoes of someone who really didn't want to go there (care plans, advance care planning and all that STUFF) and just want to be left alone to get on with life, worry about whether to have Prosecco or champagne for her party and play Scrabble. #ProseccoGate.

I'll be back on the case with some living podcast guests very soon. I recorded a great one yesterday! :)

 "Dying at 95 was not in Mum’s game plan. Her mum, my wonderfully independent, quirky grandma, lived to 104, living in her own home until she was 100. 

I think Mum thought 'that is the way we do things around here'. "

#cancer #breastcancer #independence #FiercelyIndependent #OfftheScaleOfIndependent !

Mum’s lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋

• Celebrate! You never know what life has around the corner!
• Life is not a competition – just make the most of what you have.
• Some people just don’t do ‘stuff’ – let people be who they want to be
• A good death - leads to a good bereavement
• When will we ever learn that war is not the answer …
• Record family memories while you have the chance - spoken voice and video make wonderful memories!
• An elephant in the room ... literally. Treasure the things that have true value.
• Twitter friends …can get you out of hospital! #FreeGillsMum!
• Don’t keep things ‘for best’ … and end up never using them!
• Value your education – not everyone gets the chance
• If you don’t want your children to know your secrets … write in shorthand!
• Integrated care – is LONG overdue! The one stop shop ... to nowhere!
• You are never to old to be / have a #ProudMum 
• No more castor oil ! (symbolic of anything that is not properly evidence-based!)
• True coproduction means engaging as human beings, nurturing people and valuing their views
• If you have a hobby, talent, something you want to do, don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ circumstances - #JFDI
• Family carers can’t do it all by themselves – circles of support make like manageable
• We need to get a balance between doing things (caring) and recording what we are doing (scribbling)
• #DumpTheDaftWords! But feel free to go forth on your Batmobile!
• Special people – thank you to the health care professionals who bring hope and humanity
• Little things are the big things!
• Personalised (human) care - and continuity - matters!
• Happy 100th birthday Mum - keep sending the rainbows!

Some links you might enjoy:
Whose Shoes comes to a home care provider in Oxford
#FreeGillsMum
#CovMindTheGap
Me N' My Mum :)

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I tweet as @WhoseShoes and @WildCardWS and am on Instagram as @WildCardWS.

Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.