On 5 February 2012, I got a text from Brett where he said towards the end, "Hope all is well in Lilianland." Instantly I recalled to my mind Michael Jackson's Neverland. Considering the wealth of a superstar like him, I thought I could not really make my property sound so spectacular. Nevertheless, I thought it was not a bad idea to have a name for my property for ease in referring to it in my journalling. I thought at the first instance Littleland was an appropriate name rather than Lilianland. Why?Firstly because I am fondly called Little by my sister Cynthia and secondly... although my property is a little bigger than an average block of new properties, my property is far from an acreage. I replied to Brett's text, I said maybe Lilyland, rather than Littleland, is better. Lilyland is smoother and easier in the tongue and sweeter in the ear.
I have considerably written about my house in my journal from the time I bought it in 1999. After a decade, however, I would consider this property, not just a house and garden per se. Prior to acquiring it, I had practically been moving house every six months since I came to Australia. Hence, as I rode the the train to uni every single day, I never stopped praying for a white timber house because being single it was logically quite impossible for me to own a brick house.
The tenth of August 1999, God gave my heart's desire. I officially owned a house in a suburb in Sydney. Amazingly, I paid it in cash. WoW! Never in the world would I imagine to be able to buy a house and pay it in full on day 1---after working full time in less than two years. What could I say? Thank you, thank you, God!
The property was a three bedroom house with landscaped gardens. I was not thinking of developing or extending the house for at least 8 years that I have lived in it. I had no need for an extension. I'd say however that my parents and I had done considerable gardening from day one.
Since I left my science research job to look after my mother and eventually took on-call interpreting assignments, I must have subconsciously processing some data in my brain about aging and retiring during the course of interpreting for elderly patients in the hospital.
Consequently, after my mother had a heart failure in 2009, not to mention the myriads of medical conditions she has, I geared all building projects in my property towards providing my mother a home--technically a nursing home where I am the Director of Nursing,Deputy Director of Nursing, RN, EN, AIN, Cook, Cleaner, Gardener etc.
The sort of house I got is just perfectly suitable for it--a single detached with four steps both in the front and back of the house which, for sure, would serve the purpose both for exercise and rehabilitation.
As my mother has a decreasing mobility year after year not only due to ageing but also to foot problem related to diabetes, I thought it most important to expand the area where she could walk to keep her mobility for as long as it could be done. Hence, I extended the back of the house. In addition, I had a paved courtyard built to provide for her a safe and comfy place to sit and catch a dose of Vitamin D which needless to say, would be of great help in preventing a fall. I also had an elevated stretch of driveway which has a single step to further help her heart during her morning walk in the backyard.
In addition to having a second bathroom in the extension, I also recently got rid of the bath tub in the bathroom. I also installed hand rails on both bathrooms for safety reasons. Both bathrooms have an easy wheel chair access. I'm soon going to demolish the old kitchen and install a new one. The main idea is to have free access to every room in the house, so my mother can also walk around the house should she opted not to go to the extension.
After the kitchen is finished, I would be able to bring inside my 9 piece dining suite currently placed in the extension. Doing this would promote pleasant social interactions and fellowship amongst us when my siblings come and visit. This willin the end, not only give joy to our mother's heart, but also a lift her spirit seeing all of us together like in the olden days.
When I sit down to have a break from the many roles I play in my mother's nursing home, I could not help but marvel on the improvements I had done and give glory to Him who is the Master Architect behind all these.
Lilyland... such a sweet name as I mused...Indeed it is not just a house and a garden, but a home. Yes,it is a home for my mother. It is also a haven of rest for me, a place where I could spend the bliss of solitude. Eventually, I know it is also going to be a home for me and all the people I love in the end.
Most of all, Lilyland, is God's gift to me. Thank You, Father.
