Christmas 2016 from Mum and Dad

Marjorie and Frank Willatt

We wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year. We trust that you have had a good 2016!

Our year has been up and down as in the second half, Frank has been in hospital on three occasions. In fact, as I write this, I await his return from his third stay. He has had recurring urinary problems since August, but before that, three falls in one day took him into the Derby Royal for 5 days in July. Added to this, he has unfortunately been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

However, here we are at Christmas time once again and are looking forward to an exciting time as usual! We expect to see many members of the family during the next few weeks – it is easy to see all the Derby ones but Ella, Leo and Lucas hope to pop up from Devon – and we are also going to see some of our Australians. Dan has just made a surprise visit as part of a work trip and Tom and Aiden will be visiting at Christmas.

The first half of the year was fine – we went down to Devon (Liz and Pete’s home) in February,and had a great time, even going wassailing in the orchard! 

We celebrated Frank’s 89^th Birthday with a lovely garden party at Sue and Kevin’s house (just round the corner from us) although the weather wasn’t particularly kind! 

We have spent some very good days with Andrew and Kathryn at their sailing Clubs at Carsington and Rutland.

Throughout we have had many Birthday celebrations and Golden Oldie get-togethers

 - and even managed the Regattas on Anglesey in August. 

We can no longer stay at the Cottage as the long garden path, steep steps and angles to negotiate even before we reach the door (which for 30 years we had never even noticed) make it impossible. Once inside, even though Andrew has fitted beautiful wooden handrails everywhere, we can no longer contemplate it.

 We, Sue, Frank and I, had been managing it regularly until Frank’s falls.

Sue and Kevin have coped with our garden and allotments and so we have had great crops and I have made my usual preserves, jams and jellies, pickles and chutneys. Andrew has just replaced our old trellis and fencing with beautiful new ones including a garden gate. Lizbeth has finally been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (like me) after 14 months of pain and inability to do all the things she usually does. She has now had a couple of weeks on the mend, thank goodness.

Everyone helps in every way possible and we are very fortunate

 – and that’s the way it is –

so on that note we wish you and yours a happy, healthy and peaceful 2017!