I was hoping that there might be less doom and gloom
to report this year – and, yes, we have had some good news as well as bad… When to start?
I think with the arrival of Abigail on the 14th
of December 2018. A gorgeous baby girl
for Caroline and Tomi! Not without difficulties as Caroline had blood pressure
problems and was in and out of hospital, but all was well by the time of the
family Christmas dinner, held this year at Sue and Kevin's home.
We had a lovely Christmas time! Lizbeth and
Pete stayed in Devon as John, Julia, Chloe and Emma were staying (visiting from
Australia) – they popped up to see us just after Christmas. After this all the
Briens’ family went off to Kitzbuhel skiing! Lucas and the girls were naturals!
Immediately after Christmas, after spending New Year
on Anglesey with friends, Sophie went off to Australia too, to start her new
job at a private boys’ school in the Melbourne area. She was helped by her three brothers who all
live there. Sophie is loving it all and
doing well, and recently we have seen pictures of her rowing on the Yarra! Of course, we miss her but are looking
forward to her visiting this Christmas! In this picture Sophie is at the
Chandon Winery enjoying some bubbles! We have happy memories of there when we
visited Australia in 1999!
But we too have had plenty of occasions for bubbles
during the year – Frank was 92 in April and I was 88 in May.
So … we trundled on
with the aid of our family and carers … Sister
Kath and I managed to get to Emanuelle’s wedding on June 1st in
wheelchairs! I must say that we are both walking now!
We did the annual village plant pot trail
and were pleased to be mentioned ‘in dispatches’! I am still baking and making
plot toffee and so on – but didn’t do the jams and chutneys this year.
We haven’t had quite so many Golden Oldie occasions this
year but we all got together in June when Frank and I had our 70th wedding
anniversary. We had a card from the Queen…and we celebrated with a garden party
at Sue and Kevin's. They have a beautiful
garden.
Find the facebook video here
Later in June we celebrated Caroline and Tomi’s wedding. This wasn’t
without its worries, not the least being that Tomi was seriously ill in
hospital just days before.
Lizbeth made the cake!
The early summer was great and we spent late
afternoons in the garden. We couldn't of course go away although we still have
the cottage. Andrew and family used it
for the Menai Straits Regattas. The weather
was wet and windy and so they only managed 5 races but did well and were pleased
with everything.
During the summer my knee which has been painful
since I broke my leg last year became worse and more painful. I thought it was
to do with my rheumatoid arthritis, but I managed with the help of painkillers.
This had started to be a problem just before Sue and Kevin went to Australia
for 2 months. Their trip included Dan and Lizzie’s wedding which was held in
Fiji.
When they came back I was really struggling to walk
and could not get down the kitchen steps into the carport. Within days of their
return Kevin took me to A&E and after X Rays and other tests, it was eventually
discovered that I had a severely broken hip. Personally I was beyond caring… I was admitted to the Derby Royal and had an
operation 24 hours later. After 10 days
in hospital I was transferred to a rehabilitation place for another 10
days. Sue moved into Holly Ave to be
with Frank then Lizbeth took a turn. Andrew, Kevin and Kathryn helped,
especially with visiting as eventually Frank went into a home providing Respite
for a few days. This meant that he
wasn't there when I came home which was rather sad, but I had time to settle in
(in fact on the first night Sue and Kevin took me to our village pub and I had
a huge gin and tonic - but couldn't eat all of my dinner!).
Now I am walking very well – better than for
months - and I am much more back to normal!
On the 23rd November Tomi’s mum arrived
in the UK for a couple of months (she couldn't get her visa in time for
Caroline and Tomi's wedding - you wouldn't believe the palava she went through
for a visa to come out and go back to Nigeria) so she is in time for Abigail's
first birthday and christening and Caroline and Tomi's church blessing.
We
both love it when Abigail comes to visit! And Michael loves to play with his
niece!
And so we are coming to our November lunchtime
party for my brothers and sisters. This will be the first time that Brian
cannot be with us – we were all saddened when he passed away in October after
fighting illness for so long.
Lizbeth, Pete, Ella, Leo and Lucas are off
to Australia for Christmas – but the rest of us will have Christmas dinner
together…
I hope everyone has
had a good 2019 – would love to hear your news…
With lots of love and wishing you the
very best for Christmas and the New Year – 2020
Marg and Frank
xx
