It is time to do some catching up... how long it is since I wrote anything on here...
Firstly, I think you will know already that Meriel died in mid July. She had been unwell for some time with visits into hospital and rehab units but she died very peacefully with Gill at her side on the 15th July.
At that time, Bridgie was visiting Keith in Washington, Tim was travelling in South Carolina with his mates after also having visitied Keith in Washington, and Phil was in Brazil!
They rearranged their flights home and we all met up in York. It was good to all be together, I'm sure we gained strength from each other. The funeral was on Friday 25th with a service at Holgate Methodist first - where she went each sunday while she was able - and then a short committal at the crematorium. We then had sandwiches and stuff back in the communal lounge at Fairfax Court where she lived.
Poppies were her favourite flower - Gill knew about these fields so we went and walked there a couple of times the week after the funeral.
Firstly, I think you will know already that Meriel died in mid July. She had been unwell for some time with visits into hospital and rehab units but she died very peacefully with Gill at her side on the 15th July.
At that time, Bridgie was visiting Keith in Washington, Tim was travelling in South Carolina with his mates after also having visitied Keith in Washington, and Phil was in Brazil!
They rearranged their flights home and we all met up in York. It was good to all be together, I'm sure we gained strength from each other. The funeral was on Friday 25th with a service at Holgate Methodist first - where she went each sunday while she was able - and then a short committal at the crematorium. We then had sandwiches and stuff back in the communal lounge at Fairfax Court where she lived.
Poppies were her favourite flower - Gill knew about these fields so we went and walked there a couple of times the week after the funeral.
The service was very moving, Chris (Gill's eldest) spoke of his and Liz's memories of Grandma; then Phil and Tim shared our three's memories. Keith then spoke with Bridgie reading some of Meriel's diary entries, and Bridgie read a prayer. Gill then lead the prayers which was very moving. Everyone did so well - I am so very proud of how they each spoke - they are amazing.
I stayed up in York and saw them each off back to their respective places... it got harder with each one.. then Gill and I spent the rest of the week sorting through the flat. On the Friday we went to collect Meriel's ashes... we stopped on the way home to walk in the poppy field and I picked some seeds to bring home and spread down here.
Meriel was an amazing woman who will be so missed - this is one of my favourite pictures of her... keeping up with everything on the ipad!
I stayed up in York and saw them each off back to their respective places... it got harder with each one.. then Gill and I spent the rest of the week sorting through the flat. On the Friday we went to collect Meriel's ashes... we stopped on the way home to walk in the poppy field and I picked some seeds to bring home and spread down here.
Meriel was an amazing woman who will be so missed - this is one of my favourite pictures of her... keeping up with everything on the ipad!
Going further back in time and looking at my diary, I had the work done on my house in April... the damp floor was dug up... carried up the ramp and dumped on my parking space... there was masses of it... all carried up by hand! The wall looked gorgeous with no plaster on... but the aim is a dry cosy room so once the floor was out the insulation and damp proof membrane was put in place and concrete was laid... then Martin set about my walls and eventually, when all was dry, I had new carpet put down and my little home was back in one piece again!
The floor work, and waiting for it to dry and carpet etc took most of April and May. By the first week of June I'd been back up to York twice more as Meriel had two more stays in hospital.. during the second trip Phil joined me and afterwards I drove him down to Cornwall... he was home form Korea for just 10 days.
Unbeknown to me... Tim and Bridgie were also driving down to Cornwall... so 20 minutes after getting home from York there was the sound of footsteps in my garden .. It was the best surprise ever... here are some pics from the wonderful time we had together...
Unbeknown to me... Tim and Bridgie were also driving down to Cornwall... so 20 minutes after getting home from York there was the sound of footsteps in my garden .. It was the best surprise ever... here are some pics from the wonderful time we had together...
After a lovely couple of days we drove back up to Bath to see Keith and have a family time there. All in all it was a special time. Phil then flew off to S America for the world cup... Tim and Bridgie and Keith all went back to work... and me back home to Cornwall.
I had a couple of golf-buddies from Pavenham come to stay - we even met up with a third (actually Cornish) Pavenham golf buddy and played a Boules match at Perran...Cornwall v Bedford ... then we went up to Okehampton for 4 days of golf and fun..
I had a couple of golf-buddies from Pavenham come to stay - we even met up with a third (actually Cornish) Pavenham golf buddy and played a Boules match at Perran...Cornwall v Bedford ... then we went up to Okehampton for 4 days of golf and fun..
From then till now I had a planned visit from brother Tim but had to shorten that as the day he arrived I was poorly with awful sickness so he had to go home again... all better now.
When I look back at the diary for this year it is no surprise to find that I am now very weary... each trip to York was a 1,000 mile round trip... but I am so glad I was able to do it.
Life will move to a different rhythm...not quite sure what that'll be but no doubt it will become clear ...maybe a trip to Oz would be a good idea...
When I look back at the diary for this year it is no surprise to find that I am now very weary... each trip to York was a 1,000 mile round trip... but I am so glad I was able to do it.
Life will move to a different rhythm...not quite sure what that'll be but no doubt it will become clear ...maybe a trip to Oz would be a good idea...