We're off!

We are going to Paris! We booked it yesterday with our friends Rob and Sue. Sue steered us through the process of choosing train times and hotels with great patience and tact. I suspect that I'd have booked something much sooner and it would have been nowhere near as good as that which we selected after Sue's careful working through most of the options.

There have been two long walks with their dog, Ebony, and I think there is a good chance that I shall drop off to sleep on the train home this evening. Still, tomorrow is Sunday and fortunately, I don't have to work that day unlike Rob.

A good send off.

We have finished in Cornwall and are back home.

The memorial service went very well and our children did their Grandmother proud - their singing was clearly a high point for many of the people who attended. The church was nearly full, I think I counted about 70 people present for the service itself, so the turnout was good. We found an excellent caterer who did us proud on the food and drink front, their service was superb. Many of those who attended were kind enough to say nice words about the whole event and the consensus seemed to be that we did Mum proud. I guess we can't hope for any more than that. My beloved wife made a short speech at the social gathering and amused those present with her story of her Mother-in-law which was a gesture I appreciated.

We bowled home with the car and trailer pretty well full of stuff and the next week or so will be spent sorting that lot out, and then tackling the Inheritance Tax forms. Ah well, that is for next week.

Saying Goodbye

This afternoon we cremated my mother's body. It was a short, sober service and there were very few people there. It was what I'd hoped it would be. On Monday we have a Memorial Service and I hope that will be very different. Between now and then, I have a load of things to do and Blogging is not near the top of the list. I'll blog some more after Monday.

A small piece of grovelling.

It has been pointed out to me by someone who should know that the period mentioned in the last post should be 37 years. I am happy to acknowledge my error.

Housework - Yukk!

My beloved wife is currently somewhat incapacitated. Consequently, I have been getting a harsh lesson in the subject of housework. I am rubbish at it. There is also too much. A cull of children is called for. By 3 p.m. every afternoon, I am knackered and usually end up having a short zizz.

The main cause however, is that everyone in this house in untidy and as "leader" of the household, I acknowledge that I am as bad as everyone else and worse than some. I now truly begin to appreciate what my lovely wife has been doing for the past 32 years. Looking after us (cleaning, tidying, washing, ironing and generally mending our egos) must have been a complete nightmare. We must all resolve to be nicer to her. Starting immediately.

I feel the need to protest

Recently I have been growing increasingly aware of a steady erosion of our liberties. I am anti identity cards and I am opposed with every fibre of my being to the proposed database to record every telephone conversation and e-mail. It is an outrage. How dare our wretched Government even think up such a scheme, let alone seriously propose it. It must be stopped. Over the next few weeks, I shall devote some energy to opposing this ridiculous idea. Let us make it clear to our ragbag rulers that we shall not stand for it.

'armless and non-original

Today we have been without access to the internet. BT have clearly had a bit of a hiccup and we've been offline for 27 hours. It has been a bit like I imagine it is like to lose a limb. You don't realise how much you use it till you don't have it.

I have written and posted 8 letters today. None of them has been a complete original - they've all been adapted from one I had written previously. The wonder of the word processor (the splendidly free Open Office) has eradicated the need for original thought. The bit that is mildly annoying is that all these letters look good on their own when they slide out of the printer. I suspect that the recipients will be mildly impressed. If only they knew what a fraud I feel.

On not being a bore...

My daughter and son-in-law introduced me to the world of blogs and in particular to the blog Boanerges. In his recent posts, Boanerges embarks on an analysis of Portsmouth Football Club's needs (and his desires) in the January transfer window. Now I don't support any football team, and I certainly could not undertake and document the kind of analysis Boanerges puts in his blog. I come to the conclusion that I'm not that interested in anything. The things that do interest me are pursuits that I tend to do on my own, e.g. cycling and kite flying. Many people could (and probably do) comment on the requirement of Pompey in the current transfer window, but few would want to join a discussion about Brompton folding Bicycles - and I think I would be very reluctant to start such a discussion. I'm sure I'd get a reputation as a crashing bore.

I'm left to ponder why it is that I am not drawn to support a football club or any such activity that appeals to a large number of people. I have this uneasy feeling that I want to be thought of as "different". Why? I have no idea. I really don't mind that my activities are of little or no interest to anyone else. This aspect of my character has been apparent for some time, but I've never given it much thought until now.

Wishing my life away?

Allegedly it is going to warm up tomorrow. There is a good deal of scope to do so. It has been very cold here. And I'm fed up with it.

Roll on Summer.

It's like being back at work.

The last three days have passed in a maelstrom of phone calls, letters and meetings. Everything is organised to give my Mother a decent send off.

I am knackered. Based on my performance over the last 3 days, going back to work would be a complete No No. All the places I worked took a fairly dim view of having a snooze in the afternoon. All I need to do now is keep going to catch up with the housework at home.

Rest in Peace

My mother died last evening. She passed away peacefully at around 5 p.m. We will miss her.

Rest in Peace, Mum.

Remarkable stuff this will.

About an hour after my last post, the phone at home rang. It was the matron of the nursing home in which my mother now lives telling me that "It won't be long now" and asking if I would like to come and see my Mum before she died. Around 60 minutes later (in which it seems that I forgot almost everything I was supposed to bring with me) I was in the car driving to Cornwall. That was on Thursday. It is now Saturday morning and Mum is still with us - only just, but she is hanging in there. She can't see me and gives no recognition that I am there. The staff and literature tell me that the hearing is the last sense one loses as one nears death, so maybe she can hear me, but who knows. She eats nothing, drinks nothing and as she is not in pain, seems remarkably peaceful.

Mum was always a strong willed lady and I am fascinated by the strength of will that keeps her going and to what, if any, purpose that drives her will. Her body is completely worn out, but her mind and spirit are not ready to quit yet. Remarkable.

Happy New Year

Need I say more? The boiler is working again, so we are warm. There is food in the fridge. We even have some money in the bank. Life could be so much worse.