HARRY'S FUNERAL AND MEETING FRIENDS AND RELATIONS

Against the backdrop of a sad day there were some wonderful moments.

It was Harry's funeral and the service was beautiful and incorporated into it was a reading by his youngest grandson, a poem read by his eldest granddaughter, a solo saxophone performance of Elgar's Chanson de Matin by another granddaughter, and a duet by his youngest granddaughter, played with her mother.  Quite a talented family, and Peter was very good and quiet throughout, and listened attentively to the music, or so it seemed.

My thoughts and feelings went out to my sister, Maggie May, and her two children and grandchildren.

The day was a gathering of friends and relations, and the icing on the cake was the meeting of my two grandchildren, Peter and Rosa, with their parents.

Dear little Rosa seemed quite pleased to meet her big cousin Peter . . . . 

. . . . . and Peter seemed very attentive towards his new little cousin.

It was so nice to see them together . . . . 

After the memorable service drinks, cakes and nibbles were served in the church hall and after we had circulated for a while it was time for us to to say our goodbyes and head back south through Bristol to my home where I treated us all to fish and chips.

I am so pleased Selina, Matt and Rosa could come to join Jon, Lisa and Peter  . . . and myself.

After our meal we all took it in turns to have a cuddle with Rosa and, hallelujah, she actually smiled at me . . . or was it the wind?  . . lol.

ROSA FLORENCE 4 WEEKS OLD

Well doesn't time fly when you are a baby?  4 weeks old already.

Rosa has had initial feeding problems but that is ok now ~ in fact now she has a voracious appetite but suffers from colic sometimes. That problem seems to be managed well with drops.

The main difficulty now is that she doesn't want to settle and wants to be cuddled all the time and poor mummy and daddy are very tired.  With her dad returning to work today after paternity leave I called in to see Selina and Rosa this afternoon.  Her Nanna Sue had already arrived and had taken Rosa for a walk in her pram.  Baby and Nanna arrived home a while later and Rose was fast asleep and by then so was Selina ~ so while Nanna did some ironing I kept rocking the pram gently and she slept like a top for a couple more hours, as by then we took it in turns to rock the pram.  

She looks quite content here doesn't she?

Let's take a closer look to make sure she's ok . . . 

That's my girl. . . . bless her little cotton socks . . . :)

On Wednesday afternoon I am taking her out for a walk in her pram to give her mum a rest.  Anyone care to join me?

THE DEATH OF A DEAR FRIEND

It is with deep regret I announce the passing of Harry, my brother-in-law, early this morning.  

For those who do not know it, my sister is Maggie May at Nuts In May and I saw her and some of the family today and this evening. 

Harry had been battling prostate cancer for over 15 years and over the last 18 months his health gradually declined and eventually he was taken by pneumonia. 

He was a charming and very kind man, a good husband to my sister, a good father and grandfather, and a good friend to me.  He was a very friendly man and never had an unkind word to say about anyone.

He was a brick layer and at his peak he laid 3000 bricks a day building houses.

He will be greatly missed ~ he was a devout Christian and he, like us, believe this is not the end for him but just the beginning of a life which will be everlasting and happy beyond measure and understanding.  Maggie and Harry will be reunited at the appointed hour, never to be parted again. 

No more pain, no more sorrow

I would like to think that my dear departed wife, Maria, came to meet him and take him by the hand to lead him into paradise. She was such a caring person, that is precisely the sort of thing she would do.

God bless Harry   R.I.P. 

I WONDER WHAT SHE'LL BE LIKE IN TWO YEARS

I visited my grand daughter, Rosa Florence, this afternoon.
She is doing very well and is settling into a routine of feeding, sleeping and a fair amount of consciousness with her little eyes looking round at noises.  She has more than regained her birth weight.

She is 15 days old today:

. . .  . and here is baby Peter aged about 2 weeks.  By that time he already had his first photo shoot . . . 

. . . and another one with his eyes open . . . .  

Hello Buster

. . . . and Rosa with her eyes open . . 

. . . and here is Peter now at 23 months . . . .

I wonder what Rosa will look like at 23 months?


Peter, you'd better get the hang of that camera and by then we'll find out . . . 

Time will tell.