Saturday 30 December 2017

Saturday

Almost the end of the old year, a year which has not been kind to me in any shape or form.   I shall not be sorry to say good-bye to it.   And for the first time for many years I shall not stay up to see the old year out and the new year in.   There was a time when I gave a New Year party for forty plus, but those days have gone.   Now = if I am here alone - I would find it impossible to stay awake.   So it will be treated as any other night.

We had several inches of snow yesterday and I dare not take Tess out as it was slippery.   Luckily friends called and took her for me, so she had a good walk on what should have been a PetPals day (the lady was unable to come). 

Today friend W and I decided to go out for lunch, just to get us out of the house really.  On W's advice I took Tess with us (the first time she has been with us into a pub) and she was as good a gold, watching everything that was going on but not making a fuss.  W had barbecued spare ribs (her favourite) and I had beef casserole with dumplings (herby) and mash.  Both were delicious.   Did we need it?   No, but it did us good to get out of the house and eat something we hadn't prepared ourselves.

After almost going yesterday evening the snow had returned this morning and there was quite a covering again.   But it was not freezing and now, at a quarter to four in the afternoon, it has almost gone again.   There is quite a sharp wind blowing but Tess and I have been for a walk - it did us both good in the fresh air.

I shall now go an sit down and digest all your conflicting advice on the i pad.   I am still not convinced and shall spend an hour or two 'playing' with friend W's and see how I get on.

Last evening my dear sister-in-law passed on.   She was ninety five and has been on end of life care for the past fortnight after many years in care, most of them happy and fruitful.  I am sad at her passing; we were always very close.   But her time had come.   So goodbye Deen, you have left me with so many happy memories.   You have been a large part of my life since you married my brother Jack in 1941.

27 comments:

Gwil W said...

I like my mouse. I find the ipad can be temperamental. I know its my own fault. I mostly use ipad with headphones to listen to radio stations I can't get on the radio, some in Italy for instance. For writing to you I use my computer keyboard and finally the mouse to find and click on Publish Your Comment. I think we've about 3 coming for New Year's Eve. We'll play some games and have a drink and listen to the Blue Danube Waltz at midnight. It's enough.

Gwil W said...

3 people that is not 3 mice as far as I know! ;-)

Rachel Phillips said...

Another end of an era with the passing your sister-in-law.

I note W has an Ipad. I think that paints a whole new scenario on the subject!

Derek Faulkner said...

I'm only 70 but people that I worked with for 34 years in the local docks seem to die now at very regular intervals. Fortunately I'm not the most emotional or sentimental type of person and so such events don't have a huge effect on me.
Been very mild, quite sunny and a bit breezy here in North Kent today. 14 degrees at lunch time!

angryparsnip said...

Hope the new year is better for us all. We can only hope.

cheers, parsnip and mandibles


John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

If your neighbourhood is like mine you may get a rude awakening as the New Year comes in accompanied by the sound of fireworks. That never used to happen, did it?
May the New Year bring you better times - with or without the i-pad!

Librarian said...

Your lunch sounds delicious, but what happened to your preferred salmon dishes?
It is so nice of your friends to come and take Tess out when the weather makes it reasonable for you to stay in.
O.K. will arrive tomorrow early afternoon, and we'll spend the evening at my sister's, just a small party of six, eating raclette and playing a few games and then hopefully being able to watch the fireworks across town from her balcony. The last two years, New Year's night was so foggy that we could only hear the fireworks, not see them!

I think you'll enjoy 2018 to an extent. You will see the coming and going of the seasons in your new home, different from what it was like on the farm, but you have kind neighbours and good friends nearby.

Heather said...

So sorry to hear of your sister-in-law's passing. She had a good long life.
I shall not stay up to see the New Year in either. It always manages quite well without my attendance. My husband and I both worked in banks back in the days of 'steam' banking and had to work past midnight on some occasions in order to balance all the accounts in time for the New Year. Those were the days - statements written by hand!
Good luck with the ipad research and may 2018 be a kinder year.

Living Alone in Your 60's said...

It sounds like she had a good life filled with memories. All the best for 2018.

Mac n' Janet said...

Here's hoping 2018 treats you more kindly and that you start building good memories in your new home. We're doing nothing for New Years and that sounds great to me.
Sounds like your Sister-in-Law has a good long life, what more can we ask for.

Bovey Belle said...

We don't see the New Year in any more either - we struggle to stay awake past 10 pm these days! But then, we have lots of early starts so our body clocks are more aligned to those. I hope that 2018 is a happy and positive year for you.

Sorry to hear that your s-in-law has passed. You were friends and relatives for a long long time, and at least she made a goodly age and passed quietly.

Keep warm.

Debbie said...

It's a takeaway for supper with the family for us this New Year's Eve then a nice walk home and in bed before midnight....I'm sorry to hear about your sister in law but I hope that 2018 is kinder to you....and Good Luck with the Ipad search...x

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

I wish it is a better one for you, sounds like 2017 had a sad sting at the end. Sooner or later I'll stop going out at New Year, but not this year though

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear of your sister in law - somewhere in the nineties is a good age to reach.
Wishing you a happy and healthy new year.

Joanne Noragon said...

2018 will be a different year, and that is all I am wishing for all of us. I do hope you take Tess with you more often. I once had a small dog I took everywhere with me, in his own carry bag. He sat up, paws over the edge and watched the world when told he was welcome. When told he was not, he retreated to the bottom of the bag and napped.

Cro Magnon said...

How very fortunate you are having a nearby pub where you can eat BBQ'd Spare Ribs for lunch. I doubt very much if I shall wait up until midnight; this year it seems like just another day.

Alphie Soup said...

All the best for 2018, Weaver Pat.
As for i-pads, they are handy for emails and searching for info online but for my money I prefer using a regular keyboard and a mouse for blogging.
Looking forward to hearing about your new life in town through 2018.

Alphie

thelma said...

I don't know the answer to i-pads, my grand daughters have them, watch movies on them and that is about all, so I feel no desire to own one, just another thing to put down and lose. Sad news about your sister-in-law but she had a good innings.
So wishing you well for the New Year, think of spring and summer when the weather is warm and you can walk Tess safely. X

Maria said...

I have a tablet and love it; I have E-mail, WhatsApp and Skype. I read my favourite blogs and can comment on them. I watch YouTube and also films, can read E-books from it. There's internet of course. I can go onto Google maps etc. It does its purpose for me. The best thing about it is that I can carry it around with me and can look at it from bed when I can't get up. But I'm not a blogger so writing a blog post on a tablet could be different. For more serious things like banking and office stuff I use a desk computer or laptop.
I am sorry to hear of the passing of your sister in law.

I wish you a Happy New Year, may 2018 be a better year for you. Best wishes.
Greetings Maria xxx

Elizabeth said...

So glad Tess enjoyed the pub lunch!
My son gave me a new iPad for Christmas and I'm getting used to it.
Still find posting things on the laptop easier.
We never stay up for the New Year - find it oddly depressing.
Wishing you a better 2018 and sending much love.

liparifam said...

So sorry for your loss - that is a sad end to the year. May 2018 be a much better one for you. Wishing you and Tess all the best :)

Minigranny said...

Hoping that 2018 will be a better year for you x

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you for all your comments and all your helpful sympathy through what has been a difficult year for me. May 2018 be a better year for us all.

Marjorie said...

I am so sorry hear of your dear sister in law. Hugs.

Sue said...

Just calling by to wish you all the best for 2018. I hope it's a much better year for you. So sorry to hear that your year has ended with another loss. Xx

Bonnie said...

May 2018 be a much better year for you with many happy days in your new home for you and Tess.

Robin Mac said...

I do hope that 2018 is a much better year for you and wish you all the best.
I am sorry to hear of your sister-in-law's passing, but she must have had a memorable life.
Your pub lunches sound delicious.
Cheers