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Showing posts from March, 2013

Rapt

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A 4-year-old Katy fluently demonstrates her Nexus tablet to a fascinated older generation.

Owen, Pat and Ian

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Off to visit Doug.

Of late

Family life has been strange, and strained, of late: a real mixture of death and new life. The year started with the sudden death of Uncle Philip Kirkwood, closely followed by admission to hospital of Doug Little. Owen's elderly allotment neighbour died - meaning Owen could take over the adjoining plot and fulfill all his grand planting plans. Meanwhile Pat Little's vascular dementia has been putting increased strain on her family around her. Doug's health deteriorated and he was put on the 'Liverpool care pathway for the dying patient'. Frantic drive to Leicester for Owen. We all found it hard, including Katy, who suddenly became very tearful when she realised she was unlikely to see her grandpa again - and she did a horrible black scribbled picture, quite unlike her usual art work. Doug didn't want Katy traumatised by seeing him, but a retired child psychologist friend helped us persuade him otherwise, and we all went to visit him the other week - now dischar

Variety is the spice

Life is really not boring at the moment: completely different activities each evening. Making a crown so Katy can dress up as The Queen for World Book Day (character in The Queen's Knickers ) Learning the second alto part of Poulenc's Gloria for Saturday's concert Cataloguing some books AT HOME to create an online database of useful books for our Quaker children's meeting Assisting Owen in his factory-scale potting activities for the allotment by chopping up little marker sticks. Katy is really looking forward to a sleepover at Ben's house on Saturday, when Owen and I will each be performing in different concerts - but amazingly the venues are close enough that we'll be able to meet up for tea-time sandwiches.