Sunday 12 December 2010

12 December 2010

It's been three months since my last entry. The highlight of the period was Willa's six week visit, during which we kept very busy here in Needham, where we celebrated my 79th birthday in October. We had a few days in Manchester, where we moved all round the city via buses and the Metrolink trolleys. Everybody laughed when I spoke of going to Rochdale, which has a particularly fine town hall with a higher tower than Manchester's and the original Co-op shop -- but we liked it, as well as the Imperial War Museum North.

Since Willa left I've been besieged with a plague of problems around the house (leaking roof, misbehaving computer and TV, electrical faults, broken window frames, etc). Also a number of physical ones, fortunately not to do with cancer, but very niggling nevertheless. I bashed my left shin and it's just healed up after being dressed with honey (yes!) for a couple of weeks. But at least everything on the cancer front was ok when I saw my oncologist two weeks ago.

The past few weeks have been desperately cold, bringing frost, snow and ice, and temperatures hovering on zero and below. It's warmer today -- about 10C/50F -- but another cold spell is forecast next week and who knows what for Christmas. It's the coldest weather I can remember since we moved to England in 1968.

It's hard to believe Roy died a year ago. I miss him most when I notice something such as this year's crop of quinces -- the best we've ever had -- and want to talk with him about it. As I've written before, Kate and Harry have supported me by visiting whenever they can manage on weekends, sometimes even on weekdays. And friends have telephoned, written cards, letters and emails and visited -- sometimes bringing meals and even bedding with them. Thanks to all of you for such loving support, which has helped me get through this year.

All the family are gathering here for Christmas and we are marking Roy's absence by having turkey with all the trimmings on the big day for the first time. I'm sure he'd have approved.

My very best wishes to all of you who read this for a happy Christmas and a good new year.