Look at the picture books - people and places
Post Covid we seem to be having a different pattern at Blockley. Guests are staying two or three months. We had the Friths from Latvia, now Heather and Toby from Sierra Leone and next a MAF couple from Uganda. Not the original idea but it makes it easier for us. We never see them but on the odd occasional day we've been there in the past two years we are always impressed with how well they have kept our little ex home.
The 20th, our 62nd anniversary, fell on a Sunday. Paul guided our new curate, Diane, to conduct a very short form renewal of vows - attended by these friends who hadn't moved out quickly enough!
Specsavers suggested Pat saw an Opthalmic Surgeon which has resulted in visits to Nuffield and the diagnosis of Glaucoma in both eyes. Seems it can be held if drops are applied every night. Let's hope. It is true that Pat is getting older but, much to the surprise of any medical enquiry, she doesn't take any other medication.
From the lack of content it is obvious that we have done very little so far this year. Thing is we like it at Fosters - and we are getting lazy. Nevertheless we still have all the familty parties here. There won't be enough pics for a family gallery this year but there are these which came from the boys joint party.
We think that year after year we have failed to grow any flowers in the garden and yet, on this one day, Melanie took these shots and produced a collage. Rather more than we thought! At least 25 varieties.
In spite of our liking for Fosters we sometimes do go on holiday. This time another river cruise in France. If you would like to sail with us click the picture
The Reverend Canon Philip Gardner, to give his full title, but better just Philip, made it to 101 years of age. Philip was Vicar when we came to Pyrford in 1974. He retired in 1984. Excerpts from some of the tributes were published; this one will get close to our gratidude for his life."Philip was a champion in living God's way of Loving Kindness, Justice and Righteousness". And he was a lovely man.
This must be at Pat's party - shared with Phill?
Jonny Vaughan - all 6ft 8inches of him - asked if they could take a week at Blockley. It was booked. For some reason their plea encouraged us to think that we could help them by inviting them to Fosters. The first time anyone has lived in the annexe for some years - and there were three of them. Strange really as we knew we were going on holiday the very next week. They arrived on Monday and left a week later - the day before we went on holiday.
And so for our second holiday - to France again - to a river cruise again: this time from Paris to Normandy and back. If you wish to see where we went and what we did hit the pic.
We returned home on the Tuesday evening, August 30th. As mentioned we had gone on holiday the day after our Guests left and now we arrived back the day before our new Guests arrived. Some people might allow more time!
On 31st Pat had an appointment. A result not unexpected - a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Words are difficult to find. Very frustrating, yes. Upsetting, disappointment, fear, anger. We've dealt with two cancers - and more than that - but with that there is always the prospect of remission. Indescribable. But this? No cure - and on top of Glaucoma which is largely ignored but might ... Perhaps it's grief, whatever, very difficult to handle. Tears for Paul certainly, even when typing this. Perhaps Pat was more stoic. Can we work it out with understanding, love, patience. What will it take?
A new month. First day Paul goes to Frimley Park hospital for an echocardiagram. Marvellous result. When he had heart failure in 2015 his LV fraction was less than 35% leading to loss of driving licence. It's now back to 60% which suggests rude health - normal range is 50% to a maximum of 75%. Many other checks equally positive.
Back in the late afternoon to greet our Ukranian guests. Dymitry, Svitlana and Tymur. We hope the annexe will be suitable and that they will be happy there - to the extent that they can be happy having left their own country because of the war. We and they will have a lot to learn. Amazingly there is a great similarity in surnames - they are Bondarenko!
By the next day I am having to isolate prior to going into hospital - again, not great timing.
5th September. The day I've been waiting for - for three years. The surgeons have been loth to act because they can't get a clear picture of where the bones are impinging on the nerves. This is because my bionic implants will not allow them to take an MRI.
6th September. All done! Looking forward to another marathon - given 6 months full recovery
Our dear friend Walter Wright has died. He was approaching 98. Walter and Tessa were friends from Bournemouth days - one of our oldest friends. We last visited in 2018 before Tessa went into a home with dementia, dying in 2021.
In November Melanie and Phil moved house to a countryside location in Ash. Right on the edge of the heath. The house was beautifully presented, as thy say, in seemingly every aspect. And Lola can stay at the same school which is a blessing.
Postal strikes - along with many other strikes - has a effect on Christmas cards and so we have a few more electronic greetings including one from Glenys who send this pic
Timothy, Zuzana and three rapidly growing children spent the holiday in Czech Republic so we missed them on Boxing Day but we did have Dima, Svitlana and Tymur. The second two pics ar a reminder of our decorations. The tree has now been with us a quarter of a century.
Our Boxing Day morning walk was by the canal
And then lunch and presents. Melanie again made a wonderful gingerbread house which Tymur enjoyed demolishing
And so we finish another year. As mentioned before we have done very little (but what about those lovely holidays, I hear you say) but we do rejoice that throughout the year we have still been able to do Tots Praise and, when it recommenced, the coffee shop.
It remains to wish anyone who happens to read this the blessings that come by being members of the Kingdom of God or, as we might more frequently put it, followers of Jesus. Followers, yes - but in our case sometimes not close enough. Then we are totally reliant on his grace.
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