Look at the picture books - people and places
Foolishly (as always) leaving the start of this tale until half way through December it is difficult to remember what happened in January! To the rescue, Google Calendar and Google Timeline. I'm advised by these two supporters that nothing much happened in January apart from the day to day and doctors and dentists. And, again, apologies to those whose lives revolve around smart phones that this journal does not yet properly render on your device. It's fine on a computer - ours at least.
Very pleased that Pat has been able to enrol in a figure drawing group run by Surrey CC. Every week for 6 weeks.
On a Friday fortnightly we are going to a Jazz Appreciation group run by U3A. Very convenient as it is one our our Church rooms.
As for the past few years we have gone to Sheerwater for an ecumenical Lent Group.
Our lovely Ukrainian guests, Svitlana, Dima and little Tymur have left us after 7 months. They have moved to a flat in Weybridge which is small but does have 2 bedrooms and a garden. A good move for them.
It's probably years since we've spent a weekend at Blockley which means Paul has been unable to help at St Mary's or St Lawrance, Bourton on the Hill. Decided it's time to hand in the Permission to Officiate as reviews on Safeguarding and other things have to be undertaking every year regardless.
To the Royal Opera House on Paul's birthday. Well actually to the local cinema to see the Royal Ballet performance of the Marriage of Figaro on screen. 45 minutes of extras not available at ROH. Brilliant introduction by Petroc Trelawny and Darcey Bussell giving a full run down of the ballet, visits behind the scenes, interviews with Directors and much more info. When it comes to the performance the camera men focus on any particular action as appropriate.
Not involving us a great deal but worth putting in here as it doesn't happen very often - or, at least, it hasn't happened recently. Extra days off all round. Not that we need extra days. So pleased that it seemed to go pretty well and to most peoples satisfaction.
In June last year Paul had a letter from the Regional Genetics Service to say that a relative (it was nephew Julian) had been identified as carrying an alteration in the BRCA1 gene. He was told this meant that predictive testing was now available to all relatives to see if they carried the same alteration. The alteration can be passed down the line and females who have it incur an increased risk of both ovarian and breast cancer. After many delays and much time Paul was identified as a carrier. Now Adrian, Timothy and Melanie will need to be tested. Melanie for herself and Lola and Adrian and Timothy for their offspring.
This is a breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein encoded as BRCA1
Paul rejoined Helping Others a church based transport offered mainly used for hospital and doctor appointments. There are 17 drivers. Paul's first involvement was in the reign of Jean Smith of blessed memory. It often works out a less than one trip a week. Users are greatly appreciative.
Holiday time again. We know it's all a holiday but this is the bit away from Fosters. Of course we very much like staying at Fosters so we don't think about holidays until the day before we go away. It's now a bit more difficult for Pat who was asking when were we going home just the day after we arrived. First stop was the HPB site in Anglesey
That holiday lasted well into June.If you would like to view the picture gallery just click anywhere on this sentence .
ALZHEIMER'S. We've been asked by a number on Institutes to take part in their research. One was based on Charing Cross Hospital checking whether a drug in use for ADHD would be effective for those with Alzheimer's. They sent a taxi for us! Everything went well until Pat had an ECG which showed arrythmia, on which basis she was dismissed! They still provided a taxi to get home.
When we visited Bamburgh Castle on holiday the entrance was £14 each. Check that out. As a member of Historic Houses it welcomed HH members for free. We joined - £103 for a year for both of us. We still have 5 months to run and are well over £300 in pocket on visiting fees to other HH sites such as all those that follow here. The first one was Hever Castle.
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Next Losely Park House
Then Watts Gallery - sorry, no pic
It's great that we still have our family gatherings - in theory for each birthday although some are combined. The children bring all the food, lay it out and clear it all away. We sit and listen to them talking - although it most often seems that they are simply whispering to each other. Very quiet and gentle lot both ours and the ones who've married in! And we get up and partake of the goodies. Max is missing from the pic. He was at camp with Urban Saints.
Two others in August were Parham House and Stratfield Saye(Duke of Wellington)
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Also in August we were able to welcome Duncan and Marilyn Kellard from the Phillipines. He works as a Field officer for Tikvah Trust a UK Christian Charity and as Development Director for the Philippine registered non-profit organisation Tikvah Inc. They have a sustainable farm and are involved with training and discipleship amongst the rural poor as well as having an established outreach amongst the Badjao community.They stayed with us because we couldn't fit them in at Blockley.
In September 2022 we noticed that an old discarded Phaelenopsis was budding. Took a pic in October.
and in March 2023
Mr Google says they can flower for 8 months. This is at 8.
and this is 11 full months!
And another wonderful ballet - Das Rheingold
And another wonderful holiday - in Greece. Click here for the gallery.
We both had new specs a couple of months ago and about three weeks later Pat started to have prolems reading things on the tv. Eventually she couldn't even read a magazine even with a bright light and a magnifying glass. We went back to Specsavers who gave her a thorough check straight away (compare that to trying to see a doctor!) and said she needed to have a post cataract growth removed. Delays, delays, delays? 'Oh no' she says, 'I'll refer you to Optegra.' And she did and within a couple of weeks Pat had yag-laser treatment to put one eye right and a promise for the other one within a few weeks. All NHS. Fantastic. And it all worked perfectly.
Back to the ballet. Yes the cinema again. £16 max price. ROH max price over £200. And on that day, 7th November, the centre seats in the best balcony/circle were taken by the King and Queen!
November always stages the Shepherd's Market on behalf of our mission outreach at Church. For some years now we have organised the post lunch desserts and sold them. The total raised this year fell just short of £17,000. (that's the whole market not just the desserts!)
The ballet yet again. No Royalty this time but a first visit to the screen in Addlestone. Seats almost large enough for two. Tables at the side. Bags of leg room. Must go there again.
Still driving the Mobility Vehicle at RH Wisley we get free entry to Wisley Glow which takes place every December. Lovely
In January 2022 we mentioned a change in length of stay for guests at Blockley. That worked. Now we've gone further. Unusually there were no guest bookings up to August 2024 when an email arrived mid November. A couple who had been associated with OM for 9 years in Saudi Arabia had in their words, 'to leave suddenly and unexpectedly'. Make of that what you will. They moved into Blockley on 14th December together with their 4 children. Historically we have not entertained more than 2 children. It's a terrace house and will not expand. The children are small but 'togetherness' might be a problem as well as a joy.
No room at the Inn has, this year, been overtaken by the near annihalation of Gaza where there seems to be no room for any life. Faith and theology - ours at least - have not just been left speechless but absolutley stranded. Of course any individuals who have suffered and suffered ultimately in any war or in a random knife attack or in a domestic road accident barely reported, suffer to the same awful degree but the sheer intensity and persistence regardless of death and destruction which we see in Gaza leaves us numbed and this especially as it as the behest of Israel to which reference is made so often in the Christmas sciptures. The scripures that tell us of God coming in Jesus to his own people in the country he gave them, Israel. A silence, a long blank might be appropriate here - but it wouldn't fit the layout of the journal so let the lamentation be - and our joyful tale continue ...
All the traditional Services some of which we attend and contribute to as members of the congregation - other than Christmas Tots Praise where we (actually only Paul) can still do much jumping up and down and storytelling.
Even with much searching and many enquiries we only found two chaps, Tony and Jason, to join us this year for Christmas dinner. Tony has been with us since 2015 : at the table we rememered many others we had supped with - most of whom are now in line for a greater feast.
As patient followers of this journal are aware Boxing Day is a family celebration - the standard 15 in attendance this year. Before dinner those who have legs made for walking take off. This year we went to Pewley Down. We came to live here 50 years ago and yet have never before been to this part of the North Downs Way.
Each family celebrates Christmas on their own but not all of them take selfies
The idea of just one present each which was started last year continues and these pics come from round about the time they were given and unwrapped with all the others looking on.
There is no doubt that we have slowed down somewhat this year and even - though quickly retracted - have described ourselves as old. On the other hand Paul has a laugh as nearly all the folk he takes for Helping Others and most of those in the Wisley Mobility Vehicle are younger that he is but, of course, suffering more. And whilst he cannot run - Melanie says he lost a neural connection due to a tia - he can still jump and hop with the video songs at Tots Praise. We are both younger siblings with Pat's sister Joy and Paul's brother David both 91. At the other end of family Adrian is now what used to be called retired - at over 60 - but, of course, he is still working hard. Melanie is and always will be the baby with Simon and Timothy filling the gap. They are all, most of the time, in pretty good health together with their delightful spouses although Adrian and Melanie both found to fall foul of the BRCA1 test but Timothy is in the clear. It is so good that we see them all many times a year and that when they all come together they bring delectible offerings and leave Fosters more tidy than they found it.
We still go to Jazz Appreciation with U3A several times a year but the bug has still to bite.
These days our only regular activity is worship at the Good Shepherd which always, as ever, takes precedence over anything else, together with prayers together which are always 45 minutes immediately after breakfast. We sold out to the Lord decades ago and although we still are still very willing followers of Jesus we fall behind and get out of step, especially with the new difficulitees that Pat's Alzheimer's brings to both of us.
The last day of the year. Sunday, we always have breakfast in the sitting room listening to radio 4 morning worship at 8.10. As on every other day of the week, Pat will make the toast. But to-day, for the first time, she says, "I can't remember how to do it." We put our arms round each other. Supposedly secret tears are wiped away.
To any who have read this far we thank you for journeying with us and wish you a wonderful 2024.
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