Sometimes Life just gets in the way

An average week in the middle of February - weather unseasonably warm, some sunny days, some a little wetter and greyer. A "getting on" time.

Saturday - up and away early to spend lunchtime with the grandchildren. Elliott's first birthday party.

Great fun - but lots of snuffles in the house.

Tuesday - first thing on facebook, a reminder that this is the anniversary of my sisters death.  I try not to remember death days - it's bad enough remembering the birthdays of those no longer with us. It was done with love and I know the person who posted is suffering, but...

Thursday - took my beloved to Salisbury station - he has to go to a funeral on Friday in Leeds.  The sax player from a band he played in  - it may be the last time he will get to see some of these people - how depressing to get to the age where more people are dying than living. I wandered around the town - but its not the same by yourself - didn't even stop anywhere for coffee - headed home as quickly as possible

Thursday evening - it is 40 days since Monika's death. According to the Russian Orthodox faith this is the day when the spirit rises up to heaven. A friend who worked in Moscow for many years is having a dinner party to celebrate M's life. Have to go alone as Mike is otherwise engaged (see above). Dinner guests - me, a Yorkshire woman from the wrong side of the tracks; the host, a southerner who was a banker in Moscow, Paris and Brazil; a couple who escaped from Hungary in 1956 she a potter, he an engineer; the lady who owns the village and her Swiss husband; a retired Dorset farmer who still talks about the year he 'escaped' and worked in Australia and Canada as a young man. It was a wonderful way to remember a dear friend, we laughed and told stories and remembered the time when......   I spoke of Monika and her 'stuff'. How she would turn up with armloads of stuff - mostly plants, but also other things.  Many of which keep turning up as I sort out rooms and cupboards.

I showed them a pot she gave me in which I keep sea salt - I use it every day and each time I open it I am reminded of her.















The other object I showed was a needle case she had made for me from a piece of her own weaving/embroidery based on drawings made from exotic plant leaves. I love them both.










 The food was great and all of a sudden it was almost midnight and Cinderella had to head home.

Saturday - collected beloved from Salisbury so good to have him home again safely. Then to my bed for the next 10 days.