Darling John,
What a busy time with new babies,
David and Lara now have a beautiful daughter Olivia Grace, I met her on Skype yesterday,she is so sweet ,tiny with very big eyes.You would love her.I know I am going to and look forward to getting to know her and to watching her grow and loving her as I do all of your grand children.I am blessed.
Sandra is now a grandmother, David and Aoife have a beautiful daughter Freya Constance,she is gorgeous , D&A are awash with wonder , they did not think this day would come.Sandra is ecstatic,and will be a fantastic grandmother.
Jackie has her second grand child, Aoife ( EVA) Fay, she is a real wee cuttie pie.
So our families have been very lucky and blessed this year. The year has not been good politically, seems we are all so fed up with politics, we are voting in right wing uncaring folk,in the hope it will help us some how. Many famous folk have died, folk that have been part of our lives in a distant way for many decades. I feel a passing sadness, but it is not like losing a real loved one, a parent a friend,and much loved husband.
I was sad to hear of Leonard Cohen's passing,he brought me a lot of pleasure from his poetry and singing, at the same time, it was time, he was old and ill, he had made a difference had a good life and was ready to go.
The wonderful thing is we can still enjoy his music.
David has asked me if it was ok for him to buy my ticket from UK to Sydney with a stop over in HK,
I was a little worried at first, for various reasons, but it in end, I accepted gracefully.
It was a blessing to chat to him, he was as ever in business mode getting all my detains, he is a real producer, a good listener, and has a way of making things happen. He loves his job in Shanghai , which is so good to hear.
I keep in touch will all of you children, and your niece's and nephews in Scotland too, the ones I know ,there are many around the world that I do not know, but see on facebook from time to time.
I see your grandchildren as much as I can, and love them all dearly, with a little soft spot for Felix :-)
As you know Robert is a favourite of mine.I have every intention if meeting up with them all in 2017,I have such warm genuine invitations, as I must see Gwynneth before too long.
Andrew and Lucy are amazing to me, they include me in so much of their lives, and I not only appreciate that, I enjoy being with them too, they are lovely people,kind generous and caring.
Philip is in touch regularly , most days we whatsapp, every week or so we talk, he is enjoying life, I have no idea his long term aims, as they change, which is good because rigid plans are no fun,he is flexible, if he gets new information he changes his mind, always an assertive thing to do.
I worry most about him, because he is on his own, thankfully with skills to make friends and make the best of life, which as far as I understand is not so easy in Beijing.
He has not a tosser to his name, and has debt. yet he does not worry, I guess he has me, and his dad to do that for him.
Somehow he ends up on his feet.DV.
I was concerned about Penny last few years, but not know, she is flying it , new house, new job, gorgeous children all growing up well, a few concerns, but always have that with a family, and Steve is a fantastic support, a great husband and a great dad. As is Johnny! When you see them juggling family ,work , running homes, financial issues, holidays, weekends, Christmas, , and all that life brings you, you have a warm glow to see what mature fulfilled human beings they are.
it is easy to be amazing when life is smooth, it is how they indeed all of us meet the challenges of life you see the metal, you can be very proud of them all, as indeed I am ,all so different, all with their on dreams their own paths to follow and yet able to look outside themselves and have care and compassion out side of themselves.
Darling John, it is now two years and two days since you died, you went away forever, still hard to accept that. I was up at 6.06 on 28th December and lit a candle for you, for us, had a wee cup of tea, and remember our last hours and minutes together, that was a precious time for me.
I loved the idea of you before I met you,I loved you all the days I knew you, and I love you still,and always will my darling husband, you ever loving wife Helen. TT
