Home again and pick up the intelligent dog.

Sunday 8th January 2012

We returned home on Thursday. I had looked at the weather forecast and it was supposed to be sunny and calm all the way.
Well, up to Carlisle it was chucking it down with rain so hard that we could not drive above 50mph. After that it was just windy but dry. There were several wagons lying on their sides after being blown over on the motorway in Cumbria.
Everywhere in Scotland there appeared to be lakes where there had not been lakes before and most of the rivers we crossed had gone over their banks but at least we could go at a decent speed as it had at least stopped raining.

At the ferry terminal in Aberdeen I went to book in and the man on the desk said that we may possibly be late arriving in Kirkwall as there was bad weather. I thought "sod the expense, we will have a cabin". This was a good decision we managed to get a good sleep even though the boat was rolling a fair bit and crashing directly into the waves at some points.

I must remember to book a cabin in future if I am travelling in winter.

At home both of our fields are totally waterlogged even though they are on a fairly decent slope down to the sea. Hopefully we will have a bit less rain and a bit of a breeze for a while now to dry things out.

One of the presents that I got for Christmas was a test to see how clever your dog is so I say down with Molly today to see how she would do. Pam was very dismissive, saying that even if Molly knew what to do, she was to awkward to do it. I, on the other hand, have total faith in my clever little dog.

There were twelve different tests that she had to do involving long and short term memory, problem solving, learning new commands and body language. I am happy to say that Molly exceled herself and in what is supposed to be the top 5% of dog intelligence. On the more rational side though, maybe border collies account for 5% of all dogs and so she may be average for a collie. (We all know that border collies are infinitely more clever than normal dogs.)
The bumph with the test did say that I have to take her to advanced training so that she does not get bored. This would be OK if the damned animal would only learn one simple command, namely "come here" instead of legging it off and ignoring me.

I think that she is looking especially superior and devious in this photo, possibly thinking "What did you expect stupid".

A good funeral.

Wednesday 4th January 2012

Dad would have liked the funeral and would have been especially proud of Babs and Jo who both in their different ways gave a personal touch to the service.

There was a really good turnout of friends, relatives and people from the church which had been such a big part of dad's life.
The presence of so many church members, including members of the choir, certainly raised the quality of the singing above the norm.

After the service we retired to the church hall.
I remember as a child being a bit shocked when after my grandma's funeral, everyone was laughing and joking over tea and sandwiches. I have since come to like this aspect of our family funerals. This one was better than most. It is only at weddings and funerals that we all get together from various parts of the country so there was much reminiscing, catching up and general gossip to be indulged in.
As I said, dad would have liked it.

Goodbye.

Tuesday 3rd January 2012

After being taken into Macclesfield hospital on boxing day, my dad died on the 28th December half an hour after we had left him expecting to return next morning.
I shall always think that I should have stayed for an extra half hour but then dad would probably still have held on until after we had gone. At least I am glad that I was down here and I know that dad recognised us all.

I saw the mist in my fathers eye
and I realise now he was saying goodbye.

I left with a wave to his hospital bed.
"See you in the morning dad", I said.

I did not know what he knew then,
That we would never meet again.

I haven't quite sorted myself out yet and do not know how I feel. It was not a tragedy as dad did not want to go on as he had been recently. He had not been happy since mum died 3 years ago. It leaves a sort of hole in my life though.
I suppose that I am officially an orphan now and it feels as if my roots have been severly pruned.

I have always just felt that I am part of Wilmslow, or more specifically part of Fulshaw and Fulshaw is part of me. Now however, I no longer have a firm tie to my home. I have been cast adrift.

Children and Grandchildren.

27th December 2011
Down south for Christmas again. It doesn't seem a year since last Christmas but they say that the years fly by as you get older. Before I know it I will be a great grandfather at this rate.

It was a pleasant trip down to Aberdeen on the ferry. Because of my advancing years I get 4 free ferry trips each year and on overnight trips this includes a free cabin. This getting old bit has a good number of added bonuses to help compensate for the aches and pains that seem to be increasing.
A good sleep and then breakfast on the boat before heading off to drive down to Leek so that at least we start the trip refreshed and can have a leisurely drive down south with 2 or 3 stops on the way.

The amount of luggage that we had managed to stuff into the little Toyota Yaris would have made Santa envious. I was only hoping that we did not have to fetch the same amount back as I was due to collect an Andalusian cockerel from Gloucestershire while we are down and his cage would take a bit of room.

We stayed at Gareth's while we were down as babs has not got a spare room yet but we managed to see plenty of both Babs, Gareth and all three grandchildren. It was nice to have a chance to get to know Ella a bit now that she is getting a little older. ( I am old and grumpy and not too good with little babies until they start to develop a character of their own).

Maddy and Harry allowed us adults to accompany them to a pantomime and on a steam train ride for a Santa special. Pantomimes are one really good reason for having children or grandchildren as it is illegal for adults to go to pantomimes without a child and it would be even worse for a lone adult to be heard shouting "He's behind you", at the top of his voice.

The downside of little children is that if two adults have to share a bed with a 6 year old Maddy, then they are not likely to get much sleep. It is very nice to be woken up in the middle of the night by the most beautiful girl in the world giving you a big hug and telling you that she loves you but after a few days you can find yourself wishing to be loved a little less.
That combined with little feet walking up my back for half the night was not designed to make me feel fresh as a daisy in the morning.

While we were down south, Steve from across the road was looking after the various poultry. Every time that I heard the weather forecast it seemed that Orkney was suffering from gales and torrential rain and we had a phone call from Helen when she said that the sea was steaming and even going over No4 barrier.
I think that we will have to get Steve a really nice thankyou present when we return.