Wednesday 1.

Your blogger with seven of his granddaughters on Monday. On my left arm is Tuva who completed her mourning costume by painting her fingernails black. Gran would have loved it (and the hat).

Tuesday.

Strangling Grandpa.

Monday 2.

P.s. to last blog. I like the way all our grandchildren made an effort to dress for a funeral. One of the granddaughters on the below photo (Tuva to the right of the picture) even went to the extent of varnishing her fingernails a shiny black!!!!!!!!

Monday 1.

Been over to Welney, in the Norfolk fens today. Great Gran's funeral. Above is a snapshot of nine of our grandchildren. Ten actually attended, but Kerry and Laura had to get back to meet Tom home from school, before I took this picture. There was an almost complete family turn out. Distant cousins and cousins we only ever see at funerals turned out (partly, I think because Gran was the very last of her generation, but mainly because we all loved her).We had lunch at the Lamb and Flag (in the background), the service was at 2 p.m., during which I gave the eulogy. The church was completely full. Interment followed in the churchyard, then to the village hall for tea, etc. Then before we came away I broke with tradition and took a few photoes of the grandchildren. It was a good day, although most of the great grandchilren, almost all of the grandchildren, and indeed, a good many mature adults, shed tears during the service (for Great Gran was universally popular). Afterwards we all had the consolation of discussing a very long life very well spent. Ann's just gone up to bed. Been an emotionally tiring day for her. I think I must go up now, too. Good night all.

Saturday 5.

As you can see there was not much left (not in the least surprised). Got a feeling the girls might ask for the rest of it for breakfast. We had it with a choice of creme fraiche or cream. Although it's only nine all the ladies have now gone upstairs to bed. Not surprising as three of them have been travelling for about twenty four hours (by train- sleeper- to Stockholm- then by 'bus to the airport, then by 'plane to Stanstead, then by car to our home in South Suffolk). I think it's now bedtime for me too. Goodnight all.

Saturday 4.

And this one, to be really, really, totally fair to everyone, shows all four of the ladies present, id est:- Ann, Freja, Ruth, and Tuva. The main course was followed by a pudding, a treacle tart, made and given to us by our friends Roz and Simon Cook, who are, as their surname indicates, professional caterers. I am just going to nip upstairs and see if I can get a snapshot of the remains of the pudding.

Saturday 3.

This one Shows Tuva starting her main course, too. I show this one just to be toally fair to the sisters.

Saturday 2.

Here is Freja about to get stuck into the main course, which is a chicken casserole which Ann made and put into the slow cooker this morning, and left cooking while we went to fetch them.

Saturday 1.

This afternoon we motored over to Stanstead Airport to pick up Ruth, Tuva, and Freja. They have come over to attend Great Gran's funeral on Monday. We got home at about six. We ate at about 6.30 p.m. Ann had prepared the starter (shown above) yesterday. I consists of half a roast red pepper, stuffed (before roasting) with halved cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, and herbs. The whole thing roasted in a little olive oil can be eaten hot or cold.

Thursday 3.

Sorry. The computer's playing silly beggars! The above photo should have appeared with the previous entry.

Thursday 2.

Just back from a five mile bike ride, on which I took above photo. Being called for cuppa - very welcome. More later, perhaps.

Reopen to record that we've just had a cracking game of scrabble. Three seven letter words between us. At the end of the game Ann went out on a seven letter word 'unquiet' that scored her eighty eight points, but left me a few points in the lead. Our joint score was seven hundred and twenty points. Shan't repeat that in a hurry. Goodnight all.

Thursday 1.

Glad to report there still a few late roses in the garden. Anyone remember that Victorian parlour song The last Rose of Summer? The last verse goes, if I remember :-

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one, to pine on the stem.
Since the lovely are sleeping, go sleep thou with them.
Thus kindly I scatter thy leaves o'er the bed
Where thy mates of the garden lie scentless and dead.

Cheery little effort, usually sung by a quavering tenor. Oh well, it takes all sorts! More later perhaps.

Wednesday.

Photo of a lane in our town, which has nothing to do with this blog.

Must tell you of an incident that occurred yesterday. On Monday we drove from Sarah's to Wisbech, where Ann and her three brothers were going to try and clear Gran's flat. Left Ann in Wisbech; she was going to spend the night at Tim and Sue's house and return home on Tuesday. I eventually drove home, and later in the evening locked up very carefully and retired for the night. Overslept on Tuesday, eventually waking at 8.30 a.m. Inserted hearing aid in 'good' ear and turned wireless on to keep me awake. Half dressed, I thought I heard a tapping on the bedroom door. Knew this couldn't be so, as I distinctly remember locking up the previous evening. Continuing to dress when there came a rather more determined tapping on bedroom door. Pausing only to put on a dressing gown, grab a big stick and (reflecting on how good -mannered burglars seemed to be these days - I mean knocking on bedroom doors!!) I flung wide the door, and there stood............ (to be continued in our next thrrrilling episode).


Oh well, alright then, if you insist :- There, on the landing, stood our friend and keyholder John. Apparently there'd been a fault on the telephone, Ann had not been able to get through to me, and eventually 'phoned John (knowing he had a key) and asked him to check that all was well, and, if I'd been spared the 'perils and dangers of the night', to tell me to 'phone Ann instanter and reassure her that all was well. Of course (being deaf, and as I'd got the wireless on) I'd not been able to hear him knocking at the back door, so he'd had to let himself in.

Whilst I 'phoned Ann, John checked our 'phone and found the fault; which was that the answerphone was chock full of messages ( some in sympathy for Gran's death, and the rest to wish me a happy birthday), which had caused the 'phone to go on strike. I really don't trust these modern communication contraptions. But we do feel heavily in John's debt again. Whilst we were in Sweden earlier in the year, he'd done necessary running repairs on the property, and now this. As the youngsters say - we owe him bigtime.
Goodnight all.

Tuesday 5.

Birthday lunch in full swing.

Tuessday 4.

Sophie again, in, I think, pyjama mode.

Tuesday 3.

Senior granddaughter Sophie in full 'Goth' mode.

Tuesday 2.

Guy, Sarah, meself and Ann during birthday lunch at weekend.

Tuesday 1.

Ann making friends with Mango and Ruby in Sarah's kitchen at weekend.

Monday 2.

This superb confection was produced by youngest daughter, Elizabeth. Beneath the surface it consisted of thin layers of sponge cake and thick layers of cream. Beggar doctor's orders ! - it was superb. There were eighteen of us present - I think I said that in previous blog- consisting of four of our children, their partners, and children. We all had a slice of cake, and then, at their insistence (but I needed very little persuasion), I finished the last tiny slice of it. Magic!!!!!

Must knock off now and go upstairs. Find meself desparate for a cuppa.

Monday 1.

Just home, so time for a quick blog. Ann is still in Wisbech with her three brothers, clearing Gran's flat. They expect to have finished the job sometime tomorrow afternoon. The above photo was taken yesterday, at a riverside pub near Bedford to celebrate my birthday (which was on the previous day) Ann had arranged it two months ago, and had managed (against all the odds) to keep it secret from me (we know each other far too well to successfully keep secrets from each other generally). There were eighteen of us, all told - Grandson Tom had a prior engagement, and Ruth, her husband Lasse, and their two girls, couldn't get, but will be over later in the week for Gran's funeral. It was a great party and cheered us both up. Should probably say- cheered us all up.