Family - enjoy them while you've got them
I've been out of touch for a while,
Back on the first of Feb I was supposed to go to an Orchestral concert at the Colston Hall with my folks; I'd bought them tickets as a Christmas present. Sadly they called to say that my Uncle John (my mum's brother) was dying and they were heading up to Middlesbrough to see him before it was to late.
They left on the Wednesday and got down just in time to see him, but he passed away the next day, and last week we went up for the funeral. My folks picked me up from Bristol on the next Wednesday and we drove up to Middlesbrough, mainly up the Fosse Way, the old Roman Road that goes from Bristol to Leicester. It's a nice straight drive down pleasant A-Roads through the Cotswolds, and eventually, after a Navigational disaster at Leicester in the rushhour we made it on to the A1.
My mum's one of twelve, so we have this huge extend family up in 'Boro and whenever we go up to visit, which I haven't done for years, it takes me a few hours to get my head back together and remember who's who.
There was a great turnout for the funeral, and there were a lot of people who were familiar with the catholic ceremony, and knew all the responses during the mass, which left me floundering a bit. After the interment we went to John's house for a wake and it was really nice to talk to all my cousins again, even though the didn't recognise me at first.
We finished with a long stint in the pub, and had one of those nice family discussions where you just talk things over. John's children who live locally, my cousins Richard and Michelle have been really good, helping him and my Aunt Margaret as the MS really kicked in.
The main topic of conversation was how we've drifted out of touch and only meet again at funerals and so there was much resolution to meet again more frequently. Hopefully my Aunt Margaret will come and visit my parents down in the country this summer, and I'm determined to make it down to Middlesbrough some time soon in happier circumstances.
And then we
He was flying back from Beijing for a holiday, and was being picked up by some old family friends, and my dad had to drive back down through the snow and rain to get us home in time to meet him.
The friends who picked Martin up were people we've known since Emma was born in the same maternity ward as Martin, and it's a long-running family friendship, but we still hadn't seen Max (Emma's brother) for years. But it was really good catching up on Saturday at the Village club as yet more beer was drunk.
It really helped confirm my desire to be better at keeping in touch with people.
And that's the moral of the story, and why I'm trying to update everyone now.
Take care everyone, and remember families and friends - use 'em or lose 'em.
Also Martin brought me an mp3 player from China, which means I've got something to listen to in the Gym, and I've been thinking a lot about the next comic.
Back on the first of Feb I was supposed to go to an Orchestral concert at the Colston Hall with my folks; I'd bought them tickets as a Christmas present. Sadly they called to say that my Uncle John (my mum's brother) was dying and they were heading up to Middlesbrough to see him before it was to late.
They left on the Wednesday and got down just in time to see him, but he passed away the next day, and last week we went up for the funeral. My folks picked me up from Bristol on the next Wednesday and we drove up to Middlesbrough, mainly up the Fosse Way, the old Roman Road that goes from Bristol to Leicester. It's a nice straight drive down pleasant A-Roads through the Cotswolds, and eventually, after a Navigational disaster at Leicester in the rushhour we made it on to the A1.
My mum's one of twelve, so we have this huge extend family up in 'Boro and whenever we go up to visit, which I haven't done for years, it takes me a few hours to get my head back together and remember who's who.
There was a great turnout for the funeral, and there were a lot of people who were familiar with the catholic ceremony, and knew all the responses during the mass, which left me floundering a bit. After the interment we went to John's house for a wake and it was really nice to talk to all my cousins again, even though the didn't recognise me at first.
We finished with a long stint in the pub, and had one of those nice family discussions where you just talk things over. John's children who live locally, my cousins Richard and Michelle have been really good, helping him and my Aunt Margaret as the MS really kicked in.
The main topic of conversation was how we've drifted out of touch and only meet again at funerals and so there was much resolution to meet again more frequently. Hopefully my Aunt Margaret will come and visit my parents down in the country this summer, and I'm determined to make it down to Middlesbrough some time soon in happier circumstances.
And then we
He was flying back from Beijing for a holiday, and was being picked up by some old family friends, and my dad had to drive back down through the snow and rain to get us home in time to meet him.
The friends who picked Martin up were people we've known since Emma was born in the same maternity ward as Martin, and it's a long-running family friendship, but we still hadn't seen Max (Emma's brother) for years. But it was really good catching up on Saturday at the Village club as yet more beer was drunk.
It really helped confirm my desire to be better at keeping in touch with people.
And that's the moral of the story, and why I'm trying to update everyone now.
Take care everyone, and remember families and friends - use 'em or lose 'em.
Also Martin brought me an mp3 player from China, which means I've got something to listen to in the Gym, and I've been thinking a lot about the next comic.