7 April 2006
Four years ago, on the last Thursday in March, I got a phone call I'd been dreading.
Four years ago, on the last Friday in March, I travelled to Scotland, hoping that I'd arrive at my destination before it was too late.
Four years ago, on the first Tuesday in April, my dad died.
Four years ago, on the second Tuesday in April, I attended his funeral.
Last week, on the last Thursday in March, my colleague, mentor and friend Donna got a phone call she'd been dreading.
On Friday, she travelled to Scotland and around midnight on Monday night, her mother, Joyce, sadly died.
On Monday I will travel to Scotland and on Tuesday I will attend Joyce's funeral.
It's going to be a tough trip. Going home is always hard for me - the memory of that weekend four years ago is so intense that it overwhelms the lifetime of other memories and not enough time has passed to lessen that impact. But for all that it's going to be emotional and difficult it can't be avoided forever. So while I'm there, I'm going to do some stuff I should have done long before now.
It's not going to be all sturm und drang though. I'll be spending time with my mum and sorting out her latest computer woes, getting some quality Fredcat love and catching up with as many friends as I can before making my way back down south on Friday.
Curiously enough, it'll also be the first time I've done the journey between London and Glasgow by train, which will give me a good five or six hours of knitting time in both directions and should get me a reasonable way through the production of my sockapaloooza (606 people worldwide knitting socks for someone else) pal's socks, just as soon as I sort out my guage and figure out which pattern I'm going to use.
So long as I get a seat facing the direction of travel on the train I'll be fine - tilting while going backwards just makes me want to barf, and barf and knitting fundamentally do not mix.
I would have thought knitting and barf mixed very well.
As in 'once mixed, never separated'.
(((hugs)))
Oh and if you've reserved your seat and find it's facing the wrong way, find a seat you like stuff your ticket in top, get out your knitting, get comfy act innocent, works every time ;-)
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I cannot get your e-mail with travel details. They have changed to SSL server which I cannot get. Phone me with details tomorrow night if you can please.
Sounds like it could be a rough week. Hope Fredcat love, computer fixing and sock knitting helps.
I hope your trip is as alright as it can be. My dad died four and a half years ago - and I had to go back to the city where he died for my two grandmother's funerals this past autumn (they died within 3 weeks of each other).
It just sucks, really, doesn't it.
So sorry, I'll be thinking of you.
I've 'done' two funerals this year, both mothers of a married couple. One died the week after the anniversary of my Dad's death, the other the week after the anniversary of my Mum's.....
Spooky... When traveling to NEC last week I found that people stop and talk knitting on trains, or run and hide from the scary woman with the pointy sticks ;-)
take care, love, hugs and happy thoughts, Sue
Pass my sympathy on to Donna, thought she'd been quiet recently.
Hugs & kisses to all
*hugs*
My sympathy goes to both yourself and Donna. Please also pass on my sentiments to her.
I don't know if you've already gathered from my blog, but my mother passed away just over ten years ago. You don't get used to it, but more learn to live with it.
I hope that the funeral today went OK.
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