Wilson painting

Wilson painting, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

I have been working on my painting of Wilson this weekend. It features 5 images of him in a sort of montage. I m quite pleased with it so far.
Tonight I cooked a roast chicken for the first time since he died. I would normally have been slicing the chicken onto a plate ...while at the same time trying to keep Wilson away . . he used to go mad for roast chicken!!

Insulation

Insulation, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

We have started filling the gaps with insulation in the summer house. . and boarding over it with ply wood. There is still a lot to do. . but we are slowly getting there.

JJAMZ - Heartbeat (With Lyrics In Description)

Auntie Ednas funeral

We all met at the residential home yesterday, as Auntie Ednas coffin was to leave from there. The other residents lined up outside to wave her off. We drove through Wigan to St Johns Church for the service and then afterwards to the crematorium . There were lots of tears as we remembered Auntie Edna and the others who arent with us anymore.  We had a sandwich and cup of tea at the Masonic Hall later.
It was hard to believe that we were saying goodbye to Auntie Edna after all these years. She was so full of life and laughter and kindness. We all have such lovely memories of her and Uncle Jack . . she really was very special to a lot of people and we will all miss her very much. x
Auntie Edna once wrote to me . . . in her beautiful handwriting. . x
"In times of trouble "
"Analyzing the causes of anguish is effort wasted. There is no going back. No spell can change what has happened, no blaming this or that. Whenever you re deeply troubled persuade your mind to concentrate on little, present pleasures. Give yourself time to heal. Be still."

The definition of "a fug"

"a heavy, stale atmosphere especially the musty air of an overcrowded or poorly ventilated room"

Meetings

In work, we were called into 2 meetings this week. . as things suddenly picked up a pace re working for a new company or looking at redundancy. The men from ACAS were there to help. . as its all getting a bit complicated. We have 2 more meetings next week. My brain finds it hard to take it all in. . I have never been in a job situation like this before.

Abergavenny Food Festival

Abergavenny Food Festival, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Paul and Emma came to stay last weekend and we went to the Abergavenny Food Festival. We bought stroller wrist bands and enjoyed looking around the whole site. The best bit was at the castle where there was live music and food and drinks tents with a vintage theme. . . there was lots to see and taste and we bought some sausages and beer to enjoy later on.
There was lots of wedding talk... it is coming up quickly now. Next stop.... stag and hen do's.

ノコンギクと茶トラ Nokongiku And Tyatora

" and just at the moment when someone at my side says 'she is gone'
There are others who are watching her coming and other voices take up a glad shout 'here she comes' x

Always smiling

Always smiling, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Auntie Edna passed away early on Tuesday morning... at her residential home in Wigan.
I drove up to see her on Monday and made it just in time to say goodbye. x
I had seen her about 5 weeks ago. . and at the time she was dressed and in the lounge with the other residents. Mike Audrey and jim had been visiting her since then and had kept me up to date.
It is very difficult to describe Auntie Edna to someone who had never met her. She was such a close link to my Mum. . they were very close and very similar. Auntie Edna never complained or had a bad word to say about anyone. . she loved to talk and Uncle Jack would say "get to the bloody point Edna" . We would always spend Boxing Day with them and the table would be full of cold turkey, chocolates and there was always celery in a jug.
Her front door was always open and she always had visitors. She would march up to church and kept The Village Bakery going with the amount of pies she bought.
It really is the end of an era now she has died. She was very special to me and i will miss her very much. I know that wherever she is now she is reunited with lots of people who also loved her very much. x

Auntie Edna, Uncle Jack and Dad 1965

Auntie Edna, Uncle Jack and Dad 1965, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Auntie Edna and her lifelong best friend Connie

Auntie Edna and her lifelong best friend Connie, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Adam Hills writes about disability

" We should stop taking disability so seriously. We are a week into the Paralympics and some people are tying themselves in knots trying to work out what they can and can't say. But as long as you mean well and people know that it's coming from the right place, it's quite hard to be offensive.
I am only missing the bottom of my foot so people only notice when I m in shorts. People do ask why I m limping. When I say I have an artificial foot, they say " I m sorry" . But they shouldn't be sorry . . It's nice they care. I did a tv programme where I spent time with a dwarf and he said that when people catch his eye they look away because they feel bad. He said why not just smile instead. I thought it would look weird just smiling at people but I saw a cute girl in a wheelchair and smiled at her. . . And she smiled back. "

Missing Wilson today x

Missing Wilson today x, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

"I am the cat of cats
I am the everlasting cat
Cunning and old and sleek as jam
The everlasting cat!"

William Brighty Rands

September

September, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

"September weather is typically gentle, with lingering warmth in the sun but the first hint of chilly mornings and evenings. Sometimes there is a brief return to full summer which we call an 'Indian' or St Martins' summer. Trees snapping and cracking are a sign of such a good, dry spell."

Walking home from the show

Walking home from the show, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Charlotte and Paul came down on Wednesday night and on Thursday we went down to the Monmouthshire Show.
We had a lovely day. . looking at animals, drinking strange cider, watching adrenalin quad bikes jumping through the air and discovering that an alpaca will cost £650 and you have to buy 2 so they can keep each other company.
We sat around the fire pit later. . and Paul made a very tasty spaghetti and sausage dish.x

lovely man with lovely goat

lovely man with lovely goat, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Huge cow

Huge cow, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.