spend more time with the people I love

I’m not marking this as done because I could see my friends a bit more and its an ongoing reminder with my family.

My uncle (my dad, lets face it)died a month ago and I’m so pleased with how I managed my last few months with him and the rest of the family. When the news come down to ‘you’ve 1-2months at best’, I took time out from work and went home for a month, helping to nurse him at home and spending as much time as possible laughing, hearing stories and making sure it was as happy a time as it was sad. I even managed to get over the lump in my throat and have those hard conversations you don’t know whether you would have the strength to have. As sad as I am that he’s gone, it comforts me to know that I made the most of that time with him and helped make his last few weeks easier.

I’m glad I’ve been making an effort with this. My uncle (who is more of a father to me than my own father has ever been – he brought me up after my mum died when i was young, he’s half of the ‘folks’ referred to previously) has just been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. All my hopes and dreams for my family seem in doubt but I’m just going to keep being as normal as I can for as long as I can and find wee ways to let him know I love him even if I’m not the most demonstrative daughter in the world.

We had our 3yr old niece to stay at the weekend and aside from Mr Weeehector, she’s the person I probably love the most in the world.

I’m shattered after 48 hr hours of non stop swimming, hiding in the ‘secret cupboard’, playing house, hand and feet painting and 3 viewings of the Wizard of Oz.

Hopefully we’re giving her some happy childhood memories but I think its us that are getting the most out of it – the joy when she cuddles up to us on the sofa and tells us that she loves us, the crazy turns and lines that have us in stitches and the vicarious thrill we get when we see her wonderous at experiencing new things for the first time.

Here’s to lots more weekends doing simple, regular things that give us all such pleasure.

I went home last weekend and spent a couple of days with my folks. As one of four i never get any time with them by myself so it was really lovely. AND i got my washing and ironing done…for the first time in about 10 years! And my niece is coming to stay next weekend. She’s three and completely adorable so we’re planning a full on weekend of kiddie fun. Broody? Moi?

Family, can’t live with them, can’t shoot them. Its my mother and father in law’s 50th wedding anniversary (I adore them, they are the coolest in laws you could wish for)this week and we’re having a party to celebrate this Saturday. The only problem is that my husband’s brother and his awful family are coming too and I’m dreading having to entertain them.
Please let me rise above it – my sister in law is a bit like the jellyfish woman in Bridget Jones – and be a gracious and funny host so the oldies have a great time. Grrrr.

I spent 3 weeks in South America in December 2006. Whilst I was travelling, my grandfather died. I loved him dearly and I miss him every day. I’d been too busy working to go and see him before I left and I never got to say goodbye to him.

But I’m not going to beat myself up about it, I’m going to learn my lesson.

I’m starting to spend a lot more time with my family, particularly my two yr old niece and her beaming, unconditional smiles when I go to visit are worth 50 ‘good job, well done’s in the office. If I’m lucky enough to have my own kids, maybe I’ll call them ‘Alasdair’ after my papa.