Recently in Sad News Category

I got back from the gym tonight, to discover that Evelyn has had some rather sad news.

Jilly and Evelyn cleaned out the fish over the weekend, when Jilly noticed that one of the fish was a little 'wobbly' in the water and seemed to be having difficulty swimming. Taking Evelyn to bed this evening, Jilly discovered this same fish floating on the surface of the tank. It was dead. As the adults in the family, Jilly and I consider it an absolute bloomin' miracle that any of the fish are still alive given that Evelyn has had the fish for over two years now.

Jilly explained that she was going to have to flush the ex-fish down the toilet, and that Evelyn was to say 'goodbye' to it.

"Oh, but it will get eaten by a shark now!", Evelyn exclaimed, and burst into tears. As we all learn as children, anything flushed down the toilet goes straight out to the sea!

Jilly explained that, when animals die, they're often eaten by other animals.

"Yes", Evelyn replied, sobbing. "Just like that mince we had for tea".

Jilly was desperately upset this morning when she rang to tell me that her lovely granny Mary had died. Apparently, she was waiting for the taxi to take her to LGI for an eye appointment when grandad turned to her to get her coat on as the taxi had arrived. Sadly, she'd 'popped off' after finishing her cup of tea as she sat in the living room.

Jilly fondly remembers a great many things about her fantastic grandma (who died at 92), but most memorably Jilly remembers the pink and white candy stripe knitted bikinis that grandma made for her, Sam and Kate; and the devastating effect that sea water had on the same bikinis on the beach in Skipsea in 1975!

Updated - 06 April 2009
Granny Mary had always said that, when she died, she wanted her body to be left to medical science. Consequently, Granny Mary's body is now residing at Leeds Medical School.

There was no funeral, as such, but a lovely memorial service held at the day centre in Bramley where Grandma and Grandad lived. A representative from the humanist society conducted the service which told the (touching and, at times, very amusing) story of Granny Mary's life. Following this, we all stayed for the traditional 'bun fight', and the slightly-less-traditional few games of bingo and a sherry.

Jilly strictly edited this entry (i.e., she essentially wrote it)

We booked this holiday, some time ago, as Jilly and I though it was about time we had a few days away, and thought it would be nice to spend them in the sunny Lake District. I'd like to say that we could never have predicted that it would rain constantly but, of course, this is the LAKE DISTRICT!

As it happens, the rain didn't spoil the break and we had a lovely time. Perhaps, we'll wait 'til Summer next time though!

• Monday 4^th April 2005 - Outward Journey.
We stopped at Kirkby Lonsdale - only half an hour from the Lakeside caravan - for some much needed lunch at The Snooty Fox. The food was good, and - of course - everybody loved Evelyn who was very well behaved indeed.
• Tuesday 5^th April 2005 - Bowness and Windermere.
As the weather wasn't exactly suitable even for the [wheelchair friendly] walks we had in mind for the holiday, our first day was spend pottering around Bowness and Windermere. On our walk, I managed to discover a butcher who was prepared to sell us four of his precious award winning pies. Apparently, the butcher was the proud recipient of the Best Pork Pie in the North West of England award, 2004! There's no denying the pies were good, but - and Kieran agrees with me on this - there are better pies available in Huddersfield!
• Wednesday 6^th April 2005 - Persistant Precipitation / Aquarium of the Lakes.
Jilly and I were awake from about 02:00 this morning as it was absolutely persisting it down last night, and didn't stop until early morning. While Evie has taken to moving into our new, temporary, home really well, she seems to be less than happy about the noise on the roof of the caravan, and the fact that the caravan rocked so much with the bloody wind!

Jenna Drury rang us this afternoon, with some very sad family news; as the details are hardly suitable for a blog I won't write anymore. Sufficed to say, our thoughts are with the Drury family.

• Thursday 7^th April 2005 - Blackwell House, and then on home.
With the weather being so very 'orrible, and Evelyn having to sleep with Jilly and I in a double bed - that's right, a double bed, on two occasions this week, Jilly and I decided to go home a day early. Consequently, we left this morning and called in at Blackwell House on the way home...Jilly was lovin' it!
• Friday 8^th April 2005 - Bradfordreminisciepackage.
As Jilly needed to get a new duplicate birth certificate for Kieran [he needs a new passport!], so that he might enjoy - for the second time - the delights of sunny Florida, USA, with his dad this summer, the Webster/Slevin clan descended upon glorious Dewsbury [AKA Ugly Town] today. We organised the duplicate birth certificate, shopped in Dewsbury's bustling outdoor second-hand market [should that be pre-owned market?] and even treated ourselves to a junk food lunch, before visiting two of the houses that Jilly grew up in as a child. Something that was obviously quite moving for Jilly. For the first time, I am now able to see the legendary hill down which Jilly careered on her bicycle [as a child] before crashing into their garden wall and being catapulted over it and down into the garden. Fantastic!

We've had some very distressing news in Gingatopia today. Basil, Jilly's ancient and beaudeeful liddle kiddee, was taken to the vet's last night - by the RSPCA - when one of our neighbours found her (apparently the victim of a road traffic accident) on nextdoor's driveway. Unfortunately, we were all up in the loft [wrapping presents!] so didn't hear any of the three people who tried our door!

Jilly actually believes that Basil fell from the wall in the back garden [at the bottom of which is next door's driveway] and it was there that Basil broke her front right leg! When Jilly rang the vet, the vet said that Basil was clearly in shock but had been given some pain killer, and asked that we rang back again in the morning.

By this morning, the vet had decided that it would be kinder to end Basil's pain, particularly with her being so very old [Basil was EIGHTEEN...that's ANCIENT in kitty years!]; and Jilly agreed. I drove the family to the vet's to be with Basil as she was put to sleep. Jilly was obviously very upset - as she has had Basil since August 1986 - but she, and Kieran, were both very brave.

We brought Basil home and buried her in the back garden, beneath Evelyn's cherry tree. It was very sad as we wrapped her in a towel, and put her in a shoe box. Because I'm the man, 'n' 'ard, 'n' that, I didn't get too upset at all until tonight, as we were about to go to bed. Jilly wanted to go outside to Basil's grave and wish her 'goodnight', so I went with her to make sure she was alright. We both know that Basil was 'only' the family cat, and we're not talking about the end-of-the-world here, but as Jilly told Basil to "sleep tight", I had a lump in my throat thinking about Basil in her little shoe box bed...and Jilly had another blub, the liddle beaudee!

We're all very sad, indeed!

Festive visiting - After burying Basil this morning, we all went to Leavening to visit the Drurysharks', calling in on the Judges on the way home, to deliver the childrens' Christmas presents and see them all for the last time before Christmas. I think that seeing everybody, having the lovely Sunday dinner at the Drurysharks, and nibbles at the Judges', helped to take our minds off Basil's death. Many thanks, again, to the Drurysharks for the gift of the marvellous baby bouncer. Evie goes barmy in it!