Hello All,
Update from me, things have settled down since our 'dog napping' saga. With the Christmas build up this December as gone very quickly. In the weeks leading up to Christmas I tried to keep busy sorting Iona's pressies and doing all the things us guys normally take for granted. Apologies if any men reading this and think hang on a minute I do as much as anyone!, but I admit I said that because I normally get off lightly on the Christmas organising. I'm not complaining though, it was a focus that took my mind of things.
Iona and I chose a lovely tree, she did a fab job decorating it. I thought I'd have to redo it once she was in bed but no, it looked fab.
Joan returned to Edinburgh a few days before Christmas with Iona, Laura and I went up on the 23rd. It was the first time in 9 years I was going to spend Christmas day with Laura! usually I'd see her just for a few hours. Laura gets on well with Helen ( Diarmids daughter) and they went out all day Christmas Eve shopping, well and a two hour lunch apparently!
Anna and Ed offered to do Christmas lunch and we all gathered at there house. Well done both of you, it was great. Dick Place would've been difficult without Vicky around on Christmas day. In fact it was extremely hard being in Edinburgh without her. I've never been there without Vic. I was awash with emotions. I miss her so much, and being up there it magnified this void. Time I know will heal. I have to believe that.
Iona was very excited I'm pleased to say though. The arrival of a fat man with a white beard, who drinks at every stop whilst in charge of reindeer's still did its magic. Christmas morning we opened all her presents from Father Christmas and the rest Anna's later. Iona is spending New Year with Joan. She loves being up in Edinburgh. Except maybe when Frankie finds a box of chocolates, eats 16!! yes 16 and gets dog sick. Not pretty.
Thanks for all your cards and messages of support. Diana, huge thanks to you for putting me in touch with Jo, great help. Next year will soon be upon us and I wish you all a very happy 2008. I will continue to blog, to keep you up to date with this new Journey.
Martin X
Update from me, things have settled down since our 'dog napping' saga. With the Christmas build up this December as gone very quickly. In the weeks leading up to Christmas I tried to keep busy sorting Iona's pressies and doing all the things us guys normally take for granted. Apologies if any men reading this and think hang on a minute I do as much as anyone!, but I admit I said that because I normally get off lightly on the Christmas organising. I'm not complaining though, it was a focus that took my mind of things.
Iona and I chose a lovely tree, she did a fab job decorating it. I thought I'd have to redo it once she was in bed but no, it looked fab.
Joan returned to Edinburgh a few days before Christmas with Iona, Laura and I went up on the 23rd. It was the first time in 9 years I was going to spend Christmas day with Laura! usually I'd see her just for a few hours. Laura gets on well with Helen ( Diarmids daughter) and they went out all day Christmas Eve shopping, well and a two hour lunch apparently!
Anna and Ed offered to do Christmas lunch and we all gathered at there house. Well done both of you, it was great. Dick Place would've been difficult without Vicky around on Christmas day. In fact it was extremely hard being in Edinburgh without her. I've never been there without Vic. I was awash with emotions. I miss her so much, and being up there it magnified this void. Time I know will heal. I have to believe that.
Iona was very excited I'm pleased to say though. The arrival of a fat man with a white beard, who drinks at every stop whilst in charge of reindeer's still did its magic. Christmas morning we opened all her presents from Father Christmas and the rest Anna's later. Iona is spending New Year with Joan. She loves being up in Edinburgh. Except maybe when Frankie finds a box of chocolates, eats 16!! yes 16 and gets dog sick. Not pretty.
Thanks for all your cards and messages of support. Diana, huge thanks to you for putting me in touch with Jo, great help. Next year will soon be upon us and I wish you all a very happy 2008. I will continue to blog, to keep you up to date with this new Journey.
Martin X
12 comments:
Martin
Thanks for updating the blog - I have been checking (like others) regularly. I am pleased you had a nice Christmas and Iona obviously did well from Santa.
We are still all with you on this journey, so please keep it going.
Take care of yourself, our very best wishes to you and Vicky's family for 2008.
Hels & Lou (Party girls in Penthouse Suite)xx
Hi Martin,
Thanks so much for writing the blog, I imagine it's not the easiest job.
It's good to hear that Iona had a great Christmas in Edinburgh, and you did well to get through this difficult time, especially in Vicky's family home, filled with so many memories. It's such early days Martin, things will get more bearable with time. Time helps us to adjust perhaps come to terms with what has happened.
I hope you have a peaceful New Year, look after yourself. Will be thinking of you, and of Iona and Joan in Edinburgh.
Hugs, Marina xxx
Martin, Iona and Family, its vicky (the babysitter) again!!! I just wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year and im glad to hear that you are all keeping well and that Iona had a good christmas. Vicky's loss is still with us all and we are all supporting you and thinking of you x x x
Dear Martin Iona and Joan,
Happy New Year to you all - although you have gone through a very emotional time I am sure Iona has kept your spirits high. Our thoughts have been with you this Christmas time.
Well here we are 1st January 2008 - and a good time to get a well rested and serviced bus out of the garage and start on another journey. I am sure all of the passengers are looking forward to taking their seats and with great delight, join the happy band once more. We are so pleased that Martin is in the drivers seat and taking good control of everyone! Along with the two VIP travellers, Iona and Joan, we shall all enjoy the friendly and amusing banter along the way. We are looking forward to reading this amazing blog!
Hold tight everyone, Ding Ding here we go........
Your Friends in the North
Muir and Rod xxx
Martin I wasn't a close friend of Vicky's but had kept in touch with events through the blog and friends. I felt it wasn't appropriate to come to the funeral on my connection with Vicky but Angie has told me how things went. I was actually Vicky's health visitor for a while when she had Iona as well as knowing her socially. The last time I saw her we spent time together waiting to meet visitors off a delayed flight from Edinburgh that was several years ago. I was terribly sad to hear of her illness and her death and thought of you and Iona at Christmas. JUst wanted to add my own message even as someone not close to Vicky to let you know how much I thought of her and to send you all my best wishes for the future. Not sure how long you will keep up the blog I think it will be a great thing for Iona to see when she is older. Take care. Jill Adamson
Martin
I, likewise, value you keeping the blog going as I so seldom see you in the playground these days, and I'm sure Vicky would have approved. What a fantastic sum we raised for the 2 charities - I bet St Peters in particular was delighted - did you go and give it to them personally? It still seems so unreal that Vicky has gone and I still find it so difficult to get my head round it so I can't imagine what you and her family must be feeling and will continue to feel for a long time. Thank goodness for the busyness you have had over the past few weeks and here's hoping that as things settle down after Christmas, that you are able to start experiencing more and more moments of happiness as you recall fond memories and get into a routine on this next stage of the journey. Good luck with Jo - I'm sure things will work out well there and remember that we are all still around to help whenever you need it.
Diana xxx
It's nice to keep reading the blogs. Hope 2008 is a happy year for you all.
Our best wishes to you
from Bristol Tourist Office
Martin, Iona and family,
Wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year. That's great Iona enjoyed herself and had fun. I hope that amidst the sadness you were all lifted by her smiles.
Our new year started with a snow storm and another 15cm on top of the piles we are already looking at. Our temperatures have been colder than -25 as well. Much as we're pleased to bring in a new year, we're already looking forward to April and the thaw!
We think of you all so often and send best wishes for 2008.
Ali xx
Hello all... Martin, Iona, Laura, Joan and the rest of the family!
I'm pleased you all had an enjoyable Christmas and got into the festive spirt despite what must have been an extremely difficult time. Vicky would have been looking down on you wanting to see nothing but smiles on eveyones faces and feeling proud that you were all together. Nice to hear that Laura was able to join you too.
You all came into my thoughts, especially on Christmas Day when I had a little toast to Vicky and wished her a Happy Christmas with my vino!
Martin - For now, please do keep up the blogs. From a selfish point of view, they are a great way of answering all the questions and thoughts we have about you all and allowing us to continue feeling some closeness to Vicky. There are still huge numbers of us who regularly read your updates but remain from leaving a comment.
Vicky will never be from your thoughts but the heart ache will get better - keep believeing it. We are all here for you...never be too proud to ask when times are hard.
Best wishes for 2008
lots of love
Kerrie x(@DB)
Hi Martin, Iona, Joan and others missing Vicky,
Just a quick note to say we are still thinking of you and wishing you well. You seem to be very strong, yet we know it must be immensely tough for you.
I am sure there are many like us who are still watching the blog but haven't posted recently as we aren't sure what to say.
I decided this morning that if I were in your situation, I'd still like to know everyone was behind me.
So, rest assured, we are.
With very best wishes
Helen, Quent and Oakley.
xxx
Hi Martin and Iona,
A very late Happy New Year and thanks for your Christmas card - so organised !
We had a flu-filled Christmas but managed to see all the rellies.
Edinburgh was also very quiet though without our Vicky. Gill was still in Paris and Katie in Australia so just Claire and I.
We wish you all the best for 2008 and send you a huge hug and really hope to be in touch or see you soon.
Love Sarah in Milan.
Hi Martin Iona and Joan
Well it has been a few weeks since we heard your latest update - but hope that you are all doing well. I know you are probably fed up with people saying time is a great healer etc etc - but it does help to ease the pain that you have all been going through. We are thinking of you still and wish there was something we could do to help.
So with that in mind I thought you would like to know what is going on up here!There have been some changes to the landscape and - `Fold End` has now got its own moat! Although we have managed to keep the terrible flooding from actually getting into the house - we are surrounded by water up to four foot deep. Thankfully our gardens are that much lower than the bungalow! Our neighbours have had water inside their homes so we are very lucky really. For the past week Rod and I have been manning the pumps and keeping very helpful firecrews supplied with copious amounts of tea, coffee and toast! During the night it is very difficult to even think about sleep so have devised a `watch system` (which you yachties will know all about) so that we can get a couple of hours rest at least.Trying to dry the `waterproofs` is a joke!!!but thank goodness we have them - and our Clipper ones too so at least we have a set to wear and a set drying!!!
During the day it is interesting to see that along with all the wild birds that we have fed and adored for years (and class as our own!)- we now have ducks and moor hens visiting the moat. We are not sure however that we actually want to create a permanent home for these delightful wild fowl - but are pleased that they made what we hope is just a `flying/swimming visit!`
When the swans arrive I shall start panicking! Does King Canute spring to mind!!!
Hey Ho -
We shall keep you posted!!
Much love to you all
From Your now web-footed Friends in the North
Muir and Rod xxx
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