This half term holiday has been a bit mixed. With me still recovering from being so ill we abandoned plans to possibly go camping, and decided on a quiet week at home. I think we needed it.
Mostly we have had chilled out time, at home and at the park. My headaches have been pretty bad as I’m basically still exhausted from my last round of antibiotics and looking after two noisy kids all day isn’t exactly the best cure for that.
On Tuesday, the girls went to their best friends houses in a sort of relay child care arrangement, while James and I went with his family to say goodbye to his Grandfather. The girls are too young to attend a funeral, in my opinion, especially as it was a very long day with two services and a wake. They had a good time at their friends house, and James and I could give our attention to the services without the stress and distraction of keeping the children in check.
We have talked to Georgiana and Lydia about their Great Grandfather, and it’s hard to know how much they understand. Georgie has grasped the concept that he is dead, and was sad when we told her, but Lydia doesn’t really get it.
They loved to visit him. A few years ago Granny and Grandfather moved from Northumberland to an assisted living flat in Solhiull, so we have been very close for the past few years, and visiting their Great Grandfather or Great Granny (who has been in a nearby nursing home a while now instead) has always been a cherished treat.
Grandfather loved to read to the girls, and enjoyed a fair few sunny outings into the gardens. He fed them many biscuits, as well! I hope that they will remember him as they grow up, but they are so young that I am sure the memories will become fuzzy and fade with time.
I have known Grandfather for around eight years, and both James and I are of course very sad about his passing, however expected it may have been, in the end. Despite the sad circumstances, it was lovely to see so much family come together on Tuesday to celebrate his life and mourn his death. The readings and eulogies made me reach for my tissues, as we said goodbye to someone who was always so kind, gentle, and welcoming to me as a more recent member of his family. He was a truly wonderful man, and will be missed.
I have been sad for other reasons this week, as his passing has made me regret the situation my own family is in. Stupid arguments and resentment is keeping some young cousins from knowing each other and it is frustrating to me, after seeing how James’s family all came together to support one another earlier in the week. I am very much in the middle of my family situation, and it is upsetting a fair few people needlessly. I can only hope that forgiveness and peace can be achieved before my own family has to come together in a similar event.
Hopefully our half term will end in a bit of fun for the girls though after the quiet weekdays, as we are hoping to go to the Black Country Living Museum tomorrow, and perhaps to visit a farm on Sunday. Fingers crossed my stupid head will behave.
So sorry to hear about the girls great grandfather hun, sounds like you all needed the quiet week. Hope your feeling better x
Sending love and hugs! It sounds like you have had a rough week. So sorry to read about the girls great grandfather! Thinking of you x
So sorry to hear about your loss. I hope that the photos you have can help return some memories to your children as they grow older x