I'm not sure how old Ann is but I am guessing 80s. She was the second wife of my uncle, John, who was my father's best man at my parents' wedding. To complicate matters John wasn't his real name. He married my Dad's sister then they divorced and he married Ann then they divorced and he married again. We kept in touch over the years as he was the father of my cousin and, travelling to this part of the country frequently, we would sometimes call in to see them on the farm.
I had last seen Ann at my uncle's funeral about 6 years ago and she is now rather frail but still has the most beautiful voice and is as sharp and bright as she ever was. I learned a great deal about wood burning stoves in our short visit, heard about a new place for Sunday lunch and the range of events that can be held in a village hall - very helpful.
The mind does tend to wander back though. This beautiful woman who is now confined to her home used to pilot a light aircraft. I took my husband to be to meet them some 30 odd years ago and they separately took us up in their little plane to fly across the amazing countryside around the Wye valley. I loved it but the fiancé was a little anxious going up in such a tiny aircraft with this lovely delicate woman whom he had only just met. She is a delight to know,
Back home it is a hive of activity. I am anxious to complete items of knitting for the new baby and to get on with so many outstanding projects. Spring is beckoning and the garden is more than beckoning for attention and it is time now to start to work on the house. The decorating which was needed when we moved in is still needed - that isn't going away and, to add to the work, the middlest child is buying her first house so work will be needed there. Retirement is fun.
Some completed projects:
