Grandad

Paul's dad passed away on 26 May. He had been very ill for some time, and he just slipped away. It is very sad. David and I went to Melbourne arriving from WA just after the funeral. We stayed with nanna for almost a week and with David around it was never dull.

Here is a photo of David and grandad taken at Christmas, and another of David having fun in grandad's chair.

We were away in WA when we got the news that the doctors were worried about grandad. After several months in palliative care, the end came quickly. On Saturday he was asleep from in the morning, didn't wake for lunch or dinner. On Sunday he was quietly asleep, but there were concerns about his breathing. He slipped away quietly just after midnight on Monday morning, with Josie and Gaye there. We got the news in WA just before midnight on Sunday. No time for any of us to get there, but Paul had visited him just a few days before.

David and I went to visit my mum, who is still having chemotherapy, and stayed for a few days. On Saturday, in the middle of a dreadful storm with high winds and torrential rain, which we mostly avoided, we drove up to Perth. In a very large blessing, the rain stopped for us to leave the hire car and make our dry way to the airport. However the storm returned to close the airport, delaying the flight for three hours. We survived it all, and a full flight and got in late on Saturday night. A long day.

We saw all the family, and David saw Matthew and Evan. It was lovely to see nanna, but sad that grandad is no longer there. We showed David the picture of the modified light destroyer (HMAS Adelaide) on which grandad served during the war. He was very interested in the guns, and could remember that there were anti-aircraft guns as well as big guns to shoot other ships. Nanna told David about the time that grandad was stuck in the crow's nest during a big storm, and was sea sick. I am not sure if David realises that grandad is gone. We are dealing with it as it comes up.

The last photo is a blast from the past, with grandad holding a much smaller David.

David was still on Perth time for sleeping for Melbourne and several weeks after. We are now back in a routine and David is going to bed around 8.30pm. A bit late, but he does see his dad every evening. More soon.

Howdy and haircut

Well, after a long break, here I am blogging again. I will start with the immediate, and probably go a acouple of retro blogs to fill you in on recent developments.

The first photo is David helping me with the washing up. He is washing a sweet potato. There are many uses for his chairs, all good. We are really happy that we got the strong ones, that are good for standing (whether it is me or David).

Last Thursday, David had his first haircut. We had been talking about it for a while, and David was changable as to whether he wanted it or not. David has been saying hello to Tom on the Saturday walks since he was only a few months old. That's where dad gets his haircut. An example of the varying attitude - coming home from daycare, in terrible traffic at 6.00pm at night, he wanted a haircut - cried for it for over five minutes. When dad took him for a walk right to the barber shop, and he could see Tom, he didn't want a haircut. Generally, the further he was from Tom's, the more he wanted it.

However, dad & I arranged to meet at the barber's on Thursday at just past lunchtime. After a complete little meltdown, because I couldn't get David to go downstairs, we eventually got out of the house. It was nice and quiet and Tom and Lily talked David through it. Lily cut his hair, and he had a lollypop afterwards. It is a good cut, and he looks quite grown up after it. No more baby fluff. As you can see, we did it near the window, not in the barber chair. Lovely.

We kept some hair for the nannas!

Camera is back!

The camera is finally back and repaired. Let's not go into why Australia Post can't manage to deliver parcels, or even tell you that they are there - the parcel has been at the post office awaiting collection since 22 May.

The big news is that it is back. This is a photo taken the last day at the park on the day the camera broke. Good isn't it? David is driving a digger and looking moderately happy!!!!

More news and photos later when I feel able to go into all the news.