A tree and a bell...

Playlist
Grand Funk Railroad – Good Singin’ Good Playin’
Brown Eyed Susans – Afternoon Tea
The Flower Kings – The Rainmaker
The Move – Looking On
Suzanne Vega – Beaty and Crime
ELO – Balance of Power
Motorhead – Ace of Spades
Jewel – Goodbye Alice in Wonderland
Nine Horses – Money For All
Fennesz/Sakamoto – Cendre

A visit to my mum’s tonight – we should have popped out last week but, somehow, time passed us by...

The evening usually opens with a quick round up of local news, who's died (this time a 64 yr old neighbour from a heart attack in hospital whilst about to commence chemo for cancer) and what mum’s been up to – it’s usually out on a few evenings for meals with the various clubs and associations of which she remains a member, despite her ongoing immobility...

Then we ask about the family...

Sister Pam spends a good hour on the phone to mum every Sunday – she’s doing fine, as is her husband Tricky Dicky Richard who works on when he can, despite suffering for years from a terrible form of arthritis which afflicts his body with excruciating pain at regular intervals...

Pam’s coming up again for Xmas – Richard will stay in England to spend time with his mum who is undergoing treatment for cancer...

Then Sister Sheila and her family – my mum visits them for a meal at least once a week – Sheila has been a primary school teacher for decades – she used to love it but not anymore – the kids are horrible and out of control and teachers these days have no recourse to anything as regards discipline in the classroom...

Her husband Andrew loves cars and motorbikes while first son Andrew jnr is a DJ and musician (and co-writer of several songs with his old uncle David over the years) who spends time on the south coast of England visiting his girlfriend...

Second son Alistair is a plumber’s apprentice and will no doubt out-earn us all in years to come. He has a lovely long term girlfriend, Julie...

Both sons suffer from congenital deafness which appears to be worsening as time goes on...

Andrew jnr has a son of his own, Kerr, upon whom Sister Sheila dotes whenever possible – a shock at first, especially since Kerr’s mum was merely a “good friend” of Andrew’s when she became pregnant – they have never had a relationship to speak of – wee Kerr is now the apple of his Great-Grandmother’s eye...

Then coffee time – mum usually has some lovely biscuits or cakes to hand and tonight is no exception as she provides us with Christmas themed shaped shortbread – I partake of a tree and a bell...

Then a discussion re what’s good on telly at the moment, the ins and outs of “Coronation St” and “Spooks” and “Strictly Come Dancing”...

Then what we’re all doing for Xmas...

So, all riveting stuff as you can see...

I do sometimes regret that I don’t visit my mum as often as I should but once every couple of weeks seems about right to keep in touch and up to date with what’s happening – and Pam reads this blog and relays our info to her...

Families eh?



Highlight of the Day : A visit to my mum