just another morning here

I’ve just come home from some time with my family; my Uncle Graham died last week, and so I went back for his funeral and thanksgiving service. I am a bit rubbish with words at times like these – but other people did a wonderful job of giving tributes and saying the right things.

A very sad occasion but full of faith, hope and challenge too – without exception everyone who gave testimony about Graham’s life spoke of the way he just lived his faith, how every aspect of his life simply exemplified Jesus. And there is no better eulogy than that, no better way to have lived, no greater achievement in life than to have followed your Saviour wholeheartedly, by loving and serving those around you. He will be very much missed.

I will find some good things to say … but it is hard. Some people very dear to me have had devastating news this weekend and I’ve found it hard to think of anything else but them

However. There were some highlights in the week; particularly (for me) the after school trip that I organised for some of my students to see an open rehearsal of the Exeter Symphony Orchestra. It was a hectic day and quite a feat to get the kids all through their tea and onto the buses in time but we made it with plenty of time to spare, and the students got so much out of it. The whole thing fitted in really well with a unit study we’d done on the orchestra, so that was great – in fact one of the TAs asked whether I’d given the conductor my planning for the unit as it fitted in so well! Some wonderful staff members gave up their own time to make it all happen, a bottle of wine and a box of doughnuts wasn’t really enough thanks!

Steve’s been working hard as ever, and I don’t really know about the children, having not really had much time to talk to them about their weeks, if I’m honest (and of course even if I did ask them how their week had been I’d probably get monosyllabic grunts!).

Yesterday Steve worked all day. The rest of us were busy with various combinations of choir, orchestra, and concerts, so apart from a couple of hours at lunchtime we were all out all day.

Today’s been a day just for catching up with housework etc., around other commitments. Josiah had choir this morning but has played really nicely with his M-Gears set this afternoon. I keep trying to remind him about some homework but he’s playing so well that I feel mean to try and drag him away! Abbie is making me a ‘here’s one I made earlier’ example for artwork at school this week. I’m planning lessons and Steve’s playing guitar then watching the Grand Prix (upstairs, thank goodness). Anna’s out at another SWMS day, on improvisation. While these days are great for her I think she’s going to struggle as she hasn’t really had much downtime this weekend.

That’s about it. Being emotional makes you even more exhausted than you were before, and I’m falling asleep as I write – at only 4pm.

We were up relatively early today and Josiah chose to feed the cats for the last time, while Abbie went out to sort the chickens. She was rewarded for her efforts this past few days with the only egg of the week! I think the chickens were less trouble than the cats, but it has made me want a cat even more – though not until the guinea pigs have snuffed it

Anyway. A quick clear up after breakfast and we were away – home by 12.30pm. This afternoon Abbie has carved a pumpkin, Josiah has tried and failed to import his game save on SD card so had to start over at the beginning, and Anna lost track of time at a friend’s house.

After a long discussion about which clothes and shoes were suitable, and many changes of clothes accompanied by much foot-stamping, we attended Grandad’s funeral at the crematorium. It went as well as these things go; we were invited back for tea at Steve’s parents’ afterwards which was pleasant. We have his thanksgiving service up in North Devon tomorrow too, which is more of an event to remember him by, but you still have to get through the official necessary bits as well.

Got home just in time to run the girls round for panto rehearsals, and the rest of us are catching up at home tonight. Here probably ends the daily blogging, we’ll be back to weekend posts from now on. I do enjoy having the time to write posts though, it takes me back to the good old days

Last week I said I’d had a better week at work; this past week was a step backwards, unfortunately. I can’t go into details here really but suffice to say we are all very glad that there is only a week to go until half term. I’m insanely jealous of my own children who have broken up for a two week break!

At home it’s just been busy as usual. We’ve been fairly pre-occupied thinking about Grandad this week. He’s been in and out of hospital since August really, then deteriorated very fast in hospital again this week and eventually died yesterday morning.

The younger two children had been to see him last weekend knowing that they were saying goodbye; Anna didn’t quite manage it; she shed a few tears yesterday but has decided that she’s happy keeping memories of him alive and well at home anyway. Very sad to lose him but he was ready to go, and it’s a relief that his suffering is over. And actually, just counting it a privilege for my kids to have had a lovely relationship with him especially over the past couple of years that he’s lived with Steve’s parents – not many children get to know their great-grandparents that well, or spend so much time with them, so that’s something to treasure about this particular Great-Grandad.

In other news … er… oh yes, orchestra – we had a Russian Evening last night – a social open to all the orchestra but in the end mainly attended by those who went to Russia! We brought and shared food and drink, and watched slide shows of everyone’s photos, videos etc. A great night – though it was really late and Josiah was falling asleep on the table by the end of the evening!

Anna’s got a friend to stay, so we’re having a quiet Sunday after that late night yesterday – I’m working, since I have a lesson observation tomorrow I need to be on top of things. Josiah has gone to school for the day so we’re planning to go in to Evensong this afternoon before collecting him.

One week and counting.