Three years ago I posted about my mother and my Auntie Kit and headed the post Grand Dames because that is what they were. Link to this earlier piece is here.
As you know my lovely mother died earlier this year and now, last week, I received a call to say that Auntie Kit had also left us. I am beginning to feel that 2010 is fated and, apart from the shining light that is the arrival of my darling Florence, it has been a horrid one. I am very much looking forward to 2011, the continuing joy of watching Florence grow (she is now crawling and oh my goodness we are going to have to watch her now), and visiting Australia and spending time with Kathryn.
A few weeks ago I was staying with a friend in Horley and one morning drove to Brighton to see Auntie Kit. We had a simply lovely visit, we were helpless with laughter as always, she saw photos and videos of Florence and it was wonderful to be with her. If the snow had fallen a week earlier I would not have paid my visit and I would have missed seeing her for the last time. I cannot help but feel that God was watching.
Today I have cancelled what must be my fifth or sixth visit to London for various reasons - today is because I am in bed with sore throat, hacking cough and headache and here I am going to stay. If Richard Armitage turned up on my doorstep and professed undying love for me I would probably shut the door in his face the way I feel at the moment. The smell of Vick might put him off as well!
So to distract me, I am here with laptop and am going to start thinking about my Books of the Year and also rejoicing at the thought that my mum, Auntie Kit and Uncle Tim (who had the most wonderful marriage) are all together somewhere and are going to have a cracking good Christmas.....