Well New Year was entertaining; went to my old pub, and accepted the challenge of a stint behind the bar for old times' sake. All the other chaps behind the bar had taken their shirts off, so I had to join in.
Fortunately, at 44 I was still slimmer than most of the young 20-something-year-old bucks, and have a decent tan to boot. Still went home alone though. T'was a great late evening, and it was fun to pull a few pints and engage in banter with the old customers, without having to stress in any way about how the pub was running.
The Boxing day fashion show was entertaining. They didn't really think it out - the catwalk was in 2 sections, with the girls having to walk across the back of the room to get to the other part. This section was full with people standing, so the girls had to squeeze through a groping horde in semi darkness before they got to the next 'safe' area. Funny for me - but a total lack of common-sense in the organisation. I did meet a chap that I hadn't seen for over 20 years. A group of us used to borrow his chauffeur-driven Bentley to collect and deliver us to whichever bar he was in, when we were young and knocking around Alderley Edge. It was really good to see him - he's still doing OK, and now in central Manchester. Alderley got a bit too 'bling' for him when the footballers moved in.
Have been unblocked from Skype by the model! I didn't realise until she instant messaged me. That rally lasted for a minute or so, before she asked me to call her. I did and we spoke for an hour. Very nice. She's in Prague and OK. It was a lovely conversation, and she insisted on putting the video on so she could see me. She looked great and we laughed a lot. She forbade me from going to Thailand and was most concerned about the cold I caught at the fashion show. A very surprising event!
She called today as well for 30 minutes, telling me she's moving to Milan next week. and I should learn to speak Italian...
My Great-Uncle is very ill. He is 97 and we moved him to a nursing home in October. He's deteriorating fast, but we kept him at home as long as we could. Tonight the home said he may not last until tomorrow, so I waited at my parents' house until they came home, to see whether Mother would want a lift to see him. She spoke with some other family and we will go tomorrow morning.
It is strange, but there are no feelings of sadness or worry. At 97, one can only be circumspect about this sort of thing. 97 is no tragedy - more a feat to be celebrated. Particularly as he kept his independence right up to so close to the end. The next few days will tell, and BBC North West will report it; he has had quite an illustrious life.
Interestingly, the nursing home needed to know whether we would cremate or bury him. If cremated he would need 2 doctors to sign his certificate. That is because, since all of the incidents with people dying from abuse or wrong medication etc in care homes, people to be cremated must have an extra safeguard. They cannot be exhumed and tested should a scandal break out in the future. We agreed on cremation, with ashes to be scattered in a poignant place.
May have a busy couple of weeks ahead.
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