Hello Again ...

It is so long since I last had a chat with you all - if you are still out there - that I  hardly know where to begin! Two years is a long time in any life, and with children and grandchildren racing on with their lives, it's rather like a fast-forwarded film.
  For a start, I'm two years older, and that sometimes seems a lot. I've now got a dodgy knee to go with the dodgy eyes and ears, all of which cause my children to be (understandably) short tempered and to often say, in exasperation "Oh for goodness sake Mum" when I can't keep up with either the conversation or the walking speed. Though on the whole they are rather better tempered about it all than I am. I get regularly furious with my diminishing abilities and often swear loudly, even if I'm the only one in earshot.
  Still I have lots to be grateful for. because my brain seems to be keeping up and though I have shaky hands as well, they don't alarm me as much as they alarm friends and family who often ask if I drop things. (I don't.)  I did ask my doctor if they were anything to worry about, and after asking me lots of pertinent questions. she suggested that a glass of wine might help. I assured her that we were on the same wavelength as I regularly enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, and that was that.
   No doubt you're thinking that you would rather hear about my family than all this, so here goes:
Son and his lovely Polish partner are now the proud owners of a delightful 3 year old son, little Jasper, who is as bright a button as you could ever imagine. They have been living in Barcelona for just over a year, and really enjoying life there. And as it's more or less continual blue skies and sunshine, I'm not really surprised. I have been a regular visitor to their lovely rented apartment which is only 5 minutes walk to the beach. My last visit, over New Year, was so nice and even warm enough to sit in the sun. It was such a wonderful antidote to our grey and gloomy winter.
   Little Jasper goes to Nursery School there, and besides being fluent in both English and Polish, he is also learning Spanish and Catalan!  It's pretty amazing to have four languages before his fourth birthday I know. And he is totally into Spiderman (has the whole costume and mask) and the Spurs (Harry Kane and Dele Alli are his favourites - of course we are a Spurs family, so that's not surprising). So all in all, he is a total delight, though I may be a bit biased.
  Daughter's family has been much more complicated over the last two years - at times it has been rather like a full-on earthquake! I'll gloss over the worst bits, but my lovely older Grandson Will, is now 13 (and much taller than me of course) and has acquired a new adoptive Father, who is Daughter's now ex-partner (don't ask) and the natural father of my little grand-daughter, Gracie, now 3 and a complete delight too. But I fear that they have all had a very wobbly couple of years. Daughter moved out of the house, and the relationship, early last year, and has now moved into a new house and a new relationship! I must say that she is completely fearless where relationships are concerned - which she certainly doesn't get from me - and I'm sure that things will work themselves out. But, as my friends and I say, you couldn't make it up!
  I think that's probably enough for now, and about as much as you might want to absorb and reflect on. It has certainly given me several pauses for thought and a few sleepless nights too. I'll catch up again soon and bring you up to date with my future plans.
  I have missed you all, and writing this blog, and I promise not to disappear again for two years!