What an unusual year we have all had!
In February we visited Janet’s father Frank on the Isle of Wight, he having been admitted to hospital and then to hospice. He died within a few days, at age 93, and at peace, and in March, in Taunton, we attended his funeral and celebration of his life. It was just before the world began to close down so his family were all able to be present, including Chris, his eldest son from Canada. Janet’s mother had died in 2007 and Mike’s parents died in the 1990’s.
In April we joined the fashion parade with masks of differing shapes, sizes and utility, and dinky, white cotton gloves that others spurned. On the church front, technology flourished and we continued fellowship through little rectangular windows up to 49 in number because Mike took the opportunity to upgrade his PC. Zoom rapidly got its house in order, pulling its datacentres out of China, and we all became exhausted learning to mute, to speak one-at-a-time-please, and to sing to ourselves.
As the weather warmed we rediscovered the joy of gardening. Mike managed to slowly rid himself of the perfectionism that besets computer programmers, and enjoyed doing gardening badly. The plants did not seem to mind, and alstroemeria and other floral delights thrust themselves upwards until frosty days interrupted. Our new Joseph Rock mountain ash produced its yellow berries and we experienced the delight of watching God’s programming through the seasons.
Janet pressed her smart phone into use and, to our delight, was able to maintain contact with friends far and wide, who wonderfully, appeared pleased to reply and to tell us how they were doing.
We attempted to exercise our limbs in a more regular fashion, going for daily walks around the block. And how pleased we are to live in a suburbia supplied with shops, parks and garden centres. We continuously marvel at the way that God has cared for us: in placing us where we are, providing the things we need even before we think of them, and providing friends and connections.
On a number of occasions during the summer, Janet provided cream teas for ones and twos who came to see us. These were always happy times, and we enjoyed people who previously would have stayed for a couple of hours, staying effortlessly three or four.
In August we visited Paul (Mike’s brother) and Carol in Aylsham where they live having escaped N-W London suburbs some years ago. In previous years we have visited more frequently, but this year we have felt ‘clamped down on’ though, in some ways, few liberties have been curtailed. It’s all the little liberties that have been chopped; Garden Centres have been a lifesaver.
In September, we holidayed for a week in Tintagel on the north Cornwall coast, where Tim also joined us for a few days. The weather was wonderful and we paddled in the sea several times. Occupying a modern three storey house for a week, involved extra exercise retrieving articles from the top floor when we were on the ground floor and vice-versa. Alexa introduced her charms to us because the house was ‘smart’, so on our return home we began to experiment with ‘smart’ lights and speakers: two steps forward and three steps back.
Ben in Swindon, with Louise, has been working hard from home for Dell, and Tim in Reading for National Grid. We are blessed with having young men who both enjoy their work and put a lot into it. They are also very affectionate and supportive to us and we are very grateful.
Like most people, we have found this year of restriction trying, especially coupled with political changes in China, the USA, Europe and the UK, and the progress apparently being made towards a new world order.
Here we are recently, with feet excised:
For your encouragement, Psalm 91 (KJV) says: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
It continues: Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
We hope that you are well, and wish you all a happy time at Christmas and God’s continuing blessings into the New Year.
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