Mum’s Eulogy

 It’s Mum’s Funeral tomorrow and I thought I would share here some younger pictures of her and the words I wrote which will be read by my dear cousin Sue:

Love  multiplies it does not divide and that love was tangible in mum’s last days.  Not only the love you gave her in visiting or telephoning for updates but the love she had for all of you.  Mum loved until the very end when the Lord called her home.  

If I had to sum up Mum in one word it would be faithful:

She was a faithful and loving daughter to my Nan and Grandad.  Even from a young age she was helping out around the home.  

Mum left school at the age of fifteen and her first job was at Home and Colonial a small supermarket.  She enjoyed working behind the counter and interacting with customers but an injury sustained at work meant she could no longer continue.  

Mum then found employment in the accounts department at Vickers and she remained there until my birth in 1967.  As a result of that job and her love of numbers she learned book keeping,  and she faithfully kept a weekly accounts book up until her admission to hospital on the 13th February.  

In early married life Mum stretched the budget as far as possible and this often meant her going without so that others were provided for, but that was just typical of her nature.  

She was faithful in her vocation as wife and mother, providing a loving, supportive and well ordered home.  As a Mum in Law  she welcomed Dave and Heather into the family home and most importantly into her heart. 

She was faithful in her role as a ‘Second Mum’ to Paddy, Maureen, Theresa and David.   It’s been lovely to hear of their remembrances of Mum when they were growing up, including the long anticipated visit of Dad calling for Mum on their first date.  Everyone lined up eagerly to catch a glimpse of this chap,  only to be met with pitch blackness,  as the whole estate was plunged into darkness as a result of a power cut! 

She was a loving Nan and Gran Nan and enjoyed visits, telephone calls and the various WhatsApp messages, daft videos and memes.  Even when technology frustrated her especially the iPad,  she never gave up on taking an interest on what was going on in their world, and the blessings it brought far outweighed the hiccups. 

She was faithful to all of her friends and wider family and would offer practical help and a listening ear where possible.  I’m sure you will all have your own memories of her and I hope they are a real comfort to you at this time. 

Mum  faithfully used her gift of singing first in the Walney Amateur Dramatic Society and then with Sacred Heart Choir.  I know mum was most proud of her role as Tuptim  in The King and I.  In addition she received a standing ovation for her rendition of ‘You will never walk alone’ in the production of Carousel.  Colin also shared with me that in the early days of the choir, Patrick Black the then choir master expected folk to audition, so mum must have met his exacting standards. 

Mum was faithful in her prayers which gradually increased over time and pretty much resembled a convent time table.  I was tasked with finding all of the holy prayer cards and leaflets and they were dotted throughout the house - in books, cupboards and handbags.  Reading her prayer list was enlightening, humbling and a real testament to a faith lived out in ordinary daily life.  What I do know is that mum will continue that mission in heaven, so if you’ve ever shared a trouble or asked for her prayers, be assured you are not forgotten. 

Mum you were faithful in getting up each day and dealing with all the trials and challenges that life threw at you.  You’ve more than earned your rest. May you rest in peace and rise in glory.

Mum as Tuptim in The King and I. 

A photo pertaining to The Flower Drum Song. 

Mum second row from the front on the left. 

Wedding Day. 

Rest In Peace Mum

 My lovely mum died yesterday afternoon at 2pm.  For these past six days in particular mum and I walked The Way of The Cross.  Before she slipped into a semi consciousness we prayed rosaries, divine mercy chaplets and the angelus together. However right up to the very end she was still attempting to join in with the prayers. 

 In amongst the sadness there were moments of hilarity as mum recounted funny stories or responded with very droll one liners! We shared picnics in her room and chatted about everyday happenings too. 

  It was a privilege to care for her in practical ways such as helping her drink and spiritually by advocating for a visit from the priest.  The chaplaincy team at the hospital were such a comfort to me and there were two separate occasions whereby God had answered a prayer I hadn’t even said.  In her last moments she had me and Aunty Teresa ( her youngest sister) at her bedside praying her over into eternity, with my brother praying quietly at the foot of the bed.  

Miss you loads Mum but Praise God no more suffering 💕

Of Your Charity

 Please pray for my lovely mum who is currently on a coronary care ward and is close to dying.  

Our daughter Sr Emma made it home from Spain yesterday and late last night were called to the hospital back home which was a fifty mile drive.  We spent the night with mum and have just returned back home.  I could well be called back to be with her if it’s God’s Will.  I will miss her dearly but she has suffered continued deteriorating health these past eighteen months and her body cannot take anymore. 

From left to right: Mary Grace, Mum H and my Mum x 

Blackwell Arts and Crafts House

 Last Thursday we visited the Blackwell Arts and Crafts House in the Lake District and declared it the best Home Ed Day Out.  Our visit was very fortuitous as the work of Francis Priest was on display throughout the property.  There is also an opportunity to meet Francis in person at Blackwell  in March so a return visit is definitely on the cards.

Such a beautiful, light and airy room and you would never tire of that view.

Even though this was a fairly dark room it was not oppressive to be in unlike other Stately Homes that we've visited.  The house certainly had a very welcoming feel as we moved from room to room.

I particularly loved this yellow room which also included a lovely adjoining dressing area housing the boots and the mirrored dresser.  When I saw the embroidered coverlet I thought about my friend Eva's daughter Veronika, who is currently studying fashion design at JP Catholic University in California.

The museum showcased information about the Arts and Crafts Movement alongside a beautiful display of Francis Priest's ceramic designs.

We finished the day with a well deserved treat from the cafe and a little wander around the shop, where Pip was able to purchase a pottery book which will help enormously with her work.

Pip’s Art Work

 As a result of the horrible results debacle there was another silver cloud.  Kings Interhigh Online (Pip’s online school) offered her a year’s free education 🙂. Pip didn’t want to study A Level’s online but instead chose to work towards an art GCSE in one year.  She uses her photography as her main focus with mixed media and drawing skills thrown into the mix.  Here is her observational drawing of a cat via a photograph she found on the internet: 

Salts Mill

 On Wednesday we managed a trip to Salts Mill which is just over an hour away from home.  The website can be found here   

The last time Dave and I were there was the summer of 2022 and this was Pip’s first visit.  It was a bitterly cold day but a lovely one nonetheless: 

Seventeen :: Christmas

 Pip turned seventeen on the 23rd December and I was utterly grateful that I was able to celebrate her day.  The previous week on the 15th I had a terrible allergic reaction to the flu vaccine ( shortness of breath and rampant tachycardia occurred within minutes of the jab) which essentially lasted the entire week and consisted of off the wall tachycardia, two severe migraines including light intolerance and needing to wear Ben’s dark glasses and an infection that went from 0-60 and was horrendous!  No vaccines for me going forward!! 

Dave’s mum spent Christmas week with us and we had a lovely, quiet time together.  For the first time ever I actually managed to watch some lovely programmes on Christmas Eve as there was no Christmas baking for me this year 🙂.  We had a video call with my mum on Christmas Day as well as a video call from Dave’s brother and his partner - they are still currently in Thailand as I type.  On Boxing Day we managed a trip to the seaside and enjoyed blue skies, sunshine and the bracing fresh air 💕

On the last day of 2025 we sent the old year packing with afternoon treats and time spent with dear friends, and just before the stroke of midnight I managed to sew the last button on Everlie’s cardigan!  I promised Kath that I would knit Ottie and Everlie matching cardigans and they will be duly delivered today 💕

May you be blessed in abundance this forthcoming year x 

Positive News for Pip

 I’ve been meaning to pop by but somehow life events take over.  I’m way overdue sharing some good things regarding Pip.  Way back in September on the feast of the Angels, Pip received an email from the exam board.  They regraded her entire English GCSE and she went from an epic fail to a strong pass and no resit needed!!  What an answer to prayer 🙏

She has been keeping herself busy with some art projects, photography as well as weekly pottery lessons:

I’ve just cobbled together this update from my phone so I hope it reads ok.  Hopefully I can pop by with some Christmas pictures and updates on the wider family. 

God bless xx 

A Picture Catch Up

Here I am trying to blog again, let's see if I actually succeed this time :-)

 Ben passed his driving test in March on a first attempt.  It was a nerve wracking few days before the test and on the big day but he nailed it.

We finally made it over to the North East, our first visit back since that dratted covid infection in December 2022.  We stayed at the Alnwick Youth Hostel and visited all of our old favourites Hexham Abbey, Lindisfarne, Seahouses, Barter Books and a new addition The Aln Valley Railway.

 Stained Glass Window at Hexham Abbey.

Seahouses for Fish and Chips.

Pip feeding the 'spuggies' at Pilgrim's Coffee House on Holy Island, Lindisfarne.

A lunch time treat at Barter Books.  Shock horror, I only came away with one book!  I've just recently had a big clear out of the book case so was determined to be very intentional with any purchase.

A lovely train ride on the Aln Valley Railway.  It wasn't a long journey but it was an enjoyable steam ride.

Pip received her exam results in late August.  She gained really good marks in her Maths and Geography but the English paper was an unmitigated disaster thanks to the Exam board, who failed to mark her second paper!!  As a result this cost her a place on her level three aeronautical engineering course.  By the time we challenged the result and she was given a remark (which although just eight marks shy of a pass would have been enough for her to study the level three alongside a resit), it was too late to attend the course :-(  Needless to say she was pretty devastated and this past month has been very difficult for us all. 

 We are now homeschooling for Year 12 which comprises of an English Language resit following a different examination board, AS Level Maths and a beginners course in pottery amongst any other short courses that come along.  We have designated Fridays as a field trip day, so here are some pictures from a recent trip to the British Commercial Transport Museum in Leyland:

This ambulance is very reminiscent of episodes from the lovely drama, 'Call the Midwife.'  Poor Pip had a quick run down on the best positions for labour and lying flat on your back was not on that list ;-)  She was very tolerant of her old ma!

The back of the Popemobile used to transport St John Paul Second when he visited the Uk in 1980.

I still find screens and cognitive stuff still a bit of a nightmare but I've missed sharing over here and connecting with lovely blogging friends, so I'm hopeful I can make it work this time around.  

Thanks for reading xx