Sharlie Andrews part 4 aka 14 updated 19/9 p23

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The CBB -> Ste Therese's House

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#1: Sharlie Andrews part 4 aka 14 updated 19/9 p23 Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:38 am
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Links to previous parts:

part 1. Schooldays I
part 2. Schooldays II
part 3. Uni Years I
part 4. Uni Years II
part 5. The CS and Sharlie I
part 6. The CS and Sharlie II
part 7. The CS and Sharlie III
part 8. The CS and Sharlie IV (part 7, page 2)
part9. The CS and Sharlie V (part 7, page 3)
part 10. The CS and Sharlie VI (part 8 )
part 11. A Married Woman I (part 9)
Part 12 – A Married Woman II
Part 13 - A Married Woman III

Snapshots from the Sharlie universe (Ste. Therese)
Snapshots II

Who's who, who's what, and anything else you ever wanted to (or not) know about this drabble...

***

Vikki wrote:

So, Sharlie is 76 this year then? Very scary thought!

*counts onfingers* Hmmm, run out of fingers... *fetches calculator* Yes. Mneuergh.

Christmas term was hard work for us all but especially for Alice and Lottie – the former making agonising decisions about her university future and the latter preparing to sit her 11+. Luke had started in the sixth form and was taking it as easily as he dared/

Christopher’s wedding came off at the end of September with both he and Suzanne looking radiantly happy.

It makes me feel so old, Trixie groaned to me during the reception.
I expect your parents said the same thing when you married Paul, I remarked dryly.
I rather think they did. Where did all the years go?
I’m not sure but I’d quite like a few of them back so I can try and get my head around it all.
I know – sometimes university only seems a few weeks ago and now here we are, two of mine have graduated and one of yours goes off next year. It’s all so empty only having Susanna at home these days with Catherine working up in Manchester and Edward at university.
It’ll be grandchildren next to fill up the house, you know.
I’m quite looking forward to that actually.
I think you’ll make a splendid grandmother. They’ll keep you young.
So I’ve heard. Here, I keep meaning to tell you, you’ll never guess who my Edward’s dating.
Not an earthly.
Poppy.
Tash’s Poppy?
The very one and they both seem very serious about each other.
I grinned. That could put you and Tash in line for competitive grandparenting.
Don’t give me ideas! Besides, they’ve only been together a few months and they’ve both got university to concentrate on for the moment so let’s not ge ahead of ourselves. What is it you always used to say – Carpe Diem
Well precisely.

Alice turned 18 in December, an occasion she marked quietly – having her first driving lesson with Colin before going out with her friends for the evening. As I watched her going out, all dressed up and grown up, I let my mind wander back to the day she had been born and the vow I had made to protect and love her. Faced with her final two terms at school, I knew the time was fast approaching when I would have to let her spread her wings and try to touch the sky as my da had always encouraged me to do.

Lottie had breezed through her 11+ and Alice was offered her much coveted place at Newnham College, Cambridge to read history, giving us a double cause for celebration. Alice consequently threw herself into her schoolwork to try and ensure that she achieved the straight As she so badly wanted and needed whilst the twins were struggling to make their choices of O level subjects. Amelia had decided that she wanted to be a doctor and had resigned herself to the long hard slog ahead of her. Sophie wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to do but I got the impression that she had a plan that she was keeping quiet until her mind was firmly made up. Luke was beginning to get some recognition locally for his photography and couldn’t wait to leave school the following year to join Colin in the shop.

I became a great aunt for the second time in the February of 1980 to Sarah and Spencer’s new daughter, Philippa Claire. They asked Alice to be her godmother, a task she took to with her usual serious application and dedication. Seeing Sarah with Philippa, or Pippa as she was to be known, took me back to seeing Rebecca with a newborn Sarah. It just didn’t seem possible that we were now here, where had all the intervening years gone? We had all achieved so much in that time.

Last edited by pim on Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:44 am; edited 69 times in total

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#2:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:04 am
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Thanks pim, it's lovely to see all the children being so successful and happy

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#3:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:45 am
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It's lovely to keep reading this, pim. Although I do get confused as to who everybody is, and this is despite the fact that I only starting reading the story around the time of the hacking, because I found it in the archives, and read straight through over a few days! Would you like to do a set of family trees, or a list of the characters and how they fit together, so my brain doesn't hurt so much, please? If it were a book, I would probably just have flipped back to the page where they were introduced and sorted it out, but I am afraid I am too lazy to try and find the right bits in the archive. Was Tash one of the girls Sharlie met at college? Or was that Trixie?

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#4:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 3:04 pm
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So pleased all Sharlie's children are doing well.

Thanks Pim.

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#5:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:44 pm
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Thanks, Pim. Congratulations to Sarah and Spencer. Well done, Lottie!

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#6:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:49 pm
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Thank you Pimmy!!

And yay for more new lickle ones!
*wonders who will be next to sprog*

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#7:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:04 am
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Lottie wrote:

Was Tash one of the girls Sharlie met at college? Or was that Trixie?

They both were - Trixie being the long suffering roommate & Tash, well, not. There are lists as to who's who, but they only make sense to me although I am trying to do something with them (like put them on my computer for a start ) to make them more comprehensible.

Oh, and Vikki dear, you have such a lovely way with words...

Alice’s A level results day arrived during a blazing hot August and Colin and I accompanied her to school, waiting nervously leaning against the car for her, scanning the gates every few seconds to catch a glimpse of her.

Mam, da, she cried, running towards us at breakneck speed, waving a piece of paper excitedly at us. I’ve done it! I got my As! I’m going to Cambridge, she said, flinging her arms around us both.
We’re so proud of you, Colin and I said together as I lost my battle against the tears.
I can’t believe it – I keep looking at them and thinking they’ll change.
Of course they won’t, silly, said Colin, his smile as wide as his face.
How did Isobel do, I asked.
Fine – an A and two Bs, so she’s settled for Durham, she said with a sigh. It’ll be funny to be apart when we go off. Thank goodness for the hols.
What are you going to do now, I asked. Do you want us to take you for lunch or would you rather go off with your friends?
Would you mind… could we do lunch tomorrow?
Of course.

Alice soon turned the house upside down as she began packing and repacking in readiness for the start of term much to everyone’s despair as things kept going missing and turning up amongst her things. Lottie had started grammar school in September and seemed to be settling in.

Alice, no, be sensible.

I stopped in my tracks on hearing Colin’s firm tone, suspecting it was the same discussion they had been having over the course of the previous few days. Alice was due to leave for Cambridge in two days time and I guessed it was to do with their wildly different ideas as to how much would fit in the car. I decided that I had better go and diffuse the situation.

What… I began, stopping as I surveyed the pile of boxes and cases strewn across Alice’s room. That’ll never all fit in the car.
Just what I was saying, said Colin, folding his arms.
You’ll have to leave some of it behind.
I can’t, wailed Alice.
Are you going to have time to need your cello, asked Colin.
Yes.
Maybe the university will have one.
It won’t be the same.
What’s in these, I asked, peering into the tower of boxes. Alice you don’t need all those books!
I do, she protested.
Even the Enid Blytons?
Comfort reading – and mam, don’t start again on the when you went to university you went with one trunk that you and Auntie Eliz dragged across London together.
You cheeky brat, I exclaimed with a laugh, having to give it to her that I had brought that up rather often.

Somehow we reached a compromise and we were able to fit Colin, Alice and I into the car to take her down to Cambridge, Kathie coming for the weekend to look after the others. I couldn’t be sure who was the more nervous and I spent the whole journey fighting back the tears at the thought of saying goodbye. Newnham College was swarming with other families in the same situation and I found myself thinking back to my first day at university, hoping that Alice would meet a friend as good to her as Trixie had been to me. Having unloaded everything into her room we were faced with our final farewell.

You’d better go, Alice informed us, her voice shaky. Or you’ll be late for Auntie Luce.
Remember you can go to her anytime, I said, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.
I know, mam, I know. Go on, before I start crying and change my mind about staying.
I could tell that she wasn’t far off crying either and hugged her tightly. I’m so proud of you, I love you, I whispered.
I love you too mam, she replied, disentangling herself from me to say her goodbye to Colin before running back indoors.
It’s only eight weeks until the Christmas holidays, Colin said as I burst into tears and he wrapped his arms around me.
That’s our little girl – when did she get to be so grown up?

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#8:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:10 am
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Just realized why she doesn't have CS books for comfort reading!

Thanks pim.

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#9:  Author: M, Location: Winchester Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:52 am
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Brings back memories of starting at Durham University around that time & saying farewell to the parents. A friend's mother cried all the way from Manchester to Surrey after leaving her son at univ for the first term.

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#10:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:59 am
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Thanks, Pim. I'm glad she saw sense and wanted to take Enid Blytons along for comfort reads!

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#11:  Author: Alice, Location: London, England Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:07 pm
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Fatima wrote:

Just realized why she doesn't have CS books for comfort reading! Thanks pim.

giggle

I have great memories of forcing my dad to transpport huge amounts of stuff back and forward to university.

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#12:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 3:15 pm
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Another one who filled the car to brimming point

Thanks pim, that was a lovely post!

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#13:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 5:26 pm
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I got behind during a busy period which coincided with the evil hacker and have read from Part Err? to here - not quite in one sitting but with sighs and moans for interruptions.

Like everyone else, I've laughed and cried and found it totally enthralling.
Thank you Pim.

And now I've caught up, you can carry on posting if you like

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#14:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:11 pm
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Love the vision of Alice trying to fit everything into the car!

Thanks Pim.

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#15:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 9:26 pm
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pim wrote:

Lottie wrote: Was Tash one of the girls Sharlie met at college? Or was that Trixie? They both were - Trixie being the long suffering roommate & Tash, well, not. There are lists as to who's who, but they only make sense to me although I am trying to do something with them (like put them on my computer for a start ) to make them more comprehensible.

Thanks, pim.

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#16:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 11:47 am
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My Dad had to do two trips to manage to take all my stuff home from uni...
Thanks for the update Pim!

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#17:  Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 3:42 pm
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I'm impressed they could fit both Sharlie and Colin into the car. When my dad took me to uni, there wasn't room for my mother as well. I remember when we'd stop for lunch at a service station, I was always really nervous in case the car got stolen as my whole life was effectively in there!

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#18:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:40 am
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"You'll never fit all that in the car" was the biannual argument between Vati and I for my whole five years at uni except for my IYA which was "you'll never get all that in one suitcase" (I hasten to add that I did & was only 2kg over my luggage allowance) on the way out and "what on earth have you been buying" as I walked through international arrivals at Waterloo station upon my return with an extra bag... Incidentally, I always proved Vati wrong and did get all my stuff in the car - including Mutti as well on at least three occasions (usually when she wanted to go to the rather nice hotel in Strathkinness )

I had been sure that Christmas term would drag on but I was proved wrong. We were all so busy that before I knew it, Colin was heading down to Cambridge to collect Alice for the Christmas holidays. Roo was now due to take his 11+ and Luke even Luke was pitching in for his A levels that summer. The twins had always worked hard and played hard but I was a little worried about Lottie who grammar school seemed to have made quieter and a little withdrawn. She came out of her shell for Kathie’s return over the Christmas holidays and I wondered if perhaps I was being a little paranoid. I had managed to find a part time post starting after Christmas in a local primary school some ten minutes drive away for three days a week. I had forgotten how exhausting, if rewarding, teaching could be – after twenty years out of the job it took some time to hit my stride once more. It wasn’t as painful to say goodbye to Alice the second time but I still couldn’t bring myself to go into her room for the first two weeks of term, reminded of how much I missed her.

Rebecca and Philip became grandparents again in the March of 1981 to Jack and Abigail’s second daughter, Francesca Jane. I was always amused to see Luke retain the same aloofness towards babies that he had had for his own siblings.

Samantha married that May despite the protests that she would never get married. Kristopher Gardener had obviously had the required touch to make her change her mind. Lawrie gave her away, looking fit to burst with pride. Kristopher’s dinner speech jokingly pointed out that although he had not acquired the traditional mother-in-law he had got the equivalent of three in the shape of Tish, Lucy and I. We liked Kristopher though and forgave him, making him promise that he would never give us cause to be the traditional mother-in-law. We knew he wouldn’t.

Alice returned home at the end of June for her summer holidays full of the joys of university, regaling us for hours on end with tales of the exploits of her and her friends. Luke had just finished his A levels and was enjoying his last summer of freedom before he started working with Colin once his results were out. The twins were due to sit their O levels the following summer and were expected to do well on the back of their end of year results. Roo was due to start grammar school in September and I realised that none of them were my babies anymore.

Luke’s A level results day fell only a few days after his eighteenth birthday and I got a sneaking suspicion that he was more nervous than he let on about them. As we had done with Alice the previous summer, Colin and I waited outside the gates, leaning against the car.

Well, asked Colin as Luke bounded up to us, a huge grin splitting his face.
Not quite as good as that girls swot sister of mine, he said. But I think you’ll agree that I’ve not done too dusty.
I took the paper he was waving manically at me and cast my eye over it. Art – B, maths – C and geography – C, I read. Oh Luke, I said, wrapping my arms around him. I’m so proud.
Well done son, said Colin, hugging him briefly.
Good enough for me to join Graham and Son?
I’d have let you in if you’d failed the lot.
Luke laughed. You could have told me that before I slogged for the exams! Mind you, Mr Wood looked sick at my results – he was convinced I’d fail the lot. It was bloody good to prove him wrong!
Luke George Graham, I exclaimed. Your language!
But you say it all the time mam! Besides it’s true – I never thought I’d do so well in maths.
I did, I replied.
You’re my mam, you’re meant to believe in me – who wouldn’t if you didn’t?

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#19:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:44 am
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I'm so glad Luke did well in his exams, but I'm worried about Lottie. Thanks, Pim.

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#20:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:14 pm
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Yes what's going on with Lottie! And well done Luke!

Ta pimmy.

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#21:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:01 pm
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Thanks Pim!

Big cheers for both Luke and Alice in their A's (had a bit of catching up to do!! )

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#22:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:07 pm
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Thanks, Pim. Congratulations, Luke!

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#23:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:36 pm
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Fab results all round

I'm also worried a bit about Lottie too...

Thanks Pim!

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#24:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:47 pm
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Well done Luke!
I do hope Lottie is okay though! *looks worried*
Thansk Pimphlet!

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#25:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:24 pm
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Glad Luke did well, but what's wrong with Lottie?

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#26:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:47 pm
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Hmmmm, could it be bullying? Or has Lottie suddenly realised that Kathie is her mother and should be with her?

Congrats Luke - love the scene about his language - so true!

Thanks Pim.

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#27:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 1:06 am
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*joins the chorus of those wanting to know more about Lottie*

Thanks Pim

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#28:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:16 am
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Lalala, I was, um, bored yesterday and Sharlie now appears to have her own LJ community (as linked in from the first post under the who's who etc linky). Not much there at the moment but there will be! Well, once I have deciphered my scrawl to make sense of my notes

Roo made the move up to Grammar School to follow the path already trodden by Luke that September and it came with the realisation that all our children had well and truly left their childhoods behind. I suspected that something did not lie easy with Lottie as she seemed reluctant to go back to school after the long summer holidays but she wouldn’t expand when I tried gently to find out what was bothering her. I knew that she often confided in Sophie but I didn’t like to push Sophie into telling me, hoping that they would come to me if it came to it. The twins were due to take their O levels the following summer and were both working hard – particularly Amelia who knew that she needed to do well in everything if she wanted to pursue her coveted career in medicine. Luke had joined the working world and was enjoying working with his father; I could tell without him saying so that Colin was thrilled to have Luke on board with the business. Alice had gone back for her second year at Cambridge, the goodbyes never getting any easier.

February presented Colin and I with the opportunity to hop over for a long weekend in Geneva as Julia’s Anna-Claire was getting married. Happily it coincided with half term and Kathie offered to come and house-and-children-sit for us. It was always nice to go back and catch up with Anna and Julia, especially now that there were grandchildren in the equation. Julia clearly doted on 3 ½ year old Eléonore and loved being a grandmother. I promised a return trip the following year as Anna’s Sara was planning her wedding for the spring. I thought back to the tiny baby that Anna and Guillaume had adopted with disbelief that she was now old enough to be getting married.

A slightly less eagerly anticipated wedding – at least on behalf of the parents – took place two months later in April 1982. David and Louise’s eldest, Jessica – now 22 – was due to marry her boyfriend of four years, one Edmund Long. Both David and Louise, only too aware of how young they had been when they had married, had wanted Jessica to not feel as they did that they had missed out on so much. Jessica, however, had clearly inherited the family’s stubborn streak and the wedding went ahead without a hitch – David even managing to smile in the photographs!

Although the Cold War now appeared to be slowly thawing there was no such situation when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. I hated any new declaration of war, especially with the situation looking no happier in other parts of the world – particularly the Middle East. I hadn’t been happy with Margaret Thatcher’s ascendancy to Prime Minister and I very much doubted that the ensuing years would change my mind.

Alice shared her reservations with me about Lottie during her Easter vacation but admitted that if anything were wrong then neither Lottie nor the twins were confiding in her. She said that she had found Lottie’s letters becoming increasingly stilted and had an air of forcedness about them. I was glad I wasn’t alone in being concerned about since Lottie had always managed to find her happy face for Kathie’s visits. After the Easter holidays the twins settled down into their final stretch before the O level exams, hoping that they would both do well enough to be allowed to stay on for the sixth form. That is until the telephone call the week before they were due to go on study leave.

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#29:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:17 am
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Thanks for the LJ link, pim - that's just what I need to try and remember all the many characters. It's interesting to find that it all started from a real photo. I, too, am wibbling about Lottie - I hope she's going to be all right. I'm wibbling even more about the phone call!

Thanks, pim.

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#30:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:21 am
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All a little ominous...

Ta pimmy.

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#31:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:34 am
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Is there a Georgia post coming?

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#32:  Author: Karry, Location: Stoke on Trent Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:59 am
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Cazx said

Quote:

Is there a Georgia post coming?

Uh-oh, that's tempted fate then!

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#33:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 12:22 pm
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*Joins the wibbling brigade*

Thanks Pim.

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#34:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 12:40 pm
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Thanks, Pim. I am now wibbling about what is going to be said in the telephone call. Thanks for the Who's who information.

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#35:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 1:11 pm
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Yes, I'm also very worried about Lottie. Thanks Pim.

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#36:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 2:21 pm
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*produces another sofa to hide under*
Thanks Pim (I think....)

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#37:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 2:38 pm
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Very worrying...

Thanks pim

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#38:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:07 pm
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Cazx wrote:

Is there a Georgia post coming?

Anyone wanna say "Jinx!"?

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#39:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 6:47 pm
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Poor Lottie...

Thanks Pim

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#40:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:26 am
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*wibbling about that telephone call*

Thanks Pim

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#41:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:58 am
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I think some of this to do with G... Not all of it, is a bit of a joint effort. *hides*

It was a Tuesday afternoon, one of my non working days, when the girls’ headmistress, Miss Barnes, called requesting my presence in school. I immediately imagined some terrible accident had taken place and drove to the school in a blind panic, a thousand terrible scenarios going through my mind, only to be greeted by a defiant looking Amelia, Sophie looking a little shamefaced and Lottie in tears, all sitting outside the headmistress’ study.

What on earth’s going on, I asked them.
Mrs Graham? I turned to see Miss Barnes standing behind me. If you’d like to come into my study.
I’ll repeat the question I just put to the girls, I said, sitting in the offered seat as the Head sat behind her desk.
I’m afraid it’s a rather delicate situation but Sophie and Amelia have been found to be bullying some of the younger girls.
I don’t believe you, I retorted in disbelief. They wouldn’t do a thing like that – neither of them has got a bad bone in their body. Have you spoken to them about it to hear their side of things? And what’s Lottie got to do with it if you think it’s all down to the twins?
I’ve removed her from class for the afternoon. I didn’t think it wise to keep the perpetrator with the victims.
I’m sorry, I stammered, not able to believe what I was hearing. I really think I need to talk to the girls and get their side of things as none of this sounds like… like my daughters.
Miss Barnes raised an eyebrow. You daughters? Forgive me, Mrs Graham, but Charlotte isn’t your daughter.
She’s as good as, I snapped.
Charlotte is an undesirable influence in the school – I had my reservations about taking the product of a broken home…
Lottie is not the product of a broken home. Yes, her familial situation is somewhat unusual but I do recall you assuring me that this would not be a problem. And I don’t believe for one minute that she is an undesirable influence. Nor do I believe that you have been presented with all the facts in this case. Obviously you’ve heard from the alleged victims but have Amelia, Sophie and Lottie been given the chance to state a defence? I shall take your silence to mean that you haven’t and in which case I shall bring them in now to explain themselves.

And with that I swept from the room, unable to stop myself shaking, unsure as to how much longer I could hold out before completely losing my temper. Lottie had stopped crying and was sniffing into Sophie’s handkerchief whilst Amelia still looked fit to explode.

Sophie, I said as the three of them stood nervously before the Head. No, Amelia, you’re likely to blow up. Sophie keeps her temper better. Lottie, do you need a clean handkerchief? She shook her head. Go on then, Sophie, tell us what happened.
W-ell, she began nervously, twisting her fingers. Oh mam, it’s been terrible. Lottie’s been bullied since her second term here by the rest of her class. They’ve been doing really horrible things to her to humiliate her, picking on her, teasing her and just generally being horrible. She only told me in the summer holidays but she wouldn’t let me tell you. I didn’t even dare tell Amelia, but she overheard some of Lottie’s class picking on her a couple of weeks ago and asked me if I knew what was going on. I had to tell her, mam, - Amelia’s my twin and I’ve hated keeping this from her. Anyway, today, at lunch, ‘Melia and I were taking the short cut round the back of the gym to go to maths and there they all were, going on at Lottie. Amelia saw red and blew up at them and… well, I joined in – I couldn’t help myself and they did need a taste of their own medicine and they made me so angry…
And I slapped one of them, put in Amelia quietly. That brat of a Daisy Logan and I’m not sorry after all she’s put Lottie through.
Amelia, I think that’s enough, I said gently, turning to the Head. Now what do you have to say on the matter?

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#42:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:11 am
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I'm so glad that Lottie has such good 'sisters' in the twins, standing up for her like that. I hope the head is suitably apologetic now.

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#43:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:00 am
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I was worried that was what was wrong with Lottie

Thanks pim, I hope the headmistress sees their point of view.

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#44:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:03 am
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Poor Lottie! Really don't blame the twins and I hope that stupid bigot of a headmistress sees sense!

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#45:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:12 am
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Thanks, Pim. I'm sorry that the head hadn't been able to tell what had really happened. I hope that they will all be able to work things out.

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#46:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:13 am
    —

Ruth B wrote:

Poor Lottie! Really don't blame the twins and I hope that stupid bigot of a headmistress sees sense!

My sentiments, exactly.

Thanks, pim.

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#47:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:47 pm
    —
Miss Barnes obviously didn't go to the Hilda Annersley school of how to be a good headmistress!
I hope she feels suitably ashamed of herself!

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#48:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:10 pm
    —
Poor Lottie!!!!

*slaps both the nasty Head, and the bullying little cows that have been picking on our Lottie!*

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#49:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 1:04 am
    —
*has faith that Sharlie will sort it out*

What an awful headmistress though.

Thanks Pim

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#50:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 7:54 am
    —
Poor Lottie! It's just as well it's out in the open, however distressing it is to them all.

I hope the Headmistress takes note!

---

#51:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:30 am
    —
The Headmistress is definitely a thing of Georgia... so I have to try and find her a redeeming feature
An awkward silence ensued.

I see, I said at length. Nothing. Not one word to say on the matter. What kind of school is this where one girl can be bullied and suffer in silence for so long? And the Head, instead of finding out why two older girls lashed out at some younger ones chooses to believe the tales told to her by the bullies and makes a one sided judgement of this sort? I’m not saying that Sophie and Amelia handled this in the correct manner but they’ve done a damn sight more for Lottie than you have. And to think that I was so pleased that all four of my girls had passed the exam to come here… how wrong I was. And you assured me that there would be no problems with Lottie’s background. I should have seen through you long before now but Alice was always so happy here and the twins were… So where do we go from here?
Under the circumstances, I don’t think we can accept Sophie and Amelia back into the sixth form in September.
Good, because I wouldn’t come back even if you paid me, snapped Amelia.
‘Melia, hissed Sophie.
No, I agree with Amelia, I said thoughtfully. Miss Barnes, I am going to tell you now what will happen. I am going to take Sophie, Amelia and Lottie home now. Lottie will not be returning to this school; she will be starting a new school in September. The twins will return to sit their exams but they will miss their final few days in class – they can use the time to get a head start on their revision. They will take their A levels elsewhere but should they need it then you will provide them both with excellent letters of recommendation. I expect that you will instigate a full enquiry into the fact that Lottie has been bullied for so long and a fair punishment will be meted on the real perpetrators of this afternoon’s ugly affair. And I would also like to think that you will take a long hard look at the way that this school is run in order to ensure that a situation like this never occurs again. Oh, and since I doubt that I will be able to find Lottie a place at another school before September then I would like her teachers to send her work home so that she can keep up to date. I stopped there to gather my things. Time to go, you three, I said, leaving the room followed by Sophie, Amelia and Lottie.

We collected their bags from the secretary’s office and made our way out to the car in silence. I had no idea what I was going to say to them all, still reeling from the afternoon’s revelations. I had even less idea of what I was going to say to Colin and Kathie – how on earth was I going to explain to them that I had just removed the girls from school? I could have kicked myself for not realising that things had been so bad for Lottie for so long yet at the same time I could barely suppress the feeling of pride for the twins at the lengths they had been willing to go to in order to defend Lottie. I sat the three of them in front of the television upon our return home and telephoned Colin at the shop to ask him to come here whereupon I swiftly outlined the afternoon’s events to him.

We need to talk to them, of course, I said as I wound up the story. Separately, I added. But I dread to think what I’m going to tell Kathie. It doesn’t sound too good, does it? “I’m sorry, I didn’t notice that your daughter was being bullied and now I’ve taken her out of school because of it”. Colin, I could have skinned that headmistress alive!
It sounds like you managed that one, sweetheart, he said, wrapping his arm around me as I leant against his shoulder and sighed. You did the right thing though and I’ll tell you this, I’m bloody proud of the twins for sticking up for Lottie like that.
Me too. I just wish Sophie had said something before – I know she didn’t want to break Lottie’s confidence but… I sighed. I never expected it would turn out this way.
Me neither. Come on, let’s talk to the girls then we can ring Kathie.

---

#52:  Author: Cathy, Location: Sydney, Australia Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:40 am
    —
Good for Sharlie. I wish I'd had the courage to tick the headmistress off at my daughter's school last year when she was being bullied. No-one there wanted to acknowlege it or help her in any way, so I quietly removed her and sent her to a new school this year. Where she's very happy, has lots of friends and isn't being bullied.

Looking forward to what happens next.

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#53:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:42 am
    —
Sharlie certainly got the better of the head there. But I am rather worried about what Kathie is going to say. Thanks, Pim.

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#54:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:00 am
    —
Sharlie certainly came out on top in that exchange didn't she? And I hope they can find better schools for all the girls.

Thanks pim!

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#55:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:00 am
    —
Well done Sharlie and well done Amelia and Sophie - poor Lottie. Hope Kathie doesn't blow up at Sharlie too much.

Ta pimmy.

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#56:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:45 am
    —
I hope that Kathie doesn't blame Sharlie...
And I hope that the girls can find a new school to go to.

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#57:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:31 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. I hope that things will go better for Lottie at her new school next year.

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#58:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:11 pm
    —
I don't think Kathie will be angry - I think she will be guilty - she, after all, is responsible for Lottie's situation.

Well done Sharlie - hope that Headmistress has been thoroughly shamed.

Thanks Pim.

---

#59:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:22 pm
    —
Well done Sharlie! A shame all parents presented with this situation, even today, don't take the same stance.

I agree with Lesley - poor Kathie will probably feel she has failed her daughter.

thank you Pim - good as ever and just as nail-biting.

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#60:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:38 am
    —
Amelia, I said with a sigh as she sat opposite Colin and I at the kitchen and table. Here we are again with your temper.
I know, she said quietly, avoiding catching my eye. I did try to keep it, mam, and I haven’t lost it in months but… I just saw red when I heard them going on at Lottie when it wasn’t even her fault. She can’t help being who she is. And I do try, mam, da, I do try to keep my temper for the worthy causes and not blow up over everything… she trailed off.
I understand why you did it, Millie, I said, reaching for her hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. And I’m proud of you for defending Lottie but I wish you’d said something to your father and I before leaping in at the deep end.
Lottie wouldn’t let us. Sophie’s been trying to talk her into telling someone for months but Lottie thought it would land her into more trouble. We were going to ask Alice but then today sort of got in the way. I’ll apologise to that Daisy brat for slapping her because I shouldn’t have done that. And I’m sorry I lost my temper but I won’t apologise for defending Lottie.
No one expects you to Amelia, on the latter cause.
Mam, you won’t be too hard on Sophie for not telling you, will you?
We’ll see. Go on upstairs, Millie – tell Sophie we’ll talk to her now, Lottie can go up to her room and we’ll talk to her when we’ve spoken to Sophie.
I’m always amazed by how reasonable Amelia can be once her temper’s cooled, remarked Colin as Amelia shut the kitchen door behind her.
I feel like the Spanish Inquisition, I sighed. Has Lottie gone upstairs, I asked as Sophie cautiously entered the kitchen and nodded in reply as she sat down. I think you should just start at the beginning Sophie.
It’s hard to know where to start, she admitted. I noticed something wasn’t quite right towards the end of Lottie’s first term and even more so when she went back after the Christmas holidays. She was either changing friends every week or else just going about by herself but she always clammed up when I tried to talk to her about it. I talked to a couple of girls in my class who have sister’s in Lottie’s to try and get them to be more friendly with her ‘cause it just seemed odd as she was always so popular at primary school. Anyway, towards the end of last spring term I caught one of Lottie’s class taunting her by the lockers – something about Auntie Kathie but she shut up sharpish when she realised I was there. I kept on at Lottie afterwards to make her tell me what was going on and she cracked during the hols – she’d been getting teased ‘cause she was clever and then someone must have got the story about Auntie Kathie and Leo and they were using it against her and stopping people being friends with her. I’ve been keeping my eye on Lottie but…
Why didn’t you tell us, I asked gently.
I wanted to but Lottie begged me not to. She thought if I told you then it would make it worse and she didn’t want them to have any more ammunition to use against her. I couldn’t break her trust, mam.
Sophie, there are times when you have to do that and I’m afraid this was one of them. Lottie could have been spared a lot of unhappiness.
Oh I know and I’m sorry. I thought I was helping Lottie but really I’ve only been making it worse.
Not entirely – at least Lottie hasn’t been on her own through most of this because of you, Sophie. And I’m proud of the way you’ve been defending her but at the same time it hurts that you didn’t feel you could bring this to your father and I. I held up my hand to halt her protests. We’ll say no more on the subject, Sophie. You can go to your room now.
Mam?
Yes?
Will you talk to Lottie on your own, she asked nervously.
Why?
Because… because I just think it’ll be better that way. Da doesn’t quite have the same knack that you do. Sorry da.

---

#61:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:40 am
    —
Poor little Lottie. She's had such a terrible time. I really hope they can find her another school and that she can be happy there. Thanks, pim.

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#62:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:58 am
    —
Poor Lottie

Thanks pim

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#63:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:31 am
    —
Poor little Lottie. I don't really see how it is either Sharlie's or Kathie's fault, or what either of them could have done differently to prevent it. Kids can be so unbelievably cruel to anyone they perceive as being different in any way at all from the accepted norm. Good for Sophie and Amelia for sticking up for Lottie, even if it didn't work out quite the way they intended.

Thanks, pim.

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#64:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:45 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. Is Lottie in the 2nd year now? I have to admit I've forgotten if she's in the 1st year or the 2nd year. I hope Colin won't be offended.

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#65:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:25 pm
    —
Poor Lottie,

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#66:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:03 pm
    —
Echoing the 'poor Lottie's' also poor Sophie - not realising the difference between sneaking and reporting.

Thanks Pim.

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#67:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:04 pm
    —
*hugs Lottie tight*

Sharlie was fantastic though! She reahe definitely reminded me of Hilda there!

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#68:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:15 am
    —
No, Sophie’s right, Colin said as she left the room. You go on up alone.
Are you sure?
Yes. And I think Lottie will respond better to you if I’m not there.
If you’re sure…
Yes, now get on with you.

I headed slowly up the stairs to Lottie’s room, unsure about what I was going to say to her. Knocking gingerly on the door as I pushed it open, she sat up from where she had been curled up on her bed, clutching her teddy bear. I went with my instincts and held her tightly as she cried into my shoulder.

Lottie-chen, I said eventually, brushing her hair back from her face and handing her my handkerchief. Why didn’t you tell me before what was going on?
Because they’d have made it worse, she said with a sniff. And it was bad enough without people interfering.
Why were they doing it, Lottie?
Daisy started it because I was good at maths – she kept calling me a swot and said that I sucked up to the teachers. Then she decided I’d cheated on a geog test because me and Sally got the same marks so I must have copied off Sally. So Sally stopped being friends with me and started going about with Daisy and her friends. They were always saying things about me that weren’t true and calling me names. And they knew that I lived with you and Uncle Colin instead of with mam and da so they used that against me and were making things up about mam and da… she broke off, bursting into tears again. When we came back to school in September they carried in picking on me and nobody would be friends with me, anyone who tried got talked out of it. And they started doing things like hiding my stuff or tearing my homework out of my book so I got in trouble with the teachers. Auntie Sharlie?
Yes?
Does my mam love me?
Of course she does.
Only I wasn’t sure because she left me with you and Uncle Colin.
Your mam did what she thought was best for you.
But why isn’t she married to my da?
Because to get married you have to love the person you’re going to marry and your mam just didn’t love your da enough.
But they must have done – I’m here and they wouldn’t be if they hadn’t.
True, and I think they did love each other once, but sometimes, lots of times, love doesn’t last forever.
So why did she leave me with you and Uncle Colin? That must mean that she didn’t want me.
She’s hardly left you, Lottie-chen, when you think how much time she spends coming here to be with you. And she does want you, but she also wants what’s best for you and Uncle Colin and I can give you lots of things that she can’t give you on her own.
Louis at primary school only had a mam and they managed okay.
Some people do.
When I have children then I’ll always keep them with me. I won’t leave them with anyone else. Auntie Sharlie?
Yes?
Can I go to the High with Naomi and Jane in September?
We’ll have to see if they’ve got a place.
I think I’d be alright there – lots of my friends from primary school went. But I am scared, Auntie Sharlie. I don’t want to go to a new school and find that the people there are just like Daisy. What are you going to tell my mam?
The truth, and you can talk to her this weekend when she comes.
Will she be angry with me?
No. She may be angry with me but things between your mam and I aren’t for you to worry about, I said, hugging her tightly as I heard the back door slam. That’ll be Roo home.

---

#69:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:28 am
    —
Poor Lottie - although after all she's been through it's only natural she should think that Kathie doesn't want her.

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#70:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:12 am
    —
Lottie's feelings are so understandable and I think Sharlie dealt with them really well. Very interested to see Kathie's reaction.

Thanks pim

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#71:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:49 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. I am feeling sorry for Lottie. I am also wondering how Kathie will react.

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#72:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:10 pm
    —
I hope Kathie is able to reasure Lottie that she does love her and that she is able to explain how much it hurt her to leave her with Sharlie and Colin.

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#73:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:02 pm
    —
Ta pimbles! Poor Lotie and Sophie - but Sharlie handled things well. Kathie's reaction will be interesting!

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#74:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:44 pm
    —
Poor Lottie. That was so realistic and she must feel insecure at the moment, even though she's loved.

I should think Kathye will be devastated - though I can't see her blaming Sharlie (I hope).

Thank you Pim.

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#75:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:17 pm
    —
Sharlie did very well there - I have this image of Kathie storming up to the school to tell that excuse for a headmistress what she thinks of her...

Thanks Pim.

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#76:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 12:28 am
    —
Yes I had that picture in mind as well. Poor Lottie, she needs a huge amount of reassurance....

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#77:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:33 am
    —
After an awkward dinner the twins departed to revise upstairs, Roo to his homework and Colin, Luke and Lottie to the television whilst I sat on the hall floor to telephone Kathie. It was the conversation I was dreading most having of them all.

Sharlie, what’s up, was her first anxious question.
We need to talk about Lottie, I said shakily.
What about her?
I’ve had to take her out of school. She was being bullied.
There was a silence. She what? How long has this been going on? What kind of crackpot school lets this happen?
Since her second term.
And you didn’t realise?
I knew something was wrong but she wouldn’t tell me anything.
Good God, Sharlie, I entrust my daughter to you and this is what happens! At this I burst into tears and it took a few moments to realise that Kathie had done exactly the same thing. I’m sorry, she said eventually. It was just a bit of a shock. We’ve had a couple of instances of it here and, well, you just never think it’ll happen to your child. The parents are always the last ones to find out.
The school’s been quite hopeless. The twins knew what was going on and it all came to a head when Amelia lost her temper and slapped one of the bullies at lunch. The Head only heard that kid’s side of the story and decided Amelia, Sophie and Lottie were the ones doing the bullying! Where on earth is Hilda Annersley when you need her?
Six feet under, remarked Kathie dryly, referring to that lady’s death the previous year. They just don’t make Heads like they used to. How is Lottie?
She’s… I don’t know. I honestly don’t. She’s confused – she thinks you don’t love her and simply dumped her on to Colin and me. We all know it’s not true but it’s been one of the things they’ve used against her. At the moment she just needs a lot of reassurance that she is loved and wanted. I don’t think anyone from her school goes to either her Guides or dancing class and she’s plenty of friends at both of those.
She always seemed so happy –I should have seen through her act. What kind of mother does that make me?
We all want to believe that our children are perfectly happy.
Where is Lottie?
Watching television with Colin and Luke and I’d rather not disturb her.
I only want to tell her that I love her. The weekend seems a million years away right now.
Okay… but Kathie, that’s all, I don’t want her upset again.
I know, she whispered. But just let me tell her that and then I’ll call tomorrow when I’ve got my head around this a little more.

I called the girls’ school the following morning, realising that I couldn’t leave things the way I had done the previous day.

Miss Barnes, it’s Charlotte Graham here. I’d like to have a brief word about yesterday. I’d like to apologise for losing my temper the way I did but I do feel rather justified and I stand by my decision to take the girls out of school.
I accept the apology, Mrs Graham. I owe you one myself having instigated some enquiries amongst Charlotte’s form.
Good. I’d like to bring Amelia into school this afternoon – she wants to apologise to Daisy for slapping her and to you for losing her temper.
I’d be grateful if you could bring Charlotte as well. There are a few members of her form who have seen the error of their ways and want to try and make amends. It would seem that Amelia’s temper has uncovered some rather unpleasant elements of the second form.
I wish you luck in dealing with them, Miss Barnes. Amelia, Lottie and myself will be at the school for around 2pm.

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#78:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:14 am
    —
Miss Annersley is dead

I'm glad Amelia has decided to apologise; it's nice to see everyone being reasonable.

Thanks Pim.

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#79:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:31 am
    —
Good to see them being reasonable but also firm in what needs to be done. Poor Lottie though.

Ta pimmy.

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#80:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:11 am
    —

Fatima wrote:

Miss Annersley is dead

Echoes above On thinking about it, though, it's healthy for Kathye and Sharlie that they have 'moved on' and, while thinking of the school with affection, can mention something like that as an aside.

I'm feeling a little sorry for the headmistress now. Kids can be so sneaky about bullying and it isn't always obvious.

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#81:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:18 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. I am also about Miss Annersley. It's good that Kathie isn't mad at Sharlie. I'm also glad that the Headmistress has managed to get a confession out of some of the girls in Lottie's form.

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#82:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 12:05 pm
    —
I'm glad that Miss Barnes has realised that there is more to the second form than she first thought.

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#83:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 2:20 pm
    —
Hopefully an apology will go some way to making Lottie feel a bit better but I fear it's going to take a lot of time for her to accept how much she is loved.

Thanks pim

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#84:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 2:32 pm
    —
Thanks Pim. Poor little Lottie. Go Sharlie.

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#85:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 5:46 pm
    —
She's not, you know.

Anyway - glad Kathie's temper didn't last long - and that the school seem to have, belatedly, discovered the truth and done something about it.

Thanks Pim.

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#86:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:04 pm
    —
Thank you Pim!
Hugs for all of them, it's not easy for any of them.

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#87:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:35 am
    —
It was an awkwardly silent journey to the school the following day and a thoughtfully silent one back. Sophie had insisted on coming along for Amelia’s moral support, that young lady would be rather subdued for some days to come. Following a long conversation with her mother that evening, Lottie began to emerge a little from her protective shell. Luke developed a protective streak as far as Lottie was concerned, being quite insistent that he would be the one to ferry her around everywhere that she wanted or needed to go. Kathie returned that weekend and took Lottie away for it so they could talk things through. We had agreed, after lengthy discussion, that we would see if the local High where most of her friends had gone would be able to take her in September. Happily, they could and also had places in their Sixth Form and were willing to take on Sophie and Amelia as well, both of whom were pleased by this, assuring that they would continue to keep a watchful eye on Lottie there as well.

The twins were both working hard as their O-level exams loomed leading to squabbles between them both and Luke who did insist on teasing them. Amelia was dealing with it the hardest, only too aware of how well she needed to due if she wanted to pursue her intended career in medicine. Lottie knew of Sophie’s tentative plans for the future and would occasionally make aggravating remarks to the rest of us who had no idea. Sophie said we would simply have to wait and see. Colin had an assignment for the magazine which took him away to Scotland for a fortnight at the end of the twins’ exams and he took Luke with him to keep him out of their way – not least because Amelia was more than liable of turning him into her breakfast in her present state of mind.

Exams were soon over, however, and Alice returned home from her second year at Cambridge full of woe at how she was now facing her final year and had no clue what to do at the end of it all. She was to spend most of the summer holidays in various libraries doing research for her dissertation on Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement. It felt somewhat odd that she was studying in depth such events that I had lived through.

Roo had come through his first year at grammar school relatively unscathed, although the workload had come as somewhat of a culture shock to him. It had taken some time but we had eventually managed to impress upon him the importance of working hard and making sure all his homework was done on time. In the end it may have come down to him not wanting to be outshone by his sisters, however. He had developed an interest in all things mechanical and was often put out when his requests to be allowed to mess about with either mine or Colin’s car were met with a resounding no from his father. It was a slight variation on his earlier intention to be an astronaut. I was a little disappointed by this though – he hadn’t been born when we had watched the moon landings but he had kicked so hard throughout proceedings that I had taken it as I sign that he had wanted to get out there and join Armstrong et al.

Results day dawned for the twins towards the end of August and Colin and I took them back to school for the final time to pick them up. As we had done with Alice and Luke, the twins went on ahead whilst we stood, leaning against the car outside the school gates. They both returned shortly with expressions of grim determination and climbed into the car requesting that we left right away. Colin and I knew it best not to argue with them and as we drove away from the school I found two pieces of paper being pushed round the seat at me bearing the news that they had both got straight A’s. I was completely speechless, managing to stammer out congratulations to them both. Amelia shrugged. It was a sweet revenge, she said.

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#88:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:35 am
    —
Well done Amelia and Sophie, I'm so glad that they got the same marks!
I bet the head is now wishing she'd handled the situation differently.

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#89:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 9:41 am
    —
Well done, Sophie and Amelia. I hope that they, and Lottie, get on really well at the High School in September.

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#90:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:01 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. Well done to Amelia and Sophie! I'm glad they're all able to go to the High School next year.

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#91:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 1:08 pm
    —
Didn't they do well!

Thanks, Pim.

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#92:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:24 pm
    —
Thanks pim, I'm glad to see things are looking up a bit!

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#93:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:54 pm
    —
Well done twins!

Thanks Pim

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#94:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:06 pm
    —
Good for Amelia and Sophy!

Quote:

It felt somewhat odd that she was studying in depth such events that I had lived through.

That made me chuckle as I remember feeling it myself.

Great as ever, Thank you Pim.

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#95:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:12 pm
    —
Brilliant results for the twins, and yes, I'd have felt the same way as they did. Sweet revenge indeed!
*fingers crossed they'll all settle in well at the High.*

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#96:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:35 am
    —
Thank you, Pim.

Loved the twins' revenge.
Hope the high school is better for everyone concerned....

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#97:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:43 am
    —
I nervously saw the twins and Lottie off for their first day at the High in September. The twins were concerned that they would be coming in for stick from old friends from primary school for their five years at the grammar school, Lottie worried that history would repeat itself. In the latter case, friends from her primary school took her under their wing and she settled down much easier than any of us would have ever anticipated. She was still inclined to brood over events at her old school but she was more forthcoming about telling us when she was feeling unhappy. The twins found it harder to settle down at the High, discovering it was no easy feat to unlearn five years of grammar school habits.

September also brought another addition to Rebecca’s growing brood of grandchildren with the arrival of Sarah’s second, Lauren Jane, to add to Olivia, Francesca and Philippa. That month also saw a wedding as Trixie’s Edward tied the knot with Tash’s Poppy in a quiet ceremony in a London registry office. Edward had graduated the previous year and Poppy was about to enter the final year of her BEd degree. Both sets of parents had been a little anxious about them marrying so young, especially with Poppy still at university, but Trixie knew that, having married so young herself, she couldn’t really argue. Not that Edward and Poppy would have listened to their arguments anyway.

Alice’s final year at Cambridge began that October and she headed back to university grumbling about her dissertation and the fact that she really didn’t want it to be her final year. She didn’t have any ideas about what to do with her future although she had made occasional mutterings about further study. It didn’t seem possible that she had already come this far through her university studies. It seemed only days ago that it had been her first day at primary school.

The Christmas season brought new grandchildren – Yosef, to Julia and Michel, and, much to her despair, Christopher and Suzanne presented Trixie with her first grandson, Cian, on New Year’s Day. Christmas also saw Alice turn 21 on 23 December and a family and friends gathering was arranged the weekend before. We had squeezed so many people into the house I couldn’t believe we knew so many. Alice was every inch the gracious hostess, determined to spend a little time with everyone and deflecting the questions for her plans after graduation with an enviable ease. My mind kept turning back to the afternoon she was born and the love I had felt for her then which had only grown over the last 21 years. And I thought of another Alice who had never had the chances and opportunities of this one but there were times when it somehow felt as though this Alice was trying to achieve enough for both of them.

1983 started slowly and the twins were beginning to think about life after their A-levels. Sophie was now quite decided that she wanted to teach, although she intended to get her degree first and then do her teaching certificate. She quite fancied the idea of doing a BA in English Literature but wasn’t sure where – unlike Amelia who had already decided that London was calling.

Even Lottie and Roo weren’t so young anymore, the former having to make up her mind about which subjects she wanted to carry on to O-level. The High had done a marvellous job with her, she was such a different girl from the one at the Grammar School. As I watched them all grow up so quickly I could never help but think of my own parents, that they had never been able to watch us grow as I could with my own children.

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#98:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:10 am
    —
It's lovely to see them all growing up into such lovely people even if it does make me feel rather old...

Thanks pim

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#99:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:12 am
    —
I know just how Alice feels about her three years at uni passing all too quickly.

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#100:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:06 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. I am also starting to feel old as well, as Cian was born in the same year as I was.

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#101:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 5:13 pm
    —
How poignant for Sharlie to realise that - it's like me realising that my parents are now older than my grandparents were when they died - yet my parents don't seem old

Thanks Pim.

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#102:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:46 pm
    —
Thank you Pim!!

Thank goodness Lottie has settled well at the High.
But how can Alice be 21???? That's just not possible!
And the comment about the other Alice was very poignant.

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#103:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:42 am
    —

Cazx wrote:

I know just how Alice feels about her three years at uni passing all too quickly.

I don't know how people manage with only 3 years at uni... I found five wasn't quite enough...

It was the turn of Anna’s Sara to marry next, it happily colliding with everyone’s Easter breaks meaning that we could have a few days family holiday together in Switzerland. Alice would be sitting her finals the following term and was glad of the break from her books. The twins were also working hard for their end of year exams knowing that the choices they would have to make the following year about their futures rested on their success in these – and, in Amelia’s case, her whole career. It was an odd sort of feeling that descended on me as I waved Colin and Alice off for him to drive her back to Cambridge for her final term, knowing that graduation at the end of it all would send her off into the real world without so much as a backward glance for the rest of us. I wondered if this was how my family had felt when I had left university bound for Switzerland and the Chalet School.

Alice’s results were due at the end of June, just days after the others had finished their end of year summer exams and were awaiting their own results. I hadn’t heard the telephone ring, only becoming aware when I heard Amelia sounding very determined about something.

Oh come on, Alice, you can tell me. I promise I’ll get mam straight away and I won’t tell her.
Amelia Lucy Graham, I exclaimed, hurtling down the stairs and snatching the receiver from her. Stop wheedling your sister like that! Alice?
Mam, you were Amelia a moment ago.
I was always me. Are the results out?
Oh those, yes.
Alice, don’t tease. How did you do?
Well, you know.
Alice…
2:i, she whispered.
Say that again.
2:i, she repeated a little louder before shouting it again at me.
I gave a cry of delight, ignoring Amelia’s attempts to attract my attention. That’s wonderful. I’m so pleased for you. Are you?
Yes, I can’t stop grinning. I really thought I’d messed up one of the papers.
I knew you wouldn’t.
Mam, my money’s running out and there’s a queue a mile long for this ‘phone but I’ll see you next weekend for grad. Love you!
Love you too, I replied as the line went dead.

We all headed to Cambridge to overrun Lawrie’s house the following weekend for Alice’s graduation. Colin and I attended the ceremony, leaving the others to their own devices until afterwards. I could barely swallow the lump of pride in my throat as Alice’s name was called out and she crossed the floor to receive her degree. Neither Colin nor I could stop smiling, clutching each other’s hands tightly, knowing that it was our daughter up there. We located the others easily enough in the gardens afterwards whilst Colin and Luke fought it out over who was taking the pictures. Not that they could do enough justice to the mood of the day. After dinner Alice went off for one final celebration with her friends and we promised to collect her the following day.

Did you feel this way when you left university, mam, she asked as we surveyed her empty room to make sure nothing was forgotten.
Like what?
I don’t know… empty.
I thought for a moment. Not really, I knew I was going on to new adventures.
That’s the thing – you were sorted and I’m not. I don’t know where I’m going next. I’ve been in denial for so long about leaving Cambridge that I’ve not been able to think beyond this moment. The future’s so big and empty that I’m scared of it.
It’s not that scary a place, Alice. It’s empty at the moment but you’ll soon fill it again with new adventures. It’s not the end but a new beginning.

Last edited by pim on Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:09 am; edited 2 times in total

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#104:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:52 am
    —
I'm getting a little worried about the speed with which Sharlie's life is passing now; sometimes I feel like that about my own. It definitely speeds up as you get older.

Thanks Pim.

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#105:  Author: Eilidh, Location: North Lanarkshire Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:55 am
    —
I couldn't have done just 3 years at uni - I've done 4 so far and it still doens't feel like nearly enough. I don't imagine it will this time nexxt year either!

Thanks Pim. Glad Alice got good results.

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#106:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:03 am
    —
Welcome to the 2:1 club Alice!

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#107:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:18 pm
    —
Time passes so fast....
Thanks Pim

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#108:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 3:36 pm
    —
I can sympathise completely with Alice

Thanks pim

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#109:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:19 pm
    —
Well done Alice!!!
Hope the perfect job comes along for her.
Thanks Pim.

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#110:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:36 pm
    —
Very well done Alice - Sharlie must be so proud!

Thanks Pim

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#111:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:23 pm
    —
I've spent most of yesterday evening and some of this evening catching up on this and now I'm feeling very old


Thanks Pim

at some point is this going to go hurtling into the future?

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#112:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 12:34 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. Well done to Alice. I look forward to finding out what she decide to do next.

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#113:  Author: Lucy B, Location: NZ Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 8:46 am
    —
Afraid I'm feeling like Sharlie here - it's not that long since she graduated! Not that I'm not enjoying every minute (word?) of it.

Now I'm going to reveal my colonial ignorance - what's 2:1? If we have it over here, I haven't got there yet!

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#114:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:28 am
    —

Lucy B wrote:

Now I'm going to reveal my colonial ignorance - what's 2:1? If we have it over here, I haven't got there yet!

It's a university degree classification - the top classification is first class (usually just called a first), then second class which is divided into a 2:i & a 2:ii, & finally third class. I know St Andrews also had a random pass grade which was between the pass mark (4.5/20) & the third class boundary (8.49/20), not sure about anywhere else with that one as our marking system was rather unique - 20-80 scale anyone?

It took Alice a few days to unpack but soon it was as if she had never been away as I kept finding her things cluttering up the house and she and Luke bickered constantly in that affectionate way only siblings can have. The end of summer term was approaching quickly and the twins had both done well in their end of year exams – Amelia well enough to give serious thought to her medical career.

29 July 1983

Dear Auntie Sharlie.

Anne Mary Gardener arrived yesterday and I can’t imagine what I did before her! I know I always said that I was never marrying and never having children – how could I have done?! I t took Kris a long time to break down my defences but I’m so glad he has. I was always so scared of having a child and then something happening to me like it did my parents. But slowly I came to realise that what happened to them couldn’t be helped. They didn’t have me knowing that they would be dead three years later, did they?

But I was still terrified the whole way through my pregnancy, Auntie Sharlie. Terrified of losing the baby, terrified of what happened to Auntie Nic happening to me. I know that both Uncle Lawrie and Louisa worried about that too. There are some people you just can’t keep up a brave face with – I’m sure you saw through mine. And then… then they laid Anne in my arms when it was all over and she was so perfect, so tiny, so wonderful and I was completely overcome with love for her. A desire so fierce that I would go to any lengths to protect her. And still my mind keeps turning back, wondering if this was how my mother felt when I was born.

My memories of my parents are so hazy to the point that I can barely recall them. I don’t want it to be like this for Anne. I can’t bear to think of her life without Kris and I in it. I can’t help but wonder what my parents would have made of being grandparents – do you think they’d have loved it?

I must leave this here now, I can hear Anne and I’m not sure I trust Kris entirely with her yet!

With much love, Samantha.

3 August 1983

Dear Samantha.

Wonderful news about the safe arrival of little Anne Mary! Uncle Colin and I will be coming to visit en route to going on holiday – if you’re not up to the whole brood descending for the day then we’ll pack the children off! I spoke to Auntie Tish on the phone the other night – well you know what she is about time marching on and us all growing old and getting grey hairs! It was rather amusing.

I must confess that I shared so many of your worries each time I was pregnant – and I suspected that you may have had similar feelings. I lost my parents during the War, as you know, and I have always prayed that my children would never have to go through anything like that and I’m sure your parents felt the same for you.

I’m sure your parents would adore being grandparents. All your mother ever wanted was to marry and have lots of children. Both she and our father did everything that they could for you. Even so, I must say, it seems odd to think of them as grandparents – I suppose that they are immortalised to me at the age they died.

I trust you will make the most of every precious moment with Anne for time soon flies by when we aren’t looking. It seems only yesterday that Rebecca placed my newborn Alice in my arms and now she has graduated. It just doesn’t seem possible.

Take care of yourself, my Samantha, and I look forward to seeing you, Kris and baby Anne very soon.

With much love, Auntie Sharlie.

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#115:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:45 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. The last post brought tears to my eyes.

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#116:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:17 pm
    —
Pim, that was truly beautiful. I had tears running down my cheeks by the time I got to the second line of Samantha's letter. I'm so glad little Anne Mary has arrived safely, and I hope Samantha and Kris will have a long and happy life with her and any little brothers and/or sisters that come along.
*sets up the G****** proof fence.....*

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#117:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:29 pm
    —
That was lovely Pim - thank you.

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#118:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:29 pm
    —
Lovely. I can't believe Samantha has a baby - where have the years gone?

It will mean so much to her to be with her daughter.

It was great Pim - as always. Sharlie's family and friends are so real.

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#119:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:29 pm
    —
Fank oo pimothy, I seem to have got a little tad behind with commenting, oops When's the next death then?

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#120:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:21 pm
    —
Those letters were lovely.

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#121:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:22 pm
    —
also can't believe Samantha has a baby!

Well done Alice!

Thanks Pim.

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#122:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:22 am
    —
Pim, that was very moving. Thank you.

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#123:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:58 am
    —

Ally wrote:

Fank oo pimothy, I seem to have got a little tad behind with commenting, oops

Qui sait? I may have to set M-L-the-airbed on you too, Ms Ally

It was odd having Alice around the house once everyone had gone back to school, odd and hard work. She had grown used to her independence at university and we had learned to adapt around her absence. She was struggling to find a job and becoming increasingly despondent with every rejection letter that arrived, making occasional mutterings about going back to university to do a Masters. The twins were both crotchety as they entered their second year of A-level studies, both nervous of the exams facing them at the end of the year. Only Lottie seemed happy, despite finding a sudden increase in workload as she had now started working towards her O-levels. The High had done wonders for her confidence levels and she was rarely in between Guides, dancing and the seemingly never ending round of invitations to friends’ houses. Luke was making tentative plans to move out I the new year and rent a flat with a couple of friends. The house would certainly be a lot quieter without him. Roo remained the quieter of the two boys, always with his nose in a book. Science fascinated him these days, and his old interest in astronomy was resurfacing, and it would be interesting to see where life took him.

November saw the arrival of two new grandchildren into the family. Sarah and Spencer becoming proud parents of Samuel Lucas whilst David and Louise became the latest initiates into the world of grandparenting when Jessica and Edmund presented them with their first grandchild, Faith Marie. It was lovely to see the family continue to expand, not to mention having small children and babies around once more. Clover, Niamh and Amy, David and Louise’s younger daughters, were besotted with their first niece, although 11 year old Charlie wasn’t quite as impressed. Still, Christmas was a thoroughly enjoyable affair as the whole family overran our house and to watch the grandchildren open their presents – especially Sarah’s 18 month old Lauren, even if she was more interested in the wrapping paper.

Alice had dcided to go back to university and had been offered a place to do her MA in modern history at Manchester. She seemed happier knowing that she had got that sorted out and became a little more bearable to live with. She managed to find a shop job and began saving up in order to help see her through her MA. The twins had begun the final stretch up to their A-level exams, after success in their mocks their teachers thought them to be on track for their coveted places at Durham and Imperial College London. Whilst Amelia threw herself completely into her work, Sophie seemed to relax a little, giving over more time to her extra curricular activities.

A letter from Julia in mid May brought the news of her third grandchild as Gaston joined Charlotte’s family, a younger brother for Eléonore and Yosef. The enclosed snap showed an excited five year old Eléonore clutching her new brother tightly, trying not to drop him. It prompted me to look out the baby photographs where I came across similar ones of Alice with the twins and later Alice with Lottie and Roo, alongside ones of Luke rather tentatively holding Roo as though he were a small bomb about to go off. Jack and Abigail became parents again the following month to Henrietta Judith, or Netty as she was soon christened by her three year old sister, Francesca (who had been Cesca because Olivia, then two, hadn’t been able to pronounce Francesa). Rebecca pointed out how much it reminded her of how I had become Sharlie when Harriet had been unable to manage Charlotte.

Although things were going well on the family front, the political situation remained tricky as the miners went on stroke and it slowly spread around the country. The Middle East remained a political hotbed with no one knowing where it would end. I could only watch with a sense of growing dread and despair hoping, that against the odds, a peaceful solution would present itself to prevent further bloodshed and loss. I had always been an idealist in my political outlook despite over a half a century of watching the planet tear itself apart.

Colin began to cut his workload a little that summer as too many years of stooping over a camera were beginning to take their toll on his back and hands. Selfishly, I was a little glad as it meant we could spend more time together; he had always worked so hard I had often felt a little neglected. Not that I would ever have said knowing that it was doing it for mine and the children’s benefit.

Luke turned 21 at the beginning of August and moved out a week later to share a flat with two friends. Colin and I had presented him with a cheque to cover the last costs he needed towards getting his own car, not least to stop him from borrowing mine! I was sorry to see him move out, although only too aware that I couldn’t hold on to him forever. I did worry about the three of them – not one of them with any house skills worth speaking of but could only hope that the landlord’s inspections would ensure that they would at least try and keep up to standard. Luke kept managing to find his way home, however, usually just as dinner was about to be served…!

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#124:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:03 am
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I can't keep track of all the babies now! I hope the twins will be all right, going off to different universities.

Thanks Pim.

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#125:  Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:41 pm
    —
PIm, I may not post on here very often, but I really enjoy watching this saga unfold - so much history in the lifetime of one family, and so many lovely people finding their way in life.

Quote:

The Middle East remained a political hotbed with no one knowing where it would end. I could only watch with a sense of growing dread and despair hoping, that against the odds, a peaceful solution would present itself to prevent further bloodshed and loss.

More than 20 years after the period you are talking about here, this statement remains tragically valid in the light of today's news, doesn't it? Yet again, the spectre of history repeating itself.

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#126:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:52 pm
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Thank you pim, all very realistic and nice to see Lottie so happy now

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#127:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:14 pm
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All caught up! thank you pimmy - and yes the babies are a little numerous...

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#128:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:38 pm
    —

Elder in Ontario wrote:

PIm, I may not post on here very often, but I really enjoy watching this saga unfold - so much history in the lifetime of one family, and so many lovely people finding their way in life. Quote: The Middle East remained a political hotbed with no one knowing where it would end. I could only watch with a sense of growing dread and despair hoping, that against the odds, a peaceful solution would present itself to prevent further bloodshed and loss. More than 20 years after the period you are talking about here, this statement remains tragically valid in the light of today's news, doesn't it? Yet again, the spectre of history repeating itself.

Those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Lovely Pim - thank you

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#129:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:46 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. I can't keep up with the babies, either!

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#130:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:12 am
    —
Thank you Pim - being in the same age- group as Alice and Luke, it's fascinating to revisit the past like this. And I can only echo Elder's comment.

On a lighter note I loved the reference to Luke "tentatively holding Roo as though he were a small bomb about to go off"!

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#131:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:18 am
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Thank you Pimmy - it's scary how they've all grown up!

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#132:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:19 am
    —

Nell wrote:

All caught up! thank you pimmy - and yes the babies are a little numerous...

Alas, I know. I really must get G to counteract that at some point... but in the interim I shall just update ye olde Lj communitye, oui.

The twins’ A-level results were due out two days before Luke moved out. Colin and I stood outside the gates, leaning against the car, feeling the familiar nerves and anxieties. We had been here five times before and it never got any easier. Amelia appeared first, running out full pelt and waving her results sheet, stopping just short and flinging her arms around us both.

I’ve done it, she said excitedly. 3 A’s, so that place at med school is all mine!
Oh Mille… I said as she thrust her results sheet at me. That’s fantastic! Well done.
Congratulations, added Colin. Where’s Sophie?
Amelia’s face fell. Sophie… mam, she didn’t do that well.
What do you mean?
I shouldn’t… let’s just say not well enough to get her place at Durham. She’s talking to Mrs Cresswell about her options. I can’t be excited for me when Sophie’s so disappointed, she sighed.

Can we just go home, was all Sophie said when she eventually came out of school, pushing her results sheet into my hand and climbing into the car. Colin and I cast our eyes over her results – she had got her predicted A in English Literature but only a D in French and she had failed history completely. The drive home was in awkward silence with Sophie staring resolutely out of the window and the rest of us not daring to say anything. She headed straight to her room, slamming the door behind her on our return home.

What’s happened, asked Alice as she and Lottie emerged from the sitting room where they had been engaged in a game of cards to pass the time. Why’s Sophie in such a strop?
She messed up, replied Amelia, flopping on to the corner of the sofa.
Bum, was Alice’s considered opinion. [iWhat about you though?
Three A’s, matched you.
So Med School’s still on then?[/i] Amelia nodded. Aren’t you pleased?
Yes, but Sophie’s so disappointed… I was looking forward to going out and celebrating but I don’t feel like it now. I feel rotten being here too cos I feel as though I’m rubbing it in for Sophie.
Didn’t anyone else mess up, asked Lottie.
A few people. Amelia sighed. Mam, I’m going to Grace’s – she didn’t have any results to get today so I won’t feel bad about going to see her. Will you tell Sophie that’s where I’ve gone? I nodded and Amelia left, banging the back door behind her.
It’s jolly unfair on Millie, remarked Alice. But then I guess it’s one of those twin things.
I’m going to try to talk to Sophie, I said. You two have a think about lunch.

I cautiously made my way upstairs and tapped gently on the door of Sophie’s room. As they’d been growing up they had always shared a room but when they had started working for their O-levels they had decided to stop doing so as they needed more space to express their emotions towards their work.

Go away, shouted Sophie in response to my knock.
I ignored her and went in anyway to find her curled up on her bed, the evidence of a fit of temper strewn across her room. Oh Sophie, I said with a sigh, perching on her bed and reaching out to touch her shoulder. It’s not the end of the world.
It is.
You only failed one subject. You can go back next year and retake it.
I may as well have failed French too. Everyone will be going off to uni in September and I’ll be left behind as the stupid one doing resits.
Nobody thinks you’re stupid, sweetheart.
I do.
Only because you’re cross with yourself.
Of course I’m cross with myself. I failed history, I may as well have failed French. I haven’t got my place at Durham and nobody will want a teacher who had to retake her A-levels.
Rot!
Even Luke did better than me.
Luke worked jolly hard to get those results.
And I didn’t, she said sadly. I did so well in the mocks I thought I’d be okay for the real thing so I took things a bit easy after Christmas – too easy. And now I’ve let everyone down.
You haven’t let anyone down, Sophie. Those results you get for you, you do them for you – not for me, not your da, not the school. Your da and I would be proud even if you’d failed the lot. We’re proud of the results you’ve got.
You’re just saying that because you have to.
No I’m not. I’m saying that because it’s true. Your father and I are incredibly proud of you and everything you’ve achieved. You’ve made Amelia thoroughly miserable you know.
But she shouldn’t! She got straight A’s!
She’s upset because you’re upset.
But… she’s done so well… she said, bursting into tears. And I’ve not. She doesn’t deserve to be miserable because I’m stupid.
You’re not stupid, Sophie. Stupid people do not get an A for English Literature.
She stopped crying and rubbed her eyes on her sleeve. I did, didn’t I? I suppose it’s one less to retake next year. Mrs Cresswell said I could do an extra AS to fill up my timetable.
That sounds more positive.
I won’t be stupid next year. I’ll work so hard because I won’t be left behind again. Where’s Amelia?
She’s gone to Grace’s.
But everyone else was going to the Kingfisher to celebrate!
She didn’t feel like it.
And it’s all my silly fault. I’m going to Grace’s and I’ll drag them both out and make them celebrate. I’m going to celebrate my A and drown my sorrows over the D and the U. She sat bolt upright and wrapped her arms around me. I’m still disappointed with myself, mam, but his is such a big day for Amelia. She jumped off her bed and began rifling through her wardrobe.
Don’t celebrate too much, I said, standing to leave. We’ve a long journey to Cornwall tomorrow.

---

#133:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:29 am
    —
Poor Sophie, that was such a shame. And I feel sorry for Amelia, too, knowing how disappointed Sophie is. Thanks Pim.

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#134:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:41 am
    —
Well done Sophie - being able to put aside your disappointment so you can help Amelia celebrate is very mature - and you'll steam ahead and pass them at the retake.

Well done Amelia and well done Sharlie - you said just what was needed.

Thanks Pim.

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#135:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:55 am
    —
Oh - that was hard on the twins. Well done Sharlie, for saying the right thing to Sophie. I'm glad she's seeing things more positively now. Congratulations to Ameila - good luck at medical school.

Thanks, pim. I love the way this story just keeps on going, even if I do get confused with all the children and grandchildren.

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#136:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:15 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. Well done to Amelia. Well done to Sophie for her A. I am sending hugs though as she is feeling down about the other subjects. I think Sharlie did a good job when she talked to both of them.

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#137:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:03 pm
    —
Oh dear! Poor Sophie! And one of those situations where being a twin makes it all so much harder. And it's rough on Amelia too.
Thanks Pimmy.

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#138:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:13 pm
    —
That just puts it all into a nutshell as to why I'm dreading GCSE results next year (even worse as Jess will be doing Alevels) and AS/Alevels the following 2 years

Thanks a lot Pim - Sharlie's words were incredibly wise and I think I'd better memorise them just in case

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#139:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:25 pm
    —
Poor Amelia, it must be so hard for her to be happy when Sophie is so sad.

One thing though when you mentioned the AS level Sophie could do to fill up her timetable was that possible in the mid 80's? I thought AS levels were only introduced for those doing AS/A levels in 2001/2002.

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#140:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:34 pm
    —
AS levels were an option in some subjects when I was doing A Levels in 95/6, when they had started to introduce the modular courses for Maths and Sciences. Not sure what the situation would have been a few years earlier though.

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#141:  Author: Alex, Location: Cambs, UK Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:25 pm
    —
My Mum taught (french) in a private secondary school in the 80s and the top maths set used to do their GCSE in the 4th year and then do AS maths in the 5th year. I don't quite know where this left them in the 6th form, but I suppose they did A Levels in the Lower 6th and then an S Level or another maths A Level or something.

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#142:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:06 am
    —
I think AS levels were around, but not in the way that an AS is half an A-level.

I'm pleased for Amelia, but obviously very disappointed for Sophie. Hope she can go and enjoy herself despite that.

Thanks Pim

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#143:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:43 am
    —

Dawn wrote:

Thanks a lot Pim - Sharlie's words were incredibly wise and I think I'd better memorise them just in case

It was more or less what my mum said to me following my spectacular mess up of A-level history. Sadly I wasn't *quite* as reasonable as Sophie over it... AS-levels have been around for a while (I did mean to check the sitch with Vati who's been teaching in a 6th form college since the mid-80s but I forgot) as I know I contemplated doing AS biology in my lower sixth (*mumphlemutter*1997*mutter*).


It was a rather hungover pair of twins who emerged the following morning as we were loading the car up ready for our holiday in Cornwall but they both knew better than to complain about feeling unwell. We had a lovely week doing nothing and enjoying our last family holiday with the twins, as they had both already said that they wouldn’t be joining us the following year. From Cornwall and a week of visiting old favourite haunts we moved on to another familiar place, Tish’s family home near Bristol. Her father had died earlier that year and her mother had decided to move somewhere smaller, but leaving the family home in the hands of Tish and her siblings and they all used it as a holiday home. It was lovely, as ever, to catch up with Tish and Lucy and for the three of us to marvel about how quickly the time was passing and how quickly the children were growing up. On 23 August we made our way to ‘our spot’ on the beach to keep a time honoured tradition of the last thirty years.

Is it really, asked Tish almost incredulously when Lucy mentioned how long we had been doing this for.
Yes, it really has, she replied.
It doesn’t feel like it. We were all so young then. Me and Sharlie newly out of university believing that we could change the world through teaching whilst Lucy decided she was never going to leave university and got married to the library.
Well not quite, Lucy grinned. I think Christian may have had words to say about that!
That’s the point, I put in. All those years ago you were quite adamant that you were married to the library and that your work was more important than marriage and children.
How wrong I was on that front! And now Hannah’s fifteen – it just doesn’t seem real.
When she’s graduated like Alice then I shall give you permission to complain
Who says she’s even going to go to university?
With genes like the one’s she’s got, chuckled Tish. Be realistic, Luce.
I’d only just started seeing Colin when we first did this, I said nostalgically. And now we’ve been married over twenty years.
Did you always know he was the one, asked Tish.
Yes, I think I did. Even when I broke off our first engagement I couldn’t shake the nagging voice in the back of my mind that I’d done the wrong thing.
Consciences are wonderful, aren’t they, asked Lucy dreamily. Not to mention that the nagging voice was probably me and Tish!
Well you did do your fair share.
You were a fool, grinned Tish.
Yes, don’t remind me. But if we’d done it differently then we wouldn’t have Alice, Luke, the twins, Lottie and Roo. It would have all been different and that would have been strange.
No it wouldn’t, retorted Lucy. It would be as natural as what you’ve got now. It only seems odd because you’re so used to what you have.
Spare the philosophy, Dr Burrows, teased Tish.
No, Lucy’s right. As usual!
If it’s been thirty years since we first did this then it’s thirty years since Annie and Mark died, Lucy said thoughtfully.
And twenty since Nicole, added Tish. We never foresaw that, did we?
No, I said sadly. Because you never see those things when looking forward. But talking of looking forward…
We never really predicted anything last time, said Tish, fumbling through her handbag. “I think we’ll be much as we are now only a little older and a little greyer” Lucy said and we all agreed. Oh, and Sharlie, you’re back in teaching – at long last!
Greyer and older is right, added Lucy. And happier. I think we’re all happier.
Yes, mused Tish. I think we are. But I’m not happy with the greyer! We all leant forward to compare our grey hairs. I still win on that front, she grinned.
1989, said Lucy thoughtfully.
Crikey, mine will all be 18 by then and hopefully off to university, I groaned. How does that work?
Time, sighed Tish. Stops for no one, which I think is quite rude of it. But in five years time, I’m going with us all being older, greyer and happier.
Seconded, said Lucy.
Thirded, I added. See you on 23 August 1989 then.

***
And err, a good place to leave it. I'm on A/L now until 1 August, sadly not as huzzah-ish as it should be. I shall be camping out in the extreme north of Scotland for a friends wedding this w/e and spending next week in the wilderness preparing for the Wedding of Doom. I think Vati's internet is behaving reasonably so I may be able to stealth on a couple of times during the week to post. Ulp.

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#144:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:55 am
    —
Thanks Pim; enjoy all your camping and stuff. Will try to be patient...

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#145:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:13 am
    —
Have a good time Pim. I guess the minions aren't back this year?

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#146:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:08 am
    —
Have fun pimmy - hope the camping isn't too nasty and that the wedding of Doom as not too doom filled.

Ta!

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#147:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:05 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. I loved the part about time being rude to not stop! I hope you have a good holiday.

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#148:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:21 pm
    —
Time is flying past, isn't it?

Thanks Pim.

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#149:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:46 pm
    —
Thanks Pim!

Enjoy the first wedding and hope you survive the second one!

And HOW is it already 1984? (It IS every 5 years they do this isn't it?)

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#150:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:58 pm
    —
Thank you pim and enjoy your holiday!

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#151:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:19 am
    —
See me go stealth... stealth, stealth, stealth. Argh, left my tea downstairs!

We took Amelia down to London on a sunny Saturday in mid-September. The same day Alice finished loading her things into her car and headed off to Manchester. Amelia and Sophie found the morning’s goodbye difficult and a lot of tears were shed amidst Amelia’s pleas for Sophie to visit as soon as she could. Unable to wave us off with Kathie, Lottie and Roo, Sophie had gone over to Grace’s house once she had said her goodbyes. Amelia was inclined to be tearful on the way down, saying little and spending most of the journey staring out of the window ignoring the act that Colin and I put on to hide our own feelings. I’d thought it wouldn’t be as bad having been through it all with Alice and with Luke having recently moved out, but it was. The urge to go back for her was overwhelming as I watched the forlorn waving figure in the car park growing smaller until I could no longer see her. After spending the night at Trixie and Paul’s we returned home to what felt like an empty house.

School had already started again and Sophie had thrown herself fully into her studies, determined not to make the same mistakes of the previous year. She wasn’t the only one doing resits, fortunately, there were another two girls from her class who were staying on to retake and the three of them became close as a result. When not immersed in her studies, she could be found in the world of Guiding either at Rangers or helping with the Brownies. She was still determined that teaching was the career for her and she gave over some of her free periods to helping at the nearby primary school. All the children adored her and both Colin and I were quite sure she had made the right career choice.

Lottie and Roo were both working hard towards their O-levels, she due to take them the next summer and he the one after. There was a friendly competitive rivalry between them, each determined to beat the other with Roo always striving to go beyond the targets set by Lottie. We saw little of the two of them, their heads always buried in their homework at home to ensure that they could make the most of their free time and extra curricular activities, Lottie with guides, dancing and netball and Roo with Scouts, rugby in the winter and cricket in the summer.

Luke may have moved out but we still saw plenty of him – usually arriving in time for dinner when he missed his home comforts. Alice telephoned semi regularly to update us on her MA and her social life in Manchester. She was happy, the course was providing the challenge she had needed and she was mumbling about doing a PhD once she was finished with her MA. Amelia also called regularly, more to speak to Sophie though than to Colin or I. She was enjoying the life of a medical student in London and the weeks of term were whizzing by so quickly that before we knew it , Colin was collecting her from Lime Street station in time for the Christmas holidays.

After a delightful family Christmas, Alice returned to Manchester and Amelia to London in the first days of 1985. Anna became the latest of my friends to be initiated into grandmotherhood in March when Sara presented her with her first granddaughter, Anna Louisa. The ensuing letter waxing lyrical about her gave away the fact that Anna and Guillaume were enthralled with their new role. They weren’t the only ones to become grandparents that month as the arrival of Timothy provided David and Louise with a grandson to go with granddaughter Faith.

Exam season was preceded by a wedding at the beginning of May, the perfect distraction for the day for Sophie and Lottie. Harriet’s elder daughter, Juliet, was the bride, marrying her university sweetheart and fellow doctor, Graham Davidson – Juliet having followed in her father’s footsteps at university. The day was perfect with both Harriet and Martin unable to hide how proud they were of Juliet and we all knew how perfectly paired she was with Graham.

All eyes were on exams following Juliet’s wedding both at home and away with frayed tempers as a consequence. Roo had end of year exams which were seen as a mere walk in the park by both Lottie and Sophie who were both working exceedingly hard for their respective O and A levels. Having been the victim of Sophie’s temper after her first exam, Luke decided it would be best to stay away until exams were over and I couldn’t blame him.

Exams, fortunately, didn’t last forever and they were soon over. Colin headed to London to collect Amelia as her first year had finished and Alice returned from Manchester with a car full of books to start writing her dissertation. She had decided that she would give getting a job another go but I knew that in her heart of hearts she really wanted to apply for her PhD. Sophie was much easier once Amelia was back and any worries about her results were expounded on to her twin. Kathie took Lottie off for three weeks once she had finished for the summer to take Lottie’s mind off impending results. They were doing a whistlestop motoring tour of Europe hoping to take in France, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Lichenstein with Leo joining them for the middle week. Colin wryly remarked that with all their bags Kathie’s car wouldn’t even make it as far as Dover. How she loved proving him wrong!

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#152:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:51 am
    —
I hope Sophie's done well this time round. And how nice for Kathie and Lottie to go off together like that. Thanks Pim.

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#153:  Author: Nina, Location: Peterborough, UK Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:17 pm
    —
oooh, a stealth-pim! Thank you, I didn't think I'd get my fix today

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#154:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:20 pm
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Thanks Pim.

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#155:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:24 pm
    —
Oooh, thank you Pim! Hope you are having a good holiday.

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#156:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:27 pm
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Thank you pim, fingers crossed for Sophie and Lottie!

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#157:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:49 pm
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Thanks, Pim. I hope that Lottie and Sophie get the results that they want.

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#158:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:52 pm
    —
A stealthy pim! Thank you...

(though it should be Roo not Luke at the end of the third para!)

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#159:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:36 pm
    —
Thanks stealthpim - everyone's getting older - wonder how long until Sharlie's a grandmother - Alice is 22 now isn't she?

Last edited by Lesley on Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:00 pm; edited 1 time in total

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#160:  Author: Karry, Location: Stoke on Trent Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:19 am
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Oooh an unexpected stealth! Thanks Pim!

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#161:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:10 am
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Stealthing once more... tricker now Mutti's off work too! It's much easier just to stealth around Vati (especially as he's up to his ears in decorating) alas, not quite so with them both in the equation

Sophie’s results were the first out and Colin and I duly accompanied her to school where we waited, leaning apprehensively against the car hoping that history would not repeat itself. We were both impatient and twitchy, Colin pacing up and down alongside the car until we saw Sophie running at full pelt towards us.

I’m alright, she said excitedly, waving her results slip at us. I got a B in French and the same in history. Oh and a C for my AS German. Mrs Cresswell let me ring Durham to check and the place is all mine! I won’t be left behind this time.
Sophie, that’s brilliant, enthused Colin.
We’re so proud, I added.
I can’t believe it. I keep expecting Mrs Cresswell to come out and tell me it’s a mistake and she’s given me someone else’s results by mistake.
Don’t be silly, I said, taking her results slip from her before she dropped it.
I wish Amelia had come too but she did look jolly rough this morning. It’s all her own fault of course – I think she drank my Dutch courage as well as her own last night!
I laughed. I think Alice was going to make her patented hangover cure whilst we were out so she may be alright for celebrating later…
I hope so. Izzie, Jo and I have got great plans.
How did they do, asked Colin.
Fine, they both got what they needed – I should think Mrs Cresswell will be glad to get us off her hands! Let’s go home, I can’t wait to tell Millie.

Amelia’s hangover had cleared enough by the time we returned home to participate fully in Sophie’s celebration plans. The two of them went out that evening to celebrate, returning home at some ungodly hour of the morning a good time having been had by all.

The following week we found ourselves in the same boat, but with Kathie in tow, for Lottie’s O-level results. Kathie was probably more nervous than Colin and I put together.

You’re alright, she said despairingly to us both whilst pacing up and down as we waited for Lottie to return. You’re old hands at this now.
It doesn’t get any easier, I said with a laugh. The nerves are still horrible.
I hope she’s done well. She’ll be so disappointed if she hasn’t after all the hard work she’s put in.
I’m sure she’ll be fine, I began with more confidence than I felt, breaking off as I spotted Lottie sauntering out of the school gates with her two best friends, Jane and Naomi. There she is.
Kathie muttered something incomprehensible in reply. Lottie-chen, she chided as that young lady joined us. You’ve kept us all waiting ages. Where have you been all this time?
Oh, talking to Jane and Naomi, she said airily, hading over her results sheet to Kathie who stared at it for a moment.
Bloody hell, Lottie, she exclaimed, flinging her arms around her and waving the sheet excitedly at Colin and I.
I took it from her and Colin and I stared at the list of A’s and B’s on it, grinning at each other. Only what your mam said, grinned Colin as Lottie turned to us and hugged us both.
Didn’t do too bad, did I?
Wonderfully, said Kathie.
Do you like my maths result?
The A? Never prouder – shame you didn’t do geog to follow completely in my footsteps.
Didn’t want to put you too much to shame, mam, she retorted with a cheeky grin.
You horror, Kathie exclaimed.
Lottie shrugged. I’m going to the cinema with Jane and Naomi later – Naomi’s mum’s driving us.
Okay, I said. We’ll go home and mobilise the others for lunch then.

September meant farewell to the twins, Amelia went back first in mid September, Colin taking her back to London for her second year and her last solely in class as she would be out on placement from the following year. Sophie departed for Durham a fortnight later, looking scared and apprehensive in the back of the car amongst all her boxes and cases. We dropped her off at her college and unloaded the seemingly never ending stack of boxes and bags into her room. Finally the moment I hated the most, the farewell from the car park arrived.

Right, if that’s it then we’d best be off, said Colin, shoving his hands in his pockets. Sophie nodded in agreement. Take care then, Sophie, he said, hugging her briefly. Mind you eat properly and do your work.
She nodded and turned to me. Goodbye mam, she whispered.
I hugged her tightly, biting my lip to keep back the tears. Goodbye Sophie. Take care and enjoy yourself. Give us a ring in a few days to let us know how you’re getting on.

She nodded and we climbed into the car, waving until the figure in the car park vanished.

No, I said with a sigh as we drove away.
No what?
It doesn’t get any easier saying goodbye.
I know. It gets harder.

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#162:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:35 am
    —
Thank you pim, only 2 left at home now!

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#163:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:35 am
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That was so lovely, thanks Pim. Do I need to be feeling worried about Sophie, all on her own?

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#164:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:33 pm
    —
Thanks for the stealth posts Pim!
I hope Sophie enjoys her time at university and doesn't feel too homesick.

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#165:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:04 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. Well done to Lottie! Well done to Sophie! I hope that everything will go ok for Sophie at Durham.

I forgot to say that when you mentioned a few posts ago that Sophie wanted to go to Durham, my 1st reaction was to think to tell someone I know at Durham that I had heard of Sophie going to Durham the next year.

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#166:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:02 pm
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So pleased for Sophie - and Lottie - like her rapport with Kathie.

Thanks Pim.

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#167:  Author: Lucy B, Location: NZ Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:14 pm
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Thanks pim, for the story and for the info about grades. It works differently down here.

Chair - I found myself looking for "Tiernsee" in a travel guide for Austria the other day - took me a while to realise why it wasn't there!

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#168:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:29 am
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Lalala, alas, my last stealth post til I get back to work on Tuesday. At least I've discovered though that Vati's broadband works reasonably well now *g*


Alice’s second attempt at job hunting was to be as fruitless as her first and she had made up her mind that it was to be a PhD and hopefully a career in academia. Her MA dissertation was coming along well and she knew that she wanted to continue with the theme she had started at Cambridge of Anglo-German relations in the 1930s.The shop where she had worked before going to Manchester agreed to take her back on – part time until she had finished her dissertation and full time afterwards. If nothing else, it kept her busy and stopped her moping about the house.

Lottie had started at the High’s sixth form when the schools had gone back and was working towards her A-levels in maths, French and biology. She had a half idea that she wanted to teach and, as Sophie had done, was helping in the nearby primary school during a couple of her free periods and was also helping with one of the first form maths classes. Roo was now in the fifth form and engrossed in the work for his O-levels which he would sit at the end of the year. Still scientifically inclined he intended to take his A-levels in maths, chemistry and physics before pursuing physics at university. All the children were clever but Roo was just that little bit more so. I think he would have got on best with my da of all my children. I’m sure the two of them would have whiled away the hours together quite happily.

Even though we had Alice at home once more it still felt unusually quiet. As ever we saw little of Lottie and Roo and slowly I came to realise that in a couple of short years it would be like this when they were all gone. We saw Luke regularly but there was a girl on the scene who was slowing taking up more of his time. The twins called once a week to report on the fabulous times they were having at university even though they hated being so far apart. I knew that they spoke to each other more regularly and dreaded to think what their letters were like. Once again it felt as though the rug had been pulled from under my feet as term rushed by with December arriving before I had had the time to turn around.

6 December 1985

Dear Auntie Sharlie.

Mark William Gardener arrived safe and sound at home earlier this afternoon. He is absolutely wonderful – especially now as he is fast asleep! Anne is fascinated by him – I think she thinks he must be a new doll but she can’t understand why Kris and I won’t let her hold him, well she is only 2 ½ after all. She keeps pointing at the cot and trying to say “brother”. She’ll be asking for a sister next, you just wait! Mind, I think she was hoping that Mark would be a girl. She’ll get over the disappointment one day, I’m sure. Kris bought her smarties this afternoon as a “present” from her brother so she was soon placated but I think her brother will be buying her a very nice Christmas present just to be on the safe side. He’s already mentioned a Wendy House… How are your children doing – although they’re hardly that anymore! Dear me, and I remember them from being as new as Mark. Doesn’t time fly? It’s dreadful to think that I shall have to let Anne and Mark go one day.

I shall leave this missive here before I wax too lyrical and also because I need to write to Auntie Tish and Auntie Lucy!

With love, Samantha.

1986 was soon underway, Sophie returning to Durham for her second term – anxious to get back and see her friends. Alice was in the middle of her research proposal for her PhD and researching funding possibilities, and hoping to return to Cambridge to do it. Roo was buried in his books with O-levels to be sat that summer and Amelia returned to London.

February brought the wedding of David and Louise’s second daughter, Clover, to her fiancé, David Kelly. Only 23, David and Louise had raised the same concerns to Clover that they had to Jessica four years previously knowing that Clover would pay as much attention to them as her elder sister. However, the day went off without a hitch and a wonderful day was had by all.

Colin and I were able to snatch a couple of days away in London in June leaving Alice in charge of Lottie and Roo who were up to their ears in exam work. Trixie’s daughter, Catherine, was due to get married, making her the third of Trixie’s children to tie the knot. 23 year old Susanna, however, was enjoying her life too much to give Trixie the satisfaction of a full set just for them moment. It felt strange watching my eldest goddaughter walk down the aisle, marvelling at the strong and sunny woman she had turned out to be. As ever it was wonderful to catch up with Trixie and Paul and to lament the rate at which time was passing by. We returned home at the end of the weekend relieved to see that the house was still standing and that there had been no trips to casualty and even that there was no washing up in the sink waiting to greet us.

The twins returned home for their summer holidays, although Amelia’s break would be considerably shorter than Sophie’s as she was due to begin her first placement at the end of August. Alice’s research proposal had been accepted for her PhD and she was going back to Newnham that September to begin it. Roo was awaiting his O-level results and Lottie had begun to look at universities for the following year. I could never believe how quickly the time went by.

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#169:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:08 pm
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1986? I can't believe it - hope Sharlie's not going to get Empty Nest Syndrome.

Thanks Pim.

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#170:  Author: Alex, Location: Cambs, UK Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 7:07 pm
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August 1986 - I watched my brother being born. He'll be 20 in a couple weeks. This drabble is making me feel so old.

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#171:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:34 pm
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Thanks Pim

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#172:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:06 pm
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Thanks, Pim. I also can't believe how the time is flying by.

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#173:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:00 pm
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Well done to Sophie and Lottie on their results!!
And congrats to all the newly marrieds and to the new parents!

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#174:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:15 pm
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1986 is when I was borned!

Thank you stealthpim

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#175:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 3:22 pm
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Thank you pim, I wonder what Sharlie is going to do with herself once all the children have flown the nest!

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#176:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:07 am
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The summer was a long, hot, sticky one during which we saw little of the children, except Luke who still seemed to be able to sniff dinner out and arrive in time for it. Amelia had managed to wangle some work experience in the local hospital on the administration side of things and both Sophie and Lottie were working at a holiday club. Roo spent most of the holidays with one of his friends working on some strange scientific experiment they had on the go that only Amelia could make the vaguest sense of. He was nervous about his impending O-level results and changed the subject whenever they were mentioned.

Finally at the end of August and results day rolled around to put Roo out of his misery. For the third summer in a row Colin and I found ourselves leaning against the car outside the school gates, waiting. Roo eventually appeared with his friend Tim, the two of them in deep discussion which wasn’t even broken as he handed over his results slip to us.

Coo, remarked Colin. [i]Are you sure they’re all yours, Roo?
Huh, asked Roo, momentarily breaking off his conversation with Tim.
I said are all those results yours? All those A’s?
Got my name on the top of it. See you later, Tim. Guess they must be mine – logic says so. What’s for lunch?
I glanced at my watch. Roo, it’s only just gone 11! How can you be thinking about lunch at a time like this?
Cos I’m hungry?
That’s because you didn’t have breakfast.
Wasn’t hungry then but I am now. Like the results?
They’re fantastic, I said.
Mr Brownlow said something about my maths being good but I don’t know what. I daresay he’ll tell me again after the hols. Lunch?

I had never quite got used to how blasé Roo was over his intelligence. I doubted I ever would. The others had always leapt about in excitement when they had done well, but not Roo who had treated getting straight A’s in his O-levels as though it were just another ordinary day. He returned to the school’s sixth form to study physics, chemistry and maths for A-level with a view to continuing the physics at university. Lottie now entered her upper sixth working towards a place at Leeds to read maths.

The twins turned 21 in October and returned home to spend a quiet weekend with us and to celebrate with some of their old school friends. Amelia had finally come clean and coyly admitted that the boyfriend she had been so secretive about since the previous term was none other than Tish’s Ben. He was three years older than her and had moved to London to try and further his law career the previous year. Both Tish and I had encouraged the two to meet up so that Ben had a friendly face and from that things had developed. Tish and I exchanged a few nervous telephone calls on the subject, neither of us voicing the horrible thought of what would happen if it all went horribly wrong. Sophie was quite convinced that their relationship was a good thing and I knew Sophie didn’t give her blessing lightly as far as her twin sister was concerned.

In November we took a long overdue trip to Taverton to visit Simon for Molly’s wedding. It was a lovely day, although tinged with the sadness that Peggy wasn’t there to see her daughter get married. Even 27 years later it was obvious that Simon still missed her. Both Molly and Jonno mentioned to me that they wished that she could be there and how much they wished they had had the chance to know her rather than only through their father’s memories. I was introduced to Jonno’s fiancée who he expected to marry in a couple of years time. Both twins extracted a firm promise from me that Peggy wouldn’t be forgotten to her grandchildren.

As ever, the Christmas holidays were nowhere near long enough and it never got any easier saying goodbye to the children as they all went separate ways back to their respective universities. Alice was enjoying the challenge of her PhD always thinking up new ways to look at her subject or another piece of information that she simply had to squeeze in somewhere. Amelia was mostly on placement these days at the nearby hospitals and loving every minute of it, changing her mind on specialities with every placement. Sophie continued to thrive at Durham, breezing through her degree with relative ease and beginning to look at places to go and do her PGCE once she had finished. With both Lottie and Roo in the sixth form I was constantly reminded of the swift passing of time, knowing that I wouldn’t have them at home for much longer, especially as Lottie celebrated her eighteenth birthday that February.

Harriet was my second sister to become a grandmother that March when Juliet presented her with baby Jack Robert. Rebecca laughed at Harriet’s protestations that she couldn’t be a grandmother just yet, reminding her that she had said the same thing when Olivia had been born – and now that young lady was eight years old! It was two weeks until we were all introduced to baby Jack when Juliet and Graham made the journey up from London to show him off. Harriet and Martin had already been to visit, as had Daniel and Connie, her siblings. Soledad was the next to make us feel our age as Sara put it when she married Julian Pearce in May followed only days later by the arrival of Guillermo, Anna-Claire’s new baby providing a new grandchild for Julia and Michel.

May also brought exam season to the house once more and an unhappy Lottie as she slogged for her A-levels, determined to do well. She found Roo’s casual nonchalance towards his end of year exams infuriating and many a cross word would be exchanged between them before exams finally came to an end after what seemed like forever. And with that came the sad realisation that I would never have another exam season like it in the house. It would be Roo and Roo alone the following year.

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#177:  Author: Karry, Location: Stoke on Trent Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:23 am
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Yay! Pim's back! I know what it is like to suddenly look at your babies and realise they are big!

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#178:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:41 pm
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Gosh! How much have I missed??

Loving all the updates Pim - thank you! Particularly like the rapport between Kathie and Lottie over Lottie's exam results... *le shock* Can't believe how quickly time is passing!

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#179:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:55 pm
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Thanks, Pim. Well done to Roo! I am seriously to realise that Molly and Jonno are now 27!

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#180:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 7:40 pm
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Thanks Pim!

Time just keeps rolling on here! So many new arrivals and love affairs!

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#181:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 7:50 pm
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Thanks, Pim. At least you had the decency to take the same holiday as me - even if you did stealth a couple of posts in - so I didn't miss too much.

Like everyone else, I can't believe just how fast time is flying.

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#182:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:04 am
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Gem wrote:

Gosh! How much have I missed??

La la la, yes, okay I have been pants at e-mailing you... *hides*


Colin and I had been quite happy to stay at home on results morning and let Kathie go it alone with Lottie but they were both quite insistent that they wanted Colin and I there too so we obediently went along to play the waiting game. Lottie managed to take twice as long as everybody else coming out – her sociable nature meaning that she had had to stop and talk to everyone on her way to and from the school office.

About time, groaned Kathie, grabbing Lottie’s results slip from her when she eventually reappeared.
Read them out, said Colin. Save me the bother of reading them.
I can tell you without all that rigmarole, grinned Lottie. Biology – B, French – B, Maths – A.
Well done old thing, said Colin with a jovial punch to her arm.
Well done, exclaimed Kathie hugging her tightly. Bloody brilliant more like.
I agree, I said, hugging her. They’re marvellous results.
Same as Sophie – didn’t think I’d manage to match Alice and Amelia so I didn’t bother trying. I said I’d meet the others in the Red Lion around four – is that okay? I didn’t think we’d be at lunch for three hours – not even Luke could manage that!

We all laughed and drove home in high spirits to collect the others and go out for lunch. Lottie duly bid us farewell afterwards and set off to meet her friends at the pub to celebrate their results. I never slept easily when they were out, usually staying awake until I heard the familiar click of the back door lock once they had let themselves in. I had given up trying to sleep by around one and was reading with the bedside lamp on when the telephone rang causing me to almost jump out of my skin, although Colin never stirred. It was the nearby casualty department saying that Lottie had been admitted with a head injury. I woke Kathie and the two off us set off for the hospital leaving Colin in charge of the house. The drive to the hospital had never seemed longer and I was glad to see two of Lottie’s friends, Natalya and Cassie, in the waiting area.

Where’s Lottie, I asked anxiously.
Through there, stammered Natalya as Kathie wandered over to join the queue for the reception desk.
What happened, I asked gently, guiding the two of them over to the seating area.
They exchanged awkward glances and Cassie began to cry, leaving Natalya to explain. We were walking home from the Kingfisher and… it was all my stupid fault cos I was late so I suggested that we take the alley way down by the Red Lion. I know we’re not meant to go down there but I was a bit panicked… there was some tramp down there and we must have tripped over him or something cos he started yelling and grabbing at us. So we started to run and… she broke off, bursting into tears.
He whacked Lottie over the head with a bottle, Cassie finished, blowing her nose. We carried on running and then she stumbled so we dragged her along with us and then when we got out onto the road behind the Kingfisher we saw the blood and Lottie collapsed so Nat rang for an ambulance.
I’m so sorry, Mrs Graham, sobbed Natalya. It’s all my silly fault.
I couldn’t bring myself to be angry with Natalya, seeing that she was punishing herself enough and instead hugged her tightly until she stopped crying. Do your parents know where you are? She shook her head. Cassie? The same response. I looked up to see Kathie approaching with one of the nurses. Ring and tell them where you are and I’ll drive you home once I’ve seen Lottie.

She’s quite alright, the nurse explained as she led us through the casualty department. We’ve stitched up the wound and we’ll keep her in overnight to keep an eye on her and until the alcohol clears her system. I think it’s more shock than anything. She’s in here, she said, sweeping back the cubicle curtains to admit us.
Oh God, Lottie, exclaimed Kathie, collapsing in the seat beside her bed. What on earth possessed you to go down that alley?
Lottie turned her head as the tears began to slide down her cheeks. Auntie Sharlie?
Yes?
Please don’t be cross with Cassie and Nat. Cassie tried to stop us but Nat and I wouldn’t listen to her.
But you know no to, I said gently.
I know but Nat was in such a pickle about being late. I egged her on to take the shortcut and I don’t think she suggested going down there seriously, I really don’t.
What about the man who did it?
She shrugged. Wouldn’t know him if I fell over him. I’d rather just forget about it. They’ve already tried to get me to talk to the police but there’s no point.
Lottie, I really think you should reconsider, put in Kathie quietly.
She shook her head, wincing at the pain. I just want to forget about it.

We were allowed to take Lottie home to following evening under strict instruction to keep a close eye on her over the next few days. It was felt that she, Natalya and Cassie had been punished enough for being silly enough to ignore the warning about not taking the alley way home and left it at that. Lottie retreated into her protective shell showing little enthusiasm about going to Leeds and only making a half hearted attempt to get herself organised. She rarely went out in her last weeks at home, preferring to stay in and read or watch television. On the rare couple of occasions she went out she was always home worryingly early. Colin and I became increasingly concerned about her going to Leeds and how she would cope there on her own. Sophie tried to talk to her but met only with stony silence and the defensive walls Lottie had put up around herself. Lottie was due to start at Leeds the same weekend that Sophie had decided to go back to Durham so Kathie and I took Lottie whilst Colin went cross country with Sophie. Lottie was quiet all the way to Leeds and said little as we unpacked the car. We both hated leaving her, she looked so small and lost and I couldn’t help but worry about what the coming term would bring.

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#183:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:10 am
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We should have guessed that it was all going too well to last. Poor Lottie, I hope she's ok on her own.

Thanks Pim.

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#184:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:44 am
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Poor Lottie! Did something else happen down that alley, which the girls haven't told anyone about? I hope Lottie will be all right by herself in Leeds.

Thanks, pim.

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#185:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 11:07 am
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Lottie seems to have her mother's ability to get into trouble... poor Lottie! Am desperately hoping nothing else happened down that alleyway

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#186:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:50 pm
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Poor Lottie!!!!

And AAARGH at Lottie and Gem's suggestions of what else might have happened.......

Thanks Pimmy, and more soon please!

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#187:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:22 pm
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Poor Lottie - is she developing agrophobia?

Thanks for the updates Pim.

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#188:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:43 am
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Gem wrote:

Lottie seems to have her mother's ability to get into trouble... poor Lottie!

Genetics, wonderful thing...

It was impossible not to worry about Lottie at university as the first days passed and then the first weeks. Although her letters and telephone calls were always full of enthusiasm, I couldn’t help but wonder how much of it was forced and I knew that her defences would go up as soon as anyone tried to break through them. It was quiet with only Roo at home, a feeling of oddness as the three of us rattled around in our overly large, empty house. It still hurt to go into the others’ rooms and see the things they had left behind. I kept expecting any one of them to appear at any moment.

We had a full house for a weekend in October as it was the turn of Elizabeth’s eldest son, Peter, to tie the knot. I took the teasing of my sisters about being the only one without a married child in my stride – their turn would come when they felt ready for it. But I knew that it annoyed Alice – she would be 26 at Christmas and had always insisted that her PhD came first. There had been boyfriends in the past, and she was currently in the first stages of a new fledgling relationship but I knew that she was annoyed by the comparisons people insisted on making with her and Amelia, whose relationship with Ben was very serious these days. Both Tish and I were holding out for a happy ending there, our hat shopping expedition already planned. Amelia and Ben teased us about it incessantly but we pointed out that it always did well to be prepared. Lottie was unusually quiet that weekend, not joining in with the others’ enthusiastic regaling of their recent antics. I was sorry to see them all go on the Sunday afternoon as the peace I had only just begun to get used to before their arrival descended once more. My attentions were slightly distracted when Jessica presented David and Louise with another grandchild, Lois, in November.

Roo turned 18 just before the others were due to return home for the holidays and celebrations were held off until then. It simply didn’t seem possible that all six of them had now reached that milestone in their lives. The Christmas break was all too short and only served to increase my worries about Lottie. Whilst I saw little of Alice and the twins as they flitted about catching up with old friends, Lottie spent most of the break in her room claiming that she had too much revision to do for her January exams. She had lost weight during her first term, shrugging it off that Hall food was dreadful. I wasn’t sure how much there was in it and, given what had happened at the Grammar school, I didn’t like to leave Lottie’s problems alone. Neither did the twins but they couldn’t elicit anything from her either, nor could Kathie. I wanted to believe that all was well in Lottie’s world but I couldn’t shake the niggling doubts that it wasn’t and, thus, I was somewhat reluctant to let her go back in January, not that I could stop her. She seemed a little happier when she paid a visit home in February for David and Louise’s third daughter’s, Niamh, wedding but I was still worried about her.

15 March 1988

Dear Sharlie.

My children have well and truly gone and outdone themselves this time – two grandchildren on the same day! We’d been joking about it all along but Edward and Poppy surprised us all 3 ½ weeks early whilst Catherine, as ever, was completely punctual and on time. So I ask you to welcome Catherine’s new addition to Clan Markham – Hayley Isobel – and Edward’s – Gillian Claire. They’re both absolutely adorable and I am completely besotted with them after a trek from one side of London to the other to visit yesterday evening.

It is wonderful, isn’t it, to have new babies in the family? They make everything seem so much better, happier and hopeful. When are you and Colin next planning on coming down to London – I can’t wait to show off my new grandchildren! Tash is thrilled with Gillian, naturally – she and Poppy have been thick as thieves since she and Edward broke the news. Susanna is delighted with her two new nieces, but not showing any inclination towards marriage just yet – too busy having fun!

I daresay it won’t be too long before you join Tash and I in the grandparent club – it’s a wonderful experience, especially handing them back at the end of the day and your children’s realisation that they were once like this to you!

With much love, Trix.

Summer was soon upon us and Roo began his A-levels with the A grades he needed in sight that he needed to go to Oxford to read physics. His teachers were confident of his success although he ambled through the exams at his usual nonchalant pace. In Durham Sophie was due to sit her finals whilst Amelia faced her penultimate year exams in London and Lottie her first year exams in Leeds. Sophie’s results were due out at the end of June, the same weekend that Colin and I would be in Taverton for Jonno’s wedding. I had extracted a firm promise from Sophie that she would call us at Simon’s as soon as she got the results, even if it was in the middle of the reception! Which it turned out to be…

Sharlie! Simon’s shout distracted me from my conversation with Molly. It’s your Sophie for you.
I leapt across the room and grabbed the receiver from his hand. Sophie?
Mam, she said simply.
Well? There was a pause. Sophie? My hands had started shaking – what if it was bad news as it had been the first time she had sat her A-levels? Sophie?
It’s a 2:i.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Wonderful.
I’m so relieved. I thought I might have failed again, but I haven’t. PGCE for me next year.
What are your plans now?
Celebrating in style. Is da there?
He’s playing with his camera somewhere.
Abandoning you to be the sociable one?
Doesn’t he always?
She laughed. Tell him I’ll see him bright and early Monday lunchtime.
I will do. And Sophie…
Yes?
I’m very proud. I love you.
Love you too – but there’s the pips, got to go!

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#189:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:50 am
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I'm so worried about Lottie. Poor kid, she's not had it easy, has she?

Thanks Pim.

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#190:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:51 am
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Wibbles about Lottie
Thanks Pim, time is flying so fast in this!

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#191:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:07 pm
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Thanks Pim!!
Hurrah for Sophie, I'm so glad she got a good degree result!
And yay for more new babies and weddings!

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#192:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:14 pm
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Very worried about Lottie - can Kathie get through to her?

Really pleased for Sophie though - excellent result.

Thanks Pim.

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#193:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 9:50 pm
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*gives Lottie a big hug*

Well done Sophie!

Thanks Pim

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#194:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:10 am
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Colin duly collected Sophie from Durham on the Monday morning and the house looked like an explosion had occurred over the following few days between Sophie and Lottie’s boxes and bags all over the house. Sophie would be off to York to do her PGCE in September, something she was thoroughly looking forward to. Lottie I was still concerned about, eschewing invitations to go out and only reluctantly allowing her friends to come and visit. She and Kathie went on holiday as soon as Kathie broke up for the summer but it only seemed to serve to make Lottie more withdrawn and none of us were sure what to do with her. Alice offered to have her spend a few days in Cambridge with her and, after some persuasion, Lottie agreed to go and returned a little more animated than when she had left. Alice wasn’t sure what she had done during the weekend. I guessed that Lottie’s anxieties were related to the attack the previous year but none of us knew how to help her get over them.

Roo’s results were due out in mid August. The day before David and Louise became grandparents yet again to Clover’s new son, Christopher, her first. They may have been old hands at the grandparenting game but David admitted that he never got any less besotted. Results day was miserable and overcast as we drove Roo to school. It was strange to think that it would be the last time of driving them to school to collect their results, the last time that Colin and I would stand leaning against the car, waiting.

This is the last time we’ll do this, I commented as we waited for Roo.
With any luck, replied Colin. Unless he’s failed the lot.
I doubt it, you old cynic.
So do I. I’m not sure where we got Roo from – he’s far brighter than all the others put together.
I know. I mean, they’re all clever – especially Alice and Amelia but they had to work. Roo just leaves them both standing and breezes through it all so effortlessly.
The brains come from you.
I was clever but I had to slog at it.
You went to university.
Means nothing – you didn’t see some of the people I went to university with. Where is that boy of ours, what on earth is taking him so long? He was like this with his O-levels; he really doesn’t appreciate the hell we go through waiting for him.
Colin laid his hand on my arm. He’s there, sweetheart. What took you so long Roo, he asked as Roo approached us, grinning broadly.
Oh I was talking to Dr Higgins about Oxford, he said airily.
What about Oxford, I asked.]
He was asking me to remember him to a few people/
Does this mean… I began.
What? Oh yes, that, I got the A’s so I got in.
Bloody hell, breathed Colin.
Seconded, I agreed, hugging him quickly.
He shrugged. Yeah, well, couldn’t be shown up by my sisters, he said, pushing his hands into his pockets. Had to rival Alice and Amelia somehow.

September and October were busy as we said goodbye to the children one by one, Amelia back to London on placement, Sophie to York to start her PGCE, Lottie back to Leeds for her second year at Roo to Oxford for his first at Corpus Christi.

I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how quiet it is, I said to Colin as the two of us sat on the settee, savouring our first evening alone together. I’m going to miss the timetable on the wall telling me where I’m meant to be.
Me too. But maybe I can think about cutting back my workload so we can take advantage of this new found time together.
Your idea of cutting your workload will probably be the same as your father’s. I always knew I was marrying a workaholic.
He laughed. But let’s be reasonable, sweetheart. I’m sixty years old now and my hands just don’t work the way they used to with the arthritis and it kills my back to spend all day stooped over a camera. I’ve decided to give up the magazine work and, as far as the shop’s concerned, Luke’s making enough of a name for himself that people are bypassing the old bugger and going straight to him.
He is good though – you taught him well.
I taught him how to use a camera – the rest is all down to him. It’s all about soul our game, you know. What about you though – you must have some thoughts about retiring.
Well some, but not for a couple of years – I know I’m only part time but it keeps me busy and stops me sitting around twiddling my thumbs. Maybe I’ll think about giving it up altogether once Roo’s through university and we won’t have them all wandering back for odd weekends and holidays. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to them all being gone.
Me neither.
I just wish that they didn’t have to grow up so quickly. One minute Alice was a newborn and now she’s 27. I just don’t understand.
It’ll be weddings and grandchildren next.
I know. I’ve already been a great aunt for nine years.
Really?
Yes – Olivia was nine in May, remember? She had that dreadful pink cake.
It tasted quite nice I thought.
I wasn’t criticising Abi’s cooking. It just looked hideous and you insisted on photographing it from every angle.
Olivia made me!
You never could resist doing as children told you to!
I wouldn’t dare disagree! Oliva might be third generation Andrews but she still has that same mean streak as you and your sisters.
Slander, I cried, hitting him with a cushion.
Is not – I’m scared of you all.
Wimp.
I freely admit it.
It’s just as well I love you, I retorted, kissing him.
It’s just as well I love you too.

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#195:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:26 am
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Well done, Roo - enjoy Oxford! I'm still wibbling about poor Lottie, though - it doesn't sound as though she's got over the attack from last year yet. Goodness, it makes me feel old, though, to think of Colin and Sharlie retiring!!!

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#196:  Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:58 pm
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I can understand how Lottie must be feeling. My boyfriend was attacked in broad daylight over two years ago, and it's only in the past few months that we've realised how much it's affected him. In the past five months, he's developed serious anxiety, is rarely able to sleep through the night and has barely left the house. Lottie needs help before it gets too much for her.

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#197:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:02 pm
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Poor Lottie - she having a really bad time, isn't she?

Congrats to Roo though.

Thanks Pim.

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#198:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:16 pm
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Thanks Pimmy!
But HOW is Alice 27?????
That's just not possible!

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#199:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:46 am
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Well done Roo!
It's hard to believe that Colin is 60!

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#200:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:29 am
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Colin and I slowly learned to get used to each other once more, staying up late into the night to reminisce over the years we had had together, the children never far from our thoughts. There were regular letters and telephone calls but nothing could compensate for the imprint their absence left on our lives. However, their absence gave us the opportunity to start redecorating the downstairs of the house, something we had been putting off for a long time. We were able to invite friends over and go out without the added worry of who we needed to pick up or whether the children would destroy the house in our absence. We laid tentative plans for a holiday to Switzerland to visit Anna and Julia when Anna wrote to tell us she had become a grandmother to baby Iztek. Simon Harper followed suit in November and we received reflective letters from both he and Molly on the safe arrival of Margaret, to be known as Peggy like her grandmother.

My worries about Lottie hadn’t gone away and were increased when a letter arrived from her housemates two days before she was due home for the Christmas holidays.

Dear Mr and Mrs Graham.

You don’t know us, except, we expect, by reputation as Lottie’s housemates. But we are writing because we are concerned about Lottie. She’s always been quiet and in Hall preferred to hide away in her room rather than coming out with the rest of us. She would be fine when we were in Hall but as soon as anyone mentioned going out she always had an excuse not to come along. We managed to get her to come out a few times, and it was always hard work, but she would always get panicky and would come home early and it’s been the same story this term.

And she keeps on losing weight – at least there was an excuse in Hall, the food was VILE but now we can cook for ourselves and we’re not all that bad at it now. Only Lottie just picks at hers and we think most of it ends up in the bin. She gets all cross and defensive if we ask her about it though and it really worries us – especially Karen (one of her friends at school was anorexic and had to go into a clinic).

We thought at first she was just homesick but now we’re not so sure. She always talks about all the wonderful things she used to do and about her home life and that makes us more worried. We don’t know what’s eating Lottie and we hate seeing her so sad. All we want to do is help her.

From Lottie’s housemates, Karen, Saskia and Debbie.

Colin and I talked over the letter at length as did Kathie and I over the telephone, culminating in me agreeing to go and collect Lottie from Leeds for the Christmas holidays. She was quite enthused by the idea of an unexpected lift home, having forgotten to book her train tickets. I set out nervously for Leeds on the Saturday morning, wondering if any of her housemates would be around when I got there. They weren’t – Karen having only left half an hour previously to catch her train, the other two having gone the previous day. Lottie was looking tired and worn, lost in her jeans and oversized sweater.

Have you been sleeping properly, I asked as we set off, casting an anxious glance over her pale face and dark ringed eyes.
She shrugged and shook her head. Hideous project due in yesterday. I stayed up most of Thursday night trying to get it done.
I see. She shrugged and stared out of the window. I had a letter from your housemates the other day.
What did they say, she asked, sitting bolt upright.
They’re worried about you.
Yeah, well, they don’t need to be. I’m fine.
Are you?
Yes, she snapped. Everyone thinks I’m some freak because I don’t like going out. They wouldn’t if…
If what, Lottie-chen?
Forget it.
Lottie, is this all to do with what happened on results day?
I said forget it.
It is, isn’t it? She shrugged. Oh Lottie-chen, why didn’t you say so before?
I didn’t say it was that! I just don’t want to go out with everyone being drunk and stupid. You don’t understand.
What about the other things you used to do – Guides, netball, dancing.
I just don’t want to anymore.
You’d rather just sit in and mope in your room?
At least I’m safe there. I… I… she faltered, rubbing her eyes on her sleeve. I’m not crying.
You haven’t told anyone what happened on results day, have you?
No. Do you tell everyone about the time you nearly got run over and broke your arm in the middle of Liverpool?
No, but it’s hardly the same thing.
They don’t need to know.
Lottie, it would help them understand.
Understand why I’m a freak?
You’re not a freak.
I am. I can’t go anywhere without begin terrified that something like that’s going to happen again. And don’t say I should take people with me cos I had Nat and Cassie with me then and it didn’t stop that drunken old tramp smashing me over the head with a bottle, did it? I don’t want to let it rule my life but what choice have I got?
The choice to stick two fingers up to that tramp and not let him run your life. Lottie, you don’t know how many people care about you and want to help.
They can’t.
They can if you want them to and if you let them.
I’m scared.
I know you are and it won’t be easy. But at the same time, I know that the old Lottie is hiding under all those defensive layers you’ve put up and is fighting to get out. Have you been eating properly in term time?
No, she said miserably. Only in the holidays cos you make me.
All part of your act. She nodded her head and rubbed her eyes on her sleeve once again.

---

#201:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:38 am
    —
At least she's talking now. I hope they can help her over the holidays. Thanks Pim.

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#202:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:38 am
    —
What lovely housemates! So glad Lottie has so many people taking care of her and that she's beginning to open up.

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#203:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:03 pm
    —
Hopefully the Christmas holidays will see Lottie become more like her old self...

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#204:  Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:59 pm
    —
Poor little Lottie! At least Sharlie knows what is wrong, now - maybe she can do something to help, or find someone who can. Perhaps either Sharlie or Kathie can talk to Lottie about picking herself up after something awful happening - they both have experience of it don't they?

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#205:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:02 pm
    —
Poor Lottie!
And a brave decision from her housemates to write that letter!

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#206:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:50 pm
    —
Well done Sharlie in getting her to open up. And Lottie has some lovely housemates.

Hope this is enough to let Lottie start healing now.

Thanks Pim.

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#207:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:21 pm
    —

Lesley wrote:

And Lottie has some lovely housemates.

Definitely. And well done, Sharlie.

Thanks Pim.

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#208:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:57 am
    —
What lovely caring and responsible housemates. Sharlie does understand Lottie....

I loved the new freedom that Colin adn Sharlie now have!

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#209:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:28 am
    —
Amelia came back for Christmas three days beforehand looking tired and washed out, proceeding to spend most of her time in the bathroom unwell. She claimed that she must have picked something up on her last hospital placement but I wasn’t so sure. The morning after her arrival I had gone out to the shops to make sure we had everything we needed both for Christmas and Alice’s birthday dinner that evening – she would be driving up from Cambridge in time for it. I returned around midday to find Lottie still in her pyjamas at the kitchen table munching her way through a small stack of toast whilst flicking idly through the morning’s paper/

Not dressed yet, I asked, dropping the shopping bags on the side.
Can’t get near the bathroom – Millie’s bringing her guts up in one of them and Sophie’s been in the other over an hour. And I’m desperate for a shower – I really smell after last night.
Take it you went to the pub then? She nodded. We had been relieved the previous evening when Lottie had announced that she was going to the cinema with some friends and had mentioned the possibility of a couple of drinks in the pub afterwards. You should have got up earlier.
I did. I’ve been awake for hours – revising. I’d forgotten how long Sophie takes in the bathroom.
How was last night?
Okay, she replied with a shrug through a mouthful of toast. The film was lousy but it was good to see Naomi and Jane again.
How about the pub?
Strange. I felt a bit panicky about it but it was fine really; reminded me how much I’ve been neglecting my friends.
They must have missed you.
I’ve missed them, she admitted. It still hurts but I don’t want it to rule my life anymore. I got over being bullied so I can get over this. I’m sure there are still going to be days when I want to hurt myself to stop it hurting but… she trailed off and I sat down beside her, reaching for her hand. Forget I said that.
What if I don’t want to?
I shouldn’t have said it.
Lottie…
Tata, really, it’s fine. I’m not going to do it anymore. It was stupid doing it in the first place. It was only… only when I went back to Leeds this term but I haven’t wanted to since I’ve been home.
But what about when you go back to Leeds?
It won’t be like it was before. I promise. She squeezed my hand tightly. You always worry too much.
Can you blame me?
W-ell, no, I guess not.
I grinned. If you’re done with all that toast then you can help me put the shopping away. Where’s Roo and Uncle Colin?
Uncle Colin said he had to pop out to the shop to check something over with Luke but they’ll both be here for lunch. I think Roo’s in his room doing something scary with theoretical physics and mumbling about going over to Tim’s later but I reminded him about Alice’s birthday dinner and he got all grumbly narky with me. And that reminds me, Alice rang and said she was leaving Tom’s just after you went out to the shops and said she’d be here late afternoon. She broke off as Amelia entered the kitchen, white faced and pulling her dressing gown around her. Done in the bathroom? She nodded. Bet it stinks though if you’ve been spewing all morning. I’ll go and chivvy Sophie along instead.
Are you alright, I asked Amelia as Lottie whirled out of the kitchen and she sat down.
I think I picked up some bug on placement.
Shouldn’t you see a doctor?
I am a doctor – well as good as. They couldn’t do anything much for a D&V bug anyway except tell me to get bed rest.
You’ve not infected Ben as well, have you?
Don’t think so. And I’m sorry if you all get it. It’ll make a miserable Christmas.
Do you want anything?
I thought I fancied some toast but I don’t now. I’ll just have a glass of water and go back to bed.

Amelia remained unwell for most of her break but passed off our concerns and headed back to do her next placement shortly after the New Year. Lottie had become happier as the holiday had gone on, making the effort to catch up with her friends but trying to be sensible about it so that she could cope. She had her off days and would continue to do so but could now bring herself to say so and ask to talk about it. Alice’s visit was all too fleeting as she returned to Cambridge for the New Year, partly to celebrate with Tom and partly to get on with her thesis. We saw little of Roo between his studies and catching up with his friends; he was eager to get back to Oxford and into the thick of it all again. Sophie went back to York early as she was on teaching practice but paid a visit a couple of weeks later and sewed new seeds of doubt about Amelia in my mind.

It’s odd, she remarked to me, that Melia said it was a bug but nobody else got it.
Maybe it wasn’t contagious.
Those things always are – they wreak havoc in school. One went round the place I went to in October and the kids were dropping like flies.
Has Amelia said anything to you?
No. But I know something’s not right. Something more than she’s letting on. It’s a twin thing, mam, she grinned in response to my puzzled expression.
Oh you two and your “twin thing”.
All the same though, Melia and I don’t have secrets and she’s definitely keeping something from me. I hope it’s nothing bad – like her and Ben splitting up f’rex.
I doubt it’s that – she was on the phone to him constantly over Christmas, when she wasn’t in the bathroom.
True, but I still don’t like it.

---

#210:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:39 am
    —
Well, I'm definitely suspicious about all that sickness! I'm glad Lottie has started to come to terms with what happened to her, but I didn't like the bit about

pim wrote:

I’m sure there are still going to be days when I want to hurt myself to stop it hurting but…

Thanks Pim.

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#211:  Author: Eilidh, Location: North Lanarkshire Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:48 am
    —

Fatima wrote:

Well, I'm definitely suspicious about all that sickness!

Yep, me too! Poor Lottie - I hope she really is feeling better now.

Thanks Pim.

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#212:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:06 am
    —
Poor poor Lottie, she's had it tough and is being so brave. Hope she lets her housemates in a bit when she gets back or I think she'll find it really tough.

Definitely suspicious about Amelia!

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#213:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:03 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. I have just caught up with this drabble. I am suspicious about Amelia as well.

Well done to Lottie, Sophie and Roo on their respective results. I remember saying a little while ago that the next thing I know will be that Roo will be leaving school. I can't believe that he is now at Oxford!

What year is it now please, Pim?

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#214:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 2:29 pm
    —
Oh dear it appears that Amelia has got herself into a messy situation...
I'm so glad that Lottie is opening up more though!
Thanks Pim your characters seem so alive and real!

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#215:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 3:55 pm
    —
Poor Amelia. That does sound a bit dodgy.

Lotty has come a long way in the last year, hasn't she.

Thanks Pim

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#216:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:07 pm
    —
Just caught up on loads - ta pimmy!

And oh dear Melia...

And poor Lottie but hope things will start to improve now she's opened up a bit.

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#217:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 7:09 pm
    —
Is everyone else as suspicious about this 'bug' Amelia has as I am?


Thanks Pim.

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#218:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 7:12 pm
    —
I think we all have the same idea about the bug ...

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#219:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:08 am
    —
*points at Georgia*

Sophie had firmly planted the seeds of doubt in my mind about Amelia and I couldn’t help but worry further when she telephoned one rainy Wednesday afternoon in mid March. She would be coming home on Friday for the weekend, arriving around 4.30 and expected both Colin and I to be in when she arrived. I got home from school at 4 to fine Colin pacing the house like a caged tiger having taken the afternoon off work.

She’s here, I said, noticing Amelia’s familiar blue duffel coat as she made her way up the drive. Colin and I exchanged nervous glances before getting up to go and answer the door to her. Good journey, I asked as she dropped her rucksack and wriggled out of her coat, shrugging in reply as I regarded her for a moment. Millie… Millie, you’re… are you… pregnant, I asked cautiously. She nodded miserably in reply.
How the bloody hell did that happen, exploded Colin. I laid my hand on his arm to calm him.
Don’t ask stupid questions, I whispered. Tea? Now your father’s asked the stupid question I’ll put the kettle on and we can ask the sensible questions. They both nodded in agreement and I headed to the kitchen to make tea before going back to the sitting room where they both sat awkwardly side by side on the settee. I sat on the other side of Amelia. Better start at the beginning.
We were drunk; we were stupid. I realised at Christmas that it wasn’t just a bug but I couldn’t bring myself to admit it until I’d talked to Ben.
Presumably you have, I asked and she nodded in reply.
He’s gone to Auntie Tish’s today to break the news.
What are you going to do, Colin asked.
Oh we’ve got it all worked out, we think. It’s not due until the end of July and my finals finish at the beginning. My last placement is at the end of this term and after that it’s just a few lectures and revision before the exams. I’ve talked to the university because, obviously, I won’t be able to go into my pre reg rotation in August like everyone else. If I pass my finals then I’ll go in with the February intake and I’ll just be six months behind. If I fail then I retake final year and go into pre reg next August but I’m hoping it won’t happen that way. Thing is though that Ben’s got some terribly important big exam to take at the beginning of August and he doesn’t need the added worry of me on top of that… she broke off. So we were thinking… maybe I could come here once I’ve finished my finals and stay and have the baby and go back to London when Ben’s exam’s over. I know it’s not going to help my pre-natal care but it seems the best solution. I mean, you can say no if you want to…
You’ve got it all worked out, I said quietly.
We had to. It’s a complete shock but we both want this baby. We’ll get married – probably in January before I start my pre reg. We’d already talked about that before I got pregnant because we always said we’d do it once I’d finished my pre reg. But we are happy – we’re just doing things a little sooner and in a slightly different order than we’d originally planned. I’m sorry – I know it’s a lot for you to take in, Ben and I have already had the time to get used to it.
It is a shock, I said thoughtfully and Colin nodded in agreement. But we will support whatever decision you make. And of course you can come and stay once your finals are over – unless you and Ben change your mind. How do you both feel about it?
Terrified, but at the same time we can’t wait. It’s such a big thing having a baby- I don’t know how you two have managed five – six, she corrected herself.
We asked ourselves the same thing, put in Colin. Sharlie, I think I shall retire properly now I’m going to be a grandfather and devote my days to that instead.
You two will be wonderful grandparents. I wish I’d known all of mine, she said wistfully.
So do we, I replied, giving her hand a squeeze.

Amelia seems so calm about it all, I said with a sigh to Colin as we sat in bed reading that evening. She’s thought everything through. I completely went to pieces when it happened to me.
The circumstances were somewhat different.
True and at least I didn’t have to face going home and explaining to my parents what I’d done. She must have been terrified.
I expect she thought we were going to eat her alive or something.
I rather think my parents would have done.
How was Tish when you spoke to her?
Shocked to put it mildly. I think poor Ben’s been called numerous variations on irresponsible. She’ll soon come round though – you know what Tish is.
Only too well!
We’re going to be grandparents, Colin. I don’t know anything about being a grandparent.
Neither do I, but we could always follow in father and Jane’s footsteps?
Spoil them rotten, get them all excited and send them home?
Along those lines, yes.
I’m rather looking forward to it when you put it like that.
So am I, he grinned.

---

#220:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:13 am
    —
They'll be such lovely grandparents, presuming it all goes well.

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#221:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 10:04 am
    —
They will indeed! Thank you pimmy.

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#222:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:01 am
    —

Quote:

How the bloody hell did that happen, exploded Colin

Six children later and he still doesn't know?

Am vair impressed with Amelia and Ben. They seem to be very sensible.

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#223:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:28 pm
    —
That was just so typical a first response from Colin wasn't it?
So glad that they were so accepting and that Amelia and Ben seem so sensible about it.

Thanks Pim.

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#224:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:16 pm
    —
Loved Colin's response!

And I love their idea of what grandparents do...

Quote:

Spoil them rotten, get them all excited and send them home

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#225:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 2:11 pm
    —
It's nice to see that Sharlie and Colin have taken the news calmly.
I think Amelia is going to find it hard to juggle beginning her medical career and a baby though.

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#226:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:01 pm
    —
What a difference a few years makes. Kathye just couldn't keep Lottie with her and carry on with her job and here are Amelia and Ben not even rushing to get married.

Good for them.

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#227:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:43 am
    —

Cath V-P wrote:

And I love their idea of what grandparents do... Quote: Spoil them rotten, get them all excited and send them home

It was my auntie & uncle's theory of "auntie-ing & uncle-ing" and, as far as I can tell, continues to be said auntie's theory as far as grandmother-ing goes.

Amelia returned to London on the Sunday afternoon and Colin and I were left to our own devices once more, waiting for the storm of the Easter holidays and enjoying the calm whilst it lasted. The arrival of Jessica’s Arthur at the beginning of April added to David and Louise’s growing brood of grandchildren and also provided Amelia with some much needed practice with newborns. The whole family was in attendance later in the month for the wedding of Elizabeth’s middle son, Mark, but only Colin and I were present the following month when Rebecca and Philip’s youngest, Johanna, married. The academic year soon drew to a close and a much happier Lottie returned home first on completion of her second year at Leeds. Roo followed after a highly successful first year at Oxford followed by Sophie who had completed her PGCE and was looking forward to starting her job in a York infant school that September. Amelia was last to return home once her finals were over, heavily pregnant and complaining in the heat. Sure she had failed all her exams, she was more than pleasantly surprised when her results came through to say she had passed and could go on to her PRHO job in February. She was nervous about the impending birth, choosing to spend most of her time hiding away in her room and only really talking to Sophie.

Mam. I was in the middle of washing up after lunch. Three days had passed since Amelia’s due date with no sign of anything happening. Mam, Sophie said again, the tone of her voice worrying me.
What’s the matter?
I… I think Melia’s in labour. She keeps going all funny…
What do you mean funny?
Just… funny. I know she was getting pains cos she kept on pulling faces at me.
Where is she?
Bathroom – said she was going to have a bath.
I frowned and ran up the stairs, knocking on the bathroom door. Millie? I felt my stomach knot when I got no reply and could only hear a whimpering coming from inside the room. I knocked again. Millie? Millie, are you in there? Getting no reply once more, I pushed the door open cautiously to find Amelia curled up on the floor. Millie, I said, shaking her gently as I sat down beside her.
Mam, make it stop, she whispered through clenched teeth.
I brushed her hair back from her face. Is this it?
I think so.
I helped her sit up and she sat rocking backwards and forwards. How long?
I don’t know – all morning. They’re not coming all that regularly but it really hurts, mam.
I know it does. Look, I’ll ring the midwife and get her to come round. It’s probably too soon for you to go to hospital.

Sophie and Lottie took it upon themselves to keep Amelia occupied that afternoon playing endless rounds of Scrabble before settling on Monopoly. It was late in the evening when Amelia decided that it was time to go to the hospital. Sophie collected her overnight bag from her bedroom and the two of us set out for the hospital with Amelia. We spent a long night walking the hospital corridors with Amelia, trying to help ease the pain for her at least for a little while.

Was it like this for you, mam, Sophie asked.
Yes and it was worse with you two, I replied with a smile. Breathe, Millie. She looked up at me from where she was leaning over the back of a chair. That was always my trick.
Forgetting to breathe, asked Sophie.
Mam, I just want it to stop, groaned Amelia.
I know. I’d do it for you if I could. You know that.
I’ve changed my mind.
I said that about Roo – and you two.
Poor maligned Roo and us, grinned Sophie.
Indeed. Millie, breathe – you’ve forgotten again.
I was thinking of the ways I’m going to inflict pain on Ben when he gets here. Just so he has some clue what I’m going through, you understand.

The three of us lost track of the time as the night dragged on. Amelia eventually confined herself to bed, declaring that she couldn’t walk anymore. Sophie and I took it in turns to stay with her whilst the other walked aimlessly around trying our best to stay awake.

Dawn’s breaking, yawned Sophie eventually. I haven’t stayed up all night since my finals.
And it’s been far longer than that for me.

The two of us had been sidelined a little as the midwife and nurse bustled around Amelia who was beginning to look as if she couldn’t take much more. Half an hour later as Sophie and I were watching the sun rise out of the window we were called over by the midwife as Amelia and Ben’s daughter finally emerged into the world. Sophie and I hugged each other tightly, tears streaming down both our faces as Amelia cuddled her newborn daughter close to her.

What do you think, she asked as we both peered over her shoulder. That’s your nan and your Auntie Sophie.
Amelia, she’s beautiful, I breathed and Sophie squeezed my hand. Sophie?
I… I don’t know what to say, she stammered.
Hello, suggested Amelia with a smile. Say hello to your niece, Elisabeth Helena Wallace.

Sophie complied.

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#228:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:46 am
    —
Aww!

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#229:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:46 am
    —
*brings champagne to wet the baby's head*

Thanks Pim, that's a lovely start to the day.

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#230:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:05 am
    —
Aww, how luffly!

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#231:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:28 am
    —
Champagne what a fine idea! *joins Fatima in toasting the baby*

Ta pimmy!

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#232:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:40 pm
    —
That's lovely.

Thanks Pim.

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#233:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:38 am
    —
As we appear to have reached that point in time again, then it must be time to update the Who's Who over on ye olde live journale communitye.

Ben arrived the following afternoon, his exam over. It seemed best not to ask him how many speed limits he had broken en route to arrive far earlier than any of us had anticipated. He turned up on our doorstep looking white faced and anxious, pausing long enough only to leave his bag and say that the exam had gone okay before jumping back in the car and driving to the hospital.

Can’t say I blame him, commented Colin. I was exactly the same with Alice – driving all night to get back to you both.
Worth it though.
Abso-bloody-lutely.
Your language… I began.
Is not quite so bad as that of our children – or Luke at least. You haven’t heard him when he gets going in the dark room when things haven’t gone his way – fortunately he keeps a civil tongue for the paying customer. They’ve all done us proud, haven’t they? I nodded. What are you thinking about?
Oh nothing in particular.
Amelia and Ben will be fine.
I know – but they’re so young.
Hardly, Amelia’s 24 in October – remember?
My point exactly.
She’s not our little girl anymore, Sharlie. We have to let them grow up sometime whether we want them to or not.
Oh I know, but it doesn’t make it any easier, I said with a sigh as he slipped his arm around me. It doesn’t seem five minutes since Alice was born and now here we are, grandparents!
It’s okay, I think Tish is more traumatised by that title than we are!
She would be, I grinned. What time are we expecting her and Peter?
About sixish, Nan, he replied with a mischievous chuckle.
Thanks, Gramps.

Amelia was discharged from the hospital three days after the birth and brought Elisabeth home to us. Ben had to return to work the following day but would be back at the weekend to collect them both. For the ensuing couple of days it was as though someone had turned the clock back twenty years, Colin and I surprised by how easily we still awoke at the sound of a crying baby. It was hard to break old habits and not run to Elisabeth’s every need but instead to hang back and let Amelia take charge. Alice, Sophie and Lottie adored Elisabeth and revelled in their role as her aunts, Roo was indifferent towards his niece but Luke was the real surprise. Having never been too fond of his younger siblings as babies his attitude was completely transformed towards his niece, putting his sisters’ in the shade in the besotted stake.

It was hard to let Amelia and Elisabeth go back with Ben at the weekend even though we knew that the three of them would be fine together. The house seemed so quiet and empty without them and Sophie decided that she needed to get back to York to sort out her flat before term started. Lottie and Roo also decided that an early return to university was called for – the former to work on her dissertation and the latter to put in some lab work. The eerie quietness left in their wake took some getting used to.

23 August 1989 saw Tish, Lucy and I keeping a time honoured tradition and, sitting in our deckchairs on the beach, we looked back on the last five years and more besides.

Time definitely goes faster the older you get, said Lucy with a sigh, squinting out at the sea. And no children at all with us this time, she added.
They were hardly children last time, I pointed out. Although we still had some of them at home and now they’ve all gone off to university and left their poor old parents behind to lament.
How times have changed, put in Tish. Our parents – well mine anyway – had no qualms about sending us off as soon as they thought we were old enough to deal with it. I would never have dreamt of sending mine away like my parents did and I’m sure Amelia and Ben will be the same over Elisabeth.
We didn’t see grandchildren five years ago, did we, I mused. I half thought maybe Alice might but of course she’s far too busy with her PhD to think about these things.
We certainly didn’t, laughed Tish. Oh poor Ben, I’m afraid I rather tore several strips off him when he broke the news to me. But I’m the first to hold up my hands and say I did him wrong. I wouldn’t change Bethie for the world.
No, me neither.
Well we did say greyer and happier five years ago, said Tish thoughtfully. Are we? I know I am.
And I, I added.
And I a third, said Lucy with a smile. So five years time – even happier and even greyer?
And more grandchildren, hopefully, said Tish wistfully. But happier and greyer definitely.
And retired, I contributed. Happier, greyer, retired and indulging my grandchildren – doesn’t sound a bad life, does it?
The three of us laughed. 23 August 1994, see you then, grinned Tish.

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#234:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:19 am
    —
*Sighs with satisfaction* Thank you Pim

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#235:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:07 am
    —
Thank you pim, lovely.

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#236:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:17 pm
    —
Glad that Amelia and baby are both fine.

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#237:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:28 pm
    —
Thanks Pim - another five years!

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#238:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:29 am
    —
Thank you for the lovely updates Pimmy

Can't believe that so much has happened - what an emotional roller coaster!

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#239:  Author: little_sarah, Location: Liverpool/Manchester Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:05 am
    —
Have just spent quite a lots of hours (which *really* should've been spent on a nazzy essay on the French economy, grrr) reading this from the beginning- have just finished part 5, so lots more to go
Just wanted to say how great it is, and how much I've enjoyed reading (and crying over!) Sharlie's story so far. Thank you!

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#240:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:14 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. It's great to hear the news about Elisabeth! Congratulations to Ben and Amelia! I'm glad things are going well so far.

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#241:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:48 am
    —
Amelia and Ben had decided to marry the following January prior to her starting her PRHO post at UCLH at the beginning of February. They had settled on doing it all quietly at the nearby registry office with only immediate family present. In contrast, Elizabeth’s youngest, Simon, married that September in a slightly more elaborate affair which he was quite insistent was all down to bride Claudia who had wanted her day. Simon, who would quite happily have had it all without any fuss, had decided it safer not to argue with his bride but confessed that he would be glad once the day was over and he and Claudia could settle down to daily married life.

November was ushered in with a new life in the shape or Archie Davidson, Harriet’s new grandson. The month was seen out with the end of a life when Samantha called to say that Lawrie had passed away quite suddenly after a brief illness that hadn’t caused too much concern up until that point.

There was nothing anyone could have done, Auntie Sharlie, she said over the phone. It was just one of those things. It doesn’t make it any easier though, not even knowing that he didn’t suffer all that much.
It’s never fun being the ones left behind.
At least he’ll be with Auntie Nic now and baby Mary. He has been ever so lonely without her all these years. They had such a short time together.
And how are you, Samantha?
Me? Oh, holding up. I miss him, of course, I always will but I know that life has to go on – only too well fortunately. At least I’ve got Kris and the children now though.
Have you spoken to Louisa?
Yes. She’s coming down from Edinburgh tomorrow. I don’t think she’ll cope overly well though – she just kept saying that she should have come before now, despite me telling her that nobody knew this would happen. She’s barely been back to Cambridge since she moved up there with the job and I think that’s preying on her conscience. But Uncle Lawrie had such a tendency to wrap her in cotton wool after Auntie Nic and Mary died…
She was only four, Samantha. We were the same with you at first when your parents died.
But you weren’t always and neither was Uncle Lawrie. I think he came down harder on Lou because she was his.
But he loved you like his own.
Oh I don’t doubt that for a moment, but their were differences – only subtle ones – in the way he treated us both. Lou was his world.
You came a pretty close second.
I know, especially since I’ve had Anne and Mark. He was the closest thing they’d ever have to a grandfather on my side. Kris has got family coming out of his ears. I’ve got you and Auntie Tish and Auntie Luce and Lou.
And I think the three of us have provided you with enough family.
I know that but I just wish… I’ve had so little contact with my own family… I know it’s hard as they’re all abroad but it can make a girl feel unwanted even though I know I was never that.
Too right you weren’t.
I do worry though about what would become of Anne and Mark if…
I still have the same worries about mine – they don’t stop when they grow up and leave home. And in fact, they double when you throw grandchildren into the equation.
Hopefully I won’t be thinking about that part for a good many years!
I’d hope not too! Your Anne’s only… what?
Six and Mark’s four.
Already? How did that happen?
At the same time I realised I shall be forty in just over a year’s time.
But you can’t be.
I said that – Kris laughed.
In my mind you’re still about five years old – chubby and running the length of Temple Meads station to meet me from the train or pulling at my skirt and demanding a story.
I haven’t been that girl for a long time.
You’re still that girl, just a little changed and a little older.
And a lot more grown up.
Like the rest of us.
How horrid it is to have to grow up.
I think I can guess what you’ve been reading Anne as a bedtime story.
We’ve just finished Little Women and I’ve started on Anne of Green Gabes although I know I’ll go to pieces when Matthew dies. I won’t read her Good Wives until she’s older because I’m hopeless when Beth dies and the same in Anne’s House of Dreams over the baby. I think we might do A Little Princess next.
For goodness sake you’d best not read her Rila of Ingleside then!
I won’t – she can find that one out for herself. I made the mistake of reading it on the train when I was about 15 and was completely inconsolable – I had perfect strangers asking if I was okay!

The funeral was the following week, an overcast and damp Thursday afternoon in Cambridge. Samantha and Kris supported a white faced, worried looking Louisa between them. Tish, Lucy and I clustered nervously together after the service, each one of us only too aware that we had arrived at that point in our lives where a funeral posed the unasked question of who would go next.

***
I won't be here tomorrow as I will be in Cambridge on the Deathly Dull Study Day of Doom but one or the other of my many minions will be around instead. Mwhahah, the power... the orders!

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#242:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:04 am
    —
Ta pimmy!

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#243:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:22 pm
    —
Poor Lawrie,

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#244:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:31 pm
    —
Thanks Pim.

Quote:

Tish, Lucy and I clustered nervously together after the service, each one of us only too aware that we had arrived at that point in our lives where a funeral posed the unasked question of who would go next.

That thought had occurred to me after the previous episode, but I didn't want to give you ideas.

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#245:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 4:22 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. I hope that Tish, Lucy or Sharlie will not be one of the next to go.

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#246:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:44 pm
    —
Thank you Pimmy!
Joy and sadness mixed in those last few posts...

(and Chair, DON'T say things like that where Georgia might overhear!!! )

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#247:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:32 pm
    —

Vikki wrote:

(and Chair, DON'T say things like that where Georgia might overhear!!! )

Sorry, Vikki!

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#248:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:18 pm
    —
How old is Sharlie now?

Thanks Pim.

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#249:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:14 am
    —
Hello peeps, you friendly neighbourhood minion here. Georgia kindly emailed me the next bit this morning, though it nowhere near her usual standards. Lesley, errm as it is now 1990 Sharlie should be 60 this year (though best check with le boss). Anyone for a partay?


Much as Lawrie’s death had subdued us there was Christmas to get through and a granddaughter to entertain. At four months Elisabeth seemed to know that she would be the centre of attention and enchanted everybody who met her. Amelia and Ben had decided that they would alternate between families at Christmas, Colin and I would be the first and the following year they would go to Tish and Peter. It was always lovely when the Christmas holidays arrived and the house was full once more. Sophie’s first term as a teacher had gone well although the school play had finally finished off an exhausting time for her and she relished a fortnight of lie-ins. On the other hand Alice was struggling with her current thesis chapter and Lottie with her dissertation.

The 1990s opened with a wedding and on Saturday 20 January the Graham, Wallace, Lennox and Ferrars families gathered in London to witness Amelia and Ben’s wedding. The ceremony was brief, but not enough to stop my tears on the realisation that Amelia was well and truly our little girl no longer. Witnessed by Sophie and Michael, they left the registry office as Mr and Mrs Ben Wallace, or Mr and Dr as Amelia would always insist.

They both looked so little, sniffed Tish as I joined her and Lucy outside. How can they both be so grown up now?
I gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. I’m sure they’re not really. I’m sure we’ll wake up in the morning and they’ll all be dependent babies and toddlers once again.
Who do you think will be next – it has to be asked, asked Lucy with a grin as the three of us cast our eyes over our children. Alice and Tom, Michael and Hannah or Tessie and Josh?
Alice and Tom won’t want to think about it whilst they’re both in the throes of their PhDs.
I’d like to say the same thing for Hannah and Michael, put in Lucy. Much as she and Mike worship the ground the other walks on she has only just started her PhD and there’s nothing like a wedding to distract you from the task in hand.
Looks like Tessie and Josh then, Tish.
Oh don’t, she exclaimed. It’s hard enough that Ben’s just got married and the other two being in serious relationships. Isn’t it horrid how people have to grow up?

We moved on to a nearby restaurant that Amelia and Ben knew quite well and had a lovely meal after which Colin made a brief speech as father of the bride. He had been so nervous about it but as soon as he began to speak the pride and love for Amelia took over any remaining nerves. Michael then said a few words in his capacity as a “sort of best man” which was largely jokes at Ben’s expense, clearly having consulted his parents for various anecdotes of their childhood.

Mam, da, can I talk to you a moment, asked Alice quietly as we were getting ready to leave the restaurant. We turned to see her and Tom, their arms around each other’s waists smiling secretly.
What have you done now, asked Colin.
I… erm, think Tom may have got carried away in the emotion of the day, grinned Alice.
And, I persisted.
Tom’s asked me to marry him and I’ve said yes, she said quietly, pulling her hand out of her pocket to show us the ring.
Oh Alice, I breathed.
Do you mind, asked Tom nervously.
Colin and I exchanged glances and smiles. Not at all, we said together and laughed. Congratulations.
Thank you, whispered Alice. We thought we’d do it quietly – like this – during the summer, after Lottie’s finals. We can’t afford anything fancy and neither of us can see the point in waiting just for a piece of paper. Besides, we’re a bit old for meringue dresses and millions of bridesmaids.
You’re only 28, I choked. Younger than when your da and I got married.
I know, but we just don’t want any fuss.
Neither did we, I laughed.
It was your sisters, grinned Colin. I’ve always been terrified of saying no to any of you.
Wimp, I retorted.
And?

We all then crowded back to Amelia and Ben’s flat for a couple of hours until it was time for them to put an overtired Elisabeth to bed upon which we took it upon ourselves to leave.

Thank you for a lovely day, I said to Amelia on the way out. You get a good night’s sleep now.
Are you going to drop by in the morning, asked Amelia.
Your da and I might, I replied, looking anxiously over at Colin who was engrossed in conversation with Ben. Everyone else has got to get back to uni and work.
Not much longer for me, she said with a sigh. My rotation starts the first week of February. I’m dreading leaving Bethie but I didn’t spend five years at med school to throw it all away.
You’ll be fine, I said reassuringly. Now if I can just attract your father’s attention before he talks for England!

Amelia laughed as we called our respective husbands over, bade our farewells and left the flat with the rest of the children and Kathie in tow.

What were you and Ben talking about?
Oh things, he shrugged. Men things. About him looking after Millie properly or I’d break his legs with a tripod. We’re a vicious bunch us photographers.
I laughed. Those sort of men things.
Yes. Only I know I won’t have to carry out my threat to Ben.

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#250:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:20 am
    —
*discretely wipes tear from eye*

Thanks Pim.

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#251:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:54 am
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Aww, thank you pimmy and piminion...

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#252:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:31 pm
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Wonderful, thanks Pim and minion.

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#253:  Author: Alex, Location: Cambs, UK Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:34 pm
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Well at least now Amelia's got married she won't have to live in the truly awful junior doctors' accomodation at UCH.

Thanks, Pim.

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#254:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:30 pm
    —
Awwwww! Thank you Pim and pimionion!
Yay for a wedding and an engagement!!

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#255:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:47 am
    —

Alex wrote:

Well at least now Amelia's got married she won't have to live in the truly awful junior doctors' accomodation at UCH.

I'm not sure it could be any worse than the "splendour" that we provide here in WHHT... Oh and cheersy, minion!

After the wedding life returned to some semblance of normal, punctuated by Alice’s questions regarding her wedding. Amelia started her PRHO post in London in February and seemed to be enjoying it, although she freely admitted that she hated leaving Elisabeth whilst she was at work. The new decade brought several new arrivals beginning with Deborah to Anna-Claire in February. Jonno became a father to Jonty the following month much to Simon’s delight; he couldn’t stop singing the praises of his two grandchildren. The following two extended the family – Peter providing Elizabeth with a grandson, Kurt, and Clover presenting David and Louise with a new granddaughter, Linzi, in May. Lottie had turned 21 in February and had taken a weekend out of her dissertation to come home and celebrate in a style her mother would have been proud of back in her day.

The end of the academic year crept upon us once again and bringing with it the end of Lottie’s time at university. She hoped to have done well enough to take up her PGCE place in the autumn, having elected to stay in Leeds for it. Her degree classification arrived in the post the day before Alice’s wedding bringing with it the news that Lottie had got her desired 2:i.

I can’t believe it, she kept saying over breakfast.
Oh just be quiet, groaned Roo eventually, snatching the letter away from her. Look it says 2:I and it’s not going to suddenly change.
It might, protested Lottie.
Yes it might if I drop it in my cereal. The milk might magically make it a third.
Roo, don’t be so mean, she exclaimed as Roo waved the letter over his cereal bowl. Give me that back!
Magic word.
Tata!
I turned around. Charlotte and Rupert, how old are you two?
Not as old as she is, retorted Roo.
Who’s she, demanded Lottie.
The cat’s mother.
Rupert, I exclaimed and he shrugged.

We set out for Cambridge later that afternoon, Lottie and Roo still bickering in the back of the car for most of the journey. It felt so odd to go to Cambridge and not be able to go and visit Lawrie. Lucy said she didn’t think she would ever quite get used to not being able to pop over whenever she fancied it.

The following day, Saturday 30 June 1990, dawned bright and sunny, which was a relief as Alice had been so anxious about the weather. The wedding was immediate family only and the party thus somewhat small. Elisabeth, now eleven months, was the undoubted centre of attention with her attempts to walk drawing comment from all of Tom’s family. Colin’s speech came much easier that it had done for Amelia and he now declared himself to be somewhat of an expert at being father of the bride.

We all chipped in to hire a punt for the happy couple and waved them off for an hour after the ceremony before the restaurant reservation. Colin and I lapsed into our comfortable silence as we sat on a bench watching the rest of the family. Kathie and Lottie had gone on walking together, their heads bent close together in deep conversation. Amelia and Ben sat apart with Elisabeth who kept trying to walk. Sophie sat with the boys near to them and was clearly coming in for a lot of teasing from them. I sighed contentedly thinking that they had all grown up into such wonderful adults that anyone would be proud of. They had always got on so well where it would have been so easy if they had wanted to drift apart or feel that they didn’t get enough attention. Alice and Tom returned before we had realised that the hour was up looking radiantly happy.

We had a pleasant meal before adjourning for drinks in a nearby pub where Lucy and Christian joined us to share in the celebrations. The evening broke up early as Alice and Tom were leaving first thing in the morning for a few days snatched break in Scotland and we headed to Lucy and Christian’s for the night. I couldn’t quite get my head around having two married daughters, it just didn’t seem possible. That night Colin and I lay in bed quietly recalling the day Alice was born and the years of her growing up. It all seemed so far away some days and others not at all.

Lottie’s graduation took place a few weeks later and Kathie and I made the trip to Leeds to see Nancy Charlotte Ferrars collected her BSc. She was rounded on afterwards by her friends who had never been made aware of the fact that her first name was really Nancy. As I glanced over at Kathie I could see in her eyes that the pain of losing Nancy was still there. I doubted it would ever leave her. Not for the first time I gave silent thanks that I still had Colin.

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#256:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:12 am
    —
Does Lottie know why she's called Nancy?

Ta pimmy.

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#257:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 11:56 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. I am also wondering if Lottie knows the reason why her 1st name is Nancy. Congratulations to Lottie on her 2:1 and I loved the bickering between Roo and Lottie. Congratulations as well to Ben and Amelia and Tom and Alice.

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#258:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:00 pm
    —
Lovely Pim. Poor Kathie

I do like Roo - though I'd probably strangle him if he was my brother

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#259:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:50 pm
    —
Poor Kathie - yet she must be so proud of Nancy's namesake - Nancy would be.

Thanks Pim.

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#260:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:07 pm
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it only seems yesterday that Lottie was born!!

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#261:  Author: Alex, Location: Cambs, UK Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:48 pm
    —

Pim wrote:

Alex wrote: Well at least now Amelia's got married she won't have to live in the truly awful junior doctors' accomodation at UCH. I'm not sure it could be any worse than the "splendour" that we provide here in WHHT... Oh and cheersy, minion!

At UCH they live in the women's hospital (yes, in it) which is over the road. If you live in one of the in-facing rooms you can hear the sounds of women in labour.

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#262:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 11:46 pm
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Thank you Pim!!!

Well done to Lottie on her results, and congrats to Alice and her Tom!

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#263:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 11:53 pm
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Thanks, Pim.

Well done, Lottie!

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#264:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:18 pm
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The summer wore on with its odd feeling that it would be our last one with any of the children around. Lottie was due to start her PGCE in September and Roo would be going into his final year at Oxford. Simon became a grandfather again that summer, Molly following in the steps trodden by her twin earlier in the year when her son Simon arrived at the beginning of August. Colin and I managed to snatch a few days to go down to Taverton and see the whole extended Harper family. Peggy was never far from our thoughts in those few days, each of us wishing she could be with us to see her children so well and happy.

The end of the month saw Daniel, Harriet and Martin’s son, tie the knot with his long term girlfriend, Marie. The children would all be in attendance for the event including Sophie’s new boyfriend who she was being remarkably coy about.

It can’t be, I began, recognising the figure helping Sophie unload the boot of the car as I hurried out of the house to meet them. He stood up and looked at me. It is, isn’t it – Freddie Clarke?
Hello Auntie Sharlie, he said shyly, offering his hand. Long time, no see.
You’re telling me! It must have been for Gillian’s christening two years ago and before that… well I couldn’t tell you! How are Tash and Josh?
They’re fine – same as always. So-so, he said gently to Sophie and I jumped at the use of the old nickname we had had for Sophie. She stopped rummaging in the boot of the car and stood up, grinning.
What do you think, mam?
I’m flabbergasted – but in a good way. You dark horse, Sophie Graham!
She laughed. I knew it would be worth not telling you.
Doe your parents know yet, Freddie?
Not yet – that’s next weekend’s fun.
Where’s da, asked Sophie.
Your guess is as good as mine. Everyone else is here though, apart from Alice and Tom – they’re arriving in a few hours.
Good, I was hoping we’d arrive after Melia.
Does she know?
Of course – I don’t keep things from her!
I thought she was being aggravating.
Sophie grinned and tucked her arm through Freddie’s as we set off into the house. I said she could be.

The wedding went well on the Saturday, Freddie managing to win over the whole family. Alice looked tired and preoccupied and was a little distant, saying that she was wrestling with a particularly difficult chapter. Amelia, on the other hand, was positively glowing and singing the praises of life as a working mother.

Mam. Amelia distracted me from washing up the breakfast pots on the Sunday morning.
What’s the matter?
Can you come to Alice?
Why – what’s happened? I could feel the panic rising, especially at Amelia’s worried expression. Amelia?
I’m not completely sure but I think she’s having an early miscarriage. She’s not really talking and Tom’s not exactly being helpful – even though he came to fetch me to have a look at Alice - but that’s my guess on what little they’ve said.
But she…
Amelia shrugged. Like I said, it’s just a guess. I’d love to think I’m wrong and she’s just having really lousy period pain or even appendicitis but I don’t think I am. I’ve seen it before.

I fought back the overwhelming urge to be sick and followed Amelia up the stairs to Alice’s room where she lay, curled up against Tom with the tears streaming down her face. It took a lot of persuasion but she eventually agreed to come to the hospital, an experience which Amelia handled with a professional ease. Tom and I sat in the waiting area each lost in our own silences and thoughts – mine back almost forty years previously, wondering if it had been like this for Trixie. The news was eventually broken to us that Alice had miscarried at 10 weeks. I felt numb with shock.

I don’t want to talk about it, mam, she said when I was allowed to see her.
Fair enough, I said with a shrug.
Do you talk about it?
Sometimes.
With da?
Sometimes. And sometimes with Auntie Trixie or with Auntie Kathie.
Does it get any easier?
I shook my head. The pain dulls but only a little.
It wasn’t the right time for me and Tom to be having a baby but…
I do know, I said, reaching for her hand. Don’t push Tom away, sweetheart. It’s his baby too and he’ll be grieving. I made that mistake with your father – I’d got through it on my own the first time so I thought I could the second. But it doesn’t work that way.
He knew. He came to the doctor’s with me. We weren’t going to have it. I was going in to have a termination next week, but not this… That would have been my choice, this isn’t and I hate it. It took us so long to reach the decision as well. Did you – the first time?
No, the decision was made for me.
I feel cheated somehow. But I suppose… I suppose that now we can get back to normal, concentrate on our PhDs without this cloud hanging over us. But I just wish… why did it have to happen this way? It’s so unfair and it’s spoiled everyone’s weekend.
No one will be any the wiser unless you want to tell them.
I suppose I ought to. You and Amelia already know and she doesn’t have secrets from Sophie and Ben.
It’s up to you.
I know. Mam?
Yes?
Would you tell them? Then that way I don’t have to talk about it – I can just get on.
You know you can talk to any of us any time you want.
She nodded. I do. But I don’t think I will. Except maybe you, because you understand.

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#265:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:31 pm
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Poor Alice. Ta pimmy.

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#266:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:35 pm
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Poor Alice.

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#267:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 5:09 pm
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Thanks, Pim. I was just thinking that if Sophie and Freddie marry, she will be Sophie Clarke. I know a girl who has that name. I'm sorry for Alice and Tom.

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#268:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 5:49 pm
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Poor Alice - and she will have to live with the guilt of planning a termination as well - even though it was right for her.

Thanks Pim.

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#269:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:28 pm
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I hope Alice can find help from her family during this difficult time.

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#270:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:32 pm
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Oh Alice....

Poor poor her.

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#271:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:17 pm
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I have just caught up with the last two decades or so of this - crying (happy and sad tears) laughing, sighing, remembering, giggling, and now I'm crying again for poor Alice

Thanks, Pim - it's all wonderful

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#272:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:03 am
    —


*hugs Alice tightly*

(and now I see why you chose to post 'Alice and Colin' when you did.)

Thanks Pimmy!

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#273:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:19 am
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Oh no, poor Alice!

Thanks Pim.

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#274:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:07 am
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Poor Alice. Poor Sharlie as well, it must bring back horrid memories.

Thank you Pim.

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#275:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:01 am
    —

Vikki wrote:

(and now I see why you chose to post 'Alice and Colin' when you did.)

Not because I forgot about it. No. Not at all. D'oh?

The rest of the family took Alice’s news in their stride and stuck to her wish not to press the matter further. She stayed with Colin and I a few extra days before going back to Cambridge during which she was inclined to be tearful and broody despite her protests that everything was fine. I reluctantly waved her off on the Thursday but gradually her telephone calls became happier over the coming months as her PhD thesis helped take her mind off things. Lottie returned to Leeds at the beginning of September and Roo headed back early to Oxford to work in the lab leaving the house quiet and empty once more.

December had crept up on us once more and its entrance brought a new grandson for Elizabeth on behalf of her youngest son, Simon. Baby Martin meant she now had two grandsons and joked with middle son Mark that she expected a granddaughter when his first arrived in January. Roo turned 21 that December, an event marked by the whole family. Elizabeth’s coveted granddaughter, Felicity, arrived in January and Daniel made Harriet a grandmother to baby Stuart in March.

I had learned to be wary of telephone calls in the middle of the nights and had every right to be so about the one that came just after 4am on Wednesday 10 April 1991.

Mam?
Millie, I mumbled in reply, recognising the choky voice on the other end of the line instantly. What’s happened? Is Bethie okay?
Bethie’s fine, mam. It’s Auntie Tish and Uncle Peter… they… they…
I sat bolt upright, feeling shaky and nauseous. Millie?
There was a fire, she said shakily. At the house. Auntie Tish… she… they didn’t get her out in time. She was dead by the time they got to the hospital. Uncle Peter… they thought they could save him but… I’m so sorry, mam.

I couldn’t say anything in reply, I felt too numb and shaken. I wanted to cry but the tears wouldn’t come. Colin rolled over and woke up to ask what was the matter. I couldn’t say anything, simply handing the receiver to him to talk to Amelia whilst I crept downstairs and out into the garden. It was still dark but I knew that dawn might think about breaking soon. It would be fifty years that autumn since I had started at St Monica’s and put into Tish’s care on the station. She and Lucy had been such a huge part of my life since then. I couldn’t accept that something so important had just been snatched away like that without any warning.

Sweetheart? I turned as Colin’s voice broke my thoughts to see him standing in the back doorway holding out his hand to me. Come on in – it’s freezing out there. I reluctantly stood up, leaving the quiet of the end of the night and found myself in his comforting embrace. There were no words to be said and we stood in silence, wrapped in each other but lost in our own thoughts. I rang Lucy, I told Millie I would, he said, leading me through to the sitting room where we sat together on the settee. I thought Millie ought to get back to Ben. Lucy said she’d ring in a couple of hours. I nodded and he held me tighter.

Fifty years, Luce, I whispered to her over the phone a few hours later. Someone just took a knife and cut fifty years out of our lives like that.
I know, she sighed. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Her poor children, I can’t imagine what it must be like for them. Amelia said Ben’s just been sitting there since they got the news staring at nothing and poor Bethie doesn’t understand what’s going on.
Hannah said Mike’s much the same. But I don’t know about Tessie – I haven’t spoken to her.
Me neither.
I thought I might give her a quick ring later on. But really I just want Tish back.
Me too. Even though I know that in the long run it’ll be better – she would have hated getting old and lingering. But not like this, anything but this.

For the next few days I felt in a daze, barely sleeping and hardly able to concentrate. Amelia brought Ben and Elisabeth to stay so Ben could travel to Manchester to put his parents’ affairs in order. The rest of the children came home for the funeral, a solemn tribute to the fun loving, honest, loyal and most wonderful friend and the man who had shared in it all with her. I didn’t want to believe it was goodbye. She would be there when I turned, laughing at us all as though it were some huge joke.

Hannah and I have something to say, Michael announced after the service as we all drew together. Hannah smiled shyly and clutched his hand tighter. We’re getting married. He held up his hand to stop the flow of questions and congratulations. It wasn’t the best time for a proposal but we’ve realised that life is too short to prevaricate. My parents, especially my mother, were always alarmed by how quickly life passed us by and always encouraged Ben, Tessie and I to make the most of every moment and to always go after what you want. Well, I want to spend my life with Hannah and, luckily, she feels the same so we’re going to “Carpe Diem” as Auntie Sharlie always says.

~Look to this day… for it is the very life of life:
In its brief course lie all the realities and truths of existence.
The joy of growth, the splendour of action, the glory of power.
For yesterday is but a memory and tomorrow is only a vision…
But today – well lived – makes every yesterday
A memory of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day.~

Sanskirt text.

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#276:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:16 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. I'm sorry to hear about Tish and Peter. When Lucy felt cold, I shivered.

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#277:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:34 am
    —
*barely able to read through the tears*

That was so sad. Poor Sharlie and all of them

Am glad for Hannah and Michael even through the sadness

Thanks Pim

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#278:  Author: Karry, Location: Stoke on Trent Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:36 am
    —

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#279:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 11:00 am
    —
You made me cry!

Ta pimmy.

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#280:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:57 pm
    —


Pim!

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#281:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 5:33 pm
    —
Not Tish!

This is turning into a regular weep-fest Pimmy.

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#282:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:22 pm
    —

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#283:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 7:49 pm
    —
So sad, poor Tish, poor Sharlie.

Thanks Pim - get everyone else to fit smoke alarms will you?

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#284:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 11:48 pm
    —
Nooooooo!!!
*sobs loudly!*

Pimmy, that was NOT a nice thing to do!

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#285:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:39 am
    —


Nooooo not Tish she was so lovely!

Can we have some happy news soon please?

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#286:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:43 pm
    —
Argh!

Pim, Georgia has your password again....

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#287:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:28 am
    —
It was hard after the funeral, even though I knew only too well that life had to go on. I missed Tish so much though. It hurt knowing that I could no longer pick up the phone and call for a quick reminisce or to wax lyrical over our granddaughter. Whilst Michael and Hannah’s relationship had only been strengthened by events, Amelia and Ben seemed to be drifting apart despite her best efforts to hold things together. Hannah and Michael had decided on a December wedding, thinking that it might detract a little from Christmas and the empty space that Tish and Peter would leave. I spoke to Lucy more often than usual in the coming months, each of us scared of losing our memories of Tish.

I knew only too well that sorrow and loss did not stop life and it continued to muddle on. Lottie came home for her Easter holidays with a pile of work for her PGCE and worrying about being set free as a teacher come September. We saw little of Roo as well, work for his finals keeping him away in Oxford for most of the holidays. I couldn’t believe that Roo, the family baby, was ready to take his finals and graduate. He was hoping to stay in Oxford to do his PhD upon completion of his degree. In the aftermath of her miscarriage the previous summer, both Alice and Tom had thrown themselves into their PhDs with new found enthusiasm and hoped to have them completed the following summer. Luke was taking on more and more with regard to the running of the shop, Colin having made the decision to hand it all over to Luke when he turned 65 in two year’s time.

Roo’s degree results were due at the end of June and he was regarding them with his usual indifference and nonchalance. He was staying in Oxford to work in the lab over the summer and try and sorted for his PhD which he hoped to start in September. It would be our first summer with none of the children at home. The would be fleeting visits, of course, but nothing like the permanence we had grown accustomed to.

Mam, it’s me – Roo.
Oh hello sweetheart.
Results are out.
And? I had learned that it was best to try and mimic Roo’s indifference towards his results.
I got a first. I could almost hear the shrug that accompanied the announcement.
No, really?
Well my name was on the list under first class honours so I’d guess so.
Roo, that’s wonderful news.
Not bad, is it? It’s shown those sisters of mine a things or two, I’ll bet.
Rupert!
Well everybody gets 2:I’s these days.
Are you pleased?
Yeah, course I am. But look, mam, I’ve got to go. I’ll give you a ring at the weekend.

I hung up the telephone with a sigh. The whole thing had been conducted in typical Roo fashion – precision and with no fuss.

Who was that, Colin called from the sitting room.
Our youngest, I replied, sitting down beside him.
What did young Roo want?
He got a first.
Bloody hell.
I know. And typical Roo simply said it would show his sisters a thing or two. It’s just as well they all get on so well.
Isn’t it just? We’re so lucky to have them all.
I know. Incredibly so.

Coming on the back of Roo’s success, Lottie sailed through the end of her PGCE and was eagerly awaiting the start of term and her first job in Leeds. She and Kathie had elected to go off for most of the summer holidays, taking up the offer of an old school friend of Kathie’s to go and visit her in the States. Colin and I stared blankly ahead to our own summer holidays wondering what to do with them. Anna provided a solution with her new grandson, Thomas, born in mid July, and a long overdue trip to Switzerland to see Anna, Julia and all the grandchildren provided the escape we needed.

Trixie’s youngest, Susanna, eventually followed the steps of her elder siblings that September and got married. Colin and I used the occasion to visit Ben and Amelia who seemed to be getting on a little better now. Amelia had moved up to her SHO rotations that February but already had a fairly good idea of which medical avenue she would pursue in the future. Elisabeth, now two, was an absolute delight and it didn’t seem five minutes since our own children had been like that. Sara, in November, became the latest of my friends to become a grandmother to Soledad’s Charlotte Esther. I remembered the letter I had received from Sara on Soledad’s birth hoping that she would never know solitude. She hadn’t.

We amassed en famille in Cambridge on 21 December 1991 for Michael and Hannah’s wedding. It was a day of celebration, if tinged with the sadness brought by the absence of Tish and Peter. They were not forgotten though – remembered by Christian, as father of the bride, and Ben, as best man, in their speeches.

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#288:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:47 am
    —
I was rather worried about Amelia and Ben for a while there, Pim. Roo is fabuolus, though!

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#289:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:04 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. Well done, Roo and Lottie! I'm glad that things are a bit better between Ben and Amelia.

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#290:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:09 pm
    —
So was I and thus glad things are improving.

Ta pimmy.

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#291:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 2:03 pm
    —
Well that'll larn me! I just read the last few posts at work and got all choked up over Tish! I was heartened by the news that Amelia and Ben are doing a bit better and - of course - the numerous babies.

Thanks Pim.

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#292:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 2:06 pm
    —
Thank you Pim!
Congrats to Roo on his first, and Hannah and Michael on their wedding.

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#293:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 2:50 pm
    —
Have there been any divorce's in this drabble yet? I can't remember...

Well done Lottie and Roo on their results!

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#294:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:40 pm
    —
Echoing the congrats to Lottie and Roo.

1991? Good grief!

Thanks Pim.

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#295:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:38 pm
    —
Wonderful news for Roo about his degree.

Hope Amelia and Ben will be okay.

Thank Pim.

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#296:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:06 am
    —
1992 began solemnly when Philip Haughton died on 12 January. He had been ill on and of for the previous couple of years but had always pulled through before. Rebecca was completely devastated by his death and looked so lost without him – they had been married for almost 44 years. They had had their ups and downs over the years like all couples but nothing that detracted from the loved they felt for each other. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how it would be for Rebecca. The thought of never seeing Colin again hurt too much for me to even begin contemplating. He had always said he had been glad to have the chance to give away both Sarah and Johanna when they had married but it didn’t seem right to think of Billy’s wedding later that year without him.

In contrast, February was a happier month marked by two weddings and a birth. Harriet’s youngest, Connie, provided one wedding and David and Louise’s youngest daughter, Amy, the other. It was Peter, Elizabeth’s eldest, who brought the new member of the family in – Brendan. There would be further additions to the family that year, some from unexpected quarters. Simon Harper was another expecting an extension to the family with Jonno’s second due in May.

Easter saw the whole family coming home for a long weekend with Alice, Amelia and Sophie all being very cryptic about “news” that they had to impart over the course of the weekend. I had half guessed Sophie’s when Freddie and Colin headed off down to Colin’s darkroom together on the Saturday morning but knew I would have to keep my suspicions to myself.

Alice can go first, she’s the eldest, protested Amelia over dinner that evening – the allotted time for announcements.
Alice shrugged, looked at Tom and they both grinned. Well, our PhDs are nearly finished, she began. I ought to be done by the end of July and Tom about a month or so after. But that’s not the real news since you knew that anyway.
Get on with it, heckled Luke. Bloody girls!
Shut up, Luke, muttered Lottie, elbowing him in the ribs.
When you two have quite finished, grinned Alice. Tom and I… we’re… I mean, I’m pregnant – due in October.
There was a moment’s silence broken by Amelia’s cry of so am I!
Luke turned to Sophie who had started laughing. Don’t tell me that’s your news too, Soph.
No, replied Sophie, shaking her head. Freddie?
You tell them, he whispered.
Freddie and I have slightly different news. He asked da this morning if… well, we’re getting married. She held up her hand to stop our questions. Not for a couple of years for work reasons, but you’ll all be invited when we do.

The dinner table descended into a complete babel as everyone rushed to congratulate the other and offer best wishes to the happy couples. It seemed such a surreal experience knowing how much happiness the year would bring. I couldn’t help but think of Tish and Peter though and how much they would have loved knowing that there was another grandchild on the way.

Graham Harper arrived at the beginning of May, Simon’s fourth grandchild. Once again my thoughts turned to Peggy, wishing that she could be here to share the joy with Simon and the twins. Ryan Connory was born to Johanna at the end of that month, an event tinged with the sadness that Philip hadn’t survived to see his new grandson. The same feelings arose when Billy married his long term girlfriend, Araminta, that September.

Roo’s graduation ceremony took place that summer and Colin and I had a few days in Oxford for it. His PhD was going well and he was enjoying the work. As we watched Roo take his turn to go up and collect his degree it was hard to swallow the lump in my throat, knowing only too well that they had all well and truly learned how to use their wings and fly. Alice and Tom had completed their PhDs that summer, getting over the viva worries to be able to use the title “doctor” and look forward to the impending arrival of their baby. Tom went back into teaching that autumn, their plan to stay in Cambridge for the time being and the move depending on where Alice’s career in academia took them.

Touch the sky, Sharlie girl, my da had always said to me. I’d always tried to impress that on my own children and now I realised how to heart they had taken it.

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#297:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:11 am
    —
Thanks Pim. I'm glad the girls all had good news this time.

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#298:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:46 am
    —
Lots of good news...yay! Ta pimmy.

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#299:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:06 am
    —

Cazx wrote:

Have there been any divorce's in this drabble yet? I can't remember... Well done Lottie and Roo on their results!

I'm rereading this drabble in the archives. I had forgotten this fact but Nancy was married before she met Kathie. I think that his name was Harry. Does that count?

Thanks, Pim. Congratulations to Roo and everyone else!

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#300:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:34 pm
    —
It's amazing how far they've all come! Sure Sharlie's Da is looking down and smiling on all his grandkids.

Hope Alice will be ok this time...

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#301:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:53 pm
    —
Yay for Alice and Sophie but about Phillip.

Thanks Pim

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#302:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:24 pm
    —
Lovely news about Amelia and Alice both expecting, and Sophie's engagement, but waaah about Phillip's death.

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#303:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:00 am
    —
Emily Rutherford was the first of the grandchildren to arrive on Thursday 15 October 1992 weighing in at 7lbs 8oz prompting a wildly excited phone call from Tom demanding to know when we were coming to visit as he and Alice were desperate to show her off. We duly departed for Cambridge on the Saturday morning to stay with Lucy and Christian, the former having been exceptionally restrained and not going to visit until Colin and I had. Alice and Tom both looked tired and overwhelmed by recent events in their lives but no one could deny that they were happy and doted on Emily, a round, contented bundle of joy.

How did we get to have two grandchildren, I asked Colin on the Monday afternoon as we sat in Lucy and Christian’s sitting room. It doesn’t seem five minutes since our own were that age. Alice is going to be 31 in December – the same age I was when she was born. I wonder how Amelia’s getting on.
Hmm, me too. But I’m sure she or Ben would have let us know if anything had happened.
I know but…
You can’t help worrying – I feel the same, you know, sweetheart.
I grinned and kissed him. I know you do. I thought I might start to worry less about them when they grew up.
Except all they manage to do is provide us with new worries.
Exactly. But Emily’s rather lovely, isn’t she?
Just a little. And she looks just like Alice did as a newborn.
Do you think?
Oh definitely.
Sharlie. I looked up as Lucy put her head around the door. Or Colin. It’s Ben on the phone for one or the other of you.
Colin and I exchanged glances. You go, I said.
Are you sure? I nodded and he left the room.
Did Ben say anything, I asked Lucy.
She shook her head. Nope, he just said he wanted to talk to one or the other of you. Dinner’s going to be about ten minutes by the way.
It smells wonderful – I’m famished!
Good, because we’ve made far too much – as usual!
That’s why we like coming to stay, I said, standing up and following Lucy in to the kitchen. Can I do anything to help?
Go and listen in on your husband’s telephone conversation, she suggested and I laughed.
I daresay he’ll be off soon enough and then we’ll know what’s what. I hope Ben’s ringing to say it’s all over because I really don’t think I can bear the agony of waiting much longer. Emily’s taken my mind off things a little… Well, I demanded of Colin as he appeared in the kitchen doorway grinning like the cat that had got the cream.
A grandchild of the female variety has joined the clan – mother and baby are doing well and can we go to London tomorrow, all four of us, to be introduced to Alison Patricia?

We set out for London in the morning – Lucy and Christian for the day, Colin and I for a few having begged use of Trixie’s spare room. Colin and I were the first admitted to Amelia’s bedside to greet baby Alison. Amelia looked tired but happy, as in love with Alison as she had been with Elisabeth, whilst Ben looked more at ease with the world than he had done since his parents had died. They were allowed home the following day and it brought back memories to see Elisabeth adapt to having her baby sister in the house. Now three, she had the same fascination for Alison that Amelia had displayed towards both Lottie and Roo.

Nan, said Elisabeth very decisively to me two days after Alison had come home as she tugged on my sleeve to attract my attention.
Yes sweetheart?
When does Allie go back?
Go back where?
To the shop.
I resisted the urge to laugh at her serious little face. She doesn’t.
Because babies don’t.
Is she here always then?
Yes.
Oh. But I don’t want her here always.
You don’t mean that.
She doesn’t do anything.
Not yet, but she will. Besides, didn’t Allie bring you those chocolate buttons?
Yes but…
But what? She shrugged and climbed on to my knee.
When are you and Gramps going?
Tomorrow.
Bethie come too?
No, sweetheart. You stay with your mam and da and baby Allie.
Must I?
Yes, but you’ll see Gramps and I again soon.
When?
Soon.

By Christmas when the whole family descended, Eliabeth was a little more reconciled to the permanence of her little sister than she had been. She was more fascinated by Emily and would spend much more time with her that with Alison. It all seemed so dreadfully empty when they had all gone and so our thoughts turned to the retirement that summer and the new freedoms that it would bring.

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#304:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:02 am
    —
Bethie is sooo cute! And yay for two grandaughters!

Ta pimmy!

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#305:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:02 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. I am completely and utterly that Alice is now 31! It was lovely to see Bethie being so sweet and welcome to Emily and Alison!

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#306:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:44 pm
    —
Alison Patricia - of course - for her grandmother.

Thanks Pim - lovely

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#307:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:38 pm
    —

Lesley wrote:

Alison Patricia - of course - for her grandmother. Thanks Pim - lovely

I hadn't spotted that!

Thank you for a lovely post Pim! And two lovely bouncing safely arrived babies!

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#308:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:01 am
    —
1993 was ushered in quietly and Sophie and Freddie set their wedding date for the following April. Both Luke ad Roo brought home new girlfriends to “meet the parents”. We had met Ellie, Luke’s girlfriend, briefly over Christmas and it was nice to finally get a formal introduction to the girl who appeared to be taming Luke. Judith, Roo’s girlfriend, was a fellow physicist he had met through his lab work – she doing her PhD at Somerville to his Corpus Christi. Lottie remained resolutely single, claiming that teaching took up too much of her time to be worrying about boyfriends for the moment. In March, Elizabeth became a grandmother twice over to Mark’s daughter, Lauryn, and Simon’s daughter, Simon. She now had six grandchildren – three of each – which kept her occupied and busy, as did our own.

Colin retired fully when I did at the end of the summer term. It felt strange knowing that I wouldn’t be going back in the autumn, that I wouldn’t see a new group of fresh, young faces through one stage in their lives. It was harder for Colin who had always worked hard to keep the shop even though he knew Luke would have it in good hands. We saw in the start of retirement by attending Tessie’s wedding the final weekend of July. As with Michael’s, it was tinged with the sadness brought by the absence of Tish and Peter. Ben gave Tessie away and stood in as father of the bride, speaking movingly about his parents and younger sister.

We decided to make the most of our newfound freedom of retirement and took off to the continent for the whole of August to discover new delights and rediscover old favourite haunts. We spent a few days with visiting Anna, Julia and families before I plucked up the courage to make a long overdue return trip to the Gornetz Platz. The Chalet School and the Sanatorium were long gone – the former having gone back to England in the mid 1980s. It had changed beyond all recognition to reflect the area’s dependence on tourism and I couldn’t help but feel that I shouldn’t have gone back. We returned home to Liverpool in September, wondering what sort of routine we would settle into after our nomadic wanderings. Colin still had the occasional commission but nothing that took up too much of his time.’

The children were all doing well. Alice and Tom had moved to Manchester that summer, she having got a research position at the university and Tom had found a teaching job in Stockport. They had decided to live quite a way out of Manchester in Disley, on the Cheshire border with Derbyshire, having decided that they would rather face a long commute to work rather than living in the city. Luke and Ellie’s relationship looked to be serious and he was working hard to ensure that the shop continued the success it had had under his father and grandfather. Amelia was still in her SHO rotations in London although she had more or less decided that she wanted to further her career in obstetrics and gynaecology and consequently was working hard towards various exams. Sophie and Freddie were in the middle of planning their wedding for the following year and trying to keep it all to a minimum. Lottie was still in Leeds, living with friends and enjoying her teaching. Roo’s PhD was making steady progress as was his relationship with Judith. It just didn’t seem possible that they had all grown up so much.

David and Louise became grandparents again at the end of September to Sally, Niamh’s daughter. Sally’s arrival was followed by news from both Alice and Amelia when I rang to let them know.

Pass on our love and congrats, won’t you mam, said Alice. And tell them to mind they to the same to us in February.
What are you on about, child?
Guess.
Alice, are you…
Pregnant? Yes.
B… but…
Oh I know – classic lousy timing on the job front but they’re happy for me to research around baby. I’m jolly lucky that they didn’t sack me on the spot, really. Tom and I are really pleased though.
I’m glad you are. I am too and I’m sure your father will be thrilled.
Good, it’d be rotten if you two weren’t. We’re not sure how much Emily understands but hopefully she’ll love being a big sister. The age gap will be more or less mine and Luke’s and we’re alright.

That’s lovely news, said Amelia. And talking of lovely news, Ben and I have some.
Oh?
We’re having another baby – next March. I laughed. It’s not funny, mam.
Oh I know. But I’ve just spoken to Alice and…
She is too?
Yes – February though.
Oh poor Sophie. She must think we’re trying to upstage her at her wedding with all these babies, she laughed. In fact Soph said as much to me when I told her. She puts up with too much from me that twin of mine.

We paid a visit to Amelia and Ben in November after Susanna had presented Trixie with a new grandson, Louis. Elisabeth was a little more reconciled to the prospect of her second sister than she had been to Alison although she had been known to wonder aloud if she would be able to exchange Alison for the new baby. Our return home was marked by another grandchild – to Harriet when Juliet gave birth to Jennifer. Christmas was a quiet family affair – Alice and Tom having gone to his parents and a few days later Colin and I saw 1994 in quietly together.

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#309:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:35 am
    —
So many babies but really pim...

Quote:

Simon’s daughter, Simon

Ta!

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#310:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 2:46 pm
    —
Gosh there's something in the water in Sharlie land!

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#311:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:34 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. Congratulations to everyone who is expecting!

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#312:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 6:43 pm
    —
Sharlie and her friends are responsible for repopulating half of England!

Thanks Pim.

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#313:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:31 pm
    —
Are they all on fertility drugs Pim? Babies everywhere!!!

Thanks hunny!

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#314:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 6:13 pm
    —
Gosh!

Lots and lots and lots of babies.

Haven't they heard of contraception in Sharlie-land?

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#315:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:19 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim - although I am feeling rather elderly now all these children I knew as babies are growing up and doing PhDs, having babies etc.!

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#316:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 12:36 am
    —
*G* the extended family and friends must be some gathering when they all get together!

Thanks Pim.

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#317:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 9:27 am
    —

LizB wrote:

Thanks, Pim - although I am feeling rather elderly now all these children I knew as babies are growing up and doing PhDs, having babies etc.!

How do you think I feel?! I suppose at some point I should rectify it all with a great load of deaths...

Colin and I were kept busy throughout January at Alice’s beck and call as she struggled to the end of her pregnancy. Emily wasn’t quite old enough to understand what was going on and spent a lot of time looking thoroughly bewildered by proceedings. Harriet became a grandmother to Daniel’s Malachy a mere week before Alice went into labour, three days overdue. Colin and I had gone to stay with she and Tom and were able to stay with Emily at home whilst Tom went to the hospital with Alice where Jane Katherine Rutherford made her way into the world at 6.17am on Thursday 10 February 1994. Colin and I were baby Jane’s first visitors, bringing Emily with us who was somewhat nonplussed by it all. We stayed on a couple of days to help with Emily before deciding that we had trespassed far too long on their family time and headed back to Liverpool.

Sophie’s wedding kept our minds off worries about Alice and Amelia as she continued to find things for us to do towards the big day. She was the first of the children to be having a full blown wedding day rather than the quiet and simple affairs that her elder sisters had chosen and I had forgotten just how much work there could be to a wedding. As ever, Sophie took it all in her stride, trying to not get too worked up over things. She was having Lottie as her chief bridesmaid with Elisabeth and Gillian, Freddie’s six year old niece, as her other bridesmaids. Lottie pointed out that at least everyone would be sidetracked by how cute Elisabeth and Gillian would be meaning that she could blend quietly into the background.

Joanna Clarissa Wallace arrived on Tuesday 14 March 1994, Amelia joking that at least it gave her a good six weeks to work on getting into her outfit for Sophie’s wedding. Colin and I visited that weekend and found ourselves busy putting Amelia and Ben’s house back into some semblance of order. Amelia looked exhausted and I sensed tensions between her and Ben but didn’t want to approach the situation unless she did. Ben was busy with work which I thought wasn’t helping matters but he was in the middle of a tricky case. Even with Elisabeth now at school I knew that Amelia was in need of more help than she was letting on.

I’m worried about them all, I said to Colin as we drove home.
Me too, he admitted. They just didn’t seem quite as happy as they were over Bethie and Allie.
I know it’s hard having three so close together – I mean we had Alice, Luke and the twins like that but at least we had Aunt Jane on hand to help out with them. Amelia’s got no one and Ben’s at work far more than you ever were.
I wonder if it’ll get better once this case is over and he’s got a bit more time on his hands.
I shrugged. I hope so because Amelia’s struggling – not that she’d ever admit it.
I thought she didn’t look as easy with Jo as the other too.
Hmm, me too. I just wish I could approach the subject with her without knowing that she’d bite my head off for it.
You were the same when Roo was born.
I know and I hated people trying to help but this is different. Amelia’s still my little girl and I hate seeing her so unhappy.

Amelia brushed off any concerns we tried to raise with her over the following weeks and I found myself turning to Sophie’s wedding to take my mind off things. They were married from their nearby church in York, Colin’s face bursting with pride as he walked Sophie down the aisle, his arm tucked in hers, to give her away. I couldn’t help the tears that fell during the service as she exchanged her vows with Freddie. I remembered making those same vows myself almost 34 years previously and the promise to never break them. They both looked unbelievably happy as they left the church as Mr and Mrs Frederick Clarke.

The reception took place at a nearby hotel and it was lovely to have all my oldest and closest friends – Lucy, Trixie, Tash and Kathie – in the same place together. As Lottie had predicted, all the bridesmaid attention was geared towards Elisabeth and Gillian, Tash and I unable to hide our grandmotherly pride. It gave Lottie the chance to blend into the background that she had so desired, meaning that she could go off and talk to Hannah. Both Jane and Joanna had behaved impeccably during the service and were the darlings of the wedding breakfast. Colin was nervous about his speech as father of the bride, joking that he ought to be used to it by now with Sophie being the third to get married. But I knew that we would never get used to it, watching our children grown up so quickly and take the steps we ourselves had taken all those years ago. But they had come so far and achieved so much, they had all spread their wings and learned to fly.

Last edited by pim on Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:08 am; edited 1 time in total

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#318:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 9:34 am
    —
*sneaks off to decorate the wedding car*

I hope things get better for Amelia and Ben

pim wrote:

How do you think I feel?! I suppose at some point I should rectify it all with a great load of deaths...

No, no and ... er... NO!

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#319:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 12:24 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. Please don't kill everyone off! I hope that Amelia and Ben will be ok.

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#320:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:02 pm
    —

Quote:

I suppose at some point I should rectify it all with a great load of deaths...

Don't you dare!

Lovely wedding, thank you Pim.

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#321:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:10 pm
    —
NO deaths for a while please but will Amelia and Ben be our first divorce...

Ta pimmy!

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#322:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:46 pm
    —

Nell wrote:

NO deaths for a while please but will Amelia and Ben be our first divorce... Ta pimmy!

NELL!!!! That's a NORTY suggestion!

PLEASE let them work things out Pim! DON'T listen to the Nellikins!

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#323:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:42 pm
    —
But all these births are just a little too much sweetness and light...

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#324:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:46 pm
    —
Poor Amelia - Nell I was thinking the same - either that or Post Natal Depression!

Thanks Pim.

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#325:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:42 pm
    —
Thanks Pim, I hope Sophie and Freddie have a happy marriage.

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#326:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:18 am
    —

Vikki wrote:

DON'T listen to the Nellikins!

I don't know... sometimes she can make very sensible suggestions. And as we appear to have reached that point again I guess I shall have to go forth and update ye olde communitye on who's who.

April stretched into May, bringing a visit to London for Sara’s eldest son’s wedding. It also served to add to our worries about Amelia who really didn’t seem happy at all but would only brush away our concerns, not even Sophie was any the wiser. Billy became a father later that month to Philip, named for his father. It was easy to see how difficult Rebecca still found it without Philip by her side. She had aged so quickly in the two years since her death that it scared me. She had moved in with Sarah at her insistence the previous year. Kathie retired at the end of summer term, having decided that she had put it off long enough and came to us for the summer to plan her next moves.

I’ve been too scared, I suppose, to actually take this step, she admitted to me a few days later. I just couldn’t bring myself to face the emptiness of retiring. Once upon a time Nancy and I had such plans for our retirement years… I still miss her so much it hurts, you know. There are all these thoughts going around in my mind – things I want to tell her and then remember that I can’t. You’ve got Colin…
And you’ve got us. I paused. But, no, it’s not the same thing.
I know I’ve got Lottie but she’s got her own life now. How do they grow up so quickly?
I wish I know. And it’s the same, if not worse, with grandchildren – look at Bethie, she’s at school now.
Lottie’s 25, Sharlie. It was a whole other lifetime ago in so many ways. There was no way I could have kept her on my own then but now… well, you only have to look at Amelia and Ben to see how much things have changed.

Summer began shakily as tentative plans for the future were made, remade and rethought. Rebecca became a grandmother to Johanna’s Jessamine in early August and my own grandchildren continued to grow and thrive. There was a marker of time laid for that August – one Lucy and I had discussed at great length. It had all been Tish’s idea but we knew that it would be wrong of us to drop it. It served as a testament and reminder to the strength of our friendship. We decided against using the house that had once been Tish’s parents and now belonged to the grandchildren. 23 August fell on a Tuesday and, as dictated by tradition, Lucy and I made our way to the beach where we sat in our deckchairs, gazing out to the sea and reflecting on times past.

We didn’t foresee Tish’s absence, did we, she mused.
How could we, I asked. We never predicted the bad things. The future is always an ideal.
Did you think we’d still be doing this now the first time?
I don’t know. We had drifted an awful lot at that point, hadn’t we? I suppose if Annie hadn’t died then maybe we would have carried on doing so. It would have been so easy – I was in Switzerland, you were up to your ears in theses, Tish was living the life in Manchester and Nicole was having to readjust to life over here. Lifetime friendships are so rare.
I know, that’s why I value this one. I’ll have to live to be almost ninety to have been married to Christian as long as we’ve been friends. Of course you and Colin have an eight year head start on me.
We all had other priorities back then – yours was your work.
I know. There were times, especially when Hannah was a baby, that I wondered how I could have been so work driven when there was so much more to life.
We thought we could change the world through academia.
I like to think I might have changed just a few people’s outlooks.
I don’t doubt you did.
I know you did.
You can never be too sure with ten year olds.
What did we predict last time?
Happier and greyer, I expect – like we did the time before. And grandchildren. To think I only had Bethie then.
I’ll have one in October.
What do you fancy?
I don’t know. I think Hannah would quite like a girl though. Mike’s so excited it’s lovely. I know he’ll be a wonderful father. She’ll be a bit like me as a mother though, I think – uncertain to begin with until she suddenly realises that she didn’t know what she did before.
I laughed. So what about 1999 when the new Millennium is fast approaching?
Well I doubt we’ll be living on the moon. Did you ever wonder that growing up?
Not really. But I vote for the new tradition of happier and greyer.
I don’t think I can get much greyer, said Lucy ruefully.
Me neither.
But more grandchildren.
Absolutely. Well, I hope so.
Until then – 23 August 1999.

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#327:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:23 am
    —
Thanks Pim.

Pleeease let them both still be here to see the millenium in.

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#328:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:14 am
    —
Yes don't let aything happen to Lucy before the millenium! I'm guessing that if Sharlie dies then there won't be a drabble anymore so er can she break the record for being the oldest women on earth or something...

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#329:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:57 am
    —
Oh good grief! Only another twelve years and we'll be up to the present day!!!!

Thanks Pimmy, and PLEASE keep you know who well away! (Is she still under Liz's desk?)

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#330:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:06 pm
    —

pim wrote:

Vikki wrote: DON'T listen to the Nellikins! I don't know... sometimes she can make very sensible suggestions.

*preens*

Ta pimmy...still a bit sweetness and light if you ask me!?!

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#331:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 5:54 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. I am now wibbling that something is going to happen to Lucy before 1999.

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#332:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:24 pm
    —
Thanks Pim - quite true, you don't predict the bad times - if you knew they were going to happen you just couldn't live.

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#333:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:54 pm
    —
So how many more grandchildren will there be by next time?

Thanks, Pim

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#334:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:59 pm
    —
Thank you Pim. I'm enjoying the sweetness and light, actually - though I do open every post wondering .....

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#335:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:01 am
    —

Nell wrote:

Ta pimmy...still a bit sweetness and light if you ask me!?!

Ja, just what I was thinking. Natural disaster, anyone?

Autumn arrived, wet and blustery and Kathie departed to catch up with old friends she felt she had been sorely neglecting. Colin and I settled into an easy routine and laid tentative plans for a trip to Scotland in October. Lucy became a grandmother on the first of that month to Anne Patricia. She had come as a bit of a surprise to Hannah and Michael who had intended to leave such things until she had finished her PhD, which she had intended to have done by the following year. Instead she had now opted to take some time out to spend the first precious months with Anne. As had been the case with Alison and Joanna, the event was tinged by the absence of Anne’s other grandparents. The trip to Scotland ended up going by the wayside when Amelia rang to say she was coming up for a week and bringing Alison and Joanna, leaving Elisabeth in London with Ben so as not to miss school.

Don’t tell me I look dreadful, please mam, she said as she made her way through the front door laden down with bags, Joanna balanced on her hip and Alison clinging to her coat.
Why didn’t you ask for help, I exclaimed, taking Joanna from her as she dropped her bags and wriggled out of her coat before turning her attentions to getting Alison out of her outdoor things. She shrugged in reply as I dealt with Joanna. How was the journey up?
Could have been worse. Where’s da?
Kitchen – preparing dinner. He’s been ever so experimental since he went on that cookery course.
She managed a weak laugh. And Luke just thought that was a really good joke birthday present.
Do you want a brew?
She shook her head in reply. The girls could do with a drink or something though.
I’ll see what your da can rustle up. You go and sit down, I said quickly as she burst into tears. Gracious, Millie, sit yourself down and I’ll take the girls through to your da. Come on, Allie, I said, holding out my hand to her. Let’s go and see what Gramps can find you in the kitchen.
Mama sad, she said to me solemnly as we walked down the hall together.
I know, sweetie, I said, pushing open the kitchen door. Hello Gramps!
Colin spun round from the cooker. It’s my two favourite girls, he exclaimed, swinging Alison up and sitting her on a chair as Joanna held out her arms for the same. High chair?
Pantry.
Millie?
Sitting room – crying.
Oh.
Indeed.
I’m babysitting?
Please.
Okay. He took Joanna from me and planted a light peck on my cheek before I left the room and returned to Amelia who was curled up on the settee crying. I sat beside her and could only hold her as she sobbed helplessly against me.
What’s the matter, Millie?
Mam… I… it’s all so horribly wrong now.
What is?
Everything. I should have spotted it.
Spotted what?
She choked back a laugh. Post natal depression – a fine one I’ll make in obs and gynae.
Oh Millie.
I only managed a week back at work and I just went to pieces on the ward one day – I started crying and couldn’t stop. My consultant came to me in the staff room and dragged me off to her office and it took her five minutes to realise what was wrong. I’ve been signed off for the rest of the month but she thinks I might be better off dropping out of the rotation and starting again in February – she said she’d put in a good word to get me back.
Will you?
I don’t know yet. Probably. Although the thought of six months at home with the children terrifies me. It’s been bad enough since Jo was born and the thought of going back to it… she broke off.
What about Ben?
What about him? He doesn’t understand. He thinks that if I go out and buy a new pair of shoes then it’ll all be better. I’ve got some leaflets from the hospital about it for him to read but… I don’t know. I’m never too sure where I’m at with him these days to tell the truth. He’s been like it ever since Auntie Tish and Uncle Peter died. It got better when Allie was born but it’s as though Jo’s opened up all the old wounds. And I don’t want it to be like this. I want to be able to love Jo like Bethie and Allie and I want things back the way they used to be with Ben… I’m so fed up of fighting to try and make it all better. I can’t take much more, mam, I really can’t.
Oh Millie, sweetheart, I wish I could make it all better for you. You and Ben really need to talk about this to each other, to other people, because bottling it up just won’t help.
I know. But he won’t and I keep on trying and trying… I’ve got a referral to see someone about the post natal depression and there’s a local support group because I don’t want this hanging over my life like this anymore – I want to have a normal relationship with Jo like I did with Bethie and Allie. But Ben won’t accept that he needs help as well and I can feel us drifting apart and I don’t know how to stop it.
Could you not get Mike to talk to him? Or Tessie? The three of them are so close but they don’t seem to have ever talked about their parents’ death properly.
She shook her head. They haven’t. Well Tessie and Mike might well have done but Ben wouldn’t. Tessie kept on trying with him but then she stopped because he wasn’t responding. I think she did better with Mike. I just want to wake up in the morning and for everything to be back the way it used to be. I want to get through this but I’m not so sure about Ben.

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#336:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:10 am
    —
Much better.

Poor Millie - glad she's come home though and has finally admitted there's a problem now we just need to get Ben to see it to - put Mike onto him, and don't take no for an answer!

Ta pimmy!

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#337:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:15 am
    —

Nell wrote:

Much better. Ta pimmy!

Have you been possessed by You Know Who perchance, Nell?

Poor Millie! Hope she can get the support she needs.

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#338:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:20 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. I'm sorry that Ben won't talk things through.

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#339:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:51 pm
    —
I hope someone can get Ben to open up and let things out before things get any worse

Thanks, Pim

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#340:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:34 pm
    —

Ruth B wrote:

Nell wrote: Much better. Ta pimmy! Have you been possessed by You Know Who perchance, Nell?

Moi?! I'm sweet and innocent me...

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#341:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:39 pm
    —
By whose standards though, Smelly?

Anyone seen Georgiamort btw?

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#342:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:42 pm
    —
Well anyone's frankly - how could you deny it?



And provocative? Me? Wouldn't know the meaning of the word!

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#343:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:45 pm
    —
*chokes with laughter*

Ahh, Smell, so disillusioned...

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#344:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:48 pm
    —
Nope once again I think you have the wrong person I am never disillusioned that would mean that I had ideas opposite to how I am and that could never be because after all I am sweet, innocent not provocative and certainly not at all competative...

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#345:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:47 pm
    —
Thought that was it.


Hope Sharlie can get through to Ben.
Thanks Pim.

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#346:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:42 pm
    —
What a roller coaster of emotions the August posts have been - just caught up on them all and have depleted the tissue box somewhat


And PND is not nice and Amelia needs proper help NOW not when she finally gets the referal. And Ben needs someone to sort him out - Sharlie??

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#347:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:23 am
    —

Nell wrote:

Nope once again I think you have the wrong person I am never disillusioned that would mean that I had ideas opposite to how I am and that could never be because after all I am sweet, innocent not provocative and certainly not at all competative...

*pats the Nell* Bless you, my child

Amelia stayed on an extra few days on top of her week. Colin and I had encouraged her to spend her time as she wanted without the worry of Alison and Joanna who we took on the responsibility of. It was hard at times to drag ourselves out of bed during the night to tend to seven month old Joanna’s needs and then spend the day dealing with two year old Alison in charge. But it was fun, and rewarding to spend the time with two of our granddaughters. Amelia looked a little better for the time to herself and returned to London with a new strength and a new resolve. We all knew that a hard path lay ahead of her and Ben and could only hope that they would manage to walk it together. She seemed a little happier by Christmas, having decided to drop out of her current rotation and to go back to work in February. I could tell that she was still finding things hard as Ben didn’t seem as keen to go forwards, although he had grudgingly agreed to talk to his siblings about things. And so I continued to worry; Amelia may have been 29 but I still worried as though she were no older than her own children.

The whole family was in attendance for Christmas including Roo’s girlfriend, Judith, whose parents were spending the festive season abroad.

I’ve got an announcement, said Roo as we finished Christmas dinner. Well, we, that is Jude and I. Luke smirked, Roo pulled a face in reply to which Judith jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. Jude and I… we’ve got engaged for Christmas.

Luke cheered and there were general cries of congratulations as everybody did their best to try and hug the happy couple.

October, said Roo in reply to Alice’s question of when it would be. Nothing fancy – probably just like Alice’s or Amelia’s.
So Luke, when are you going to make an honest woman of Ellie, asked Sophie with a laugh.
Luke looked horrified. Look at Lottie for the next wedding.
Pfft, retorted Lottie. I’ve only been on three dates with Pete.
He was Peter before the first, chipped in Amelia.
But no one calls him Peter! It would be silly if I did. Anyway, Luke’s been with Ellie forever and it can be hardly fair on the poor girl. Let her have her happy ending, Luke.

Roo, the family baby, was getting married and it just didn’t seem real.

1995 had arrived and with it Simon’s fifth grandchild, Lawrence, by Molly. It prompted a return trip to Taverton to see the latest addition to the family. Lawrence had been the surprise addition to a family Molly and Patrick had considered quite complete with Peggy, now seven, and Simon, aged five. Peggy bore a striking resemblance to her grandmother and namesake, and it always made me sad that she had never had the chance to see her. Simon had clearly told the grandchildren stories about Peggy and her namesake would often talk about her “Grandma Peggy in heaven”. We made our return trip via London to see Trixie’s new grandchild, Rachael, born to Poppy and Edward. She was a rather unexpected addition to the family, Poppy having been warned after a problematic pregnancy with Gillian that she shouldn’t have another. As if by some miracle, Rachael had arrived safely and trouble free to be doted on by parents, grandparents and older sister.

February brought another grandchild for Sara and another wedding amongst the next generation of the family when Caroline’s daughter, Julie, tied the knot. The next wedding, in April, was a little more unexpected, so unexpected in fact that nobody had known anything about it.

10 April 1995

Dear Auntie Sharlie and Uncle Colin.

Don’t shout! I feel I ought to mention that before I impart the news as Samantha has already had Words because I didn’t tell anyone beforehand, but it was rather a spur of the moment thing.

I’ve got married.

I always knew that I’d marry Marcus, or at least spend the rest of my life with him. He’s helped me through so much since I met him three years ago. I know I’ve always had people to go to when I wanted to talk about mum or dad or Mary but it’s different with Marcus. He means so much to me.

I guess I always felt a little left out since Samantha got married and had Anne and Mark. It just felt a little at times as though dad cared about her more then. But I know he didn’t and I didn’t help matters by pushing him away as I grew up, thinking I could deal with mum dying on my own. I miss him so much though and I really wish he could have met Marcus and seen me get married. That’s why we didn’t tell anyone; we just slipped off to Gretna Green yesterday. I didn’t want any reminders about how much I missed dad.

We’ll be down to visit Samantha and the family in a couple of months. It would be lovely to see you and Auntie Luce as well.

With love, Louisa.

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#348:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:27 am
    —
Bless! Good for Louisa.

Ta Pim!

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#349:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:40 am
    —
I can't get over Roo getting married!

Thanks Pim.

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#350:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:20 pm
    —

Fatima wrote:

I can't get over Roo getting married!

Me neither!

Thanks, Pim

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#351:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 1:12 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. Congratulations to Roo and Judith and Louisa and Marcus!

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#352:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:55 pm
    —
Go Louisa! And yay for Roo!

Ta pimmy! And don't pat me...

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#353:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:52 pm
    —
Congrats Roo!


Thanks Pim.

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#354:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:06 pm
    —
Crikey. Good on Louisa!

And Roo can't be getting married, can he?

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#355:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:17 pm
    —
Blimey, 1995. Only 11 years to go til they'vbe caught us up!

*breaks out the champagne for Roo*

Thanks Pim

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#356:  Author: BethC, Location: Worcester, UK Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:27 pm
    —
Have just caught up on this right from the beginning (well, of part 4 anyway) - thank you, Pim!

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#357:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 8:42 pm
    —
Thank you Pimmy!
Hope Millie and Ben can get through things, and be happy again, and congratulations to all the newly engaged, married and parents!

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#358:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:19 am
    —

Nell wrote:

And don't pat me...

Warum nicht? It's fun.


The arrival of the warm summer weather brought the relief that Colin’s aching arthritic joints needed and we decided to follow the sun to France for the whole of July. Alice and Tom joined us with Emily and Jane for a week which added to the benefits of the holiday, especially watching Jane’s first dip in the sea and remembering Alice’s. We headed back via London to catch up with Amelia and Ben before returning home to visits from both Sophie and Freddie and Lottie. The long days of summer soon turned into autumn bringing Roo’s wedding with it. As with most things in life, Roo was completely laid back and relaxed about the whole thing and, fortunately for him, Judith was exactly the same, the two of them far too easily distracted by their precious physics to worry too much about mundane every day life.

10 October 1995

Dear Auntie Sharlie and Uncle Colin.

I know Ben will have already told you the news but it’s always nice to receive letters, I think even in this day and age of ever changing technology. Anyway, Lucas Peter Archer arrived yesterday – all nine pounds of quite literally bouncing baby! He’s Peter for my father, of course, and I do wish that he and mum could have been here to see him. I know they got the chance to be grandparents to Bethie but it always makes me sad to think that they won’t have the same chances with the others – especially as Ben, Mike and I always had so much fun with our own grandparents when we were growing up. We’re expecting both Ben and Mike at the weekend – I expect Bethie, Allie and Jo will have grown tremendously since I last saw them.

I shall leave this missive here to say that I hope Roo’s wedding goes well and hopefully I you shall get an introduction to young Lucas soon.

With love, Tessie.

We all congregated in Oxford on Saturday 28 October 1995 to witness the marriage between Rupert Graham and Judith Phillips. Like Alice and Amelia they had chosen a quiet ceremony at the register office followed by a blustery walk through Christchurch Meadows and then on to dinner. Colin was heard to point out on more than one occasion that it was much easier being father of the groom than the bride. Luke seemed to remain immune to the teasing of his siblings about when he would do the “honest thing” with Ellie. Lottie came in for her fair share too but calmly pointed out that she couldn’t be expected to make such decisions only ten months into a relationship.

All the same, Kathie remarked to me. Things do seem very serious between her and Peter.
I had noticed. He’s a very nice young man.
I wasn’t disputing that, only…
What?
I don’t know. It just seems so strange to think of her maybe getting married and having children one day. I was never meant to have a child. I wouldn’t change her though, except maybe…
Nancy?
She nodded. But if I hadn’t lost Nancy then I would never have known Lottie.
It is better to have loved and lost…
So they say.
Will you tell Lottie the truth?
About me and Nancy?
Yes.
I don’t know. I don’t think so. She doesn’t need to know really.
What if she asks?
I’ll just have to hope that she doesn’t, she replied wryly.
What if she asks me?
Do what you think is right. I’ve always valued your judgement. And, besides, you brought Lottie up – she’s probably closer to you.
Rot.
Well, maybe when she was younger.
Things were different then.
They’re not so different now.

Christmas soon crept upon us once again, December bringing two more grandchildren to the extended family for David and Louise and Harriet. Rebecca hadn’t been well of late, in and out of hospital, and every time I saw her the grip she had on life seemed a little frailer. I was worried, we all were, she had lost something when Philip had died, something she had never got back.

We had the whole family up for Christmas, including Ellie as she had declined the offer to spend Christmas with family in Cornwall due to work commitments. The aftermath of Christmas dinner was, as usual, the stage for family announcements – this time from Alice and Luke.

I can guess Alice’s, grinned Amelia. You’ve done a lousy job of hiding that bump.
I hadn’t noticed, put in Lottie. Amelia’s got unfair advantage – it’s her speciality!
Alice laughed. Lottie’s got a point and Amelia’s got the right answer – the Rutherford family is being extended next May for the last time. So what’s Luke’s news – I’ve a fairly good idea.
Luke stood up, blushing to the roots of his fair hair. Well, Ellie and I are going to do the “decent thing” as you all persist in calling it in July.
There was a moment’s silence broken by Roo. About time!
Cheeky brat, retorted his elder brother.

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#359:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:16 am
    —
Awww, that was lovely - and about time, Luke! Slightly worried about Sharlie and Kathie's conversation - although perhaps Lottie has already guessed?

Thanks Pim.

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#360:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:14 am
    —
Ta pimbles! And it might be fun but still....*g*

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#361:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 1:57 pm
    —
Thank you Pimmy!!
Yay for a new baby for Alice, and for Roo's wedding coming off nicely, and for Luke and Ellie getting engaged!

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#362:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:05 pm
    —
Thanks, Pimmy. Congratulations to Alice and Tom, Luke and Ellie, and I'm glad that Roo and Judith's wedding went well.

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#363:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:38 pm
    —
*wibbling about Rebecca*

Thanks, Pim

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#364:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:26 pm
    —
Now all Sharlie's children will be married!

Thank you, Pimmy

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#365:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:27 am
    —

LizB wrote:

*wibbling about Rebecca*

Yes, I would too...

1996 started in a fairly grey manner when Colin caught pneumonia on a fishing trip and found himself laid up for most of January and February which didn’t help his arthritis in the slightest. I was plagued by a persistent cough that I couldn’t seem to shift but didn’t dare give into. Once Colin was well again we decamped to the south of Italy for a fortnight in search of some sun and warmth. It was whilst we were away that John Moñtanez arrived to Pablo giving Sara another grandson and provided us with an excuse to make a detour home via London to visit. In out absence Rebecca had begun to fade even more, giving into the cancer that was spreading through her body. I wanted to tell her to stop giving in. I wanted my sister who would fight for everything back. If she had to go then I didn’t want it this way. Elizabeth, Harriet and I didn’t really discuss it, think that, if we didn’t approach the subject then it would somehow change. How wrong we were.

I tried to push my worries about Rebecca to one side and try and focus on the positive – the impeding arrival of Alice’s third baby and Luke and Ellie’s wedding. Although it would be my sixth grandchild, I still worried as though it were the first. Four year old Emily was quite looking forward to a new sibling whilst two year old Jane wasn’t overly sure what all the fuss was about. It seemed that the grandchildren grew up twice as quickly as the children had done. And so Heidi Clare Rutherford arrived at tea time on 15 May 1996.

Mam, it’s me.
Hello Alice, love. No news yet?
Well actually…
There is?
Yes.
About time.
Mam, I was bang on time for once!
Where are you?
Home. We didn’t quite make it to the hospital but everything’s fine and Heidi Clare is lovely – fast asleep in my arms.
Another girl!
I know and we were so hoping for a boy this time. But I think Emily’s happier with a sister.
You were more impressed with the twins that you were with Luke – you did insist on trying to poke him. She chuckled. But congratulations to all of you – it’s made my day, it really has.
Good, I’m glad. It would be dreadful if it hadn’t.
What a dreadful thing to suggest, Alice!
Oh I know but I thought it would get a rise out of you.
You are a horror.
I blame my parents.
Blame your da.
What’s he done now?
Nothing for once
Makes a change.
I know.
Where is he?
Kitchen. Do you want a word?
Please.

We paid a visit to Alice and Tom a couple of days later to be introduced to the latest addition to the family. Heidi bore a startling resemblance to the newborn Alice and both Colin and I were instantly in love.

June was not such a happy month. Rebecca died on Wednesday 12 June 1996, her fragile grip on life having completely gone.

Auntie Sharlie, it’s Sarah.
I knew by the tone of her voice that it was bad news. It’s your mam, isn’t it?
Yes, she’s… she’s gone, Auntie Sharlie. There was a silence as I tried to digest the news. She went quietly… just… slipped away. Pippa was with her. I’d only been gone for a moment.
Oh Sarah love.
Don’t… I need to get back to Pippa. I’m sorry… She’s taking it bad. She’s only 16, she shouldn’t…
No, you’re right. Do you want me to let your Auntie Eliz and Aunt Harri know?
Please. Thank you, Auntie Sharlie.

I hung up the telephone and stood in the middle of the hall staring at nothing. If it had been hard losing Tish then that was nothing compared to losing my big sister. Rebecca had been through everything with me. We had never truly understood each other but our bond of sisterhood was so much stronger than that.

Sweetheart? I looked up on hearing Colin’s voice. What’s happened?
Becca, I whispered, unable to hold back the tears that had started falling. I didn’t argue as I felt his arms around me, guiding me to the sitting room and the settee. Becca’s gone.

~I am the family face;
Flesh perishes, I live on,
Projecting trait and trace
Through me to times anon,
And leaping from place to place
Over oblivion.

The years – heired feature that can
In curve and voice and eye
Despise the human span
Of durance – that is I;
The eternal thing in man,
That heeds no call to die.~

Thomas Hardy

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#366:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:52 am
    —
Rebecca



Heidi



Thanks Pim.

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#367:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:19 am
    —
Poor Becca!

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#368:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:05 am
    —
Happy and sad. Ta pimmy.

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#369:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:47 am
    —
and - a balance and I love the poem.

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#370:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:01 am
    —

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#371:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:40 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. I'm sorry to hear about Rebecca.

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#372:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:37 pm
    —
Oh PIM!

Poor Becca! Although at least she's at peace now.
*hugs Sharlie and all the family tight*

The phone call between Sharlie and Alice was wonderful! Such understanding between them that they only need to use minimal words.
And hurrah for the arrival of little Heidi!

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#373:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:35 pm
    —
She had my name, too, so I'm really sad to see her go
Thanks Pim.

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#374:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:39 pm
    —
It must be so horrible once your siblings and friends start to die. Poor Sharlie.

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#375:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:14 pm
    —


I do love the different quotes and poems that you use Pim.

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#376:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:24 pm
    —
Poor Becca.

Thank you, Pim. Heartbreaking ending to that post.

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#377:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:02 am
    —

Vikki wrote:

The phone call between Sharlie and Alice was wonderful! Such understanding between them that they only need to use minimal words.

I do imagine them rattling that off at about 100mph as well...


Luke and Ellie had talked about cancelling their July wedding following Rebecca’s death; he having been closer to his aunt than his siblings but everyone was quite insistent that it didn’t change his plans. And so on Saturday 27 July 1996, we congregated to witness the marriage between Luke Graham and Eleanor Fielding. The day was perfect as the tow of them pledged to spend their lives together. I had no doubts about the success that their marriage would be – Ellie had worked wonders on Luke since they had been together and he worshipped her. It felt odd knowing that they were all married now, with the exception of Lottie and nobody expected to have to wait too long for her and Peter.

In the aftermath of the wedding Colin and I used the summer to have some much needed work done on the house and we worked our way around various family and friends. The house was habitable once more by October and it was a much welcome relief to stop living out of a suitcase and sleep in our own bed. It was always wonderful to spend time catching up but even better to come home at the end of the day and to just be ourselves. October introduced us to David and Louise’s new grandson, Francis, and me to the concept of spending all winter laid up as a neglected cold brought on a bout of pneumonia. Our GP wasn’t happy and neither was I, having always hated been ill and usually managing to avoid it. There were mutterings about having the persistent cough seen to, which I chose to ignore. Between my pneumonia, Colin’s arthritis and his new diagnosis of angina it was a rather lousy winter.

The arrival of spring made things a little better although we had to miss out on a trip to Sara’s for Carlos’ wedding because Colin had fallen off the step ladder whilst trying to prune a bush and had put his hip out. The prognosis wasn’t good and his orthopaedic surgeon began to mutter a little louder about a hip replacement. Colin looked horrified by the mere idea of it.

6 July 1997

Dear Auntie Sharlie and Uncle Colin,

She’s here at last – baby Nicole Samantha Gardiner, mine and Marcus’ little miracle. After everything we’ve been through for her to be here it just seems like a dream. But a good dream, of course. Although I do understand all Samantha’s worries now from when she was pregnant. Nicole will be my only one – I’m 37 after all. Besides I’d always have the worry that mum died having her second and so Nicole will more than suffice. I just wish that mum and dad could have seen her. You and Auntie Luce will tell Nicole about her grandparents won’t you? I couldn’t bear for her not to know and I barely recall mum now and it still hurts so much to talk about dad.

Hope to see you both soon.

With love, Louisa.

We had the whole family up for August Bank Holiday. It was always wonderful to have all the children and grandchildren together and there was call for celebration – Roo and Judith having finished their PhDs and Luke and Ellie’s announcement that they were expecting their first the following March. We slipped into winter too soon after that but November brought further good news.

Sharlie?
Lucy – is there any news?
News – well Christian’s just been elected chair of… oh you mean NEWS, she chuckled. About my daughter perchance?
I wasn’t calling to talk about the weather. Yes, about Hannah and Mike you fool! It’s been a week now.
You’re telling me!
Lucy – stop being aggravating!
Yes there is news.
And?
Christian and I have a second grandchild of the female variety as of three hours ago.
Oh, how wonderful. Does she have a name yet?
Jill.
Jill?
Yes, Jill. Not short for anything. Just Jill. Well Jill Lucy, but Jill. Hannah said she looked like a Jill and that was that.
I like it. So when do we get to visit?

Lottie ended up coming home for Christmas a week early having fallen off a stepladder at school and broken her elbow. The news came on the same evening that Luke and Ellie had come over for dinner and she had fainted on arrival.

Lottie’s coming home tomorrow, I said, re-entering the sitting room and sitting back down beside Colin.
How come, he asked over his newspaper.
She fell of a stepladder at school putting scenery up for the play and broke her elbow. They’ve signed her off for the rest of term and Pete’s going to bring her up tomorrow.
She’s a daft one, grinned Luke.
Luke, be nice to your sister, exclaimed Ellie, swatting him with a rolled up newspaper.
How are you feeling now, I asked.
She smiled weakly. A bit wobbly still – I’m rubbish at being pregnant.
Soon be over, put in Luke chirpily.
You’re having the next one.
Am not.
So are.
What else did Lottie say, asked Colin.
Not much, I shrugged, unable to shake the feeling that there was more to the situation than just her elbow.

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#378:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:06 am
    —
That doesn't sound good. Wonder what's up with Lottie? Hope it's not Peter.

Thanks Pim.

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#379:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:22 am
    —
Please don't ignore that cough Sharlie
I hope Lottie is ok - one instance when she shouldn't have followed her father's example!

Thanks, Pim

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#380:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 10:38 am
    —
Ouch, ow owwww, - Lottie has my sympathy having experienced a broken elbow myself -except mine was falling off a death slide....


Sharlie's instincts are normally good - wonder what else is wrong with Lottie?

Thanks Pim.

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#381:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:48 am
    —
That was a most wibblesome post Pim!

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#382:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:07 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. I am wibbling about what is wrong with Lottie.

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#383:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 2:03 pm
    —
I'm wibbling about them all - colin with arthritis and angina, Sharlie with a persistent cough, Ellie fainting and Lottie falling of a step ladder (why and how?).

BTW If I was Ellie, I'd strangle Luke -

Quote:

Soon be over, put in Luke chirpily.

.

Thanks Pim.

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#384:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 3:05 pm
    —
Vair sinister post, Pim. But then you knew that when you wrote it, didn't you?!

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#385:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:03 am
    —

Lesley wrote:

Ouch, ow owwww, - Lottie has my sympathy having experienced a broken elbow myself -except mine was falling off a death slide....

She has mine too, having done the same thing 'cept I was showing off at gym club... As for the stepladders, I'd blame my Vati and his recent exploits of falling down the house wall with his whilst washing the windows He is a good advert for the lasting-ness of replacement hips though (25 & 23 years at the last count) I guess...

Peter duly arrived with Lottie the following lunchtime and dropped her off, unable to stay due to work commitments. Lottie looked tired and uncomfortable, spending much of the next few days asleep. On the fourth day she decided to stop moping about in bed and got up where I found her with a plate of toast and the morning paper in the kitchen.

You’re up, I said.
She grinned. I know. I got fed up of being an invalid and decided it was time to stop feeling sorry for myself. I’ve had such a crap term, tata.
I sat down beside her. How so?
Just… things. One of the girls I teach got attacked and it brought back a few bad memories I’d rather it hadn’t. But I’m okay now, I think. Pete’s wonderful. Tata, Pete asked me to marry him over the whole stepladder incident.
What have you said?
That I’ll think about it. I do love him and I do think he’s the one I want to spend the rest of my life with but I need to know that he wasn’t doing it because of… as well.
Lottie, what else happened? It’s not just your elbow, is it?
I had a pregnancy scare. I thought I was but I’m not – I realised that the day before the fall.
Did Pete know?
Yes. I was so scared that I ended up bursting into tears all over him a few days and the whole sorry tale came out.
Lottie, I’m so sorry.
Don’t be – wasn’t your fault. It was just one of those things.
Does your mother know?
About what? She knows about the fall but not the other stuff. We… we haven’t exactly been seeing eye to eye of late.
You never said. Neither did she.
It’s silly. I raised an eyebrow. I’ve been thinking about changing my name and getting rid of Nancy so I can just be plain Charlotte. I never use the name Nancy – I know it’s on all the paperwork but I’ve always been Charlotte, well Lottie. I mentioned it to mam and she hit the roof.
I thought she might.
But why? I know I was named after a friend of hers who died but… surely hitting the roof was a bit extreme?
Nancy Wilmot was… a very good friend of your mother’s.
Karen’s a very good friend of mine but I wouldn’t force her name on a child of mine if she died. I mean it’s a nice idea but a bit… morbid. Also, tata, what did she mean by “if Nancy hadn’t died then you wouldn’t be here”? It’s been bugging me for ages.
I sighed. Your mam didn’t take Nancy’s death too well. They’d always been very close friends and did everything together. You have to remember that it was a such a different time then when we were younger – stuck halfway up a mountain. When Peggy and I left the school to get married they only really had each other as friends.
Oh I know all that. Tata, she said suddenly.
What?
I think… please don’t shout at me for asking this but…
Go ahead.
Mam and Nancy… were they, well, you know, were they a couple? I nodded. Oh. She paused. Well I guess it all makes sense now – why she wouldn’t marry my da, why there’s never been anybody else in her life. She began to laugh. Oh tata, I’m so dense – the signs have always been there. But I was the same about Ruthie, my colleague, I didn’t realise about her and Jen until I went over to theirs one night and it was one bedroom, one bed. Why didn’t she tell me?
She didn’t know how to.
How long were they together?
About 14 years.
And were they in love like you and Uncle Colin?
Very much so.
How did she die?
Kidney failure – she stopped her treatment and didn’t tell anyone until it was too late, not even your mam. I think that hurt her the most.
I can see why. I’d hate it if Pete did that to me – I don’t think I’d ever forgive him. It would be a complete betrayal of my trust. I imagine that’s how my mam felt.
More or less, yes. I didn’t see much of her after Nancy died until she turned up here pregnant with you.
I wish she’d explained all this to me. Maybe not when I was really little but at least once I’d gone off to uni. At least then I’d have understood. It must have hurt her so much when I said I was thinking about dropping Nancy. I won’t now. I’m still Lottie, I always will be. I always knew I was Charlotte for you – that much made sense. It’s been a rum sort of term, tata.
It sounds like it.
When’s mam coming up from Devon?
Day after tomorrow.
We’ve got a lot to talk about – and a wedding to start planning/
You’ll say yes to Pete then.
I think so. I can’t imagine my life without him, you know. Just like I can’t imagine you without Uncle Colin. I can’t believe you broke your engagement off first time.
Neither can I.
I’ll ring Pete tonight. We need to talk about… things anyway.
The wedding?
Amongst other things, yes. But mostly just about us and not us getting married.

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#386:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:15 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. I'm glad that Sharlie and Lottie have talked things through. Congratulations to Lottie and Peter!

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#387:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:52 am
    —
Congratulations Peter and Lottie!

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#388:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:26 am
    —
Pleased Lottie finally realised just how much Nancy meant to Kathie - and that she just accepted it without any qualms.

Congrats Lottie and Peter.

Thanks Pim

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#389:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:36 am
    —
That was so nice! It really points out the difference in attitudes since Kathie and Nancy's time.

Congrats Lottie and Peter. *will we need new hats again soon?*

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#390:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:59 am
    —
That was lovely, Pim. Glad Lottie finally knows the truth

thanks.

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#391:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:10 pm
    —
Lottie was lovely there, as was Sharlie. Thanks Pim.

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#392:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:32 pm
    —
That was a lovely post! Glad Lottie accepted Kathie and Nancy's relationship.

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#393:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:13 pm
    —
Oh, I'm glad Lottie is ok now - shame she's had a rotten term - but Yay! another wedding

Thanks Pim

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#394:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:04 pm
    —
Thanks Pim!
I'm so glad Sharlie and Lottie had that talk.(although it would have been so much easier if Kathie had just TOLD Lottie in the first place!)

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#395:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:15 am
    —
Following long talks with both Peter and her mother the next day, Lottie announced her engagement on Christmas day. The wedding, they hoped, would take place the following November, It had been a lovely Christmas and New Year brought so much to look forward to. I always maintained that a new arrival in January set up for a good year and Oliver duly arrived that month to David and Louise’s Amy. There was our new grandchild to look forward to in March as well but the good omen proved to not be as lucky as normal, as February witnessed.

Mam.
Millie, I said, recognising her choked up voice on the other end of the line. What’s happened?
Bethie.
Millie?
Leukaemia, mam.
I… but… why didn’t you say something before?
We were waiting for the test results. I was hoping it wasn’t, thought I was overreacting. I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily.
Even so, I wish you’d said something rather than carrying that around on your own. Bethie…
She’s putting a brave face on it. I don’t know how much she understands. Oh God mam, she’s only eight years old. It’s so unfair.
I know.
I mean the statistics are quite good these days and they’ve got it early but I can’t help thinking… this sort of thing isn’t meant to happen to kids of Bethie’s age. I don’t want this to be real.
How’s Ben taking it?
Not at all well, she sighed. I can see it undoing all to good work we did after Jo was born and I don’t know how to stop it, mam. I don’t know how much more we can take before it all falls apart in my hands. I’m trying to hold it together for the girls’ sake but I need Ben to do the same.

I could only listen helplessly to her sobbing on the other end of the line, unable to do anything to stop the pain. Colin and I headed to London the following day to spend a few days with them and look after Alison and Joanna. We saw little of Ben, his way of coping to throw himself into his work and I could tell that Amelia’s brave front wouldn’t last much longer. Elisabeth was evidently scared by the situation but she was doing her best to see it through with a smile.

We regretted not being able to stay longer but Colin was due in for his pre-op assessment for his hip replacement. Kathie came up to stay whilst her was in hospital and insisted that I saw our GP about the persistent cough that continued to plague me and had been neglecting over the past months. He diagnosed pneumonia and I found myself consigned to bed rather than hospital visiting. Having finally given into it, I found myself feeling worse than I could have imagined but glad of bed.

I spent a rotten three weeks stuck in bed and only vaguely aware of what was going on around me. I had only the slightest notion that Colin had come home and been consigned to Aunt Jane’s old room downstairs until he could negotiate the stairs properly. I was given the briefest updates on Elisabeth by Kathie, only told that she was as well as could be expected this early on in her treatment.

March had rolled around and I had begun to feel much better and was contemplating getting up on the morning of the 14th when Kathie appeared in the doorway with breakfast.

How are you feeling this morning?
Much better, I said, sitting up and taking the tray from her. I might try getting up. I’m sick of lying around in bed feeling sorry for myself.
Good, she said with a smirk.
What are you smirking at?
Did you not hear the phone ring at ungodly o’clock this morning?
No, I slept like the proverbial log last night.
More fool you then.
Why?
Guess.
Luke and Ellie?
Got it in one. You’ve got a grandson at long last – Alexander James.
Why didn’t you wake me?
You said yourself you were sleeping like the proverbial log. When was the last time you did?
Fair point.
Still, if you’re feeling better they’ll be able to bring him round once the hospital let Ellie out. Your Colin’s looking so proud of himself you’d have thought he’d done it himself.
How is he?
Making faster progress than I thought he would – surprising us all with his amazing recovery speed.
And Bethie?
As well as can be expected, Sharlie. It’s only been a month and it’s not something they can clear up overnight.
I know, it’s just hard. All mine were such healthy souls I can’t even begin to imagine what Amelia must be going through.
No, I can’t either. If it had been Lottie… I got to speak to Bethie last week and she’s still her old cheery self.
Amelia and Ben?
I don’t know.
I thought as much, I said resignedly.

---

#396:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:23 am
    —
Poor Amelia and poor Bethie. I wish Ben was better at getting a grip on himself, they don't need him being a pillock.

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#397:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:39 am
    —
for Bethie and Millie and Ben and All of them!!!

Hurrah for the grandson's arrival!

Thanks, Pim

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#398:  Author: Karry, Location: Stoke on Trent Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:11 am
    —
Poor Bethie! And welcome to Alexander James - a favourite name as that is MY grandson's first two names!

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#399:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:21 am
    —
Leukaemia - they can do so much for it now - far more than in the sixties, this is now in the 1990's isn't it? Too many memories.


Pleased Sharlie's cough has been sorted.
Thanks Pim.

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#400:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:37 am
    —
Thank you Pim, but Waaaah!!!
Poor little Bethie! *hugs them all*




*hugs Lesley too*

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#401:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:45 am
    —
*Clare sends hugs to everyone, including Lesley*.

Thanks, Pim. I'm sorry that Bethie is so ill. Welcome to Alexander James!

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#402:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 4:24 pm
    —
Poor Bethie. *Hugs*

Hurrah for the new Grandson though!

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#403:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 3:38 pm
    —
Oh dear - such a shame about Bethie.

*hastily looks around for You-Know-Who*

Thanks Pimmy

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#404:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:46 am
    —
Determined not to be outdone by Colin’s rate of recovery, I was soon making myself get up and try and get back to some semblance of normal. Events of the year thus far had prompted Luke and Ellie to move in with us, he deciding that Colin and I clearly needed to have someone to look after us. It was a nice strange to have them and Alexander in the house and be able to watch our grandson growing up. He was a placid baby, completely unnerved by the early upheaval in his life. Amelia and Ben’s absence was conspicuous as Easter but Elisabeth was still in hospital and a trip up would have been impossible. I was worried about them all; Amelia sounded so distant when she called and rarely mentioned Ben. Elisabeth did her best to sound cheerful on the rare occasions she rang, trying to find the positives in the situation and confessing that she had probably overread Pollyanna when she had first been diagnosed. I hoped that Amelia and Ben would be able to pull through this after all they had come through already but I couldn’t shake the niggling doubt that they might not. Plans for Lottie’s wedding tried to take my mind off things a little as did Sophie and Roo both having news to share at Easter.

I’ve already told Millie mine, confessed Sophie with a grin at Freddie. She’s my twin – I tell her everything. And she’s not here to gloat.
Get on with it, heckled Luke, displaying his characteristic impatience towards his sisters, silenced by an elbow to the ribs from Lottie and Ellie on either side of him.
You can probably guess, she said, that I’m pregnant – due in October.
Hurrah, cheered Lottie.
Mam, asked Emily loudly of Alice. Does that mean Auntie Sophie’s having a baby?
Shhh, hissed Alice. Yes it does.
Auntie Sophie’s having a baby, Jane, she announced to her younger sister.
Emily, be quiet, muttered Alice. It’s Uncle Roo’s turn to talk. Emily looked put out but did as she was told.
I daresay you’ve all guessed but mine and Jude’s news is the same as Soph’s – only this one is November.
We can compare notes, Jude, grinned Sophie.

It was May when we finally made a return trip to Ben and Amelia, a not overly enjoyable visit. The tension between the two of them was the worst I had ever known it and both Alison and Joanna were aware of it although they didn’t say much about it. Elisabeth was making slow but steady progress, facing the future with a grim determination that buoyed the medical staff treating her. If the summer saw Elisabeth making progress and moving forwards then it saw Ben and Amelia drifting further apart. Amelia was clearly unhappy but refused to expand on it, saying that she would work things out in her own time. Things began to look better for Elisabeth in the autumn as her doctors suddenly became hopeful that remission was within her grasp. As for Elisabeth, her priority was being well enough to be Lottie’s bridesmaid in November.

William Joshua Clarke was born to Sophie and Freddie on Thursday 15 October 1998, three days before Sophie’s birthday leaving Freddie to despair that October would be a very expensive month in the future. But no one could deny that they were both thrilled to be parents and Will, as he was to be known, was a lovely baby.

Things were beginning to look up, doubly so when we got the news that Elisabeth’s leukaemia had gone into remission two weeks later. Amelia sounded happier than she had done in months and I hoped that the news might be the first step for she and Ben to try and sort things out. The last eight months had really taken it out of Elisabeth but she was determined that she would be following Lottie down the aisle in three weeks time.

Lottie and Pete got married on Saturday 21 November 1998. Kathie and I sat side by side in the church, unable to hold back the tears as Lottie glided down the aisle, clinging to Colin’s arm, looking radiantly happy. Behind her came Elisabeth, Alison and Emily, the former winning everybody’s hearts. Colin was more at ease with his speech than he had been for Alice, Amelia and Sophie, joking that knowing this would be the last time made it so much easier.

That’s the last of them married off, remarked Colin as we waved Lottie and Peter off on their honeymoon the following morning. What do we do now?
Oh don’t, I sighed.
Look forward to the grandchildren, I suppose, put in Kathie.
And enjoy the ones we’ve got, I added. It was a lovely day though.
Perfect, agreed Kathie. If unreal.
You’ll get used to it, grinned Colin.
Have we, I asked.
He thought for a moment and squeezed my hand. No, I don’t think we have.

It was left to Roo and Judith to round the year off well with the arrival of Colin Rupert Graham on 1 December. He was a week late but, as Roo had quipped, it was better late than never. Baby Colin’s arrival ended a year of ups and downs and we looked to 199 with the hope that things would only continue to look better.

---

#405:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:39 am
    —
Pleased about Elisabeth, but not surprised about Amelia and Ben - that sort of trauma does tend to either bring parents together or push them apart - and they were already on shaky ground.

Lovely to see the new arrivals and that Lottie is married - next will be Kathie as a grandmother!

1999? Can't believe it!

Thanks Pim.

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#406:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:48 am
    —
Thanks, Pim. I'm feeling my age even more as William and Colin are younger than my youngest cousin.

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#407:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 12:29 pm
    —
Only seven years ago...wow.

Ta pimmy!

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#408:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:58 pm
    —
Hurrah for wellness and weddings and babies

*still desperately hoping Amelia and Ben will make it through*

Thanks, Pim

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#409:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:14 pm
    —
I just hope that Amelia ends up happy whether its with or without Ben in her life...

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#410:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:19 pm
    —
I'm sorry but I'm sure Roo can't be old enough to be a father! Poor Elisabeth, she's so brave.
Thanks Pim.

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#411:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:18 pm
    —
Glad Elizabeth is on the mend. Hoping Ben & Amelia can work it out.

hurrah for all the babies!

Thanks Pim

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#412:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:33 pm
    —
*crosses fingers that Bethie's remission will last, and that Millie and Ben will work it out*
Huzzah for the two new grandsons.
Thank you Pimmy!

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#413:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:03 pm
    —
Golly we are catching up with ourselves!

Hope Ben and Amelia will be able to pull through - though I have a horrid feeling they're only holding it together for Bethie's sake.

Thanks Pim

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#414:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:13 pm
    —
I'm relieved about Bethie. Poor Amelia and Ben - not an easy situation for either of them.

Roo as a father Impossible!

Thanks Pim.

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#415:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:48 am
    —
Hmm, that point again - time to update ye olde communitye. Similarly, if anybody feels the need to see the truly terrible pictures from the Wedding of Doom of me in the tiara of doom instructions are on my LJ...

Neither Colin nor I much enjoyed the ensuing winter – I finding myself bedridden with another bout of pneumonia and he continuing to struggle with his arthritis in the cold. We were both glad of Luke and Ellie’s help around the house and it was lovely to be able to see baby Alexander grow up and celebrate his first birthday that March. The rest of the grandchildren were thriving although Amelia had new concerns about Elisabeth and was trying to convince herself that she was worrying too much. Things seemed to be going badly between her and Ben again and I wasn’t sure how much more their marriage could take.

We had hoped to have the whole family up in May for Caroline’s Philip’s wedding, but it wasn’t to be.

Mam, it’s Millie.
I knew instinctively from the tone of her voice that something was wrong. What’s happened?
It’s Bethie.
Her ensuing silence said it all. The leukaemia’s back, isn’t it?
Yes and they think it might have spread.
Oh Millie.
I don’t think I can take anymore. Even Bethie seems to have given up this time. I don’t want to lose her and I’m so scared. Why?
I don’t know. I wish I did.
It’s so unfair. Ben’s stormed off to the pub. Bethie’s shut herself in her room. Allie can’t stop crying and Jo doesn’t understand. And I don’t know what to do anymore.

Nobody was coping well at all with the news, especially Bethie who had been so positive the first time. Now she had already resigned herself to the worst case scenario. Amelia was struggling as she and Ben drifted apart, he having already given up the fight for their daughter. It was an odd sort of relief that I knew Amelia wouldn’t. The months dragged by into the summer, accompanied by Elisabeth’s slow and faltering progress.

To compound things, life wasn’t exactly easy at home since Ellie had found out she was pregnant again, due the following January. She was finding her second pregnancy twice as difficult as the first and was under doctor’s orders to get as much bed rest as possible. I could sympathise, remembering that I had been in the same boat with the twins. It did mean, however, that eighteen month old Alexander was mostly in mine and Colin’s care and we were the first to admit that we weren’t getting any younger.

I was glad to be able to hang up my worries for a few days in August and get away with Lucy to keep our time honoured tradition. On 23 August 1999 it had been forty five years since we had first sat on that beach with Tish, Nicole and a three year old Samantha looking with our rose eyed spectacles into the future, wondering what it would bring us.

In all honesty, I admitted. I never thought we’d keep doing this the way we have. I half expected the novelty to wear off after the first one.
Hmm. But then again you know Tish’s enthusiasm for her crazy schemes. And I like it because it’s a reminder of everything we’ve been through – the good and the bad. And it reminds me that if Annie and Mark hadn’t died then we probably wouldn’t be the friends we are today.
I think you’re right. But all that seems like it happened to different people.
We were back then when you think about how much everything’s changed since we were young.
Some things don’t change though.
Politics?
Amongst others. I worried all the time about the world my children were going to grow up into and I worry even more about the grandchildren.
I think the media’s got a lot to answer for on that as well. Just think how quickly we get to know about things these days that it would have taken a good couple of days to filter through to us fifty years ago.
That’s true. So, five years ago, Dr Burrows.
We wanted to be older, greyer and happier. I can’t go greyer.
Me neither – so we’d better scrap that.
Grandchildren.
I want Bethie to get well again. I want Amelia and Ben’s marriage to magically repair itself. I want the rest of Ellie’s pregnancy to be trouble free. I want the rest of the family to remain perfectly happy. Is that too much to ask for?
Not at all. I want Mike and Hannah to stay happy and Anne and Jill too. I want Hannah’s pregnancy to be fine and grandchild number three to arrive safely in March.
We’ll have to wait and see how right we are in five years time – in the new Millennium.
Who’d have thought it – Sharlie and Lucy in the twenty first century.
I chuckled. I’ll see you on 23 August 2004, Dr Burrows.

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#416:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:21 am
    —
All a little bitter-sweet, life is starting to sound like a struggle...

Ta pimmy!

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#417:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:20 am
    —
Agreed Nell - very upset about Elisabeth. And it looks as though Amelia and Ben's marriage is over. Sharlie and Colin's health is deteriorating. - how old are they now.


Life - but sad.


Thanks Pim.

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#418:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:25 am
    —
Thanks, Pimmy. I'm sorry that the leukeamia is back.

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#419:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:28 am
    —

Lesley wrote:

Agreed Nell - very upset about Elisabeth. And it looks as though Amelia and Ben's marriage is over. Sharlie and Colin's health is deteriorating. - how old are they now. Life - but sad. Thanks Pim.

Sharlie is I believe 69 and Colin I can't remember without going to check pimmy's LJ thing but similar

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#420:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:50 am
    —
Poor Elizabeth.

Hope Lucy and Sharlie both make 2004 - and enjoy seeing the millennium in on the way!

Thanks Pim.

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#421:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:38 am
    —
I have a really nasty feeling 2004 will see Sharlie sitting on a beach alone. It hasn't really been a good 5 years, has it?

Thanks Pim

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#422:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:07 pm
    —


Hoping all Sharlie and Lucy's wishes come true

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#423:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:27 pm
    —
That's dreadful about Elisabeth; I hope she pulls through. And Ben needs to be dumped. He's worse than useless.
Thanks Pim.

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#424:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:08 pm
    —
Pim, I'm very very tempted to hide under the duvet. Things do NOT seem to be going well for our heroine.....

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#425:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:10 pm
    —
That's so sad about Bethie, I hope she can pull through!

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#426:  Author: pim, Location: Hemel Hempstead Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:15 am
    —

Nell wrote:

Sharlie is I believe 69 and Colin I can't remember without going to check pimmy's LJ thing but similar

Colin, I think, is two years older so 71. But I'm not completely sure...

The summer days grew shorter and we found ourselves once more amongst the fallen autumn leaves with the days growing ever shorter as winter rapidly approached. Elisabeth’s progress was ever more pessimistic although we all clung to the hope of a miracle, a miracle that never came as she slipped away on Thursday 18 November 1999, aged ten. Amelia’s silence on the other end of the phone was painful to hear and I didn’t dare hang up on her; it was broken only by the occasional sob racking her body and a curse against Ben who hadn’t been there. I felt a sinking realisation that this would probably be the final straw in their marriage. Elisabeth had been a year older than Bridget had been when she had died and everyone had said then what a blessing it had been that our parents hadn’t had to go through the pain of her death. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what Amelia would be going through but I did know how hard it would be for Alison and Joanna to lose their sister.

Colin and I left for London the following day, making the long train journey from Liverpool lost in a contemplative silence over the loss of our granddaughter and fearing what we would find on arrival at Amelia and Ben’s. There was no sign of Ben when we got there, seven year old Alison solemnly informing us that he had gone out and would be back later. She was handling the situation in an indifferent silence unlike five year old Joanna who questioned everything in her bid to understand. I found myself thinking back sixty years to George’s death in 1936 and how different it had all been. We had never known what had taken George, only that he had gone to be with God and we wouldn’t see him again until the afterlife.

In a way it made me regret letting my hold on my faith slide so much as I remembered how strong it had been then and what a comfort it had been to me. Colin and I had never really taken the children to church, never really instilled any particular belief in them, leaving them to find their own path. None of them had ever really bothered much with the church and I couldn’t help but wonder how much it would help them now if we had done it all differently.

As I had feared, Amelia and Ben’s marriage had been dealt a severe blow by Elisabeth’s death. We saw little of him in the days leading up to the funeral. It was left to Amelia to hold it all together and deal with all the well meaning visitors. Sophie had arrived as well and was always the first to spot when it all got too much for Amelia and was the one who would tactfully get rid of the visitors. Care of Alison and Joanna seemed to fall to Colin and I, dealing with their questions as best we could and trying to explain a situation we could barely comprehend ourselves.

Both Tessie and Mike did their best to talk to Ben in the run up to the funeral but neither had much success. He seemed stuck in a downward spiral and none of us knew how far he would, or wanted, to fall. Amelia and Sophie dealt with all the funeral arrangements, the latter going so far as to declare that she wasn’t completely convinced that Ben would turn up. I could only hope that she was wrong.

The funeral itself took place a week later, a rainy and wet Thursday morning. Ben and Amelia sat apart during the service – she with Sophie and Freddie, he with Tessie and Mike. It made most of us uneasy but at least Ben had come and Sophie’s worst fears proved unfounded. The headmistress of Elisabeth’s school delivered a perfect eulogy, capturing our bright, sunny, positive granddaughter. The burial was over quickly, Alison unable to watch as she buried her head in my coat to muffle her sobs. Joanna clung tightly to my hand, staring ahead white faced and wide eyed. Sophie supported Amelia as she broke down. Ben’s face remained stony and impassive, despite the comforting hand that Tessie laid on his arm.

Ben didn’t join us afterwards for the wake, ignoring the protests of his siblings and no one was quite sure where he had gone. Amelia put on a brave face to take the time to try and talk to as many people as she could for a couple of hours before it all got too much and Sophie took her home. Colin and I stayed a couple of hours longer, reminiscing and swapping stories of Elisabeth, but left when it became obvious that Alison and Joanna had had more than enough. Sophie had already sent Amelia to try and have a nap by the time we returned. There was nothing any of us could say.

Elisabeth’s school organised a memorial service at the end of Christmas term. Colin and I attended although Ben’s absence was conspicuous. Amelia shrugged it off and said he was a little snowed under at work. I knew that she had seen through his excuse but didn’t feel I could press the matter any further.

None of us much felt like celebrating Christmas and it was a rather sombre affair. Lottie’s news that she and Pete were expecting their first cheered the mood a little and provided a gentle reminder that life went on. We saw in the new Millennium together, wondering what it would bring and how it would change our lives.

~If it must be
You speak no more with us,
Nor smile no more with us,
Nor walk no more with us,
Then let us take a patience and a calm
For even now the green leaf explodes,
Sun lightens stone, and all the river burns~

Anon

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#427:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:31 am
    —
So, so sad, especially as the success rate for curing leukaemia is so much higher now. Amelia deserved better from Ben - when something like this happens the only comfort is your partner - he has failed. I know he is hurting - but he has responsibilities, running away from them is not the answer.




Thank you for the update, Pim.

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#428:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:06 am
    —
So sad - and so accurately and sensitively written, Pim.

I swither in my reactions to people like Ben - on the one hand, he's so unhappy and this is the last straw - on the other, he's supposed to be grown up and he has responsibilities.

I'm sorry for Sharlie and Colin, they could really do with a bit of peace in their lives.

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#429:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:19 am
    —
How sad. And I want to both shake Ben and hug him. Poor Milly and everyone.

Ta pimmy.

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#430:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:48 pm
    —
Thanks, Pim. I'm really sorry to hear about Bethie.



I'm sorry that things aren't getting any better between Amelia and Ben.

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#431:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:17 pm
    —
Thanks Pim. 1999 was such a bad year for me, too. Poor Amelia.

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#432:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:17 pm
    —
That was so sad
*Hugs everyone*

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#433:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:39 pm
    —
Nooooooooooo!!!
PIMMY!!!!

Poor little Bethie!

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