Friends @Stercus Tauri thank heaven for small mercies - to be clear and present and to participate in the planning for our loved ones' life after our own life, and to not leave things in confusion or disarray, is a great great blessing. So sorry to hear of your impending loss but we wait in hope for reunion.
On another note, last week my Beloved dodged a major bullet. Truly he was held in the arms of many angels.
Every week he bicycles up the mountain, 150m climb, to get water for us from a spring that comes out of the side of the mountain. He fills 2 8L bottles and puts one on each side of the saddle bags that hang from his bike rack.
Last Friday he came through the garden gate with his load and told me that the steel frame that supported the bike rack on the back axle broke, just as he was coming to a halt at the top of our street, cracked and broke and got tangled in the rear brakes and spokes of his bike.
Let me paint the picture of the possibility of him flying down the mountain road, on a busy state road the N340, going over several speed bumps at 20-30KmH and the event happening only five minutes earlier, flinging him into oncoming traffic. Yes he wears a helmet, but this would have been lights out for him in no uncertain terms. He just turned 78.
So I feel like I need to thank all the stars, angels, Christ and God Himself for safeguarding him until the final moment, where he bumped onto the curb, and the fracture finally gave.
Bike is repaired now and we look for a safer alternative for his water haul.
AFF
And that is how this thread got its name - a good story with much to be thankful for.
We visited our friend in the hospice today, talked funeral plans, and he sang the hymns in his strong bass voice. His body may be fading, but his mind and voice are both quite enviable! We'll enjoy his company for a bit longer, I think.
We visited our friend in the hospice today, talked funeral plans, and he sang the hymns in his strong bass voice. His body may be fading, but his mind and voice are both quite enviable! We'll enjoy his company for a bit longer, I think.
I sincerely hope for all concerned that this is the case. So happy to hear he is still well enough to do this much. Many hugs to you all.
Thanks be to God for a strange past month where multiple severed relationships (my fault) were reestablished. Out of the blue sometimes. And twice with finding letters from over a decade ago stored away while cleaning up.
Thanks also for the many nice people here who give advice, suggestions, corrections etc., You know, and God knows, who you are.
And to those at my work. I'm changing careers and the help I've been given is nothing short of extraordinary. Such kindness and generosity and helpful advice in all areas (one example, not directly related to my work: I was living away from home, caught the train home for the work day I had and the buses to work were cancelled/late... Staff offered to pick me up and drive me in the future thinking I didn't have a car!)
My printer wasn't working, and I had no idea what was wrong. But I managed to get it working again by uninstalling the drivers, and then reinstalling the whole printer. I have no idea why that worked, but it did and I was able to print out an important tax document and will be able to go to my tax preparer before taxes are due!
[tangent]UK financial year ends on 5th April. This is because the New Year was previously considered to begin on the Feast of the Annunciation aka Lady Day. Then in 1752 we switched to the Gregorian calendar. So the 2nd of September was followed by the 14th.
The Calendar Act
ordered that civil and market days – for example the quarter days on which rent was due, salaries paid and new labour contracts agreed – be moved forward in the calendar by eleven days so that no-one should gain or lose by the change and that markets match the agricultural season. It is for this reason that the UK personal tax year ends on 5 April, being eleven days on from the original quarter-day of 25 March (Lady Day)
The Act also specified that the legal New Year would begin on 1st January.
There is a myth that there were riots in the streets (“give us back our eleven days”), but it probably didn’t happen.[/tangent]
Yes, I read about those riots in a book on calendars in my teenage years (I was fascinated with times and seasons... And UFOs! 🤣) I accepted it happened; thanks for the correction.
A couple of weeks ago I asked prayers for HM, an old flying colleague. He appeared to be so poorly I feared he was a gonner.
I have kept in touch daily and phoned today. Well!! He's sounding so much better, more energy and had even been out having fun with his model planes. PTL!
So thank you ao much for all your prayers. More, Lord!
His great number of talks on Ancient Faith radio, his books, etc were a blessing. I'm re-reading The Lenten Spring this Lent. My priest, in Australia!, brought him out for some talks. Amazing. Inspiring. Challenging. I read his 4-part series on the Orthodox Faith in book form (now also online) as part of my enquiring in 2003. Thanks be to God for him.
Two months ago I mentioned here that a friend had moved from the hospital to a hospice. He had asked for dialysis to be stopped and was happy to accept that he would probably die in about two weeks. Since then he has had his 86th birthday party there, and now he and his wife have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary with their family. One of the hospice staff told us that it's not unusual for people to bounce back like that once they are out of the hospital, even though the prognosis remains the same. Our visits are as much fun as ever and the storytelling seems endless. So, once again, an occasion for thanksgiving for the gift of more life.
That is good news, Stercus Tauri. Yes, there is research indicating that some people live longer if you move them from active treatment to palliative care earlier. I assume the body and mind become less stressed.
That is good news, Stercus Tauri. Yes, there is research indicating that some people live longer if you move them from active treatment to palliative care earlier. I assume the body and mind become less stressed.
Interesting - thank you for the affirmation. Our friend was in a small room with four beds, separated by curtains, in the hospital - the physical and mental stresses were intense, and he was ready to die right there. The transformation in the hospice was immediate, and we had another good visit today.
I'm very excited, because I've been offered an almshouse! There's a local 200 year old charity that provides homes for old ladies, and as I'm now over 60, I qualify.
Sadly, the vacancies came up because a couple of residents died, but they were over 90, so as the trustee said, it wasn't unexpected.
So I'm going to be very busy moving house over the next month or so!
Thank you! I'm hitting the ground running tomorrow - I've been offered a second hand TV screen (the one I have now goes with the flat, so I can't take it with me).
I'm very excited, because I've been offered an almshouse! There's a local 200 year old charity that provides homes for old ladies, and as I'm now over 60, I qualify.
Sadly, the vacancies came up because a couple of residents died, but they were over 90, so as the trustee said, it wasn't unexpected.
So I'm going to be very busy moving house over the next month or so!
We have some almshouses near us and I've always wondered what it would be like to live in one. Hope the move goes smoothly and you enjoy it when you get there. Sounds like a great place to make some new friends.
I'll be in the smaller of two blocks, and the gardens at the back are separated, but with only low fences, so it'll be easy to meet my new neighbours that way.
Comments
Praying!!
I sincerely hope for all concerned that this is the case. So happy to hear he is still well enough to do this much. Many hugs to you all.
AFF
Is this a metaphor or a sign?
I’m imagining doves whose feathers and wings look like collard greens…
I call those "poop vogels" because of the amount of guano they deposit.
AFF
Thanks also for the many nice people here who give advice, suggestions, corrections etc., You know, and God knows, who you are.
And to those at my work. I'm changing careers and the help I've been given is nothing short of extraordinary. Such kindness and generosity and helpful advice in all areas (one example, not directly related to my work: I was living away from home, caught the train home for the work day I had and the buses to work were cancelled/late... Staff offered to pick me up and drive me in the future thinking I didn't have a car!)
Hurrah for working printers. When are taxes in the US due? April? July to June is our financial year here.
Thank you.
The Calendar Act The Act also specified that the legal New Year would begin on 1st January.
There is a myth that there were riots in the streets (“give us back our eleven days”), but it probably didn’t happen.[/tangent]
Thank you also for the April 5 date: fascinating.
I have kept in touch daily and phoned today. Well!! He's sounding so much better, more energy and had even been out having fun with his model planes. PTL!
So thank you ao much for all your prayers. More, Lord!
AFF
Memory eternal!
His great number of talks on Ancient Faith radio, his books, etc were a blessing. I'm re-reading The Lenten Spring this Lent. My priest, in Australia!, brought him out for some talks. Amazing. Inspiring. Challenging. I read his 4-part series on the Orthodox Faith in book form (now also online) as part of my enquiring in 2003. Thanks be to God for him.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0028tnv
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00290g8
Simply outstanding and not at all what I was expecting. PTL!
Interesting - thank you for the affirmation. Our friend was in a small room with four beds, separated by curtains, in the hospital - the physical and mental stresses were intense, and he was ready to die right there. The transformation in the hospice was immediate, and we had another good visit today.
Interesting research, thank you Heavenlyannie.
Sadly, the vacancies came up because a couple of residents died, but they were over 90, so as the trustee said, it wasn't unexpected.
So I'm going to be very busy moving house over the next month or so!
Awesome!!