P&T here for my daughter's engagement. We knew it would happen eventually, but her beloved surprised her with a proposal. We were able to visit my parents and set up a video call so that my daughter and her fiance could break the happy news to them.
Also P&T for my son, who knew that his sister was getting engaged before she did! (Her fiance texted him to check if he should ask the North East Man's permission first!) and who managed to keep the secret, including secretly buying fizz and hiding it to produce at the appropriate moment.
Now all we need is an end to Covid, so that they can set a date and I can start looking at hats!
Lovely news. And thanks for the help with my friend's mood. Contacts from friends, the very timely and unexpected delivery of the birthday present, and the announcement of the arrival of a theological book he will very much welcome by someone he respects - I'd ordered it for me, but the timing of the email made it clear that it is really for him. We went out to help with a tree protection issue, ventured into a nearly empty shop to acquire a cake, and had a liked Chinese meal. Much better all round.
The last of my Godparents has just died. A long and eventful life, well-lived, they always found time for me and a few other lucky Godchildren, despite having five of their own.
Thank you J for staunch friendship for more than 60 years.
In happier news, it is announced this St Cecilia's Day that the Queen's Medal for Music 2020 has been awarded to my old friend Thomas Trotter, not only a fine musician but one of the nicest men to sit in a loft.
My friend, Rabbi Chaim Schneur Zalman Yehuda ben Hinda Yocheved was discharged home yesterday after seven months in NYU hospital struggling with SARS-COV19 and its cascading effects.
His recovery has been a monumental effort for him personally, his wife and six children, and his faith community. He is still not out of the woods, his liver is deteriorating and he is on the list for a transplant, but he is finally under his own roof.
I've asked for prayers here and they have joined those of other faith communities. I still ask for prayer, but this milestone is one worthy of all praise and thanksgiving.
Update on Tiny Toby.
It's now 1 year and 3 months since his birth at 25 weeks gestation. He can wriggle over on to his tummy then sort of get up on his knees. Not yet all fours but definitely in the right direction. He is seriously hearing impaired but not "profoundly deaf". He smiles a lot and has a lovely chuckle of which I have a wee video on my phone. Now that it is summer where he lives he will be less likely to catch a cold and find himself quickly in respiratory distress - which leads immediately to complications and hospitalisation because his lungs are very weak and he continues to receive oxygen in his nose tubes.
We'll continue to pray that all that can be done for him will be done and that he will achieve his own full potential
P&T that my* niece's husband has been able to get home after working abroad for the last six months; they're expecting a baby any day now, and they weren't sure he was going to get there in time.
* she's actually David's niece, but we shared everything ...
I have just read that one of my favourite redbrick buildings that was damaged in the 2010-2011 series of quakes in Christchurch is to be restored. It has had bracing all around it since the quakes and various groups have said they would restore it, then pulled out. Apparently the style is Queen Anne Gothic. The young architect who designed it in the 1900s (if I remember correctly) was questioned by a committee of established architects who challenged whether his building would stand the test of time - none of their buildings survived - but his has.(so ya boo sucks to them) At the time the building held the Municipal Chambers.
As the Mayor (whom I don't always agree with) said - it feels like an early Christmas present. I had almost given up hope.
Thankful this morning because my elderly neighbour Marie B (aged 87) who was in ICU last week with Covid and thought to be near death, is now home and has asked me to make her some chicken soup.
Comments
P&T here for my daughter's engagement. We knew it would happen eventually, but her beloved surprised her with a proposal. We were able to visit my parents and set up a video call so that my daughter and her fiance could break the happy news to them.
Also P&T for my son, who knew that his sister was getting engaged before she did! (Her fiance texted him to check if he should ask the North East Man's permission first!) and who managed to keep the secret, including secretly buying fizz and hiding it to produce at the appropriate moment.
Now all we need is an end to Covid, so that they can set a date and I can start looking at hats!
Thank you J for staunch friendship for more than 60 years.
May J rest in peace and rise in glory.
My friend, Rabbi Chaim Schneur Zalman Yehuda ben Hinda Yocheved was discharged home yesterday after seven months in NYU hospital struggling with SARS-COV19 and its cascading effects.
His recovery has been a monumental effort for him personally, his wife and six children, and his faith community. He is still not out of the woods, his liver is deteriorating and he is on the list for a transplant, but he is finally under his own roof.
I've asked for prayers here and they have joined those of other faith communities. I still ask for prayer, but this milestone is one worthy of all praise and thanksgiving.
Thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart.
AFF
Update on Tiny Toby.
It's now 1 year and 3 months since his birth at 25 weeks gestation. He can wriggle over on to his tummy then sort of get up on his knees. Not yet all fours but definitely in the right direction. He is seriously hearing impaired but not "profoundly deaf". He smiles a lot and has a lovely chuckle of which I have a wee video on my phone. Now that it is summer where he lives he will be less likely to catch a cold and find himself quickly in respiratory distress - which leads immediately to complications and hospitalisation because his lungs are very weak and he continues to receive oxygen in his nose tubes.
We'll continue to pray that all that can be done for him will be done and that he will achieve his own full potential
AFF
* she's actually David's niece, but we shared everything ...
Truly a light in the darkeness
🤗
As the Mayor (whom I don't always agree with) said - it feels like an early Christmas present. I had almost given up hope.
Thankful this morning because my elderly neighbour Marie B (aged 87) who was in ICU last week with Covid and thought to be near death, is now home and has asked me to make her some chicken soup.