It happened

It happened. Wednesday early evening, Dave C died. Too young, still in his fifties. Most of yesterday, despite workmen coming in, our minds & hearts were elsewhere with Dave & his widow, Linda, & his mother. We remember his passion for life, his love of fishing even if he rarely caught anything, his love of travel, his skill with his hands (he was a joiner), his jokes, always one for a laugh, his gourmet cooking skills... He will be much missed. And we prepare once more for a funeral.

Meanwhile MK lies in what was Dave's bed in hospital & superstitiously fears the same fate. Helen hopes this won't be the case & tries to get him home as soon as possible. She's aware that he is getting very dehydrated in hospital. He can not pour some water or lift a glass to his lips to drink. And there just isn't enough nursing staff to be beside his bed most of the time to give him water. Helen herself is not encouraged to stay longer than the 4 hours of regular visiting time. While she's there she tries her best to pour liquid down him, but he really needs a little & often. The ward in which MK is in is a rather depressing old Victorian one, which is not helping MK's morale one bit. We continue to wait & pray.

At last the kitchen people are done. John was round first thing yesterday. The last of the finishing touches were completed before 9am. In the afternoon Mark, our electrician arrived, & put up the new light fittings. Our next job is to decide on wallpaper. We've organised a decorator to come at the beginning of May, so there's a certain amount of urgency on the matter.

And in the meanwhile we mourn Dave. And also do our best to make sure all our other friends know that they are appreciated now, while they are still alive. And we hold on to each other & make sure the other knows that they are loved & treasured.