"A cold coming we had of it..."

So off we set in my little Renault Clio, which Keith is minded to refer to as a 'jelly mould'. Today's journey was to deepest, darkest Yorkshire. Bravely we struggled through gale force winds, traffic cones and the vagaries of the Leeds road system but eventually, we made it, without my having to say to Keith, "I'm going out. I may be some time." Made it where? To Daphne's pad of course, to meet her and Silverback. I have met Silverback before but Keith hadn't and neither of us had met Daphne before. I made a slightly facetious comment about it being like meeting film stars, but what I meant was that meeting fellow bloggers feels a bit like meeting people in the public eye because, having been a follower of their blogs, I feel I already know a bit about them and it's interesting to make the connection between that and the 'real life' them. It was also lovely to meet Daphne's husband, Stephen and her mum, of whom I am definitely in awe as she swims in the sea at Tenby in all temperatures and I can't even stand under the shower unless the water is good and hot.

Unfortunately, we couldn't stay very long as we had to carry on to Bradford for an afternoon with my grandson, Paul and Claire and her partner, Chris. I will gloss over the fact that there are two separate roads of the same name but not quite in the same area, both of which can be reached by typing  the same postcode into one's satnav and the fact that this caused quite a degree of frustration. ("Well, we're here, why aren't you? Did you pass a Sainsbury's and a housing estate?" "Actually, no!") Suffice it to say, once more we got there in the end and there they were, patiently waiting for us.
It is about a month since we last saw Paul, and again it was a bittersweet time. Claire and Chris are brilliant with him. Chris has already built up a good rapport with him, which is what we wanted as we feel that the more positive male role models he has in his life the better, but watching him and Paul chasing each other on the grass outside, I couldn't help thinking how it should be Hugh playing with him, as he used to do.

11 comments:

Ellee Seymour said...

I agree with you about the need for boys to have positive role models in their lives.

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Biitersweet sums it up. I hope this gets easier as time goes on but no doubt you will always see Hugh's role being acted out by another where he should be.

Hope you had a good time meeting your 'celeb' bloggers!

©gloop said...

Jenny I'm having to go private with my blog. If you still want to tread it can you send your blogger email address to steve dot garry at gmail dot com.

Jennytc said...

You are right, MOB but hopefully it will get easier with time.
Steve, will do.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Were you searched at the border and was your visa in order? We don't want any riff-raff in Yorkshire tha knows!

Paul looks a sweet little chap. Let's hope that Chris is there for him on and on through the passing years and that his relationship with Claire remains solid and sure.

Daphne said...

It was lovely to meet you both! I can see it would be a bittersweet visit to Paul but I'm also glad that you're managing to see him.

Jennytc said...

Of course, I could be rude and suggest that Yorkshire should pay us to visit, YP!;)
Lovely to meet you too, Daphne. :)

cheshire wife said...

This must all be so difficult for you, but the last thing that you want is to lose contact with your grandson.

Jennytc said...

Yes, indeed, CW. He gives us such pleasure!

Snowbabies said...

Awwww we missed u coming over the border, let us know when u are next visiting n we will do a meet up :o)

Debbie

Jennytc said...

That would be great, Debbie!

Plaster board and dust

So, we're still no further forward on the British Gas smart meter front and I've given up making non-existent appointments with them...