To all my friends,

Sorry I've not been around much over the holidays.
And to people who've either sent me stuff or tried to contact me.

Well this year has been a nasty one for us, culminating in a phone call from my sister-in-law to tell us that my husband's father had just been admitted to hospital.
For us this was not a great surprise as Derrick had been ill with varying amounts and severity of hospital stays for 4 years now - ever since he contracted Legionaires Disease, in Barrow-in-Furness, in the north of England.

But to our great sorrow this time he did not survive.

He died on the 27th of December this year, at the last, peacefully.

We were just in time for my husband to see and speak to his father a little the day before, but the disease had so taken its tole on him that he died the day after we got there.

We spent the next few days with Ian's Mum, helping to sort some of the things out that needed doing but we'll have to go back up - taking time off work etc since a Post Mortem has been ordered as he was less than 24 hours in hospital this time.

So if I'm not around much, or around even less than usual - that's why.

Please accept my sincere condolences. May the new year be a better one for you and yours.

Ken

Fran, my deepest condolences to you and Ian.  Know that you're in my prayers and that I'm hoping the New Year brings you both nothing but the best.

Sorry to hear of your loss. Here's hoping 2007 will be kinder to you and your family.

Our deepest condolenses to you and your family.  Our hearts and prayers are with you  and your loved ones.  Mike and Sharen

It is so sad to lose a loved one, even sadder near a holiday.  Prayers with you and family that 2007 will be full of joy.

Sorry to hear that.

My condolances and prayers go out to you and your family.

Thoughts are with you Fran, & hopes for a better 07.

So sorry to hear that, my thoughts are with you.

Oh, Fran, you and yours have had a sucky year to say the least.  I'm glad that his end was peaceful, but sorry that he had to have such a long illness beforehand.

Condolences from here.

Sorry for your loss.

I´m sorry for your loss and I´m impressed of the fact that you took time to write too your fellow-brycers. Take care.

Fran...hugs. I wish I  was close to you geographically to say.."need any help, i'm coming round." a huge hug from me..and a shoulder to cry on.. you know how to get thru to me.
Sometimes, it's really worth looking up at the stars and thinking ow one of them is a loved one that left us.
take care
-rosie

Fran, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Oh Fran, I’m so sorry for you and your family. 2006 was a tough year for you and some of us but hope that 2007 will bring better tidings. My heartfelt condolences to you and yours.

Sorry to hear this Fran. Glad you were able to see him before and that it was peaceful. They are never truly gone as long as we hold them in our hearts and cherish the memories.

Went back up north last week, funeral was on thursday, a friend of his conducted the service and it was beautiful, he even managed to make us laugh a little and told me something I didn't know about Derrick, it seems he won an award for his art work in a Barrow competition.  I'd known he was good and often got commissioned to do art work but I didn't know about the award.

Just before this last illness (caused by the flu jab he had) he'd had a full Xmas dinner and enjoyed it very much, cooked by one of his two daughters as he could no longer manage things like that although prior to Legionaires he's cooked for between 12 to 27 people every Sunday.  An amazing man.

Thank you all for your thoughts.  I appreciate it.