Well, a long 3 day weekend, catching up on things I've left to one side whilst preparing for the presentation last Thursday. Already booked next Wednesday off, and have a HUGE pile of junk ready for a couple of trips down the tip. Several PC keyboards, mountains of paperwork, and 2 sackfuls of old plastic. There's even an old portable telly somewhere, but I've yet to dig that out.
So, having done all that it was a relief and break to pop over to Letchworth to Garden House Hospice for their annual carol service of remembrance, and the "Lights of Life" illumination of the Christmas lights in the garden. Bit of an emotional trip, it's the first time I've been back since Jules died and had a long walk round the grounds. Janet and I stood opposite the window of her room, and as it got dark I kept looking into the night sky to see if a star started to twinkle. It was a beautiful service, the only thing missing being a hot cuppa and slice of cake. But Carl and Maria sorted that one out, popping in on the way home to see them and their little bundle of joy (that's right, isn't it 
).
I got a card from a friend at the weekend. She's just lost her 5 month old baby to Edwards Syndrome. Only 10% survive their first year of life, the likelyhood of survival beyond a few weeks after birth being a miracle. I had the pleasure of meeting her during the summer, and apart from a small pipe for feeding, you'd never have known. In the letter she says that I'm probably one of only a few who can appreciate what she and her family are going through on the lead up to Christmas. You don't realise the significance of asking me what I'd like for Christmas... it's a question with an impossible answer, isn't it?
