Our Christmas day was spent at Carole’s house.... Carole is
my husband Mark’s first wife, and mother of his first 2 children....and the
woman who generously shares her children and grandchildren with me.
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| Liam, anticipating all the good things to come. |
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| So much going on..... |
It was a lovely day. The 4 grandchildren were the centre of
attention, and amused us beautifully.
Dexter’s reciting his words in his recently performed nativity...
“ Aye up Mary, it’s off t’ Bethlehem for us”....or something
very similar, had us rolling around.Dexter’s reciting his words in his recently performed nativity...
Liam’s Twinkle twinkle little star had me all choked up.
The rendition of “ We wish you a merry Christmas......... to you and your
king”, rather than kin, had daughter in law Sarah desperately trying to get a
21 year old as well as the 4 year olds to listen, and learn the proper words....all
to no avail.
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| No, we'll sing the words we want to sing.... |
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| so much concentration required to play with the cracker presents |
Carole and Peter’s efforts to ensure everyone had a good time were much appreciated. Her surprise Christmas grotto, with a covering of cotton wool snow, required little boys to don cardboard and tinsel snow shoes.....a brilliant invention.
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| The snow shoes had fallen off by this stage |
Three days later I met up with Annie http://chocolateannie.blogspot.co.uk/ ( Moving On). We used to work together in Kirklees, but have really only got to know each other well since she moved to Spain and we have become part of the amazing blogging community. Annie persuaded me to blog when I moved part time to France.... and she has since become my role model for all sorts of things....including making chocolate. It was wonderful to see her in the flesh again... and we have plans to meet up in Spain next year.
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| Me, on the left, with Annie, at her reunion with many of her friends from when she lived in Huddersfield |
A day after that
Mark and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.....with all
the same people we celebrated Christmas with, as well as Mark’s ex mother- in law and Mark’s
sister and 2 of her children, and her soon to be daughter-in-law. ( We are
very fond of Mark and Shardae, as they announced their engagement when
they were staying with us in France last summer, and we are really looking forward to their wedding).
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| Clark helping us celebrate |
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| celebrating 20 years of incredibly happy marriage |
Anyway....” It were another good do”, held at our local pub,
the Stubbings Wharf, made famous by Ted Hughes when he was moaning about the
dreariness of what he saw as the depressing Calder valley. We were not
depressed, despite the continuing rain.
My only other news is that whilst feeling very well, in the
window of wellness that occurs between chemo treatments, my hair has now gone.
All the wigs and scarves I had at the ready are now being used for real. It
feels strange, and was certainly quite traumatic when it started falling out in
what I called nest- fulls. However, a
week or so on, and I am more used to it.
Christmas has been good, the wedding anniversary was lovely, and I am full of hope for an excellent 2013.
A very happy New Year to all of you.
Christmas has been good, the wedding anniversary was lovely, and I am full of hope for an excellent 2013.
A very happy New Year to all of you.
What a fantastic Christmas Janice. Like you, I am still friendly with ex's and wives of ex's and I think that's how it should be. It makes it so much better for the children and grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you have lost your hair now, but I think you expected it. However the wigs are looking great.
Here's hoping for a much better 2013. Happy Anniversary and Happy New Year, with lots of love xxx
Thanks Ayak. I hope your 2013 is excellent too. You are right about being on good terms making things easier for the children....ours know how lucky they are when they look at some of their friends families...although it does sometimes takes some explaining....like why I might invite my husband's ex mother in law to my anniversary celebration ! Jx
DeleteBrilliant wig, Janice - I'd never have known if you hadn't said! Very attractive - and you look so well, too. Hope your progress is really good. I've just had a check up after 9 years clear of BC (fortunately I didn't need chemo as it was a very small, non-agressive lump) - all clear still, so I won't be called in again, but can get in touch with the unit if I'm at all worried about anything in future.
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiring story your Christmas and Anniversary makes. I, too, am on good terms with my No 1 ex and his wife (she was my best friend) - he will be staying with us next Sunday to attend the funeral of one of our friends from Uni days on Monday.
With my very best wishes and prayers for 2013 - improving health and continued happiness for you and your family.
Thanks Helva. I have been lucky in that the feeling well window between treatments has fallen over Christmas. It has been great to feel so well and be able to enjoy the holiday. It is good to hear your 9 year clear story....it is amazing how many people have been on this strange cancer trip.
DeleteAs for our extended blended family....there is no doubt that the children and now the grandchildren appreciate the way we have always organised things... they have always come first, and now, we dont even think about it...it just works, and we enjoy it too. Jx
Hi Janice,
ReplyDeleteThis is such an uplifting post. Your strngth a positivity shine through and I'm happy that you had such a wonderful Christmas and wedding anniversary to share with your family and friends.
I'm sorry about the hair, but the wig(and you beneath it) look fantastic.
With my love and best wishes for a healthy, happy and peaceful 2013, so that you can enjoy spending time in your beloved Caunes.
Thanks for the commenys...and compliments. I am pleased with the wig, and looking forward to building up the collection. I hope you and Tim have a great New Year and a happy 2013. Jx
DeleteA wonderful post, Janice and I'm so glad you've had such a fantastic end to your year. The wig looks great, as do you, and to see two of my very best blogging buddies together like that has put a great big smile on my face. :-) Warmest congratulations to you and Mark on your anniversary and here's to the next 20 years.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that meeting up with Annie was a real hilight
Delete( highlight ????) of my year. It was lovely...we talked about you, and Fly and Ayak and BtoB, Broad, and Rosemary, and others too. Blogging has brought us both so much pleasure....and has developed our friendship from one of work colleagues to real friends. Meeting face to face is so good....so next time you are close to here...let me know ! Fondest wishes for 2013, Jx
Still giggling at 'Aye up, Mary,...'
ReplyDeleteThe wig looks splendid!
I'm glad you had such a positive round of celebrations to end 2012....congratulations to you both on your 20th, too!
Roll on the end of treatment and recuperation in Caunes.
Yes, Dexter is a star. He doesn't normally display much of a Yorkshire accent...but he really laid it on for his portrayal of Joseph.
DeleteI hope you have recovered from your trip and visitors...lots of love for a very happy 2013. Jx
Dear Janice - you are looking fantastic, and I would never have known about the wig without you mentioning it. What does it feel like to be a blond?
ReplyDeleteI do like the fact that you get on so well with Mark's ex and share the grandchildren, many others could learn a lesson from you all.
Congratulations on 20 years, and all the very best to you and yours in 2013.
I am one of those people Rosemary, whose hair has been so many different colours, that I have no idea what the real colour is anymore ( I suspect it will grow back steely grey though ). So I have spent time being blond before, and have always enjoyed it. However my next wig is going to be ginger, and I may go for a mahogany red as well.
DeleteOur blended family works well... Carole and I are great friends, and there is no doubt that the children have benefitted from our shared parenting and now grandparenting. Mark and I have a daughter too, and she has always regarded Carole as her second mum... the one she shares with her older siblings.
Have a splendid 2013 Rosemary. Fondest wishes Jx
I've been wondering how you were doing, so glad you posted. What a lovely family scene. Congratulations on your anniversary and best wishes for the year ahead!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jill... all is well here and we are all feeling very positive. I hope you had a good Christmas, and I wish you a joyful 2013. Jx
DeleteThank you for sharing your wonderful Christmas celebration,it all looks very special. I love the grotto, and you can tell how fascinated the children are. Congratulations on your 20th anniversary, a milestone celebration. I never would have guessed that was a wig, and you look lovely in it. All the best with the chemo and for good health to follow in 2013.
ReplyDeleteThanks Patricia, we did have a lovely Christmas, and as you will know, family celebrations are all the more important when they come after difficult times. Lets hope we both continue to make brilliant progress. Fondest wishes for 2013. Jx
DeleteDear Janice, it was such a special moment - not a little emotional - to give you a long awaited hug in Huddersfield. Everyone present thought you looked really well - many had no idea you had been through so much recently. The wig may be temporary but it really does suit you short and blonde...
ReplyDeleteAs for your lovely family - there's such a lot of warmth and good feeling there - it's a great tribute to you all. I'm so glad you have such good people around you.
Happy, happy new year - I wish you good health, more health and a bit more good health - because it is just so very important.
And hope to see you again very soon.
Axxx
I cant tell you how wonderful it was to be part of that hug in that Huddersfield pub ! It was so good to see you and Romy...what a gorgeous self confident articulate intelligent adorable child she is. Now where could she get all that from ?
DeleteI hope the trip back wasn't too trying, and that now you can relax a little bit before going back to work.
Looking forward to hearing more news from Alcala and hoping you all have a wonderful 2013, which will include us meeting up again, but in Spain this time. Fondest love Jxxx
Janice you look fantastic, I don't think anyone could guess what you have just gone through. Nice to see two bloggers together. Did she bring any of her gorgeous chocolates?
ReplyDeleteI felt so bad not saving enough chocolates...I thought I had but once my sister and her family descended on them, there really was nothing left at all! However, I have a feeling that Janice will be very good at making chocolates once she learns the tricks of tempering. A little healthy competition in 2013, methinks! Axxx
DeleteHello B to B... thanks for the compliments. It was wonderful to see Annie. All her chocolates had been sold, but she did give me a gorgeous book with some fabulous chocolate recipes... so I will be working on some of my own chocolates very soon.
ReplyDeleteHave a great new Year and a joyful 2013. Fondest wishes Jx.
Janice...you look great. One would never know that you are going through this. The wigs look wonderfully complementary on you.I love the pic with you and your smile.
ReplyDeleteLooks like all had such a nice Christmas and a few good chuckles......
Happy Anniversary to you and your husband.
I'm glad we heard from you.....I was looking quite often to see any updates.
Wishing you lots of good health this year and more and more daily.
You must post some pics of some of the chocolates that you make....:-)
(((HUGS)))
Thanks so much. I really thinkI am used to the wig now......so will start to experiment with others soon. Happy New year to you Erica
DeleteJx
What fun it all looks, Janice. Children certainly do bring a part to life, don't they? Happy New Year and happy anniversary as well. I know you are going through a lot right now, and losing one's hair is what seems to be the worst part of chemo, but, be assured you look fantastic. Here's to strength and regaining your health in 2013. Blessings. Penny
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny. The children were really amazing all holiday.....but why should I be surprised ?
DeleteYes, losing my hair is more traumatic than I expected. I didn't realise how vain I am ! However, so far I,m dealing with it ok....and I do like this short blond wig. Have a wonderful 2013. Jx
Happy New Year Janice! I do love your "Happy Family" story - I love the mix-and-match families that so many of us are part of now and I'm so proud that they are usually least as great and supportive as the other sort.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is no doubt that modern blended families can offer children a whole heap of benefits? We love ours. Jx
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