It's three months to the day since Steve died. In some ways, it seems like a lifetime ago, so much has happened since then. In other ways, it seems like only yesterday....the events of 15 February are etched on my memory like a video...
Not surprisingly, I still have moments - usually triggered by something trivial or unexpected - when the tears well up and the sense of loss is almost overwhelming. But I'm moving on in many other ways, even though at times it feels like progress is horribly and frustratingly slow, not helped I suspect by the daily pain medication for my back (nerve root compression) which fogs the brain at times and can make me feel drowsy.
However, I have found that getting out and about, doing things and being with people to be a great tonic and stimulation. So...
....I've exercised my brain with a couple of work-related trips to Guernsey; exercised my body walking around Dordrecht and Rotterdam on a week away in the Netherlands, where I had the pleasure of meeting up with "old" photography friends and making some new ones (as well as taking lots of photos!); enjoyed other wonderful social occasions - a meal out with friends from student days at Worton Organic Garden; two very special birthday lunches with dear friends Sally and Ian; an evening meal with other friends; nights out at events like Live Friday and visiting the Warhol exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum; enjoying visiting artist studios open as part of Oxford Artworks; having a great weekend visit here in Oxford with Andy a friend from my student days; going to London to see the World Photography Exhibition at Somerset House....And there are lots more such occasions in the pipeline!
I've also invested in worldwide annual travel insurance, so I need to make the most of it now :)
Son Jack and daughter Katie have been visiting Oxford regularly from their respective homes in Bristol and London and we've got through some of those difficult 'first' events without Steve - the first anniversary of his birthday since his death; the first wedding anniversary without him; Katie's first birthday without her dad, and the special card he would have made to celebrate the occasion....
Jack has helped me set up a new computer and I hope that, by now, all my friend are aware of my new gmail address and are ignoring any emails which purport to come from my old email address. This has been hacked and is suspended...so PLEASE do NOT use it or click on any links on such emails which say they are from me at my old NTLworld address....they are still going out!!!!
All Steve's "assets" have now been valued and I think that at long last I have all the information necessary to complete Steve's estate accounts and apply for Grant of Probate....that's the priority for next week.
Jack is now training hard for his Etape du Tour cycle ride in July to raise money for Mesothelioma UK in Steve's memory. He recently did the return trip by bike from Bristol to Oxford carrying a heavy pack. The return journey clocked up 120 miles. The boy done well! More of that in a future post, so that those of you who have kindly and generously sponsored him will see how hard he is working...
...and so life goes on....
Big hugs to all the Meso Warriors, their families and friends and to all the wonderful people who have helped me, Jack and Katie get through the first three months since Steve died.
Thank you all, so very much xx
Not surprisingly, I still have moments - usually triggered by something trivial or unexpected - when the tears well up and the sense of loss is almost overwhelming. But I'm moving on in many other ways, even though at times it feels like progress is horribly and frustratingly slow, not helped I suspect by the daily pain medication for my back (nerve root compression) which fogs the brain at times and can make me feel drowsy.
However, I have found that getting out and about, doing things and being with people to be a great tonic and stimulation. So...
....I've exercised my brain with a couple of work-related trips to Guernsey; exercised my body walking around Dordrecht and Rotterdam on a week away in the Netherlands, where I had the pleasure of meeting up with "old" photography friends and making some new ones (as well as taking lots of photos!); enjoyed other wonderful social occasions - a meal out with friends from student days at Worton Organic Garden; two very special birthday lunches with dear friends Sally and Ian; an evening meal with other friends; nights out at events like Live Friday and visiting the Warhol exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum; enjoying visiting artist studios open as part of Oxford Artworks; having a great weekend visit here in Oxford with Andy a friend from my student days; going to London to see the World Photography Exhibition at Somerset House....And there are lots more such occasions in the pipeline!
I've also invested in worldwide annual travel insurance, so I need to make the most of it now :)
Son Jack and daughter Katie have been visiting Oxford regularly from their respective homes in Bristol and London and we've got through some of those difficult 'first' events without Steve - the first anniversary of his birthday since his death; the first wedding anniversary without him; Katie's first birthday without her dad, and the special card he would have made to celebrate the occasion....
Jack has helped me set up a new computer and I hope that, by now, all my friend are aware of my new gmail address and are ignoring any emails which purport to come from my old email address. This has been hacked and is suspended...so PLEASE do NOT use it or click on any links on such emails which say they are from me at my old NTLworld address....they are still going out!!!!
All Steve's "assets" have now been valued and I think that at long last I have all the information necessary to complete Steve's estate accounts and apply for Grant of Probate....that's the priority for next week.
Jack is now training hard for his Etape du Tour cycle ride in July to raise money for Mesothelioma UK in Steve's memory. He recently did the return trip by bike from Bristol to Oxford carrying a heavy pack. The return journey clocked up 120 miles. The boy done well! More of that in a future post, so that those of you who have kindly and generously sponsored him will see how hard he is working...
...and so life goes on....
Big hugs to all the Meso Warriors, their families and friends and to all the wonderful people who have helped me, Jack and Katie get through the first three months since Steve died.
Thank you all, so very much xx
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