We almost made the thirty years, Gill! I was thinking of our early family life (with four children) 29 and a half years ago. So many memories... Friday evenings and the regular weekend washing and ironing ritual, which seemed to go on continuously until Sunday night! But school uniforms were always spick and span by Monday morning, thanks to you! Times weren't always easy, were they? Do you remember that month when half our income was swallowed up by buying the children new school shoes etc? Remember our family holidays? Squeezing our belongings (and all four offspring!) into the Marina and setting off for France. However did you manage to feed all six of us so well with only a Primus stove? Do you remember Peter finding out that his sea legs didn't work on the ferry back? Yes - so many good times and some hard ones too, we were in it together. The family came first and you worked tirelessly for them. Gradually they all grew up didn't they? Where did the time go? they carved and shaped their own lives and how proud we are of all of them. You know that much of what they have become is because of you. Thank you so much. Eventually, we got a few more chances to go on holiday by ourselves. Which cruise did you like the best? I bet it's the Arcadia one to Mustique when you went on the rapid river raft through the jungle! I didn't know you could squeal and giggle as loudly as that! We had more time to refurbish the home too. I was amazed at the range of skills you had. Do you remember wallpapering the lounge with me as your apprentice fetcher and carrier? Then you even made the velvet curtains but you didn't like sewing with velvet very much, you said. What about when we had the rewiring done - we thought the redecorating would go on forever, didn't we? Life expanded socially, didn't it? We joined the Bowls Club in the 80's. Who'd have thought then that you'd reach the finals of the Ladies' Outdoor National top 10 in 2007? I'm glad we took up bowling, aren't you, it's brought us so many good friends and good times. Playing golf was never your thing was it? But that didn't stop you throwing yourself into the social side of things and bringing you yet more strong friendships. Sadly, your first heart attack happened on your Dad's birthday in 2009 and your second was a month later. You've ploughed through course after course of pills, x-rays and medical investigations. I didn't hear you complain, you were so determined to get well. You started to weaken from last December, didn't you? Things got more rapid from February and by April, we were on tenterhooks waiting for your operation date, weren't we? I can't believe that five days after your operation, we sat together celebrating its success and planning for the future. They'd said you'd be out in 2 or 3 days, it was a new beginning we thought. Then, like a thunderbolt out of the blue, you became ill the next morning and then very seriously ill. One day later you slipped away from us. The family were with you right to the last moments, returning the love and attention you have given them over the years. I even thought, when I held your hand in the last precious minutes, and the monitor briefly steadied, that we might have you back with us a bit longer. But it was not to be was it? One day, my love, we'll meet again and continue our story together, side by side, as we've always done. By the way, I've just finished the last slice of the coffee cake you made for me before you went off to hospital...