Hello Melanie
So pleased to hear from you. I wondered if you ever looked at this site so it's fantastic that you found the message. Mum and I have been wondering about your mum so are thrilled to know she is still with us. Imagine she must feel like a caged bird, it's really sad to get to that stage - can't believe she is 97. Mum was 80 last year and doing well considering the Cornish climate! She has lots of aches & pains but is still out to the town and yesterday we had a lovely day in the gorgeous weather and she managed to do the whole of a National Trust garden, which was great as some days during the winter she's been virtually immobile with what she says is arthritis/rheumatism. I can't remember whether we've seen you since but she sold her cottage in Penryn just over two years ago and we now live together in Falmouth. I still have my dog so it's great for him and Nigel is here a lot of the time so he is company for mum while I'm at work.
I hoped to get up to Sussex some time this year. We are booked to go to Corsica for a week in July and I might look at taking somewhere over that period for couple of weeks as mum could perhaps be in Alfriston with the dog whilst we're away for a week. Not quite sure how she will manage him!
Isabelle got married in September. Her father )Geoffrey) came to the wedding though he was pretty frail after all those years of drinking. At the end of January she had a call to say he had been found dead in his flat in Pembroke Dock age 66.
Isabelle and Andy live just between Richmond and Twickenham and I have a terrible yen to return to the south east but property is so expensive and certainly in their area, which I've fallen in love with, I could barely afford a 1-bedroomed flat!
I'll give you a ring to hear all your news. So pleased to hear from you and please give our love to your mum - tell her we will see her when we are up. She is an institution. It feels as though the Newhaven we remember has almost disappeared. I could see a picture of the little hut on the quay at the harbour and always picture your uncle walking along there or leaning on the railings. It all seems such a long time ago! Mum was only remembering the other day about how your mum used to join her on dog walks.
I'll give you tel nos when I speak to you. So pleased to get in touch again. Hope all the family well. Love to Peter x