I'm sure lots of you know Ted Gamage down in St Clares. Difficult to see where the Gamage family fit into Isobel's family tree - suffice it to say that the Gamage faimily came originally from Northamptonshire and settled in Briton Ferry in th early 1800s. They eventually emigrated to Carmarthenshire and became farmers. The nearest I can say is that Isobel's Great Grandmother, Mary Polly Gamage, married into the Lucas family about 1875.

Anyway, Ted is 92 years old and getting all the problems naturally associated with that great age. He is as bright as a button and he and Isobel chat regularly by phone. Gareth and Ann, his children and the grandchildren look after him superbly well. However, like so many older people, he refuses to give in and lives on his own in St Clares.

If you have any messages you want to pass on to Ted, just let me know and I will pass them on to him.

About 10 years ago, Rhian befriended a little lady called Pip (not her real name but one that everyone knows her by). At that time, Rhian was her General Practice nurse but she has long moved to another practice - however, the friendship remained and spread to Isobel and I and she has become very close to all of us. Pip has no children but we think she has relatives somewhere but they have had very little to do with her for many years. Pip's husband, Andy, died some 20-30 years ago - he was a British Airways pilot.

Pip is 97 years old next January and, because she has become increasingly disabled, she has has been admitted to a nursing home on a permanent basis. Pip joined the army at the beginning of the second world war and had a fascinating military career including being one of the first allied soldiers to liberate Auschwitz and Belsen and worked at the war crimes trials in Nuremberg - she says that those executed deserved it because they had no regrets for what they had done during the war.

The nursing home that Pip is in at the moment is a little bit expensive (close to £2000 per week) so we are actively looking into somewhere a bit more affordable. More news about Pip when it happens.

Wednesday 22nd November 2023

Pip going downhill slowly. Keeps saying her prayers and asking God to come and fetch her. Refusing food and most drink - apart from drinking chocolate. I'm not surprised - what a life at 97, 24 hours a day in bed, doubly incontinent and knows it and in a nursing home where empathy and understanding are in short supply.

Thursday 28th December

Pip still going strong. Altzheimers is getting more obvious and she is getting very confused. Still no contact from any family she may have so Rhian and family, Isobel and Barrie will give her lots of contact.

As some of you know, Isobel and I have been renting a flat in Maidenhead while we wait for the deeds for our house in Cyprus to become available - estate agents out there won't put it on the market until the deeds become available. In the meantime we are renting it to a smashing and reliable lady.

We have a solicitor working on it for us and the latest today is as follows 'Your file is currently at the land registry’s drawing department, which is the second stage out of the 3, before the borders adjustment is finalized.  When this task is finalized by the land registry office, we will go back to the district office to obtain the final approval certificate and submit it to the land registry for the issuance of the update title deeds' !

So, for the moment we stay as we are - hopefully 2024 will perhaps see light at the end of the tunnel!!! More on this as it happens!

James Culley has received his baccalaureat exam results and has been accepted by Portsmouth university to study architecture. He starts in September. WELL DONE JAMES!

Wednesday 20th September 2023

James went off to Portsmouth last Saturday and settling in well. Has met up with his new flat mates and getting on well - particularly with a student from Bulgaria who he is showing the ropes! Freshers week at the moment. Well done James.

Wednesday 1st November 2023

He is loving it down in Portsmouth. The Architecture course he is on is right up his street.