Ostrich Reaction

Quilting group this morning and a very mixed meeting

You may recall me mentioning our 92 year old group leader Cicely who I said had forgotten more than I'll ever know about quilting.

She has been unwell - becoming progressively more so - all summer since our show, eventually being admitted to hospital

Just over a week ago one of the group rang each of us to let us know that she had undergone a scan where they'd found pancreatic cancer

Sadly she passed away last Friday

Realistically we are all relieved that it wasn't prolonged for her to suffer for any great length of time but she will be greatly missed especially by some of the group who have known her for many years

Her funeral is this Friday and she has asked if those of us from the group who are attending can wear something 'quilty' - as you can imagine that had us all racking our brains

I didn't know her that well but I am free on Friday and have a large 7 seater car - several of the older members of the group can't drive and the church for her thanksgiving service, which follows a private cremation, is in the middle of nowhere a good half an hour from Taunton. So as my tribute to her, and the hand of friendship that she extended to me on arriving in Taunton last year, I shall taxi and accompany these members and consider it an honour to be able to do so.

However it wasn't all sadness this morning we managed to remember her with affection and some laughter and I like to think she would have been pleased at the second part of our Ostrich Challenge that I set them today - she always liked to both undertake and set challenges

The response to 'Circles or any part thereof' was less horrified than I expected thankfully, and bits of discussion has, I hope, sent them all on their way with their thinking caps firmly on - we shall see what they come up with :o)

Later today I decided to have a play with Part 6 - 'Opposites' and the 'Dutchman's Puzzle' ??? is what I came up with - thank goodness for that 'flying geese ruler' again

Then I laid out on the floor what I've got done so far - I'm happy with it :o)

The news on Dad is a little more positive - the unofficial result on his CT scan has showed nothing to be concerned about - they still need to do the ultrasound on his neck vessels. However they have altered his combination of medication and the attacks seem fewer and less severe so maybe we're getting somewhere.

They expect to do the angiogram tomorrow to get a clearer picture on the heart front so the fog is starting to clear

Louise had painted a sweet little picture of her and Grandad (complete with his flat cap and walking stick) standing outside the gates to Vivary Park in Taunton. This arrived with him today and lifted his spirits somewhat - Mum says he spent the entire day pestering the staff to look at it whenever one of them came within a 20 yard radius of him :o)

So we shall keep on hoping and praying for more positives tomorrow - thank you to all of you for your kind wishes and prayers :o)