 |
The Gerrard Chronicles 2025 |
FAMILY & EXTENDED FAMILY
XMAS 2024
As promised last year, Ken took Gewurztraminer round to June & Philip’s but by himself, as Avis was stuck in hospital.
A VISIT TO ALYSON WITH AVIS
Monday 16th December 2024
It was a difficult journey up, owing to a section of the M1 being closed & getting Avis to the distant toilets in the motorway service stations, yet another example
of commerce over-riding Old Peoples’ needs. Consequently, we did not get to Alyson’s until 17:00. Lois sent out for Indian food.
We stayed two nights in the Travelodge, comfortable but their idea of breakfast is decidedly minimalist.
The next day, Avis & I went for a drive, firstly into Old Glossop. then
up to Holme Moss for the view.
The View from Holme Moss
Then, to some Yorkshire towns but the weather was not conducive to much photography. We did find a new to us & attractive way through Sheffild to get to the Snake Pass. Another pic-nic in Alyson’s, Chinese this time. On Wednesday, we left at 08:16 & were home soon after 13:00, despite taking an hour to get to Bakewell.
AVIS’S SISTER ALYSON (19/6/1951 - 22/6/2025) DIES AS WELL
On Friday 4th July, Ken spotted a telephone message, so rang back. It was Lois, Alyson’s daughter, reporting Alyson’s death on Sunday June 22nd. Ken, now somewhat hard of hearing, seems to have got the gist: Alyson had stomach trouble for several days & there was then an 8 hour wait for an ambulance. Alyson rang her friend Anne, who went round but she appears to have died just after Anne got there. Unfortunately, the Coroner was involved & Lois had fallen into a similar trap to Ken: the procedure had changed & not everyone was au fait with the new rules. Ken could understand the Coroner’s intervention, as there were so many things wrong with Alyson, she could have died of any of them. In the event, it took Amy & Lois 30 days until Alyson ’s funeral & Ken was not informed, so was unable to attend. It would appear that Ken is now written out of that family.
|
HOW IS KEN GETTING ON? |
THE TRIBULATIONS OF DENISE |
|
Many people think that Ken is either an unfeeling brute or doing very well, handling grief. This is because Avis is the second wife that he has lost & so he has the experience to know what to do. He has always advised bereft friends, don’t be alone when you don’t want to be, so Ken has been taking his own advice. He copes well in company, which he gets from two days a week at the U3A, three at the Claremont Project & 2 afternoons usually at the Islington Green Caffé Nero. In private, it can be another matter. |
|
Denise has suffered more this year than the previous year, probably the long-term consequences of being given the wrong medication when she lived near Cambridge. It would now appear that Ken’s local Health Centre which has looked after Ken & Avis well for 36 years, have sorted out what Denise should be on. Even so, while she was planning on moving into Ken’s Attic in November, this did not happen. Maybe in December but Denise has been a support to Ken, despite being largely bedridden. |
Ken would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been so kind & supportive of him, especially the club members at the U3A & Claremont. There are others, who do not usually get a mention & it’s high time, our Letting Agents; Rose; Danny; Alan; Martin & Gilbert, the Staff at Caffé Nero: Kubra; Baysa; Yumi; Etzi; Cesar & Adriana & the friends I have made among the other clients there, especially Peter; Ashley; Faye & Munim; Maknum & Mimi, the Gerrard Road friends: Philip & June; Jacques; Jo (including the dogs Audrey & Willow); the Baccaro & Flynn families; Rachelle & Jordan; Pauline & Kingsley & last but not least, the Lebanese Refugee hairdresser, who somehow, heard of Avis’ death within two days, the Islington Mafia grapevine at its best.
Special thanks to Family Members who have made the effort to visit Ken just before Xmas: Zoi from Bath, with her new beau Gary, having got rid of her husband; Liz & Paolo, over from Milan again; Rena from Barnes with Justin from Nayland & Mara from Lille in France.
Contact: Ken Baldry, 17 Gerrard Road, Islington, London N1 8AY e-mail him
This page's URL: http://www.art-science.com/Xmas2025/Avis3.html Last revised 1/12/2025 ©Ken Baldry 2025 All rights reserved but print it off if you want to.