Visiting Diana's family in Bar Hill and exchanging Xmas presents
Visiting Diana's family in Bar Hill and exchanging Xmas presents

Di took Debbie horse-riding this morning and, though still feeling quite weak and achy, I accompanied her and the children to Bar Hill to meet Diana’s wider family where Uncle John had been suffering with dizzy spells that make him feel very sick and lose his balance. We were gone within a couple of hours after exchanging presents.

As we were due to go over to Di's parents for pre-Christmas gathering later today, I took things very steadily this morning and rested in bed for a while before getting myself up and dressed. I was still feeling quite weak and achy and this may be just from the illness itself, or also from the fact that the painkillers had been wearing off and that I was reluctant to take any more. I was down to have lunch with Debbie and Daniel whilst Di was out taking Della to her horse-riding lesson. She had also gone up to the cemetery taking pictures of Dad's new memorial stone and to put a wreath and flowers upon it. I then got myself ready and we all set off for Bar Hill on their return. I had telephoned ahead and asked that the room be free from smoke due to Debbie's asthma and they all kindly obliged.

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There were fifteen or so of us relatives crammed into the small lounge of the Jacksons, but we survived the two hours. Bobbie and John looked subdued this year and John has been suffering with dizzy spells that make him feel very sick and lose his balance. All of the others look quite well. Charlie, Chris and their family were very late as usual, but we all exchanged our presents, and we were gone within a couple of hours. Once home, Diana was complaining of a very painful ear and had to go to bed early with a large dose of painkillers which was rather worrying. I sat up a little to watch TV, but then also turned in for an early night still full of cold.