Yesterday was my father’s funeral.

As Summer is so newly home we couldn’t go – it would have just been too much for her.

As it was, it was all a bit too much for me.  

We made a short trip to buy yarn for a hat for Summer as a distractionary tactic.  It didn’t work.  It was just the saddest day.

Pa Stitches often drove me to distraction (isn’t that in the job description for parents), but all I can remember now are the good times.

I’m remembering the Christmases, birthdays and outings we spent together as a family.

The day he snuck off with Mr S to buy my engagement ring.

The trips we took with him when we were kids (including the one with the flying frying pan…a story for another time).

The stories he told…over and over and over and over again!  

How good he was at Trivial Pursuits.  Especially the travel and literature questions.  Ma is the history demon!

How we could be anywhere, including a ferry in the middle of the sea between England and France, and still bump into someone he knew.

A million little ways to remember him.

I miss him.

I’m sat here with a glass of wine close to hand and a chicken roasting in the oven.  Mr S is watching the Gadget Show and the house is quiet.

At 9.30am tomorrow morning that changes for ever.

That’s when our little girl comes home for good.

And what a girl she is.  

There are no words for the joy she has brought to our lives.

And her timing was perfect.  As is she.

Can’t wait for tomorrow………..

Today I held my baby girl in my arms for the first time.

She is beautiful.

Today my father passed away.

I am elated and bereft.

I’ll be away for a while.

Still no signature.  

We’re losing the will.  

The only consolation is that it’s not just us.  Every decision taken at the Panel we went to hasn’t been ratified. Thankfully our social worker team is pulling out all the stops to make it happen.  We have a meeting tomorrow to put all plans in place so that as soon as the paperwork is ratified we can go straight to bridging.

It will be worth it.

Because some horrid, petty little bureaucrat feels that it’s more important to get out of work on time on a Friday, rather than spend an extra 10 minutes formalising the paperwork, our meeting with Summer is postponed.

10 minutes.

That’s all it would have taken.

But no, the pub (or whatever) is more important.

Well, Mr Jobsworth, I really hope that your weekend is everything you deserve.

 

PS – the incandescent of the title refers to me.  It’s how I feel.

PPS – we’ll know more on Tuesday.

Still waiting for the ratification of the adoption for Summer – how long does it take to sign a piece of paper, people?

Slowly losing my mind.  Off to stitch – a couple of projects nearing completion – pics soon.

In the midst of all this new life we are also dealing with terrible illness.

My father has been diagnosed with lung and liver cancer.

We are without prognosis but not without hope.