Oakhampton Activity Weekend

Off we went last weekend with Gill's badminton club to the Manor House Hotel in Oackhampton - in a round about way. I had to London for a meeting and had to leave shortly after lunch to get to Exeter St. David's for our bus at 5.55pm. Anyway it was bad enough that my train was 15 mins late but Gill's train only arrived 2 min after the bus had departed. Ah well time for a beer and meal in the Imperial (Weatherspoons) at the grand total price of £8.40.
Eventualy got bus to Manor Hourse and arrived 9.30pm for a gathering in the sitting area and to say our hello's. A blissfully relaxing weekend spent swiming, table tennis, carpet bowls, walking on the moors, drinking, and certainly lots of eating. There is ceratinly a larger contingent of young efficient Polish workers at the site who are keen and enthusiastic. What a nice weekend. Thanks to Ros for organising our nice trip. Bus and train back worked well and we went to bed extremely satisfied on the Sunday.

The image here goes with the posting below and is of some of the lovely McDowell clan. Second from the left is Aunt Margaret - 93 years of age - more like 63!

Aunt Mary's Funeral

Aunt Mary's Funeral was of course a sad affair. Whilst it took 5 and half minutes for the minister to actually say Aunt Mary's name the service as a whole was about "The Church" and being with God. For Aunt Mary we are all happy that this is what she wanted, however, I can now understand why my father is unable to have any sympathy with the Presbeterian Church. The rest of the sermons were taken up with us being sinners and going to hell, unless we mended our ways.

Where has the "love" of Christ gone? Where was the forgiveness?

Aunt Mary would have loved her last day. Surrounded by the Walkers, McDowells, the Andrews and the Reids. Quite a gathering all in all.

Coming home from work on Friday night to sad news was not so great. My dear Aunt Mary had passed away at the grand old age of 98. Not surprising Aunt Mary had been a major part of all our lives and every trip back involved a trip to see her. This was not carried out through duty but through respect for a very special person who right up the end was still full of spirit and up until the last two years she was still living in her own house. Oh how she used to laugh and loved her TV. Especially the wrestling when it used to be on ITV on a Saturday afternoon when Mick McManus would strut his stuff and Aunt Mary would be thorougly invovled and entertained. Amazingly for someone who hardly ever went out she would occasionally jet off around the world on holiday with Aunt Margaret. Aunt Mary is on the left side of Aunt Sadie during a visit to mum and dad's in Gartlea some years ago. Aunt Mary occupied a very large space within all our hearts. Now I hope she is a peace.