THE FUTURE IS ONE BIG CHALLENGE AFTER ANOTHER for 3Dogs and friends ..... PART 4

solventsoon

Thinking about you today Mandy xx

boultdj

Been thinking of you today Mandy.

3Dogs

Valwoire wrote: »

Hi Susan

I have been a lurker on mse for a while, only making the odd contribution here and there. I visited the elite earlier this week for the first time in ages and saw your sad news and the link to your diary which I've been reading ever since. Although I haven't spoken to you before I really feel I know you now! You have such a fantastic way of describing things.

I didn't realise until now that you are Geordies. I grew up in Whitley Bay! I moved to Blyth when I met my husband, then we moved to Oxfordshire about 13 years ago. We have been in West Wales for almost 2 years now. The way you wrote about your last visit home with Alan really touched a chord with me. I LOVE tynemouth front street and have spent many happy drunken hours there! We always go and sit by the priory when we are home and just watch the sea. It brings back wonderful memories for me of my late dad who passed away 13 yrs ago of this terrible disease - he served in the royal navy for 22 yrs.

Sadly we also lost my father in law 18 months ago, with the same thing although a different form.

Anyway, I didn't mean to waffle but wanted to say I am so sorry to hear of Alan's passing and will be thinking of you on Friday. It sounds like a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man (even if he did support the wrong team ). Your obvious devotion to each other shines through all of your posts. I hope you find some comfort in that in times to come.

Best wishes to you

Vx

LOL I was born in Wallsend and lived there and North Shields until we moved down to P'boro in 1985. Alan was born in North Shields. Both our families still live up there. Have the same drunken memories of Tynemouth Front Street Alan alwways supported the Black Cats even though his Dad, brother, sister and sons all support the Toon. Likewise, my brother is a S'land fan whereas Dad and all his brothers/family always followed Newcastle. Sorry to hear that your Dad fell foul of this disease too hun

3Dogs

MandyLou, I've been thinking of you all day, as have Kit, Steve and Andy. Hope everything went as planned and lots of bubbles were blown. As you said, I bet Nick and Alan are up there having a pint chattting about their respective teams :beer: :beer:

How did your son's driving test go yesterday hun? Hope he was able to tell his Dad good news today :A

beanielou

Good to see you 3 Dogs.
Was thinking about you earlier today.
Speak soon xx

3Dogs

I am away for another week, staying at Kit with her and Steve/Andy. When we got back from Devon, Andy was too exhausted from all the holiday driving to drive me home on the Sunday, so they are taking me back home next Sunday instead

Despite the wet weather on 13th, Alan's cremation service went well, with over 50 family and friends attending. The celebrant's speech went well as did our friend Jenny's words The music was just right and Alan's top hat with his animals on looked wondeful on top of his coffin with my flowers. I had held it together mostly, with some tears through the service, but when dear Steve came over to hug me as we gathered outside, I just broke my heart and sobbed and sobbed into his arms, bless him. We had 54 back to the pub for drinks and eats from 1.30pm and didn't leave until about 6pm, everyone chatting about Alan and having a good laugh, which is what he would have wanted

As the last one's left, we went back along home and got my case, etc and we were off down to Swavesey for the night, before driving to Devon the next day. The cottage was lovely, though the weather could have been better but we didn't let that stop us from having a relaxing happy break. Kit, Steve & Andy really looked after me well, and kept me smiling. We visited so many places that I'd been to before with Alan and I found that good and bad at the same time Good to visit them again, but sad that Alan couldn't share them with us. I kept having to stop myself from saying 'wait until I tell Alan this, or that We finished the week off with a steam train trip at Minehead before getting back on Saturday evening

It has been scorching since Saturday and I have a bit of a tan, though too hot for me most of the time. Still relaxing and enjoying spending time with the gang, but looking forward to getting home and finding a new routine ............. and getting my doggies home - they have been in kennels so long thaty I probably won't recognise puppy Molly, she will be so grown up :eek:

I will have to get back into the routine of getting onto MSE and posting again too :beer:

MandyLou66

Hi all

Hope all are well

Thank you all for your good wishes for yesterday, sounds odd but it really was a lovely day. A fantastic mix of tears and laughter.
We had memory cards printed for people to write about Nick and have been reading them today, is lovely to see whats been written and things from his cousins that we never even knew!
Our darling son held it together to pay tribute to his Dad and to tell him that he PASSED his driving test!! Soo proud of him!.

Glad to see you posting Susan, hope your'e holding up ok. My Nemo dog is really missing his dad, keeps waiting by the door for him

Take care all
ML

boultdj

Glad to hear your son passed his test.

Aesop

Mandy

1)congratulations to your son on passing his driving test.

2) congratulations to your son for the tribute to his dad.

3) memory cards what a lovely idea

Glad it went well xxx

JayJay14

Mandy, so glad your DS passed, please pass on my congratulations. While he was very motivated it must have been such a nerve racking experience especially under the circumstances.

The day sounded very special and, love the memory cards, they will be something to treasure.