Quote: Originally posted by polydigm

My wife and I back in the UK. Almost two weeks ago one of my wife's aunts died, which was sad, but we were expecting it because she had cancer and was very ill. A day later my wife's mother in law had a massive stroke and died soon after in hospital, which was almost totally unexpected. We are here to help with the family and attend the two funerals. It's been exhausting only two weeks after returning form international travel.

Very sorry to hear about the deaths in your family, Poly. It must be a trying time for you both.
However, I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but wouldn't your wife's mother-in-law be your mother? Or was your wife married before and you both kept up contact with her ex-husband's family?

Yes, I'm an idiot. I had started by writing "my mother in law" and then changed it too hastily. I've edited the original post. Thanks for your concern.

My wife's name is Julie. Julie's dad has two sisters. It was his youngest sister that died. He has three children, she has four and the other sister has six, which is thirteen cousins on that side of the family. Several are married with several children and there are some great grand children in there as well. In contrast I grew up in Australia in a family of five. Julie finds all those relatives a bit claustrophobic, which I get, but I grew up in a very compact family which was very claustrophobic for me. Grand parents, aunts and uncles and cousins can provide you with different perspectives on your own immediate family that I missed out on. I've been kind of making up for it spending time with my French relatives which is a similar situation to Julie's.

The aunt's funeral was yesterday and so as you can imagine there were lots of people there. It went well. We're now preparing for Julie's mum's funeral next week. It's still a bit unreal.

You're not an idiot - everybody mistypes now and again. I can understand your wife finding things a little claustrophobic vis a vis family matters. I used to have a grandmother (from New Zealand) who was the Archbishop of Claustrophobia. She used to spin little "amusing" tales, play family members off against each other, invent stories etc, etc. Plus, she used to have dogs that you had to take out for a "pull".
When she was alive, I was the one "stood up to her". Now, I regret having stood up to her and yearn for the good old claustrophobia of yonder year.
Anyway, all he best to you...

This time not a typo, but a misunderstanding about numbers of children. Thirteen cousins not ten.

Hey Bonny, my post doesn't show that I edited it. A new feature?

Yeah, turns out you can switch it off. I always thought it was a bit of a nuisiance.

Sounds good, just don't let The Trendmonger in here.

Fortunately he wouldn't come here if you paid him.

Writing an article about Eindhoven, spent hours today making photos.

The funerals have passed and we're heading back home on the weekend. My next ordeal is major surgery early in March. 2015 is already well off to an auspicious start.

Goodness Poly... that's a trying time to be in. Be strong!

Just heard Oliver Sacks has terminal cancer...

All go now at the Zappa forum, this time with KUIII. Poor guy...

To what are you referring Bonny? I see a post from earlier in February about his flatmate, but nothing else of concern.

Yah his flatmate... can imagine that's quite a shock. He's on my ignore list, I'm not sure why, so it took me a while to notice.

I'm still making photos of Eindhoven and writing a little guide of the city, hope it's finished by March since I keep thinking of things I really need to include.

Why did you have him on ignore?

I don't know, possibly politics, possibly an argument that got out of hand, possibly because of an oversized sig pic.

I remember thinking some time ago that he was a bit of a redneck so I'm pretty sure your objections would have been political. I can't remember exactly what bothered me about him but his opinions are a bit like pedro's only maybe not as backward. He seems like a nice enough guy but I probably couldn't be real world friends with someone like that without arguing all the time.

Some people seem to argue for the sake of arguing, don't they?

Quote: Originally posted by BBP

Some people seem to argue for the sake of arguing, don't they?

I don't think so.

Aren't you nice and positive! :bald:
Sister's come round to visit today and I phoned my friend last night. They're both doing very well, great!