Tuesday 30 December 2008

Happy New Year


Happy New Year everyone!

From my point of view, I hope it will be a better one than last year!
I can remember last New Year's Eve (2007), celebrating with my daughter and grandsons, who happened to be holidaying with us. We'd all stayed up late to let in the New Year with a family friend. We'd played games with the children while we sat round the table and drank wine (the children didn't, honestly!)
Little did we know then, that within the coming year, Deb would be left a widow. Just as well we never know what is in store for us. Now I am being a damper...... but it does make you wonder.
Once again, the family have been staying with us over the Christmas holiday and we are about to let in another New Year and we cannot help but be slightly apprehensive about what the year holds for us. 
  
On Boxing Day we went to London Victoria by coach ( a rather bizarre thing to do as Deb was getting quite near to home again and had already travelled across England once, to be with us!) We had backtracked to London to see a musical in the West End, *Joseph* starring Lee Mead.
After the show, which we all enjoyed, Deb had been hoping to get her programme autographed but all she received from Lee, after queuing, was a pre signed photo, which was better than nothing, I suppose. She never got to chat to him, though.
I travelled quite happily back to Victoria by tube train. As long as I have someone with me who knows what they are doing, I don't mind the Tube a bit!
Deb has caught up with a good few "old" friends from school and her nursing training days and we have visited relatives and travelled to The Midlands to see Deb's mother in law, who had been staying with her other son over Christmas. A difficult time for her, as you can imagine.

Rick and Dean, my two grandson's have been great while staying with us and we have been glad of their company. Rick, the oldest who was recently diagnosed with autism, seems to be doing very well and has lost the anger that he displayed after the death of his father. He is much calmer now, and did so much better at school last term, probably because he has a special helper.
Deb and I have been reading some very helpful books on the subject of autism. I have found this to be particularly helpful in trying to understand how my grandson's mind might be working and how confused he must be when I don't understand why he sometimes doesn't respond to me the way I would like him to. I realize that I must find different approaches if I want to make breakthroughs concerning behaviour and understanding what makes him tick. Good progress has been made with those things, during the holiday, though.
One of the hardest things to deal with is the fact that Rick will only eat certain brands of food like bread and the soya milk that he has to have.  If we cannot get hold of a particular brand, he refuses to eat or drink it. (He knows it is different without seeing the container, just by taste). As he is so thin, we cannot just let him go without.
Deb has joined a few organizations and went on some trips with the boys before she came to us and she seems to be building up a better social life now.
One thing that books have taught me is just how diverse this condition is and how different each child is one from another. No easy answers, much of it is to follow instincts and wait and see.
You might be wondering how I am finding time to read these books! Deb brought a few over with her, lent by Rick's school, so obviously I have to read them fast. Every time I have an opportunity, I open up and read some more. I love books anyway and have a whole stack of books waiting to be read that I had as presents!

Our granddaughters, Amber and Millie, and parents, went back to Japan before Christmas, to visit the other grandparents and relatives, who really miss them all. They are due to fly back very soon and sleep off their jet lag before school starts again. 


Anyway....... Happy New Year Folks!
Hoping that 2009 will prove to be a good year for you all and I wish everyone peace.
Things look frightening in the middle east and the credit crunch is making our lives difficult, but surely there is always the possibility of peace in our own lives and this is my wish for you all...... peace.



31 comments:

larkswing said...

Happy New Year Maggie! Glad you and your family are having a great time!

Cheers!

Elizabeth said...

Wishing you health and peace in 2009.
Is it true that Woolworths is vanishing from Britain?
I hope not - part of history.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

What a year you have had. here is wishing you a happy and peaceful and loving 2009.

Irene said...

i wish you all the best there is in 2009 and not only for you, but for all your family members as well, because it has been a heck of a year for you all. we must assume the best and be optimistic and expect good things to come our way. that's the best way to start the new year, the only way.

Bear Naked said...

Happy New Year to you and yours.
Peace and love in 2009.

Bear((( )))

Jeni said...

It really is a darned good thing that we DON'T know what life is about to bring us as we enter into yet another year. That's definitely for certain, especially when it involves the loss of a dear friend or family member. As to the autism, it can be quite the challenge at times to find ways to get different foods into these kids, to assist them in their learning and their ability then to continue to move forward. But, what a joy it is too when we are successful in these ventures too! And, how wonderful it is too that we have these children in our lives to always keep us moving and learning along with them!
The conflicts that keep erupting, day after day, an economy that seems hell bent on failing completely so much of the time now too -so many things that cause such terrible problems and makes you wonder what the heck can possibly happen next? I keep hoping (and praying) that someday people will come to their senses and stop the violence, the unnecessary killings and for what reason, I can not fathom one good enough to excuse those things. Is one voice enough to keep railing against these atrocities? One alone, probably not but mine, plus yours, plus this one, then that and if each brings in another voice, surely someday we can think peacefully as one being.
Happy New Year and Peace!

Suburbia said...

Peace and happiness to you too for 2009 Maggie and to your family, goodness knows you deserve a peaceful year.

Suburbia xx

Anonymous said...

Maggie it will be a good one - just believe it
make it a new start with new thoughts and aims xxxxxxxx

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

A grand old newsy bit of a post here and great to read. You sound peaceful and rested. happy New Year Maggie - rest assured that there is surely good stuff in store for you this coming year. All the best.

Casdok said...

Really happy to read about Ricks progress.Sounds as though you have all had a busy and productive time.
Wishing you and your family the best for the new year ahead.

Akelamalu said...

I often think it's lucky that we never know what a new year holds for us, at least we can look forward to it without trepidation.

May 2009 bring you Good Health and Happiness and hopefully a better year than 2008.

® ♫ The Brit ♪ ® said...

Dear Maggie,
I really hope that 2009 will be a much better year for you, after all you've been through in the last year things can only get better.
You're a lovely person and you deserve all the best that life can bring, so here's wishing you a Happy New Year full of health, wealth, luck, happiness and above all else peace X

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to you too!

I hope you and your family have a wonderful 2009. How blessed you are to all have each other.

XXXXXX

Wendy said...

Happy New Year. I hope 2009 brings love, happiness and joy.

Dottie said...

Peace for you too Maggie, and Hope and Joy.
Dottie x

cheshire wife said...

Happy New Year to you and your family, Maggie. I hope that it will be better for you than 2008.

Rose said...

It has been a difficult year for you and your family, Maggie May, but I see some rays of hope in the last few months. I wish you much happiness in the New Year!
Peace on Earth would be the best gift of all in the coming year.

Salute said...

Hope you and the family had a Merry Christmas and wishing you all a Happy New Year.

Robin said...

What a year this has been for your daughter and her boys and you. Wishing you a peaceful 2009!

Jeff B said...

May this year bring more break throughs with Rick and continued healing for your daughter.

Peace and happy new Year.

Sam said...

Happy New Year from Japan :-)

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

A Very Happy and Peaceful New Year to you and your family Maggie.

A x

Gone Back South said...

Happy new year to you Maggie, let's hope 2009 is a good happy year for you and your family. They are lucky to have you, to care so much.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Yes we all say Happy New Year but I think a Peaceful New Year would be appropriate this year. Things are quite difficult in the world at the moment but we must believe that the human spirit will prevail.

Deb said...

Happy New Year! I have been MIA for a bit but I am back. I enjoyed spending time here catching up with you. I wish you a New Year full of happiness, good health and lots of love. Celebrate!

Lavinia said...

Hi Maggie. I echo your sentiments, that pray that 2009 is better than 2008. I want to wish you and your family, whom I have gotten to know through your blog, and your excellent writing, interesting posts, a very happy and joyful, health and prosperity filled New Year. All the best to you and yours in 2009!

Omykiss said...

Peace! Such a small word but such a hard thing to find. I don't understand how humankind finds it so easy to find differences that need to be fought over!

auntiegwen said...

A book which I have found to be incredible is " George and Sam" by Charlotte Moore.

She's a journalist for The Guardian and the mother of 3 boys, 2 of whom are profoundly autistic.

It's a fascinating account of what her families life is like.

I hope 2009 is a good year for you and yours.

Hilary said...

I'm sorry that such a loss and sadness found your family in 2008. I hope that 2009 is a wonderful year for your and yours.

Irene said...

Dear Maggie, how do I miss thee, let me count the ways...I have managed to write a post and am about to write another one. Soon I will be back for good. I can't wait. I miss my best blogging buddies.

Love, Irene

Hadriana's Treasures said...

Happy New Year, Maggie, all the best to you and your very special family for 2009. I think that this year will bring better things for all of us. (Thank you also for the warm comments over at mine.) Hxx