Shirley Underwood,

2 Twyford road

Long Eaton,

Notts NG10 3BW

18/08/2023

Thank you for your last letter. I’m sorry you feel a bit down in the dumps. It’s easy to
let it take hold of you when one day is much like another. Recovery from COVID has
been slow and the world seems different somehow.

I wont be sending Christmas cards this year; something I really regret as I I love
getting them. think it has been a difficult year for all of us. I couldn’t face writing cards
this year. I’m afraid the Parkinsons has got the better of me what with not being able
to write then fighting to get the cards in envelopes; it was all a bit much to face.
expect I have told you I lost the ability to write legibly some years ago and nothing
gets any .better.

I took myself off to Harrogate for Christmas. It’s not something I would do again,
simply because of the journey. It took 12 hours to get there because we had to make
so many stops to pick people up.. I left home at 6.00am and we arrived in Harrogate
just in time for dinner. It was a lovely old hotel and the food was excellent.

At least I hope that next year will be a better year although I do wonder where the
country is going. The last thing I expected was to experience the beginning of the
destruction of the planet in my lifetime! I don’t usually mind my own company, but the
only reasonable companion is the TV and apart from a few scattered new dramas, is
all re-plays. There have been one or two good dramas, though and I like most of the
documentaries; you learn all kinds of things! Have you had floods; does it affect
where you live? I cant think of anything worse.

I still walk into town, but I haven’t been out much recently and when I did I tripped
and fell on my face. I was sure my nose was broken but it doesn’t seem to have
done. I have a colourful bruise around my eye, though!

I must be more careful. I really was lucky to get away with just a scraped nose! I now
have five great-grandchildren, although I don’t see three of them; Alex is going to
court as he is being denied access to them. If we can get that sorted out it will
improve contact. Sam’s two; Evie and Albert are great fun.

I hope this finds you well and apologies for no Christmas card.