Wednesday, December 29, 2010

News

Well, it's been a while since my last post, simply because there hasn't been much idle time in this house. Everything got done by Christmas, as everything always does. I iced the cake and thought I might have mastered the way to turn photos round - but no. Nice presents were exchanged. I've done a lot of cooking and most of us have done a lot of washing up.

We have been a large but steadily shrinking party. My brother and his wife, son and daughter are staying with my mother but eating here, and Daughter 2 and her fiancé have been with us, as was Son. So we were thirteen on Christmas Day when my confused aunt was of the party. Then twelve for a couple of days, till our son went back up north. Then Daughter 1 and her husband went down south yesterday to be with his parents so today there were nine of us. Tomorrow Daughter 2's chap, my nephew and my niece all head back to England, so we'll be six. My brother and his wife remain till the 2nd and Daughter 2 heads back down to her new life in London on the 3rd. And that will be that.

It's been a time of mixed emotions. It's lovely to have the children but we're very aware that they're visitors now, which is painful, especially since Daughter 2 is going to be in London for the foreseeable future and we're not convinced that marriage to someone trying to make a living as an actor is entirely the path to happiness. Her six-week London job is continuing at least for a while, which is of course good from the point of view of continuing to earn; but her absence leaves a huge hole in our hearts.

However, Daughter 1 and her husband popped in unexpectedly early yesterday to give us some wonderful news:


All going well, we should become grandparents in July. I know it happens all the time, but when it happens to you, it's very exciting! And worrying.
It's going to be a busy year. My mother is going to move in with us once we've sold her flat and found something (what???) to do with her very many household effects. The little person above should be joining us in July. And Daughter 2 is getting married in September, an event for which so far only the church, the hotel and the ceilidh band have been organised.
Mixed emotions indeed. Almost too much to cope with.

31 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Isabelle! A grandbaby! Prayers that all goes wonderfully! The wedding plans will go smoothly, also! :) What wonderful news (I read the other not-so-wonderful news, but wanted to cheer on the good stuff! :)) Many hugs-for the chipper news and otherwise!

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  2. How wonderful to be expecting a grandchild. Congratulations all round. Even more use for your cameras, knitting opportunities abound, and much gladness of the heart.

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  3. wonderful news about the grand baby! i have 2 nieces especting babies in July also. being a great aunt is not as much fun as being a grandma

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  4. That is beautiful news! I'm delighted for you and K and families xx

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  5. Exciting and wonderful news. Both a new baby to look forward to and also a wedding:-)

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  6. Lovely news! "It happens all the time"...but each time is a wonderful little miracle and so exciting for everyone involved.

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  7. Didn't I tell you Isabelle? All things come to she who waits....A grandbaby, a wedding and a ceilidh band to boot. Sounds to me like your cup runneth over! Happy New Year to all the Lifes!

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  8. Congratulations all round. You have a great new year ahead of you!

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  9. Such a lot going on in this life of yours. Your heart must be being pulled every which way. We have an actor newly in our life too! No grandchild that we know of. I will watch this space with great interest. Congratulations.

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  10. Oh my! Please give K my huge congrats!

    there's always something new to fall in love with!

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  11. ...many worse things to be than an actor...
    ...nothing much more awesome than a new life!

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  12. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY TO HOLD, AND MIND, AND PLAY WITH.....


    OHH, ISABELLE,

    a baby.

    :-)


    Congratulations....

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  13. It's going to be a big year! Congratulations on the upcoming grandma status. I'm really looking forward to those pictures of Baby The Wrong Way Up. (Your sideways cake made me laugh!)

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  14. How fantastic!
    I'll bet you'll be the best grandma!!!

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  15. Babies! Holidays! A new year! Whoopee!

    P.S. One trick that works for getting photos the right way up: Open the photo in your photo program on your computer and then click "Save As" and choose "BMP. file". For some reason, saving it as a bmp file instead of a jpeg file will keep it oriented the way you want it.

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  16. I am glad to read that the weather didn't stop your family getting to your place in time for Christmas dinner!
    Best wishes for a happy new year - you have lots to look forward to!

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  17. Oh, that is wonderful news! How fantastic! (I need some proxy baby-ness these days, given how big and loud my boys now are)

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  18. A baby...how wonderful...congratulations to you all.

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  19. That's wonderful news, Isabelle - it's going to be a good year. Not all of it the way we would like it but, hey, it's definitely glass more than half full now! Hugs.

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  20. What wonderful news Isabelle - gosh you're going to have an eventful year!
    (I had trouble with getting blogger to post my turned photos the right way up, too - why did they change the system?)

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  21. So much news! How wonderful you are to be a grandparent. New life always brings such joy.
    I wish you all the Best in Life, for the Lifes, for 2011.

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  22. your cup runneth over - congratulations!!!

    being a grandmother is absolutely the best - trust me, i know these things

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  23. What wonderful news for the start of a new year.

    Congratulations- you will love it, despite all the worrying! Sending all good wishes for a safe arrival ( eventually).

    That is an amazingly clear scan. A little face in profile and a tiny leg kicking about. Incredible.

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  24. Just stopping by to wish you a Happy New Year. It sounds like you have some exciting things in the works. Grandbabies are the best!

    Darla

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  25. Congratulations to you all and I know you will be a marvellous Grandmother. What will you be called? Gran, grannie, grandma, nan, nana??

    Good luck withall the other events and changes too. I wish you the boon of health, energy and your usual good humour...


    Lesley xx

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  26. Oh, how absolutely fantastically wonderful! A tiny baby!! Congratulations all around :)

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  27. Anonymous7:23 pm

    Delightful news- congratulations!
    Also - a Happy New Year to you!

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  28. Anonymous2:01 am

    The absolute joy of that little photo brought a tear to my eye. I can only imagine how it made you feel.

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  29. CONGRATULATIONS!!! SO very exciting -- I just know that you and Mr. Life will make the most wonderful grandparents!

    Can you believe how quickly the holidays have disappeared? I guess it's just all a blur when so much of our time is spent cooking and doing. I hope you can squeak in a bit of rest before returning to work!

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  30. Oh, how absolutely fantastically wonderful! A tiny baby!! :) :) :) Congratulations to you all :)

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  31. How did I not see this????? I am SO excited for you, Isabelle!! A grandbaby! Congratulations to the expectant parents too of course, but oh, how you are going to love being Granny. Wonderful news indeed!

    Actually I have not had time to read blogs for the past few weeks, but come Friday, all will be back to normal, and I will be back home. Sigh. I didn't see any of my children over Christmas, but I will see the boys and Ann and Missy this weekend, so I am grinning.

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