![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Too many people have died
I'm starting to realise that the greatest hazard of getting old isn't dying yourself, but that all the people you've grown up with start dying.
This has been a bad year. Gareth Thomas, Terry Pratchett (and several other actors I enjoyed), my mother in law and now, this weekend, a concertina friend of mine.
Gary and I met regularly to play concertina - and now we won't any more. He was an odd bloke. Rude and a bit annoying in group settings, but much easier to get on with on a one to one basis. (Some of that may have come from social awkwardness) I'd known him for a very long time, but we only became friends this last year. He was my kind of musician. Neither of us were great concertina players, but both good enough to play for morris. It's always more fun to play with people at your own ability level.
He died a couple of days ago, but I didn't want to sour my parent's diamond wedding party by talking about him then. They're getting very old and frail (though still with full mental capacity) and besides, no one else there really knew him.
The Diamond Wedding was a good party. Brought together members of the family I rarely get to see. Really good to meet with them again.
We went to the Stockport and District Model Engineers railway track on the Sunday and my father steamed up the model engine (Puffer) that my grandad built (and the model engineers have adopted and cared for and repaired and rebuilt as necessary over the years). Oswin got to ride on the carriage pulled by her great great grandad's engine.
I nearly cried there. It's many years now since my grandad died, but the smell of the engine in steam brought him right back to me -he had a track that ran the length of his back garden and used to give us rides. He made around a dozen engines, but I only know where two of them are now. (He sold most of them. No point in keeping too many in the family as they need to be looked after by people who know how to use/maintain them and have the skills to keep a valid boiler certificate, etc.)
This has been a bad year. Gareth Thomas, Terry Pratchett (and several other actors I enjoyed), my mother in law and now, this weekend, a concertina friend of mine.
Gary and I met regularly to play concertina - and now we won't any more. He was an odd bloke. Rude and a bit annoying in group settings, but much easier to get on with on a one to one basis. (Some of that may have come from social awkwardness) I'd known him for a very long time, but we only became friends this last year. He was my kind of musician. Neither of us were great concertina players, but both good enough to play for morris. It's always more fun to play with people at your own ability level.
He died a couple of days ago, but I didn't want to sour my parent's diamond wedding party by talking about him then. They're getting very old and frail (though still with full mental capacity) and besides, no one else there really knew him.
The Diamond Wedding was a good party. Brought together members of the family I rarely get to see. Really good to meet with them again.
We went to the Stockport and District Model Engineers railway track on the Sunday and my father steamed up the model engine (Puffer) that my grandad built (and the model engineers have adopted and cared for and repaired and rebuilt as necessary over the years). Oswin got to ride on the carriage pulled by her great great grandad's engine.
I nearly cried there. It's many years now since my grandad died, but the smell of the engine in steam brought him right back to me -he had a track that ran the length of his back garden and used to give us rides. He made around a dozen engines, but I only know where two of them are now. (He sold most of them. No point in keeping too many in the family as they need to be looked after by people who know how to use/maintain them and have the skills to keep a valid boiler certificate, etc.)
no subject
As my friends curse 2016 for the deaths it has brought us, I keep reminding myself that some wonderful new people are being born, it's just that no one (except their families) will know about them for a couple of decades.
no subject
no subject
Wow, your grandad had a very cool hobby.
*hugs*
no subject
no subject
no subject
The Diamond Wedding sounds like a great way to celebrate people while they are still alive,
And how fabulous to have that sense-memory of the model trains, and Oswin getting to ride them!
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
Your granddad sounds like a great bloke. It takes so much skill and dedication to finish even one model steam engine, that to build a dozen of them and a garden railway is a phenomenal achievement (your grandmother must have been pretty tolerant too!).
no subject
I think Gary's death and going round the track triggered a whole set of memories of Grandad. Seeing my dad bent low over the cab, he looks so like Grandad did.
no subject
please, please tell me you have a picture of dad driving Puffer from Sunday. I was relegated to taking mother to lunch.
AM says Robert has one engine and they know which model engineer club member bought Y Ydraig.
no subject
I didn't realise Robert had one. I wonder if he ever runs it.
no subject
Lucky you for such a grandad. None of my family had any practical skills beyond a bit of diy decorating and gardening.
And if you don't read Nevil Shute I think you might like him. Start with Trustee from the Toolroom.
no subject
no subject
no subject
I understand very well, dear friend.
But - I think your Granddad was not only your beloved one but he also influenced you greatly. I am sure you two had great time together!And now you can see how a new generation plays where you used to play yourself. Yes, sad but also fond memories...
no subject