My family
My husband, Howard, 'retired' in October 2005. He had worked in the same company for over thirty years but felt it was time to move on. He took time to do some extensive D.I.Y. involving installing a sauna and new shower room as well as carrying out some major garden projects. He has been out and in of retirement now a couple of times. However the D.I.Y. projects continue with completely re-fencing the two main garden boundaries and building a new log cabin, or Studio as we like to call ir (see the Eclectic Collection in the Gallery). Other projects on the horizon include the front garden make-over which has yet to be defined yet alone carried out - watch this space.
Our son, Dan, suffers from a stress related mental health problem. However, he is very creative around music, using computers and synthesiers to produce all sorts of modern beats. He also works with others who contribute rap and vocals to his beats.
Kathryn, our daughter, married her long-time soul mate, Mat Connolley, on 26th June 1999. The whole event was a wonderful celebration of their own happiness. Their website will show you not only more of their wedding but also about their recent travels across the world. They are now back in the UK and living in Cornwall. Click here to see Mat and Kat's site.
My elder sister, Janet, has suffered both breast cancer as well as non Hodgkin’s lymphoma and has now been diagnosed with skin cancer. She has endured difficult and painful treatments but has embraced the challenges without faltering - an inspiration to us all. For more details on all types of cancer, and how to support research that will lead to more effective treatments, click here. Janet is married to Derek who, into his 70's, still manages a farm single handed. They have two children, now both grown and married and who, between them, have provided me with four Great Nephews and two Great Neices - very aging!
My brother, Richard, celebrated his 60th Birthday in January 2007. For once I am quite pleased to be the 'baby' of the family! He is married to Liz and they have two children, Tom and Eleanor, both now well into their teens. A pictorial account of Dicks' life, compiled as part of his 60th Birthday celebrations, is posted on the Gallery in the Family Collection.
John Close was Mat's uncle. He was diagnosed as suffering from Motor Neuron Disease and, as his condition deteriorated, decided to seek an assisted suicide with the help of Dignitas in Switzerland. Mats' mother, John's sister Lesley, with her partner Michael, his other sister, Margaret and a close friend, Peggy, were with him at his death on May 26th 2003. Lesley has gone on to take every opportunity available to highlight the need for a review of the archaic UK laws governing assisted suicide. More information can be found at the Voluntary Euthanasia Societies web site. John was a musician and you may like to listen to some of his music here.
