A New Year message from Amanda

 Keep Smiling Through.....

Well here we are.  It's already 2022. Another year dead and gone, a New One not even 24 hrs old.....

If Amanda could, I know she would wish you all a very Happy New Year!  She's always been such a kind and sweet natured being.....

Unfortunately dementia has robbed her of all but a few words now.  She can say, Over here!  -  which means almost anything, depending on the context.

Or she will say, OK! Not too bad! to anyone we meet.....  

But that is now the extent of her vocabulary.....

Over Christmas we both had nasty colds - not Covid (I tested) - and we were laid a bit lower than usual, but they're nearly over.....  Just residual rattles in the chest and signs of old age.  But she keeps smiling.....

Though, at times, she does appear thoughtful....

There's generally no way of fathoming the depths of her imaginings.....

Except when she smiles, and you know she is cheerful.  A cup of tea often does that....

And it's not hard to make her chuckle, whatever is going on in my muddled mind......

And it's not just when she's warm and easy in her comfy nest; it's often the way when we are out in the wind and the rain as well.....

So let me take a risk and guess what she might say to you, to wish you a Happy New Year.....  Look after yourself, and keep smiling.  Wherever you are, and whatever your personal difficulties, remind yourself that it could well be worse.....

With love,

Richard