New year’s eve

A streaming cold and not much energy mean I haven't seen mum for a couple of days, but we've kept in touch by phone and she's been speaking to family and friends, all of whom are a couple of hundred miles away. She's very good about phoning them all, and is still much loved by them, even though she is so far away.

I worry regularly that she should have stayed near to her relatives and friends - but then who would take her to the shops and fix the broken lightbulbs and post her letters? and who would I take to Debenhams for one of their delightful cappuccinos and a cosy chat?

My aged and frail aunt with osteoporosis phoned me yesterday to find out how my cough and cold were doing, after she had spoken to mum who said she was worried about me.

It was lovely to get a call from her as she is so frail herself and lives all alone, with few visits from her family. I told her I was fine and was working up the energy to press my ball gown and get the dancing shoes out for the Hogmanay ball.