Patrick Hasler

You have my sympathy ........ I went through exactly the same thing last august, my Dad was 90 years old and I really wanted to be there for his birthday. We went over this March and he seemed very frail. On our last whole day there we met him in his local pub where a taxi takes him free of charge every day (good guys) and we would normally take him home ourselves but I feared he would be crying along with us if we did that, so the taxi guy came and took him and his 86 year old mate home together. We had to promise we would try and get back for his next birthday because I felt that if I didn't he would have just gone home and died. I talk to him every Sunday morning and since our visit he brings up the subject of the next visit, he fully expects it, he ..... just like a lot of British people thinks that all Americans and anyone who lives here is rich :-( Unfortunately I don't think two trips in the same year is within our range, especially with the meager holiday pay we get over here, I have already used all the days for 2006 up.

He is still a very funny bloke and cheers me up a lot. When I first came here I tried to get him to fly over ! ...... NO CHANCE was his answer, I told him there was nothing to flying these days "I know, I know, planes are different to the Dakotas were flew in back in Burma, they have seats in now don't they" he said he was to ill and old to fly and I pointed out that the Pope flew, "Yes, I Know .... but he flies first class" he said.

Jerseygirl

Oh hiya I didn't even notice it was you that spotted my little mistake.

neil

I'm a bit fanatical about that sort of thing. I've learnt to ignore the use of your instead of you're (but it still always bothers me).

As for the timing of the trip for Frank, a surprise visit next weekend or the weekend after, or even the week after that, would, I'm sure, still be appreciated - better than not going at all.

BigDavyG

So you didn;t like my idea then ??

neil

No, but I did manage to karma you for trying. I think I'll get him the Beatles Anthology DVD and hope he likes it.

anotherlimey

At least you remembered your mother's!

BigDavyG

I would like to claim some of the credit for that - please sign my name on the card too

frrussre

thanks
Reg.frank r.

britvic

We choose to leave our love ones, if only we could of for seen what we are doing to them as well as our self's, it's heart breaking. Chin up Frank.

User Name

*nods* In my case I had a hard choice. The then wife was homesick for her "native" IL (she was, still is, a dual US/Canadian citizen, born in Calgary, but grew up in IL, mother US citizen, dad Canadian (now dual US/Canadian citizen)). So there we were in one of my favourite towns in England, and she got very homesick. So I packed in the post-doc and we moved to Chicago, IL. I would have liked to live in Canada, but among other emotional pulls, her homesickness and need to be nearer her siblings blew that option aside.

Jerseygirl

I know this may sound harsh but I try not to think about it too much, I can't, I have to carry on with our life here.

britvic

Well your a stronger Woman than me then

Jerseygirl

The only way I can make a life here is to try not to think of what was or what might have been. Saying that it breaks my heart to say goodbye when I leave the UK after a visit.

Angry White Pyjamas

I'm sorry but I read this as "Mothers Birthday this week, big Quilt time for me."

Jerseygirl

Well didn't your dad ever tell you that too much would make you go blind.