Hug EVERYONE special

I honestly don't know how to start this post, so I'll keep it simple: I'm not being a rubbish blogger, my mother-in-law died suddenly last week and taking care of my husband and helping with all the things that have to be done when someone dies have taken all my energy and time. (Besides, I had no computer access.) I spend a lot of time in vintageland, thinking about things from decades ago. This week has been a real reminder not to forget the people who are still here! Before Christmas I was a bit grizzly about going to my mother-in-law's for Christmas, because I'd had deadline hell at work and just wanted to slump about my own house in my pyjamas, but there was no way I'd have actually tried to wriggle out of it. I'm so glad I didn't; we went and had a great time. The time you fail to go and see someone, thinking you'll do it next time? There might not be a next time.

So here's to my mother-in-law, Joan: maker of the finest Christmas puddings in the world, cat fan, devourer of crime novels and the woman who won at the 1960s. How could she win at the 1960s? Because she did her nursing training in Liverpool so used to hang out at the Cavern, and did see the Beatles there but preferred Herman's Hermits. You could play all the 1960s cards you liked, but she'd trump everyone with that one, every time (though she wasn't boastful, she'd just drop it into conversation as an afterthought. I think I found it far more interesting than she did).

Now go and hug everyone you love, and stop farting about on the internet.