Our Phili-Pam

Hi all, "Pamela Jean Grierson Sadly passed away on Tuesday 1st June 2021, aged 75 years. Much loved Wife, Mum, Sister, Grandma and Mother-in-law and a great Friend to many. A private funeral service will be held at Heart of England Crematorium, Nuneaton on Wednesday 23rd June 2021 at 11:00am. Due to Covid restrictions those who cannot attend may wish to pause for a while outside Holbrooks Health Team, Wheelwright Lane, where Pam worked for many years, at 10:35am to remember and say farewell. Live Stream will be available, for details enquire with J.E.Hackett and Sons, Coventry. Family Flowers only. If desired, donations in memory of Pam can be made to either Myton Hospice or Macmillan Cancer Support." Thank you.

Hi all, On the eve of Pam's funeral day, I'm fine. Her business affairs wrapped up very tidy, barring any unknowns coming out of the woodwork. Her affairs pile on the left, complete. I'm projecting forward to my new widower way of living. I'm benefiting from my Pamela add on value, for which I'm so grateful. Part of her value was her faith, which is certainly an add on. It's a confirmation of the reality of her faith. The Scripture on my wreath label, reads "Rev 3:20, Hearing His Voice". "I hear His voice as you have. See you soon, Pam." I will say no more on that, but may use it if I share some thoughts around our next season time. We are a public forum, not a church magazine. I have a provisional date for our service of remembrance & thanksgiving for Pam, Sunday, September 26th, at 11am, immediately followed by our delayed "wake". Unless restrictions by HM government, ALL are invited. I haven't changed hey, food again! Maybe my tastebuds have changed. I've always preferred bacon to sausage for most of my adult life, but I can take it or leave it. Sausage is right at the top. Cumberland sausage on my Morrison's delivery this week, which I'm tasting now. So, my basic cookery learning curve continues. I did an Irish stew casserole on Sunday. It was yummy. The thought for Thursday of sausage & small potatoes, maybe carrots too is looming in my mind. No more "Pam, what's for tea". A slight change of management in my care home. The trainee/apprentice has to do it now. My friend John, (you know, the fugitive in another story), life time bachelor by his choice, is very valuable for living singles advice. A word regards Hackett undertakers. Brilliant! Love to you all.

Your Pam will be very proud of you looking after all the paperwork and chef duties as well. We're all with you tomorrow in spirit even though most can't be there. Lots and lots of hugs to you and all those who are close to you both.

Thank you, Helen. My former boss, the chief accountant, Keith, would be very disappointed if I had lost my way with account reconciliation & wind up, which is what most of it is. Pam had three separate banks with four accounts, all with lots of numbers. Then sorting what I was entitled to inherit from pension funds & so on, transferring ICA accounts, merging & so on. A funeral that Pam & I attended last November, her last public outing, the folks involved hadn't a clue, either about entitlement or organizing, so it's in disarray, they refused help, paid for a funeral with borrowed money from relatives, when in fact they needn't have spent a penny. Bill collector letters constantly, simply dreadful. Now, they cannot do anything. What's more, there's a lot of that all over the country. Folk often think that they can handle jobs. Finance was my qualified profession, so I should be able to handle this. I couldn't do what Rob has done on our forum this morning, sorting out a hack-attack. Don't ask me to plaster your wall either, unless you're prepared to get someone else to sort out the mess. I'm like Frank Spencer as a handyman. I can't do it! So it is with most folks from my experience. Thank you Rob, for sorting us out!!!! PS. Anyone want to hire me for gas cooker repairs? I guarantee your journey to Mars quicker than anyone from China.

Thinking of Philip today - hope it all went as good as it could be, Philip. Pam's sun was shining for you.

Hi all, We brought these home.

God bless Philip, I know Pam is still with you as my Penny is still with me everywhere I go.

The flowers are very graceful Philip. I hope the service was everything you hoped it could be, given the restrictions. I agree with Scrutiny, our loved ones go with us. Your very own angel.

I lit the votive candle in Tewkesbury Abbey today as promised for Pam, remembering what day it was. May you receive strength and comfort Philip.

Hi Prof, Hi all, Thank you. Pam has lit a candle in my heart. I like Tewkesbury Abbey. I've quite a tall order living to her nature of care for folk. That's what I want to do. Part of that I hope will be on here, our forum of sharing everything that's related to Coventry. I've set my own target of the 1st of July as start again day for me. So much to do here at home, catching up on three years of home maintenance stagnation, but Rome wasn't built in a day, just as my home in Coventry won't be. Thank you everyone for your thoughts of kindness, yes a sad time. I'm certainly not grieving, but I so miss her. I have to open my own post now, learn how to find the start switch on the vacuum cleaner & learn the skill of cooking sausages whole, not cut in half prior to cooking. Part of my healing is being able to look forwards. Not just looking back at the happy & sad times of the past. A practical step is for me, not just looking at her teddies, all over our home, but I might replace my aged cinema organ that's given Pam & I such pleasure, so a trip to Whitley Bay Organs in Banbury might be on the cards for later this year. That was a curious move of theirs, moving to Banbury in 2017, Pam once said. Too close for comfort she thought! So that's about it for the jottings from Grogley Maltings.

Hi all, A working lunch today. I will have to claim this on expenses. I have a reduction in my rates letter arrived this morning. Good old Coventry! Have a good day all.

You are a gem, Philip, that's one of the perks being a pensioner. These concessions are well deserved as they are here too, so I hope you receive your concession card before long. That lunch looks very tempting and good to see you are taking your vitamin C.

Hi Dreamtime, Me, having been a secret Rupert annual reader, used to enjoy the stories where Rupert & his chums would travel to China, in an underground lift from Nutwood. It was constructed so it turned upside down on its journey, so they arrived the right way up. Well, I'm going to see if we can have such a lift going to Australia.

Wow! Count me in Philip, I am looking forward to the day, only you could do it.

Hi all, Some more jottings from Grogley Maltings. I have my pussy to speak to, she does talk, sometimes I can work out what she wants, but for hours now, I will have to get used to that, living on my own. Food & habit is high on my agenda of importance. I can't shout what's for dinner or tea anymore, knowing that it would arrive before me, perfect. Plain & simple is the game for now. A build on thing. Stuff that I really like & know is nutritious for me to qualify my care home with a three brills rating. Dinner just now, was the last of the Jersey potatoes, carrots & some frozen peas, all cooked in my new saucepan, that has a glass draining lid. My older saucepan, was used to heat a small tin of skin & bone free mackerel in tomato sauce. I have mackerel for breakfast on toast sometimes, a favourite of mine. Anyway, it was scrummy. The hot mackerel in the centre of the warm plate, with the veg all around. I hope that these jottings are of use to some of you. This was so quick & easy to do, taking about forty minutes from when I started. Best wishes all. Coventry isn't so bad, empty bins or not, hey! ps. I need someone with a slow luscious & lingering voice to say, this is not just ordinary food, this is psg food. I'm allowed to sit in Pam's seat now. I'm in charge, help!!!!! Also, I've something to show my friend MR. Tomorrow is Friday, FISH DAY. My Pam's best sister (there is only one) is coming for midday dinner tomorrow. I've my favourite Morrison's chunky battered cod pieces, not made up my mind whether veg or chips yet, but wait for it. Look what's going on the fish, MR.