Easter week in Switzerland is drawing to a close. Tommy and his two friends – all Thomases too – depart today, and we tomorrow.

What should have been a happy time was marred by the death of Ross’s mother, Ann, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. She had been ill with cancer for some time: in fact we were radiotherapy buddies, swapping stories of waiting times and keeping still while being zapped. She found it much harder than I did and did not complete the course. She said there wasn’t much point: it appears she knew that she had had cancer for some time but had not told anyone. How brave, but also a little sad as we were not able to make the most of her last months.

Ross travelled to London from Singapore on Sunday last week, while I braved Malaysian Airlines yet again (it was a bit of a hassle in fact with broken seats and a loudly snoring man, but sleeping pills are a boon). He managed to see his Mum on Monday, and she slipped away shortly afterwards.

Ross put his recent experience into practice and did all the legal and administrative tasks that have to be done when someone dies; neither of us can face yet another sorting out of possessions and the closing up of a house, of a life, so Ross’s sisters will do that. The funeral is on Thursday this week, in the same chapel as Louise’s three years ago. I have mixed emotions about that.

 

Meanwhile in the mountains…a glorious week of sunshine and reasonable conditions so the boys have had fun. I have been doing yoga, meditating and cooking. Easter Sunday rounded off the week with a large party in neighbouring Morgins, packed with old friends (thank you Voutes!) complete with a lamb on a spit and sunshine. I broke my strict diet for the weekend and enjoyed eating and drinking as in the old days. The day was capped by Liverpool’s win over Norwich and the Premiership title nudging closer…