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Especially for you - a Poem, by Brian Bilston

"Mnemonic"

Thirty days hath September,

April, June and November.

Unless a leap year is its fate,

February hath twenty-eight.

All the rest hath three days more,

excepting January,

which hath six thousand,

one hundred and eighty-four.

https://brianbilston.com/tag/month/

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😂 that just about sums it up doesn’t it!

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Wonderful vibrant paintings by your Mum. Hope you feel better as the days start to lengthen. It's horrible clearing out a parent's home but you will get there. You'll have to be ruthless. I wasn't and still have things in boxes I haven't touched for years.

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Thank you Valerie. It hasn’t helped being ill but February always feels more positive. I am wary of bringing home too many boxes but it’s so difficult! We still have lots of stuff here from my in laws!

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What amazing paintings by your mum. I see now where your talent comes from.

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Thank you Annie x

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Your mum's paintings are lovely. I particularly like those dark seascapes, so vivid. She had talent. Dementia is the worst, isn't it? I feel for you. My sister and I cleared our parent's house in 2016--so much stuff! But we laughed so much as we did it, remembering things and laughing at some of the stuff they had squirrelled away. I hope it's not too awful for you.

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Thank you June. We have a couple of the pictures hanging on the wall which is a lovely reminder of her. We do keep laughing which seems to be the important thing… I don’t think I’ll ever have to buy cling film or kitchen foil again for as long as I live! And don’t get me started on clothes pegs… mum didn’t even have a washing line!

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Haha! It was tea towels here, me and my sister must have about 50 each that came from mums. And cut glass!! Even the charity shops don’t want it! I’ve got SEVEN decanters packed in a box…

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Oh… plenty of cut glass!

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Once we've had the shortest day I usually feel we're on an upward trend, though agree with you this January feels endless with storms etc. Clearing a parent's home is difficult, sometimes surprising to see what they did and didn't treasure. I love the photo of you and your Mum, that's special! I hope you feel better soon and able to relax and get out on the allotment in the coming months.

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Thank you Bronwyn. By February the days seem noticeably longer which is always welcome. And I managed a walk with the dog this morning which felt wonderful after over a week indoors.

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Sending all good wishes for speedy recovery, Gina ❤️ Your mum’s paintings are wonderful, that first one is 👌 And as for indulging yourself through your writing, isn’t that the point?! Indulge away - your honesty is very refreshing and probably exactly what people need to read (well, I appreciate it!)

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Thank you on all counts! I always hesitate when writing a post like this mostly because I can’t imagine anyone being remotely interested but I guess it’s connecting through shared human experience. Xx

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Exactly that 👌

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Lovely photo of you and your mum. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a brighter February.

Regards

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Thank you Barbara x

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Oh,January is endless but I hate February too. This year in February husband and I both have major eye things happening, so poor daughter has been pressed in to service as they all involve eye drops which stop one driving. I'm hoping for a better 'end of January' week, last week was rotten, though at least we haven't got Covid! Hope you feel a lot better soon and manage the flat clearance. Jx

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I don’t usually mind February because it’s short and so much lighter and all the hellebores come out in the garden. It starts to fell like spring is on the way. Although to be honest I don’t usually mind January either but this year has felt particularly stressful.

Hope your eye stuff goes well x

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