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All those snippets of news belong here. Happy New Year, everyone!

First odd question: can you guys see my avatar? I can't see it (or Alex's and a few of the emojis) when I log into the forum on my 'big' machine, but I can when I logon on the iPad. Curious!

I can only currently log on using my iPad … so yes to the avatar. Some of the emojis are still missing

Jo

No avatars at all (on a Windows PC) and only some of the emojis. The lol emoji laughs at a higher frequency than before!

Avatars now visible. They disappeared for me for a few days.

Regards,

Richard

I managed to make my avatar re-appear by re-uploading it in the control panel!

I cleared my cache... and all the avatars and most of the emojis have disappeared! The one's that remain are the really old ones, so a trip down memory lane. Anyway, many avatars have returned. I tried to re-upload mine, but was told it was too big even when it wasn't. Shall try again.

Update: Huzzah! Managed it. That feels much, much better!

I re-uploaded 'Albert' just to be on the safe side. Can't have him MIA.
Oh flip. It's 20 years ago on 28 March that he died. Oh boy. Strange, I still miss him every day, lots, even though we've had so many cats since. (Dinky, Jack, George, Squeaky, Fluffy, Gryff, Rooster, Floyd and Ozzie, though only the underlined two are currently with us.)

Regards,

Richard.

Good to see Albert again - a lovely way for you to remember him!

I had some astonishing and less than welcome news yesterday. One of my step sisters telephoned with some bad news. My youngest step brother went to bed on New Year's night all ready to go to work on Tuesday morning and never woke up. He's the youngest of 8, age 51-ish and seemed as fit as a fiddle.

To add to the fun, he's been looking after my Dad's affairs 200 miles away in Barnstaple. We both together had applied to the court of protection for individual power of attorney over my dad's affairs (with my dad's agreement now he's in a care home), the documents haven't yet come through - hopefully in the next few weeks. I'm going to have to take over running my dad's affairs, and I currently have no access to my dad's accounts to pay his bills.

Next weekend is going to need another visit to the South West.

Regards,

Richard

Oh Richard, how sad and what a shock it must have been to hear that - and added to it the complications with your father's financial affairs. I hope that at least will go smoothly. Did your step-brother leave a family?

Only his brothers and sisters. And most of the 8 are very close.

He has a fairly new build shared ownership house, which may complicate his estate.

Regards,

Richard.

Richard, I'm so sorry. What a blow this will be to the family to lose a brother at such a young age, and the added complications managing your father's affairs certainly do not help.

I will confess I'm not terribly close. My dad & his mum married in 2007, long after I'd left for the SE. However we met regularly & got on fairly well. The person who got on much better with him was my younger brother, the one I've not seen for 31 years. My step brother & his brothers/sisters saw my brother & girlfriend (#11?) last just before Christmas - something I learnt of yesterday.

Regards,

Richard.

I probably wouldn't know my step-brother if he rang the doorbell. Sad, but true. It happens in combined families, but it's good you two could work together for your father.

My brother, when I got through to him, was stunned. The two Jameses (my brother & step brother were both called James) were pretty good friends.

Going to have to go down this weekend to break the news to my dad if he's fit enough & aware enough. Also need to take over the accounts etc and pick up all the stuff needed to do so. Going to be a fun weekend. It's also pretty busy, with a plumbers visit on Friday to MIL, and both Tracy's and MIL's birthdays on Saturday & Sunday.

Regards,

Richard.

Happy New Year and apologies that I have been so neglectful of keeping y'all up to date on me as well as not checking with y'all. Its just been kind of crazy. My sister is here and will be leaving tomorrow and we just had lots of activities. I haven't started stitching yet and I think I didn't want to let you know. My sister did comment and when she asked why, and I said I didn't know why, she asked if I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to see well enough and boy was she right. I have everything out and ready where it needs to be. And my plan is to spend tomorrow catching up with all of you, to stop being AWOL . It's sort of like I felt bad not checking on y'all and then didn't because I felt bad. If that makes sense. I'll have to wait till I post this to see if my avatar is back but I can see right away that all the smilies aren't.

Carole
(with an embarrassed smilie if I could find it)
ps my avatar is back! must mean I am too.

Happy new year Carole! I'm so glad you've overcome that vicious circle and have checked in Good to hear you had such an active time with your sister there - stitching will happen when the time is right, there is no rush and no obligation, remember it's meant to be an enjoyable hobby

I can't see your avatar, which is odd as you obviously can I wonder why?

I can't see your avatar, but I can see your post. So huzzah for that! (I had to re-download my avatar to get it to show... just sayin'..)

You can watch us stitch until you feel up to it. Or you can just start with a doodle cloth and get your "needle" in, if you see what I mean. Don't pick up the afghan or anything important, just get a feel for it and let your eyes tell you what they need to let you enjoy yourself again. No rush!

Richard, I was going to ask if you had anything to do with today's launch, but glad I thought better of it. At least you've spoken to your brother? There is so much going on, I can't quite work out how you manage it all. Remember that we're all happy to provide a listening ear and the occasional shoulder. Also, that the S & G has been newly outfitted with a large sledgehammer and various materials to bash. Simply remember to push the black button when you go through the sliding doors. (Sledgehammers and crockery... too easy.)