Granny Morag's Missive

Esther Eleanor was born,by emergency Cesarean Section on Saturday 14 July 2007.She weighed in at 9lbs 12ozs. and was 55 cms.long.From the first indication of the imminent birth to the time the baby was born, Sarah and Keith had 50mins to the new Simpson, and for Sarah to have a general anaesthetic. Esther was born at 11.22pm. A beautiful baby sister for Ruth. Needless to say Rob was also chuffed to bits. He knew he was going to have a baby granddaughter, and as I have already told Ruth - that sisters are often alike,- he could imagine what this wee girl might be like. Esther is very like Ruth was when she was born,only a bigger version! Each morning, especially in the later stages of his illness, Rob would ask how his "bairns" were - Ruth and Esther, and I think he included Sarah in that as well !

So.. for those who managed to make Rob's funeral last Friday, you will know our worry was that Sarah might not have made it ! But Esther managed to bide her time until 11.22pm on Saturday. As co-incidence would have it Rob's died at 11.22pm the previous Sunday.

For my own part I am in a strange place, obviously delighted with the new addition to our family, especially now that Sarah is on the mend.But trying to adjust to life without Rob is heartbreaking.In spite of his tumour,Rob and I said we were lucky. We had a relationship which grew over 35 years. We still felt the same for each other as we did when we met and more. Marriage suited us. We had Sarah, Keith and Ruth. With the exception of his golf, we did everything together.His illness brought us even closer. We spent 24 hours, 7 days a week together. It will be hard to live without him. Needless to say, he will always be part of me and my life.

I would like to thank everyone for the e-mails throughout Rob's illness. Although not able to cope with visitors, he loved to read the messages, to hear how people were faring.
I also want to thank everyone who was able to make Friday's service at the Cemetery. To Moira and Keith for the poems,to Margaret for singing, to Pat Robertson for the service,to the violinist, to everyone who has sent flowers, cards, letters of condolence and to everyone who contributed to the collections for the Marie Curie and Maggie's Centres.I don't have a final total yet because people are still sending in their donations but we are over £2000 mark by now. Many many thanks. Rob would be pleased.

I cannot thank people enough.
To all the staff at the Western Dept. of Clinical Neurology who have dealt with us since 2001. To all the friends who ferried Rob back and forward to his Radiotherapy in 2001.To all the staff and volunteers at Maggie's in Edinburgh who have supported us and helped us with the stress of living with a terminal disease and try to turn it into something positive. To the staff and volunteers at the Marie Curie Hospice at Fairmilehead who cared for Rob both in the Community Wing and in the Hospice itself.To Sheila and Nadine, our District Nurses who excelled at arranging and providing Rob's home care right up to the very end and to Ina,Trish, Doreen and Christine who provided Rob's personal care when I could no longer cope alone. And to the Nisbet and Dickson families who provided lots of love and practical support when it was needed and who stood back when Rob and I needed to be alone.
There are lots, lots more to be thanked and I hope I get round everyone.

Rob and I don't have a belief in an after life, we believe that your spirit continues in the memories that other people have of you, so if you have a minute now and again, just have your own small memory of Rob and of how he came into your life.


Lots of Love
Morag