Thanks for your email and your kind words. There has been no real improvement with Dad’s condition. The family were called to his bedside last weekend by the doctor as they thought he was slipping away and he was given the last rites by the priest.  He is still very frail and his quality of life is not brilliant, he can’t even eat or drink. The poor thing is hooked up to tubes and drips. He seems to sleep most of the time which is probably a blessing.  I am more resigned to the fact that he is so ill, it was such a shock at the start.  I felt it was so unfair that he should suffer like that but unfortunately we have no control over these sorts of ings. Jackie and Gerard visit dad everyday and thankfully Michael has calmed down and is behaving himself. Do you think you will come over to Ireland this summer? I had yesterday off work as it was a bank holiday for St Patrick’s Day, so it was a lovely long week end.  The weather was good and it gave us chance to catch up with the gardening, such as cutting the lawns. There always seem to be things round the house that need doing. I’m hoping to get Jackie over for a holiday when the weather gets warmer and things settle down in Birmingham. All the best for now. (Email from Ann to Mary, March 20, 2007)