sympatheticclaret

Many thanks for your kinds words, sir ! My heart breaks for your wife, my Dad never quite got to that point ... but I shall carry to my grave the look on my son's face, when we visited Dad during his last hospital stay, about 3 weeks before his passing. He looked around the 6 Bay ward, " I think we're in the wrong bay, Dad " ... I gently took my son's arm, " He's here, love " ... he'd been working away for 5 weeks, and didn't recognise him ... You lose them twice with Vascular Dementia, firstly the person, character etc that you knew, and then their eventual physical passing ... Sending love and best wishes to you and yours .. SC XX

Some 15 months ago, I wrote a tribute to my beloved Dad who had passed away due to complications from, " vascular dementia, old age and fragility ", which proved cathartic in my grieving process . Sadly, I can now complete the story ... On Sunday 24th August, neither my two sisters or I were able to contact our Mother at her home in Clitheroe. All of us had rung her in the morning, but as it was usually the time she would be dressing, we were not too concerned. However, I'd been unable to speak to her by 12.30am, and with my sister's being away on long arranged engagements, I drove over to find Mum unresponsive, aged 89 in her home. The " 999 " operator requested me to start CPR, but after a moment's thought, I declined, having witnessed her sign a " DNR " form some years previously. The Emergency services team arrived a few minutes later and were wonderfully supportive. They confirmed that Mum had passed peacefully some time previously, as she would have wished, in her own home, without lengthy & debilitating hospital stays, or ending her time in a Residential facility ... Mum had met my Dad at an " Inter-School " 6th Form Dance in 1953, in Nottingham ... They dated until he left in 1954 to do his National Service ( Royal Signals, Egypt & Cyprus ), and she to start her Nursing training at Westminster Hospital, London . Dad then took up a Choral Scholarship at Cambridge University whilst reading Engineering, ( Think the BBC's " Carols at King's " broadcast each Christmas Eve ), whilst she continued her Nursing, treating Clement Attlee, amongst others ... They married on the 5th September 1959, one of 5 marriages conducted at Dad's Parish Church that day, & honeymooned in Devon for a whole week ! Dad had lost his Father at 7, killed trying to rescue people out of the Rolls Royce Engine factory in Derby during a German bombing raid in 1943, and having seen his mother work two jobs to support her family, was determined that his wife should not have to work, after having children. He worked 3 jobs, including overnight weekend shifts at a petrol station, to save a deposit for their first home .. I came along in 1963, my sister in January 1966, and later, January 1973, my baby sister, her " Autumn Leaf " ... Mum was caring, thoughtful, generous and a fabulous Cook ... above all, she was a font of good advice and common sense ... my wife of 36 years adored her as did her two sons-in-law ... When our son married 6 years ago, my wife said she would treat Mum as the ideal Mother-in-Law template " Helpful, thoughtful, generous .. but never one to interfere ! " .. In writing this , I'm acutely aware that we were all so fortunate to have both parents with us for so long, and so many of our friends and contempories were not so blessed ... God bless, Mum !!

In 1913, the main stand at Ewood Park was subject to an arson attack by extremist Suffragettes, targeting it as a symbol of male influence and power etc .... I wonder if we might see history repeat itself ?

The most sensible comment posted on this thread ...

Claret in peace, as ever ... Football administrators get pelters sometimes, but looking at the Championship table, let's give credit to whoever dreamt up both " 3 points for a win, not 2 " ( 1981 ) and the " Play-Off system " ( 1986-87 ) ... I'm old enough to remember the years prior, and the amount of " nothing " games, between Clubs who were safe, but couldn't get promoted was huge. Be assured we will be on it next Saturday, all sorts of clean sheet records, unbeaten runs to continue. Also, Millwall were the last team to beat us in the League, on the 3rd November, we can't have them do the double over us, after the season we've had. The only issue we have is that I'm 90% sure Flemming will be unavailable for us, as technically he's still on loan until his move is made permanent in the Summer ... Let's hope your season is extended a bit longer ! Finally, and I fully expect this gives me more pleasure than Rover's fans, with our away record of P23 W14 D7 L2 and a goal difference of +26, we'd still be above Preston in the League, if we hadn't played any home games .... 😂

Definite case of small man syndrome here, I fancy .... just checked, ah yes, a 5'6" Scouser ... Mind you, check out Bradford City's Aden Baldwin sending off at Doncaster at half time ... yellow and then red, both for dissent, as they're walking off for half-time, absolute numb-nuts .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rQ28d5sRJY

In peace, as ever .. Yes, we've got our fair share of " muppets " .. as all Clubs have, Rovers not excluded !!

But of course ... 😁

The fact is that Burnley fans can easily " multi-task ", and we also know the meaning of the word " schadenfreude ", even though, in a recent survey, only 29% of us can spell it ...

1-1 .... I've been following the Clarets too long to get over excited with a 1-0 lead ...

In peace as ever ... Left it my usual 24 hours or so to let things die down. Certainly not a game for the ages, we converted our one good chance and that's " all she wrote " ! The referee started well, but was inconsistent for both sides. I think Rovers have the basis of a decent team, but need additional reinforcements, as so many of you have said. We need to increase our goal threat sharpish ... if Ashley Barnes is the answer, then we're asking the wrong question ! I watched the game on TV, despite receiving the offer of a " spare " from a Rovers mate at 5.30pm on Friday. " Where is it, pal ? ", I asked, " Centre of the lower tier, Blackburn End ! " ... " Mmm, call me Mr Ungrateful, but I'll pass if you don't mind ! " .. Now that's over, best wishes to all for 2025, and enjoy the rest of the season !

I'd be delighted to chauffeur you all " door to door ", should you wish, no problem at all ! 😉

Claret in peace as always .... Just a brief post to wish one and all a great Christmas and a happy, healthy New year. I think both Clarets and Rovers supporters will not be displeased at their respective League positions as we enter the Christmas fixtures. Looking forward with a little trepidation to the small matter of the " Derby " on 4th January, whatever happens let's hope the rivalry is kept in it's proper perspective ... Finally, reflecting back on a year in which I lost my wonderful Dad at the fine age of 88, thank you to the many posters on here who took a minute or two out of their lives to send their condolences and best wishes to our family, there were some lovely words, and they have not been forgotten .. Again, best wishes to all, and to paraphrase Dave Allen, may your God ( if any ) go with you ! 😉

Claret in peace as ever ... Not posted in a while but a great win for you today, Leeds defeat won't be mourned by too many at this end of the M65 either, nor in Sheffield I suspect .............

That's 90+ minutes of my life I'm not getting back ... very poor, playing like a team who first met each other half an hour before kick off ...