Lists

It's that time of year again where I start making lists. I have already received a few Christmas cards from my usual early birds so must get my skates on. I have finished the two jerseys for my little French grandsons. I have probably said that this mostly enjoyable task developed into a bit of a marathon. It took me much longer than it should have done because I don't see so well. I used the same pattern for one jersey that my mother used for my son in about 1960, then I made it for my eldest grandson in about 1984 and I have made it again in 2007 and 2011. Good value from a pattern that cost sixpence in old money.
My address book has so many crossings out it is hardly legible. People move around a lot more than they used to do. I remember my sister-in-law grumbling "Amanda has moved so many times she has messed up my address book". I am now resorting to using a rather nice leather one, hardly used. It has a very nice inscription from my husband.
Now that so many people use electronic lists of addresses that are updated on screen I think we are in danger of losing a bit of history. Glancing through this address book there are people and houses I had almost forgotten. Oh! so that was where the Vicar moved to when he retired; and that was cousin Cissie's house she had built in Ryde next door to the cemetery. She said she had very quiet neighbours! Cousin Beryl's flat on the Isle of Wight which we inherited when she died. The pretty cottage Cousin Madeline lived in for many years. Uwe's address in Frankfurt when he was very young. (He has just been to visit us from the USA with his family). All this history that is precious to me. I am so glad it has not disappeared.