Goodness, I have been away from the Rainbow too long! Nigel, thank you for thinking of us, we went to the beach hut on Sunday, a beautiful sunny day and, miracle of miracles, our hut is fine but the huts either side were badly damaged ,as were most of the others. Being on stilts the sea surged underneath and pushed the decking skywards in most cases and the huts at Walton near the coastguard station were mostly washed away. My brother was told to evacuate his flat on the quay in Harwich but fortunately had no damage on his return.

But all this is nothing compared to the sadness and illness that other crew members have had. Welcome on board Linn, you will be enveloped with love on this ship!

Mother is progressing well, we have had a few hiccups with the 24 hour care, but she is walking with a frame but getting very frustrated with the cast on the arm as she does not understand that she fell . The pelvis fracture isn't giving her very much pain and the main problem is getting her confidence back. The dementia however has gone down a level, maybe due to shock? She is very tearful and confused.

But Billy and I have managed to visit Christopher for his birthday and again last weekend saw Giles Brandreth at Christopher's theatre
( very funny he was too!) Samantha and I went to the carol concert at Holy Trinity in Sloane Square on Monday evening. It was compared by John Suchet and Brian Blessed read " The night before Christmas" It was a lovely evening.

Have to admit the past three weeks have been " not the best" I have felt very down worrying about mother, but am counting my blessings and sending my love to all needing a hug!

Oh and Billy had a positive visit to see his consultant today, all his blood tests were good, still in remission!

Not long till Christmas, a time for the little ones, nativity plays, carol singing and sharing love and peaceful thoughts, and thanking Nigel for Jane's Rainbow.

with love

Wendy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx