"Stopped short ... "

Stopped short never to go again, when the old man died.
My kids will be pleased that their old man has not died! The clock is going and (like its owner) needed some attention. The chime had not been working. But today we got the clock back from repairs, have set it up and wound it up and it IS going again.
And the 'old man's is OK too. Had visit to hospital to see the heart surgeon who operated on me and the news is all good. The heart seems to in excellent condition (ticking as regularly as the clock) and the aches and pains elsewhere will eventually cure themselves. Altogether a very positive day.