Goodnight Ishbel…

Well today was the day we gathered together to say goodbye to Ele’s mum-in-law (Kenny’s mum) Ishbel.

Ninety-three years young and been part of David’s life and mine since we were 18. We will miss her.

She wasn’t much older than we are now when we first met her. Like David’s mum she was widowed young and when Ele and Kenny started dating there was no choice for them but to stay together and get married, as their mothers had become best of friends :-)

When I think of Ishbel in those early years I think of all the family gatherings David’s mum would organise and we’d all bring a dish to the buffet. Ishbel’s contribution was always her utterly amazing homemade pizza and apple pie. We all fought to get to the buffet first incase we missed out on her food! She never did give me the recipe! :-)

She was always good fun and good company and when David and I were just dating I used to go on holiday every September with him, his mum, Ele, Kenny and Ishbel to a caravan at Brandedlys Holiday Park at Crocketford near Dumfries. Oh the hilarious times we had. Out all day and back to the caravan for dinner and games - Yahtzee, Mission Impossible, Risk and of course the dreaded Monopoly! Also Gin Rummy along with the gin :-))

Poor Ishbel was not a good traveler and on one occasion when travelling to Crocketford in David’s mum’s car, she had a sudden bout of nausea and without time to ask his mum to stop, she’d did the only thing she could and opened her handbag and was promptly sick into it! Along with her false teeth! Fortunately they were literally a minute from the caravan and when they arrived she jumped out the car, fished her teeth from the bag and chucked the bag in the bin! Unfortunately the owner of the caravan park (who they knew well) was there to greet them with the caravan key. Poor Ishbel spent an awkward 10 minutes with her mouth clamped shut just nodding at him and not smiling! She was mortified! We never let her live it down :-)

When Alan was born she was so keen to get to know him and understand his difficulties and over the years developed a lovely relationship with him. She always spent time with him when she visited and always asked after him. And she always had a photo of him on display in her living room.

Aww Ishbel, I’m so happy to have known you and had you in our lives for so long. I’m so glad you lived to see four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Esme is going to miss you so much. We all are.

As we drove home this evening I thought to myself I wonder if David’s mum and Ishbel are sitting up there on a cloud somewhere having a good old catch up? I hope that little sunbeam is my answer.