Happy place

By the time we’d thought about walking along the canal to Saltaire it was raining again so we took the car.

I wanted to look for special cards and gifts but it was particularly poignant to go today as Chris saw the funeral announcement of my dear friend and ex colleague Dot
(Darling Dot) who had died before Christmas.

We love Saltaire and a group of us friends/colleagues often met up here for coffee, lunch or just to enjoy the park and the events that Saltiare has to offer. We often went to the Arts Festival and Dot and I would go to the Vintage Fairs and once spent a day of Dance with her here. We had great fun particularly trying to do the Tango together!

You can see the four of us in this blip from Wendles56 having great Christmas fun at Chaplins in Haworth. Sadly we lost wonderful Jackie to cancer and now the ever full of fun Dot.
M (right) has now moved to the Cumbrian coast.

Last time I saw Dot Alzheimer’s had definitely taken hold. I went to visit at Christmas before Covid and the house was like the Marie Celeste. All the lights on, signs of present wrapping in the kitchen but I tried front and back door several times and couldn’t raise anybody. Then we had Covid and lockdowns. I heard she was doing ok and was happy at home but not really ‘there’. Then this Christmas I had a card from someone who said she had deteriorated and was having help in the home. She died in hospital. 
I feel bad I didn’t see her. She refused to use technology so we couldn’t text or email and she wouldn’t answer the phone so communication became almost impossible.

Such a terrible disease to take away the person who was so full of life and fun several years before she sadly died.

Hold on to your friends as long as you can they are precious.
Dot and Jackie 

In the blip you can see the Mill and the ground floor interior. There are magnificent Victorian planters/ jardinières on display and the walls are adorned with Hockney art work.