A real blast from the past!

Tom over at "Compact but adorable" was feeling crook all yesterday and today it is my turn. Chris is still prostrate on the couch with a duvet and "Midsommer Murders" so I have been a right little soldier and with a "once more unto the breach" mentality, I have walked the dogs and fed and cleaned out  the stock as well as cooked the meals and completed the shopping!
Oh what a martyr!!!
As I was dragging my carcass back to the cottage ( dressed in a pair of black, bleach stained pants with a broken zip and a ripped anorak) a car pulled up next to the field and three people got out. The male driver looked sort of familiar, but I had no idea who he and the woman or the teenage boy with him were, and I just had to smile broadly when he came over and shook my hand warmly
He obviously knew me, but I was at a complete loss who they were!
Now, I have to smile at myself, for I should have been honest from the start and admitted that I was at a loss,,, but embarrassment took over and after a minute of "vague"pleasantries I invited all three into the house for a cup of tea!
I hurried ahead of them, saying I was just going to lock the dogs away and galloped into the cottage where I hissed at Chris ( still inert on the sofa)
"I've just invited three people in for tea and I have NO idea who any of them are even though they seem to know me!!!"
The sick man grabbed his duvet and bolted upstairs leaving me to face one of the most potentially cringe worthy situations since my testicle fell out of a hole in my jeans in the Crucible Theatre foyer!
Testicle Blog click here
The trio came into the cottage and Constance's hysterical welcome broke the ice (and covered my embarrassment just a little further) just until the man pointed to a photograph of my grandmother on the family photo wall and said "ahh there's my gran!"

My Grandmother a year before she died

Then the penny dropped!
The guy was my cousin Mathew!
I had not seen Mathew for over 20 years. He is my uncle Jim's youngest son.and Jim was my mother's "baby" brother who lives in Rotherham in South Yorkshire.

I had lost contact with Jim before my mother died many years ago now. Her somewhat self destructive behaviour near the end of the life alienated her from my sisters and forced her admission to a residential home.
It was a horrid no win situation for all and the bad feelings of the situation meant that contact with Jim was curtailed somewhat........this unexpected reunion with my cousin  had been orchestrated by Jim, and although totally out of left field, the visit was much appreciated.

Mathew, is now a Captain in the army and is a big sociable and thoroughly amiable guy (the spit of his father in fact) and it was lovely to catch up with him and his wife and son after so long.
When I realised that my Uncle specifically asked Mathew to call in I am resolved to write to my Uncle who is now a frail 82 year old ,tomorrow.
It will be nice to touch base with him after so many years

(Left to right) Grandad, Sister Ann , JIM, my mother, Jim's first wife and my gran