Friday, June 29, 2012


Jenni and Theo’s son was born on Wednesday, in the 23rd week of her pregnancy. He lived only a few hours.

Here we still are.

My husband woke up that morning feeling “off” – not like him – and spent most of the day in bed. My sister phoned, very early CT time, to say that Jenni was in labour. I felt disinclined for adventure, and anxious to be near a telephone. Even when my husband is in what passes for the pink of condition these days, I worry about being in the country with him, far from help.

He was much better yesterday. We’ll probably attempt Strathardle tomorrow. The weather has been most peculiar – really very nice in Edinburgh and (clearly) London yesterday, apocalyptic between and above. The radio said this morning that some – how much? – of Tayside is without electricity. That’s us.

I’ll print the pattern for the Joseph’s Coat cardigan and take it to the K*rkmichael knitters with the yarn, hoping that it will wind up on the back of a precious Perthshire baby this winter. For Jenni and Theo’s next child, I’ll start again with something else.

In the course of all this, I’m nearly around the heel of Alexander’s second sock. Toe-up heels seem to involve much more knitting than top-down ones – I have decided that that’s because, in the normal way of things, one feels that the heel is done as soon as it has been turned and the stitches picked up for the gusset. The gusset decreases themselves slide down painlessly into the foot.

And, apart from the weather, wasn’t yesterday’s news extraordinary? BBC radio this morning seems curiously uninterested in the Supreme Court decision on Obamacare. I’ll go across the square in a moment and get the papers. And Nadal is out of Wimbledon! As far as I can understand the draw, Federer and Djokivic will deal will each other and Murray, if he gets that far, will meet one or the other in the final. He had a tough match yesterday (which I got to watch), but not as tough as Nadal’s.

Let’s end on a cheerful domestic note. I give all my children New Yorker subscriptions every year, which I think they all enjoy. I know that Thomas-the-Elder reads his mother Rachel’s subscription on his iPad, while she has the paper copy. The Greek subscription comes here, and I send them on in batches when the spirit moves me.

Greek Helen sent this picture recently, with the message, “The New Yorkers have arrived”. We spoke on the phone on Wednesday, and I thanked her for it – she said the boys dive for them. That’s Archie in the foreground, Mungo (presumably) behind.


24 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:04 AM

    We have recently figured out that I can share my father's New Yorker subscription in the same way--he gets paper and I get the iPad.

    So now I have a year or more of New Yorkers to read during dull moments.

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  3. Let me try that again!

    I am sorry to hear about Theo & Jenni's loss. My best wishes to them.

    My father and I have recently come to the same New Yorker sharing arrangement; now I have more than a year of them to catch up on!

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  4. It must be a very distressing time for Theo and Jenni and upsetting for the rest of you too. Thinking of you.

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  5. Oh so sorry. Sad news indeed.
    I miss my New Yorker subscription - maybe I should treat myself!
    Stay out of the weather!

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  6. So sorry to hear the news. Something similar happened to a friend and it is absolutely heart-breaking. I hope their story gets happier as hers did.

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  7. skeindalous12:31 PM

    Deep sympathies for Jenni and Theo and you. May you all be comforted.

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  8. My condolences, jean, such sad news. I share my New Yorkers after reading with a friend who then shares with a friend. That way, if I don't get to an issue in depth, I don't feel guilty.

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  9. I usually lurk but this time I really wanted to say sorry to read about the little lad, hugs to you all at this sad time x

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  10. Gerri2:07 PM

    My condolences to Jenni and Theo and all feeling the loss. What a difficult situation.

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  11. What dreadful news. I'm so very, very sorry.

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  12. Anonymous2:35 PM

    What a sad loss, Jean, not only for the baby's parents, but for the whole family. I can understand why you're giving the yarn and pattern away. It would always be a reminder of this loss.

    On a lighter note, that is a wonderful photo of the grandsons devouring the New Yorkers. It made me chuckle, and I'll bet the boys were engrossed for hours.

    Mary G. in Texas

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  13. What a sad thing to happen! I do hope that they were able to name him, as he will always be a member of your family.

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  14. Sarah JS3:10 PM

    So sorry to hear the news. My condolances to Jenni, Theo, and the whole family.

    Wonderful photo of the boys with their New Yorkers.

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  15. I am so sorry Jean. What awful news. I hope that in the not too distant future there is a baby sweater that gets knit for Theo and Jenni.

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  16. Anonymous3:56 PM

    My thoughts are with your family. Such anticipation of joy salted by such a devastating loss.

    Judith in Ottawa

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  17. I am so sorry for your family for your loss. Hugs to you, Jenni, and Theo.

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  18. so sorry to hear that sad story, there is nothing so distressing as losing a child.
    thinking of all of you

    Sophie

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  19. So sorry to hear the sad news.

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  20. as with all above, sending good thoughts and hugs to Theo and Jenni
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  21. Anonymous6:58 AM

    So sorry. Thinking of them.

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  22. Anonymous3:36 PM

    So sorry to hear about the loss of that precious boy. My sympathies to you, your sister, and of course Jenni and Theo.

    You are so generous to allow another knitter/baby to enjoy the sweater intended for the baby.

    Beverly in NJ

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  23. A belated but no less sincere sorry...

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