Hi,
Just a short note to update you all and to let you know that you haven’t been forgotten. It has taken me this long to figure out how to get access…Duh!
It has now been 18 months since Chrissy passed and I think you all need to know what is happening in our family. Well, I am continuing to Home Educate Deiniol, who is now 15, built like the proverbial Brick Outhouse and is just overtaking me in height. It looks like he is going to be very tall, around 6’ 4”, like his Taid (Welsh name for Grandfather). I am still using Sonlight and Singapore Math although I am looking at alternatives for the next year as over here in the UK his next year is the big High School exam year, so, I am looking at preparing him for IGCSE (International General Certificate of Education) which is an alternative to the UK GCSE.
The last year has been particularly tough for both of us, Deiniol coped very well until September when it all got too much and he had a breakdown. I had made contact early on with a Family Bereavement Counsellor who was excellent when needed and she saw Deiniol within 48hrs. He then had a series of sessions with her which has helped tremendously.
Deiniol has grown into a good natured youth with a great sense of humour, he is very sympathetic and empathic, he converses well with older people, younger children and his peers, although he doesn’t suffer fools easily. He always has time to talk to people and is always there if anyone needs any help. I do know that Chrissy would be very proud of him and proud that the giudance she always gave him is reflected in how he has developed.
As for me, well I’ve found it difficult over the last year as well, in some ways it has been tougher than I thought it would be. I’ve always been there for Chrissy and Deiniol so being there for Deiniol in his struggles was without question. It was a lot of small things that caused me problems and worries, and all the bureaucratic nonsense that you have to go through. However, I’m now getting out of the darkness myself, only just realising that I’ve been there, and getting on with things with a bit more of ’a spring in my step’
Before I go, I would like to thank you all for the support that you gave us when Chrissy passed, your messages of support were fantastic. I intend to keep them on the web page for Deiniol and I hope to be able to retain a place on the Blogger and keep the Mamasmurf page in Chrissy’s memory.
Kind Regards to you all
Robert (Papasmurf)












