JOYCE HOUGHTON - UPDATE

Following is an extract of an email received from Sally yesterday:

I saw Mum last week.  I try to go once a week but at the moment it is a bit hit and miss.  I won a huge flower arrangement last week though and was able to take it to the home.  Mum was sporting a new pair of slippers which she thinks are riding boots - she thinks she rides every week which is lovely.  

She is still weepy - I never see any of the other residents crying and I find it difficult to deal with - she is slimmer than she has ever been - that is one positive she would be delighted about if she knew.  

She went on a trip with the home a couple of weeks ago, she was taken on a steam train and apparently really loved it.  

I have just purchased her a pink cowboy hat for Christmas.  It has a fluffy trim around it - I will try and remember to take the camera with me at christmas and send you a photo.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

WENDY

13 November

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BBC REMEMBRANCE WALL

Add a soldier from your family to the BBC's Remembrance site.

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HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY

DORIAN

[Great Grandson to Fred & Ethel Mildon]

Born Santiago, Chile

6 November 1978

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MY BIRTHDAY

My birthday yesterday, was spent on the beach. The dogs loved it and were plain tuckered out last night. You can see why....

Thank you Wendy, for your timely birthday wishes.

Blooms from the trees along the shoreline

A grand day out and a lovely way to celebrate my 54th birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

SALLY

26 September 2008

ANOTHER GENERATION

The news is in Karla's Facebook area and so firmly in the public domain:

We are to become a grandfather early in the new year.

+ HAPPY 87th BIRTHDAY +

JOYCE HOUGHTON 

(nee MILDON)

21 AUGUST 2008

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JOYCE MILDON - UPDATE

Following report from Sally:

I went to the Summer Fete at Mum's home on Saturday.  I have never seen her so animated.  There was a keyboard player there called Martin and we all had a singsong.  Mum wanted to dance and "twirl" - so we danced for about an hour and a half!  She had a terrific time and was smiling constantly.  She was engaging with the other people at the home, particularly a couple of the men to whom she seems quite attached.
 
The fete was opened by Judi Spiers who only intended to stay a few minutes and ended up staying for 3 hours joining in with the singing - she was terrific.  We had a bit of a chat and she was telling me about the experience she had with her own mother and dementia.  It was quite an afternoon.  Judi spoke about it on her radio programme this morning and how fantastic she thought the home was compared to the one her own mother had been in.
 
Mum definately seems to have settled now.  She is much more in her own little world - is convinced she goes riding once a week.  I have not had any tears for the last 3/4 visits and no references to wanting to leave.  She always thanks me for coming and is ok about saying goodbye and is easily distracted from me.

 The following has been received from Helen Forward, born Bolham near Tiverton, 3 August 1955:

Hi I have just come across your blog was going to place a message but could not - I am the granddaughter of Amelia Mildon daughter of Michael Mildon son of Richard Mildon and Sarah Anne Burnett - his father in turn was called Richard Mildon and he I think on his third marriage married Mary Anne Burnett Sarah Anne's Aunt.

I have been trying to solve a bit of a Mildon mystery - Richard Mildon who married Sarah Anne Burnett my Grt Grt Grandparents seems to have had itchy feet also! When he marries for some reason they get married at St Peter's Church in Tiverton which is odd and he is a Yeoman Farmer he later becomes an agricultural labourer and in 1851 census he is with his wife, and invalid daughter Amelia (whom my grandmother is supposedly named after who then lives with the Oliver's later in life) in Alverstoke in Hampshire in the army, my grt grandfather Michael Mildon and his brother are at Cadeleigh being brought up by the Burnett grandparents.

 

However by 1861 Richard has become a butler to a family in Hertfordshire (who seem to have strong ties with India and the army) and has another "wife" Myrah who is from Norfolk! and needless to say younger! also on this census Mary Anne is living as someone elses wife in Templeton (a Mr Davey) and has ner mother living with her and also her daughter Amelia.  Mr Davey is dead in 1871 and Sarah Anne is living with her sister in Cheriton Fitzpaine as a pauper - this is Mrs Oliver - but I can never find any further trace of Richard Mildon!

 

This sort of fits as my Dad always said that Michael Mildon his grandfather never really knew his proper age as he was made an apprentice to a farmer uncle who kept him a year or two longer as they changed his age!  Also despite being a middle child and his parents being married and indeed living together both before and after his birth Michael Mildon never puts his father's name on any documents ie marriage certificate which of course is a little odd.