Michael Carter

We moved to Havant in May 1987, when Claire was just over a year old.

Michael was born on 11 July 1989 in Portsmouth.

I went back to paid work on 1 September 1992.

We camped in the New Forest in August 1993 because it was cheaper than renting anywhere with walls.

Our first flight was to Majorca in August 1994.

Mabel came from a litter belonging to somebody at Eastbrook.

I became Eastbrook’s school secretary on 2 September 1996.

I remember 1998 as the gallbladder year, though most of the year had nothing to do with it.

We bought our first home computer at Christmas 1998.

We went back to Weymouth in August 1999.

We moved to Emsworth in August 2004.

I met Denise again in Fareham in May 2009.

Claire married Simon on 9 September 2010.

I bought my first smartphone in 2013 because Claire said my old mobile was becoming embarrassing.

Mum had a stroke on Tuesday 27 September 2016.

Michael brought Leanne to dinner in 2017 and told us they were moving in together.

By April 2020, family visits had become video calls.

Poppy was born in February 2021, during the winter lockdown.

The public version is that Alan died suddenly at home in December 2021. That is true and enough for this entry.

Alan died on Saturday 18 December 2021.