Hi Jules,

Well another week is almost over. I still haven't done the porch floor mainly due to the fact we have had rain here for the past few days and I need a dry day (at least that's my excuse )  When we went shopping on Tuesday my wife bought three comics for our grandchildren. Not something we do very often as they are so expensive with all the so called free toys. She gave two of them to the oldest two when they came to tea with us on Wednesday. The other one I hid inside my jacket when I took them home. The youngest one on seeing the older ones had got comics, came up to me to see where his was. He saw the corner of his one as I opened my jacket and when he found it was the Marvel comic with Iron Man in it, he went mad. He started shaking my hand until I thought it was going to fall off. Where upon I told him it was nanny who bought it for him, I just had to pay for it. He then proceeded to tell me when I got home I was to thank nanny very much and that I had to give her a great big kiss and a hug from him. But I told her he had told me to give her three hugs and kisses when I got home. It's no good getting older if you don't get craftier is it??????????  He also severely told me off when he found out she pushes the trolley round the store. He told me I was very lazy and I should help nanny more. We also went In to W H Smiths on Thursday and have bought all three children some Christmas annuals but there was one we couldn't find for our granddaughter so will have to try next week.

It is surprising how heavy these annuals are so if you have been lifting these all week, I hope you try to have a good rest during the weekend. But knowing you, that wont happen as you always seem to keep so busy with so many things to do. Having had to do the ironing when my wife was laid up the other week, I have more appreciation of what is involved. When it came to folding the sheets I got into a real tangle. I don't know how you ladies manage to do it, I really don't.

Anyway I have rambled on for long enough Jules, Hope you get at lest some quiet moments to recharge batteries ready for next week.

Talk again soon, Brian.

Hi Brian

IT is truly lovely to bring smiles to the faces of the young! It gives me so much pleasure to see the delight even the smallest gift can bring.  At the moment we are getting 'planes' stickers for our grandson. I have many packs at readiness but he does not get one every time we see him, just did not want them to run out before he had filled the book.  So far he is doing quite well and also 'swaps' his doubles with a friend at school (brings back memories).  Magazines are expensive (for children and adults alike) and we rarely buy them now but as you say an occasional treat never does any harm and they are better than sweets.

Don't envy you the forthcoming task re the porch and can see the need for a 'very dry day' before being able to get the job done. Maybe a few more bags of chestnuts will work their magic!!

Not sure I enjoy being busybut the doc did say I needed to do more exercise (don't do gyms!! or exercise routines) so extra housework/walking helps!!!  Trouble with more exercise it makes you  more hungary and its difficult avoiding hubby's chocolate box as I am en route to the fruit bowl .

No real plans for the weekend so having returned from the local shops (carrying a new dustbin along with some cyclamen for my 'ironwork tricycle' in the garden), I am soon off outside to re-fill bird feeding station ready for the autumn and then will join hubby to watch F1 qualifying highlights (not having Sky).  Of course, if my daughter goes into labour we will be otherwise engaged!!

Keep meaning to ask how your Dad is doing, okay I hope?

Hope you and your wife have a peaceful weekend - its very dry and humid here and can't believe I am still in summer clothes - must make the most of it.  chat again soon.  Jules x

Annabel

Just wondering how your visit to see Ava and of course your daughter and son in law went.  Trust you found them all well (and you probably did not want to return!!).  Think you mentioned you were coming back for an appointment on Friday so do hope all is well.  best wishes Jules x

Good morning Jules,

Rather foggy here at the moment and doesn't feel all that warm. Have a good excuse not to do the porch floor today as our son has invited us to dinner at their place. My wife is pleased as she doesn't now have to cook dinner. She slipped in the bath the other night and fell over on her side and has now got a nasty bruise which is very painful and she finds it painful when getting up or down in her chair.

I do feel for you and your husband in the situation you are in and I do understand how you must feel. I liked my job but when I retired, me and my wife managed to get out and about and enjoyed our retirement for the first year or so. We weren't able to travel long distances as she got tired so quickly but we are lucky in that we have several nice places to visit locally. But now it's rare that I can persuade her to go out in the car or go for a walk, apart from shopping. So much like you, we don't get out and do things as a couple like I had hoped we would. My wife tells me to go on my own but it's not the same as I expect you find. We cant blame our partners but it does mean we cant get to do the things we would like to do at times. I love walking round gardens just like you do, especially when the leaves are changing colour and we have some very nice ones near to where I live, but if I were to go on my own, I feel I am in a way being disloyal to my wife, if that makes sense.

I think I have deveoped a touch of ramblingitus Jules. Hope you are able to get out into the garden later, take care and best wishes to you, Brian

Hi Annabel

Sounds like you have got 'grannying' down to a t very quickly and would imagine that Charlotte and Ava were rightly spoiled whilst you were there.  Think the new parents always appreciate someone to take on the cooking shopping etc and it can be hard to juggle in the early days.  As you probably gathered I am still a granny in waiting. Saw my daughter today when the family dropped in for a couple of hours (bringing some lovely warm fresh rolls for lunch with them) and she is 'blooming' but a little impatient now bless her.  As soon as new arrival comes her hubby has a weeks holiday and then I am taking a week so can help with housework and school runs if necessary though she keeps telling me it will be just good to have my company during the day so that she gets a chance to relax and get into some sort of routine (if its anything like the first time round she was out shopping even before the midwife had signed her off!! (though she was told off for not being home when the health visitor dropped by)).

Hope you managed to get workload sorted - nightmare when routine gets interrupted and you are playing catch up. Do take care and hope to chat again when you have a  moment to yourself.  Jules x

Hi Brian

Hope you have a lovely meal with your son and family.  (sure you did not arrange this to avoid the DIY (dont blame you).  My daughter and family popped in late morning and brought in some lovely warm rolls for everyone's lunch (unplanned so nice surprise).  Our grandson was full of his first full week at school especially the PE lesson on Friday which was great fun apparently.  Still full of energy but going to bed earlier (6.45), asleep by 7 and she is having to wake him in the mornings for school!!!  He is getting a little impatient as to when his new brother is being delivered as wants to take him to show the teacher and his friends but as my daughter says you can't arrange this to suit!!!  She is finding it a  bit strange as first time round she was 8 days before due date and did not know what it was like to be hanging around (mind you still has 5 days till due date so who knows!!).Have enjoyed being in the garden this afternoon. We have had a beautiful day - no fog here thankfully and 18deg whilst I was mowing the lawn so still in summer clothes - amazing for early October but great as not had to turn the heating on yet! Think most of my neighbours also chose today to be outside as could hear quite a few mowers during the day.  The sun is now on the front garden so will be nipping out there for a bit of tidying (hubby dozing pre dinner!!) as the  green waste will be collected on Tuesday and I like to give them something to collect.

Hope you have a peaceful week (and I am sure the grandchildren have been giving you and your wife much pleasure). Take care. Jules x

Morning Jules,

Well I see no news on your grandchild just yet, but anytime eh!  You must be on tender hooks now.

Moved eldest into halls yesterday, nice room with all modern facilites overlooking a big green, also in a gated courtyard - all very nice for central London.  Seems a real trendy area and I do envy him, oh to be young with so many opportunites ahead.  So even though I've been very emotional of late (Friday was a bad day for me emotion wise), I'm actually feeling OK and quite positive about his move.

I hope all is good with you, how is hubby adjusting to being at home?  His hands will be full soon with new addition and of course an already excited grandson who I'm sure will be ecstatic one he has a sibling.

Have a good day.  Hope x

Morning Hope

Glad that your eldest son's move went well and do feel that once you  know  and can see where they are going to be it really helps to picture them there and does not seem so alien.  I was brought up in North London and its great for the young to be in the centre of everything and I spent a lot of  my childhood walking the green spaces - wonderful memories.

Hubby has been fairly quiet (no change there then!!) but is visiting 'work' this week (you can tell how lost he is without this part of his life) but also has a day's fishing planned with our son so weather permitting he has this to look forward to.

Off to work myself in 15mins so I had best get washed up and out of here!!  Have a good day. Chat soon.  Jules x

Evening Jules,

Hope all is OK your end, I keep thinking I will read that your new addition has arrived!  Hope your hubby gets on OK when he visits his work, must be very difficult for him to adjust, especially given his circumstances that have forced this upon him.

My eldest is doing well, I speak to him every night and will see him at the weekend.  Youngest has gone to watch a football game with hubby so I'm home alone!  Been emotional yet again today, yesterday I was clearing through some personal things at the house and I found letter that my Mum had written to my Dad before I was born, he had kept it all those years!  It was a nice letter but set off all the pain for me again and even this morning before work I was in tears thinking about it, I really do want to stop feeling so emotional all the time.  Anyway have a good evening, speak soon.  Hope x