Hi Jules,

Thanks for the kind wishes for my wife's birthday. We had a great time thanks for asking. You are so right about the nuts; have a lot of making up for time lost to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love the autumn colours of trees too. I have included a couple of photos I took at Sheffield Park Gardens which I took a few years ago.  Hope you like them.

Those hot flushes are still giving me the occasional problem like just now as I'm writing this to you. Haven't managed to do any more writing as I am still waiting for my new headset to arrive.

Hope work is not too manic tommorow and your visit to your mother is as good as last weeks

Take care, will talk again soon. Kind regards Brian.

P.S. Click on the photos to see enlarged version.

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Hi Annabel

Glad I  made the most of my unusual lie in. Last night was back to usual disturbances through hot flushes but antibiotics seem to be helping (though all the extra liquids needs to flush the system so to speak still resulting in frequent visits!!).  We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon (despite dampness the rain held off for the Mayor to switch on the lights in our local High Street.  Baby slept snugly in his pushchair and our eldest grandson got to say hello to the Mayor as he popped into the fish and chip restaurant whilst we were having our tea - yay no cooking or washing up!!!  Hubby in good form as he tucked into a HUGE skate and chips and then we all popped back to ours so baby could have his next feed before they returned home.  Thankfully my daughter is continuing to recover her strength daily and is slowly getting back into the normality of school runs/after school activities for the eldest though is happy enough to continue to share the housework with her hubby. Despite him having to get up early to go to work he has been sharing the night feeds on the days when baby has been fractious thus allowing my daughter to get some extra zzzzzzzz's.  Now that the hospital has prescribed meds for baby's reflux (GP refused!! even though the eldest also suffered and my daughter was quick to spot the symptoms!!) and she has also changed brands of baby milk, the last few days he has been  more settled between feeds and that in turn makes life a lot easier.  Fingers crossed my test come back okay and I am sorted, I hope to be able to get round and help after work at least once a week.  Hubby has also been giving support by keeping her company occasionally.

Next thing to look foward to is 5th birthday party at end of the month for eldest grandson who is understandably rather excited!  Then the round of pre-Christmas get togethers with friends begin.

Hope your meeting with Visit England is a piece of cake tomorrow. You work so hard you deserve good outcome. Must be very difficult to get breaks when you are running this type of business so hope you looking after yourself.

Well just about to get our evening meal so had best go and check there is no burnt offering in the oven and then need to get work clothes sorted for tomorrow before settling down to Strictly Results Show.  Chat soon. virtual hugs Jules x

Hi Brian

Just a quick response to say thanks for the lovely photos - colours are lovely and I am also enjoying our copper beech as its colours deepen before they sadly drop.  Today we have had lots of blue and great *** plus two robins visiiting the table outside our patio doors so the weather must be chilly as they have been absent over the last few weeks.  Will have to get the suet balls ready!  Yet another weekend passes and its into work tomorrow but have told them I am limited to the carrying side of things until I get the all clear re my infection - heavy lifting does not help!!)

Have a good week, kind regards and virtual hugs. Jules x

Good morning Jules,

I remember taking my grandfather down to Wiltshire years ago and although he couldn't remember what he had done the day before he told me about a long row of copper beech trees that lined the road for quite a long distance. And sure enough, there they were even though he had not travelled the route for over forty years or more. I guess there was nearly a mile or more lined by these beautiful trees.

Did you watch the remeberance service on TV on Saturday when those five young girls called the poppy girls sang their song. It was so touching when afterwards one of them who thought her father was serving abroad was told he was there to see her sing. Boy, did she run to meet him, a very emotional moment not only for her but for everyone watching.

Hope your daughter is getting her strength back and the little one is okay. Hope your husband can start some pysio soon for his arm. One of our wood club members has a brother who was an engineer until he retired. He has just joined a model engineering club and is loving it. He buys kits and assembles them at home and they also stage their own exhibition every year. Just a thought for your husband

Anyway take care, hope you have a good week and your results are okay. I have to have my repeat blood test on Wednesday and should have my results on Thurs/ Friday

Talk again soon, Brian

Hi Brian

We had company Saturday so TV was not on(other than for Strictly Come Dancing)  but I read about the little girl and her Dad. Wonderful for them both.  I had seen the group on breakfast TV  and they really came over very well. I watched the Cenotaph coverage on Sunday  morning as always and as my Dad was a member of BLESMA  always emotional when their group do the march past.  One day I have promised to go along in person which my Dad never managed but know he would have loved to take part.

Very damp and dismal today so was glad to get in from work and join hubby in front of the fire.  I had my results back and there is  no  need for  any more treatment so hopefully your tests will be good too. Daughter and family are managing quite well now and baby has medication to help with 'reflux' symptoms and she has altered his brand of milk to see if that also helps.  I am sure as each day passes she will grow stronger and I have just told her not to fret. She is doing a great job with both children and am very proud of her but also understand her frustration at not being able to do everything as and when she wants but has to allow her body to recover.

Hubby has an appointment with the physio on Wednesday so thats another thing sorted  Thanks for mentioning about the model club - sounds like a good idea and will introduce it into the conversation when  the time is right!!.He could do all sorts of activities at the local centre but at the moment says its not for him (think he finds it difficult to see others in similar situation who are happy to talk when he is not and he does not want to appear rude by not joining in).  Sadly it is down to him if he just wants to sit at home alone. At  the moment my daughter has just recommended I carry on as normal and maybe one day there will be a breakthrough and he will want to talk (I will be there whenever that is) or begin to take an interest and do things whilst he still able.

I am going to visit Mum in the morning and then hope to have a relaxing day.

Look after yourself and Mrs B. Chat again soon.  Jules x 

Hi Jules,

Glad to hear that things seem to be going well for you at the moment (apart from the hot flushes at night of which I sympathise with!); and sounds like hubby is doing well and his appetite is good. I bet eldest grandson enjoyed the switiching on of the Christmas Tree lights in town.  You must feel relieved too that your Mum was on good form, and I notice you will be seeing her again tomorrow so fingers crossed the good mood continues.

Yes water-logged pitch ended up being the reason for footie being cancelled - I didn't mind too much though LOL!

I now have grant of probate so am beginning to tie up finances.  I went to meetings with the banks by myslef last week which is something I wouldn't have felt strong enough to do a while ago.  Still lots to do regarding the house and I still get upset when I'm there, but have to remind myself of how far I've come.

Wishing you a good week.  Hope x

Hi Brian, Jules, Hope and Everyone

Sorry I haven't been on the forums until now.  Hope Mrs B had a lovely birthday and the little bit about your little grandson Brian handing you a few chestnuts for telling him a story brought tears to my eyes.  He is such a lovely thoughtful young man - very much like his grandad I must add.

Jules I pity you with a urine infection.  They are awful.  I had a few myself this year and they can be unbearable.  The day I spent in Dublin with my mum I must have spent most of the day running about looking for toilets.  Hopefully you are on the mend now.  Hope hubby and daughter and new baby are doing OK not forgetting mum.

Hope - hope you are keeping well too.  We had a lovely day here on Sunday.  Apparently it was 13 but today a more chilly 9.  Time to keep wrapped up.  Started the deaded Christmas shopping well I only bought a Playdoh Dress Me Up set on Amazon but nothing else for now.  My eldest will be 13 on Saturday so we are going out for a quiet meal but my youngest one seems to have invited half of the family along too - kids were would you be without them.

Well take care everyone and chat soon

Mickied

Hi Mickied, Jules and Hope,

Hope the work situation sorts itself out Mickied. My young grandson has told me he was supposed to born with his problems so he could make people laugh. Everywhere he goes he is the same, cinema, school, shops hospitals, doctors, even walking in the street, he always ends up leaving people with a smile on their faces. People stop my daughter-in-law and ask her if she is Stuart's mother and tell her nice stories about him. He is one very special little lad. Thanks you for the kind words about me as well. I read this out to my wife and all she said was she thought you must have mixed me up with someone else. See what insults I have to put up with from Mrs B. You can all say Ow now. Mind you, I do wind her up quite a bit so I suppose I do ask for it !!!!!!!

Take care best wishes as always, Brian

Hi Mickied

Lovely to hear from you and I see you are gearing up for the 13th birthday celebrations. Difficult to think of Christmas presents when you have birthdays to attend to first.  Our grandson will be 5 on the 29th (party on 1st Dec) and we are going along to look after baby (no excuse needed) so that his Mum and Dad can given him undivided attention (as well as his classmates/friends - around 25-30 expected).  Thankfully only for 2hrs in the afternoon and one of the Dads at his school, whose daughter is coming, does magic and balloon making so is helping with keeping them amused.

Hubby is having physio tomorrow to try and loosen up his upper arm/shoulder stiffness (consultant says not linked to cancer but more likely because he does nothing but sit about!!!) Can you imagine if I spoke to him like that.

Mum'smood changes like the wind - last week full on gale, very chatty full of plans; this week a cool breeze, a few words and then goodbye as she was having her hair done (after refusing last week!!).  You learn to just take things as they come.  I had a wonder round the shops on the way home and in beautiful sunshine too (and a new jumper for Christmas fell into my basket - bright red with little reindeers all over - will do for Christmas morning  - think my hubby more interested in seeing the family than what we will be wearing but I love the fun aspect!!!).

Hope the birthday goes well.  Chat again soon.  Take care and sending virtual hugs  Jules. x