Morning Jules,

Was just wondering how you got on when you visited your Mum this week, and also how your daughter got on at hospital?  I do hope things are not too stressful for you and that you can try and have a relaxing weekend.

I'm waiting for my eldest to come home, he has spent somewhat of Freshers sleeping on fellow pupils floors after social events - latest was a toga party last night!  I'm off to my counsellor this morning, had originally been thinking I wouldn't need to see her for too much longer but have been so emotional this week so will talk things over with her.

The weather is forecast to be nice this weekend but is looking a bit gloomy at present.  Here's hoping it brightens up and the sun shines on us all.  Take care  Hope x

Hi Hope

Hope you visit to the counsellor was helpful and its good for you to be able to talk things through and this should last as long as you need it.

I have just returned from visiting Mum and she was ok though I am sure a little concerned at how long she will be able to stay where she.  She has amazed the staff at how forthright she was when social worker 'interviewed' her and they are left in no doubt as to what she wants. All the care staff came to see me whilst I was visiting to make sure I was okay too - very sweet.  I stayed until she was due to go into lunch and we even managed a bit of a laugh when I showed her latest photos of her great grandson.  He has really enjoyed his first week in Reception and keeps telling his mum that his teacher is the most beautiful one in the school!!

Hubby and I picked him up from school on Friday as my daughter had to return to hospital for a second day of tests and monitoring.  Specialist blood tests with regard to her liver function have been sent off and unless she hears otherwise she returns to clinic next Friday.  The last set of bloods were borderline but all readings for the baby were good.  If the new blood tests show certain 'rises' she may have to be taken in and possibly induced (she is now 37 weeks and would probably welcome is being over and done with!!).  Anyway so far so good.  I have an overnight bag ready and waiting and she has several friends on standby to get her to the hospital if her hubby is at work.  Mind you she is still driving herself at present!!

When we met our grandson at school (its only 10mins to his home) he told Grandad that he could meet us there as it was healthier to walk!!!  My hubby's face was a picture as he drove off and I walked the little tyke home!!

Life's stresses seem to come and go but having the forum to offload certainly helped me to see things in perspective this week though I think my mood swings are more due to hormones than current circumstances.

Sounds like your eldest having a great time during Freshers but will no doubt be looking forward to some home cooking.  Have a great weekend with the family and will catch up again soon.  All the best and look after yourself. Jules xx

Hi Mickied

Hope you have had a reasonable week and know like many of the people on the forum, this time of year is extremely emotional for you.  Just wanted you to know you are being kept in my thoughts and thank you for being there over the months when I have needed to ramble on.  Take care my virtual friend and wishing you and the family a peaceful weekend.  Jules x

Hi Annabel

Glad to read that you enjoyed your shopping trip - any bargains?

I am out for the day to London with my friend from work on Tuesday. Can't tell you how  much I am looking for to it - its about 4 yrs since we managed a weekday off together (my official day off and she has holiday day).  We have promised ourselves a proper lunch with a bottle to share!!  Neither of us drive so will go up by underground.

Hope you and the family are keeping well.  Virtual hugs  Jules

Hi Jules,

Just the one bargain, a nice furry winter hat much needed at the moment as the temperature has dropped significantly with lots of frost each night.

I am so pleased to read that you are having a day out with your friend on Tuesday in London. I do hope you have a seriously good time, and have a really good lunch. Don't get so legless, you've to get the underground back you know!!!!!! LOL. Will look forward to hearing about you day out next week.

Strangely enough I have arranged to go out with another friend on Tuesday, trying to get more xmas shopping done. We too will have lunch somewhere not sure where yet.

Daughter and her family all well and making arrangements to come up second week of December. Haven't heard or spoken to son for a couple of weeks, hope he is busy job hunting. Bless him.

Well I am off to bed now , hope you and yours sleep well.

Hugs

Annabel. xx.

Hi Jules,

Thanks for you nice reply. Me and Mrs B both had a nice treat first thing this morning while having breakfast. I just happened to look out of our kitchen window (Our row of houses are built back to front with the kitchen at the front of the house) and there in the cherry tree was a woodpecker sorting out his breakfast. Even though I have lived in the countryside most of my life, this was the closest I had ever seen one. He was there for at least ten minutes and we were both thrilled to see him so close. I was going to get my camera but we have Venetian blinds and I knew if we tried to lift them up he would be gone in a flash.

Hope you had a good evening at bingo last night perhaps even with a win to fund your trip to London.  Sorry to hear you had a frustrating day at work on Thursday.  Most employers seem to operate on a minimum of staff these days so if just one person is off, it puts so much pressure on everyone else.

My young grandson had his usual greeting for me, "Hello old man", before asking for his stories. My granddaughter proudly showed me her three latest gold medals while my middle grandson told me he got an award for his maths.

I intend to got out to my garage this afternoon and get a bit more wood-turning done. So will get told off later when I come in and one or two wood shavings appear on the floor. I try telling Mrs B that they are quality hardwood shavings but this doesn't appear to have any affect for I still get told off !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next Saturday we have our annual wood-club show / exhibition / competition and we set everything up on the Friday evening. I do have a lot of banter with the other club members and it's all good fun. Sometimes the odd label appears on someone's stand which reads, "DESIGNER FIREWOOD AVAILABLE HERE", not that I have anything to do with it you understand

Anyway hope you enjoy the weekend take care, Best wishes to you and your family, Brian

Hi Brian

How lovely to witness the woodpecker so close by.  I live in suburbia though we have woods within half hour walk.  Its been a good few years since we have a green woodpecker on one of our feeders and like you I was spellbound; so beautiful.

The grandchildren have being doing well in their activities and how proud all the family must be.  Lovely to hear all about it.

I have a way of getting Mrs B  on side re those quality wood shavings - place them in a suitable container and sprinkle with a pot pourri essence.  I have a beautiful natural wooden bowl (birthday gift this year) and have vanilla pot pourri surrounding a short pillar candle (soon to be swapped for Christmas scented oil (could be ginger or cranberry)). A task for the grandchildren (collect some pine cones to compliment the 'shavings' and there you have a naturally made gift!! ).

I am sure your Wood Club members love the 'prankster' in their group and hope this year's event goes well.  Its lovely when people with like interests can get together and enjoy themselves.

Pleased to say both hubby and I had a good night's sleep last night and I was very surprised to see it was past 7 a.m. when I got up!!  Have done all the preparation for our meal this evening and have the fires blazing (my sister in law feels the cold and we do not have central heating).  Hubby ate breakfast and is now horizontal snoozing in front of the fire so will have to wake him for GP qualifying later.

Wish you and the family a peaceful weekend and week ahead and hope to chat again soon.Jules x

Hi Annabel

Just a quick response so that you know I have picked up your reply.  Love the idea of the furry hat and yes with the current cold spell am sure it will be well used.  Nice to hear you will be enjoying some family time with your daughter and family soon. Bet you can't wait to get some more cuddles.  We are just awaiting arrival of hubby's sister who is coming to dinner and so we will be able to catch up with all her news and find out how we can help with the forthcoming Christmas get-together.  Usually we take a few  bottles with us as we stay for 2/3 days and there will be 11 of us altogether (though baby will have to make do with milk ).  Do hope your son soon finds a new position. Have been there in the past with both hubby, son and son in law and its not an easy time.

Hope you have a lovely weekend and we can compare notes about our Tuesday outings later in the week.  Take care, hugs Jules x

Hi Jules,

Thanks for the idea about the wood-shavings. I will turn Mrs B a bowl with a raised centrepeice, complete with drip tray where I can put a large candle and the wood-shavings can be used to fill the bowl. I already have some pine cones where I have drilled a small hole on the base where I have inserted a small bit of bamboo.

I have turned a dozen light cord pulls in about an hour this afternoon in different timbers. Photo attached. Really enjoyed myself doing this and will do some wooden key rings tomorow, (I buy the metal rings )

I do envy you your open fire Jules. We have central heating but you cant beat an open fire at the end of the day.

Do enjoy yourself tonight, best wishes Brian.

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Hi Mickied,

How are you doing?  I will be thinking of you on Wednesday, which I am sure will be a difficult day for you.  This time of year seems to make everything seem worse some how.  After an emotional week I am feeling somewhat better today - so strange how our emotions go.  Wishing you a peaceful weekend.  Hope xx

Hi Jules,

Hope you are having a nice weekend after your stressful week at work.  So strange how our emotions just hit us like that, but good to get it all out with a cry.  Glad to hear that you also comforted yourself if the best way, chocolate always does the trick!  After an emotional weekend myself I am feeling somewhat better today; when that happens I tend to think things are going forward but I know that the emotions will come flooding back at any random point, so just making the most of today.  Eldest home and says exams went OK.  Enjoy your weekend.  Hope x

Hi Brian,

Just popped up to say I love the wooden light pulls.  Are you busy making more this weekend?  Hope x

Hi Brian,

Just popped up to say I love the wooden light pulls.  Are you busy making more this weekend?  Hope x

Hi Hope,

Yes I hope to turn some more and also some key rings and a couple of free standing mantle clocks.

I wish you a happy weekend Brian,