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 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 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,

Hi Brian

Am so sorry for some reason seem to have missed your post.  The bowl you plan to turn for Mrs B sounds lovely and the photo you attached shows how good you are at 'turning' out your wooden pieces.  I am sure its gives  you many hours of pleasure.  I tend to be the ideas person but am hopeless on the practical side of things.

We had a lovely evening on Saturday with hubby's sister coming late afternoon and staying till around 11.  Dinner went okay (not so much stress attached to cooking for 3!!).  Saw family too on Sunday for a couple of hours and baby is doing well.  Eldest grandson is 5 this Friday (party on Sunday) and continuing to be a loveable imp.

Today as its my day off and my friend from work has a day's holiday we are going out for the day and plan on enjoying a few coffees and a leisurely lunch.  She decided that after a low few days last week I needed to be de-stressed and this was her suggestion - I am so looking forward to it. Just awaiting the call to say she is on her way and  will meet her on the train (she will text which carriage she is in!!!).  Busy weekend ahead as we have been invited to see friend's new house in Buckinghamshire on Saturday and I am so pleased hubby feels able to say yes (other friends are driving us which makes it more restful).

Well its pretty cold this morning but lovely and sunny so will wrap up and walk fast.

Take care and have a peaceful day.  Jules x

Hi Jules

Only saw your message now as we were allowed to leave the office early on Friday.  Thank you for your kind thoughts Jules and you have enough on your own plate to contend with but you always make time for others.  You are another asset on this forum.

Youngest one keeps pestering me about Christmas decorations and then when someone else in the street put theirs up she said it is far too early.  My husband says she is getting more and more like me.

Hope you enjoyed your day out with your friend catching up with each other and that well deserved bottle must come in handy after a good chinwag.

Take care Jules and chat soon

Mickied

Hi Everyone,

Hope you dont mind a joint response (save everyone reading repetitive chat).

Enjoyed my 'awayday' yesterday.  Met my friend on the train at 9.30 and got home at 5p.m.  Enjoyed wondering the shops (amazing to see so many of the shops with their sales on already) and solved all but one of my Mum's Christmas shopping list (much relieved to get that done).  Had coffee and cake mid-morning (healthy eating went to pot for the day!!) and had a bit of fun trying on clothes in the designer shops - great fit, loved them, put them back (prices totally prohibitive even in the sale).  So many different food outlets but we chose Indian as my friend loves it but her husband doesn't so she rarely has it and I have not been out for a restaurant meal in ages (more to come pre Christmas though).  Did not feel the need for alcohol but enjoyed a day away from the stresses of work.  Had to laugh when I got home as both of us found we had something in common (she sent me a text!!) we both had washing up waiting in the sink for our return.  Well, almost the perfect day.  Really enjoyed buying gifts for everyone and even treated myself to some silly festive socks which should make the children laugh on Christmas Day!!!

Thanks for all your ongoing support; its so much appreciated having somewhere to turn to both when I am down in the dumps or just wanting to share.  Take care of yourselves and have a peaceful week. hugs to all Jules xx

Hi Jules,

So pleased to hear you had an enjoyable day out yesterday, you so deserve it. I had to smile about what both you and your friend found when you got home. All I can say is that's men for you but I can tell you I would have received a severe ear bending if that had been me.

We are only returning the support that you give to so many on here Jules, I am just pleased that you feel it helps.  When I took my wife to our local chemist the other day they had a wide range of winter socks including the sort you mention  I now have a vision of you wearing these festive socks and your grandson and family in fits of laughter.

I hope his birthday party goes well and you all have a great party.

Take care, best wishes to you and your family, Brian.

Morning Jules,

It's great you had a relaxing and theraputic girls day out. I had mine too yesterday and like you we stopped for coffee and cake before we did any damage to the walllets.

I have to say for many a year I have preferred shopping in small towns with individual shops where I can often find individual things. Yesterday was good because I managed to find some reasonably priced gifts that were just that bit different. Hope the recipients like them.

Just having time out with a good friend is what is often important. we stopped for lunch in a cafe and ended up ordering the same thing for lunch. We got back alittle earlier than you but then we had done some supermarket boring shopping at the end and had had enough. Got home just before it went dark.

Hope your day today is a good one.

I am off to walk the dog down to coffee morning in the village to catch up with local friends.

Speak soon

hugs

Annabel. xx

Morning Brain,

I can see by your post you have been brought up very well by your wife. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  lol.

I hope you are both well and in fine heart at the moment.

I loved seeing your wood turning, it's one of those things I would love to do, but have never had the time . He ho.

hugs

Annabel. xx

Good morning Annabel,

Glad to hear you also had a good day out for just like our Jules you so deserve it.

Have been out in my garage again this morning turning some mantle clocks, (I buy the clocks as inserts). Am just going back again but have attached a couple of photos of the Square/ Round picture frames I turn. Will talk again soon. Take care Brian.

Click on picture to enlarge them

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Good morning Annabel,

Glad to hear you also had a good day out for just like our Jules you so deserve it.

Have been out in my garage again this morning turning some mantle clocks, (I buy the clocks as inserts). Am just going back again but have attached a couple of photos of the Square/ Round picture frames I turn. Will talk again soon. Take care Brian.

Click on picture to enlarge them

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Hi Brian,

I love this bowl?? with Santa and his reindeers.It so striking. I love the other work you displayed as well. Well done to all your members. I told you I have always liked the ida of working with wood. A couple of years ago my dear husband bought us a second hand lathe with the idea that I should have a go, well I can tell you I haven't had one moment since to go out and have a go with it. He even gave me a few books to read up on all the safety aspects of it. Maybe over Christmas this year if the weather is not too cold I'll go out with him and have an hour of practice. There's just never enough hours in a day sometimes. LOL.

Just got to get the dear man up in the loft in the next hour to get down any Christmas decorations/cards/wrapping paper before he starts another job. !!!!!

Hope you and your wife are well. All the best

Annabel. xx

Hi Annabel,

Thanks for your reply. It was a picture frame in a timber called Afromosia which is very hard. When I used to go up to The Woodworker Show It was nice to see how many ladies had taken up woodwork, until political correctness got in the way. I wouldn't say they were better at woodwork than men but they were much more adventurous in the subject matter they undertook and it paid off for several of them won awards and rightly so.

I only live about twelve miles from Hove so when you go past Burgess Hill give us a toot.  I have just done what you have got your other half to do, and brought Christmas stuff down from the loft.

We have a lovely lady in our wood club who is a master carver and also is brilliant at pyrograpy. She is 87 years young and still runs two carving classes per week. I have teased her about her pyrography??? in the past and she has a great sense of humour.

I do find woodturning very relaxing and love to see something made from timber which was due to be thrown away. Most of the things I turn were bearers on the bottoms of pallets that came from Malaysia/Indonesia/Brazil. I haven't bought any timber for years, for I don't need to as friends and relatives have given me odds and ends over the years. I hope you do get a chance to have a go on your lath sometime for I feel you would get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

Just a word of warning, despite trying differnt clothingover the years, woodshaving have a habit of getting in places which you cant scratch in public, if you take my meaning

Anyway, I have rambled on too long again, do take care and hope you enjoy your trip. Best wishes to you and your family, Brian.