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

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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Hi Annabel

Nice to hear from you and good that you too enjoyed another day of retail therapy.  Once I get paid at the end of the month I can sort out the cash gifts and then I am done as far as the family is concerned.  It will  be a good feeling.  Am hoping my Mum is happy with what I have purchased on her behalf (too late now) when I go to see her next (probably Tuesday as long as I do not have to work). We are out at different social events this weekend which I am looking forward to (hopefully  hubby is too).  Seeing our grandson celebrate his 5th birthday will be the highlight and he has been so good at school he managed to get another 'star' on his class chart so is very excited.  Baby Zack doing really well (over 12lb already - loves his milk!!) and quite long so is already outgrowing 0-3mnths (he is only 6weeks old)!!  Very much like his brother was at a similar age.

Hope you enjoyed your dog walking and catching up with friends. Also hope you managing to relax as I know you said your business will be pretty busy again soon.  Take care and chat again soon.  Hugs.Jules x

Hi Brian

did I not say that Ibought 'silly socks' for other members of the family too - if we are all laughing at each other's feet then I will be one happy shopper and it will be a very good start to our celebrations.

Hope  you and your wife are keeping well and no doubt you have been kept busy with wood club activities.  Thought of you when I was out yesterday as they had street vendor selling roast chestnuts and had visions of you taking over and wheeling it away to enjoy!!  Allth very best for a peaceful weekend and hope to chat again soon. Jules x

Hi Jules,

Glad to read you had a lovely day out with your friend recently. Dare say things are getting a bit exciting for your eldest grandson as his birthday approaches. Hope hubby is feeling a bit better and that the new tablets are beginning to kick in. Have a great birthday party at the weekend. Hope xx

Thanks Hope. I am still in awe at all the support we all recieved on the forum.  We are getting busier at work which comes with its own stress but on the other hand I get to talk to people and it makes the time pass.  Have a few busy days ahead as am out on Friday (bingo - hubby to pub with his mate), Saturday (haircut - really be happy to get this done as its driving me mad and have now been paid so that will help), after lunch we are visiting our friends' daughter and son in laws to see their  new bungalow and catch up with their news  (being a bone cancer sufferer in remission the son in law is very supportive of us both and we are looking forward to seeing them.  Then Sunday we will be at the 5th birthday party (his birthday is actually tomorrow but he will be at school and then out for tea with the family).  I have just got to remember to get the helium balloon so sit by his cake and then enjoy being a babysitter, with all the other grandparents, as up to 30 children have a whale of a time!!! Think Monday at work may well feel like a rest.

Hubby is so so at present, no real change other than getting more indigestion so we are trying smaller meals. The doc has told him to get walking as this will help rather than spending all day sitting down - no sign of this when I am about but he is doing the physio for his arms on a daily basis.  I know it takes a while for anti depressants to kick in so we will be monitoring things.  He is back at the GP 23rd Dec for check up on his medication but hopefully s he will be able to see some improvement. Its just so hard for him to accept he cannot work and he does not seem to be able to get past this yet.

Enough of me, how are you doing? Hope all the family are well and no doubt  your sons are studying hard too.  Take care  and sending virtual hugs and best wishes for a peaceful weekend.  Jules xx

Good afternoon Jules,

Hope you have a good evening out and a win at the bingo tonight. I now have a vision of all your family standing in a row try to judge which one has the silliest socks of all, it's just my silly sense of of humour. I am all set for tomorrows show now and have even loaded the car as we all setup tonight so that we can open to the public earlier tomorow.  I cleared Tesco's out of chestnuts the other day, the tray was empty, not even one left for the squirrels. 

I will be taking my camera with me tomorow as we have a couple of new members exhibiting for the first time and I usually take lots of photos anyway.

Hope the 5th birtday goes well, take care, Brian

Morning Brian,

Have just popped into the forum before heading out to my hair appointment  (half hour walk but looks a bit nippy!!).  No luck at the bingo but good to be out socialising with my friend and catch up with all our family news of the last week.   Just to further your vision of the 'silly socks' contest (mostly animal orientated I might add) at least two of us have 'jumpers' to match so fear no one will be taking us seriously when Christmas morning comes around.  Hubby also enjoyed his evening in the pub and am beginning to hope that this is where he talks things through (just hate thinking he is bottling it all inside).

Hope your 'wood club' show goes well today and that the new members exhibiting, enjoy the experience of 'belonging'.  I am now thinging the club has its own member of the paparazzi!!  Have a happy and peaceful weekend. Jules x

Good morning Jules,

Glad both you and your  husband enjoyed your Friday night out, you both deserve it. Our show went very well and it was good to meet up with my wood club friends and exchange banter with them, even if it was me giving out most of the banter. I do enjoy these shows but do find them very tiring. Once again I was amazed at the quality of work and the amount of talented people we have in out 110 wood club membership. I have put a couple of photos on the Amazing Quotes thread. I also enjoy meeting people and talking to them about our club. I didn't have as much wood turning done as normal so I put my books on display and had a lot of interest regarding them.

I bet you will enjoy your grandsons party today and he will be one happy little boy. You will end up like me, tired but very happy.

Now our show is finished, I had better get on with my oldest grandson's story for I want to give it to him for Christmas. I only have 7 pages written and want to end up with about forty or near to it so will have to get cracking.

Take care Jules and have no doubt we will talk again soon, Brian.

Good morning Jules,

Glad both you and your  husband enjoyed your Friday night out, you both deserve it. Our show went very well and it was good to meet up with my wood club friends and exchange banter with them, even if it was me giving out most of the banter. I do enjoy these shows but do find them very tiring. Once again I was amazed at the quality of work and the amount of talented people we have in out 110 wood club membership. I have put a couple of photos on the Amazing Quotes thread. I also enjoy meeting people and talking to them about our club. I didn't have as much wood turning done as normal so I put my books on display and had a lot of interest regarding them.

I bet you will enjoy your grandsons party today and he will be one happy little boy. You will end up like me, tired but very happy.

Now our show is finished, I had better get on with my oldest grandson's story for I want to give it to him for Christmas. I only have 7 pages written and want to end up with about forty or near to it so will have to get cracking.

Take care Jules and have no doubt we will talk again soon, Brian.

Hi Jules,

Hope your grandson enjoyed his birthday, and hope he managed to lift your hubby's spirits.  Expect you are now recovering from the party - these 5 year olds know how to have a good time!  Hope xx

Hi Brian

Glad the 'wood club' show went well and its great that you got some interest in your books as well.  Now its head down and getting the writing done to complete your grandson's new story.  You must have a head buzzing with ideas to achieve so much.

We had a lovely time at the birthday party, as did the children.  One of the parents is a professional magician/balloonist so after the fun the bouncy castle/play tunnel/slide (indoors and huge!!) they had their party food and he performed magic tricks and made them all balloon animals/swords etc before they wearily went home.  My daughter finished feeding the baby and then we all made it home for around 6.30.  Glad it all went so well as had a message today to say the birthday boy has a double ear infection and had to go to the doctors rather than to school. Not nice at all but expect a few of the new toys he received will come in handy to help take his mind of the pain.  He has to go back in a couple of weeks to see if he needs treatment for glue ear and possibly grommets.  All part of childhood I guess!

Hope you having a peaceful day after all the build up to the wood club event (and yes I did see the  beautiful pictures on the other thread and left a suitable comment. I hope!!).  Take care and kind thoughts are sent your way.  Jules x

Hi Hope

Wehad a lovely time 'watching' all the children making the most of the party play area (all indoors as outlined in my response to Brian) and also enjoyed the magician (he entertained both the adults and children with amazing slight of hand) and his balloon art (every child that wanted a balloon figure of their choice went home happy!!  My grandson came over to all the grandparents/step grandparents afterwards and thanked us all for coming and said he had had a lovely birthday party and was a very lucky little boy (also thanked his Mum and Dad) - so sweet!!  Sadly today he is not quite so cheerful having develped a double ear infection and could not go into school (very disappointed) as need to go to the docs. Now has antibiotics so hopefully will clear up soon but has to go  back for a check up in a couple of weeks as may have glue ear and need grommets fitting (he suffered a lot as a baby with repetitive ear infections so this does not really come as a surprise but I do feel for him as it can be so painful).

Hope you had a good and peaceful weekend.  When is it that you get to go on holiday? - hope this will be a more relaxing period for you.  I have just been told I do not need to work Boxing day so its lovely that I will have a 5 day break (or maybe 6 if he decides not to have me in on my official day off - Christmas Eve).  We go away for 3 days and then will be back home (usually arrange to have an open house so that friends can pop in and out when convenient).  I will probably work New Years Day but really dont mind that as we do not do anything then.

Hubby coped quite well with a very social weekend (out Fri Eve, Sat p.m. and Sun p.m,.)  He is also visiting an old work buddy from may years ago this Wednesday for lunch which hopefully will lift his spirits too as it seems when he is out and engaged with others he has a better frame of mind than when just sitting indoors - understandable (too much thinking time when at home I think and its harder to switch off when you are doing nothing).

Well next drink is called for so had best finish my mail and get to it. Sending kind thoughts and virtual hugs.Jules x

Hi Jules, made it back from the little job !!!! Getting stuff down from the loft for Christmas, cards wrapping paper etc.

Sorry to hear your grandson now has ear trouble , but it's better to get it sorted whilst their young.

My daughter went through many operations as she was just about the consultants worse case ever, even now when she gets a cold she has trouble shaking it off.

She still goes a bit deaf when she gets a cold.

I am sure his new toys will help him through the day.

Bet you are really busy at work these days, you'll be glad to get a rest at christmas.

All the best for now

Annabel. xx

Hi Jules,

So pleased the party went well and you all had a good time. I do feel for your grandson as an ear infection is very painful. 

The carvings were done by our club secretary and he like me is one of the founder members of the wood club. That Octopus won an award at a big woodwork show at Wembley and thanks for the kind comments

Now I have to get my head down and get my grandsons book completed. Hope you didnt have too hard a day at work today after the party.

Take care, talk soon Brian.

Morning Brian

I am in a slight state of shock this morning - I fell asleep watching tv at around 10 p.m. woke at midnight!! dragged myself off to bed and woke up at 7.30.  Does that mean I need to go to more childrens' parties?  Have I actually found the cure for insomnia?  It really feels strange to get up so late (just as well its a non-working day!!).  Am off visiting Mum later and then may have little visitor if he has been unable to go back to school (he does not like having to stay at home - feels he  is missing out!!). Am just waiting to hear back from my daughter and if they are coming over I can get some foodie treats for them on my way back as I pass the supermarket.

Hope your writing is flowing and am imagining one very happy little boy with a huge smile once grandad hands over the new book.  Its a wonderful gift in so many respects.

Hope  you and Mrs B have a good day and hope your supply of nuts is plentiful to keep your energy going.  Take care and chat soon Jules x

Hi Jules,

Well sounds like you've found the cure for insomina - perhaps you could write about it and make a fortune now!  Glad the party went well and hope your grandson is feeling better after being poorly - luckily it happened to him after the party.  Hope your Mum was OK when you visited today.  I'm just plodding on with the usual things at the moment and looking forward to having a break over the holidays.  Hope xx

Hi Jules,

So pleased to hear you had a decent nights sleep, we all need a decent nights sleep. I feel sure your grandson wouldn't mind a party everyday. The other night I stayed up to watch a film I had missed once before. I saw the first half hour then the next I remember was my wife shaking me and asking if I was going to go to bed.

Did you have your little visitor? Still have not done any writing today as we had shopping first thing then I had to go to two local bank as I keep getting e-mails supposedly from them saying my bank account has been suspended and I don't even have an account with them. The e-mail address made it look like it came from them so I wanted them to be aware of it. But they confirmed what I already knew, it is a scam for on each e-mail there is a link they invite me to click on, which is the last thing I would do. They have now been consigned to the dustbin. Then as I had to take my wife to the doctors, we went a bit earlier a popped in our local garden centre. I bought my wife an A3 sheet with a lot of festive Owl stickers so she now has to decide where she wants to put them.

I hope your visit with your mother went well and you recieved the seal of approval of your recent shopping purchases and that she was chatty mood again.

I topped up on my supply of chestnuts today so wont run out for a while. I forgot to cut a couple of the them other night and both of them went BANG in the oven and did I get my ear bent by Mrs B. It did make a mess.

Take care, best wishes for another good nights sleep, Brian.

Afternoon Hope,

Not sure I would want to cope with a classful of kids as a way to regularly beat my sleep problems (it was a one night only cure) though must say they all were very good with only a few tears when some of them came a cropper on the bouncy castle!!  Our grandson has medicine for double ear infection but only  needed one day off school (he badgered his Mum to go back so they have just been made aware they his hearing is a little down and all was fine yesterday).  He also went to his after school club (tennis) so obviously felt a bit better!  They soon bounce back at that age and he does not like missing school (long may that last!!).  We are going to dinner with them tomorrow so that he can show us all his new  birthday presents (suspecting I will still be playing with old favourites).  We are also bringing back our rocking chair as they need the room for the Xmas tree!!

Mum was on good form yesterday (it would be lovely if this continued - often her bi-polar condition comes and goes in waves). The shopping I had done on her behalf was well recieved and I had had my hair cut (she said I needed one!!).  Her carer was writing birthday cards on her behalf when I arrived so I took over and next visit will do some Xmas cards with her.  She has also got a book from the visiting mobile library - all good improvements.  The new velvet trousers were also a hit and I have now been sent away with a request to get a top to go with it - so was back to the shops today and hope I have again chosen well.  Will take it to her next week.

Hubby has gone to visit an old work friend (from about 30yrs ago) today so hopefully he will enjoy this .  I am not sure that the extra medication is making any difference but he has a check up re the anti depressants in two weeks plus physio next week so at least he is being kept an eye on.  We are also having our grandson for the day on Sunday (I will take him out part of the time so hubby can have his nap should he so wish or he can join us if he chooses though even before he was ill he used to let me do that side of things!!). as my daughter and son in law want to go and get his Christmas gift and I will probably suggest they join us for dinner afterwards as this will save them having to sort it out when they get back.

Do hope you and your family are all ok - I expect the lads will be looking foward to the holidays.  Do take care and look forward to chatting again soon. Virtual hugs  Jules x

Hi Brian

Your comment about falling asleep in front of the tv is a common one in this house - hubby often does this around mid-night and then comes up to bed around 3 in the morning but he has the benefit of staying there as he usually gets up after I have left for work.  I have also  been known to have a power nap (he loves to watch fishing programmes and try as I might I find them very relaxing so end up in the land of nod for around an hour). Suspect this is another way for my body to play catch up!!  My Mum has always only had a few hours sleep a night and I think she passed those genes onto to me as most of the time I seem to cope fine.

Our grandson did not come to us in the end as his Dad came  up with another idea. We are going to them tomorrow after school and will have dinner with them and be able to see all his new birthday gifts. As I have said to Hope we also  need to bring home our rocking chair (formerly Mums) as they need the space over the Christmas period.  We have another busy weekend socially, out Friday with my daughter (no bingo this week as my friend and her husband are away on a golfing weekend) to a Pamper night in aid of charity,meeting old friends on Saturday for a Thai meal and then have our eldest grandson on Sunday so his parents can go and get his Christmas gift.  Keeping busy is helping me no end and thankfully Mum is still feeling pretty good at present so visiting was a pleasure again this week.  She was so pleased with my shopping efforts that I have another list to attend to now. She also commented that my hair looked so much better now that I had had it cut so that keeps us both happy.

No doubt you will soon find a few spare moments to continue with your grandson's new story - can imagine your fingers dashing across the keyboard.

Hope you and your wife are keeping okay - we are still enjoying yellow roses in our front garden and wish I could mow the lawn (too wet this time of year) as its getting a bit long and it will  be a lot harder work in the Spring.  We are currently feeding  two black birds, two robins and a variety of *** just outside our back door on the bird feeding station - lovely to watch and a sure sign the weather is a little cooler.

Hope you have a peaceful week/weekend and am sure we will be chatting again soon.  Jules x