Hi Brian

Enjoyed my weekend thank you. Saturday stayed indoor as weather was rubbish but managed to re-jig all the boxes we are storing on behalf of Mum which has at least enabled me to move less important stuff to the bottom and get all our Christmas bits and bobs away properly for another year.Also have a bit more floor space. Hubby slept a lot of Saturday away so I kept myself occupied.  Like in your are Sunday let us have some sun so I went for a 2hr walk and popped into the farmers'/artisan market.  Bought some spiced cheddar for my lunch and also treated myself to some bead jewellery to go with my outfit for our social outing in acouple of weeks.  Came home and spent the day quietly with hubby.  Just as well as was very busy day at work today and tomorrow am once again due to visit Mum (the week comes round so quickly).  Hope you and MrsB are keeping okay and will chat again soon.  Peaceful thoughts are sent your way.  Take care.Jules xx

What a shame that the sun missed you but pleased you achieved so many with your time anyway.  No peace for the wicked!!  I wonder who drew the short straw to return to town for the 'nails' to finish the upholstery job. I would not know where to start as I do not have many very good practical skills (passed me by probably the same as my Mum and her Mum!!!).Pleased to read too that your son is back in employed and am sure he is very relieved too.

I am sure you will really enjoy your hols in March. I love Scotland though its been a good few years (try 25 plus since we were last there) since our last visit  (kiddies were very small).  Hubby really not interested in going away from home and if we get reasonable weather the back garden will do for me (just give me a good book and maybe a takeaway dinner occasionally). Over the years we have been very lucky to travel quite a bit and he spent a lot of his work life working abroad so perhaps its understandable that he happy to spend his days indoors now.

Take care.  Jules xx

Hi Hope

Sounds like the family has caught the running/walking for charity idea but its a good way to giving something back.  The night walk must have been a laugh as well as achieving fundraising for a good cause.

Enjoyed a relatively quiet weekend and  now need to try and arrange a day for the children to come for a meal sometime.  The weeks seems to roll by so quickly and once again I shall visit Mum tomorrow and then next week hubby has hospital check up to attend (who knows, I might actually find out what he is feeling at present when he has to answer the consultant's questions.Both our children's birthdays are in February (week apart) so must get out to do some shopping once I get paid.  Hope you have a peaceful week.  Chat soon.  Jules xx

Hi Jules,

Glad to hear you enjoyed your weekend. You are spot on about how quickly time is passing by. I had one of my cancer meetings on Saturday for Macmillan as the paperwork has all been sorted at last and they hope to start work shortly on a new cancer drop in centre in Brighton for the people of Sussex which is badly needed.  We also talked about the high cost of travelling to hospital which some people cant afford and I have since written a full A4 page about this which I hope to send to our local M.P.

Both Mrs B and I had to go and visit the vampire department at our local doctors for blood tests for our diabetes yesterday. Sure mine is okay. I think my Brianitus may be on the wane at last as the only thing that appeared in our trolley this morning was a small packet of peanuts. I was quite proud of myself. I definately have to take a leaf out of your book Jules and try and loose some weight as Mrs B is keeping her beady eyes on me so even more reason to behave myself.

Hope your visit goes well today and your mother is responsive and that your husband new pain regime is working well.

Take care, will talk again soon, best wishes, Brian.

Hi Brian

You are being kept busy with all your good works/writings and hope all that hard work is justly rewarded.  The costs of travelling anywhere these days causes a lot of people difficulties and having a more locally based centre will be music to many peoples' ears I am sure.  Although we are lucky to have our hospital locally (and husband has disabled status so parks for free) I often hear other patients who have to come some way away by public transport and the time taken travelling is as  bad as how much it costs.

  Hope the results of both your blood tests will show everything is stable.  My Mum had hers done recently for her diabetic check up and all was ok.  My visit today was much the same as always, me talking, her listening (I think/hope) and thankfully the activity lady was in her lounge whilst I was  there and they were doing a communal crossword so that helped pass the time.  Mum will answer direct questions and she has always enjoyed crosswords/anagrams/word games in the past so the staff do tend to ask her directly and she responds.  Next Tuesday hubby has his 3mth check up so I will, all being well, find out how he is doing as I go with him. Iam already picking up a change in his general mood which happens each time we have an appointment looming (he probably sees a change in me too!!). Fingers crossed there will not be too much change (though his weight looks to have dipped again, he is trying to eat more snacks) and we will be able to look foward to the weekend away afterwards.

Sounds like you are trying to keep Brianitus under control and I wish you luck trying to be good- its not easy but I find if I am goodMonday to Friday then I have my 'unhealthy' treats at the weekend (but smaller portions!!). Both my daughter and son in law are trying to lose some weight too so it must be the time of year and hoping to feel better for when the finer weather arrives.Not too bad today once the fog lifted -now quite bright so may soon be able to head into the garden to begin tidying.  Will need to get a new mower this year as mine broke and the one I  have been borrowing is a bit heavy for me to use on a regular basis.

Well best go a start lunch preparation. Take care.  Jules xx

Good morning Jules,

I have now completed the paperwork for my wood club, at least for the moment. I gave way to temptation when shopping this morning; a small packet of cashew nut fell into our trolley. The lady at the checkout said to Mrs B, "I see he's got some nuts again". Every shop I go into the staff know about me and my love of nuts for they often make remarks about it. I cant think why this should be do you????

When I went to see the grandchildren last night, you would think that I hadn't seen my youngest grandson for months, he went ballistic when he saw me, jumping up and down. I said "Hello young man" to him but to my surprise he said "Hello young man" back instead of the usual "Hello old man". In fact he told his dad he was the old man. After I had made up his usual amount of stories for him, He asked if he could read me a story. He sat next to me for the next thirty minutes read me a complete story from one of his books. I was very impressed and told him so afterwards. His mother told me he loves reading almost as much as he likes playing on the X-BOX.

This week seems to have gone past so quickly. Cant believe the weekend is almost upon us again.

Take care, best wishes, Brian

Hi Jules,

Hope you are OK and that hubby is not to anxious about his forthcoming appointment, only natural to worry I guess.  Can't believe another week has gone by!  Looking forward to going out with some friends this weekend.  Hope you enjoy your weekend too.  Hope x

Hi Brian,

Haven't caught up for a while but I do read your posts.  Hope you enjoy your cashew nuts (one of my favourites too), and have a lovely weekend.  Hope x

Hi Jules,

Sending supportive hugs and love.

It needed to come out in the open, and I think you have been far from selfish.

We usually cannot change these people we love, but sometimes we need to have our say just for sanities sake.

Thinking of you.

Annabel.xx

P.S. The weather this morning is now very windy again. Boo.

Morning Brian

Well hope you have a peaceful weekend and am really pleased you enjoyed your time with the grandchildren.  Now having stories read to you must be lovely and give you lots of pleasure, especially when the youngest has been through so much.  He's a real personality.

It not been a very good week for hubby painwise (he called it discomfort until this morning!!).  His GP had been experimenting with a new pain regime this week to see if that could combat the breakthrough pain he was having.  Unfortunately it has been worse  and having got up early this morning he told me (after some gentle questioning) that the pain was worse and so he has reverted back to previous drug cocktail.  Thankfully we have hospital appointment on Tuesday with his consultant so am hoping we can talk through more pain options.  He (and I) really want to enjoy the weekend away next weekend and it wont be easy for him to mask the pain.

Having said all that (not sure you will  believe this next bit!!) he received a call from his 'old work' yesterday and has 'jumped' at the chance to go into the factory on Monday to help them out.  First time I have seen a real smile on his face for months.  Hope he enjoys it (already talking about maybe popping in again during the week if they need his 'mental expertise').  Can understand how he feels but at the same time worried about the physical affect as he spends so much time asleep when he is at home.  Its at least an hours drive each way so I tentatively suggested that should he want to go in again that maybe he should stay overnight locally to save a journey  He cannot do that on Monday as he has to be back from his consultant's appointment.  One day at a time perhaps.

Another damp day here so looks like jobs indoors today.  No plans this weekend (perhaps just as well as hubby has only managed an hour awake since 7 a.m. when he had to get up to take more medication).Breakfast could well  be lunch for him today bless him.

Hope  you and MrsB have a peaceful weekend and will try and post an update once we have been to the hospital (apprehensive as always).

Take care  Jules xx