Morning Jules,

I hope you are feeling a little less sad now; like you say it must be a little comfort to know that your Mum is being looked after well and is safe.  I read that you visited your friend yesterday who is an inspiration, but nonetheless I'm sure this also made you feel emotional.  You are a strong person Jules, and I know it is true that sometimes we have no other choice, but the stress does get to us all at some point unyet you seem to hold on in there very well for most of the time, which is a credit to you.  I think what you said about not looking too far ahead is very wise, I feel that is where I sometimes go wrong. I often think too far ahead and worry about things that may not happen - my Dad was a little like that, so your mention of genes rings true.  I'm still feeling very fragile just now (strange how you can think you're doing OK and then suddenly you're not), however I will keep the thought in my head of just thinking of today.

I love the sound of the owl, what a lovely idea and even better that hubby wants to go a visit this year, fingers crossed for some better weather on it's way to make that happen.

Take care, Hope x

Hi Jules,

I loved the humour about my dented rear end (on the car). Was very good this morning when shopping as only one pack of crisps fell into our trolley (mind you, it was a pack of six) 

I can see why you regard your friend as inspirational. Some people never moan despite all that life throws at them. They just accept it but put up one heck of a fight, these people are real heroes in my opinion. For some people moan if they have a slight cold but people like your friend and your husband never complain about how their life has been drastically altered by this evil disease.

I found out last night why my young grandson thinks I very, very old. Apparentely he asked my son why I was called Granddad. My son replied "Well a grand is a thousand so that makes granddad a thousand years old". So just wait until its my sons birthday, for I will find him a comical card to get my own back.

I hope by the time you come home today from work, it has left off raining. It's raining that fine misty rain here but with the wind blowing like it is, can make you wet very quickly.

Take care Jules, will chat again soon, Brian

Morning Hope

How are you; relaxing a little bit I trust as half term draws to a close (where did that week go!!)  My daughter has been busy this week spending time with friends and keeping the eldest grandson busy and introducing baby Zack to swimming (he loved it!! just like his older brother).  We had a lovely lunch with our son and his girlfriend yesterday to celebrate his birthday at a beautiful pub overlooking huge lake and the sunshine was an added bonus, as it is today.  Somehow when the sun shines walking 2miles (there and back) to the supermarked seemed a pleasure (how mad am I).  Hubby had his usual lie in and was pleasantly surprised that he did not have to drag himself out shopping!!  Told him it was only because it was a small shop as no entertaining this week!!  The sun also spurred me on to clean all the groundfloor windows  and our daffodils look wonderful too.  Just praying now that we do not get a bad frost!!  Tonight we are babysitting for our daughter and son in law so they can enjoy a meal out at their friends.  As both boys are in bed by 7 no hard graft involved just bedtime story and then feet up in front of their tv.

Hope you have a peaceful weekend and that you, your h usband and sons are keeping well.  Look after yourself.Cyber hugs  Jules xx

Morning Brian

Hope that with this wonderful sunshine you are able to sort your 'dented rear' and that its not caused too much trouble.   That pack of crisps (hubby enjoys the six packs too) should help your energy levels.  The weather certainly helped my energy levels this morning as have walked the 2mile round trip to do the 'supermarket sweep' (treated hubby to jelly babies and multipack of flakes and myself to large pot of rhubarb yoghurt!!) and then cleaned all our ground floor windows (hubby thinks the fairies have been working hard whilst he slept) ha ha.

We are babysitting tonight and so will need to have early evening mean so instead of breakfast have had brunch and we are now watching snowboarding on tv.  Will miss the winter olympics as it has made a change from all the usual repeats he likes to sit in front of.

Hope you and MrsB have a peaceful weekend and that she was waiting with a large cuppa once your finished on the car.  Take care  sending hugs  Jules x

Hi Jules,

Despite spending quite some time taking trying to take the side panel of my car, I have had to admit defeat for now, which went against the grain. So came indoors and munched away at at my peanuts to get over my frustration. My wife has booked me for tomorrow morning to clean our windows. Look what you have started Jules

Your mention of jelly babies took me back a few years. It surprising how many of the sweets we had when I was young are making a comeback. Glad you enjoyed you lunch. with your son yesterday and your night out at bingo. Yesterday I found a site relating to Banff in Canada. There were loads of lovely photos so I downloaded some of them There were lovely sunsets, ice sculptures, wild animals and mountain scenery and found to my surprises I have 108 pictures in all, so will make another slide show for my wife and our neighbour of them.

You are right about there being so many repeats on TV. There are very few programs I watch these days apart from the news. Even the wild life programs are few and far between and some of them are repeats as well. Mrs B did manage to plant her primroses in the back garden this morning.

I hope you enjoy your baby sitting to night and wish you and your husband an enjoyable and peaceful weekend, Brian.

Morning Brian, though it almost feels like the afternoon as I was up late (for me anyway).  We were babysitting and though daughter and son in law were not home late (11.30) unfortunately about half an hour before they got back there was a car crash right outside their flat which effectively blocked our car in and we could not go until police gave us the go ahead!!  Thankfully no one hurt. Hubby had to go and check out his and our son in law's work car and was quite amazed that they were fine.  A 20-something woman had clipped a car, taken off its wing mirror, then completely lost control (obviously at speed) slammed into parked car (between hubby;s and son in law;s!!) and rolled it before coming to a halt sideways in the middle of their road. I need say no more than when she (amazingly) stepped out of the car she was so drunk she could barely walk. Needless to say she was breathalysed at the scene (we found out she lived just up the road (when her dad appeared) when son in law came in - he had helped the first responder police car (only one officer) to get traffic to turn round

so had all the details.  The woman was put into police van and taken away as her initial breath test showed up to 6 x the legal driving limit which was frightening enough but even the police went white when he realised there were two baby seats in the rear of the car (thankfully empty).  Think it may be some time before she allowed back behind a wheel and it wont be in her car (which was a total mess and still in the middle of the road when we finally left (around 12.45).  Our son in law wanted to move his work car but had had a couple of beers so asked the police if he could  be breathalysed to see if he was okay to be behind the wheel (our daughter had driven home) adn they agreed and he was within so moved his car out of harm's way and they were still waiting for a recovery truck when we edged out.  Babysitting had been a doddle by the way.  There were a few tears when our eldest  saw that the baby was crying (did not want to be left out perhaps!!) but was soon laughing at the silly voices of granny reading his new Horrid Henry (his reward for eating his dinners all week!!) book.  Hubby settled Zack and they were both in bed and asleep by 7.15 (job done and a relaxed evening other than the commotion outside).

Sorry you were unable to correct the 'dented rear end' and hope its not too long before you manage to have it sorted.  Not such good weather again here today - drizzly and grey but hope to get out for a stroll later as hate being indoors all day.  Maybe will give you an excuse not to tackle windows though.  Hope you enjoyed the peanuts (we have several blue *** who are enjoying nuts on the feeder station today and hopefully spring is on its way.  Take care and hope you and Mrs B are doing okay.  Jules xx

P.S.Hope she enjoyed the owl quote as much as I did.

Morning Jules,

Glad you had a nice lunch with your son & girlfriend, the weather has been better hasn't it?  Sounds like Zack enjoyed his swim,  I remember the days of taking my boys swimming, I used to love it and still love to see little ones in their rubber rings splashing about.  I have just read your post to Brian re. the car crash last night - it makes me mad that people can be so irresponsible and I hope the police have thrown the book at the girl involved.  Lucky nobody was injured.  Hope hubby is still doing well, bet he was glad to have escaped the shopping trip, men and shopping just don't go do they?

Well that's half-term gone, I can't say it was a restful one as I have been emotionally bad during most of it.  I had thought I was doing so well but really feel like I've hit rock bottom the past couple of weeks. Hubby and boys are good and I just need to try and move forward with them now - easier said than done but I guess I'll get there.  Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Hope x

Hello Hope

Yes, the weather was an improvement and gave me the impetus to clean the windows yesterday but today is damp and grey so not sure if I will get out for a 'pleasant stroll' later on.

Don't be hard on yourself for feeling emotional; be kind to yourself and remember Beryl's baby steps mantra.  After the traumatic period in your life it is only to be expected that it will take time to move forward(it will happen when you are ready)  and half term gave you more 'thinking time' that when  you are busy with work related issues.  Having to be at your parents' house will have been enough to deal with.It was strange when we cleared Mum's flat (even though she was still with us) as there were constant reminders of a past life - some good some bad) and differing emotions too.  Grief has no time limit so draw some strength from your menfolk and take it slowly.  Happy to chat anytime if it helps (though I know every situation is different and very personal to the sufferer).  Sending hugs for a peaceful day.  Jules x

Good morning Jules,

My wife has been getting a book from a company called The owl Barn for some while now and in there was a leaflet from The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary and in the leaflet is a barn owl named Cobweb. Is this the one you and your husband have adopted? My wife just adores owls (and me I hope) If I let her she would spend an absolute fortune on anything to do with owls. Though it is not raining here, it's dull and overcast so my wife has decided she doesn't want the windows cleaned today (so thank you Jules for getting me out of that) I showed my wife the slide show of Banff last night along with the extended version I have done of beautiful photos from all round the world. As it's our neighbours 86th birthday tomorrow I took it round and showed her this morning. as not sure what she is doing tomorrow. She was so pleased. I have one more slide show to do which is all about animals, most of them with captions. We have an owl sanctuary about half hours drive from us so am sending you a photo of a snowy owl I took with my old camera a few years ago. The barn owls they had were hiding so wasn't able to get a photo of them much to my disgust as this was the one owl I wanted to get photos of.

Glad the baby sitting went well but you could have done without being blocked in as a result of that drunk driver. Lucky that your car wasn't damaged. We have a big family of blue *** who are often in the cherry tree in our front garden. Have tried to get photos of them but they move about so fast. Either that or I'm not quick enough

Take care, best wishes, Brian.

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