[[]]Hi All .Jope you are all OK and coping nice in cheshire just now but had a shower or two earlier spent 2 hours feeding the lawn and seeding place`s were I have killed the moss. last week the stuff worked OK.

the garden is comming along well plenty of colour .

well it is about my time for a meal spagbal i think home made as well .speak soon keep well and warm .

Hi George

You put me to shame. Got as far as buying some Dahlia tubers at the garden centre (my excuse for going for a long walk - around three miles round trip) but have yet to put them in (and now is getting dark)!  We have had no rain here today so have been very lucky this weekend.  The photo has once again brightened my thread, thank you.  You definitely have green fingers whilst mine just get muddy. Enjoy your evening meal - just waiting for our roasties to finish cooking to go with  the chicken.  Not sure how much hubby will manage as his appetite not so good at present.  He has just taken his meds so hoping for a better evening.  He has plans to pop into work tomorrow for more 'brain storming' - he is on a small retainer so he can be useful still but he misses the 'full on engineering'.  Hospital Tuesday and I will hopefully post an update.  Take care of yourself and give Ria a pat from me.  Hugs..  Jules xx

Hi Jules,

How are you?  I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you. I'm sure you and hubby must be a little apprehensive with the forthcoming appointment Tuesday, really hope all goes well.  I'm doing OK and will reply to you also on my thread.  Hope xx

Hi Hope

Thanks for thinking of us.  Frankly   Iam feeling a little stressed but managing. Used my walking skills to walk off some of the frustrations of life. I have had over two years of practice now but still find it hard that hubby can't or won't hold a conversation.  I am trying very hard to 'chat' normally but with little response it just catches up with me sometimes. Thats emotions for you .  Will be busy at work this week (probably a good thing)  as my workmate/friend is on a week's leave.  Will nip to your thread to catch up.  Keep looking after yourself.  Hugs  Jules xx

Hi Jules

Just in case I dont log on tomorrow, good luck for Tuesday morning. Will be thinking of you and knowing how nervy your tummy will be feeling! I hope you get to know more about how your hubby is feeling, it must be so hard for you. As you know, I have similar issues to a certain extent and it has been frustrating some times.

Paul is going to work shortly (night shift a good way for him to ease in, no passengers or long journeys on the schedule). It will feel so weird for me when he has left, I have been spoilt having him home so much. He books on at midnight tonight. Joe has been (amazingly) working hard on his art and photography, he has part of his A levels this week. I am quietly making sure he eats and drinks well, he can get stress migraines if we are not careful.

Guess what, the hedgehogs are back in force! I havent seen them, which is a good thing, but I know its them. They tend to leave a little present for me in  feed box! They are eating two bowls each night and drinking lots of water. I think there must be 3 or more, thats a lot of food for them to eat. Love it when I know they made it through hibernation.

I have my eyes open for the housemartins, they should be back from south Africa soon. They nest in our eaves every year and I love watching them swooping around.

Primroses are in and look lovely and bright. I love dahlias too, they will be lovely on the patio I bet.

Hoping all will be well in Tuesday for you both

Lots of love

Lisa xX

[[]]Hi Lisa can I jump in here and say just how lucky are you  ,2 years ago we had hedgehogs in the garden not seen any for a long time they are fantstic i love em to bits as for house martins in the old house yes we had them

but this house is only 40 yrs old and the roof is no good for them .Sorry jules for jumping in but I just had to say it .right i will pay the bill with a picture .regards george .

Hi George

Lovely to hear from you. Believe it or not we are in newest of new towns Milton Keynes! My husband cut a little hole out of the typical 6ft fence that surrounds most places here. So I think that has helped. We are on the outskirts tho, there are farms nearby altho the builders are relentless. He cut holes out of plastic storage boxes for me and thats where I put the food, in pet food bowls. Idea of the boxes is to keep local cats out, doesn't always work tho! I bought special hedgehog homes on line and filled them with straw. Over the last couple of years we have rescued a few (autumn juveniles underweight and lungworm coughs) and taken them to Tiggywinkles which is about half an hour away. I knew I had married the right person as we bounced along the country lanes en route to Tiggys, poorly hog in a box on a hot water bottle! Dont know why I like them so much, they are just such peaceful little things. And I cant have a dog, Paul is allergic!

The housemartins build their nests under the pointy bit of our roof, last year on both sides. When they come back, I make sure there are several pots or empty hanging baskets with wet compost in so they can use it. They swoop right down, must be very early morning as I dont see them but the mud goes! There are loads of them around here most years, the skies are full of their twitterings in the summer.

We also have a large family of house sparrows who sleep in the ivy we have grown up a brick wall. Paul didnt believe me until we watched them return to sleep on saturday night. The nesting box on the ivy was used by the blue *** last year, they are still around in the garden but not using it at the mo. I have a couple of logs around the garden for insects to use to keep the food chain going and a little bee house which the bees use later in the spring.

I noticed bats last summer so my next job is to put a bat box up. Helps that I work for a landscaping company and get a generous discount at our sister company garden centre.

I think I am maybe a little younger than the average garden aficionado at 45, but I find real peace there and love watching the nature around me. Has been lovely to feel the sun this weekend.

Hope you have a good week

Lisa xX

So true George! And I think if you are able to find real pleasure in life's simple things, that's almost a gift to be appreciated

[[]] Hi Lisa .You are so lucky we had martins in the old house but none at all round here but I love my gardenspend hours in it .Withtwo cats next door no birds as I will not feed them here .

  regards fornow , thanks to Jules for the space .