Hi Hope

Thanks for your support - its so much easier being able to 'let of steam' knowing that people on the forum understand.  If you read my response to Brian you can see how visit to Mum went (and it will save me rambling away again!!).

Am looking forward to a 5 day weekend as I do not have to work this bank holiday.  Hubby is also slightly brighter today (and we both enjoying watching the 20/20 cricket now) and filling up on crisps (may decide to serve snacks instead of real meals as the former seem to give him more pleasure and the little and often rule may be thenew normal for him now).

Hope you have a good weekend.  Thanks again. Sending grateful hugs.Jules x

Hello Brian just saw your picture of the  photo frames they are realy lovely shows what can be done with a bit of old wood ,cleaver you ...Hope you both have a good weekend weather was lovely this morning but rain since lunch hope tomorrow is better, take care Brian  .....Susananne

Hi Brian

You are once clever man.  My father when he was young used to do some wood turning and carving.  My mum has a coffee table he made just after the married.  The legas are turned and the removale top is carved.  It is lovely.

That said it is defiintely not up to your standard.  I am extrmely impressed by both items and go with Jules in that I think "quirky" is a good description for the first one.

Very well done and trust the exhibition goes well.  With a standard like that I am sure it will.

Gill

Hi Jules

Sorry the visit to your Mum did not go any better than normal.  I like the fact that her mind is sharp enough to get her what she wants but I am sure she plays this down when it suits her.  Sorry to hear she is a bit shaky on her legs.  I would hope even if it is down to muscle wastage that this would count towards her going to a more suitable accommodation than a retirement complex but I realise it is probably not part of the necessary criteria.

Glad hubby is enjoying the 20/20 cricket and that you can watch this with him.  As he seems to eat snacks at present perhaps try a few different ones, sausage rolls, mini suasages or pasties or cruities with a dip.  He may eat more than he realises with these.  I know with me when my appeitie is not good I seem to eat more of things I have not eaten for a long time than the usual things.  I think it is jut different and relavtively unfamiliar tastes are more interesting to me at that time.  Might work for hubby to.

Thanks for your kind comments about the treatment.  I emailed by boss today to confirm about going back to work and he emailed back to say there is an Easter Egg in the office for me!  Was not expecting that but I guess it is from him.  Am planning to call in and see him towards the end of nect week to sort out details of my phased return (so far have been told I can do as many or as few hours as I want to until I am ready to get back to full time) and will pick up the egg then, assuming it does last that long.  I know if his son calls in the office on Saturday morning it will disappear in an instant.

Hope you enjoy your very long week end.

Gill

Hi Jules,

Sorry I forgot to ask how you were getting on in getting to work. Thanks for the kind words regarding the turnings. I do find turning very therapeutic but I do find I have to be in the right mood. Think Mrs B might well end up with the wooden owl. Its the picture that sell the frames 95% of the time. Yes the exhibition starts on Saturday and lasts three days.

Yes dad has an amazing resilience. Brother and sister in law seem happier now decisions have been made.

Sorry that your mother was in unresponsive mode yesterday.  It must have hurt when she told you to go but well done for ignoring what she said. How funny that you both like cricket. I am not a football person at all but I do like watching cricket.

I'm afraid Brianitus struck yesterday when we did our shop. A bag of cashew nut and a bag of peanuts plus two big bags of crisps found their way in  our trolley.

Hope to turn four more wooden birds tomorrow. The first one always takes a lot longer.

Hope you travel to work is back to normal tomorow.

Take care, Best wishes to you and you family, Brian

Well if an Easter Egg does not entice you back to the office, nothing will.  Its great when you have such good work support so dont rush to do too much at once (as if) though expect you will enjoy being back because it means you are in recovery.

Thanks for added words of wisdom re food ideas - it all helps.  You will never guess what tonight's offering was (and thoroughly enjoyed) - giant bowl of banana & custard (he did not fancy roast pork) and I told him that he (and I) must start thinking outside the box.  Think he appreciated my effort and is now tucking into a third bag of quavers - there really is no accounting for taste.  Maybe now I have broken down the 'usual things to eat at given times of day' we can edge forward slowly into 'communication'  - we even had a laugh over mealtime and I have told him I really dont care what he has or when as long as he is enjoying it.

Have a lovely weekend yourself - we have no plans in place but do intend to try and put my feet up some of the time.  Thanks once again for 'being out there'.Jules x

Just a quick response before I turn off the laptop for today .  Travelling to work by bus in the morning today was a change (just means a longer walk to the bus station but they had laid on double deckers on the route instead of usual single deckers so plenty of room and just read my book whilst the driver struggled through traffic jam.  Maybe your little birds could be in 'reducing sizes' (like a nest of dolls) - just trying to make it more fiddly for you.  I would buy the frames without the pics - reckon your grandchildren would look good in them and make great gifts.  Chat again. Wishing you well for a great exhibition. (hope the weather holds fair).  Jules x

Hi Jules,  I sympathise with you completely in your efforts with your Mum; old age is a very difficult thing and as much as we love and want to look after parents it can be frustrating.  Be assured you are doing your best though and that is all you can do. Glad to hear hubby is brighter, hope you enjoy your long weekend - hear the weather forecast isn't too good but at least it's time off.  Hope x

Hi Susananne and Gill,

Thanks for your kind words. I don't but any of the timber, it all come from hardwood pallets old widow cill or fence posts. Nice to be able to use timber that is being thrown out or burnt. On the odd few pallets I did find some rosewood substitute and have made a couple of chess boards and fret boards for Guitars

Take care, Best wishes, Brian.