Hi Jules,

I hope you enjoy your weekend with hubby's sister coming over (looks like weather is going to be good); also hope your Mum's birthday enjoys her birthday on Monday, no doubt the staff at the home will try and make it special too.  I know that Tuesday will be a sad day for you as you say farewell to your dear friend, and my thoughts are with you.  Take care.  Hope x

Dear Jules,

Just scrolled back on your thread and saw the sad news about your dear friend. Just wanted to send you supportive hugs and love and I'll be thinking about you on Tuesday.

I hope your weekend is enjoyable - it seems to be full of lots of nice things to do (apart from lawn mowing maybe?)  The weather looks hopeful too; Lifts everyone's spirits.

Take care, Jules, thinking about you,

Jo xxxx

Hi Jules

Just wanted to wish you the very best for your Mum's birthday tomorrow and your friend's funeral on Tuesday.  I will be thinking of you.

Hope hubby really enjoys his trip to your sons's work.  I am sure this is somehting he will find very interesting and hopefully will give him a bit of a lift for a few days.

Very best wishes.

Gill

Morning Jules,

Brian is correct, your friends on here will be thinking about you today.

Although it is going to be an emotional day for you and the family of your friend I suspect it is also going to be a real celebration of her life.

She sounded as though she was such a fiesty lady and with real character.

Sending many virtual supportive thoughts today.

Annabel. xx

Thinking of you today Jules x Susananne

Hi Jules,

Hoping you were able to get through today.

Take care, sending supportive hugs, Jo xx

Hi Jules,

Just wanted to add to the other good wishes, I really hope today was OK and that fond memories help ease the pain.  Hope x

Hi Everyone

Thank you all so much for your lovely words of support over the past few days.  Have felt like I have been on autopilot or just 'holding my breath' as emotions have been washing over me in waves for loads of differing reasons. The ups and downs of life seem to have hit home during the past week and once again sleeping has been a big issue leading to me dropping off in front of the tv (well there is not much on anyway!!) and even with  my faithful laptop sitting on my lap.

Seem to have packed so much into the last few days and its only midweek.  Where to begin and how to keep waffle to a minimum.  At the beginning I suppose and at least then I will feel a bit more of a release.  Saturday - we had invited my Sister in Law over for dinner and was expecting her in the afternoon.By 6.15 she still had not arrived so we tried contacting her with no luck.  She finally arrived at close to 7 having apparently had the boiler being fixed and had forgotten to let us know she would be late- not sure hubby that impressed (nor I for that matter).  There followed 3hrs of chat about the planned forthcoming move plans to Isle of Man and how great it will be and there would be no problem putting us up when we all go and visit. Then  chatting about the second new dog to join their clan (while alsation).  Not once did she ask about how we or the rest of the family were doing and have come to the conclusion that she must be in denial about her brother'sillness as she does not seem to recognise (even though I keep her up to date and she can see the change in him) that once they move he is unlikely to 'travel'. She left with a quick wave and  a 'see you sometime' hug.

Sunday was a good day.  We had Zack (now 7mths) for a few hours and with the weather being beautiful I took him for a long 2hr walk and we lunched in the park.  When we returned hubby had a time to enjoy time with him and then when the rest of the family returned from their banger racing outing we had takeaway chinese.

On Monday my daughter, Zack and I went to visit Mum (after I finished work) to help her celebrate her 88th birthday.  We took gifts and cards from family and friends and opened them for her.  It was however to be quite distressing as apart from sitting eating her birthday cake  and giving Zack a smile she was not at all happy at having reached such a milestone and chose not to speak at all just nodding occasionally when we asked questions.  We stayed nearly an hour but felt a little drained and low.  The following morning (an hour before I was due to attend my friends funeral) I received a call from the Care Home to say they were concerned enough to have her see the Doctor.  Apparently her routine blood tests were back - Diabetes levels good but her cholesterol had risen so they are to increase her medication but they now want me to seriously consider taking out Power of Attorney and am to have a team meeting soon.  It appears that the doctor wishes to see me and Mum has given permission for this and made certain requests (am pretty sure know what this means!).  Naturally feeling emotional anyway, this was a little too much and I got myself into a bit of a state (hubby came to the rescue bless him, saying all the right things and I managed to get myself together before my daughter arrived to accompany me to my friends 'final farewell'.

The Service for my friend was beautiful in its simplicity with the church full to rafters.  Unusual in that there were no hymns just pieces of her favourite music, poetry reading, her middle son spoke on behalf of the family (the day chosen especially as it would have been her 36th wedding anniversary) and final prayers.  To think she had planned it all beforehand, but could not have guessed at the timing, made it very special and really summed up the lady herself (a friend of 32 years and yet even I did not know she was a former ' Essex girl'.  The immediate family then left for a intimately private goodbye and rejoined the gathering of extended family and friends to celebrate her life. She  had asked that everyone 'wear something pink' (her favourite colour as well as its links with her original diagnosis some 22 years ago) and I have never seen such a swathe of colour and so many man in pink ties.  Her boys did her proud as I knew they would and an emotional day drew to a close. Memories rekindled, an inspirational and strong women greatly missed by everyone but a good amount of laughter amongst the tears - just what she would have expected and wanted. RIP my dear 'matey'.

Thanks for all being my virtual supporters on my continuing life journey when you all have so much to deal with in your own lives and I would like to leave this post with the words taken from the poem read at her service -'Make the  most of the 'dash' we are blessed with between our start and finish dates in her case 1954-2014. I am moving forward again trying to keep her words in my head.

Hope  you are all okay and send you all hugs and hope the sun is shining where you are (beautiful here again today).  Jules xx

Hi Jules,

I am so sorry to read that you have had so much to deal with at a time when you are mourning the loss of your friend.  I am about to send you a PM & am sending you virtual TLC.  Hope xx