Hi to all my forum friends

It was lovely to see all your good wishes when I logged on today - you all have so much going on yourselves and yet find the time to be supportive, so appreciated.

Visit to hubby's GP was not as traumatic (for me) as I thought it would be.  Basically she is hoping that between her professional efforts and my 'encouragement' we can get hubby 'moving' out of the house.  She says he is not making the most of this 'quality time' by sitting indoors when he could be walking/driving short distances which will help his lungs work for longer.  She was kind, understanding but also very firm in what she says he could be doing to help himself whilst its still possible - some might call is a 'wake-up' call.  If he chooses to ignore it he will possibly go downhill a lot quicker (its what I have been thinking but rarely voiced out loud because he ignores it anyway).  He does not need increased pain relief as this is under control and his appetite would improve naturally if he made the effort to do gentle exercise (she is not expecting miracles).  She started off by suggesting he picked me up from work and maybe went for a coffee or me setting him a daily 'shopping' task (he looked horrified).  Well she has sowed the seed and I will do my best with the encouragement.  He has an appointment in a month's time (can take me too if he is happy with that) and she will check his weight then too.    I started the ball rolling on the way home from the surgery but suggesting dropping into our mutual friends if she was in (we drive past the door!) and he said yes so we have just spent a very social two hours chatting (she was as thrilled as I was).  He is now sleeping in his favourite chair (recovery mode!!!).  Will now have to wait and see if this 'necessary chat' (doctor's words) has desired effect.  I bet he feels he is being chivvied from all sides (hope he realises its for all the right reasons).

Hope you are all doing okay yourselves and stay in touch.  Virtual hugs and huge thanks to you all. Jules x

Hi Jules,

I have just come in from my garage/workshop and seen your message. So glad the appointment was good and lets hope this time your hubby responds to her suggestions. for it would make him feel better about himself I feel sure. We men need chivvying sometimes as we do get set in our ways as I know all to well.  I am sure he know it being done because people care about him.

I have had a very good day today. It started off when shopping I found Tesco's had my CHESTNUTS in stock. Bang goes my diet for now. Then when I came home I did some more to my chess board and have started to glue two more boards up. Picture attached.

The bad news is my brother in law had to be taken in to hospital yesterday as he was in so much pain. They think it is partly his cancer and partly a water infection. Still doing tests so will update when I know more,

Take care Jules, I am hoping your dear hubby reacts favorably to what has been suggested. Wishing you both all the verey best, Brian

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Hi Jules,

Thanks for the kind words regarding my brother in law. With regard to the chess board, I will be turning some draught pieces to go with it. I turn them so they have a small pimple on the middle of the top and a small recess on the underneath so when you have Kings they lock together. Have never mastered chess myself either so that make two of us Jules. When gluing these last two boards up, I have used tin foil to stop the timber sticking to the temporary base board and found this worked very well.

My son told me last night that my granddaughter is third in Sussex in  her class at archery. She has just won as a runner up a chance to go to London to be given some tips on writing by a world famous author but dont know who as yet. So proud of her.

Take care, best wishes to you and your family, Hugs, Brian

Hi Jules,

So glad to read that the appointment went well and the GP made some suggestions to get your hubby mobile.

Your hubby's response to the suggestion of a daily shopping task made me smile!

I don't think he's alone in not seeing shopping as a desirable task.

It sounds as if small steps are already being taken by your hubby with the successful drop in to visit your mutual friend.

Keep us posted as and when more successes are achieved.

Take care, hugs to you, Jo xx

Brian, I love your chequers board! What a talented, 'nutty' forum friend you are!

Hugs to you, Jo xx

Well someone will be delighted with all your hard and intricate workings in wood Brian. You well deserve your rewards in nuts!

Great news about your grandaughter's achievements both in archery and her writing.  I will be interested to learn which author she gets to meet.  In the early years of my working at Smiths I did several trips to London to 'meet and greet' and its fascinating to meet those whom you have 'read'.  I am sure it will give her even more inspiration to keep on writing.

Spent a couple of hours weeding front garden (hubby slept the afternoon away, probably in response to emotional outpourings this morning).  Have made a few crafty suggestions to get him some exercise which at least he has agreed he needs. We will see and maybe a little exercise will help with appetite too.

Hope you soon get encouraging news on your brother in law.  Have a good evening.  Jules x

Thank Jo.  Have popped a small response on your current thread too.

Hubby may start to find the odd little note waiting for him in the mornings suggesting walk down the garden to top up a bird feeder.  Think he has realised he needs the exercise and I  have suggested that when I get in from work we can do short walk together (think maybe he needs company to begin with to boost confidence again).  At least this evening he has just polished off large jacket potato topped with prawns.  Must try to take it slowly as do not want to 'frighten him off'.

He has slept most of the afternoon (emotionally kn.............................d I think!!).  In to work for me tomorrow (still playing catch up from last week with low staffing ratio). Take care.Jules x

Brian,

I noticed the red squirrels today helping themselves to our cob nuts on our trees.

The trees have come into maturity this year and so we now call this area of trees the self service section of their restaurant.

So if you fancy a trip up here to help yourself , hurry before they have taken them all.

Jules,

Great to hear how your visit to the GP went. She does sound on the ball.

I think the idea of a daily task is a great one. In the end with regularity he might not find the tasks or the socialising(like today) too onerous.

Good luck with it Jules, you are always doing your best with love and care.

Bye for now

hugs

Annabel. xx

Hi Annabel

Thanks for the encouraging words.  The GP is really trying to work with us both to improve hubby's outloook and I will be keeping my fingers crossed that he has taken the conversation on board. Its difficult to say how he feels about it all, to be honest, though think it will be a slow process as he is very 'wobbly' at the moment (needs to get some confidence back in himself to help with the motivation).  All seemed much the same on my return from work today (slept through most of the afternoon once I was home (he can avoid talking that way!!)) though he says he walked up the garden - no food since breakfast but has managed one of his shakes and I am hoping he will manage some dinner in around an hour.  We are babysitting on Saturday evening so this will get him out of our place even if it swaps one sofa for another!  Only time will tell whether he can 'pick up his mood' and try and enjoy the quality of life he currently could be enjoying.  Gentle encouragement is all I can do for now - back at the docs in a month and she will be monitoring his weight too.

Hope you are keeping well and have been enjoying our late summer temperatures.  Cannot believe how much I am managing to be outside but would be good if he came out too (though he has never been a fan of sitting in the garden) - we are definitely a 'chalk and cheese' couple.  Take care.  Jules x

Hi Jules,

Just a quick post to say the author my granddaughter will be meeting is Scott Westerfall (Hope I've spelt it right)

Take care, Brian.