Hi Kathy

I have stuck with the same hairdresser(he now has his own salon but worked for another when I first met him some 30yrs ago!) for many years now and he never disappoints - price varies from area to area( I have paid more when I have been on holiday!! (and also less), salon to salon  and is for cut and blow dry(probably only  £12 for the cut!!! but hate having it done'dry'.  Men's haircuts are cheaper!!!  Unfortunately utility prices continue to rise and like. everything else it gets passed on to the consumer.  It must be a good business to be in as in our small local high street we have more than six hairdressers/barbers (but only one butcher, baker, greengrocer!!!!) I only go every couple of months and the relaxation I get in that hour is worth its weight in gold!  When the children were small a friend used to come and do their's in the home  as a favour and there are quite a few 'mobile' hairdressers around now so they do not have shop overheads.  Its a luxury I can afford.

Hope all well with you and you have a peaceful weekend.  I am having a quiet afternoon having spent most of the morning doing preparations for tomorrow's family lunch.  Its a bit dreary here today but relatively mild for the time of year again  and no heating necessary.  May well pick the last of the roses for the table!  Take care  Jules x

Hi again Kathy

I think the game you refer to is what we play with 'horse chestnuts' (conkers) which are not edible.  As to roasting the edible chestnut its very easy just 20-30 mins in the oven (small slit in outer skin to stop them exploding!) on Gas No 6.  I do not like them (prefer brazils, walnuts and almonds). 

Thanks for info on the steroids.  Hubby had a course in early part of the year when we were going away for a weekend and it helped a bit then.  A lot of his problem is nothing really tastes as it once did (following chemotherapy his tastebuds have never recovered) and he feels full (due to thecancer growth) very quickly so we are definitely trying the little and often scenario (also a bit difficult as he spends anything up to 18hrs a day dozing or asleep so its catching him at the right moment and not seen to be 'nagging' when he is awake!!   On the plus side I have great variety of foods in the stock cupboard now just in case;) .  Regards  Jules x

Hi Jules,

I had this all written out once and my curser jumped and I lost the lot. I have one of those dual action mouse pads on my laptop and I dont like it.

I had another good craft fair yesterday. I sold several items I had turned several years ago and had begun to think I would never sell them. I also sold several of my new items as well so had a good day. I bought a large shopping bag with a hand embriodered barn owl on it for Mrs B which I will give her as a surprise Christmas present. Have it hidden in one of my craft boxes which because of the rain is still in my car. Will unload the car later if the rain eases off and will have to try and wrap the bag without Mrs B suspecting anything.

Pleased to hear you had a small win on Friday night and hubby managed his usual night out. I hope you both enjoy you family day/meal today and hubby enjoys time with his sister before their move. Have topped up with chestnuts and would mention you can also boil them in a pan of hot water if you dont mind the stain it leaves on the sides of the pan. I have also peeled both the outer and inner skin and have deep fried them in the past. They are nice and crispy on the outside. Making my mouth water so I'd better finish.

Take care, sending best wishes to you, hubby and family, Brian

I hope all goes well re the visit to G P on Tuesday.

good morning Brian

Pleased to hear the Craft Fair went well for you.  Iknow how much you enjoy working with wood and its an added bonus to have it appreciated.

Family lunch was very nice and pretty relaxing as I just laid on hot/cold buffet and it was 'self service'. Hubby's sister here for around three hours and could well be last time we see her before their move and not sure if he will see his brother/sister in law now as the move is set for 5 December and they sent their Christmas gifts with his sister and she also left hers with us for all the family.  Hubby managed to stay awake but was pretty drained afterwards bless him and ate very little again during the whole day.

After his doctor's appointment tomorrow morning I will visit Mum and then we have a dietician coming to see us in the afternoon to see if that can help 'motivate' him. He agreed to this appointment but am pretty sure it was to keep his doctors happy rather than thinking it will be of any use.  I have a cupboard full of 'possibles' as far as food/drink is concerned but even the prescribed shakes sit idle by his side.  Its a hard journey for him that's for sure .  Thank you for your good wishes for tomorrow; it helps knowing I can  rely on the forum to come and chat.

Mrs B's Christmas present sounds great and I am sure she will be delighted with it.  I have seen so many different owl accessories this year and its pretty hard letting them stay in the shops.  I have almost finished my shopping but will  now have to turn my attention to the wrapping/card writing next.  Will wait until after our grandson's 6th birthday next weekend.  He is coming to see us on the morning so that we have the pleasure of seeing him open his gift and then we will look after Zack whilst he goes out with a couple of friends ten pin bowling and tea with his Mum and Dad. As you can imagine he is very excited already.

Well best say bye for now and get ready for work.  Take care and stay warm (thick frost here this morning following on from steady rain yesterday - could grow rice in the 'paddy field' that is  my garden.

Regards Jules x

Good morning Jules,

It seems you have a lot going on today so I hope all goes well. I hope GP does not try to presure you into pushing hubby to go out more for you are in an unenviable situation. For I think when she does this for the best of reasons, it makes you feel guilty. But at the end of the day, you can only do what you have been doing. Lets face it, we men can be very stuborn and set in our ways at times.

I spent most of yesterday evening trying to work out how to build a jig so I can use my router to make oval picture frames and I think I have come up with a solution where on this one jig I can produce several differnt sizes frames. I cant wait to get out in my garage and start work on it to try out my theory. Oval frames are something I am often asked for and something I dont know anyone in our group doing.

I love your humour regarding growing rice in your paddy field. That made me laugh out loud when I read it. If it's any consolation, ours is not that much better. I have another person coming to look at my garage roof this afternoon and I have allready told them, what they propose to do will not work so can see a rather heated discusion taking place. I dont see the point of spending time and money on something all the garage roofs round here have allready had done and it has failed miserably.

I cant believe how quickly your grandsons are growing up although I should as mine are just the same. Mrs B has started on her jigsaws again and is enjoying it. The only thing that concerns me about Mrs B's Christmas present is that she may think its too good to use and it wont get used.

Well I had better get on to The Amazing Quotes thread as I havent posted anything as yet today.

Take care, sending kind thoughts and best wishes your way, Brian.

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Good luck with all appointments today Jules, 

Will be thinking of you. 

Annabel xx

Hi Brian and thanks for your kind words.  You hit the nail right on the head with the 'feeling guilty' scenario. My head knows you (and everyone else who tells me!) are right but my heart won't let those feelings go completely - human nature and all that.

Anyway, visit GP gave hubby an ultimatium of sorts - eat small amounts every half hour throughout waking hours or face going into hospital.  His weight is a concern, of course, along with possible anaemia (now only 59kg!) and she has put him on a course of steriods which I will pick up later.  She is hoping this will kickstart things.  He has to have repeat blood tests in two weeks and we go back on 18th Dec.  The dietician 'phoned in sick' so new appointment to be organised soon. (this means I get a free afternoon).

Popped down to see Mum after appointment only to find she had decided to get her hair done (good thing) so my stay was short and sweet with a promise to return next week.

The pictures show how much work goes into all that woodturning and hope you can get your garage leak sorted without resorting to raised voices;) as it sounds as though you are eager to begin more experimenting even though the weather leaves a lot to be desired.  Too cold or too wet?  Prefer the former which you can wrap up against.   Sadly though the heavy frost two  mornings running has seen off the last of my roses so will now brighten up the indoors with shop bought bunch.

I am sure Mrs B will use her new bag when she gets it (if she is like me I have to use a new bag as soon as I get it - its my biggest weakness - bag that shop) 

Thanks again for your kind thoughts .  Jules x

Hi Brian and thanks for your kind words.  You hit the nail right on the head with the 'feeling guilty' scenario. My head knows you (and everyone else who tells me!) are right but my heart won't let those feelings go completely - human nature and all that.

Anyway, visit GP gave hubby an ultimatium of sorts - eat small amounts every half hour throughout waking hours or face going into hospital.  His weight is a concern, of course, along with possible anaemia (now only 59kg!) and she has put him on a course of steriods which I will pick up later.  She is hoping this will kickstart things.  He has to have repeat blood tests in two weeks and we go back on 18th Dec.  The dietician 'phoned in sick' so new appointment to be organised soon. (this means I get a free afternoon).

Popped down to see Mum after appointment only to find she had decided to get her hair done (good thing) so my stay was short and sweet with a promise to return next week.

The pictures show how much work goes into all that woodturning and hope you can get your garage leak sorted without resorting to raised voices;) as it sounds as though you are eager to begin more experimenting even though the weather leaves a lot to be desired.  Too cold or too wet?  Prefer the former which you can wrap up against.   Sadly though the heavy frost two  mornings running has seen off the last of my roses so will now brighten up the indoors with shop bought bunch.

I am sure Mrs B will use her new bag when she gets it (if she is like me I have to use a new bag as soon as I get it - its my biggest weakness - bag that shop) 

Thanks again for your kind thoughts .  Jules x