Good morning Jules,

I hope you managed to get your shopping done okay yesterday. We have finished now until after Christmas. Sorry to hear hubby has an infection and hope medication soon clears it up. We are spending Christmas day on our own and think Mrs B will appreciate this. We have our son and family coming to us on Boxing day so this should be nice and will enjoy having the grandchildren here. My son took them up town yesterday as they had the great big American Coca Cola lorry up in the car park complete with all the lights and carol singers. Thats what I miss most of all regarding our modern Christmas is that we havent had any carol singers coming round for years now.

I expect work has been very busy for you last week and I bet you will enjoy your time off especially as you dont have to cook for two days though I expect you will offer to help. I have come up with an idea for a jig that should enable me to turn oval picture frames rather than having to use my router to do them. I feel confident it should work and will try making the jig in the new year when weather is warm enough,

Sister in law and brother in law visited us yesterday which pleased Mrs B. I had bought then two packs of button type batteries as the pound shop near them dont stock them. My youngest grandson missed his school trip to see the Disney film Frozen last week as his teaching assitant was ill, but the school not only refunded the money he'd paid but also bought him the DVD. I thought this was so nice of them.

I hope you have enjoyed your Sunday morning walk today and if you bought some naughty food, dont worry, it's Christmas and we all do it, especially me with my chestnuts. I am still working my way through the 5kg sack I bought at the market.

Hope you both have a peaceful day today, hugs being sent your way, Brian.

Hi everyone,

I hope Jules doesnt mind me using her thread. It's become quite a meeting place over the last few weeks.

Hope, I am so pleased you are are coping better at Christmas now but if your anything like me, you will probably have a sad moment or two just like I do. This is to be expected as Christmas is a time for family  and we cant help but remember those who are no longer with us. So I am sending kind thoughts and best wishes along with a big hug and will think of you.

Jo, I will be thinking of you and your family. You have had a tough year but you have not let things get you down and your humour has always shown through. I truely believe having a good sense of homour helps us through the dark days, I know it did me. Big hugs from me to you.

Garf, I just wanted to send seasons greeting to you and Mrs Garf and I hope you both have a great Christmas. Work seems to have been stressful for you lately so enjoy any time off you have and I hope you are not having to work much over the Festive period.

Kathy, I just wanted to say thank to you for your support during the past few months. I will be thinking of you like I will a lot of my virtual friends on here. I know this time of the year is a happy time but also has moments of sadness as we miss those who are no longer with us. So take care.

Annabel, Hope you have not been too busy of late and if you have are not too tired to enjoy Christmas with your family. Thanks for all your support during the past year. Take care, best wishe to you and your family.

Sueanne, Thank you for the friendship and support you have given to me. I just wanted to say I know like many of us, there will be sad moments of rememberance during Christmas, but I hope you have a happy fun filled time with your family and like many of us, I will be thinking of you.

Jules, it is my wish that next year will be a good year for you and all my friends who meet on your thread. Though many miles may seperate us all, I feel we all have a common bond and I do appreciate chatting to everyone. I would never have done anything like this pre-cancer. I hope you have a great time at your son's over Christmas are are able to re-charge the batteries so to speak as you have had so much to contend with over the past few months.

All. I wish you all a very happy Christmas and hope you all have time filled with love and luaghter. Thank you all for all the support and friendship you have extended to me. I will be thinking of you all, best wishes, Brian and Mrs B. 

Hi Everyone

Sorry to have been slow in responding but due to time of year seem to be lagging behind.  Really appreciative of continued support from all my forum buddies and will take this opportunity to wish everyone a very peaceful and relaxing festive season.  Hubby relaxed though sleeping more.  His stubborness regarding help (from me or anyone for that matter) continues though being so frail through lack of food I am persistant(or just a b nuisance depending on your point of view). He managed the visit to his pal on Friday and included a tot of whisky.  No luck for me at the bingo but a nice social break.  Had the company of daughter and grandchildren whilst out shopping (eureka moment when we found a pair of pyjamas to fit for you know who) and enjoyed a hot chocolate to ward off the chilly morning plus the inevitable burger lunch as pre Christmas treat.  Son in law joined us at home for a couple of hours in the afternoon before they drove around the neighbourhood to view the wonderful array of outside Christmas  lights/decorations - we have quite a few locally that are collecting for charities which is lovely.

I also managed to get to my work Christmas meal for a couple of hours last night and it was very good atmosphere and food.  Spending today quietly indoors as though we were invited to friends for lunch I felt it better that we stayed indoors and let the antibiotics do their best.  Hubby had a good few hours sleep this morning and has just come downstairs so we are cosy in front of a fire.

To you all, thanks for your companionship and support despite all your own ongoing journies and I really do wish you a very happy Christmas. To those we have loved and lost I raise a glass (well a coffee at the moment!) and thank you for the memories that make this time of year so poignant and special.  Hope to be chatting on into 2015 and would also express thanks to the forum moderators who somehow keep us all together despite glitches.

Brian - I am so pleased people like to meet/chat/laugh/cry etc etc and my thread like so many welcomes all imput. Health happiness and peace to you and Mrs B (glad to  hear the nuts are lasting!)

Garf - Hope your family research continues to bring you enormous pleasure and that you and Mrs G enjoy  a happy and healthy year ahead.

Hope - Like your avatar/name suggests trust that the year ahead will continue to see you healing within the warmth of your family/friends - Enormous luck to your boys in their ongoing learning processes - they have a wonderful role model.

Jo - As always sending you good wishes and hope you and your family enjoy the festive season and that the 'grown up' puppy provides plenty of fun too. Look after yourself

Kathy - Am sure you will enjoy whatever time you manage with your son and the little uns.  Hope your house-sitter soon feels well again.  Am thinking of you and sending peace over the miles - no doubt sunny in your garden just now as against damp and mild (not at all seasonal here at the moment!) though the wind makes it feel chilly.Look after yourself

Am off now (I can almost hear your joint sighs of relief ha ha) to fix lunch and to recover from the emotion of watching Strictly Come Dancing on catch up!!!!

Warming hugs to you all, along with anyone who may be reading just know. Jules xx

Hello Jules I love strictly too and voted for Caroline ,Hope you enjoy Christmas with your family I have children and and grandchildren coming on Christmas day so will do all the prep on Christmas Eve so easier on the day have to make the most of it hard as it is but grandchildren always make the day Then at my Sons and family on Boxing day so Rusty comes with me and will have his turkey dinner too bless him .Its 11 degs at the moment and dull with drizzle yuc I braved Asda this morning for a few last minute bits oh god what a bad idea so busy but got it done ..I hope hubby manages a good Christmas dinner and stays well throughout the festivities ..Take care Jules and Merry Christmas to you and hubby and a good 2015 fingers crossed for you and big hug as usual from me and Rusty and Button the cat xxSueanne

Hello Jules I love strictly too and voted for Caroline ,Hope you enjoy Christmas with your family I have children and and grandchildren coming on Christmas day so will do all the prep on Christmas Eve so easier on the day have to make the most of it hard as it is but grandchildren always make the day Then at my Sons and family on Boxing day so Rusty comes with me and will have his turkey dinner too bless him .Its 11 degs at the moment and dull with drizzle yuc I braved Asda this morning for a few last minute bits oh god what a bad idea so busy but got it done ..I hope hubby manages a good Christmas dinner and stays well throughout the festivities ..Take care Jules and Merry Christmas to you and hubby and a good 2015 fingers crossed for you and big hug as usual from me and Rusty and Button the cat xxSueanne

Hello Jules,

I hope you are OK.  I was sorry to read that hubby is very frail but noted from your last post that he has managed to eat a little today which is good.  I hope you have a nice Christmas with your son and his girlfriend.  I think all of us on this site probably realise how precious life is and how important it is to cherish time with our loved ones.  Hope your grandson enjoyed his part in the school play, I used to love the days of going to the nativity plays, seems so long ago now!  Wishing you all the best for Christmas and will speak again before the New Year.  Hope xx

Hi Hope

Still managing day to day and just waiting for nurse to call to change hubby's dressings for the last time before I take over (whilst away).  Have wished Mum seasons greetings and am waiting for daughter and family to visit for a little while today before they journey to the inlaws (Wigan) tomorrow once our son in law finishes work. Pretty much expecting to busy last day at work tomorrow morning but have the change of wearing 'Christmas themed' tops ( for a charity donation) which should make a few smile (or not!!). Think hubby's menu will be mainly of liquid variety but know we will be in relaxed surroundings with many hands making light work.  Will hopefully go over tomorrow afternoon/evening and be back Saturday (will not have laptop with me so will be quiet for a few days (now that will make a change).

Wishing you and the family Season's Greetings and a peaceful and happy 2015.  Hugs  Jules x

Good morning Jules,

Hope you are enjoting your day off today. Hope you enjoy vist from your daughter and family this morning.

I spoke to my dad in Canada last night and he seems to be keeping okay considering his age. Told him about when we were visiting him 22 years ago and how proud I was of him when he saw a piece of litter in the park and he went out of his way and picked it up and put it in the litter bin. I could tell this pleased him. I then phoned my sister and talked to her. She like me is proud of the way dad has found strenght to recovered from all the problems he had.

I just wanted to wish you and your family all the very best for Christmas. Take care big hugs from me and Mrs B.