Hi Paul,
Great to hear from you and all your news.  Family off to bed.
Another beaut day with son and family visiting plus others. DIL is so happy being married.
 Was awoken at 4 am by call from brother in Scotland. Grrrr. All good, he is just a bit hair brained.
Have prepared for cooler weather with a big blanket on top of duvet.  Don't like the cold - she says , 17 degrees at present.  Such a big woose I am.
Your profiteroles sound delish.  Where on earth did you learn to bake like this??  
Having great fun sitting in kitchen with mum  chatting while big girls (oops sisters ) watch TV, but gee they watch some rubbish. Tomorrow we are joining a group of mates for a birthday breakfast.  Mum says she has never gone out for breakfast before.  I could certainly lead her astray given more time......  
She told me last night Dad would be so proud of me.  He passed away 28 yrs ago, but he is never far from our thoughts.  Both he and Mum have made me the person I am today.
I think it is providing comfort to her seeing how I am doing so when she returns home she won't worry about me so much.  She does ask me to stop bustling around so much but with a household of 4 compared to 1 there are always dishes to be done or a cuppa to be made and I can't sit on my aspidistra while jobs to be done are waiting.  I would much rather do them then sit and relax.
Sis still waiting for tests results and will follow up on Mon, but she is doing the right things, eating sensibly and looking after herself.  She will go home with a bit of a tan although has not sunbathed.  To be honest, you would be mad if you do nowadays.  The colour she has got is by gardening with me in the shade.
Such wonderful news your sisters may watch you skyjump.  Please let me know when you are safe again.  I really think you are so brave to do this as I have difficulty getting on a step ladder to change a light globe.  Probably because I am vertically challenged - polite way of saying I am a short ***.
I think I have only two more days with family before they leave even though they are here for 6 more days we have a lot planned for 4 of those days.
Ok Paul, falling asleep at computer, so will hit the hay now, (if Dice lets me/in bed on bed,



Beth wishes,

Kathy xx

Hi Kathy, it does sound that you are having a wonderful time with your family, you are going to miss them very much when they go home, it's not nice when you have had such a great time with each other. Your mother went through what you are going through now, what a strong lady she must be and as you say this is where you have your strength from your mother and father, she must still miss him, letting you know he would be proud of, proves she always thinks of him, wow what and amazing family you all are, Our loved ones memory will never fade, they will always be there.

Iv'e been reading text off Dawns phone this morning, (still keep it charged, Just in case) as Dawn is in hospital ready to go down for her operation, i hade an hour with her before her op, then got a text as i got home "they have come to take me down" i went ot the hospital and she came out of recovery at 2:30pm and she was wheeled passed us but still managed to give me a wonderful smile and a wave. i'm off to the hospital to be there for 2:30 just to sit there in the same place, i did it last year and i think it helped. Just wish things could have turned out a little better.

Sheba had another good training day, she just loves new tricks and just loves training, so its good for me too. Going to take her out now before i go to the hospital.

Kathy you are an amazing person, and about the skydive, dont run yourself down, you could do it, i feel you could do anything, and you know what they say about small poeple (Dawn was only 5ft 2in) they are the all thoughtful, always thinkng of others, so polite and gentle.

Sheba is getting a little restless, she has just run in anout the house at some speed, think she is saying "if not taking me for a run, i will amuse myself" she is making me feel guilty now.

Keep having a wonderful time, as if you need me to tell you that, sorry, but you know what i mean we do have to enjoy every minute,  ( it is still hard at times even though i do understand)

Take great care of yourself Kathy, and thank you for keeping in contact, you are helping me more than you know, thank you.

Knid regards Paul x x

Hi Paul,
Me again... Farewelled the family off tonight.  What a great time we have had.  Mum talking about coming back next year with my little sis.  She is utterly amazing.  We were asked to transfer from a general wheelchair to an airline wheelchair so I offered her my arm... No way she stated, preferring to take the arm of a 20 something male attendants.!!  She said he was better looking!!
Big sis has another blood test at her GP's on Monday morn for liver issues.  She feels fine she says.  She has been very good eating sensibly, a lot of salads, avocado, turmeric, rice milk, fresh fruit etc.  we are very proud of her efforts.  Dog will be disappointed as tomorrow he will have to wait until I am ready to walk him.  It will be in the am but not until I have had my 3 coffees.
My son brought me home from airport tonight, upon entering the house I noticed front room light bulb has gone.  He will replace on next visit as I have a raked ceiling which involves a really long ladder and better to do in daylight.  It's not an issue as I usually use a lamp in that room so main light not required.
Getting so cold here, down to 10 overnight, but warmer days forecast for next week woo hoo.
We have had the grandkids for 2 sleepovers in the past 8 days - making every minute count, and what joy.  Little kids are so honest.  I am booked to go to their place and sleepover mid April and it will be easier at their place.   Will get a friend to pet sit here for that night.
DIL has set up Skype for myself and family, she is so good.
Took the folks up to visit the inlaws yesterday which was pleasant.  I took up 2 stools, tool bag in prep to do their weeding to find they had had a fella out the day before to spray with weedkiller.  I chose not to use weedkiller but was quite prepared to manually remove.  It's all good though, not a drama.  They probably thought I wouldn't have had the time.
I can fully understand you keeping Dawns mobile still going.  Hubbys is still connected with his voicemail message still there.  One day I will cancel it but not yet.
How did you fare sitting at the hospital at 2.30?  You have to do what is right for you Paul.  Whatever gives you comfort.  There is no text book schedule we have to follow.  Whatever you need/want to do just do it.
How is the girl Sheba?  Bet you she will be looking forward to the better weather coming in.
Must say at the airport tonight it was disconcerting seeing ladies my age with their partners, lucky them.  I felt like telling them to love them and appreciate them as much as they can because as we both know that togetherness can be ripped from you with little or no warning.  Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved.
Anyway enough of my bellyaching... Have a handyman coming out Monday for some minor maintenance jobs.  Will get my gutters cleaned before winter rains, oh goody more rainwater for my tanks.  I have capacity to store a lot in prep for next summer.  Plan to dig a trench around mandarin tree, but no one has told it it is meant to be a miniature tree, maybe just needs a good prune but as it flowers and fruits most of the year unsure when is best to do.  
Have the wheelchair and showerchair I hired  for mum being picked up tomorrow avo and will spend rest of day in the garden working.
Well Paul it's almost 3 am here so will get the lad outside for last visit and head off to bed.  The folks may text me from Dubai to let me know they are there safely.  Don't forget to change your clocks!
Take care
Kathy xx
 

Hi Kathy,

I am so glad you all had a fantasic time together in what will now seem a short time, your mother is one hell of an amazing lady, good on her to plan a return very soon, and i can see where you get your sence of humour from, quite right she wants help from a young charmer.

Its not so easy to eat sensibly so as you say your sister is doing really well to keep in good health.

Little George had a easter hat parade on thursday, with a prize for best hat, HE WON, he seemed so embarressed, but his mother was more excited when we phoned her later. All he wanted then was to eat the easter egg he had won, but did well, waited untill he had had his lunch.

Wish the weathe here would warm up, its getting beyond a joke now, but it will so we shall have to wait and see. Got a reply Email from Caroline in Adelaide she has had an operation to remove her ovaries due to a cancer scare but has had an all clear in her blood test, but now Charlotte is in hospital with a Kidney infection, they are having a torrid time at the moment, Just feel so useless here, no way i can help, think I may make an effort to get out to see them early next year.  

I did get myself to the hospital and sat outside E14 ward at 2:30pm and visualized Dawn being wheeled passed, she gave me such a wonderful smile and wave, if there was something i could have done, something i should have noticed earlier, its a mess isnt it, really hate this life at the moment. Really sorry for bein so negative at this time, but it just gets to me, now and then. Sorry.

Can't believe the time, got to get to training with Sheba, then back and off to the hospital for my bereavement meeting, sorry just lost the time.

Will finish this chat when i get back, sorry.

Catch up in a while

Kind regards 

Paul x x

Hi Paul,
The folks have arrived back in Scotland, 1.5 hrs drive to be back to my home town.  They will feel the cold after the Aussie sun.
Sorry to hear DIL and grand daughter have not been well.  How old is Charlotte if I may ask?  
Paul, I don't think you could have picked up Dawns illness any earlier, just as I could not  have picked up hubby's, so please don't beat yourself up.  It is normal for us to think " if only"... but excuse my blunt speaking it's not going to be productive.
Well done young George for winning the Easter hat competition and bravo for waiting till after lunch to demolish the egg, such strength of character he shows.
Today I planned a quiet day at home, however had phone calls from mates to check up how I faring after the family's departure and a few drop in visitors while I was out front weeding.  This house is a bit of an open house, if car is visible mates just rock up or call out at gate if I am out the back.  Visits usually give me an excuse to down tools and socialise or ask for a hand depending on what I am doing.
Have watered lawn tonight so hope the weeds will come out easier tomorrow, the ground was a bit hard today due to lack of rainfall.
Well Paul almost midnight so will hit the hay and hopefully get a good sleep. 
Keep smiling,
Kathy x
 

Hi Kathy,

Sorry about my quick sign off last time just lost sence of time, but Sheba was really good at training, and the chat at the hospital was OK, althought today we where all feeling a bit sorry for ourelves, we do try to be positive and cheer up but sometimes it takes a bit of time to get out of the dumps, there are other groups you can go to but they are in the week and my week is quite full ish. i really do understand what you say about being positive ond productive and you are right, i honestly dont want to feel like this, but just cant help it, any way must stop feeling sorry for myself.

Charlotte is 18 on the 4th May, she is a really beautiful and smart, got a good head on her shoulders, she is working as a hair dresser, or should i say training to be an hair dresser, there is Cianan, he is 21 on the 16th May, has his own flat and works as a porter at the local hospital, and there is little lily the Chinese girl, she is 12 on the 8th May. she has just moved to high school, now there is one hell of a clever little girl.

You are obviously a popular lady, as everyone visits, think i will put a sign outside the house "the kettle is on and its free" that might get someone to knock, but then again, !!!!!!!

I know you must think this chap is hard work, but i do understand what and why you say the tings you do and i do try, honest, as i have said it will take longer than most, i do want to be positive, and get on, and as i have said before i do sincerely appreciate you help in our chats.

We had a get together at Clives (brother) new house, sisters and i, we all had a nice chat, the eldest Carol, is selling up and buying flats in Nottingham and Brisbane, so she can visit her daughter as and when she pleases with a little dwelling to get back to, Clive is taking redundancy, and is looking for work im sure he will get work soon.

Shaba has had her walk so its bath and then TV with couple of beers.

Sorry if you find me hard work but it is encouraging to be able to chat to a lady with a big heart and such positiveness as yourself. Think it might be the Negativety of us Brits, and the positveness of the Aussies, out in Pearth the sister/brother inlaw and the Nieces family are really positive come to think of it.

Need a kick up the a--e, or just a good slapping.

Take care and thank you

Kind regards Paul x

Hi Kathy,

Thank you for being so understanding, you are such a kind hearted lady, and always with thoughtful suggestion, advice and comforting words, I've said it before and I will say it again, you are a natural in helping people who are saddened by grief, even though you have had the misfortune to have lost a loved one, you heart is set on helping others, you are truley amazing. I feel sorry your friend didn't catch on you didn't want to talk at that moment, it must have hurt, But even then then deep down inside and even though you where hurting you forgave her, you are a special one.

You do raise my hopes that in one day I will be strong as you, and maybe I may find the right words to help others, but once again thank you for your kindness and guidance.

Yes you did read it right Carol's daughter Anne-Marie married an Aussie who lived in Perth but his work is in Brisbane, they have been married a couple of years and have a daughter Olivia, I've had the pleasure of seeing her and she is a little cracker, because Carol has a son in the UK she has decided to buy a flat in each place so she can be with each one as and when she pleases, her and Len(hubby) have a few bob so, it won't leave them short.

About Dice, well Sheba did rip up her bed, and I was told she was bored, so suggested more toys, Shaba has a dozen or so to play with, then they suggested putting her in a cage, well that is out the question, so when I spoke to the trainer when we first met, she suggested toys where you can pack them with treats so they have to work hard to get the treat and usually after they have got all the treats out of the toy then they are content and have a little sleep, Sheba has a couple, a treat ball she roll's round as the treats fall out and a bone looking toy full of treats, think she looks forward to me going out sometimes, hope that's helps in some way, she even said to hide treats around the house, but don't fancy that just i case Sheba can't find it and it leaves a smell after a couple of days.

 Have been out with Mark, Nicola, Goerge and Henry this morning, buying paint, and a couple of toys for the boys, turtle ninja mad they are, then called into a pud for lunch, had roast lamb, Henry likes his food, even had my mash potatoe, but I had extra veg. We where chatting about going to a place close to Scarborough in a static caravan for a few days 20-24 April, so looking forward to having time with them

Once again Kathy thank you for your strength, understanding and compassion, 

 Thank you for taking time out to chat, hope I can help you in return one day, Take great care of yourself, thank you once again

Kind regards Paul x

Hi Paul,
Many thanks for the dog tips.  Will let you know how I fare with you know who.
A busy day today with the handyman doing a great job of my list of maintenance plus 2 more jobs that had cropped up since he quoted 4 weeks ago. We have used him previously for jobs hubby was not confident of doing so its like having an old mate around.  As I was effectively tied to the house today I spent a lot of time pottering in the garden and will sleep well tonight.
Tomorrow will do a small shop and will then avoid the shops till after Easter.  People go bonkers as though there is going to be a food shortage.  In the morning I am meeting my best friend for brekkie at 10 a.m.  She heads off on a 10 day cruise to Singapore on Wednesday.  
The ninja turtles were around years ago when my son was little and would you believe I still had some of them stored away so grandson has them now.
Are you intending doing some painting or is Mark?
I think it's great you are planning a few days away in April.  A change of scenery can blow away the cobwebs.  I will head to the kids place to babysit for 2 nights mid April to allow the newly weds a few days peace and quiet.  I will have such fun.  I might have to think of what to get them to help me bake and do my planning now.
Well Paul, will start locking up and make tracks for the land on nod.
Take care and try and behave  yourself , ha ha
Kathy xx
 

Hi Kathy,

Hope the dog tips helped, but i must apologize for the bit about the dog being bored, its just what they told me, i wasnt referring to Dice being bored, sorry.

Sheba has had me on the run around, as we walk round the fields, she goes off digging up the mole holes, which isnt a massive problem, but she will NOT come back when called, and as i go to her she runs off, it might not sound much, but it really hurt's thinking she didnt want to come back to me, silly i know but those lttle things do get to me a bit, so now we have gone back to basic's, and this morning sheba was on a 10 metre long lead and she did (with treats) come back about 50% of the time so we shall stick with that for a while, she is wonderful at home but thats with no distractions.

Bet you are haveing a wonderful time with your grandchildren, do you spoil them, (i do mine) naughty i know but cant help it. it is so thoughtful of you and your son and DIL will be so appreciative, its good fun isnt it but just George wears me out, so how are you getting on with two, dont think i could manage George and Henry. As the Kiddies are off school this week i have George from 0700 hours so we shall have breakfasr and drive to the peak district, and have an whole day there, George loves picnics so we shall be fine.

Mark is doing the painting, he is touching up the tree house, well its not a tree house really its and house on stilts, with a slide swing ladder, there is fencing around it so the kids are safe. It was good of the Handy man to do those chores for you, he must do a cracking job for you to get him back, it will be good when the weather warms up here so i can have a go at a few tasks that need doing here, today we have brilliant sunshine for ten minutes, then blustery rain and the wind really pick up noew and again. so not much chance for today, Shaba and i got wet on her walk, but its Treetops driving day, so there wouldnt be much chance anyway.

I sent Charlie, Lily, Caroline, an Ecard today, and they have relyed already, Caroline is all clear with her bloods and Charlie is home recovering, she said is scared her, but she is such a brave girl just like her mum and Nana, so its nice to know the worst is over, i sent Lily one as it is easter, think she will like it, its the making of an easter egg.

I am off to drive the bus now, taking the hospice guests home, they are always cheerful, and alwaysys enjoy their time there, think i should take a leaf out of their book.

Take great care Kathy.

Kind regards  Paul x x