Syliva, I am so very sorry for your loss, I know how it feels, my husband passed away in October and I miss him so much, I too wish they could let us know they are ok.  There are lots of people on here going through the same terrible time who will offer support.  Sending love to you Debbie xxxxxx

Hi debbie, how are you havnt heard off you in a while i feel ok at the moment health wise ,got to go the hospital next month  to see about my breathing me and the kids just having a quite xmas dinner we will go to the crem  to put flowers on my parents grave ,we will put some flowers in a vase for my hubby ,it is my hubbys birthday on the 27 dec  might go for a walk weather permiting  to a place called spike island my hubby used to like watching the mersey from there .  Take care  have a peaceful xmas  will be thinking of you  Syl x

Hi Syl

Been another busy and emotional week. Mum is frail and now more or less confined to bed (refusing the hoist to move her to a chair for a change).She is sleeping a lot but still eating three meals a day.Pain meds seem to be keeping her comfortable and the care home staff are wonderful.  My daughter came to visit with me on Tuesday though Mum is not talking to anyone now. We got the occasional nod but very sad really.

My daughter andfamily should have been moving  next week but unfortunately they have come across a problem and this needs to be sorted for the purchase to continue.  We are all keeping our fingers crossed that it willbe sorted before the seller decides to put it back on the market again especially as my grandson has already been on a visit to the propsosed new school.  There have been many tears over the last few days but now allwe can do is wait and see if the solicitors can iron out the issues. Why cannot life be good for our youngsters for a change.

Hopefully the improving weather means that George has had your company for walks.  Getting through anniversary dates is always an emotional time and the tears do bring temporary relief.  Had my hubby still be here, he would have been 66 on 2nd April. I will take flowers to his resting place.

Well just waiting for a quote to come through to see if Ican manage to up date the bathroom on a budget!!  This will hopefully give me focus in the summer in between getting back intothe garden.  Lovely out there today and mowed the lawn and did a bit of tidying up. My son and family are coming tolunch tomorrow so off to make apple crumble and prepare the veg now as will pop to see Mum tomorrow morning after my gym visit and before the family arrive. Keeping busy is the best way I know of getting on  with life; it is certainly what hubby would expect of me.

My trip into London went well (it only takes about 45mins on the tube) and my friend and I went to visit the Chelsea Pensioners Hospital, Museum and Gardens as well as having lunch at their cafe.  We had morning coffee on the Kings Road and managed to dodge a couple of little showers.  We now have a list of other places to visit when we go next.  My next planned visit to London is when the Tall Ships are at Greenwich in April  (Easter Weekend) so am looking forward to that.

Take care and enjoy the sunshine.  Jules xx

Hi Jules,  i must have just followed you on to the forum glad you enjoyed your trip to London  its a goog job you wasnt there on that  awful day  on wednesday my son only just missed it ,he was there tuesday, i dispair of humans thats why i love animals so much, cant understand the awful things  we do to one another. Sorry your mum isnt to good at the moment, its all part and parcel of growing old we all have to face it eventually,im sure your daughter  will get things sorted with the house ,these little nigles seem to happen a lot  when  you buy  a property but most things get sorted in the end.you still havnt said  if you live not far from London,have been out for a cream tea today with my friend to a local community centre it was very nice, i had 4 cakes and  sandwiches i cant believe i eaten 4 cakes they were yummy, but they didnt do much for my waist line lol.the kids are taking me out for dinner tomorrow for mothers day to a country pub called the Stretton fox its very nice have been a few times before.  Enjoy your lunch  with your son regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Hope u enjoy your dinner treat. I love country pubs as you can also have a good walk to enjoy the surroundings.

As to where I  live in relation to central London, I am in Middlesex

which is classed as greater London and about 30 mins drive outside the capital. Before I married I lived in NW London and worked in the west end, a Londoner born and bred.Hubby was also born in London though moved to Middlesex as a 3 yr old and we met on a blind date. Those were the days!

Just waiting for the gym to open so will be out walking soon in the sunshine. Hopefully a day  in the garden tomorrow as weather  looks promising and want to get the borders weeded. Take care. Jules xx

Hi Jules, thought i would  e mail you before week end, my mothers day lunch was lovely then we went the crem to put flowers  on  my mums  grave i also put some flowers in a vase for my mum in law . Dont think i am doing much at the week end i have got my daughters rabbit again as she has gone to Amsterdam for a few days  with her partner, she goes to America  next week end  for  three week ,i am a born worrier so i will  be on pins while she is away ,I am also meeting my sons new girlfriend tomorrow he got divorced 2 years ago the  relationship is quite new  but he seems happy and thats all you  wont for them  to be happy.the weather is good at the moment , but its forecast rain  tomorrow if it stays dry  will  do the garden take care and have a nice week end  regards Syl x

Hi Debbie, hope your ok, not feeling to bad at the moment i will admit i have had a few bad days  just lately , i surpose we will feel like that  then you get on with things again. hope your still going to the gym i am still doing swimming aerobics  somtimes i have to force my self to go but once im there im glad i went. let me know your ok  regards  Syl x

Hi Syl

Glad you enjoyed your Mother's Day.  Good day for me too with both children and families popping in.

I then developed a rotten throat and still have the tickly cough which is a nuisance.

We had a rabbit many years ago (along with two guinea pigs!!). Bet you enjoy caring for him whilst your daughter enjoyed Amsterdam.  Would love to go back there myself one day as we visited with friends during a three day visit. Plenty still to see and do.  Would be good to get back to taking a city break now I have the time.

Must be lovely to see your son finding a new partner and hope the get together was a good one. Nothing better than seeing your children being happy and content.

With the better weather have  been busy getting the garden ready for a relaxing summer. So far most of the weeding done now and I have mowed the lawn a couple more times. Over the weekend it was hubby's birthday so after laying flowers I took myself on a long walk , had coffee in the sunshine and then popped into the garden centre on the way home.

Today as it has been another lovely day I spoke to my daughter and we took the boys to the Country Park  as it is the first day of the Easter school hols and with their house move postponed  for now, needed to get our minds elsewhere.  Ended up playing football for an hour or two followed by a walk as well as having lunch at the cafe.  When I got home I mowed the lawn as apparently we may have some showers tomorrow. 

Am going to the cinema on Wednesday evening with my daughter as she has a 2 for 1 deal.

Well had better get rest of my mail done before sorting my evening meal (veggies to prepare).

Take care and hope all is well with you.  Jules xx

Hi Jules, glad  you enjoyed  mothers day with your children its nice when you all get together,  my sons new partner seems very nice , she has to children   a boy and  girl  there  dad  died  about 9 yrs ago when they were only young  so they dont remember him . I was on my own Sunday  ,i felt upset all day and had  a good cry i even  went to the garden centre just to get out of the house, but when i got there they were   lineing up to get on the car park so i came straight back, and to  top it off i  had to go and have my breathing checked  everything is ok i start  going to exercise class  next month so i walked into my local town ,went into a few shops then went into M and S for a sandwich and a cup of tea caught the bus home,  when i got back i had lost my phone , all the pictures of my hubby  and our lovely dog red gone.i havnt stopped crying since ,i have rung all the places i have been no one has handed it in, my son rang my number and the phone had been switched off, why cant people  just hand things in  when they find them  instead of taking them. Sorry to feel so glum  but  thats how i feel at the moment, the sun is shining at the moment so i am going to force my self to take george out take care  have a good week Syl x

Oh Syl so sad to read that you have lost your phone with all those memories on too. Hope you reported it straight to the phone provider to stop whoever has it from hacking it and racking up another bill.  I expect you checked with the local police station to see if it had been handed in. I am not surprised you feel so glum.Sending a big hug your way.  I suppose now you will have to get yourself a new one too; so annoying.

On the plus side am delighted that your breathing check went well and i am sure you will enjoy the exercise classes when they begin to.  As well as helping this will provide some social time as well.

I have just got back from visiting my Mum who is still laid up in her bed at the residential home and showing no interest in life at all bless her. They had just  given her her breakfast before i arrived andI was able to get an up to date progress report.  They really would like the occupational therapist to be able to help her with an exercise routine but she is not willing to undergo any kind of 'life prolonging' treatment so spends her day lying down apart from when she has her meals.  It must be so hard for her butI am grateful at the caring staff that see to her needs.  After I left her I went to the gym (helps me unwind as well as keep fit) before coming home about an hour ago.  So now need to fix some lunch and will probably potter in the garden afterwards.

Tomorrow night my daughter and I go to the cinema so am looking forward to that especially as I have work tomorrow and it is bound to be busy with Easter approaching.

Take care of yourself and hope you begin to feel a little better soon.  Hugs  Jules

Hi Jules, thought i would  e- mail you before week end still no word on my phone, rang the police and all the shops but no luck cancelled with my network as well, went into town and bought my self a second hand phone, but have got to wait  for a sim card to arrive.my son is going to put new photos of hubby and our lovely staffy on my new phone when the sim arrives. I have also got photos and vedeos on my tablet as well,its just the thought that some one wasnt honest and handed it in .my daughter is away now for 3 wk she meet up with the group in L A will keep in touch with her on my tablet for now,i have also got her itenary so i know where she is,i am going out on sunday with my son and his girlfriend and her children i am a bit nervous meeting them for the first time hope it goes ok.sorry your mum is still under the weather all you can do is make sure she is well looked after. what filmdid you see the last film i went to was Brigit jones baby with my daughter nice film. have a nice week end regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Such a shame about your phone.  So much depend on them these days. Hopefully your new sim will arrive soon and your son can get some lovely photos transferred over for you.  I do not have pictures of hubby on my phone as did not have a decent camera facility on the one I had when he was alive.  Upgraded just after he passed away but still prefer my  Canon camera when doing photography.  Phone camera comes in handy when taken unawares and need to take a shot.  Have saved all my photos to the computer and then onto a spare SD card just in case the laptop gives up again.

How lovely that you can keep in touch with your daughter whilst she is on holiday.  Do you remember when we used to go away and never bother calling home (before the mobile phone of course!!). I suppose when I go away in June I had better report my safe arrival ha ha.

Hope you enjoy meeting your son's girlfiend and family and am sure it will all go fine. You must be delighted to see  him finding happiness again.

I went out with my daughter and the boys to a Country Park in Herts yesterday and then today because the weather was so wonderful I took myself off to Kew Gardens for the day. Six hours of pure pleasure in beautiful surroundings and only an hour away by public transport.

Will need to catch up with shopping/gym and housework tomorrow but have also had an invite a a friends for a BBQ with good weather promised again. Will see how I  feel after my exercise today.

The film was Beauty and the Beast and my daughter and I really enjoyed it.  Have signed up for the cinema newsletter so I can get advance notifications of forthcoming films as quite handy to go when the weather is not so good. My daughter has also been taking the boys to Kids Club cinema during the Easter holidays.

Stay well, take care, Jules x

Hi Syl

Such a shame about your phone.  So much depend on them these days. Hopefully your new sim will arrive soon and your son can get some lovely photos transferred over for you.  I do not have pictures of hubby on my phone as did not have a decent camera facility on the one I had when he was alive.  Upgraded just after he passed away but still prefer my  Canon camera when doing photography.  Phone camera comes in handy when taken unawares and need to take a shot.  Have saved all my photos to the computer and then onto a spare SD card just in case the laptop gives up again.

How lovely that you can keep in touch with your daughter whilst she is on holiday.  Do you remember when we used to go away and never bother calling home (before the mobile phone of course!!). I suppose when I go away in June I had better report my safe arrival ha ha.

Hope you enjoy meeting your son's girlfiend and family and am sure it will all go fine. You must be delighted to see  him finding happiness again.

I went out with my daughter and the boys to a Country Park in Herts yesterday and then today because the weather was so wonderful I took myself off to Kew Gardens for the day. Six hours of pure pleasure in beautiful surroundings and only an hour away by public transport.

Will need to catch up with shopping/gym and housework tomorrow but have also had an invite a a friends for a BBQ with good weather promised again. Will see how I  feel after my exercise today.

The film was Beauty and the Beast and my daughter and I really enjoyed it.  Have signed up for the cinema newsletter so I can get advance notifications of forthcoming films as quite handy to go when the weather is not so good. My daughter has also been taking the boys to Kids Club cinema during the Easter holidays.

Stay well, take care, Jules x

Hi jules , thought i would catch up with you before Easter, had a nice day out with my son , his girlfriend and her children, we went to a place called Walton Gardens its a local park with swings, a minature zoo a grazy golf and a small walk in the grounds, i enjoyed it , then we had  a meal in one  of the local pubs. Glad you enjoyed the cenema with you daughter its nice to go out with the kids now and again,havnt heard off my daughter for a couple of days she is in one of the national parks for a few days so there wont be any reception ,hope to hear off her soon as i will start to worry.i dont think i told you i had a x ray on my back  last week i have been geting back ache the doctor rang me i have got arthritis in my spine, but its not to bad at the moment so dont need to do anything for now.glad you enjoyed  kew gardens  i have heard of it from the TV.we have a nice one not far from where i live its called Bents .dont know what im doing over the weak end think i am going out for dinner sunday with my sister have a lovely easter dont eat to many  easter eggs regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Hope you had a pleasant Easter and maybe spent some time with your Son.  How lovely that you enjoyed the time spent with him and his new girlfriend and family.  It is just lovely when our kids are happy isn't it.

Maybe by now you have also heard from your daughter if mobile reception has improved.  Sometimes you just cannot  beat the old fashioned phone or a postcard (though they take some time to get home from the States!).  Once our kids started to travel independently (aged 18+)  we came to an understanding that there was no need to ring unless they wanted to.  I think because my hubby travelled the world on business and was often out of touch for days/weeks at a time (pre mobiles of course!!) this just came naturally.

I am glad the scan on your back showed nothing too serious.  I have had arthritis in various parts of my body for a good few years now but still need no medication thankfully.  It is one of the reasons that I do a lot of walking and exercise as this really helps and was the best bit of advice the doctor gave me!

Had a busy Easter with just Sunday on my own.  With the weather staying mainly dry I went as planned to the Tall Ships Festival on Friday, had a pub meal out with both children/grandchildren on Saturday, visited Mum on Sunday and then caught up with housework.  Yesterday went along with my daughter and family for a fun day out at Wellington Country Park.  Today my eldest grandson returns to school but as they still have no finalised their mortgage/move we are hoping for some news now that the bank holiday is over.  The solicitors on both sides seem to be dragging their heels somewhat and these are anxious times for them.

As to Easter Eggs I only had a little one as I had flowers instead (much better for me).  We always talk this through as a family  beforehand and it is my about spending time with each other.  I did have a hot cross bun though!

Do hope you had an enjoyable weekend.  Today is brilliant sunshine so I am off out shortly for a walk and then am visiting elderly friends of my hubby for a catch up this afternoon.  I have made them a cake to take with me.  He has been his wife's carer for over 50 years (she has had MS since her early 20's and is now virtually bedridden and suffering with some dementia issues) and has just had some minor heart surgery himself.   Well time to get off the technology and into the fresh air. 

Take care of yourself.  Jules xx

Hi Jules, glad you had a nice easter with your family on different days, its nice to do things  together, and to get out and about ,i went out with my sister  and her partne there was 5 of us  alltogether, we went to one of  our local caveries, it was very nice. i didnt see my son over Easter , he was busy with Sarah and the kids i'm not his priority now but thats how it should be, i'm glad he's happy he rang me a few times to make sure i was ok.i went out with my daughters partner Easter Monday to one of our garden centre's we had a look round then we had coffee and cake in the cafe yummy,im sure your daughter will get things  sorted with the house , these things seem to drag on  when  all you  wont  is things to get moving.my son put me on whats app dont know what it is but im on it LOL so i can talk to my daughter   we can have a conversation with her  my son  and my daughters partner all at the same time,isnt technology great, she is having a wonderful time the parks are amazing she has sent me some lovely photos the views beautiful, i dont think she wonts to come home. the sun is out at the moment so will take george out later, will go my swimming aerobics later as well. hope Debbie ok messaged her a few week ago but she hasnt replied .enjoy your week regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Bet the carvery was good.  I have always enjoyed them when been in the past. Life is muddling along okay and I have been doing lots of walking with my camera on the days when I dont work.  Do not like being couped up indoors and this is a good and usually cheap activity!!  Having said that, I did walk to the garden centre on Saturday for my morning coffee but, of course, had to have a look round and as frost had been forecast did not want to do any outside planting.  In the end I topped up on bird seed, bought a kalanchoe for my kitchen windowsill and also fleece jacket (for me not the plants ha ha).  This means my old jacket can become garden wear as it is getting rather worn.

Managed to stay dry during my day out to Colchester by coach yesterday as it only began raining just before we headed home.  I had a good look round the beautiful park/gardens surrounding the castle, had afternoon coffe in a wonderful old building and walked a couple of miles along the river Colne where I also sat and ate my sandwich lunch.  So peaceful.

I have whats app too and it's a free way of chatting to friends/relatives using wifi without having to use up date allowance on phone.  Currently keeping in touch with kids this way as both daughter and son in law have had a tummy and/or sickness bug over the last few days and my little granddaughter has conjunctivtus and is teething bless her. 

No plans yet for the coming bank holiday weekend though am supposed to being having electric smart meter fitted on Friday so will  be stuck in during the afternoon 'slot' allocated.  Apparently they should only be here for around an hour.  Anyway will do my shopping and gym visit in the morning and hope they come on time as I can then fit another walk in during the late afternoon weather permitting.

Take care and hope your daughter is enjoying her adventure.  Jules xx

Hi Jules, glad you enjoyed your time in colchester and all the walking you have done, its nice when you can get out in the sunshine, i have took george out every day this week as the weather as been quite nice .hope your grandaughter is feeling better,and the rest of your family its a shame when the little ones dont feel well  it makes them irratable but they  dont know  why.i to dont know what i am doing over the week end my daughter is home Friday, but i wont see her till Sunday, as she is flying into Leeds air port for a  hen week end  in a house with its own chef and spar treatments ,her partner is picking her up sunday morning. It seems as if she has been away for ages i cant wait to see her and hear all about her trip some of the pictures i have seen  are lovely vegas was great, me and hubby went vegas ,we stayed at the mirage so she took a photo of it for me we stayed for a week and we didnt see all of it.its a mind blowing place, some of the hotels have to be seen to be believed. Still not heard off debbie have a nice week end enjoy the bank holiday regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Well another bank holiday weekend has been and goneand hope you have enjoyed catching up with your daughter and her travels though no doubt she was a little jet lagged. Plenty to talk about over coming weeks I am sure.

My familys' bugs have now cleared thankfully and so little Darcey can return to Nursery today and her Mum to work.  She has just turned 11 months and is beginning the learning to walk process; very cute to see her on whatsapp video.

Glad you have been able to treat George to his walks.  I love being out and about and as I do not drive my legs get plenty of exercise ha ha. I do try and get a couple of miles in on most days.  As my son in law took both boys out for the day (along with a couple of dads from his work) my daughter invited me to join her for shopping/lunch on Saturday and it was a lovely change for herbeing able to brouse the shops leisurely.  We had lunch at Prezzos before going our separate ways.  I had an eye test appointment to go to and  she headed home for a couple of hours of peace/relaxation.

On Sunday the weather was dry and pretty warm so I went walking for over 4 hours and really enjoyed strolling through our local woods/lido before heading to the garden centre for a coffee. I also bought a new squirrel proof peanut feeder (I am slowly replacing my old feeders).  On the way back I saw our local pond had a heron visiting (happens quite regularly now) and spent over half and hour taking photos before heading back home.

Yesterday I dodged the showers and did my weekly shop and then had a call from my daughter to say they were going to local May Day fete and would I like to meet them.  So headed back home quickly unpacked and headed to their flat.  The fete was quite small and unfortunately the weather had affected numbers but the boys enjoyed having a go at various stalls and then we went to lunch at local pub before I came back and did my housework.

Will visit Mum this morning and then the gym so before I know it I will be back to work tomorrow. Still only six weeks until my holidays and another challenge/hurdle for me to face.Hoping I can enjoy it and move my own life's journey forward a little though still feel a bit apprehensive.

Hope you are managing okay and your pain is more under control now. 

Hopefully Debbie is okay and coping day to day in the best way she can with support of family and friends.  The forum is one of those support networks that you can drop in and out of as and when you feel the need (Debbie if you reading this hope you are well).

Have a good week and take care.  Jules xx

Hi Jules, glad your family are over there  stomach bugs and every thing is back to normal, had a good catch up with my daughter at the weekend i didnt see her till Sunday ,she had a really good time and took some lovely photos,she also enjoyed her hen weekend as well all is back to normal again now she went back to work on Tuesday after 3 month off.glad you were out and about over the weekend  with your family i didnt do much over the bank holiday monday me and my daughter went to a local garden centre we had a nice walk round  she bought a cookery book, while we were there we had a nice meal of braising steak chips and veg.we had no rain at all over the weekend  all the gardens are bone dry i have a small pond inthe garden which my son did when he was young we have about  8 fish in it they were all born in the pond some are nearly 20 years old, i had to fill it up as  som of the water had evaporated.i to am  a bit apprehensive about my holiday in July  i surpose its normal to feel  like that i just hope i can enjoy my first holiday with out hubby , but it will feel strange going with some one other than hubby. enjoy the rest of your  week am waiting for my hair dresser to arive Regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Hope you have had an enjoyable weekend.  Your daughter's holiday adventure seemed to pass by really quickly and I bet she was full of interesting tales with lots of photos to share with you.  Hope her return to work went smoothly.  I find the longer I am off the harder it is to go back ha ha.

Mixed weekend weatherwise with chilly wind yesterday and then a beautiful afternoon today.  I made the most of Friday and went with a friend to local gardens for a wander and was good catching up over a cuppa.Saturday was pretty mundane with shopping and housework but today I went to the Farmers' Market and then walked on to the garden centre after lunch (bumped into my daugther and grandsons at the market so we lunched together before going our separate ways).  It was so warm had to carry jacket and cardigan an d enjoyed coffee at the outside tables for the first time this year.  Bought one plant and some supports in readiness for putting out my sweet pea seedlings before heading home.  With the front garden in full sun I did some 'pottering' and dead headed the rose plus trimmed my tiny bit of hedge before coming inside about 4pm.  Meeting up with an old friend for lunch tomorrow so being kept busy.

Still no rain so have watered the pots and kept the birds' bath and water container topped up.  Lots of activity in the garden as quite a few baby birds around.  I have moved round a few of my feeders and also created a new feeding area (made out of last year's  Christmas tree trunk.  Have three feeders hanging on it just a few feet from my back patio doors and they are already using it.

It seems both you and I are facing new challenges as far as our holidays are concerned but hopefully we will both get on okay.  Hope you are keeping okay, take care.  Jules x

Hi Jules, have had loads of trouble trying to sign in to the chat room ,just got it sorted with the help of the mediators and my son, hope its fixed now.its good your getting out  with your friends ,i am also keeping my bird feeders toped up with seed and fat balls, they also like meal worm that i buy  as well, the magpies keep comeing to my bird table but i chase them off as they take all the food. Went out with my daughter last Saturday only to  a local garden centre ,Sunday went out with my son and  daughter for a lovely  roast dinner.thursday i went on my first coach trip with out my hubby,went to Skipton market then a canal cruise on the Liverpool Leed canal with my friend, we had a nice day and the weather was good but thought of him all day long wishing he was with me .the weather is fine again my garden is so dry i am puting my washing up water on my plants to water them, it is surposed to rain at the week end i am going out with my son  on Saturday so hope it dosnt rain to much .have a nice week end regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Sorry for late reply but things have been rather difficult these past few days and I have been spending much of my time with daughter and family as their house purchase looks like it is going to fall through and they are so very distressed having come to within 24hrs (twice) of exchanging.  We are all somewhat below par.

Hope you had a nice time with your son and that it stayed dry for  you.  Certainly now we are getting plenty of rain to help the garden here which has helped settle in a few new plants  I managed to get in at the weekend.  I have now completed updating my bee and butterfly flower border so hoping for a nice display this summer.

Hope you are keeping okay, take care. Jules x