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 Jules, glad you had a nice few days catching up with  old friends its nice when  you can get together   and chat  and have a nice meal as well, must be nice to look forward to your daughter and granchildren  coming to see you next month im sure you will have some nice treats planned for them.have been out for Sunday lunch today with my son and his  partner and her kids we only went to the local pub  but it was very nice . glad you have tickets for  the musical in London im sure you will love it, im afraid i dont like musicals i tried one once and  left at half time  as i coudnt cope  with it  i havnt been to one since lol. i am hopeing to go into town tomorrow to pick my mobile phone up i had to take it back to the shop as it suddenly went dead on me , im not having much luck latley with phones,  not had george out much this week as the weather  has not been that good  hope its a bit better this week  .i some times wonder how Debbie is  hope she is doing ok. Regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Hope you are managing okay and bet George is missing his walks as the weather here has  been a bit dismal to say the least.  Your Sunday meal with your son and partner/kids sounds enjoyable and I do love going out for lunch and avoiding the cooking and clearing up!!

Hope the mobile phone is back where it belongs and working okay.  Really annoying when the technology wont work though it makes  you wonder how we all managed 'in the good old days'.

I too hope Debbie is moving forward and coping day to day; it is all any of us can do and I am sure she would pop on and post if she needed to.

I had a reasonable couple of work shifts this week and once I have caught up with the housework am planning a nice day out tomorrow. My friend and I decided to go into London after lunch and have a wonder round before eating an early dinner before our theatre visit. I think my love of musicals started in childhood as my parents both loved them and we saw several when I was growing up.  It obviously helps if you like the music in the first place!  The last one I went to was the one based around Abba songs as my Mum wanted to go again (she had been with my Dad but he was  not so keen on this one) so I treated her for a birthday and then she took me along!  My friend and I celebrate our birthdays a month apart so we are going as a treat to ourselves half way between the two occasions.  It will be a late night but they do not happen often these days (well not socially anyway).  On Saturday I am also out in the evening as a friend has a meal for her 70th. I will stay overnight with friends and return home on Sunday and then begin the countdown to when family comes to stay.  A couple of outings planned weather permitting (otherwise the cinema will do) as they are catching up with friends around where they used to live and it will give my eldest grandson a chance of meeting old school mates.  The biggest planning will be for food though this will only be for two evenings as we are out on the other nights.  Luckily they are not fussy eaters but I am finding the shopping list growing!

Hope you have a pleasant weekend and take care of  yourself.  Jules xx

Hi Jules  ,thought i would  speak to you before the weekend you sound very busy for the next  few days i carnt keep up with you,picked my phone up Saturday  lets hope its ok now,  been to my exersice class this afternoon it was a bit better today as there was six of us hope it continues  as its always better when theres more of you . have you any plans to retire  or do you like  going to work, i know a lot of people  like to carry on working  as it  keeps them young, i carried on working 12 month after hubby  as i only worked part time any way , my hubby  wasnt well  just after i retired  so we  didnt do the things   we would have liked to have done. i have  got my wedding reception friday with my daughter ,i wish it was hubby with me i know he would have loved it,they are getting married in  a hotel and the rest of the day is spent there i have never been but it is supposed to be very nice but posh i will have to put  my best posh voice on lol have a lovely weekend with your friends regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

To be honest I can hardly keep up with myself either!  It seems as though all my social events are rolling into each other but I expect it will quieten down soon enough so need to enjoy them.

I really cannot afford to retire just yet (another four years before I get state pension due to the change in draw down dates).  Gone are the days when you got it at 60 (I will be 67 by the time I qualify).  My part time shifts help with the bills and to be honest actually give my week focus.  Mind you I would not mind giving up sooner if I could manage financially ha ha.  My hubby never reached retirement age so did not have that time together so perhaps just as well I had a little job.

I hope  you manage to enjoy the wedding reception and nice that you had your daughter along for company. 

I really did enjoy my weekend. Went up to London with my friend on Friday afternoon so that we could enjoy a mosey around Covent Garden and also visited the National Gallery before having pre-theatre dinner.  The show was brilliant and the cast very good at interpreting the music. Theatre was full and there was a 10min standing ovation at the end.  We would  both go again but it is just a short run until the 22nd so would not manage it at this theatre.  Can only hope they tour with it and perhaps get another chance.   Was hope before mid-night and then up and off again the following morning catching the train to Buckinghamshire and my friends.  After a light lunch we went to their local horticultural show for a wander and then in the evening helped our mutual friend celebrate her 70th birthday.  A lovely three course meal and then dancing to a live singer (mainly motown music).  She had requested no gifts but instead held a collection for a local charity close to her heart.  A total of just under £600.00 was raised quite overwhelming. I travelled home by mid-day Sunday and had avoided the rain completely so when I got in went straight out and mowed the lawn as it really needed doing.  Quite warm so stayed out there for my tea and had a read too.

Hope this week's exercise class is just as enjoyable as last week and perhaps you will have George out for a walk too if the weather permits.  Lots of grey clouds here at the moment but has been dry so went to the gym and then for a walk around local shops and now as the washing is dry there is ironing ahead!

Take care of yourself.  Jules xx

Hi Jules ,glad you had a good time with your differant friends over the weekend its nice to catch up with people over a nice meal , the wedding reception was nice and the bride looked lovely  we had a buffet about 9 0 clock didnt get home till midnight it made a nice change to go out  on a Saturday night, the weather not to good at the moment  the sun seems to have deserted us at the moment took george out yesterday but it has rained  all afternoon to day , i will be glad when all my activities start up again as i feel quite lonely at the moment  even though i have the class on thursday, my son goes away on Sunday for 2 wk he is going to Mexico with his new family .i think i am going to my daughters for Sunday dinner this week , so will look forward to that. hope you have a nice week  regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Well, the weather has certainly been a challenge as far as enjoying the outside is concerned.  Not much of a Summer for all those kiddies on school hols.  Slightly better here the last couple of days and I have at last got round to weeding the borders and mowing the lawn.  Within a few minutes of my getting back indoors yesterday it was like a 'bird-fest' as they all descended  to mop up insects and worms that I had exposed!!  Of course as soon as I fetched the camera to capture the moment they all flew off again; typical.

Am off work next week as have my daughter and the boys coming for their 'summer holiday' with me.  Have plans of a sort though will depend how dry it is as to what we actually end up doing.  The supermarket shop was somewhat different this week both in content and price ha ha.  Still we are out for two evening meals so at least will get a break from the cooking.

  I think your son will have better luck in Mexico ha ha and bet you cannot wait to hear all about it upon their return.

Hope  you have a lovely meal out with your daughter and glad you enjoyed the wedding reception last weekend. It is sometimes difficult to know what to do with  yourself when the weather plays up but thankfully I manage to go out whatever the weather (my parents walked for pleasure in all weathers and I suspect it rubbed off on me!!).  Have just worn out yet another pair of trainers so slipped into town this morning to get a new pair.  Tomorrow I will 'break them in'. 

Right I have just prepared my meal for this evening so will sign off and go for a stroll before settling down to my book and watching the athletics later. Take care , Jules xx

Hi Jules, just had george out the weather has cleared up a bit  for now , had my sunday dinner with my  daughter it was very nice she also made chocolate pudding it was very yummy, have just had  a txt off my son to let me know he had   arrived in Mexico,so dont  expect to hear off him now till later in the week. hope you ha e a nice week with your daughter and her family,lets hope the weather is ok so you can do some things outside. i have had a cry again over the week end ,i seem to do nothing but cry just lately i dont know weather its because im on my own  a lot and  you start to think of what might have been i dont know.sorry to sound a bit of a misery at least i have my exercise class Thursday and bingo Wednesday have a lovely week with your family regards Syl x

Hi Syl

I have had a good week with my daughter and grandsons and even the weather  was kind to us. What rain we had fell during the night so all plans  achieved. They left after lunch today and I went to the gym to keep my routine going. Came back and am now starting to play catch up with chores and e mails. Unfortunately  my laptop  has stopped working so am having to use my tablet and/or phone. Prefer full size keyboard and cannot load any of my camera photos which is annoying.  Will have to shop around for replacement sooner rather than later.

Sorry you are feeling so miserable just now. Being by yourself takes some getting used to and it is easy to slip back into sad thoughts when you are not occupied. Do have a chat with your GP I'd you need more support. I found chatting to mine was quite useful . I have just reached the age my hubby passed away at and found that a bit emotional so in some ways glad that birthday has come and gone now. Of course I still celebrated with family. 

Hope you enjoyed bingo and your exercise class and perhaps managed more walkies with George.  I now have a quiet weekend ahead but a coach trip on Monday to look  forward to plus lunch with a friend on Tuesday before my next work shift on Wednesday. 

Look after yourself.  Jules xx

Hi Jules, glad you had a nice time with your family and you got to do the things you had planned  , i went out with my friend  on Saturday to a local community centre for a cream tea, i even won a bottle of wine on the raffle,we had some lovely sandwiches and a assortment of cakes.Went out with my daughter on Sunday just to a local pub  for dinner ,weather not to good again but have managed to take george out this afternoon,have been upset  again this weekend , if  i feel like this at weekend they have a counsellor  on a Saturday morning  in a church in my local town  so i will call in just to have a talk i have been before and it does help.hope you enjoyed your coach trip wher did you go? And you had a nice lunch with your friend,my son has just rung me he is having a nice time im Mexico even though they have had some rain they have spent  a lot of time in the pool with the kids enjoy your week  regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Back at work this week and the time just seems to be slipping by.

Glad you enjoyed time with your friend on Saturday and also dinner with your daughter.  I think it is when we return from the 'good times' that we sit alone and reflect on what might have been  and this is when I now try and save my housework for.  My way of coping I guess. The counsellor at  your chuch on a Saturday morning sounds like a nice place to drop in for a chat if you need to discuss things.  I do think it helps somewhat to discuss your feelings and perhaps gain some understanding into the grieving journey.  It is cerntainly and  up and down time that's for sure. 

The coach trip did not go too bad thank you.  Weather was a bit gloomy but I had a good look around the cathedral (I was in Gloucester) and the historic dock area plus a stroll around the 'Quays'which is a cut price designer retail outlets centre.  Managed to get myself some decent work shoes and also a gift for my sister in law who turns 70 at the beginning of next month.  Lunch the following day with my daughter in law's Mum was also lovely and we went to our favourite garden centre so some shopping therapy as well.  I now have two new plants and some bulb fibre ready for planting  up my pots.

Child-minding for my daughter tomorrow as youngest grandson has hospital hearing test appointment.  No doubt I will be playing board games with the elder lad to pass the time.  Seeing my son and family on Saturday but the rest of the weekend have no plans for other than my usual gym session/walks.

Take care and have a pleasant and peaceful weekend.  Jules xx

Hi Syl,

Back at work this week and the time just seems to be slipping by.

Glad you enjoyed time with your friend on Saturday and also dinner with your daughter.  I think it is when we return from the 'good times' that we sit alone and reflect on what might have been  and this is when I now try and save my housework for.  My way of coping I guess. The counsellor at  your chuch on a Saturday morning sounds like a nice place to drop in for a chat if you need to discuss things.  I do think it helps somewhat to discuss your feelings and perhaps gain some understanding into the grieving journey.  It is cerntainly and  up and down time that's for sure. 

The coach trip did not go too bad thank you.  Weather was a bit gloomy but I had a good look around the cathedral (I was in Gloucester) and the historic dock area plus a stroll around the 'Quays'which is a cut price designer retail outlets centre.  Managed to get myself some decent work shoes and also a gift for my sister in law who turns 70 at the beginning of next month.  Lunch the following day with my daughter in law's Mum was also lovely and we went to our favourite garden centre so some shopping therapy as well.  I now have two new plants and some bulb fibre ready for planting  up my pots.

Child-minding for my daughter tomorrow as youngest grandson has hospital hearing test appointment.  No doubt I will be playing board games with the elder lad to pass the time.  Seeing my son and family on Saturday but the rest of the weekend have no plans for other than my usual gym session/walks.

Take care and have a pleasant and peaceful weekend.  Jules xx

Hi Jules , glad you enjoyed your trip out with your friend even though weather  was a bit  gloomy  its ni e to have a wander round garden centres and retail outlets you can pick up some   good bargains  .hope you  have a nice time playing with your grandson ,i wish i had grandchildren i hear that many people say thay keep you young and active . have been to my exercise class again only got to more to go  then they move you on to somewhere else,havnt got  anything planned for the weekend my daughter and her partner have fell out so might go somewhere  with her , i am going to the crem bank holiday monday  to put flowers on my mums  plot as she has been dead 19 years some times it only seems like yesterday. got to go into town tomorrow  as i have a eye test due will have a wonder round the shops , then go into one of the many cafe s  and treat my self to a  capachino  no cake though as im fat enough lol  enjoy the bank holiday regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Hope you had a pleasant weekend; the weather certainly helped.  I always felt blessed to  have my own children and the grandchildren are a bonus.  As to keeping me young am not so sure about that but they are a pleasure to be with with when our calendars allow.  I saw all three at some point over the weekend.  My little grand-daughter is now toddling and had a new pair of shoes to show off so we had plenty of fun in the garden.  Also a quick trip to their local garden centre as my son needed a new pump for his pond.  I picked up some spring bulbs and now just need to find the time to plant them. I did my usual walking on Sunday (this being a habit of a lifetime as my parents would also go walking on Sundays and as my Dad was disabled having lost a leg he set a great example about how keeping mobile was important when it was at all possible). I had no plans for Bank Holiday Monday so booked a ticket on line the previous evening and went into London to visit a Butterflies event held at the Natural History Museum.  Afterwards I spent several hours walking around the local Gardens and Parks before  getting home around 5pm. All in all I think I made the most of the weekend.

Yesterday was my usual vigil to see Mum followed by gym visit and then a cuppa with a friend locally.  She and her husband are off on a tour to China soon so we planned out next get together inOctober when I look forward to hearing all about it.  I have never been though hubby did some work out there a couple of trips.

Sorry to hear that your daughter and her partner had a falling out and am sure you were able to offer a sympathetic ear if you caught up over the weekend.  Hope the eye test went okay.  They seem to come round quickly.  I have to have mine every couple of  years as there is glaucoma and diabetes in the family history;  I am pretty short sighted and have worn glasses since 12 years old and never fancied contact lenses.

An emotional weekend ahead as would have been married 40yrs Sunday.  Have no plans other than to lay flowers at hubby's resting place.  Will no doubt have a chat with my sister in law on Saturday as she turns 70 and her brother turns 60 today.  As I am working today will have to ring him later.

Apparently we are due to see rain today but still dry here at the moment and would be handy if it stays that way for my commute but have my brolly at the ready.

Right is is almost7am so must get moving.  Take care and have a peaceful day.  Jules x

Hi Jules, sounds as if you had a nice time with your granchildren  i think doing things with them must fetch back memories of when you were young it would me.  my eye test went ok my sister has to put eye drops  in her eyes every day to stop  glucoma from  developing she  sees the specialist twice a year. my daughter and her partner have not  got back together yet, they go away next weekend  to lanzarote  so they will have to come together at some point  or they will lose there holiday,i had a nice week end with herhome we went to a place called Dunham Massey its a big estate  with deer wondering about  and a stately home then we had sunday lunch in a country pub. Onthe monday we went to a garden centre its quite big and it sells all different things ,after a good walk round in which we never bought anything we had a meal in our local pub so it was a nice week end.i am out with the kids my sister and her partner on friday at a local restaurant as it is my Birthday,on the saturday it is my neighbors 30 wedding anniverary so have been invited to a barbecue at least this weekend is busy with nice things.hope your 40th passes peacefully its hard when  these things arise as all we have are memories  to think back on  enjoy your weekend  hope to take george out before my exercise class regards Syl x

Hi Syl

A belated happy birthday and hope you had a lovely meal with the family on Friday and also enjoyed your neighbours' anniversary BBQ.  It was lovely here both days so hopefully the same where you are.

I spent Friday in London with a friend visiting Lambeth Palace Gardens (open for charity) and then walked along the South Bank and enjoyed lunch and a coffee stop along the way.  Lovely views overlooking the Thames.  Weather permitting I hope to return this coming Friday as there is a Chinese Street Food Festival on near Tower Bridge.

The weekend was generally quiet apart from usual gym visits and chatting with my inlaws.  I did however go out to lunch (spur of the moment arrangement) with a lady I see at the gym who was also kind enough to give me a lift to the crematorium (she did not want me to get wet).  We ended up chatting over coffee and a toastie for over 2hrs before coming back home.  It was a rather nostalgic kind of day but lovely memories to ponder upon.

My son and family are on holiday this week and my daughter's boys were back to school today so treated to updated pictures via Facebook.

Today I have managed to renew my passport online in readiness for my holiday next year and also had lunch locally with another friend made at the gym. Tomorrow will visit Mum and the gym so some sort of routine.

Thankfully the weather enabled me to plant nearly all the bulbs I had bought and now they are being 'watered in'.

Have a peaceful and pleasant week and weather permitting maybe a walk with the lucky George.

Take care.  Jules x

HiJules, i had a nice week end enjoyed my meal with the family on Friday and the BBQ on the Saturday luckily the weather was ok so we were all sat outside in the garden with plenty of lovely food and  beer and all differant types of gin which all went down  very well.glad you enjoyed your day in London its a long time since i was in the capital, my son is working in London again  not far from st Pauls he is there for a good few weeks yet.it was a lovely gesture of the lady to give you a lift to the crem  wish there was more people like that in the world it would be a better place . my evening aerobics has started back now and my Thursday one tomorrow, at least i have that to look forward to ,also my friendship group starts back Monday so every thingback to normal now. the weather not been to good here managed to take george out  today but only a couple of times this week because of the weather.i havnt got much planned for the weekend  might go out with my son and his partners kids on Sunday to a local park as there is something on, but the forecast isnt very good , so will have to wait and see. have a lovely week end regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Hope you had a good weekend though I must say the weather here was somewhat mixed.  Despite the showers on Friday I followed my gym visit with a three mile walk.  Was heading for the garden centre but when the heavy rain came along I diverted to walk through the local woods to the cafe at the  lido.  After a cuppa I continued my walk around the Lido complete with brolly and then went to the garden centre as planned. Bought the couple of bits I wanted (it was cardholders 20% off day) and then caught the bus back. Saturday was much better so I spent most of the day gardening and at least the back garden is probably ready for the autumn now and at least all my bulbs are in. 

My daughter, son in law and the boys visited for a few hours on Sunday and it always nice to have a catch up.

Have been to visit Mum this morning as have friends coming tomorrow.  Was a bit taken aback to find her room emptied but soon learnt that she had been moved temporarily to let some work be carried out.  Bless her she was not bothered at all and had just finished her breakfast as usual.  I got a hello before she nodded off so I sat with my book for a while.  These visits are all very much alike now.

Despite the showery weather at least the temperatures are still not too bad.  Hope you enjoy being back to your usual routine and nice that you can look forward to your friendship groups again.  Have a pleasant week and take care of yourself.  Jules xx

Hi Jules, glad you enjoyed your long walk and  your walk roung the garden centre, there is so much to see in garden centres these days and they sell lovely food to enjoy as well. Have been into town this morning to pick my new reading glasses up ,also had a hearing test as i suffer with tinnitus in my right ear so have ordered a new earing aid, if it dosnt make any differance i can  i can give it back  without paying fingers crossed.my daughter and  partner are in Lanzarote now i am baby sitting her rabbit,in the house as its a indoor  rabbit,if i let her out of the cage i have to put my cat upstairs or let her out,the things we do  for our kids lol. The weather here is awful as well only had george out a few times in the last couple of weeks managed to take him out today we both enjoyed the walk. I am going out with my friend tomorrow as she is on holiday from work this week we were goinh to go Chester on the train but the forecast isnt very good ,so might just go into our local town and maybe go some where to have  lunch have a nice week regards Syl x

Hi Jules, thought  i would i would send you a quick e mail before the week end, is every think ok as  i havn t heard off you since  my last e mail i am ok  hope you are as well  hope to hear off you soon  regards Syl x

Hi Syl

All good with me thank you but have  been entertaining my sister in law for a few days and then away at my daughters so not  been on the laptop to answer my mail.  Weather has been kind so have also now caught up with the gardening and both front and back are ready for the autumn/winter ahead should the weather turn cold.  Today has been beautiful and after having a friend round for an early coffee and then the gym I popped to get some shopping done before settling down in the garden to run off a few replies before tackling the ironing. 

Have another busy week ahead with my sister in law back for a one night sleepover en route back home (she has been visiting friends in France over the weekend). Will visit Mum on Tuesday and then usual two days at work before going to my daughter in law's MacMillan coffee morning on Friday.

Hope you are having a good weekend and staying well.  Take care. Jules xx

Hi , Jules glad every thing ok thought you  would be busy out and about with family and friends I am ok not much happening at the moment going my daughters Sunday for dinner,am using my new tablet  as my other one stopped working also my mobile not working again so had to take it back to the shop again I must re jinxed nothing going right at the moment.have a nice weekend speak to you syl x