Hi Syl

Nice to hear that you feel the tablets are helping and also that you enjoyed the Sunday roast with your daughter.  Hope she enjoyed her weekend in Amsterdam with her 'trekking friends'.  It is about 15 years since me and hubby went there with a group of friends and had a lovely time.  I am back there next April for a long weekend trip having booked to go on a coach tour which will include spending a day at the bulbfields as well as visiting cheese-making factory.  Something to look forward to after the festive season is over.

I had a reasonably quiet weeked just gone as trying to fight off a 'nuisance' cold but still went for a walk in the fresh air as was a lovely day on Saturday. Sunday was spent pottering after I had been to the gym.

Today I met a friend for a quick coffee and catch up before browsing the town centre shops and finding a top the work's Christmas meal in early December.  We are hoping to go out again in a couple of weeks as her husband will be visiting his Mum in Wales and she has to work so cannot go with him.  We are planning a curry night all being well.

Take care of yourself and hope you and the doc are happy with your progress.  Jules xx

Hi Jules,  my daughter had a. Lovely weekend catching up with some of her friends from her trekking holiday I'm afraid I had a bit of a melt down at the weekend , my son came to see me on theSunday I felt ill again with my stomach and I felt a bit panicky,but he managed to get me out for a nice walk to a place called spike island you can see the new Runcorn Widnes bridge from there,then he took me for a meal in one of our local pubs, I only had a beef burger but it was nice . Since then I have been back to the doctors she has doubled my tablets but I told  her I don't won't to be on them long term I haven't doubled them yet as I am out Saturday with my daughter to a engagement party and I won't to have a couple of wines to toast the happy couple.glad you have booked Amsterdam it's a lovely place to visit me and hubby went  a good few years ago my son lived there for a couple of years with his job, I have also got a few Xmas meals to go to over the christmas period so will be looking forward to those I think I will be seeing my daughter over the weekend .speak to you soon regards Syl x

Hi Syl

So pleased that your son was able to get you out for a lovely walk and that you enjoyed your burger lunch though sorry that you had a meltdown.  This must be a difficult time for you and hopefully a temporary increase in the medication when you choose to take it will help with your anxiety.   It is okay when you can keep busy but perhaps when you are on your own you are upsetting yourself.  This time of year brings lots of emotion with it I think.

I saw my son and family for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon and had managed to do some gardening in the morning before the rain set it.  Such a shame about the weather as it was our local high street's lighting up for Christmas and Fun Day.  Hope they did okay as a lot of effort goes into it by all the local shops.

Today I went to the gym as usual and always time for a chat over a cuppa before leaving which is lovely.Did not feel like going straight home as it was so sunny so I set off on a walk through our local woods and felt all the better for it.  I stopped for hot soup at a cafe en route and then after 3miles decided to get the bus home.  Now a quiet evening to look forward to.

No particular plans for this week other than gym sessions and visiting vigil to my Mum but I expect I will be glad to relax as my work days are definitely getting busier with the festive season approaching.

Hope you enjoyed the engagement party and were able to toast the happy couple.

Look after yourself.  Jules xx 

Hi Syl

Sounds as though you had a lovely week and having good company is often all it takes to lift the spirits a bit. Keeping busy indoors is not always as easy and it's when you are  on your own that we can dwell on things. On the whole I have got a pretty steady by moveable routine and still doing a bit of part time work helps my week have a bit of structure (as much as it would be nice not to have to do it!!). My weekend was totally different to what I had in mind (was planning lots of walking as usual).  Something I ordered and needed to be at home for  was scheduled for Saturday so thought it best I stay in.  Annoying because it was a beautifully sunny and crisp day. I potteredin the garden and refilled all the bird feeders yet again and definitely knew it was chilly (had to break ice on bird bath!!) when the parakeets actually came to feed as they usually just fly overhead.  In the end the parcel did not come until late afternoon so the day was pretty much written off.

On the Friday evening I went to a local Christmas shopping event in aid of charity which had been organised by one of the instructors at the gym.  It was held in the local church hall and just a 15mins walk so got there about 7.30 and stayed an hour. Picked up a couple of bits to add to decorating the lounge next month.  Thankfully my actual gift buying is all done and ready for the festivities as wont feel like shopping once the shops are busy.

Went to the gym yesterday at 9am and came out to find a text from a gym friend wondering if I fancied a trip into Windsor so instead of walking on my own she picked me up and we spent a lovely three hours enjoying a catch up and lunch.  I love a spur of the moment change of plans.

Have got up this morning to heavy rain so am catching up on my mail and then will pop to domy supermarket shop.  Not exactly exciting but need some fresh food as did not shop over the weekend. Tomorrow I will pay my usual visit to see Mum.  So sad to see her fading and nothing to be done,  Always a difficult time as somewhat of a reminder of watching hubby though at 91 she has lived a long troubled life with her bi polar illness.She no longer talks but I usually bring her up to date with family news  if she is awake or just sit beside her with a book. Afterwards I am meeting a friend for lunch and will probably then go to the gym as find this a great de-stresser.

Hope you have another pleasant week and hopefully some better weather so you can take George for a walk or two.  Take care and here is a picture of that visiting parakeet. Jules xx

Hi Jules, what a lovely picture of the parakeet it must be nice to see them flying free  I have only seen them in zoos.my friend back in work now ,so havnt been out as much this week,it sounds as if you have been busy this week it must  be  good to be  out and about with friends even if things change at the last minute,I have been to Windsor a long time a go it's a lovely place my mum and dad in law used to live in Maidenhead ,also twyford  so we were  there quite a lot visiting them.I too have bought most of my Xmas gifts for my  family, I have just bought them a few things to open on the day , but I will put money in there cards so they can  buy what they won't  . Sorry your mum isn't to good at the moment it's hard to watch  someone we love suffer I know a few people who suffer with bipolar and they have a hard time if they don't get the medicine right.the weather cold here at the moment but dry ,so have been out with George a few times this week which is nice,I'm at swimming aerobics tomorrow then at dinner time a few of us are going to a local pub for a meal  so am looking  forward  to it. enjoy your weekend regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Hope you are having a pleasant weekend.  For once I have been pretty quiet socially and it seems a little strange.  Did haveour work Christmas meal on Friday which was held at a Beefeater and was very good indeed both in the service (there were 15 of us) and food quality. Always nice to be able to chat socially and leave work out of it too.  One of my colleagues also gave a couple of us a lift there and back which was a bonus.

Stayed in all day yesterday as been having issues with leg/hip and decided to take it easy plus I did not really need to go out to the shops.  However by early evening I wished I had been out!! This morning I headed to the gym and then managed to walk the couple of miles to the garden centre to pick up some bird supplies to last through to the New Year.  Stopped for a cuppa and toasted tea cake before hopping on the bus for the return journey.  Damp and miserable start here today but hope it clears later as we are due a 'super moon' tonight and would love to try to capture a shot or two.

The parakeets have been 'wild' in London and suburbs for a good few years now  (many call them pests) and have seen many tourists feeding them in the royal parks.  Not that common in my garden but think the colder weather sent them in for easy pickings ha ha.  Milder again today but the sparrows and goldfinches seem to be eating well so maybe they know more chilly weather en route.

Have a good week and take care.  Jules xx

Hi Jules I to haven't  done much this week just my normal exercise class and my swimming aerobics it was my last aerobics class now till  January, my friendship group are having a meal in our local pub on Monday it's called a pensioners  party we have a raffle and a game of bingo as well as a artist it's really good we have a 3 course meal all for 10 pound.  I went for a c t scan wednesday on my stomach it has been ok since I went on the tablets for anxiety so I think it was that, have got to ring my doctor in about 10 days for the results.haven't got anything planned for the weekend my son and his partner are  going to Paris  for the weekend he has arranged a romantic trip on the Rhine  with champagne and a meal the kids are staying with grandparents so it just them too.I think the weather is supposed to be bad at the weekend they have forecast snow  here I could do with some boots  for the snowy weather might treat my self to some at the weekend  stay warm regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Hope  you managed to get some boots if, like me, you had snow fall. Were you still able to get out for your planned pensioners party? Hope your son's romantic weekend away was not badly affected as I know some airports had delays/cancellations but I am sure they enjoyed being childfree for some special time together.

I woke up to it yesterday morning and it kept going for a while. I also woke up to problems with the flush on the toilet so thought it was an omen of a difficult day!!  My daughter and family had to cancel their planned popping down to see friends and me pre-Christmas but was lovely to see the boys having such fun in their own garden (via WhatsApp and Facebook).  When my son phoned I told him about the toilet and that I would call the plumber in (today) but he said he would pop over and have a look for me.  An hour later he arrived with toolbox bless him.  He stayed around an hour for a coffee and chat and fixed the fault in all of ten minutes (and showed me how to do it next time).  It was good to have the company for a bit as I did not venture any further than the garden to keep the birds fed and watered.

Today most of our snow has been washed away with sleety rain in its place and a bit chilly. I got my wellingtons on and went to the gym and shops as did not want to be stuck indoors two days running.

Glad the tablets for your anxiety are helping and fingers crossed that the results from the scan will give no cause for concern especially as the symptoms seem to have cleared up. 

Stay safe and cosy.  Jules x

Hi Jules , I did manage to get some boots they are full of fur not real fur I hasten to had they keep my feet nice and warm  ,also the pensioners party  was very nice didn't win on the bingo, glad your son fixed your toilet  and it wasn't a big job.the weather was quite bad in places,it wasn't to bad here but it was very cold ,I was watching the news  with  everybody enjoying  the snow especially the kids building snow men and sliding down the  slopes   it's all vanished now as the rain has started now.I haven't had my results back from the doctors yet will ring them towards the end of the week. all my activities have stopped now till early January so am at a bit of a loose end till then ,might be going out for dinner Sunday with the kids my son enjoyed Paris they were delayed going  because of the weather at Manchester but it wasn't a long delay it didn't put them off enjoying the weekend . Have a nice  weekend's regards syl x