Hi Jules,glad you enjoyed your time with your family especially the grandchildren, I went the garden centre this week to buy a bucket of fat balls for my feeders,glad you enjoyed your works do as well as your bosses leaving do and your new manager is now in place.by the way Jules where do you work? I retired in 2014 sometimes I wish I had stayed on a bit longer but I didn't know what was going to happen otherwise it might have changed things.went for a meal Monday with the ladies from my aerobics group it was in a local pub there was about 16 of us it was nice to chat over a nice meal,my aerobics class has finished now till after Xmas.Monday I am out for a Xmas lunch at a local garden centre with my friendship group they do nice meals there so am looking forward to a nice Christmas roast.the weather here hasn't been that good either we have had a lot of rain managed to take George out for the first  time today didn't take him on the park as it was to muddy,just took him round the park but I think he enjoyed it .don't know what I'm doing over the weekend there is a Christmas fare in the baths hall where I do my aerobics so might have a wander round there have a nice weekend regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Hope you doing okay and if you went to the Christas fare over the weekend hope you enjoyed it.  I had a relatively quiet weekend with no visitors so took myself walking on Sunday and had the inevitable cuppa en route.  Went to the gym both days as it is a nice social atmosphere as well as giving me extra exercise.  Sunday afternoon was spent Christmas decorating as had the tree delivered and so I am more or less ready for family and friends visiting over the weekend before Christmas.  

Visiting friends this weekend with Saturday night being a meal out with entertainment and raffle in Marlow, Bucks so will get the train sometime during the day.  They are long term friends and continue to be really supportive.  Just what's needed at this time of year.  

Work is busy but manageable and the new Manager seems to be settling in well and also very helpful to everyone. Fingers crossed he gets to stay a while as, being a youngster, has lots of energy and supportive to everyone. Breath of fresh air.

Have a good week ahead and hope the weather is allowing you to go walkies with George.  Regard, Jules xx

Hi Jules, I didn't go to the Christmas fare went to town when I got back it was throwing it down so didn't fancy going out again,went out Sunday with my daughter and her partner for dinner,Monday I went out with my friendship group to a local garden centre for a 3 course Xmas lunch which was lovely we have finished now till the middle of January.hope you enjoy your meal with entertainment good luck with the raffle, my son and his partner were in Marlow a few week ago they went to the restaurant that a chef owns I can't think of his name but he's always on TV he said the meal was lovely they stayed over night in a hotel and came home the next day. I am out again on Saturday to my community centre with my 2 friends for a Christmas lunch a visit from Santa  a glass of wine and entertainment which I'm looking forward to I have also got a Xmas lunch on Wednesday at a local school with my friendship group they put a Xmas lunch on every year for local pensioners and we have been invited,by the end of Xmas I will be fed up with Turkey even though I like it.enjoy your weekend  regards Syl x

Hi Jules,glad you had a few wins on the raffle it's nice to win something for a change,I enjoyed my Xmas lunch at my local high school the school choir sang songs while we were having our  meal they were really good, then we had a raffle and everyone won a prize.the weather here isn't to bad at the moment have just taken George out it's quite mild even though we have had rain this morning.I will be spending christmas day with my daughter ,then boxing day we are going to a local restaurant  for a  boxing day meal ,it must  e hard working  boxing day ,my friend is working  as well she works at boots cleaning as they are open she has to work. I still don't know what your job is Jules,? on the 27 December it would have been my hubbies 70 birthday ,we are going to go for a Chinese meal which was one of hubbies favourite meals then we are going to have a walk round one of the canals were he used to fish,I just wish he was here to celebrate with us I keep thinking what  we would have done maybe we would have gone somewhere nice for a holiday but it wasn't meant to be.have a lovely Christmas hope everything goes to plan all the best to you and your family for 2019 speak to you soon regards syl x

Hi Syl

Just a quick message before my guest arrives.  My sister in law was caught up in the Gatwick problems so is en route today instead having been flown to Liverpool instead this morning and is now on a train heading south.

I have no problem working on Boxing Day. For the past 7 years they have covered Christmas without my help so I volunteered and only have a 5hr shift so will be home mid-afternoon.  I work for W H Smith and luckily the tubes will be running!

Have a good time with your daughter and remember the  happy times spent with your husband when you reflect on what would have been his 70th.  We were both privileged to have had happy times to recall (even though tinged with the sadness of loss).  Take care and wish you and the family a peaceful Christmas and 2019.  Regards  Jules

What a mess the drones  were for thousands of people in including your sister-in-law they still haven't caught the culprits they might never catch them. I had a nice christmas with my daughter and her partner dinner was lovely,for afters she made a maltteser chocolate cheese cake which was yummy I even took a peace home with me.boxing day three of us went to a local restaurant for lunch which was very nice my hubbies birthday we went to a Chinese restaurant unfortunately there should have been 7 of us but my son's partners son was playing up so in the end there was only 4of us but it was a lovely meal anyway I just wished my hubby was with us to celebrate his 70th hope you have a nice new years eve, I'm going to do my self a little buffet and know doubt have  a few glasses of wine will see the new year in  on the T V then off to bed happy New year to you and your family regards syl x

Hi Syl

Like you I had a good Christmas.  Had open house on 23rd for family an friends so kept the buffet going!!  Christmas Eve morning spent with 'over-nighters' and my sister in law who went home on the 27th.  A  lovely day on Christmas Day spent with my son and family at his in-laws.  Baby Ethan now five months and Darcey (2 and a half) made sure we all had a very special day making new memories.

A good couple of days spent at work and then visited my Mum yesterday.  Today I was back at the gym this morning and then have family coming later today.  Tomorrow I travel back with my daughter and family to spend New Year with them before normal routine begins again on the 2nd. I will be going to my hubby's resting place on the 3rd, the 4th anniversary of his passing but his tree remains evergreen and a place of peace.

Wishing you well for the New Year and 2019. Regards, Jules x

Hi Jules, glad you had a happy Christmas and  new year spent with family and friends, I had a nice Xmas with my daughter ,didn't see my son till the 27th which was his dads 70 birthday when we went for a. Chinese meal ,which was very nice.I'm glad everything is back to normal now have took all my cards down ,and the few decorations I had up as well.I also had a few days on my own for some reason I had a good  cry on both days I think it was because I felt a bit isolated I will be glad when next week is here as my swimming aerobics starts and I am back at my community centre with my friends for bingo and lunch ,have managed to take george out this week which I enjoyed even though it has been cold. it's been dry, will pop into town tomorrow to do a bit of shopping, then in the afternoon will  go into my neighbors for a coffee. nothing planned at the moment for the weekend regards Syl x

Hi Syl 

A quiet weekend which has enabled me to catch up and get the Christmas decorations/cards etc recycled or packed away.

Was at work for the first time on the anniversary of hubby's death  which felt a bit strange but go through it ok and then took flowers to his resting place on the way home.  A period of reflection as always for me and the children  but supporting each other helps.  I think emotions creep up on you when you are alone with time to think and can be pefectly natural response as time passes.  We loved and lost but no need to forget and tears bring release sometimes. I still find myself surprised at how much time has passed but think hubby would not want me unhappy so keeping busy whilst I can  seems right for me.

Thankfully I can still get out and about and when the weather improves will walk further afield. For now it'smore local but with it being dry and milder I will spend some time in the garden too.Asmy Christmas tree still looked good even though bought in early December, I have transferred it to outside my patio door and the birds have a temporary new feeding station ha ha. Once it looks 'grotty' I will recycle it around the garden as in previous years so it is never a waste.

Popping in to see Mum tomorrow though I mainly sit and read  as she does not want to talk.I have a new family photo for her room which I can show her if she is awake.  Very often she sleeps through my visits and the carers tell her I have been in. I do feel very sad for her situation but extremely grateful that the residential home carers do a wonderful job.

Routine seems to be back on tracl and I am once again able to get to the gym three or four times a week.  A very social crowd as well as keeping up with exercise.  Take care and all the very best for 2019.  Jules x