Hi Jules,glad you enjoyed your time with your friend,and you went down memory lane with your dads work place,things alter that much over the years you sometimes don't recognize them at all.I did go out with my daughter and her partner last Sunday we had a nice Sunday lunch in one of our local pubs,the weather has settled down here at last,like you we had a lot of strong winds but it's nice and calm now,we even had a few days of sunshine not sure what it is for the weekend,my daughter is away at the weekend she is going to Barcelona for 4 days with a friend so think I am at a loose end  all weekend I am hoping her partner will say do you fancy going out for Sunday lunch {fingers crossed } lol .it will be nice for you to spend time with you son and grandchildren I'm sure you will be busy it's funny how time flies there not babies long . its my wedding anniversary today 21st  we would have been married 49 years I wonder what we would  have done maybe a nice meal or a few day's away instead I just bought some flowers and a card to put on my coffee table, it's sad because I will  never  know  now what we would have done . it's nice that you keep the adoption going  in memory of your hubby  as well as helping owls enjoy your weekend regards Syl x

Hi Syl

A busy week both at work and  out and about. Beauiful long walk last Sunday around three lakes and part of the Grand Union canal in the glorious Spring sunshine.Only a 40min journey on the underground and there was also an organised (free)  heron and egret nest watch with binoculars set up for all to view.  Have signed up for the area's newsletter as they do lots of events through the year for people to enjoy the outside.  On Monday I went to the Ideal Home Show with a friend which included free entry to the nearby eat and drink show.  We had a lovely lunch from the Indian street food kitchen and both bought a couple of bits for home/garden.

Usual visit to a sleeping Mum on Tuesdayand then to the gym and the hairdressers.  Work days were routine and busy so soon over. Getting a taxi today to visit my son (bus does not go to them!) and then spending the weekend with him and the children whilst my daughter in law goes to her sister's hen do in Bath.  As the weather is looking good tomorrow we are going to Whipsnade and I will come home mid-day Sunday so can pop into the care home to see Mum. I doubt she will be aware of my being there but you never know!

Hope you have a good weekend and that  your daughter enjoyed her Spanish break.  Take care. Jules x

Hi Jules,it sounds as if you had a lovely time with your friend also spending a weekend with your son and grandchildren,I never went any where at weekend I was hoping my daughter's partner would ring  but he didn't ,took my self off to town Monday just to get out of the house for a couple of hours,I did go to Liverpool on Wednesday with my friendship group to see a show there was only three people in it and one of them was the compare ,one was a comedian the other one was a singer,but they were good and it passed a day away.my daughter enjoyed Barcelona ,she enjoyed the sights and her and her friend had a Spanish cookery lesson  which she enjoyed ,she said her paella was delicious ,I am out with her Sunday (mothers day) we are going to a local garden centre for afternoon tea ,my son is away in Norway again working he told me he will take me for a meal somewhere when he comes home,weather ok here so I am just going to mow my lawn as the weather forecast isn't very good next  week ,will go to the crem tomorrow to put flowers in my mum's plot and put flowers in a vase for my mum in law as well have a nice week regards syl x

Hi Syl

Sorry for late response; I somehow managed to miss your mail in my in box. Hope you really enjoyed your afternoon tea on Mother's Day.  I had a day out with my son and the little ones to Whipsnade Zoo on the Saturday and then he brought me home in time to visit my Mum.  For the first time in five weeks she was awake and though still uncommunicative at  least I was able to bring her up to date with family news.  Flowers and a reed diffuser for her gifts were easy to set up in her room.  I had flowers from both my children and the planted basket is still doing well now.

Last week was a bit of a nightmare as ended up with a severe eye infection in the tear ducts.  Very painful and resulted in a trip to the Eye Hospital in London so was unable to work my two shifts last week.    Still a little swollen but at least the pain has gone now.  Hot compresses and drops to hopefully clear it up eventually.

Spent last weekend with  my daughter and family as it was my son in law's 40th party bash and had a lovely time catching up with old friends of theirs plus family.  The following day we had family round for lunch and then went out for a beautiful Indian buffet in a local village.  I came home on Monday and once my work shifts out of the way will be getting ready for my daughter and her two boys who are visiting Monday to Thursday next week.  Fingers crossed for dry weather so we can put our plans in place.

Hope you are keeping well and have had a good week.  Best regards.  Jules x

Hi Syl,

Hope you had a good weekend and enjoyed the artisan market.  I love walking around them even if I do not buy anything (usually top up on cheese though!!). I was at a local French Market last Saturday and took some photos for the family to see online.  I was going to go for a walk afterwards but the rain arrived so hopped back on the underground home instead. Managed a walk and some gardening on Sunday before my daughter and two grandsons arrived on Monday.  We have enjoyed a lot of park visits and the little Zoo was fun as they had an Easter hunt with certificates and stickers well earned as we walked around finding out facts.  I have been to Chester Zoo which is not far from where my son in law's father lives and agree it is a lovely place to go.  I would definitely go again if in the area.

I am visiting my Mum today and will manage to fit a visit to the gym in whilst my daughter and the boys catch up with old friends they had before they moved (cannot believe that move was  2 years ago in May).

Thankfully my eye is virtually back to normal and can enjoy being out and about with my camera again.  As the weatther looks promising for the Easter weekend I  hope to find some places of interest to explore as the gardens are looking especially colourful with blossom and spring flowers and they woon will pass as the next season arrives.  Have several catch ups with friends planned in the coming weeks too which will be good company.

We are all catching up with my son and family tomorrow so more long walks planned, all helping me get my exercise on track which, in turn, brings better relief for my hip (touch of arthritis which the exercise definitely helps).  

Hope you have a good Easter weekend.  Take care. Jules x

Hi Jules, hope you have a nice time with your daughter and grandchildren  it must be nice when all your family get together ,I am out with my daughter and her partner Saturday they won't tell me where were going  as its a surprise ,but I have a feeling it's chester zoo, which will be nice ,glad your eye is ok now and back to normal ,I have been feeling quite  sad this week I am thinking of making a appointment with my doctor next week I  have been feeling angry with every  thing and everyone  just lately the least thing that goes wrong  and I'm shouting and swearing in the house I'm sure my neighbours can hear me and think I've lost the plot ,I don't even know why I feel this way it all stems from hubby dying and loneliness I suppose .(sorry I've dumped that rant on you). hope I will feel a bit better over the Easter weekend  as I am out Saturday ,Monday we are all going out for a meal there will be 7 of us all together ,so it should be nice have a lovely Easter don't eat to many Easter eggs lol regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Happy Easter to you and the family.

I had a lovely few days whilst my daughter and the boys were with me and the weather really has helped.  The day we all spent together was equally special as it is not that often that we manage that and lovely to see the four grandchildren together too.  

Hope your surprise outing yesterday was enjoyable and maybe helped lift your spirits a little.  Think you know yourself best and if you need some help from your GP then an appointment is a good way forward. Grieving certainly comes in waves through the years and I am often surprised (not sure why!) that something which seems irrelevant can give me that low spell.  I am, I suppose lucky, that  my love of walking (and the ability to still manage it) appears to be a real therapy for me and I do like being able to get into the garden now the better weather is on the way although still find it hard to sit for more than an hour whereas I used to read for hours on end; hey ho.  I know too that a lot of my feelings have re-surfaced watching Mum decline.  As we get older our patience (not that I am the most patient of people anyway!!)  seems to be tested more and as my hubby was the very placid one and a calming influence for me,I get annoyed when I feel vulnerable or unable to do something for myself.  Such is life and I try not to bother the children with day to day nuisances.  

No need to worry about 'dumping' the rant here/on me as this is exactly the reason we find the support of each other and the forum useful.  There is a level of mutual understanding and sometimes it helps just to write it down............I used to do this indoors when hubby was ill as a way of relieving my fears/tensions.

On a completely different note, no Easter Eggs for me though I have had a couple of hot cross buns. For several years as a family we only buy for the little ones that are allowed chocolate.  This year I bought all the children a small book  and the younger two had a £5 note whereas the two older boys had a small egg.  Sensibly their parents monitor the 'treats' in favour of looking after their teeth.  I am also gradually losing the few pounds I gained over the Winter so that my summer clothings feels more comfortable by the time I go on holiday.  

Have a lovely meal on Monday and I look forward to hearing all about your weekend when you have a moment.  Take care.  Jules x

Hi Jules, must have been lovely to have all your grandchildren with you all in one day I had a nice Easter we did go to Chester zoo it was a lovely day it was crowded with the weather being so nice ,didn't even see all the animals as it has been extended we got there at 10 30  and left at 4 so the next time we go we will have to see the ones we missed. Easter Monday went out for a meal with my son daughter both of there partners 2 kids and my son's dog  which is a pup to a local pub that caters for dogs as well as humans lol, I didn't buy to much chocolate I gave my sister's granddaughter a card with 5 pound in it and my son's  stepchildren a small  chocolate bunny  and 5 pound,  I know some children get far to much chocolate , I haven't managed to get to my GP yet ,but I feel a bit better this week I have started a bit of voluntary work it's only one day a week at a local centre looking after people with dementia they do knitting, colouring dominoes a bit of exercise and we have a drink with them also the centre has loads of thing to do on different days so might check them out.glad your losing your weight gain ,I think I have but weight on as well,when I go into town tomorrow I am going into boots to weigh my self ,my swimming aerobics is back now ,I am going to do extra one now which is a Tuesday morning all so my friendship group starts again next week ,haven't had George out today as we had a bit of rain this afternoon and a few rumblings of thunder as well as lightning ,the forecast this weekend is rain no idea what I'm doing over the weekend enjoy your weekend regards syl x

Hi Syl

So pleased you had a good Easter and that you enjoyed Chester Zoo once again.  I would definitely like to re-visit if I get the chance whilst seeing my daughter's father in law they they do not go up very often (he lives just outside Wigan so not too far for a day trip to the zoo from there).  The weather certainly helped that weekend and often think our feelings can be uplifted with a bit of company and the sunshine.

What a difference this past weekend.  Not too much rain but so blustery with us catching the edge of Storm Hannah here.  Luckily no damage but apart from my gym visit on Saturday I decided to stay indoors and 'prune the wardrobes' ready for the Summer months (hopefully).  Now have several bags for the charity shops and a couple for curbside recycling so was very pleased to get this done.  No point hanging on to the stuff I no longer wear 'just in case I need it'.  Most of this was occasion wear and a size or two too big now!!

Yesterday was a lot less windy so I did a 3+ mile walk locally during the morning and then came back and did the rest of the housework.  Today I am glad to see sunshine again so having just put the washing on the line I am going to be busy in the garden.  Have several new plants to get in, dead heading the finished bulbs/flowers and the lawn to mow so that should keep me out of mischief till lunchtime.

How lovely that you are doing a little volunteering and am sure this lifts the loneliness a bit as well as helping them out.  I may be looking at this once I finally give up my two days a week working (can get my state pension in just over a year when I hope to be able to retire after 40+ years of worklife!!) 

Have a weigh in at the gym tomorrow so keeping the exercising up and hoping for good results as will also have BP and measurements taken which should keep me on track.  So far so good and with a wedding outfit to fit into by end of August and my holiday in June at least have something nice to aim for (comfort eating was a nightmare earlier in the year but seem to have given myself a good talking to ha ha).

Have a pleasant week and maybe the weather will improve enough for you to have George out too.

Best regards Jules x