Hi Syl

Hope last weekend was a good one despite the weather throwing so much rain/wind at us again.  I think we have been very fortunate here as no flooding issues though local rivers/lakes are certainly at higher levels than I have seen in many a year.  The closest we came to flooding (in the house) was the year we bought it when a local brook burst it banks and it was touch and go for a few hours.  It must be awful to lose all your possessions and living and have to start from scratch again.

My parents probably influenced my love of musicals as they took me along to quite a few.  As to the cinema I will watch most things though not a lover of sci-fi or horror films (hubby was into those so we rarely went to the cinema together!!).  Call of the Wild was an easy watch and a new version of a golden oldie (from the classic Jack London book) so highly likely that you recalled it.

Glad you enjoyed the art exhibition and as so often happens people are recognised for workand a life they leave behind.  I may go into London at the weekend as there is a free exhibition at Japan House which I thought I might stroll round.  I am not into art that much to be honest.

Last weekend was pretty quiet but managed gym visits and popped along to the local Farmers' Foodies Market and was joined by a friend for a catch up and coffee.  She has just started jury service so I wont see her at work for a few weeks possibly.  Work days are busy as we are once again low on staff but at least I only work a few hours now and know I do not have much longer till retirement.

With a much better day yesterday I booked a time slot and went along to the Orchid Festival a Kew. With nice sunny spells I then decided to stay for another few hours and thoroughly enjoyed my wander and took plenty of photos of course.  It would have been my Dad's 97th birthday so a day of remembering him too (though you actually do not stop remembering the good times just because time passes by).

Today it is back to the gym and then need to go and do mundane food shop but hoping to pop to a 'silver screen' film in the afternoon.  Local cinema does two a week at a cost of just £3 which includes a cuppa and biscuit.  Have a choice of two films so will see what I fancy when I get there.

Chilly start this morning so have de-iced the bird bath/water and will be off out shortly.  Have a nice weekend and as you would have celebrated a milestone anniversary this month I am sure you will continue to recall happy memories. I usually buy myself a nice bunch of flowers which is what hubby would have done.  Take care.  Jules x

Hi Jules ,glad you enjoyed all your activities and your trips out and about , been to the doctors again this week having headaches and  my face keeps going numb ,all she said was to take paracetamol if it goes worse or I get double vision to go back which I don't think  was very helpful, there is strokes in my family and brain hemorrhages  so it's very worrying ,to be honest Jules I'm sick and tired  of everything at the moment nothing seems to go right just lately. I've booked a appointment at spec savers  Friday  I know they can detect thinks behind the eyes that doctors can't.    weather not to bad at the moment but still had a lot of rain only had George out once this week because of the rain, am out Tuesday with a couple of my friends on a coach trip to a place called rivington barn it's a afternoon of Irish music a 2 course meal tea and coffee so it should be a nice day out ,hope you have a nice weekend  regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Really sorry to read that you are suffering again with ill health and all the anxiety that goes with it. I hope the trip to the optician goes smoothly and that the headaches are not anything sinister at all.  Certainly I know from experience that 'stressing' just seems to lead to more cluster headaches.   If no happier after that appointment then to put your mind at rest perhaps you can ask for a second opinion.  When I was having trouble with my eye the local eye hospital was very thorough and again, like your gp, told me to report back if any double vision occurred so that could do a second check.  Thankfully it all cleared up within a month or two.  

Hope you manage/managed to enjoy your coach trip as it sounded very good.

I have had a busy few days with a trip to the Royal Albert Hall on Monday evening with a friend from the gym which was brilliant.  I had also been to the cinema in the morning and saw Military Wives which I thorough enjoyed too.  Over the weekend I spent the day in London with my camera and took a planned trip up to the Sky Garden. No sun but the views were still pretty amazing from the 35/36th floors.  I covered about 10 miles on foot (using the underground network inbetween) over about 7 hours and also visited the art/technology exhibition at Japan House (another free entry).

On Sunday I did a spot of babysitting for my son so he could take my grand-daughter to a birthday party(my daughter in law was out for the morning enjoying a spa/massage with a friend which had been a belated birthday gift for them both). My little grandson has got chicken pox but was so very good for me and then when no one was at the local playground we all went out for a short spell before having tea with them.  My son ran me home after the little ones were tucked up in bed and we had watched the final of Dancing on Ice.  

Other than my twfao work shifts on Wednesday and Thursday I have no other plans in place for a while so will have to get researching to see what I fancy doing.  Weather still leaves a lot to be desired and no point setting foot in the very soggy garden at the moment.  Would be lovely to have a bit of sunshine and less blustery weather.

Look after yourself and hope you are feeling much better soon.  Jules x 

Hi Jules, went to the optician she thinks I might need glasses to wear all the time as my left eye isn't as good as my right eye, will pop into spec savers on Saturday to get a pair the. numbness I had in my face has disappeared now ,so not sure what caused it,but I am still going to get them just in case it comes back if I use them and it disappears then it is my left eye that's trying to compensate ,I feel like a hypochondriac at the moment never been to the Dr's so much in my life lol.glad you enjoyed your trip the the royal Albert hall we went there once a long time ago now to see the BBC proms it was a good show , glad you enjoyed the pictures and your trip to London,I enjoyed my Tuesday afternoon out it was a place called rivington barn near Bolton ,a 2course meal there was a lovely Irish singer on I even had a dance ,and a jin and tonic in the middle of the afternoon (naughty but nice)  I really enjoyed it.I am at my daughter's tomorrow she is having a couple of her ceilings plastered have got to let him in,weather not bad here at the moment,but we have had some really strong winds my lawn is desperate for a cut but will have to wait a bit longer for a cut.I  am still waiting for the results of my M R I  scan that I had a fortnight ago on my ears, I am at the hospital Monday about my eyes as the optician said my left eye dosnt shut as quick as my right eye what ever that means will keep you posted on my ailments as there growing by the minute LOL have a lovely weekend  regards syl x

Hi Syl

Glad you had a lovely time out at Rivington Barn and the socialising would have probably done you the world of good too.

Hopefully not much longer to get your MRI results even though I expect they are snowed under with the workload just now with so much going around around the country/world.  Hope your hospital visit today regarding your eye problem went smoothly and always good to be referred by a good optician. Maybe the new glasses will also help.  I have worn glasses all the time from the age of 13 and have a yearly check up as both my parents had eye issues in later life.

A quiet weekend spent locally just with usual gym visits and a couple of walks to the local woods/lido and then the Artisan monthly market yesterday.  After a frosty start this morning I have been out walking again, this time to a house/gardens about 45 mins walk away.  Had a lovely cuppa and then sat in the walled garden for over an hour in the sunshine enjoying all the spring flowers and the gardeners at work before walking back home.  Made me feel a bit guilty as my own garden been somewhat neglected so came home and have been outside for an hour and managed to mow the lawn and tidy the edges.  The birds seem to appreciate it as have been down ever since.  Now enjoying lunch with the patio doors open.  Apparently more nice weather due from Wednesday so hopefully will begin to spend more time outside.  Think the robins have a nest site in my garage as one came down to greet me(or see me off lol) when I retrieved the lawn mower. Hopefully they will remain undisturbed now.

Take care and do let me know how you get on.  Jules x

Hi Jules, I haven't got my results yet, I have a appointment in April with one specialists and may with another,I am still having problems with the left side of my face which is worrying me,all my activities have stopped now so feel quite isolated at the moment,my son has done a shop for me this morning,but he didn't come in ,I did goto my local Tesco yesterday but I got told off by the kids lol so will have to do as I'm told from now on. I am still taking George out for his walks the last couple of days have been lovely,still chilly in a morning then it brightens up .glad your still able to go out and about, especially as the weather has turned nice ,it's awful at the moment seem as if the whole world is in lockdown ,my son brought me some flowers with my shop as I would still like to go the crematorium for mothers day I will go early when there is no one there,it would have been my 50 wedding anniversary on the21st Saturday so have bought some flowers,will put them in vase with his photo sad that he isn't here with me especially in these uncertain and worrying times ,don't know what is happening mothers day we were going out but that has had to be cancelled.take care and stay safe regards Syl x

Hi Jules, glad your ok and still doing some. of your activities ,since we communicated last most of the country has gone into lock down, I havnt been out ,I did go to my locally co op for a few bits but I got shouted at by the kids so not been out since I am still taking George out , and doing the garden all this lovely weather and we can't go out to enjoy it.my daughter picked my glasses up for me from spec savers,to be honest Jules I haven't had them on ,as the numbness in my face  and the headache seem to have gone now, but if they come back I will use them to see if the glasses help . my first appointment at the hospital is 16 April I have no idea if it will be cancelled Wil! have to wait and see what happens, lovely day again so will look forward  to take George out  as there isn't much else to do all life as we know it seems to have come to a halt ,my son is working from home now but my daughter is still working as she works for a food  company,  stay safe regards syl x

Hi Syl

Trying for the third time to respond. Have problems with the internet connection (probably due to high winds).

I am at home too now.  Took the very hard decision to stay home.  Our shop remains open as there is a Post Office within it. However I only do 11 hrs a week and need to use public transport to get there so feel I am not essential.  This has been classed as unauthorised absence and thus I am on unpaid leave for the foreseeable future.  Strange times indeed but felt this was the right choice for me.

Managing to keep busy within house and the garden of course whilst the weather has been good.  Cold wind this morning so will need extra layers.  Am also managing to do the essential weekly shop and/or daily exercise slot.  Local community has pulled together and between us are keeping an eye on the elderly/vulnerable having set up checks and telephone calls/errands etc.

Fingers crossed this gets through.  Stay safe and well.  Jules x

Hi Jules,think it was sensible to leave work especially when you have to use public transport, I am not going out either my kids are shopping for me ,I am still taking George out ( thank god) don't know what I would do if I couldn't take George out, the weather has been ok have been in the garden pottering about and mowing my lawns ,it's the isalation that's the biggest problem especially when the things you enjoy have all closed ,not just for us but everyone ,it must be awful when your place of work has closed. and you have no money to live on especially the self employed who have got to wait till June to get any money .my appointment at the hospital is still going ahead as far as I know,will ring them nearer the time to see if it's still going ahead one of the kids have got to nip into boots tomorrow to pick my inhaler up that's another problem they are going to  have to pick my tablets up for me till all this blows over you do worry about them going out  and about for you. I'm always telling them to make sure they wash there hands just going to make my umpteenth cup of coffee and watch T V we will all have square eyes after this  has finished lol regards stay safe syl x