Hi Jules ,how awful you had to deal with your hubbies car hope it is sorted now and that will be the end of it .I went to spec savers  my earing aid is ok but unfortunately I'm still deaf I feel so depressed I can hardly hear what people are saying to me if people ring me I can't hear what there saying,I am having my left ear syringed on Monday so I am praying it will be ok when it's done.i went for my Xmas meal with my friendship group to a local pub to be honest Jules it was very bland not much taste to it most of us left something on the plate we want be going there again .glad you enjoyed your sponsored walk and made some money for such a good cause.ive never heard of books and baubles sound very nice sounds good that you're planning trips out with your friends it's something too look forward to when the weather gets a bit warmer , I should have been at my dementia group Christmas party Wednesday but it was cancelled as they thought it's was to risky having a lot of vunerably people all mixing together so it's finished now till January,not been in my garden for a couple of weeks it's been to wet to do much still feed the birds every morning and check the fish are ok.i haven't even been to town today I haven't got the heart with my earing being bad I am going to marks tomorrow with my daughter so I can pick some things up from there my son is home Sunday I've worried every day about him Im sure these antidepressants are making me feel worse I've been on them over 2 weeks now  and I don't feel any better.will have to see what happens in the coming week otherwise will have to ring the doctor again have a lovely week regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Car issues all seem to be sorted now we've made contact with the company who towed  it out of the garage who promised to sort the fines out and was apologetic!

Really sorry to read about your continuing deafness issues and must be really annoying and frustrating. I do hope at least having one syringed yesterday will have helped.

Books and Baubles was just the name of the 'day at the local Great Barn/Duckpond market'. They had arranged several talks by local authors (hence the Books) and the Christmas market from our regular twice monthly stallholders . As usual it was well attended and as a large part of it is outside plus the wearing of masks it was quite enjoyable.

Although my grass is a bit muddy we have not had too much rain recently and so I pop my boots on and have been out there for an hour or so most days.  Keeping the bird feeding stations cleaned and refilled too plus renewing the water baths/dishes every day. Not complaining as I do love watching them in the garden.  I still have wallflowers in bloom - daft for this time of year but then it has been mild.  I have planted up two new shrubs and been doing a bit of ground preparation ready for next Spring.    Thankfully the gym is still going strong so last session on the 24th and then back on the 30th providing the guidelines dont change.

Hope your visit to M&S with your daughter was enjoyable.  I met a friend in town yesterday and M&S cafe was a stop off after a little shop in the food department!  I hope your son is  now safely back and enjoyed his break and it will give you something less to worry about..  Also hope that the benefits of the medication soon kick on but there will be alternative to try if you feel you need something different. Let's hope that next year will bring a bit more freedom once Omicron settles down.

Doing my last pre-Christmas food shop tomorrow and will go to the Crem on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day I should be spending with my son and family at his in-laws provided all our LF tests are negative.  Hope you enjoy your Christmas however you plan to spend it and wish you a peaceful New Year too.  Look after yourself and take care.  Jules xx

Hi Jules ,my hearing is a lot better now I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't cleared I've booked to have my other one done in January .my son enjoyed his holiday I'm glad he's back though as I did worry I'm not sure these antidepressants are working I've been on them a month now will see how I feel in the new year.glad your all sorted now for Xmas I'm going to my son's Christmas day and staying over till boxing Day I will go the cream early on Christmas Day  then straight to my son's I'm hoping to pick my daughter and her partner up so we all get there together.im hopeing my friendship group opens up some time in January he is going to let us know  the date nearer the time  anyway will e mail you next week have a lovely Christmas with your loved ones stay safe and have a peaceful new, year regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Delighted that your hearing is so much improved and that you will get the other ear sorted next year. Have a wonderful Christmas with your children. LF tests permitting in the morning I will spend the day with my son and family.  They also visited for a couple of hours yesterday which was great.  My son in law and grandson are now out of isolation so my daughter and family will at least be able to enjoy their at home festivities and all being well we will catch up with them soon too. I went to the Garden of Remembrance this morning followed by a peaceful 3hr walk before coming home and cooking a festive meal for myself this evening.  Sending you very best wishes for Christmas and 2022.  Jules xx

Hi Jules ,had a lovely Christmas with the kids and my daughter s partner went the crem in the morning then straight to my son's ,my daughter did a chocolate roulade for after dinner which was lovely glad they don't take after me for there cooking skills.came back to mine boxing Day , unfortunately I developed a cold a few days later which made me feel a bit off I did a COVID test which was negative there is a lot of colds going round at the moment I feel a lot better now but I didn't want to chance going over my friends today Friday for coffee in case I passed it on , unfortunately I've been bad with my nerves again I can't explain why so I rang the dr's he rang me back he has now put me on another tablet called propranolol hope this does the trick it's awful when you feel anxious all the time and you don't even no why . I've bought a few little goodies to eat new years eve will watch the new year in watching the telly and no doubt have a couple of glasses of wine my daughter and her partner are going my son's so he isn't on his own they will have snacks and wine as well sending you and your loved ones  a happy and healthy 2022 regards  Syl x

Hi Syl,

Wishing you a happy, safe and healthy 2022.  So pleased you enjoyed a lovely family Christmas and that the cold only came on afterwards so that at least you could enjoy your festivities. I also hope that your newly prescibed medication makes you feel better in the coming weeks.  There is often no rhyme or reason behind anxiety/depression episodes (my Mum was Bi-polar and when she was in a good place could never understand or explain why the dark times happened).  Staying in touch with your GP will keep things under review which is very sensible.

I had a nice Christmas day with my son, daughter in law, my two youngest grandchildren at my daughter in law's parents.  It was very relaxed and though they are only 15mins walk away I had a lift both ways so very spoilt!!  The rest of the Christmas period I was on my own but then I am used to that.  I returned to the gym between Christmas and New Year to get my normal routine up and running again.

My daughter, son in law and my two eldest grandchildren came to visit on Sunday 2nd and stayed over, going home after lunch on Monday.  We had home delivery meal on Sunday evening and after a couple of hours out dog walking on Monday morning I then did a buffet lunch.  It was so good t o see them after quite a while due to son in law and Zack testing positive for Covid.   Today was mainly wet so I spent the time taking down and packing away Christmas decorations/cards etc and catching up with the washing and housework.  Tomorrow I am back at the gym and am meeting a friend on Friday for coffee and catch up.  Looks as the the temperatures are due to drop so an extra layer as we will be outside,

No other firm plans till the end of the month so will take it day by day and walk my miles when I can fit them in.

Take care and do look after yourself.  Off to the crem tomorrow; it is sometimes hard to believe it is now 7yrs since hubby passed away.  Best regards.  Jules xx.

Hi Jules, glad you enjoyed your Christmas festivities with your family it is nice to get together at this time of year,I haven't done much this week I've had a awful  cough and cold the cold has disappeared but the cough is really bad and it has left me with a really bad tickle in my throat,I couldn't talk to anyone for long as the tickle would start I'm taking all sorts of remedies to try and ease my throat the cough isn't as bad now so hopefully it will clear up as the week  goes on ,I should have gone to the community centre on Thursday with my friends but gave it a miss as I didn't want to pass it on to my friends ,I'm supposed to be going my exsersise class Tuesday and my dementia group Wednesday so I'm hoping I will be ok by then . hope you family are ok after testing positive for COVID it's quite bad all over really not had George out much this week because I didn't feel like taking him for his walk ,but we have had quite a bit of rain as well even the garden is sodden feeding the birds is risky as I'm frightened of slipping as it's very muddy at the moment I'm at the crem next month my hubby been dead 6 years some times  I think where have them years gone strange really. have a lovely week  regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Hope your cough is clearing up. Such a nuisance when you cannot get rid of the tickle.  Thankfully my son in law and grandson were okay after their period of isolation. Son in law went back to work but still has no sense of taste or smell so not too bad.  Grandson had no symptoms at all and they all enjoyed their quiet Christmas at home.  Weather has been a bit of a washout so far this week so walks were limited but still been at the gym every other day which helps.  Tomorrow I am going on a Wildlife walk led by local expert in the area. It's only a couple of hours and free so providing it's dry when I get up I will go along.  No plans so far for this weekend but in the process of booking the weekend afterwards away. Meeting with friends to visit some Wetland Marshes in Hampshire. Will be good to have a little break away and in the fresh air.  Will book train and B&B once date confirmed for visit.  Hairdressers for a haircut on Thursday  and that will be another week done. Time passes too quickly sometimes.  Take care of yourself and hope you are soon well enough to be out and about again.  Best regards  Jules x

Hi Jules, my cough is a lot better I took the antibiotics the doctor gave me ,I have another problem now I keep getting a awful feeling in my throat as if I  have got a lump in it I burp then it goes then comes back I'm sick and tired of every thing at the moment if it doesn't stop I will have to ring the doctor again they will be fed up with me mithering them .I didn't go to my exercise class Tuesday  or my dementia group as I didn't feel up to it .I went to my friends Thursday for a coffee it made a change to go out for a couple of hours.im still taking George out for his walks at least I'm getting some fresh air and a bit of exercise , hope you enjoyed your wildlife walk and you seen some animals and plants.will be nice to have a weekend  away it does you good to do some thing different for a change . since I have had my cough I haven't done much I think it makes things worse when you haven't got the heart to do anything , the kids went for Sunday dinner last week I couldn't go because my cough was so bad I wasn't eating much anyway now I've got this problem with my throat I have a feeling I will have to ring the doctor as it's really getting on my nerves also my cat is at the vets Monday she is having some theeth out as they are quite bad not a good start to the new year hope you have a lovely week regards Syl x