Hi Syl

Sorry to read that you are still not feeling right despite the antibiotics working to help your cough.  Maybe some of the medication for your anxiety is causing other issues but I am no doctor and it is good to stay in touch with your GP if things are not right. Anxiety and stress can cause so many different symptoms and worrying about the symptoms just seems to highlight them. This time of year seems to bring a lot of anxiety with it.  Glad  you are still managing to take George walkies and being out in the fresh air and perhaps away from the worries of being with others because of Covid makes you feel its easier doing this than going to  your groups.  I am still keeping to a small routine number of friends and speaking to others via messaging rather than meeting up.  The gym is my main social outlet indoors, three times a week for 30 minutes and I try and walk either before or after.  Last session at the gym this week will be tomorrow as I am not able to get there again till next week.  Have a couple of days break coming up which I am looking forward to.  The wildlife walk was a nice change but not much in the meadows to see so concentrated more around the water birds and learnt some interesting facts of what I may actually see when out by myself. A free event so worth it.  They have an evening walk this weekend but I am not free so will have to keep a look out for the next event.

Hope the cat got on okay at the vets and that things will soon improve for you too.  I am meeting a friend for lunch on Friday and will have to choose carefully.  I am on week two of my 'sensible eating' plan and  now have new goals set with the gym to lose those excess pounds.  It helps knowing I can weigh in weekly there which does help my motivation a little.

I am unable to keep an eye on the wildlife in the garden at night as the camera is out of action.  My son will take a look at it when we next get together but no plans for that at present. Maybe during the school holidays in February I will get a chance to catch up with them after the birthday celebrations for my daughter's 40th.

Take care and wishing you well.  Best regards. Jules xx

Hi Jules, not feeling to bad at the moment my cough has gone thank goodness the antibiotics the Dr gave me must have worked also the Dr gave me some tablets for acid reflux I only take one a day for a month that seems to be better as well so fingers crossed that will improve  and disappear all together,I think your right about the antidepressants I think sometimes they can cause problems I sometimes think I should never have started them in the first place .glad your still keepings up with the gym are you going anywhere for your break ? I went to my dementia group on Wednesday I did enjoy it it seems ages since I was there it was nice to be with people again I also went the community centre Thursday with my friends I didn't go last time as I had my cough it was nice to have something to eat and have a chat ,my cat is ok she had some theeth out but the vet said he isn't sure but she could have a tumour in her jaw  which isn't good news I have to take her back next week for a check up I don't think I would put her threw a big operation that might not work she's 12 she seems happy enough she's eating and cleaning herself and playing with her toys will see what the vet says next week . I might go to my exercise class Tuesday haven't been since before Christmas so it will do me good to do a bit of exercise I'm glad your keeping up with the gym it does make you feel better . Hope you have a lovely week regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

So pleased that you have got rid of the cough and that the GP is doing his best to make you feel better. When those little annoyances get cleared up it makes you feel relieved and more relaxed so that is a very big plus day to day.  I was away Saturday to Monday and travelled to Havant to meet up with a group of people I originally met online as part of a wildlife/love of nature group.  This was our third get together but the first long weekend.. The main day out was on Sunday but I did not want to do a rushed there and back in a day so I and a couple of the others booked into a Travelodge which was far more relaxed.  On the Saturday I was picked up from the station by the goup member who lived just 10mins away and after refreshment we went on a walk along part of the Hayling Billy Line/Oyster Beds(now disused but a haven for birds).  I learnt quite a bit along our walk and took photos. He then dropped me off at the Hotel to meet up with a couple of others who also checked in.  We went to a local pub for our evening meal.  An early start the next day; we drove to a a Farmhouse Inn for a good breakfast and then spent  the time at Farlington Marshes a beautiful coastal nature reserve.  Once again we all ate together in the evening and then I travelled back on Monday morning. It was so nice to 'feel normal' and enjoy the company of others (we had all done LF tests before meeting up).  Apart from family weekends this was the first time in two years that I had travelled so far from home and it feels like I've had a mini holiday.  Back to normal this week with usual walks/gym sessions and a couple of friends to meet for coffee.  I will hopefully be going to see my daughter and family this weekend and also have plans in place to see my son and family in a couple of weeks so that will be the first catch ups since Christmas and New Year..  This weekend is also the Big Garden Birdwatch so will also fit that in.

Your cat is a good age and I hope the visit to the vet for the check up went ok. Always a worry when pets are not well. Did you manage to go to your exercise class.  As you say I think this does help to actually keep us moving more easily for as long as is possible.  For me, too, it is a very sociable half and hour class which during the pandemic has been invaluable.  Hope you are having a good week. Take care, best regards  Jules xx

Hi Jules sounds as if you had a lovely weekend with friends and being in lovely surrounding s it is nice to get away with friends and being in touch with nature ,I went to my dementia group Wednesday it's nice to get back with the group like you said it's nice to do normal things for a change my cat is ok for now I have got to take her back on the 8 February for a check up she is eating and cleaning herself so for now I think she is doing well  but if she starts to feel not well I don't think it's fair to keep her alive just for me so if the vet says it's time then I will do the right thing and put her to sleep . I'm going in my friends in a bit for a coffee , also been into town  to do a bit of shopping and pay for my green bin payed for the kids bins as well ,I'm doing the garden bird watch as well not sure what day yet if I'm going out for dinner Sunday will do it Saturday it has forecast rain over the weekend so it might put the birds off if it's bad weather I did manage to go to my exercise class Tuesday which I enjoyed will be there again this week have a lovely week regards Syl x

Hi Jules, sorry you missed going to your daughters but it's better to be safe than sorry I'm sure you will catch up at a later date , what's UTI hope you're feeling better what ever it is .has I'm e mailing you it's throwing it down it's been raining all morning been to marks with my daughter had a coffee while we were there home now for the rest of the day can't even take George out it looks like it going to be raining all day will have to see if there is any films to watch on netflix .I did the bird watch Sunday a few sparrow s the main birds were starlings I even had a crow and a magpie no doves which is unusual I think the results come out in April . I'm at the community centre Monday with my friends we have paid £10 were having a sandwich soup a game of bingo and a raffle I'm looking forward to it think there going to do it once a month so it's something to look forward to .not sure what is happening Sunday we might go out or my son said he might do a dinner will wait for a txt to see what is happening I'm taking mojo to the vets again Tuesday it's only for a check up she seems ok at the moment she eating well and cleaning herself  so I think the vet will just make sure she is comfortable ,i went the doctor yesterday Friday only to have my blood pressure taken by the nurse it's ok she wants to see me again in a couple of month if it's ok she might take me off the extra tablet I'm on fingers crossed  it happens  have a lovely week take care  regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Hope you are having a good week.  I am all well again thank you. UTI (urinary tract infection) cleared up with course of antibiotics.  Fingers crossed I will be at my daughter's birthday celebrations (her birthday is Valentines Day but we she is celebrating the weekend after as the schools will be on half term and it will be less expensive/busy). Thankfully both my daughter and grandson also recovered from Covid and are back at work/school.  I have also finished my week of lateral flow daily testing before going anyway so my routine back to normal today with return to the gym and  catch up with friends for a coffee.  Still able to get out every day for my walk which is helping me get the excess pounds off slowly but surely.

Going out to dinner tomorrow evening and then visiting my son over the weekendso liking having my social life back.

With the mild and dry weather we have down here so far I am also able to potter in the garden and have starting putting a few new hardy plants in.  Crocus and daffodils are beginning to flower and I definitely welcome the sign of Spring being on the way.  Weather permitting hoping to visit Kew Gardens soon as they have just opened their Orchid exhibition and it is always beautiful.

Take care of yourself.Best regards.  Jules x

Hi Jules glad your infection has cleared up and your back to normal and you can attend your daughters special birthday what a lovely day to be born on it's my sister s birthday on the 19th I'm hoping to go to see her some time this week to drop a card off I'm assuming she will be out Saturday so will drop her card off and stay a couple of hours before coming back home.the weather hasn't been too good here we have had a lot of rain and it's been really cold with a lot of high winds so not much chance to get out in the garden it's forecast rain again all weekend I'm hoping I can take George out between the showers otherwise I will be stuck in don't think I'm seeing the kids Sunday my daughter is coming tomorrow Saturday to drop some things off for me ,I went to my community centre on Monday we had soup and a sandwich which was very nice one of my friends won £2 on the bingo and a nother won a basket of goodies unfortunately my friend that won the goodies has since been diagnosed with COVID so we're hoping the rest of us don't get it,I'm going too txt her over the weekend to see how she is . when do you go away I haven't even thought about holiday s this year my friend that I usually go with has booked for bognor Regis she didn't even ask if I wanted to go I wasn't very happy but it's her choice so I'm not sure if I will go anywhere this year.hope you enjoy your weekend with your son have a lovely week regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Looks as though we are in for a spell of changeable weather.  Has been mainly dry here but did have some rain yesterday and more due here in a little while  so getting to the gym early. Spent Friday and Saturday at my sons and we went for a lovely walk whilst the children were at swimming on Saturday morning, seeing deer and many birds along the way.  There was even a rhododendron tree in flower, just beautiful.  Spring flowers are beginning to bloom in the garden and locally and I have a new plant (helebore) waiting to go under my little tree but the ground a little too hard at the moment so is in a large pot flowering well.   After lunch my son and I took the kiddies to the local garden centre to have a treat of chocolate cake and I stocked up on more bird food and a new feeding station which will go into the garden once I have decided how the layout is going to change in a couple of months (my project this year lol).  My daughter had a lovely 40th albeit that she was working but they went out for a meal as a family in the evening and she phoned afterwards.  Next weekend 15 of us will gather to help her celebrate properly and this will be the first time we will all have been together for over 3yrs so fingers crossed everyone is well!

This week is pretty quiet socially for me so the gym will get an extra visit and I will get my walks inbetween the weather.  Hope you have a good week and are able to walk George.  Best regards  Julie x

Hi Jules ,just come in been to marks with my daughter it's throwing it down now I'm sick of this weather all it's doing at the moment is raining and very windy haven't had George out this week because of the weather think everyone is fed up and miserable with it all .went to the community centre Monday for a bite to eat one of my friends still isn't well she hasn't got COVID now but she has got a virus now will ring her later in the week to see how she is, all the bulbs in my garden are coming up as well the do look nice it's a pity the weather is so bad to appreciate them .it has forecast more rain for the week which isn't good as my garden is really muddy I have to be careful not to slip when I go out to feed the birds.not sure what is happening Sunday about dinner we didn't go out last week I'm hoping to go out but it's up to the kids.went to my sister's yesterday 18th to drop a birthday card off as it's her birthday on the 19 th her and her partner are going for a meal Saturday so thought I would drop her card off a day earlier had a few hours with her before I came home. I'm not at my dementia group this week as it's 6 years since hubby died so will go the crem and put some flowers in a vase even though he isn't there I still like to go and put flowers in a vase and look at the book of remembrance has we put a verse in the book for him can't believe 6 years have passed time flies so quickly . hope you enjoy your party with your family to celebrate properly for your daughters 40 th have a lovely week regards Syl x