Hi Julie glad you enjoyed Christmas with the family ,I had a lovely Christmas dinner at my son's stayed over night ,then went out for a boxing day meal it was very nice . there is a lot of colds going round at the moment my son has been full of a cold and his mate they went out Friday for a meal at a local restaurant I haven't seen much of him since Christmas day has he doesn't want me to catch it .to be honest Jules I will be glad when it's all over and we can get back to normal , I've been dog sitting at mine George has been with me since the 29th has his family have gone to Wales till the 2nd he has been company for me , when he first came in he was smelling everything and he started howling just like a wolf at the back door but he's ok now .I hope you enjoy the time with your daughter and have a nice meal I'm on my own New years Eve my neighbour always asks me to go n her's but I prefer to be on my own I've always been on my own since hubby died  I make myself a little buffet have a couple of drinks I stay up and see the new year in with the telly ,it will be sad this year as I usually txt my sister just after midnight to wish her a happy new year not sure what to say to her daughter or partner let's hope this year is better than 2022 for everyone  all the best for next year Jules regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

Happy New Year and hope it is a peaceful and healthy 2023 for you and all the family.

Hope the rest of George's stay went well and it probably feels a bit quiet now he has returned home.  I have never looked after a dog though do enjoy it when my son and daughter visit with their family pets.  My daughter is currently on the look out for someone to look after their dog when they go away this Summer but I definitely would  not want that responsibility.

I was on my own for New Year and this has never bothered me; just another day really. Usually have a few messenger chats with friends and see it in by watching the TV.  Family WhatsApp each other too.  I went to the Crem on New Year's Day as was going to be at my daughter's childminding on the anniversary of hubby's passing.  Very peaceful and spent some time also feeding the ducks on the ornamental pond in the grounds.  Afterwards went for a long walk and lunch out nearby.  My daughter and family picked me up on the 2nd (due to rail strike) as they made their way home from New Year in Devon.  My daughter then drove me home on the evening of the 3rd so a quick but nice catch up once they were in from work.  Now some sort of normality can settle back in and I returned to the gym yesterday and my early morning (pre sunrise) have resumed.  Weather is dull but at least mild so heating not required so today the washing is already done and all the Christmas decorations packed away for another year.  No other plans until next Monday when I am meeting a friend for lunch and New Year catch up.  Am also in the process of trying to arrange a few days away May/June time to enjoy some wildlife photography.  For now I am off out for my next stroll whilst it is dry!  Sending  best wishes for a happy and healthy 2023 and the week ahead.  Take care of yourself.  Jules xx

Hi Jules, glad thinks back to normal now been into town this morning Friday needed a few birthday cards and stamps ,had my usual coffee and tea cake in Costa lovely morning the sun is shining for a change just had George out for his walk ,I did enjoy having him at mine for a few days he is funny he slept with me New years Eve because of the fireworks didn't sleep much has he kept licking my ears lol ..I was on my own New years Eve I did my self a little buffet settled down with George had a couple of drinks and watched the the fireworks in London they were really good and listened to big Ben fetch the new year in . must have been nice to spend time with your daughter and family especially at the beginning of the new year . went to the community centre on Tuesday with my friends my dementia group and my exercise class start next week I've felt a bit lonely with everything stopping for Christmas so I'm looking forward to everything starting up again.hope you enjoy your catch-up with your friend I haven't even thought of holidays for this year my friend is going to book a week away but I don't feel like a week maybe 2or 3 days some where,will see what happens later in the year.where are you thinking of having a few days away?,I'm going in my friends later for a catch up and coffee not sure what I'm doing at the weekend  think I might be going shopping with my daughter Saturday have a lovely week regards Syl x 

Hi Syl, Glad you enjoyed having George keep you company. Has been quiet week as weather lousy fir decent walks. Dropped my phone and have now got a new one as was due an upgrade. Now getting used to new one!! Did meet up with friend and enjoyed lunch out. When her Dad goes home after us Christmas stay we will plan some days out.

Hope you are getting back to your groups as its nice having social life. Laptop now has issues so using phone more. Meeting a friend on Sunday for a walk. We would normally meet after the gym session but gym is closed for the day as they have their awards night and have to travel up to Stafford for it . Enjoy the coming week and hooe this finds you well.Best wishes Jules x

Hi Jules, glad everything is back to normal now ,I'm missing George keeping me company not had him out much this week has the weather is awful nothing but rain some times it doesn't even come light properly , went into town this morning Friday just to get out for a couple of hours ,put my TV on this morning completely dead, tried everything nothing worked ,tried netflix came on no trouble when I came out of it the TV came on weird fingers crossed it's ok now . hope you're getting used to your new phone I hate getting new things it takes me ages to work out how to use them lol ,I enjoyed my dementia group and my exercise class it's nice to meet people again,I'm at the crem Wednesday as it's my dad's birthday so will miss my dementia group ,I'm going to see if I can find my sister's plot I couldn't find it last time so had to put my flowers in a vase cruse never rang me I do miss our chats I think of her every day ,I still wonder if she had gone to the doctor could they have done something I will never know now ,I'm not sure yet but I might be going to a place called Cheshire oaks it's a big shopping centre I haven't been for a while but my daughter is thinking of going Saturday she has asked me to go will be a change not sure what I'm doing Sunday think I'm doing my own dinner not bothered really as it's forecast rain again have a lovely week regards Syl x

Hi Syl

Not sure where the time is going at the moment but the days roll on.  I am sure it must have been strange when George returned home and a nuisance that the weather has been against you taking him for a walk.  Last weekend lots of heavy rain but Sunday was dry so met a friend and we walked, talked and stopped for a cuppa which was nice.  Monday the weather turned cold but dry so I went to the London Wetland Centre in Barnes for around 5hrs.  Loved watched the Otters being fed and then strolled around and popped into the  numerous hides to observe the visiting/resident birds.  Also a lovely soup for my lunch in the cafe there.  Well worth the 90min journey by train/bus to get there.  It has been very cold since but have managed the gym and several walks. Today I am meeting two old workmates for lunch, the first time we have got together since I left in 2020! Tomorrow I go over to my son's in the afternoon for a spot of childminding so he and my daughter in law can go out for a meal with friends.  I will stay over and have quality time with them on Saturday. No other plans in place for next week yet but the gym is my main routine 3 times a week so always somewhere to go Hope you are having a good week.  I am going outside to retrieve the night camera and see what my visiting foxes have been up to. -3 at the moment so more suet pellets and nut kibble to go out for the birds too.  Take care and stay safe when out an about.  Jules xx

Hi Syl,

Hope the funeral went as well as these occasions can and does sound as though the send off was a good one!  Had a nice sleepover with son and family. On Saturday went and watched the grandchildren have their swimming lessons and they are both improving every week so should be more confident by the time the holiday comes around at Easter. We lunched at home and then my son took me to Currys so I could look at/get a new laptop.  At least now when my current one gives up I will have better one up and running.  Need to learn my way around Windows 11 so still using old laptop at the moment lol.  We also went to a couple of furniture showrooms to have a look and try some of the models I am thinking of getting.  He dropped me home afterwards but was a lovely catch up. It has been a very cold week and even though no frost today and 4degs the wind still felt cold when I went to the gym at 9am.   Meeting a friend for coffee tomorrow and then visiting my daughter/family on Saturday as long as the trains run.  Hard to make plans with all the strikes going on but they will come get me if needs me as staying with the children for a few hours on Sunday whilst daughter and son in law attend the darts tournament.  Hope  you had your Sunday dinner cooked for you.  I usually do my own roast meal every week unless away. I do treat myself to a mid-week takeaway so I get one night off from the kitchen lol.   Hope all goes well for you this week. Take care. Jules x

Hi Jules ,yes my neighbour had a good send off his sister put it on Facebook that he was a biker , over 20 bikers turned up and escorted his coffin to the church they even stopped the traffic so the funeral cars all stayed together I have never seen anything like it it was sad with him only being 57. glad you enjoyed your time with your son and you enjoyed watching your grandchildren having there swimming lesson it is nice when they learn to swim I remember mine going to the baths with the school  many years ago now . hope you have mastered your new laptop it's always hard learning how to work something new especially all the phones that are out now I wouldn't have a clue how to use them as they are so sophisticated oh to be young with all this technology out now lol .the weather hasn't been to bad this week bit of rain it's still cold though but have been taking George out on his walks , hope you enjoyed coffee with your friend and seeing  your daughter not heard anything about the trains this week I'm assuming they haven't been on strike this week. I did my own dinner last week as the kids were busy doing other things ,I'm going to a garden centre Saturday with my daughter it's quite a big centre so we will be there a good few hours I'm sure we will have a coffee and maybe have something to eat as well . not sure what I'm doing Sunday will see what happens have a lovely week regards Syl x

Hi Syl,

My old laptop still working so no rush to sort the new one out.  It is just an updated version so should not be too much of an issue.  Just needed an adaptor so I can  upload my photos.  Had a lovely weekend spent with my daughter and family.  We were able to fit in a browsing session at the local furniture shops as am looking to replace my suite. Fish and Chips on Saturday evening and then I was looking after their youngest whilst they attended the PDC Darts quarter finals in Milton Keynes.  Stayed over and came home on Monday morning. Came away with ideas but nothing ordered yet.   Trains were okay both ways. Next strike action tomorrow but wont be using them again until end of the month.  A few weekends away booked with friends in March and May and main holiday is in April.  Plenty to keep me going.  Hoping to get to see my elderly aunt end of this month as out for the day with daughter and family and the animal experience is  just down the road from where my aunt lives.  Has been a good few years since I have seen her face to face but we speak every week on the phone.Hope you enjoyed the garden centre visit with your daughter on Saturday.  I am going to lunch with a friend on Thursday or Friday at one of our local garden centres so expect I will find something for the garden too.  Hope your week goes well.  I am just going out into the garden to leave some leftovers for the foxes.  Take care . Jules x