Hi Garf,

Just wanted to drop you a post to say you're never far from my thoughts and I hope you're doing ok?  (No, I'm not a weird stalker!   )

I think about so many folks on here and the things they're all dealing with on a day to day basis.

Am I right in thinking you've got next week off? Or was it last week?

Either way, if it was last week, hope you had plenty of R and R . . . And if it's next week, hope you get lots of R and R!

Also remember that one of the R's could stand for Retail !! 

Sure your wife would like that one

Hugs to you and your wife, Jo xx

Hi Jo,

Thank you so much, I am touched that I am in your thoughts and I promise I don't think you are a stalker

I am off next week for some much needed R and R and to be honest with the back log of motor racing I have to watch and the golf game on Wednesday I simply won't have time for any retail you-know-what.  It's hard to fit anything else in while I am spending so much time doing absolutely nothing.  I have actually been feeling a little more like myself the last few days since speaking to my councillor on Tuesday but I have no idea whether I am sorting anything out or just going through a good patch, I am just making the most of it for as long as it lasts.

Thanks for the hugs and I send a whole bunch right back to you.

Have a great weekend and don't spend too much .

Garf. xx

Morning Garf

Was good to read the good news about your friend and hope  you will have a great get together in August whilst you are visiting family.  Would also add my good wishes with regards to Jo and I am sure she is aware that all her virtual buddies are keeping her in their thoughts following her recent disappointing news. Big Hugs  Jules x

Hi Garf

Great news about your friend.  Good news is always so welcome.  Hope the weather is good for your trip in August.  Although I am sure it will be a lovely trip anyway seeing family and your friend it always seems nicer when the sun shines.

Jo

Fingers crossed for you.

Gill

Hi Garf,

I am pleased to read about your friends good news, and have to say, you yourself have certainly been due for some. It is quite surprising how things like this make us feel so much better.

But as you say, the good news is watered down by Jo's bad news. She has always shown such a great sense of humour and once told me she thought the N H S should bottle me and prescribe me as a mood enhancer. Not sure I want to be liquidised but appreciated her comment.

Take care Garf and hope to chat again soon, Brian.

Thank you Gill,

It would be a pleasant change if the sun happens to be shining in Wales in August but as you say it will be nice to see family and friends anyway.  I am hoping the weather will be good although I have yet to mention to my wife that my golf clubs will take up significant luggage space in the car.  That's a bridge to be crossed closer to the time.

Brian, I love Jo's comment about bottling you up as a mood enhancer but obviously that wouldn't work - what with all the people who suffer nut allergies these days.

Thank you both.

Garf.

Hi Garf

Now come on. if your wife needs to take all her bits and bobs (never met a woman who didn't) then you need room for your sports equipment.  Oh yes, I have had sunshine in Wales (many moons ago though!!).  Hope you got a game this weekend (I have spent all day in the back garden (hubby spent most of it asleep in front of the tv!).  We are now both on our laptops with 20/20 cricket on the tv so hopefully a pleasant evening over roast lamb to come!! Will reply to PM soon when have gathered my little grey cells.  In the meantime have a good week (day at a time remember).  Hugs from Jules (semi-stalker!!)

Hi Garf,

Havent seen your name crop up on here for a while and just wondered how you are keeping. Hope you are okay.

Best wishes, Brian

Hi Brian,

So sorry for being more than a little tardy with this response but with the way things have been in recent months I have severely neglected the site and everybody who uses it.  I hope you and Mrs Brian are well and how is your Dad doing?  Last time we spoke I seem to remember he wasn't that well?

I promise to try not to be such a stranger in the future, work and demons permitting.

All the best to you Brian,

Garf.

----------------------------

Jo if you are reading this I will be in touch soon and I am so touched that you said you think of me often,  I have worried about you too and have little excuse for being so quiet lately.

Take care my stalker

Garf. xx

Hi Garf,

You have no need to apologise at all. It's just that not having seen your name on here for a while I was a little concerned.

Dad is home now although very weak and spoke to him on the phone a few days ago, something I didn't think I would ever be able to do again the way he was when in hospital. It looked vary bad for him. But he is a fighter and doesn't give up thank god. So proud of him.

You take care of yourself Garf, best wishes, Brian.

Hi Garf,

It's great to see your name come up again. I had a pm from your personal stalker the other day(Jo) and she mentioned that she looks out for you.

I hope life hasn't been treating you badly even if it has treated you busily. ( I know that feeling , lol ) .

I have noticed that the site goes a little quiet from time to time from those that have been on here for a couple of years.

The real question is where does time go???

Anyway this is one of two days off for me and I had better get on with todays project which is one particulr area of the garden before the weather changes.

Take care Garf

lots of good wishes

Annabel. xx

Hi Garf

Promise I will pm back soon but have a few issues 'indoors' today to get sorted before I can give full attention to my 'in box' .  Good to see your forum buddies are rallying behind you and rest assured you are in my thoughts as well. Look after yourself and hope weather holds for the sport/exercise.  Hubby currently struggling to stay awake through final free practice so may  have to give him a nudge for qualifying.  Best regards  Jules x

Hi Garf

Promise I will pm back soon but have a few issues 'indoors' today to get sorted before I can give full attention to my 'in box' .  Good to see your forum buddies are rallying behind you and rest assured you are in my thoughts as well. Look after yourself and hope weather holds for the sport/exercise.  Hubby currently struggling to stay awake through final free practice so may  have to give him a nudge for qualifying.  Best regards  Jules x

Hi everyone,

After figuring out how to re-navigate the site -(you wouldn't believe I am on a computer course would you?) - I have found this thread I started to update with some sad news I got this morning.

My Brother-in-law in North Wales lost his Father to cancer yesterday evening.  I knew Len very well as I used to work for him in his building company but also cutting Christmas trees every year for about sixteen years.  He was a good and kind man with a mischievous sense of humour.  He used to try and often succeed in embarrassing me on many occasions.

He will be missed greatly and it also means that my three nieces have now lost both their Grandfathers to cancer.

Take care everyone!

Garf.

Morning Garf

Was sad to read your latest piece of family news.  Always brings back lots of memories (hopefully good ones) of how much people mean to you. I only ever had one nan (rarely seen) as my other grandparents were dead before I was born.  Always grateful that my own children had my Dad around until six years ago (hubby's parents were older when they had their kids and his Dad died the year before our first child was born though his Mum lived till our daughter was 10 (she was the best Mother in Law I could have had).  My nan died when I was 18 but I had never really known her that well (might explain why my Mum's character is distant too).  I am sure your brother in law will appreciate your support just now.  Jules x  p.s. glad  you have found your way back to the forum.

Hi Garf,

Really sorry to read your post about your brother in law's dad. I hope you can draw on all the good memories that you have about him to get you through this terribly sad time.

Take care, Garf.

Thinking about you and sending hugs, Jo xx

Hi Garf,

I too like Jo and Jules am sorry to read about the loss of another of your relatives to cancer. It does seem to me that some families are badly affected by cancer.

I know all to well how this feels having lost my mother, grandmother an aunt, mother in law and two step mothers all to this evil disease.

Sending kind thoughts and best wishes, Brian.

Thank you all very much!

Again it's at times like these that I wish I didn't live so far away although I know there is little I could for people if I was with them.  Obviously memories of Len are at the forefront of my mind right now but knowing what his son is going through I can't help feeling a little like I did when I lost my Dad.  It's only natural I suppose but this is certainly a difficult time, perhaps made more difficult by my already fragile state of mind.

Garf.

Hi Garf

Its never easy when we suffer another loss, whether to cancer or not, especially when you are already feeling fragile as memories, good and bad tend to fight with each other.  No quick solutions but as before try to take small steps through your day and if this is still keeping you low please re-visit your GP - you cannot keep coping alone without help/support.  It is important for you to accept that some things are just outside your own control when it comes to illness (easier said than done I know).  You need to look after yourself and in turn you will be stronger for those around you.Take care forum buddy.  Jules 

Hi Jules,

Thank you so much for your support and I promise to take your advice to heart.  I have to admit to being surprised and maybe dissapointed at how much this latest  piece of bad news has affected me.  Those blasted demons are certainly out in force at the moment

I spoke to Claire this afternoon and we are hoping she can make it for a visit at the end of October but I will get in touch with my gp before then as I know it can take a long time to arrange a counselling appointment.

Sending hugs to you!

Garf. xxx

Hi GARF

We haven't spoke much, but I wanted to say

I'm so sorry for your recent loss x

Thinking of u and ur family

Thank you very much Mylittlesunshine.

Feeling a little better at the moment although work is a little stressful this week, particularly yesterday and today.  Looking forward to a few days at home next week.

Garf.

Hello Garf

Though I would let you know I am keeping you in my thoughts on your own thread (in case you get fed up reading mine).  Hope the help you are receiving locally is proving useful and that work is not being too much of a pain (wishful thinking no doubt).  As to Christmas we came to agreements years ago that 'presents' were limited to 'small token gifts' to help everyone's pocket' and at our age the company is more important. Have kids, grandchildren and sister in law for lunch this coming Sunday so expect to find our more re Isle of Man relocation (contracts now exchanged on sale and purchase so things moving ahead).

Look after  yourself and Mrs G.  Jules x