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

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.

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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

It's good to see your name too Annabel and I also wonder where the time goes!

I was talking to friend at work about her Dad who had been diagnosed with cancer but is now fine after treatment.  I couldn't believe that it has been a year since his operation but then when this "where does the time go" feeling comes over me I remember my brother-in-law's theory.  When we were two years old, one year is exactly half your life however when we get to, say fifty then one year is a fiftieth of your life.  Sorry I may have just depressed the entire cancer chat community with that one.

Anyway I am going to clear off now so don't work too hard during your days off -- I know I wont!

xxx

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Thanks for that Jules,

Have to admit that I missed practice 3 myself as we went to B&Q to buy a replacement outside wall light that got broken when the wind blew the back door open and it knocked the old one off the wall. Ah the joys of being a home owner!

Anyway no rush just message when you are able and like Annabel don't work too hard although telling you that may be a fruitless use of my finger tips.

Please take care.

Garf. xx

Hi Brian,

You told me not to appologise and so I start this message by saying I am sorry!

So sorry that you reached a point where you thought you would never speak to your Dad again and so I am happy for you that his fighting spirit has kept him with you and you are still able to talk to him.  I remember the last time I spoke to my Dad which was a little strange as, because of a particularly bad turn he had a couple of days before he died his accent had actually changed.  I don't know why but I could tell from speaking to him that he was getting increasingly frustrated as I had to get him to repeat himself a couple of times.  I don't know if he realized at the time how near the end he was - I hope not!

Anyway best wishes to you and your good lady wife Brian and as I said I will try not to stay away for so long.

Garf.

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.

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.