Hi Annie, Sue and Carol

Just a quick post.....Everything is ok at the moment, Dave is doing a little more each day and I'm baking like mad to tempt him to eat.  He is doing well and eating slightly larger meals each day, so that's good. Not putting much weight on though.  He actually went into the garden today to do a bit of deadheading (he does like gardening).  Whilst he was out there, one of the paramedics who took him back to hospital walked past with her dog.  She stopped to have a chat and find out how he was.  She has stopped me before as well to ask how he was.  What a star.

Talking about the 'bad old days', there was an article on tv last night about families struggling to sleep their three children in a 3 bed roomed house (they were trialling triple bunk beds).  My aunt and uncle brought up six daughters in a small, three bed roomed house and thought they were lucky to have such a nice house.  I often stayed there for sleepovers to add to crowd!! Yes, I remember scraping ice off the inside of the Windows in our first house.  It was soooo cold.

Carol, I hope your stair lift and boiler get sorted.

Take care everyone,

Julie xx

Hi all, at 6.15 am I had a Unicorn in my bed whispering,  Trick or Treat!!  We snuggled for half an hour then the I pad was fetched  and whilst I tried to snooze Justin's House was watched, for all of those with little ones you'll know this is Not a quiet programme.   I give up and go down stairs by which time Ella is now dressed as a Pirate, move my anniversary flowers and promptly break a beautiful glass candlestick that Lisa bought me.  So we now have bare footed people being told to stand still, Ella asking if she can have coco pops and Alfie trying to show me card tricks and it's not even 8.30!  I don't think I'm going to make my 70th, I'll have had a nervous breakdown by then!  The heating is fixed, the stair lift had loads of grease applied so paper towels all over stopping the grease dripping on the carpet.  I escape at 9.30 with a coffee and the doorbell rings, who the Hell is that I mutter, it's my friend Ann with flowers and a card as she is off to Pembrokeshire for a week.  I've tried to put them in a vase but hubby decides to make porridge for us all which really means me as I do all the fetching and carrying!  So they're eating, Fayes having a shower and I'm huddled in a corner after climbing over all the toys, they've only been here since 4pm yesterday!   So forgive me if I disappeare for a couple of days,  I'm rather busy!!  Julie it's lovely that Dave is doing things, Sue I'm so sorry all my posts have disappeared as I liked reading them back and Annie keep you Muffin safe (that sounds quite rude).  Love to you all xx

Hi Ladies,
Carol, I've yet to see a quiet children's programme.  I watch Giggle and Hoot or PJ Masks when Bree's children are here.  Do you actually go Trick or Treating tonight, or is just dressing up and novelties that you have.  Either way I'm sure your grandchildren would have a ball.  We didn't have anybody knocking for halloween, although yesterday when I was out I did notice a couple of houses decorated.  Was Alfie the unicorn?  I would have thought he would be the pirate and Ella the unicorn.  Little girls always like unicorns.  What a shame your Candlestick was broken.  You would have been quick to clean that up before anyone ended up with glass/splinters in their feet.  You'll make your 70th but you might be worn out by the time you get to celebrate it.  You talking about your doorbell has reminded me mine needs a new battery/batteries.  Will have to figure out how to do that, as the last 2 weeks it's been telling me I need to replace battery.  I don't suppose it will last that much longer. And I'd be lucky to hear someone knocking on the door.  It's good the heating and chair lift is fixed.  How lovely that your friend dropped in with flowers and a card, I presume for your birthday.   We will understand if you disappear for a couple of days.  Fancy putting rude thoughts in my mind.  It hadn't occurred to me until I read your post, and then laughed so hard I nearly spat out the mouthful of my cup of tea.  They do say laughter is the best medicine.
Julie, That's wonderful that Dave is feeling well enough to get out in the garden. 
Annie, that would have been worrying when Muffin ran off on you.  
i'm to go back to listening to Enya.  Love her music.
Take care, Love to all.  Sue xx

Hi girls,  I survived yesterday!   I took the kids to town and we bought Ella a puppy in a cage, as it was th nearest thing to a real pet.  Then we went to the real pet shop and saw a white parakeet called Blue (I know!);He loved his neck tickled but the kids were scared he might bite, so we left him and went to buy peanuts and he started screeching at the top of his voice until I went back again! Then we went climbing and trampolinin  until tea time.  The kids got dressed up, Alfie as a vampire, he looked absolutely brilliant and scared Auntie Sue to death as she didn’t know he was behind her.  We had a spider Web cloth and eyeballs all over it, candles all down the middle and hubby said could he put the light on! A chorus of NO O'S put paid to that.  Then the children and I went trick or treating ; Alfie and Ella had juice and I had Grandma juice (wine! ).  By nine we were all exhausted and by ten I was in bed.6.30am Ella's up again and Faye takes pity and I'm left to sleep! ! So I'll see you soon.xx

/Hi Ladies,
Carol, It sounds like you had a wonderful Halloween.  The tabloe would have looked great, and no, you couldn't put the lights on and spoil the effect. No at lall surprised you were ready for bed at 10.00.  It was fairly quiet here today apart from me having Eli this afternoon.  I have a busy day tomorrow, friends from where Neil worked are coming to visit about lunchtime, then my brother and his wife are coming closer to tea time.  He said we should go out for tea.  It will be good to see him and Tina.  

Have fun, Take care.  Lots of love.  Sue xx

Hello all.  My, you have had a busy Halloween Carol.  It does sound like domestic happiness with hubby making porridge and all.  So pleased you have trick or treating in your area; lovely for everyone.  

Sue, I don't know a lot of Enya's music but there is one song that starts "Who can say where the road goes" that I absolutely love.  I think that she has done something involving playing a theremin (?sp) - a strange instrument.  How are you coping Sue?  I know you have good friends (thank goodness) but imagine you have an ongoing ache.  Are you sleeping okay?  Sorry to ask personal questions in a public forum but I imagine it  is generally just we few regulars that chat on this thread (unless Carol knows differently!)

We had a Chinese takeaway yesterday evening - every now and again we spoil ourselves.  I have to say that I am not really a foodie person but I do like the crispy shredded beef with chilli (with noodles).  I am an "eat to live" rather than a "live to eat" person.  Paul eats just about anything, same as the dog.  I can assure everyone my muffin is quite safe (sigh!)  Annie

Hi Annie,
That Enya song you like is "Only Time".  I hadn't heard of a thermin, but after doing a search I wouldn't be surprised if she did.  Overall I'm coping quite well.  Lots of friends calling in and phoning checking on me.  Some days are harder than others.  The number of times I've gone to say something to Neil, and then remember.  It's to be expected.  I'm sleeping ok now, took a couple of weeks but I have had nights were I've slept 8 hours straight.  It really does make everything easier when you've had enough sleep.  Keeping busy also helps.  Doing a major clean as while Neil was sick so much didn't get done, the basics did, but not much else.  It's a big house so will take a while, I'm not trying to get it all done in a couple of days. I couldn't even if I tried. The cats keep me company too, Cookie talks to me all the time, so even when I'm here by myself I really don't feel as if I am.
Happy that Muffin is quite safe, it's always a worry when they run off, even worse when you are near a busy road.  Mr Higgins snuck out the front door a few weeks ago, he didn't go far, but I had to ring Nick to get him for me.  He got underneath the car and wouldn't come out.  He was filthy, he's a long haired white bundle of fluff.  I got most of the dirt/grease off with baby wipes then Cookie cleaned the rest.  I wasn't happy with him.  My daughter has nicknamed him turd cat, it suits him at times.  He's gorgeous, just quite naughty.
Take care.  Love Sue xx

Hi my girls, it sounds like we've all been pretty busy, what with naughty cats and dogs, I made the children laugh as they asked If I had a pet, yes I told them he's called Grandad and he takes a lot of looking after, the only thing I don't have to do is walk him!  They thought that was so funny and told him, I'm not sure if he was as amused!!  So a quieter day yesterday,  we went to the park and hubby took Alfie golfing and for lunch.  My little Unicorn crept in about 6.30 am telling me I was snoring and the only thing that stopped me was her cuddles! !  I let Mummy have a lie in and then we opened my main gifts from all if them so I can wear them tonight.   Beautiful dancing stars necklace and earrings from Swarovski and a card saying I was a lovely Mum and a wonderful Grandma,  it quite brought tears to my eyes, it's also brilliant that my man is here to see it as many times I doubted he would be.   He's exhausted and has gone for a nap whilst Ella is out visiting Fayes old school friend and her children.   So we're off out for a special tea and the cake serves 24, there's only 8 of us and poor Ella's not able to eat it due to the egg allergy,  so a diet of cake coming up, more zumba classes needed!  So Sue I think you are coping marvellously as it's such early days, my motto,  keep busy, it stops you thinking too much.  Annie, I'm the same as you I eat to live!  They all go home tomorrow,  it is going to be a wrench as it's been lovely.   See you tomorrow.  Xx

Hi you lovely girls. Not been on lately. Been so low and feeling sorry for myself. You would think after pet scan showing cancer free in Sept and then being told I’m in remission I would be over the moon. I am but at the same time so weak and aching and low. Don’t understand myself. The hair is starting to grow back but slowly and grey but it’s hair. Eyebrows not too bad. I think four walls have got me down too. Got to try and get out a little more. Carol. Happy birthday. Hope you get really spoiled. Sue so glad you are sleeping better. I’m sure it really helps you. I lost my husband Dennis 12 years ago and think of him and talk to him every day so I know just how you feel. Julie glad Dave is a little stronger and enjoying the garden again. Annie hope you ok. Lots of love and hugs to you all xxx