Hi Carol. Thank you for your kind words. Pleased you enjoyed your birthday.  I agree with restaurant owner you certainly don’t look your age. I will keep in touch more with you lovely lot. It helps a lot. Lots of love xx

Night, night Gloria. Xx

Despite a late night the little Unicorn was up at 6.30 am again and apparently my snores were as loud as an aeroplane up in the sky (it must have been the prossecco! ).  So she sits on my stomach, tells me how much she loves me and wants to stay for another one hundred million years.so as you can imagine when they leave, there are sobs and tears.  Just as they leave Grandad spots the brand new Nintendo on the table so I have to dash after the car to give it to them.  Hubby breathes a sigh of relief but ten minutes later is complaining about how quiet it is!  We do miss them but I will be glad to sleep beyond  6.30.  My cake was gorgeous with loads of soft iced flowers on the top, I felt so sorry that Ella couldn't have any.  A friend has just texted about the theatre on Tuesday,  we're going to see Dracula , shall we have a meal before hand,   I've had to decline,  at this rate I won't get past the stair lift. !  Gloria , if you log on, join our chat instead of looking at the four walls!  I seem to have tidied up so I can sit down, He tty the hoover has had the eyeballs removed from her inner workings, Big Ted has left me after 44 years of living with me, he's moved down South!  The story behind Big Ted, my Dad had to move back down South due to his naughty shenanigans with his secretary , who then followed him.  We went to visit when Faye was one and a half, Dad had bought her (the Secretary who he then married ) a Teddy bear and she wouldn't let Faye touch it!  I was so mad hubby and I went to Hamleys toy store, bought the biggest bear we could find (it was as big as her!)  So hence Big Ted!  I am resting for the rest of the day.  Cake and prossecco for tea and Strictly,  BLISS.   

Hi.  Carol, I thought your birthday was on the 7th November (from the post where hubby was being nasty to you) or perhaps  you had an early party while the family was there?  Whatever, glad you had a good time.  and happy birthday whenever it was/is. Alcohol keeps you young (or I may have just made that up).  Gloria, hang on in there; it will get better but I know that is not much consolation when you are feeling rough now.  We seem to be already in the build-up to Christmas if the shops have anything to do with it.  I have to get family presents early as people are all over the place.  Suits me as I like to have a quiet Christmas at home.    What about you Sue, are you going to family?  I know it will be a difficult one for you.  Annie

Yes Annie it's the 7th but no school holidays so everyone came early!  Alcohol keeps you pickled so yes it keeps you young!    We haven't discussed Christmas yet, I like to get my birthday out the way first.  Can you remember when it actually started on Christmas Eve?  We even used to work Boxing Day for goodness sake!   When we were out last night hubby asked about Christmas lunch, fully booked since March.   There is no way I'm going out for Xmas lunch, someone will take pity on us!  Last lot of washing to go in and that's it!!  See you tomorrow x

Hi Ladies,

Been a full day today.  I went to friends for what I thought was coffee and maybe afternoon tea, but it was actually a bbq lunch, which was good.  Good company and nice food.  left there at 4.15 as my brother and his wife were arriving about 4.30.  Timed it well.  As I came around the corner I see my brothers car still with brake lights on, so I pull into my drive and get out and go to his car, he hadn't realised I'd arrived home.  We all come inside and had coffee, chat for a couple of hours then go to one of the Chinese restaurants here for a lovely.  I'm still full.  Tina had made one of her desserts (Leche flan) a traditional Filipino dessert, similar to a creme caramel but way richer, and really delicious, so we come home and have for dessert and more coffee.  So I'm still full and getting very tired.

Carol, you had a wonderful birthday and received some wonderful presents.  I hadn't wished you Happy Birthday yet as I knew it technically wasn't till the 7th (Wed).  Happy Birthday for Wednesday.  Did you wear the black bardot top you bought or something else.  It was a shame Ella couldn't eat any of your cake, but it leaves more for you to eat now that everyone has gone.  You are so lucky that Norman was able to celebrate your birthday with you.  I'm not looking forward to mine at all.  Actually it was funny today, I went to friends for a bbq lunch (didn't realise it was lunch) we were talking aboutg ages.  Jo had bought a pair of bathers and they gave her a seniors discount, she said she didn't  know whether to be happy or not, it meant a $20 discount but she said she was only 52.  I then said she was 10 years younger than me and she was surprised and didn't think I was that old.  I was happy about that.  And as Gloria said you don't look 70 in your photo.  It is great when family and grandchildren come to visit/stay but always a relief when they've gone but it always seems so quiet after all the noise and activity.  I love the story of Big Ted, but I'm sure he'll love it down south.  I'm assuming with Ella.  

Gloria, I would imagine in time you will feel better.  It's still only early days yet.  I know from Neil's treatments it took him months before he started to feel good again.  Go with a girlfriend or someone even if it's just for coffee, it gets you out of the house.  Hang in there and chat to us, hopefully we can cheer you up a bit.

Annie, I'm not sure what is happening yet at Christmas, I do know it's not here, where we have had it the last few years.  Bree has asked me, Nick and Deana to go there.   I'll wait and see what Nick and Deana are doing first.  I would prefer to stay here, but I'm not looking forward to it either way.  The girls won't be happy if I did that.  It just won't be the same no matter what I do.

Take care all,  Love Sue xx

Hi all. Had better day today. Not very exciting but went to Dr for Flu jab. My daughter came with me and we taxied there but walked home. Made cuppa and then got in garden. Emptied some baskets and put away some pots in shed for winter. Not a lot but felt so much better. Tired and aching now. Just taken some painkillers but feel I’ve made a start. Going out for lunch with my daughter tomorrow. Watched Christmas films this afternoon. Don’t know why really cause I think Christmas starts too soon. Used to be nothing in shops until around the 1st December. Supermarket Christmas adverts started too I see. Think they spoil it doing all this too soon. I’m probably old fashioned but I love tradition and how things used to be. It’s very much money wise now. Hope everyone had good day and stayed warm. The wind is getting up here. My younger daughter Sally and her husband and family are inIreland for the weekend and she said the weather is dreadful there. My eldest daughter Debbie and her husband are flying for the Cricket the other side of India, can’t think of the islands name. The weather will be warmer there . Lots of love Gloria xxx

Hi Gloria , I love pottering in my garden it makes me happy and you feel you've achieved something.   My daughter helped me put the garden chairs away and tidied the garage a little bit, these are the difficulties of not having a man able to help.  That's a long way to go for a cricket match!  Very dark here today and windy so stayed home and ate cake!  Lisa rang and we had a lovely chat about next weekend as we're going to see the Lion King at the Lyciem theatre in London, this will be the first time hubby will be on his own all day for months and months!  Each day should be a little better for you, onwards and upwards to us all!  Love, love, xx

Dear Carol

Happy birthday for Wednesday.  You look amazing, more importantly you are amazing.  For all you do for your family and for us here on this blog, thanks and have a wonderful birthday.  Enjoy the Lion King, it's fantastic.  We saw it on our silver wedding anniversary (a long time ago!).  I bet it's even better now.

Sue, Annie and Gloria, I hope you are all ok and remember if you aren't, tomorrow is another day.  You might just feel that little bit better.  We're all here for you.

Dave is still doing well, getting stronger every day.  I'm trying hard not to think about the next stage - the operation.  

Much love

Julie xxx