Hello all.  Have not been posting much on the forum the last few days - every now and again I feel I have lost the plot and cannot think of anything I can say which sounds remotely sincere so I know I have to take a break.  I am glad I came back to this part of the forum at least - poor little Eli - he really has been having a rough time; I hope he is coming out the other side of this.  You know what annoys me about men; they blame us for every little thing that goes wrong - I realise now that if (being men) they don't do anything themselves they don't do anything wrong because they just don't do anything!   I went up to Streatham, near where I live, this afternoon to get some bits and pieces that were needed for Christmas.  There was a bloke sitting in the car park begging for money; I often give bits and pieces but didn't have any cash on me at the time.  Anyway I did my shopping passing other blokes begging along the way.  On my way back to the car I saw the bloke from the car park approaching another of the begging community and having a discussion about tactics.  Bloody people.  I don't mind helping out anybody who is really in need but when people behave like this it affects all manner of people who are genuinely in need.  Sue, I have a large calendar on the kitchen wall where all appointments etc are written for both of us otherwise it all falls on me to remember everything and I just don't want the responsibility.   Glad you are feeling a bit betteer now Carol.  Sue, this must be a difficult time of year for you despite your bright posts.  Annie

Hi Ladies, So glad the Dr has seen Norman, it really is important to keep him healthy.  Despite him saying he wasn't ill, I hate to say it, but we really do know better most of the time.  We don't get Michael McIntyre's show here, but I have watched so many of his clips on YouTube, they are so funny.  Mel and Troy have called the baby Savannah.  She certainly is a big baby  and nearly 22" long too.  Mine were all tiny in comparison between 6lb 1oz and 6lb 7oz.  When I had Bree there was a set of twins born and 1 of the twins was bigger than Bree.  Not surprised you are worn out tonight with your disturbed and broken sleep last night.
Eli came home late this afternoon.  His bath went well and his burns are healing well.  He has an appointment at the Children's hospital on Monday and they will check and dress his burns.  He is doing well, 

Annie, I'm finding it hard with Christmas, It just doesn't feel like  Christmas, and I just don't seem to be able to get into the Christmas spirit, I've done the tree, bought presents, sent cards, but really only because it's what we do, it's expected.  I keep telling myself it's Eli's first Christmas, it's special, or should be.  It's going to be very different without Neil.
I got some bad news earlier today.  My eldest daughter Cass's, mother in law Janet, is in hospital and not expected to come home.  She had breast cancer maybe 15 years ago but about 6 years ago it had returned to her bones, lung, and liver.  She has done really well until recently, but is going downhill very quickly, and  they were told if anyone wanted to see her they should do it now.  It's just so sad at anytime but now just seems to make it worse.  

Take care all, lots of love.  Sue xx

Hi girls, I think hubby is glad I called the doctor,  he just doesn't want to be bothered with all the hoo ha of phoning,  driving and waiting in a full surgery getting everyone's ailments.   We are a lot happier these last few days and today he's ordered me a new watch to match my birthday jewellery,  he said I've got lots now , so I said I'm worth it, yes he says you definitely are.  We've popped to hand post Xmas cards to friends in our old village,  he's come back in a really cross mood due to  all his male friends moaning about the year they've had , Ray an old work mate tells him he's had necrosis of the bone, a new replacement for his knee ,  is due a hip replacement and the year ha been wasted, I pipe up yes we were like that last year with chemo and radiotherapy,  he shuts up!  Sue, I'm so happy Eli is home where he should be and is on the mend.   My Mum died on the 29th December a few years ago, it does bring you down, I've done nothing to the house yet but am getting everything down this weekend.   I think you are marvellous doing the decorating,  as you say it's Eli's first Christmas,  that is special.   Annie, I know exactly what you mean,  in this hot summer s bloke sat In a sleeping bag under the viaduct, asking for money for a hot drink to warm him up, he got short shift from me!  I have posted on some forums posts but I notice that a lot don't acknowledge your thoughtful response,  that's obviously their choice but I do feel that with everything going on in my life,  it's time wasted.   But those who thank you for your help are worth it.  Love to you all, Carol xx 

Hi girls. Carol I do hope you are starting to feel better now and good that Norman has seen the Dr. Lovely hubby buying you your watch. You are certainly worth it. I’ve always loved Christmas but it’s tinged with sadness when you lose the one you love. I’ve got a wonderful loving close family. Three daughters, six grandchildren all grown up now and three precious baby great grandsons. I wish with all my heart that my Dennis was still here to see how they have grown up. So proud of them all. Sue it’s a hard time for you I know. The first anniversary of everything is hard but I am glad little Eli is home and on the mend. Take comfort from your family. Julie hope Dave is still doing well. Annie hope Paul’s chest trouble better now. So very cold today. Went out to breakfast with Debbie and Cathy my daughters. Went to local garden centre. It was about 9 30 and so busy. Almost all pensioners.think we all eat out a lot more now than we used to. Met up with friends from a bereavement group at the local hospice yesterday. We have stayed friends for 12 years since we met up through losing our other half. We have until recently held coffee mornings and held garden parties and bought televisions and furniture for a visitors room at the Hospice. Now however we are none of us getting younger and health probs but like to keep in touch. Lit candles in the chapel there and had a few tears but then went out to lunch and had a laugh together and a glass or two. Did me good to get out. Takes my mind off stuff. Dr says my Cystitis is coming and going due to low immune system and has given me a prescription to keep by me if it starts again. Thanks for the petro jelly and hot water bottle advice Carol. Going to freeze again tonight they say. I went round the garden like a mad woman yesterday covering all my tub plants with fleece. Don’t know how the poor little birds survive . The seeds and fatballs are going ike mad. Love to you all . Gloria xxx

Hi Ladies, Going to keep this short today.  It is storming here, Lots's of thunder, lightning, heavy rain.  It's a shame I didn't empty the rain gauge before it all started.  Flooding in some areas, none here.  Eli is doing really well.  But I've woken up with a sore throat and terrible cough, I sound like a seal.  Hopefully it is quite a bit better by Tuesday when I have Eli.  Don't want to give it to him,.

Glad to see you're all doing well.

Take care, lots of love.  Sue xx

Oh poor Sue,  get better soon and wrap up warm, I'm pleased Eli is doing well at least that's a relief for you, it's 2 degrees here and I went for a  haircut then came home. 

  I wrapped up warm, swept the leaves up, washed the smelly bin out and was frozen! Sue my sister in law came and picked up the presents again so Luke can post them, what  a farce, they've done miles before they get there!  Hubby  has gone to the golf club to see old friends and try the new simulator out, at least he'll be warm.  I've got  a new hairdresser as I didn't have time to drive to town to my regular one.   However her assistant left without notice  and she's on her own,  my old one always took my coat,  made me coffee and gave me great magazines to read.  Today I waited nearly half an hour, rock music blaring away, she then tells me to sit in the  chair but had left all the other two people's hair on the floor. , it was disgusting and I had taken my new Radley handbag out for it's first run out and I hung on to it like a baby !  She then got the hairdryer out and blew it all away round my navy suede boots, I didn't leave a tip!!  I had decided to go shopping afterwards but I was so behind in time I abandoned the idea.  So tomorrow we are supposed to have snow and high winds,  oh what joy.  Love Carol xx 

Chris (Grandma 77)  I've sent you a link via our private messages .  Take a look, it may help a little.   Love Carol 

The cough is getting worse today and he doesn't look well.  It's very hard to tell what is happening so I try to suppress my worries.   It's horrible here, , freezing,  windy and dark but I need to get some food and go to Tesco , freeze my backside off lugging it in the house,, hubby says he'll hold the ladders while I get the decorations down, it's even colder in the garage !  I try to put the tree together but the base is missing, back out to the garage without disturbing him, find the base and our electric door won't shut!  ! scuttle across the lawn in my slippers but Debbie says Norman is in York so she'll help, it's now snowing and dark, neither of us can winch it shut, poor hubby has to come back out and do it, see I tell him you do come in handy! I've just had a glass of wine,  put the tree up, shifted the furniture so it fits and I am now exhausted,  it's the busiest day I've had in two weeks!  Beef curry,  Strictly final, more wine and I'm done.   Love to you all xx

Hi Ladies,
I've had a relaxing day today, spoken for hours on the phone to a couple of girlfriends.  Eli is still doing well.  Our low tonight is still well over your temp of 2 degrees.  A low of 13 tonight and mid 20's tomorrow.  Showers still lingering though.  The spectacular lightshow we've had the previous 2 nights has passed.
I don't feel too bad, it's just a cold I think, the cough is the worst of it along with sneezing.  Yesterday I did some gardening and pulled weeds, I like to pull then after rain, nice and easy to get out.  I'd be going back to your regular hairdresser.  I hope at least the new one did a good job with your hair.  Mine always make me a cup of tea/coffee with 2 bickies, and has some great magazines to read, although we usually just chat.  Keep an eye on Norman's cough, you certainly don't want him getting any worse.  After all that I would have been wondering if it was worth doing the tree, but it does make it feel like Christmas. It would have been your busiest day in a couple of weeks.
Cass's mother in law Janet passed away Thursday morning, so will be going to her funeral on Thursday this week.  A 3 hour plus drive each way.  Found out today another funeral Monday that I should go to but not sure I will.  At least Monday's is closer only 1 1/2 hours each way.    Both had cancer, it's so sad.  It's an awful disease. 

Hope everyone is doing as well as they can.  Take care and love to all.  Sue xx