Dear girls. I've been missing for a while because I haven't had my own device.  The last time I posted was on his I pad and without my permission my privacy was compromised.  So I will be changing my user name and will no longer use my photo.  I will let you know when I have done this.  Love to you all.  Carol x

Dear all my new username will be Dor06 and the butterfly logo. X

Oh dear, so sorry everyone has been having a rough time.  Paul is driving me nuts; I know he has some brandy stashed somewhere which doesn't help with his balance problems.  I had to drag him upstairs last night  I weigh just under 10 stone; he weighs more like 12 stone and I am frightened in case he falls on to Muffin.  Actually, we had not had a bad evening, laughing at some silly TV programmes until late.  Then I said I was going up to bed; he said he would be going to bed too.  Two hours later he was still downstairs lying on the settee. and I had to help him upstairs yet again (2.30am by this time) and try to drag him into a reasonable sleeping position so that he would not fall onto the floor.  He has stayed in bed today.  He has told me he doesn't have any inhalers; doesn't know what happened to the last one he had.  Men!  (He has just called downstairs to say he would like a takeaway and could I order it.  Actually I fancy a Chinese takeaway too so I will get something delivered.)  Muffin has improved following expensive work by the vet.  Still it was reassuring that there is nothing major wrong; his tummy was painful so I got some tins of chicken dog food for poorly tummies and he is becoming his old self again.    Sorry to moan but it is great to have somebody to whom I can moan.  I know I am not  being very fair to you guys or anyone else but I am worried and p.....d off at the same time!  Annie

PS Carol, I am so sorry you are having IT problems.  What has happened?  Have noted your last post.

Annie. It's bad enough when you're married having to cope with illness but it's not fair on you.  I am pleased Muffin is better especially when your pet is your companion.  I don't want you squashed at the bottom of the stairs can't you just leave him to sleep where he falls!  I'm hoping to catch up with everyone when my new user name is in place and I can chat more freely.  Xx

Hi Ladies,

Annie, I'm not sure I would class myself as organised.  How is Muffin now, feeling better and eating again I hope.  It's always worrying when our pets aren't well. I've got to take Mr/ Higgins to the vets in a couple of weeks for his shots.  That's going to be fun, he hates the carrier, the car and the vets.  I have to laugh though as much as he hates the carrier, last time I took him he was very quick and obliging getting back in it to come home. At least once we get home again he doesn't sulk as one of our previous cats used to do. As for Paul I would leave him on the settee.  Cover him so he doesn't get cold.  It would be very difficult trying to get him upstairs., and I'm not really sure you should be expected to do all you do for Paul.  He should probably always have a spare inhaler at home.  It works both ways Annie, if we can moan, there is no reason at all you can't also.

Carol, I find it really difficult to cook a single serve of most things, at least what I'm cooking is what I like to eat so it's not so bad eating the same thing over and over again.  I did cooked the pork one night ealier in the week.  It was really good so I'm happy enough to have four containers in the freezer.  I did manage to cook tonight with no leftovers...A strange tea but it was what I felt like... pancakes with figs. blueberries and maple syrup, probably not a healthy choce but I enjoyed it.  The RA appointment  sounds terrible.  
I had some computer issues also, one evening when I went to turn of my computer it wanted to do updates, usually it's fine to turn the monitor off and I let it do the updates and it switches off.  But not long after I went to bed we had a power failure.  The next day when I went to turn it on, it turned on ok but it wouldn't accept the passwword, kept telling me it was incorrect, so I did what it said but it was sending a code to Neil's old email address, which at that stage I didn't realise was still active.  I had organised for a friend to come look at it (would have been today he was coming) but Friday afternoon I managed to get into his old email a/c on the laptop. and eventually got back into my computer.  Neil was great at fixing any problems with my computer.  He built it, new it inside out.  I can use it but thats as far as it goes.  Then yesterday it was the twins birthday party so I was out all day, left at 11.00 am and didn't get home till 2.00am this morning.  I am hoping to get tickets to go and see a "A Taste of Ireland" at our local theatre in March.  It sounds as if it is like Riverdance.  That was wonderful, so hope this one will be good also. Glad to hear you now have a new tablet, and can chat freely again.

Gloria, so sorry to hear you haven't been well.  Chemo does all sorts of things, and it seems to take a long time to fully recover from it effects,  Hoping you are starting to feel better though by now. Hope all goes well for your appointment on Tuesday.

I was wondering how Julie and Dave are doing, he was supposed to be having his surgery New Years Eve.    Hope all is well.

Take care all, lots of love Sue xx

Dear Sue I haven't heard from Julie it's a little worrying because as you said things should be moving forward.  Your tea sound scrumptious and I could have eaten it. Cats are funny and dogs, our Bonnie hated going out in the car we tried and tried to take her with us to the beach but she howled relentlessly in the back seat so we turn the car around and take her home where she hid under my duvet for the day. I've had a quiet weekend sorting out my downloads and ensuring everything is OK.  I've drunk half a bottle of wine and done bacon sandwiches for tea as we ate a massive  big pork rogan josh last night for dinner it was lovely and beautifully cooked by me.  I told Annie she should leave Paul alone its too hard for her, she hasn't mentioned moving again I suppose he will need to find a place to live.  It sounds like you had a great time with the family I miss mine so much, Ella is six on Tuesday and I have finally finished her cardigan it looks really good!  We have bought her a face painting set for her birthday and they are using it for her birthday party, she will be very happy with it.  So my aim is to get into the garden soon and tidy up, new violas have been purchased for the pots and lots needs cutting back   So pleased you are still writing its nice to hear from you  Take care and speak soon. Xx

Dear Carol,  It's been nearly three weeks since we've heard from Julie.  I'm assuming Dave has had the surgery, which from what I have read can be quite an ordeal, with a very long recovery.  I thoroughly enjoyed my pancakes.  Our pets are so funny.  Mr Higgins at home barely makes a sound and when he does it's a very quiet, almost raspy meow, but... in the car, I was shocked when I heard him, he wails, it is so loud and pitiful.  I'm just glad the vets isn't too far from home and they are usually fairly prompt.  One of our previous cats, if he had to go to the vets for anything, once we got home he would run and hide, he wouldn't come out a couple of days.  I assume he did come out to eat and use the tray, but never when we were around and then back he'd hide.

The boys birthday was good, and for once it wasn't a sweltering hot day, it was warm but pleasant.  She had a bbq lunch, always has so much food, none of us were hungry to tea, we'd been nibbling all afternoon.  The kids all had a ball.  And we'll do it all again in a couple of weeks as Stevie's 5th birthday is 4th Feb.  Stevie is having two parties this year, but I'm guessing I'll only go to one.  She is having one for family and friends, which I'm guessing will be similar to the boys, then she is having one at a play centre with her kindergarten friends, which i doubt I will go to.
Then this weekend it's Eli's first birthday, so we have another one.  Deana and a girlfriend both have boys born 3 days apart, so are having a combined party for the two of them.  They are borrowing my spit and we are having pork and lamb, Deana is big on veggies, so there will be lots of salads and baked potatoes.  She has asked me to make a couple of trays of hedgehog, or lemon slice or jelly slice.  She  is also doing a fruit tray and Bree is making a birthday cake, (jungle theme) for the boys.

Here is a pic of one she did for a friend of hers

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So we wait to see what Bree's creation will be for Max and Eli.

Ella will love the face painting set and the cardigan and of course her party.

Best go and prepare my tea, pasta with tomatoes, spinach and whatever else I find to put in to.

Take care. xx

What a lovely cake; it is a skill I never had.  I can knock up a round cake-looking thing but that is about all.  Still no word from Julie - maybe she is just very busy - I hope all is going okay.  You are probably right about Paul, Carol, perhaps I should step over him but I do tend to worry.  If and when I move I will probably end up taking Paul with me if he is still in one piece by then.  I am going down to Somerset in a couple of months - actually I would go now if anything that I might want to look at was sent to me by the various estate agents.  When I asked for a bungalow, not on a mian road (and other various things like storage space) why do they send me a house on three floors on a busy road? Paul somehow managed to hurt his knee yesterday - still not clear how he did it, said he ran into something on his way to see his mates in the pub.  And he hadn't even had a drink at that stage - if he had I would have hidden the keys to his mobility scooter. I found an empty half bottle of brandy a couple of days ago. I could hear him moaning during the night but just ignored him and snuggled up to Muffin on my bed.  Muffin is much better now as is the vet's bank balance.  I don't often take him to the vet and generally choose to pay (as opposed to using the insurance which I save for a serious ilness which I hope will never happen).   I used insurance for the end-of-life care for both my previous dogs (they both had cancer - not at the same time) Tess was first and then I got Jake who also died of cancer; they were both Staffies from Battersea Dogs Home.  I got little Muffin as I felt I was getting older and could not race around Streatham Common with a large dog in the same way.   Carol, how much of your blog was read - some of it is, er, less than flattering!  Hopefully it was just the latest post.  Much love to you all.  Annie

Faye face timed us last night as Ella wanted to say goodnight on the eve of her sixth birthday.  She looked So

Cute in her penguin PJs and is so excited about today as Mummy is having lunch at school With her, all I can say is I would never have wanted my Mum There!  She ran upstairs to get big Ted so he could wave to his Previous owners so hubby and I dutifully waved back.  She negotiated a time to wake up and her Daddy gave in and said OK 6.45am.was.fine, it's later than I get when she's in my bed!  Hubby went and Played golf yesterday in the sunshine and came Back happy, the course is beautiful and the nature was a Joy to behold he told Me. He's gone again today the Exercise will help him and Its better than his bike. Which does not help his poorly wounds.  My friend Dorothy has had a memory test and didn't pass so further investigation has to be done, we're meeting for the pictures this week and I said the time of pick up, don't bother she says I won't remember, she seems to have given up before the final results, she got 80 points out of a hundred, 86 is a full pass so she's only  borderline. Life is cruel at times but you need to fight your corner.  PALs called yesterday and were very helpful, they agreed it had not been a good experience for either of us. So everyone, hope all is well and thanks for letting me know what you are all doing.  Annie fancy sending house details for a bungalow, at least you won't need to drag Paul upstairs!! Xx