Hi Ladies,
Annie, Hope you get whatever the problem is with the car sorted, it's still annoying as you never really know if there is something really wrong causing the sensor malfunction light to keep coming on.

Carol, I hope Norman is ok after his fall, although how you managed to help him up i've got no idea.  A girlfriend asked me if I wanted to go with her and see Bohemian Rhapsody but unfortunately I had Eli so couldn't go, she told me later it was brilliant.  I don't think I would cope at all without the friends I have, they are wonderful.  Eli has a nasty cold, and despite feeling quite miserable he was still a sweetheart.  He wanted a bottle today, (he rarely has one in the afternoon), so I warmed it and he fell asleep drinking it in my arms and slept for 2 hours, I ended up dozing as well.  Fortunately where I live the temperature doesn't get to that extreme, although even here we get some really hot days.  Generally every summer we'll get a couple of days in the low 40's, but usually it's between 25 and 35 which to me is fine, although not everyone likes temperatures over 30.  We have 39 predicted for Thursday and 37 for Friday, but then it cools down a bit.  At least tomorrow when I have to go out it won't be too hot.  It all depends on what we are used to, I wouldn't like your cold weather, or snow for that matter, it's pretty but I hate it.  The girls have told me I deprived them of a trip to the snow.  Neil and I went prior to having any of the girls, and despite them wanting to see snow when they were younger I wouldn't go, so they missed out.  We played tennis in the snow once, I wouldn't advise it, we had booked a tennis court for an afternoon and when we got there it had been snowing and we decided we'd still play.  We had fun but I don't think I could call our game "tennis".  

Hope you all have a good day.  Take care, love Sue xx

Hubby had to be up early as he had a dentist appointment for 8.15 this morning so I had to set the alarm for 6.30, he got himself up and it was minus 5 and snowing, but he managed and came back with his tooth out and a numb mouth, Faye rang and he told her he is losing more bits of himself as the days go by!  Ella had a lovely party but apparently because of Alfies mad boy party last year she shortened the time and Mum's started arriving before the pass the parcel and the face painting, having had two girls I've  never had to cope with boisterous boys.  I missed zumba today and Mary rang to say people were asking about me, it's nice they noticed I was missing.  I've been stood watching the birds, great ***, Robins and big fat spuggies all having a big feed of fat balls and pea nuts it's a very blue sky despite the snow and its been a joy to watch them.  So it's soup for tea for us both and a lie in tomorrow morning.  The fall on Sunday hasn't hurt him too much and as to how I lifted him is a puzzle to me as well Sue, maybe it's like the people who lift cars off accident victims, sheer will.  The lady rang me yesterday and said they are trying to sort the parking out, have ordered wheelchairs that go forwards and is putting new guidelines in over validating parking tickets, so I'm pleased that I contacted PALS as it has helped others.  You don't need to be horrible when you put a complaint in, being understanding and clearly stating facts is all that is required.  Still no news from Julie, it's very worrying that she has not been able to post, let's all hope for a good outcome.  Love to all of you.  Carol x

Dear Carol,

You don't know what you missed not having had a boys party.  Mind you, I've not given any, but been to a few now... they get worse each year.  Girls are so much more civilised.  It's nice that you were missed at Zumba.  We don't get a big variety of birds in my garden, but they are nice to watch, although I think my cats like watching them more than I do, and would like nothing better than to be outside chasing them.    You did well to lift him, I doubt I could have.  You certainly have will and some inner strength.  That's great that there will be some changes from your complaint.  Hopefully it means you and others  won't have to go through all that again .  It is worrying that Julie hasn't posted at all, like you I'm hoping his surgery went well and in time they will have a good outcome.

I've had a fairly lazy day, lots of cuddles from Cookie, she has wanted to be extra close today, which I don't mind at all.  Have done a heap of washing, good drying weather.

Love to all and take care.  Sue xx

Hiya Julie; good to hear from you.  I know I disappear from time to time and people wonder where I am - I think we were just worried about Dave - it is the nature of the (cancer) beast to worry about things.  Dave sounds as though he has had a rough time so I hope things improve soon and you can get going again.  We have been having snow here too, Carol, and I have been keeping the bird feeder filled up.  Car seems to be okay, ditto Paul who is being more civilised now.  I am contemplating going to Prague for a very short visit - I have wanted to go there ever since I read the book entitled "Seven Men at Daybreak" about a major drama that took place in World War Two centred around a church where Czech patriots and *** battled for many hours.  The  site of the battle - which resulted in many executions - is still intact and a memorial is kept fresh there.  I can leave Muffin with Paul - they are great pals - for a couple of days if things continue well.  I  will arrange a flight tomorrow for some time in February.    Love to all.  Annie

Hi Annie

Good to hear from you.  Glad you got your car sorted out, we can't manage without them can we!

I'd love to go to Prague.  I've just read Melmoth by Sarah Perry which is set in Prague and it sounds amazing.  Melmoth is a gothic ghost story about a woman who appears at various 'dark' points in history.  It's a bit strange in parts but an unusual and unputdownable read!  It's one of those books you either love or hate.  Might be good to read it while you are visiting there!

Time for bed I think...

Julie

Welcome back Julie, and I'm sorry everything went pear shaped for you both.  I changed my username as my private conversations were no longer private!  Chemo knocks them badly, Norman did suffer but he was the other way, so it causes more problems because it is attacking everything. So pleased you had a good Christmas, I heard him say yesterday it was one of his favourite Christmas times. It looks like they are all coming home for half term now. Prague is beautiful, I did five days there with a Legal adviser who became a friend  She had been a young police officer when the Ian Brady, Moira,Hindley case was being held, as the only female officer she was made to sit in on the Interviews. We had a marvellous time and stayed in a Convent that had been turned into a bed and breakfast.  A beautiful day here but 1.5degrees, Sue you would freeze. Hubby is off to the dentist again, more money!  Take care, love Carol x

Hi Ladies,

Welcome back Julie, What a disappointment his operation couldn't go ahead,  Sorry to hear Dave isn't doing so well with chemo, although if it does what it's meant to all the discomfit will be worth it..  Neil didn't do so well with chemo either. Sounds like your Christmas was lovely and having your granddaughter stay for a few days would have been wonderful especially as Dave was feeling good.  Suzuki Swifts aren't too bad, my daughter has one, I often drive it if she needs a bigger car, it's great around town though, but it does seen small when I've gone from my car to hers.  Treatments and appointments do put your lives on hold,  How many treatments are they hoping to do?

Carol, I wouldn't cope at all with 1.5 deg.  We've had a lovely 37 deg today and the low overnight is 25 even now it is still 28 despite it being after 1.00am.  I actually put the aircon on for 1/2 hour this evening.  I figured Mr Higgins was feeling the heat as he had spent most of the day in the shower, he did at least wait till it was dry from my shower.  Tomorrow is expected to be just a little warmer too. 
I've had bells and alarms going off today, firstly my doorbell got stuck so kept ringing until I figured out how to fix it.  Then the smoke detector went off, scared the cats and myself.  I think it needs a new battery, but it will have to wait for Nick to change it.  It is hard wired into the power but has a battery so it will still work if the power goes out.  I recall it did the same last time it needed a battery.  Hopefulloy it con't be lonbg before Nick can change it, I would rather it didn't go off in the early hours of the morning.

Another lazy day today, too hot to do too much outdoors.

Take care all, Love Sue xx

It was so cold I slept with a jumper on last night, now I know why people wwore bed jackets in the olden days (listen to me who's now 70 talking about olden days)!  But it was the best night I've had all week due to an old health problem recurring.  I won't go into details but I'm now being sent to a fast track clinic, the doctor wanted me to go for a colonoscopy but I refused point blank, if torture existed in the NHS this is it!!  I'm still going out tomorrow night but hubby will be taking me and pick me up so I can have a vodka and tonic.  I called to see Mary yesterday and had a quiet word with Joe, could I decorate the table for her birthday?  He looks at me and smiles,  I'm under strict instructions he says, no cake, no balloons, no banners and no singing happy birthday to her, message received I say but deep down I know she would be happy with a pretty dinner table, a few scattered pretend diamonds, some confetti with happy birthday on it but Joe must be obeyed.  I wish it was warmer here but hey ho it's winter, the birds seem happy, we seem to have a lot of them that are dying out but my garden is set up for wildlife. Dear Sue, it's so annoying when everything starts going wrong in the house, that happens all the time to me, especially when family are coming.  I've still got slight holes around my new bathroom lights I'll try and grab my neighbour to help me sort it out   I'm doing my ironing now, Norman has just had his bloods done again, so let's hope they are still good.  See you tomorrow. Xx

Dear Carol, It sounds like it was really cold.  I had a marathon telelphone conversation with a girlfriend earlier tonight and we were talking about the olden days too.  I always thought bed jackets were so you could remain decent  whilst in hospital/bed and getting visitors (at least that's what Mum told me).  She was very proper, until dementia.  Hopefully what ever your health problem is, it's nothing serious.  I assume it's Mary's birthday dinner you are going out for tomorrow.  The table decoratilns sound lovely if you do what you've mentioned, none of which are no no's.  It is annoying when things go wrong,  The smoke decector is annoying, it just goes off at random times.  It is so loud, has to be I guess so it will wake you up if there is a fire.  It terrified the cats, and of course I can't get to it, so I just had to wait till it stopped.  The doorbell, really annoys me, it shouldn't be sticking, it's not that old and it needs a new battery too, and I have no idea, I've looked at it and think it has to come of the wall to install a battery.  I'll have to get Nick to look at that too.  Hope Normans results are still good.
I've had another lazy day, too hot to do anything outside.  I should have been doing my ironing but I hate ironing so it's very easy to put off doing it, I've still got clothes to wear.  My girlfriends daughter was very lucky, she was shopping at one of our big department stores, she had been looking at a jacket, found one to try on and just as she was walking to the fitting room the ceiling collapsed, dust and cement landed right where she had been.  

Take care, till tomorrow, Love Sue xx