Dear Carol,
It's already obvious Eli is a boy, He loves climbing and just the way he gets in and out of his ball pit, he's such a boy.  He is gentle with animals though, he cuddles Gypsy (one of Deana and Nick's cats).  I don't have any scary books I read to Eli.  I have boxed sets of Dr Seuss and Winnie the Pooh, and few other single books.  At present he likes one that makes sounds... pictures and you press an area.  First picture is a cat and it meows, last picture is a sleeping teddy, it sings a lullaby.  He loves it.  He loves being scared though, Nick pretends to drop him, and he cackles, I won't try it, I probably would drop him.  You really do have to watch what you post on facebook, it all seems harmless and a bit of fun, but you really have no idea who is looking or checking up on you.
The new lady in class will get better if she keeps coming.  A rock and roll afternoon tea sounds great.  With luck they will have Norman's car fixed quickly.  Hopefully the appointment at Durham will be done quickly and your problem will be sorted asap. 
Poor Norman having to rough it in the cold.  Happy to hear your new lino is laid and looks good.  Skiing is a dangerous hobby.  A lady I worked with years ago went every year, and most seasons she came back with something broken or sprained.  Hopefully your nephew and Sue woll come back in one piece wand no injuries.  I know you have snow but are there areas in the UK suitable for skiing?
I've forgotton what the big night out is but have a wonderful time and thats great that Norman is going.

Take care, Love Sue xx

It's done it again; just finishing a post when the screen moved and it vanished.    Have got back from helping my sister care for her grandchildren Alex (7) and Fin (4).  Fin short for Finlay.  I went out a bit earlier as the weather started to deteriorate and I worried the trains might stop running. The snow was even worse in Hertfordshire where my niece and her husband live - they were having a short break in Russia.  The boys' schools were closed so I felt my presence would be appreciated.  They are good kids and have nice manners but they seem to argue a lot over things - fairly typical I suppose.  To stop them arguing over what to watch on the television we took them to the park  where we were mercilessly snowballed.  Alex was building a snowman until Fin deliberately smashed it up.  Alex angry, Fin in tears; Rosie (my sister) took  Fin home and I stayed to help Alex build his snowman.  I like going out there when Rosie is babysitting; Rosie is 71 and was getting tired (Fin is not a good sleeper) so I was pleased to be of use.  Have been catching up on your posts - most of the snow round our way has gone now.   How is it with you Carol?  Sue, how are you doing oveerall?  You have obviously been keeping busy but I do wonder how you really feel.  Sorry, I am a bit incapable of minding my own business and tend to just ask if I want to know something.  Annie

Minus one degree and its freezing,  I don't have a hangover so that's good.  Lisa rang they'd been sledging yesterday as the schools were closed.  They were going to see How to train your Dragon 3, she's such a good Mum despite working full time there is always time for Harry.  Before we went out last night I had got everything ready for hubby even putting cufflinks in ready for him.  I got out the shower and it started!  Bloody hell I can't remember how to tie my tie, you've given me the wrong shirt the cufflinks won't go through as there's no hole, you've washed and pressed my oldest trousers, this collar on my shirt is too stiff!  I kept running into his room in my underwear wringing wet hair, no make-up  I take his tie put it round my neck and tie it, that's not right he says I want a Windsor knot, I'm sorry I tell him when I went to school we girls didn't need a Windsor knot, he'd taken his cufflinks out so I put them back in, you're sitting down all night, no one will see your trousers, he gets so stressed about going out I end up drying my hair and getting dressed in the ten minutes left before the bus arrives!  Sue I'm a little lost on the deaf school I'm not sure who goes as I don't remember you mentioning it before.  Annie, welcome back safely, it sounded like a lot of fun, kids love the snow and Faye has sent me videos of her two sledging, they live in Harpenden so lots of snow too.  See you tomorrow. Xx

Hi Ladies,

Annie, Welcome back.  Sounds like the kids had a ball.  I am doing reasonably well, have days where I get upset very easily, but overall when I think of others I've known who have lose their husband, I am doing better than some.  We went tonight for Stevies birthday dinner, we'd all been there about an hour and friends of Neils and mine came in so I went over to them, of course said we were there for Stevies 5th birthday and Don said it was a shame Neil wasn't there in pereon but that he was here, just not in person, I was reduced to tears.  I think of him, talk to him and it doesn't usually have me in tears, but it does help a lot to keep busy.  I haven't done an thing with any of his clothes, can't bring myself to sort them yet, although I want his car gone, no sentimental ties to that beast, and it is, it's a very loud supercharged subaru, that is stuck in gear, he had intended having it fixed, but still not fixed.  One day soon.

Carol, Mary's 70th sounds like a fun night once you got there.  The chambord tequila prosecco sounds interesting.  Food sounds wonderful.  You're lucky you don't have a hangover.  I've seen videos of people trying to walk on ice, not sure I would even attempt it, I would surely end up on my backside.   I went to secretarial school also when I was 16,  I doubt anyone would walk home now in the snow, buses tend to run later for a start but Mum/Dad or someone would pick then up now.  Bree has taken her lot to see How to Train your Dragon, they all loved it, both the kids and Bree.  I thought I had mentioned both of Bree's boys (twins) have hearing issues, Sebastian is deaf, Colby while not totally deaf doesn't hear a lot, so they both attend a deaf school about 20 kms from home, a bus picks then up at 7.30 each morning and takes them to school, and brings them home each afternoon at 4.30.  Both wear hearing aids.  I'll post a pic of them with Neil, excuse the mess, it's never tidy when the kids come, its like a whirlwind has gone through.  You should be able to see their hearings aids.  
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Stevie's hearing is fine so she goes to a local school just around the corner from where they live.

Take care, and stay warm.  Lots of love Sue xx

I've had the afternoon from Hell!  Hospital appointment and I ended up parking in the staff car park, I got out the car looking for a pay machine and then saw all the signs saying permits only.  By the time I found the main car park I was in a queue with 20 other cars trying to get through the barrier,  I finally made my 3.15 appointment at 3.30pm.to find the clinic was an hour behind, this meant I ended up in the tea time home going traffic and got home at 6pm, poor hubby looked really worried and was pleased to see me home.  His car is ready so he will be back on the road tomorrow  Sue I hadn't realised about the twin's hearing problems, they look gorgeous little boys,  you must adore them.  I don't think I have ever been attached to a car but I do like my bright red Beetle it's fun to drive, mind I'm lucky I didn't prang it today trying to park in tiny spaces.  I think you are doing really well and I think a lot of it is to do with having other interests and friends separately from your marriage.  Norman and I have always been together and apart for our hobbies.  He's losing a little bit of weight now and is looking well.  We've obviously been lucky as his diagnosis was not good.  We're aiming for our Golden wedding which will be an achievement on his part.  Mind it takes him a few days to recover from a night out!  Feet up now and let my blood pressure go down.  Xx

Hi there.  Hospital parking  is always a nightmare.  You  think they must work out how many cars will visit them each day and then decide to cut the parking spaces available to about half the needed number.  I won't drive to the hospital any more unless I have an appointment first thing in the morning - and really the car park at my preferred hospital is huge compared to other nearby hospitals. Bless you Sue for not minding my asking questions;  I cannot see it matters how long you hang on to Neil's personal things; it's your home and your life. Re the boys is there some genetic problem that has resulted in them having hearing problems?  Am having a quiet evening - Paul is playing poker in the pub with his mates.  I took Muffin out into a small woodland area next to the railway - it was rather muddy and he is a white dog.  Enough said.    Carol, I love reading about yoru escapades - they remind me of something that might have been written a comic of my youth,  "The perils of Carol" or something like that.  Annie

Dear Annie, you are right I do seem to have a life that is always full of perils!  I know when I worked at the Court my days were the same and everyone said I should write a book because it was always so funny, if it's going to happen I'll happen to me.  Hospital visits are hard now, it's all so fast paced and so vast, I didn't want to go but if things get w then I will in trouble for not going!  All the snow has gone so its easier to get about.  Norman used to play poker every Friday he loved it, unfortunately now our local doesn't allow it.  My brother has two bearded collies they are a nightmare to keep clean and cost a fortune to keep washed and trimmed.  Signing off now as I have been writing to others on messaging.  Lovely to hear from you. Xx

Hi Ladies,  The hospital carpark woes will all be worth it if they sorted our your problem.  I don't think too many hospital carparks are any better,  I think here in Aus carpack spaces are getting smaller, I have a bigger sedan and with a lot even if I'm parked in the centre between the lines there is not always a lot of space.  Norman will be pleased to have his car back, so he won't be so housebound.  The boys are a handful but they are goegeous.  The day that photo was taken Neil was making paper aeroplanes with them.  They had a ball.  It was taken during the school holiday last year (maybe July).

I don't mind your questions at all Annie,  With the boys there has been testing done to try and find out if their hearing impairments are genetic, so far Bree hasn't got results, but it's possible as they were both prem (8 weeks) that their issues were caused from that or medications they were given.  As far as we know there are no other children with hearing loss in either of our families.  Neil's hearing was terrible but his was industrial deafness, not genetic.  I know what you mean about white dogs/cats outdoors when it's muddy.  Both my cats are nearly all white, My Higgins snuck out a couple of months ago and sat underneth the car, when he eventually came out he was filthy, I cleaned of what I could with baby wipes, didn't think he would appreciate a bath, and Cookie cleaned the rest over the next day or two.

I love "The Perils of Carol", it would make good reading.  Best go, as I have Eli here, Wrong time of the day for me to be posting, but as he is asleep thought I'd get on quickly before he wakes.

Take care, lots of love Sue xx

Not a good night as I had stomach ache from having a camera inserted where cameras don't need to go!!  But I'm a brave girl and go to zumba as I will see my friends.  Dorothy has had her assessment at home and they reckon there is nothing  wrong, which is what we've said all along, but her results from the brain scan are not back so fingers crossed that all is well.  We've got the car back so he's happy.  It's cold, damp and foggy here but the snow has gone and my violas are poking their colourful heads up and a little bit of spring is showing.  We reckon the birds are mating already as we have a lot of pairs flying around, a pair of great coal *** with bright yellow tummies and little black helmets, they are beautiful, a pair of Robins with big fat red breasts, I am watching Ride Upon the Storm about Church and Priests through the ages and it was said that the Robin got his red breast from Jesus's blood on the cross as he sang to him and tried to comfort him.  What a brilliant thought that is.  I've been reading today on the forum about bad experiences when being told you have cancer.  I have mentioned this previously and it's a shame that more training isn't in place, I can understand that it's their everyday job but it's our very first experience of being told you have cancer and it's never easy.  I actually have a free week, no plans and it seems weird not knowing what is ahead!  Still a good book, a warm house, a husband who is quite content at the moment, what more could I ask for?  Take care my lovely girls. Xx