So after my busy day and rubbish TV I decided to have an early night and read my book The Olive Tree (brilliant).  I don't normally take a drink up but I had bought some elderflower cordial so I took a glass of that with me.  Washed and PJs on I climb into bed and sigh with relief at my comfy position, plump my pillows up, settle back and my pillow falls off the bed, knocks my full glass of cordial over!  It's now pouring down my bedside table, flooding my radio alarm, my earrings are drowning in a sea of sticky suff in my little moon shaped dish, all my books are dripping with it and my watch floating in it.  I have to get out of bed mop everything up, empty dishes pull the cupboard away from the wall, it's dripped in my drawer so my knickers are soaking wet and by the time I mop it up I've got wet knees so have to change my bottoms, so much for an early night!  Anyway it's 3.5 degrees here but sunny we're off for a ride out even though hubby has a really stiff neck again, if it's like mine was the other week I know how he feels.  I am going to buy some hyacinth bulbs and put them in a pot for the conservatory, the smell is always amazing   Hubby is watching The Hairy Bikers food show, he lovea it but it hasn't encouraged him to try cooking.  Sue I'm so pleased you enjoyed your evening out, I've just bought a bottle of prosecco for Pauline, I prefer wine but it's not my birthday!  It's a shame Paul is moving back losing good friends is hard, Mary is going to Teneriff for two weeks  and I miss her terribly in that time.  So pleased Julie has posted if it's as nice where she is as here she will have a pleasant time.  Off for a bite if lunch before we leave.  Love to all of you. Xx

I've just got home after going to Pauline's birthday party at 3pm!  Once again a little bit worse for the wear but feeling OK, can these friends of mine drink, they're still going strong but five hours is enough for me, but we have had a laugh!  Hubby is not too good today, bad back and thinks he has a urine infection so not in a good mood.  He rang the GP but at 10am so obviously wasn't getting an appointment.  He then started arguing with me because I said he would have to see the Doctor, I'm Not arguing with him as it gets out of hand as his suppressed anger comes out.  I'm Comfy on the sofa now in my PJs and hoping I make my zumba class tomorrow!  Xx

I ring the surgery at 8am number 50 in the queue.  I pass the phone to hubby and make tea, his back is really bad so I think he now has a kidney infection.  I manage my class and back home its been confirmed that he has a kidney infection, he admits he knew there was a problem a few weeks ago, I just shake my head and say nothing.  So it's that bad we've cancelled James Cook until the 26th.  I now have an afternoon to myself, which is unexpected and decide to do nothing.  I have a massive bruise on my leg from my fall down the stairs and my back aches too!  We did laugh yesterday at the party after all the prosecco  the lady parts health issues all started being discussed, it's amazing how many women are wearing slings due to problems after giving birth.  Mary (not my Mary) said she'd put so much weight on that she now looked like she had two bums, due to her vertical C section scar.  She's trying to lose weight for a wedding in May, what do you do she asks me to stay slim, so I tell her.  Ooh can I come with you, where is it, what time is it on, 10am I tell her, oh *** that she says I'll still be in bed!  I have a feeling that a pair of spanx will be ordered to combat the double bottom.  Sue had had a new knee so was walking with a stick, crikey I think she needs to lose some weight, then I hear her tell someone else that she had lost two stone to have the operation, glad I never said anything.  Brenda has a detached retina but won't wear her spectacles and spends all afternoon squinting, I love  your glasses she says, I've got some but hate wearing them, I'm sure she'd look a lot better if she did!  Ina had a chest infection so trying to escape her I knock my glass over and it goes down Mary's back, she tells me her top is brand new and she was going to return it to the shop today, I don't think that's going to happen now.  So I suppose my health is a lot better than a lot of them and I'm one of the oldest!  Going to make a cup of tea for the invalid and hopefully the antibiotics will kick in soon, we've got a busy week next week.  Love to you all. Xx

Dear Carol,
I'm guessing you won't be taking a drink up with you in a hurry.when you go to bed.  Cordial is awful to clean up as it's so sticky.  I love elderflower cordial though.  3.5 degress is cold and we are not much warmer tonight, it's getting down to 6 degrees tonight.  Warming up again for the weekend though, but it's slowly cooling down.  I stayed at Deana and Nicks, Sunday night.  I was late getting there as I had ants again.  I was ready to go.  Packed and had started to take my things out to the car, came in to get my handbag and turn of lights etc, and notice a black trail leading to the cats food bowl.  So spent nearly an hour and a half getting rid of them and cleaning up.  Finally get to Deana and Nick's about 11pm.  Deana was getting up at the crack of dawn to go to the flower market to buy flowers for Valentines.  Can't fit flowers and Eli in the car, or at least not the amount of flowers she was buying. So I was there for when he woke up and watched him most of the day. Get home and I had to ring them and get Nick to come back as I had a bird in the chimney.  I can't  remove the panel in the fire to let it out.  So when he arrives we open all the doors so the poor thing can fly out, and it flys straight to the window, and Mr. Higgins nearly gets it.  Luckily I caught it before Mr. Higgins gets his claws in it.  I've never seen him move so fast.  He heard the bird and came running.  Didn't do much after that apart from hydrotherapy then bed as I was so tired.  Then I've had Eli today, my usual Tuesday.  I had to laugh though, when Deana dropped him of she said he was such a cranky little boy (not quite so nicely either), but all he needed was a nap and he was so good and happy all afternoon.  
Tomorrow is Rachael and Steve's baby's funeral.  At least they know why she died, so hopefully Rachael isn't feeling guilty, thinking she could have prevented it.  So sad for them.
Hyacinths are beautiful, they'll look lovely once they bloom.  
These men never go to the Drs early when they have something wrong.  He should gone when he first noticed he had symptoms, and it wouldn't now be a kidney infection.  I know it doesn't go down well either when you suggest they go.  At least now he's on antibiotics he should start to feel better.  And with a busy week coming up, he'll need to feel better.  I'm sure, well at least with Neil, it was a case of he knew better.  Glad you made your Zumba class even though Norman isn't well.  Not at all surprised you have a massive bruise or a back ache from your fall.  Hope it's not too painful.  It's good that you are still in good health or better than your friends despite being one of the oldest.  That's something to be proud of.  

I'mm off to bed as it's getting quite cold and I refuse to put the heating on at this hour.

Take care and have a great day.  Love to all.  Sue xx
 

Short message.   I think I mentioned I was going to see friends near Nottingham for the weekend; it all went haywire.  Lovely to see Malcolm and Chai; the old house they live in and are doing up was colder than last time I was there but I had expected that.  During first night I awoke with stomach cramps and shivering; when I realised I was a long way from home in a cold bedroom I wanted to weep.  Muffin of course woke up and spent much of the remaining night by climbing all over me.  I got up early and lit the wood-burning fire then decided much as I loved my friends I could not spend another night there.  Malcolm kindly ran me to Nottingham station and I got the train back taking good care to make sure Muffin was being properly cared for (by me on the journey) despite my feeling dreadful. Actually the journey back was awful but I desperately wanted to be back in my own bed.    As I was now travelling on a peak day (as opposed to my non-peak ticket) I kept trying to attract the attention of the officious conductor who determinedly ignored me so I ended up not paying any more no matter that I had tried to do the right thing.   I am still aching and with a painful tummy - don't know what caused it all.  Another friend who was staying there was okay.  I have been in bed until today when I realised I hadn't had a shower for two days (I usually don't become human until I have had a shower in the morning) so I got up, showered and dressed and have been lying around the house all day.  It is amazing to me how much Paul can do when there is no alternative.  He has done the shopping, walked Muffin and generally brought me any hot drinks I wanted.  I hope to be gradually returning to a human being and may go out tomorrow.  Nice to read all your news.  Sorry to hear about your fall Carol.    Cheers.  Annie xxx   PS It wasn't such a short message.

Hi girls, sounds like you have both had busy and annoying times.  Cold houses do us no good as we get older and it's even worse if you feel unwell.  Our childhood home was freezing and if you weren't well you felt worse because it makes you shiver both ways!  Sue, it sounds like your weather is changing rapidly and is as cold as ours at night.  Norman has a kidney infection and suffered badly yesterday with his back, he actually resorted to taking tramadol which he hates doing.  But he says he feels better this morning but is still in bed and warm, the antibiotics should kick in soon and by the time the family arrives he should be better.  Sounds like the ants gave you a merry dance Sue, I'm pretty lucky that we don't get them but my sister in law does as she lives next to a massive field.  Mary is picking me up soon for zumba, I've found a knee brace so put that on and it should give me some support.  If it doesn't settle down I'll have to have it looked at.  Hate birds in the house, my last one died and I thought it had got out until the smell started emanating from the conservatory!!  The guy who fixed our boiler boxing day found one on top of the boiler deceased, yuk!  See you tomorrow  Xx

Hi Ladies,

Our weather seems to changing quicker than I remember, maybe it's just because I don't like winter,, days seem to be averaging 18-22 but the nights have been bitter especially after some nights only 2 weeks ago that didn't get under 22-25..  I don't like it but I'll deal with it.  I hate ants, and they seem to venture inside when we have heavy rain.  Once they are in they head straight to the cats dinner.  This time at least I sprayed a barrier spray outside where they seem to get in.  Nearly gassed myself in the process.  So hoping that keeps them out for a while.  It can't be good for any bugs, I must have coughed for 1/2 an hour after I sprayed.  Another one of those jobs Neil used to do.  I don't like it when the birds fall into the chimney, they are always fairly young and always the same type of bird.  I won't them die in the chimney but I dread having them in the house.  Always worry about the blinds.  They are Roman blinds, white and a fine fabric and I dread the birds flying into them and leaving black marks from the chimney.  I don't know which is worse frogs, or birds.  In the old house we had a swamp in the farmland across the road and often used to have frogs inside.  When we moved from there we found a dried shrivelled frog behind the wall unit.  The knee brace should help, especially while doing Zumba.  Tomorrow I'll get my nails done and on the way home call in at a girlfriends for a bit, then some grocery shopping.  Thinking of making a vegetairian curry.

Hope your feeling much better Annie.

Till tomorrow, take care and love to all.  Sue xx

Dentist this morning all is fine apart from my clicky jaw!  I take off to Dunelm Mill to buy new bedside lamps and buy all sorts!  A unicorn pillow case for Ella, some new long rushes for the kitchen and a new orchid to put in the bathroom.  It all looks lovely.  Hubby went to his golf course as its been a beautiful day, he still isn't 100% and his RA medication is still causing him to feel sick.  We've had a simple tea and I've just had a glass of wine, he even wished me happy Valentines which is a first.  Funny story, we had just started going out again after a long break up and it was coming up to Valentine's day so I thought he would get me a card and flowers but I got nothing, nada!  Obviously I was upset so he bought me them the following day, I said it was pretty pointless giving them to me after Valentines day and he said he'd never buy them again, he's a man of his word, the past fifty years of this special day has never been honoured!  But at least he's still here whuch is far better than a bunch of flowers.  So getting ready for the influx and looking forward to seeing my family.  Love to you all. Xx

It's a beautiful sunny day but frosty so I decide to catch up on jobs that have been left.  Now my garage is tidy I have found a tin of matt emulsion and do my shower ceiling, hubby wants to know what I am doing as I am walking past him all the time he is trying to read the paper.  By lunchtime I notice all the breadcrumbs have fallen into the teatowel and cutlery draw so I fetch the little hoover and start hoovering them up.  This obviously doesn't suit him as he's now trying to watch politics live, where God forbid four women and only one man are on the panel.  Diversity gone mad he tells me, sorry I say I don't remember you complaining when it was all men!  So because I haven't agreed with him he's yelling at me for the noise my hoover is making, he's trying to hear what is going on in the world.  I'm fed up by now being nagged for actually doing something in my own kitchen and tell him so.  Anyway the outcome is he's gone to his golf club, long may he stay there, peace and quiet is marvellous.  I wish the tablets were working faster as these urine infections have a lot to answer for.  Anyway girls I hope all is well in your life and will see you tomorrow. Xx