Dear Sue, sorry to write so late but we've just had tea.  Had a busy couple of days and Norman hasn't been too well, he may have a slight chest infection but yesterday's mood was not good.  Had a great night out Thursday apart from Joe doing wheelies in his big four by four as there had been an accident on the road we needed to be on, poor Dorothy was hanging onto me for grim death, he was rude to me as well which annoyed me and Mary said nothing, she is certainly cowed by him at times.  So when we got back she told me the man who was going to rent their shop had pulled out, fine but no reason to be cross with me!!  Sounds like you had a good night, who are you knitting for, or is it so you can wrap your bones in it on a winters night!!  Margaret and I went shopping yesterday and we had such a laugh, sat drinking coffee in the M and S store when a load of fluff floated down from the ceiling, yuk we said looking up to the dusty lights overhead when a bird flew over our heads missing us by inches, it then proceeded to fly at the men's department, so we gave up and left.  Anyway a couple of bargains. Two vest tops in their sale for two pounds each, had to have them.  So he went to the club this afternoon but just as he left Don rang to say Bob's wife died this morning, so sad but I knew she would not last long, he will be lost, Norman said she did everything for him, just like you do for me he added, we will attend this funeral as Bob is a long standing friend.  My new conservatory goods have just arrived so that's my job for tomorrow.  Take care, love Carol xx

My hubby is so tired after having a bath he needs a nap!  Do you want to go anywhere he asks, no I'm happy pottering here I say, he breathes a sigh of relief.  The golf Open is on and he's sat glued to the TV.  My new cushions have arrived and my Amaryllis looks beautiful on the new stained ledge so I have my Sunday pan au raison, American coffee and read the paper.  Lisa calls and she's having a restful weekend trying to rest her foot that she's sprained again.  It's Fayes birthday tomorrow she's 46 years old, how did that happen?  I'm watching Escape to the château I've decided a visit is on my bucket list, the glamping experience looks fabulous.  Had a call from Lner today, I'm getting my fare back, so I may get Al ong weekend at Lisa's, its been over two years since I went, I just need to make sure my spare Norman is around when I'm gone!!  Hope you are well everyone.  Love Carol x 

Dear Carol,

Had the market today, was quieter than usual, we had terrible weather predicted, although it wasn't quite as bad as prediction but still a very bitterly cold wind, no rain at least.  It was actually quite nice if you were sheltered from the wind.  Sorry to hear Norman hasn't been too well.  Poor Deana has had a throat and chest infection and is on antibiotics for it, but she did venture out today and came for a visit, she is on the mend now and sounded a lot better today.  I would have been terrified and hanging on also if I had been in the 4x4 Joe.  Can't say I blame Dorothy handing on for grim death.  No need to be rude because the sale of Joe and Mary's shop had fallen through.
The shawl is for me, but it's more for Spring and cooler Summer nights, it;s in a 4 ply cotton, which has a lovely drape in pinks/blues.  I have a lot of summer clothes in blues and the colours in the yarn go really well with so many of them.  It's looking nice so far but a long way to go.  Sounds like your vests were a great bargain, a good shopping day with good company.  Such a shame Bob's wife has passed, he will miss her terribly I imagine.  Studies here show men generally find it harder when their partner has passed than women do.
Sounds like you will have a busy day in the conservatory tomorrow.  I'll have a busy day in Melbourne.  I'm going to pick up the title documents for my house, pick up my steamer, look for a pair of shoes to go with dresses for summer, catch up with Bree and then call in at my girlfriends, so will miss aqua balance as I won't be back in time.  At least the weather in Melbourne is supposed to be better than here.  Sunny and a little warmer than our cold, wet, windy day.

Take care, love to all.  Sue xx

Hi Sue, just posted my post when yours arrived!!  I hope Deanna is getting better, Harry has shingles, he's only eight but maybe school and all the busy activities have caught up with him.  4ply is slow to knit, when I did baby clothes it never seemed to get longer!!  Norman and I have been pumping up the blow up mattress for Ella, he got a right sweat on, I think that's him done for the day after all that unusual exercise.  It's muggy and windy here today so my lawn needs mowing, another job.  Spoke to Faye, they're all going out for lunch for her birthday and she sounded happy, it was Alfies leaving do Friday, apparently everyone was in tears including the parents, how times have changed, when we left school no one made a fuss you just left and started Big school after the summer holidays, that was it.  Faye is going to Keilder forest in Northumberland for her holiday its a gorgeous place, beautiful scenery and very near the border to Scotland, they also have a hot tub.  We were laughing as her neighbours have one and keep trying to get her in it, but she's like me doesn't fancy sharing a hot tub with mens dangly bits and other bodies but her own family. She's running out of excuses she says to not go in.  Well we've had cheese and tomato on toast, a five minute break and here I come lawnmower!!  Love Carol x 

Dear Carol,
Is the fare return from your terrible train trip from memory in 1st class?  Would be lovely for you to have a long weekend visit to Lisa's.  And great if your spare Norman is around, I assume to check up on your Norman.  Amaryllis plants are gorgeous, I don't have any planted and rarely have them as cut flowers as they are toxic to cats.  Deana is slowly getting better.  I've never heard of a child with shingles, I wonder if they get shingles rather than chicken pox now as most children are vaccinated against chicken pox.  Hope he doesn't feel anything like Neil felt when he had shingles and that he gets over them quickly.
The shawl is crocheted not knitted so does grow quicker even though it's 4 ply.  I love using 3 and 4 ply.  Have done a couple of baby shawls in 3 ply.  The first I did when I was expecting Cass.  I had a 50 minute train journey each way to work and always had my knitting.  I didn't get it finished till after I had Cass.  I was gorgeous though and I used it for both Brianna and Deana.  And Deana used it for Eli.  And I also did one for Eli.  I have also crocheted lots of doilies in size 10 and 20 thread, used to love doing them, they are hard on the eyes though now and I need really good light so I can see what I'm doing.  Today wasn't too bad weather wise although It's poured most of the evening.  I didn't end up going to Melbourne though, Bree isn't well, she went to the Drs first thing this morning, he sent her for an xray as he thought she had pneumonia, she doesn't but he has put her on a strong antibiotic and steroids, so now I'm going on Thursday, which will give Bree a couple of days to improve.  I have a nail appointment tomorrow and have Eli on Wednesday.  Like you when we finished primary school the Headmaster just wished us well at the last assembly of the year, we had summer holidays and started at high school the following year.  It was the same for Cass, my eldest but by the time Bree and Deana finished primary, they had a graduation dinner and a separate presentation evening that parents and friends could attend.  A few tears at theirs but it seems they really go all out now.  
Those blow up mattresses are hard work, you should get a self-inflating one.  I see them advertised, but have no idea how they work.  It would be a lot easier to use I imagine and wouldn't wear Norman out for the day. Keilder forest sounds lovely and I'm sure Faye will enjoy her holiday.  Do you think she will try the hot tub?  

Will close now.. Take care and love to all.  Sue xx


 

It's so hot here I'm melting, literally.  I don't sleep well aa it's too hot and I wake to an unfamiliar noise, squinting at the clock it's 7.45am but the noise won't let me sleep again, so I get out of bed look out the window and it's my spare Norman pressure washing his car, Maureen comes out to chat to him so I give up and get up!!  Hubby is having a check up at the dentist which he moans about, he doesn't remember making it six months ago and looks at me accusingly as if I've planned it!  My dance class was so hot that I basically shuffle around not putting too much effort in, Mary is there, she says I parked my car next to her and she was sat in hers, I didn't see her but she thinks I did, this friction is because of Joe being rude to me, I'm not a petty person so I would not ignore my best friend because of a man!!  Back home hubby is back, a filling was required, the chemo has caused more damage.  I decided to go to Tesco for food and linger in the freezer aisles, it's the first time today I have been cool.  It's nearly 4pm by the time I Put it away, so I pour a gin and tonic, loads of ice and sit outside, I've lasted ten minutes and had to come inside!!  Family arriving tomorrow so will go missing for a few days,  love to you all, Carol xx

Dear Carol,
I don't think any of us sleep well when it's too hot.  Chemo plays havoc on teeth.  So sorry Norman required a filling.  He should really be thankful it was only 1 filling, it could have been worse.  Freezer aisles as so welcome when it's really hot.  Have a wonderful time with your family.  Enjoy the visit.  I'm off to Melbourne tomorrow and then will spend tomorrow night at Deana's as she is going to the flower market.  Bree rang me tonight to say she is feeling much improved so we will have a good day tomorrow, some lunch and browse the shops, time will tell as to whether we buy anything.
Unlikely I'll get on the computer tomorrow evening as it will be later when I get home from Melbourne, then I'll be at Deana's.  Will get on again Friday.

Till then, have a great day.  Love to all.  Sue xxx

What a few days we've had!  Everyone turns up in the heat, I'm preparing tea so as to not be stuck in a hot kitchen, Faye says I look red in the face, really I reply, it's about 80degrees already!  Thursday was worse and we'd booked afternoon tea, hubby lost his rag as he couldn't cope with the heat and everyone around him, Faye and I sat in a posh hotel in our best bib and tucker with perspiration running down our faces and cakes melting on the tray, trying to drink hot tea and be cultivated, I ordered two white wine spritzer with ice in the end.  When we got home Gordy had practically set the kitchen on fire cooking pizza at too high setting, hubby looked even more fed up. The 0plants were dying in front of my eyes so I had to get changed and water the garden and Ella at the same time, hubby took himself off into the garage with some cold beers and we skipped tea as it was too hot to chew!  Alfie said I snored and he'd run down the bunk ladders in the night and poked me, bless him!  So Faye ordered an oscillating floor standing fan which has just arrived in the middle of the monsoon that we are now enduring, hubby says it's a pity it doesn't blow warm air as well as its about 60degrees cooler.  Keilder forest has no mobile phone reception so they've texted me the reception number and signed off with a tree and umbrella logo, obviously raining there as well.  We're meeting them in Corbridge next week for lunch, at least I can have a day off.  I didn't even sleep well last night because of the thunderstorm and my lie in went out the window as Luke rang, giving me a fuve minute (literally) time slot of his arrival as he'd been rained off the golf, talk about getting dressed in a rush, by the time hubby came down he was leaving again.  My feet are being put up this afternoon and I am going nowhere. Sue's birthday tomorrow so I'll pop to Richmond and see her.  See you soon.  Love Carol x 

Dear Carol,

What a time you've had.  It was actually on our news about the heatwave you have had.  I don't suppose you have put air conditioners in your homes routinely.  We have them in most now, certainly any under 10 years of age were built with one installed.  Those white wine spritzers would have been a welcome drink at your afternoon tea.  Is it humid with the rain you now have?  I hope not for your sake.  Sounds like you deserve and need to put your feet up and relax for a while.
I had a busy day Thursday, went to Melbourne, picked up my steamer, bought some onsies for Eli, caught up with Bree and Stevie (she was home as she'd had a temp during the night), she was fine all day but not long after we got back to Bree's she fell in a heap, when Bree took her temp it was 39.  Took her to the Drs Friday and she has tonsillitis.  Poor Stevie.  I didn't stay as long as I planned as I was spending the night at Deana's so I could watch Eli in the morning.  Got to Deana's about midnight and slept till Nick woke me before he went to work.  Had a busy day Friday also.  Delivered some flowers for Deana, then went shopping bought some diced lamb to make a casserole.  So cooked than Friday afternoon, had some for tea tonight.  Today has been a lazy day.  Tomorrow I'll watch Eli for a couple of hours while Deana and Nick go to the movies.

Hope you have a cooler day today and that you get a good night sleep tonight.

Take care and love to all.  Sue xx