Yesterday was foggy, damp and cold and I practically morphed into a sofa!  So we did nothing at all and today I have a bad knee, so much for keeping healthy.  I am so looking forward to swimming again next week when I'm allowed, it will save me scrutinising my face every day looking for new wrinkles that have suddenly appeared, maybe they were there before but I didn't have time to notice them!  Hubby has just gone to check his golf buggy because as from Thursday his buggy will be in tier 2 and he will be in tier 3, never the twain to meet.  He had an e mail from the golf club, he can play a four ball but when they go in the club house they all have to sit on a different table if they are not family, order a meal with their pint and shout at each other from six feet apart (I made the last bit up) oh and wear a mask, he has decided not to bother!  Today is glorious but cold so it's more cheerful to go out but as its cleaning day my going out has purely been to hang washing out.  On Saturday I received a notice saying I owed one pound fifty for a letter that had been sent, I had no idea what it was, so we went to get it this morning, when I opened it there was three pages of fulscap with Jean's eulogy written on it.  What a kind thought from the family to send me their love and memories of her.  Some of the quotes I had not heard before but as she loved the caravan and the seaside it was so relevant, so I thought I would share it with you all:

The tide recedes

But leaves behind 

Bright seashells on the sand

But gentle warmth

Still lingers on the land

The music stops

And yet it echoes on

In sweet refrains

For every joy that passes

Something beautiful remains

I'll leave it there, 

Love Carol 

Dear Carol and friends,
I went actually went Friday for an hour, was supposed to be longer but the person I was going to drive to an appointment, passed away during the night. An elderly gent with cancer who's passing wasn't unexpected.  It wasn't a wasted trip though, as my paperwork now is all done and I was shown a few more things.  Nick removed my washing machine and has now set up their machine, which has been working overtime this weekend, as we cleaned out Neil's bedroom.  I did find his wedding ring, which he hadn't worn for quite a while because of all all the weight he had lost.  Also his Cardinals baseball top, which I'll wash and keep, he loved the cardinals and baseball.  Most of his other clothes, I'll wash and give to charity, apart from a few Nick will be able to use.    
So sorry you have gone into tier 3 lockdown.  Hopefully it results in lowering the numbers of those with the virus and transmission rates.  You will need that bottle of gin .  THe Sloth sounds wonderful, I'm sure Harry will love it.  I haven't started Christmas shopping as yet, but will shortly, Christmas Club money will be transferred into my bank account I think tomorrow.  $50 a week goes into a separate a/c which I get early December and pays my council rates and Christmas presents. 
It's good to hear that LIsa doesn't have the virus.  You saying that Faye should be the Fairy on top of the tree reminded me of a poem I received the other day.

I am a wee little fairy;
On top o’ the Christmas Tree
It’s no’ a job I fancy
Well, how would you like tae be me;
A’ tarted up wi’ tinsel
It’s enough to make ye boak
An a couple o’ jaggy branches
Rammed up the back o’ your frock
An ‘these wee lights a’ roon me
I canna get my sleep
An’ there’s the yearly visit
Fae Santa – big fat creep;
On Christmas Day I’m stuck up here
While you’re a wiring in
An’ naebody says “Hey you up there
Could you go a slug o’ gin?”
The Christmas tree’s a bonny sight
As the firelight softly flickers
But think o’ me – I’m stuck up here
Wi’ needles in my knickers.

Maybe not so good being the fairy on top of the tree.  
How lovely that Jean's family sent you a copy of her eulogy.  The verse is beautiful.  

I get Eli ready for daycare today as Deana is off to the flower market.  Then in the evening we have our first Rotary meeting, not at the RSL though as they haven't opened yet, one of the local Pizza/pasta restaurants, it is really large and they have a separate room large enough for us to have our meeting without disturbing anyone else.  Then tomorrow I have Eli all day.  Nothing planned for the rest of the week at this stage.

Chris, Ii is tough times and you are allowed to be not in the best place.  I really feel for those that work and have to say goodnight to their children using an Ipad.  We had the same here.  So hard and unfair especially for the kids.

Stay safe and love to all.  Sue xx

Dear Sue, talking about wedding rings, Norman lost his and we never ever found it because we think a rat ate it!!  Our old house had a downstairs bathroom and next to that an outdoor shed where we kept Guinea pigs for the girls.  One morning I went to feed them and when I lifted the cover up a rat flew at me from inside their cage, I screamed in terror and the Guinea pigs were huddled in a heap in the corner.  We had a gardener who was working opposite in a big garden so I ran and fetched him, he basically stabbed it to death with a big stick and I thought that was it.  But later that evening I went in the bathroom and a rat was sat on our sink, I must add here that we lived not far from a pig farm and rats were rife, so I screamed again and ran and asked my neighbour Ken, to help as Norman was at work, he brought their black labrador Sam around to chase it, then it went behind the bath panel so he went and fetched Joe who owned the pig farm, Joe came with his ferret and said he would catch it.  By now my Mum had come round to stay with Faye and Lisa in the front room who were scared stiff.  Norman came home, took his ring off to wash his greasy hands and we put the ferret in there, closed the door and waited with bated breath for it to do its dirty work.  So I now had, two small children, my Mum, Ken and Joy and a large labrador, Joe and his ferret, Norman and me all stood waiting for the inevitable death of one rat! When we got the ferret back and I cleaned up we had forgotten about the wedding ring but it was never seen again!!!  Honestly, when I look back over my life the things that I've dealt with is unbelievable.  Joe thought rhe world of me as he was beaten up New Years Eve in Joy and Ken's house when he was leaving and I witnessed it, it ended up in the Crown Court and the guy was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison, as he was a policeman's son it was a scary time for me and Joe always gave me a massive joint of pork at Christmas from his farm as  a thank you, he is still alive and is now 90 years old.  Norman has had his bloods done today so we've had a ride out, our Vicar Lissa has just rang me and I am going to the Carol service on the 20th, no singing (I know) but we will listen to Kings College choir so it will be beautiful to hear.  Take care, Carol x 

How things change in 24 hours, Karen our nurse rang, his bloods are not good as his kidneys are poorly again so treatment is cancelled and he is "*** off".  I have had to literally bite my tongue as for the last weeks I have told him he is being lax on his water intake, he also refuses to drink de caf tea so another whammy which in his stubborn way he refuses to accept, or maybe he does but being a man he would rather be angry at the world than himself.  He's gone for a haircut so he has moaned about every mask I have  handed him, they don't fit, I've washed them too much, what's the point, so I have now ordered fifty off amazon and an eye mask for me as I'm sleeping on my face and creating creases which seem to last all day!  I've pushed the boat out and purchased a silk one, I truly deserve it. I have tried to sort presents out today but I have to be in a good space to do them and I'm not, if he is peed off how does he think I feel?  See you soon,  love Carol. Just to make life more interesting our heating has gone kaput, just waiting for trouble number three to arrive. 

Despite having no heating or hot water we are back on an even keel.  We have to wait until Friday for repairs as they are working flat out.  So last night I piled blankets and cardigans, like the olden days,  on the bed to keep us warm. This morning I boiled water and carried it upstairs so we could wash little bits of us! Hubby says he had a shave so I didn't have to look at a scruffy husband, I pointed out that I just wanted a husband and didn't care what he looked like, he looked ashamed and said he knew I was right and although he had been up four times in the night he would drink the water, we have just boiled it, added some juice and cooled it down, we hope this will stop the chill on his stomach.  I've managed a haircut and we were going to get the tree from the garage but it's 3.5 degrees so it can stay there until we have some heat to come back into.  Fortunately we have a gas fire and a small heater so we are not freezing like when we first married and it was power cuts regularly due to the miners strike, I always swore that we would never rely purely on electric again, it's very hard when you have an all electric house, no food, no heat and no light is not easy! So if we don't die from hypothermia I'll see you tomorrow.  Love Carol x 

Dear Carol and Friends,
I hat rats, mice don't worry me, but rats terrify me.  I would not have coped at all.  They do say rats will eat anything, but I still would have thought it wouldn't have bothered with jewellery.  
Sounds funny going to a carol service and not being allowed to sing. although the Kings College Choir will be wonderful.  
Such a pity Norman;s blooks aren't good, he will have to increase his water  intake.  These men can be stubborn though , but hopefully he sees reason and drinks more fluid.
Things just don't seem to go smoothly at times, your heating and hot water.  When we had a similar thing years ago we had an urn that we'd fill for baths at least, we had power but no gas which is what our heating, cooking and hot water used.  I remember Neil went and bought a radiator and we all huddled around that as it was the middle of winter.  It's hard that you have to wait till Friday to get it fixed.  

A friend of Deana's has come for the weekend, a lovely girl, so we had a yummy banquet again Friday night,  Today they have gone down the coast and wikll visit some of the cheese and chocolate boutiques.  I stayed home and caught up on my washing.  I went to Anam Cara yesterday and will go again tomorrow,, It was good and I was talking to one of the guests there who makes jewellery.  Lovely lady.  Not much else planned this week apart from Rotary Tuesday evening, and I'll have Eli Wednesday.

Stay well and take care.  Love to all.  Sue xx

Dear Sue and anyone else left!  Our heating is back on but last night we heard this rumbling and we both looked at each other as if to say, what the heck is that.  Then I remembered the girls coming home once and saying there wasn't enough hot water so we put it on winter mode, I went back into the garage and it was on that, so the water was bubbling away in the tank, it was scalding hot so its back on summer mode.  I have put my tree up and it looks so nice, the garland is done and my lights are on, Faye face timed and Ella said it looked lovely and she wishes she was here.  They have a new updated I pad so Ella turned herself into a unicorn, pink with a large glittery tongue so every time she stuck her tongue out the unicorn did as well, we laughed so much I had face ache.  Not much happening Sue as we are not allowed to even see someone outside at the moment.  Mary rang and the hotel wouldn't allow them to book a meal for the family as although in tier 2 they can't meet, she has cancelled the journey as Rebecca has now got to isolate for two weeks due to a teacher having covid, Faye and I said she was taking a risk going anyway as here North Yorkshire police are manning the border and fining people.  So Sue its looking like you are somewhere near normal and we have weeks to go.  Norman is drinking his water and being good so let's hope treatment can go ahead soon. Looking forward to Strictly tonight and I may have a gin and tonic whilst watching it.  Take care, Carol x 

Dear Carol,
So glad your heating is back on.  We almost need the heater today, it started raining at lunch time and the temperature dropped a lot, so I got home from Anam Cara and have put a fleecy jacket on.  We put our Christmas tree up last night in the front room, so with the curtains open it looks very pretty from outside.  Chloe went home today.  We do seem to be getting back to a new kind of normal, we can travel interstate now without quarantining for 2 weeks.  They are even allowiong some overseas travellers, mainly from NZ who also don't have to quarantine.  A lot of Aussies who have been livikng overseas are coming home now but they do have to quarantine.  We haven't had a new case for over a month now in Victoria, although some other states have a few cases who are monitored and quarantined with tracing done to find anyone they may have had contact with.
Hoping it doesn't take too long before they start to ease restrictions in the UK.  It sounds like they are doing what was done here, with manning borders and fining those that shouldn't be there.  
WIth luck Norman drinking his water will improve his kidney function so his treatment will go head soon.
It's too miserable to go anywhere this afternoon, so I'll be staying in, if I get bored I might feel inclined to get some of my growing pile of ironing done.

Take care and love to all.  Sue xx

Hi all, it's been a long time! I've been reading through all your posts over the last few months but forgive me for not remembering everything. My head seems to have a hole in it and things fall out! My memory is shocking. I have been told this is grief but I think getting older has something to do with it too! 
Glad to read that you've all coped in some way with this strange year we're having. I'm doing ok, up and down but only to be expected. With Christmas approaching I can feel a big down heading my way but I'll do my best to stay on top of it. I left my job at the pharmacy having never gone back. They really didn't treat me very well, not what they did but what they didn't do. I have gone back to work at The original factory shop. I worked there about 5 years ago so it's a bit like putting your comfy slippers on. I'm only contracted for one day a week but I do more if they ask. My baby granddaughter is 8 months old tomorrow. She's a real breath of fresh air and the only good thing to come out of this year. It's bitter sweet because Steve would have been so proud to be a grandad. The thing I find hardest about all this virus stuff is when we all talk about getting back to normal and I remember but my normal is now so different. It almost takes my breath away to think of the future without him. I was told one day at a time and that's what I do but sometimes thoughts of the future just creep in. So Christmas will be very different this year for more than one reason but at least I am part of Lorraines bubble so I get to spend it with her and family. Hope you're all doing as well as can be expected and that you haven't minded me popping up again, love Anthea xxx

Dear Anthea, You can't expect to be up all the time, it really does take time, I can't say how long it takes but it does get easier, although some days are till hard, those special days, I still have days where I get teary and find it difficult without Neil.  JUst focus on each day as it comes.  You were planning to go to America, New York, I think, but that would have been at least postponed with the virus.  Are you still planning to go?
Grandchildren are a blessing, and 8 months old already.  God too, that you wikll spend Christmas with family.  I'm glad you popped in as I've often wondered how you were doing, and Carol will be pleased too.

Love Sue xx