Oh Jules forgive my post on my site to you .....I am so sorry not to have known of your hubbies departure.  You know from the support you have given me how well I understand your current situation and my heart goes out to you.  My site tells of my joirney through this uncharted place you find yourself in.  It is difficult but you will come through.

All my thoughts and a big virtual hug

Ian x

Hi Ian

Just lovely to see your name appear on my thread and suspect its just as hard for you to post but I really appreciate the message.  It was a long three years for hubby and I take much comfort in the fact that he is now free from the clutches of his disease which took his happiness away.  I am surrounded by the love of my family and friends (and the ongoing support of virtuality buddies) and now, like you, my life must be lived to the best of my ability. Early days still but so many memories to cherish and share with others - a few late nights of 'story-telling' along the way.

Sending hugs and best wishes and hope all is well with you and Julie in your new life.  Jules x

Hi Jo

Hope you have/are having a good weekend.  Make the most of the lie-ins (my body clock just seems to refuse to recognise I am on leave!!). Bright and frosty start this morning but gloomy now. Happily the builder is known to son in law so will fit it in as soon as he can (its nothing fancy; just fed up of looking over a broken fence into the service road behind (hardly secure either!!)).  Quite a few 'bits' to sort out in the home regard(bless him hubby hated 'outsiders' doing stuff he felt he should be doing them) but will get there eventually (am looking at it like a long term project and that each time a job is done I can cll it a mini achievement).

Hope you managing okay and bet Paddy enjoying your company for walkies.   Take care and your kind words are much appreciated.  Be good to  yourself.  Hugs  Jules x

Hi Brian

Was a little late going out today but made it into town for a wander and picked up a few new bits for the garden birds (I also got an 'insect hotel' for Christmas so have now put that up too).  Have purple crocus and snowdrops in the front garden.

Hope your next cancer meeting goes as well as the others - it certainly keeps you on your toes and they must really welcome the input.  Will keep my fingers crossed  that your 'wheels' are not too poorly, always a worry when you are dependent on them.

After over a year of taking washing to launderette I am sure new machine will be a great novelty ha ha.Have never had one with a dryer before but followed son's recommendation as they have  been delighted with theres.  Will only use the dryer when weather bad as I love to have the washing outside whenever possible.

Well just waiting for a neighbour to pop by regarding hubby's car and then will get down to preparing tonight's dinner.  Take care and all the best to you and MrsB (hope she gets flowers and you get nuts)

Sending good thoughts and hugs your way.  Jules x

Hi Kathy

Hopefully my knickers will remain 'secure'.Never had a 'combination' washer dryer before but recommendation by son (they have had no problems with theres) and it comes with 10yr guarantee so will be hell to pay if it does not live up to expectations ha ha. My Mum always went to the launderette (right up until she was 82 (never gave in to  much modern technology).  Used to use a spin dryer for her handwashing and as a child I vaguely remember the dreaded 'mangle'  Oops showing my age now.

Hope today has been easier for you. Emotions come at the most oddest of times!  I suspect that although I  have never driven, it will be somewhat strange when hubby's car is no longer parked outside.

Off to prepare dinner for this evening.  Take care forum buddy.  Hugs  Jules x

Hello Jules dont worry about your panties ,I have had a washer dryer for years its a Hotpoint and it has worked hard and works well, I just have to half the wash load to dry it ,im sure it will save you having to take it launderette and will pay for itself in no time The weather turned out nice no rain had sun and 11degs nice as expected rain..  I went to my sons for a lovely roast beef dinner today so need to cook today ..I hope you enjoy your meal Jules  take care lovely lady .Big hug  ...Sueanne Xx

Not knowing the importance of good knicker elastic - I bought some recently to stitch into my favourite (and 20 year old) wooly. Its good and holds it up nicely. Fully aprove of decent elastic! 

Glad things are looking roses for you and good luck with the the stuff next week

your friend 

steven xx

Hi Steven

Glad to know (I think!) that you have wonderful elastic and cannot believe how my thread diversifies ha ha!

Strange and difficult day yesterday.  Hubby's car was moved from outside the house (I do not drive and it has been sold) and I was surprised at my emotions when this took place. Then heard that my son's car had, in his words, 'been totalled' when he had been hit whilst returning home from a weekend away(this being after it had been broken into whilst in France!!). He was lucky to get away with a sore shoulder but it left me feeling very shaky. This month has certainly given the family difficult times. Need to take a few deep breaths and gather my thoughts as off to see solicitors re Probate later.

  To lighten the mood later I am dropping by a good friend for some 'catching up'and a cuppa.  Time is passing by and I am back to work a week today and am still wondering how I will cope - little by little I guess would be my own answer.

Hope you and your wife are doing ok.  Take care   Jules x 

Morning sueanne

Glad you were treated to Sunday Roast (always enjoy it but especially good if someone else doing the cooking!!).

Yesterday was a up and down day.  I got into town for a couple of hours and treated my garden birds to some new feed/feeders. After lunch I watched as hubby's car was driven away with mixed emotions (had not expected it to affect me quite so much) - I don't drive and it has been sold(neither children wanted it).  Still, another little step taken. I let the children know only to get a message back from my son telling me that he had just had his car 'totalled' by a taxi and was being taken home by my son in law -  you could not write a story like mine at present!!! Thankfully he suffered just a sore shoulder (assume from seatbelt).This followed the car being broken into whilst he was in France!  As my daughter says surely things can only get better!!!

Off to see solicitors later so need to get my 'business head on' but am calling on a friend afterwards for a cuppa and catch up.  Hard to believe that I go back to work in a week and beginning to feel nervous about that step too (must try and stop over-thinking everything and take it as it comes!).

Gloomy and damp this morning but promised brighter weather later. Hope you have a good stroll with Rusty.  Take care  Jules x 

Good morning Jules,

Just thought I would message you while I wait for the plastic delivery that will then keep me busy for the next day or two. 

Sorry to hear that your son has had such a bad time with his car lately and it is hardly surprising that his problems added to the sale of Hubby's car has hit you emotionally which is no doubt easily done right now. As you said to Steven, just take things little by little and day by day.

Sorry but I wasn't explaining myself very well earlier but my catch up with Claire will just be a phone call.  There is nothing I would like more than to see her but that is still a way off yet. In the meantime Hannah will be getting herself ready to go to hospital today nut there will be no results for a week afterwards.  Thanks very much for the suggestion for family to see a PALS representative and I will pass it on to my sister later on.

Good luck with the solicitors later but at least a visit to catch up with a friend is something to look forward to.

Love and hugs Jules.

Garf. xx

Good morning Jules,

Just thought I would message you while I wait for the plastic delivery that will then keep me busy for the next day or two. 

Sorry to hear that your son has had such a bad time with his car lately and it is hardly surprising that his problems added to the sale of Hubby's car has hit you emotionally which is no doubt easily done right now. As you said to Steven, just take things little by little and day by day.

Sorry but I wasn't explaining myself very well earlier but my catch up with Claire will just be a phone call.  There is nothing I would like more than to see her but that is still a way off yet. In the meantime Hannah will be getting herself ready to go to hospital today nut there will be no results for a week afterwards.  Thanks very much for the suggestion for family to see a PALS representative and I will pass it on to my sister later on.

Good luck with the solicitors later but at least a visit to catch up with a friend is something to look forward to.

Love and hugs Jules.

Garf. xx

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr, just wrote a reply to have the internet go down mid flow (been trying to get hold of customer services for my Broadband Service)  which is being a bit naughty at the moment.   Think I may need a new router as it constantly needs re-booting.  So frustrating.

Hope Hannah had the scan she needed and they can find out what is causing so much pain. Fingers crossed that the medication is keeping her comfortable in the meantime.

Hope the busman's holiday will leave you a bit of time for some relaxation  but at least you do not have the stress of travelling for a week!  Am thinking it will be a bit strange getting back to my work routine but do really need that structure back in my life.  That being said, I have apparently still 7 days leave (with my part time hours that equals two weeks off!!) which I need to take before end of March (new holiday year starts 1st April).  Will put dates forward on Monday (Manager says sooner the better for his planning) and a hoping for half ter week so I can spend time with grandchildren and also give my daughter a break. She has hospital appointment for the eldest at Great Ormond Street tomorrow so I am having fun time with 15mth old Zack (as well as taking delivery of new washer dryer) - not sure where I will find the time for working ha ha.

Enjoy the rest of your week.  Peaceful hugs send your way and hope your catch up with Claire brings a smile or two.  Jules x

Good morning Jules,

I can understand the frustrations your internet problems are giving you especially when now is the one time when you really don't need it.  Having said that the growl at the beginning of your post made me smile as someone I work with growls like that on a regular basis.

The work part of my busmans holiday is mostly done as the gutter and facia is now up on the back of the bungalow but I am now trying to find a good home for our lounge furniture, tv stand, cupboard unit etc. I am actually taking the large coffee table to my mother in law's a little later although it will completely fill what's left of her living room so I don't really know why she wants it.We have decided to splash out on some oak furniture which will arrive, hopefully on Friday.  It will be good to have some quality furniture for the first time but it does mean there is far less chance of a cruise this year.  Never mind, there is too much to do around the house anyway.

Good luck with your own delivery and I do hope that the engineer can sort out your internet.

Charge you £65 if they can't find a problem - how does that work? Once upon a time people only got paid if they fixed a problem, not if they couldn't find one.  There's that progress again! ;)

Love to you Jules.

Garf xx

Good evening Garf

Well, its been quite a day. Both engineer and washer/dryer were booked for a.m.delivery -both turned up at 2.30ish!!!! (just as well it was pouring with rain and I did not want/need to go out.  Washing machine now in situ and once I have read the booklet will set to work!  The internet has been temporarily re-vamped on old router but new router required. Engineer was here two hours as the new router he had with him just would not work with old settings - nothing is ever straightforward these days.  Now need another engineer to come out who apparently will bring all network info with him (to be honest its all beyond me but hubby never shared his password (why would he when you are supposed to protect it!!).  Anyway for now its fingers crossed.

On the plus side the legalities regarding registration of hubby's death have been  partially rectified so we can move forward with new death certificate once they are sent out (you could not write a book about the problems two 'professionals' have caused- though perhaps I should ha ha).  Time for formal complaint will be later as no one should have had to go through the added stress this has brought to the family.

Zack has been a little treasure today and is now tucked up and fast asleep and will be picked up tomorrow after elder brother has been dropped to school. His hospital appointment was inconclusive as he did not 'rock' during the sleep clinic but was rather upset by it all - am sure dinner out with Mum and Dad will help!

Hope Mother in Law was happy with the coffee table and that you get safe delivery of new furniture on Friday - seems like a good Spring Clean is afoot in your place and am sure your and Mrs G will be very pleased once its complete.

Well whilst a little peace is available I will put my meal on and try and catch up with other mail.

Take care and try and get a bit of R&R before your return to work.  Hugs  Jules