Hi Hope,

Thanks for your post. We must have been thinking along the same lines for I was thinking of posting to you as I realized the other day we had not spoken for quite some time. My psa regarding my prostate has only gone up a very small amount so everything looking good on the health front. Glad to read your sons are both doing well and that you have been keeping busy. I hope you are keeping well too. I notice you are still keeping up the good work by helping others on here.

Take care my forum buddy sending kind thoughts and best wishes your way, Brian.

Hi again Brian, I'm so glad to read your health is keeping good.  Best wishes to you and Mrs B.  Hope x

Good morning Brian and Hope

Hope you dont mind a joint response (saves you double reading ha ha). The 'final journey' service for hubby yesterday was very poignant but it was necessary for us all to bring some closure to what has been a rather elongated 'goodbye' caused by professional' failures (hard to deal with).  I do feel that we are now beginning again the healing process that the loss of a loved one brings.  As you both have said we are blessed with the fact that we talk openly and often about hubby/dad/grandad (not something I am sure he would understand having  been such a quiet person himself!). Many humerous memories to recall over such a long period (its the little things that set you off!!) as well as frustrating times (let's face it no one is perfect) but overall he put a lot into his work life and his family, was generous and dignified and  our family, though a small unit, will keep him close in our hearts as we continue to try and make him proud.

Am off to do the 'supermarket sweep' shortly and out for usual social evening tonight and then spending time with family tomorrow as we celebrate daughter's birthday tomorrow (son's is next weekend so having dinner and 'cake').  I know it wont be easy for us all but we are doing it together and keep a candle burning and hope in our hearts.

Brian - hope the computer glitches are now a thing of the past (technology great when it works but such a pain when it plays up).  Hope you and Mrs B ave a peaceful and perhaps 'nutty' weekend.

Hope - Good to hear your boys are continuing to achieve - how proud you and your husband must feel as you watch them grow.  Wishing them all the best with next round of exams/results and though I know you only 'drop in' to the forum from time to time do hope you are managing okay. 

Stay well, sending thank you hugs. Jules x

Dear Jules,  I'm so glad that the service brought some sort of closure for you, although it must still be difficult to come to terms with the mistakes that were made.  I'm glad you have your lovely family around you and I will continue to think of you as you move forwards.  Hope x

Good morning Jules,

Sounds like you a going to have a lovely day today even though I am sure there will be moments of sadness as well. But the closeness you share as a family will help you through those moments. It must be a great comfort to you that you can share both sad and happy times together as a family. 

I have now got 26 places all round Sussex where our members can get a discount which should help offset the cost of our members subscription fees. We have also now finalized the dates for our exhibitions/shows for this year. The first one is not until May. So as soon as the weather warms up, I will be starting on this years new lines.

Mrs B's carnations arrived yesterday for valentines day and as a reward, she has baked me some heart shaped cheese bisciuts. Mind you Jules I was blackmailed into buying the flowes by a promise of the cheese biscuits. You ladies know how to get us men to do what you want us to do ha ha.

Take care, have a lovely day today Jules, will be thinking of you, Brian.

Thanks Hope and Brian

Have enjoyed family time today and as usual the grandchildren stole the show (along with a very excitable Westie who did lots of chasing before enjoying a well earned marrowbone). Of course, the inner emotions did battle with the need to  help our daughter enjoy her birthday and think we all managed well to get the right balance. We all enjoyed an Indian takeaway followed buy my son's girlfriend's chocolate cake (very naughty but very good!). Tomorrow my daughter and I have a day out without the little ones so should be able to shop till we drop though it will be a lot of window shopping and chat.

Your reference to Mrs B's flowers being well deserved bearing in mind you got a fair swap (heart shaped cheesy biscuits) just shows how well you know each other.  Hubby was no romantic but always told me to 'get myself some flowers' when we went shopping around Valentines Day so bought myself a couple of bunches yesterday and they look lovely. As I walked back, I passed a florist and sitting on the table outside was a miniature pair of pottery wellies (with bee features) containing an african violet - its now sitting as a centrepiece on my dining table.

Did make some plans to take the grandchildren to London for the day when I am not working this week and then the following week the eldest has a 'training day' off school and I am on annual leave so have booked to go on the London Eye as a treat for us to enjoy (son in law does not 'do heights' so daughter and I will take the two boys).

Well time is moving forward again and I need to get some shut eye.  Best regards to you both and all my forum buddies. Jules x

Hi Jules, 
Good to see you had a lovely time with the family, always a joy.  It's hard to believe you only have one more week  at work then leave with the family.  I have had a few computer issues then had grandson here for 36 hours which was such fun.  Although it was a hot one we had fun with buckets of water, plastic cups and water balloons.  The simple things in life...
Re the family visit it's still going ahead at present.  Sister has requested a wheelchair for airport travel as has mum.  Sister still unable to walk far and still no diagnosis from docs.  Mum has been put on bp tabs but to get to 88 without being on any Meds is quite an accomplishment.  Three weeks till they arrive.  There will be lots of tears and lots of laughter.  Also a good excuse to raise a glass to absent "friends".
Did you have any luck at Friday night outing?
I went out for tea with 2 friends during the week, quite a novel experience driving myself out to a pub.  It was pleasant enough and the meal was good value.  Getting back to car I found my driving glasses had cracked but had another pair in glovebox.  It wasn't really hot so who knows why it happened.  Guess I need to carry them in handbag from now on, what a pain.
Just found the latest on you mum on Kerries thread, thought I was really losing it as couldn't find it on yours but was sure I had seen it somewhere.  The things you do to keep me on my toes... Haha.
Well Jules will head out and do some work outside, only in little spurts as is 38 tdy, but beats sitting inside.  Big hugs
Love Kathy xxx
 

Hi Kathy

So I ramble on other threads as well as my own, oh my. Sometimes just forget where I am - virtually or otherwise ha ha.

Bet you had great fun with the water games outside in that heat and yes love the way kiddies can have a great time without too much expense - going back a lot of years I remember my two as small kids spending outs filling and emptying jugs of water in and out of an old washing up bowl in the middle of my lawn!!!(now its the grandson making mud pies (yesterday too even though only 8degrees!!). 

Pleased to read that your family members (plus wheels) hope to be with you for your celebrations and 'absent friends' toasts will be emotional but part of the day. Your Mum has done amazingly well to only now need medication for her blood pressure.  MyMum will be 89 inMay and takes all sorts of pills for many different ailments and says she should rattle when she walks .We celebrated my daughter's birthday yesterday and whilst, like you, emotionally charged it was good to be altogether. Today her and I had a girlie shopping day out with lunch (son in law had the boys) and she has just dropped me off an left to help put them to bed.  She relished the 'time out' (especially trying clothes on in peace!!) and will enjoy her next day out (her husband got her a spa day for 2 as her birthday treat) too.  Helps to recharge her batteries.

A few of us seem to be having 'computer issues' - my phone line is 'noisy' and creating intermittant loss of net access (you may get some peace and quiet from me until it gets fully sorted) so waiting for engineers diagnostics again (think the wiring could do with being updated!!!!!!).

Take care and am now about to do the ironing before going into work tomorrow. Sendng hugs back your way.  Jules x

Thanks for your kind post Hope.  Am very lucky to have family close by and the mutual support we are able to give each other really is helping us cope with our new situation.

Spent an hour visiting Mum after work today as am in London tomorrow.  She is somewhat low just now and no matter what I say still wishing herself in the same place as hubby. Bless her she has just had enough and not enjoying her life any more.Don't dare put into print what she told me she would like for her birthday (not until May so she is still thinking ahead!!) but did manage to talk her into having her hair done when the hairdresser visits tomorrow as is usual. She still thinks hubby is the lucky one  just now.

Hope you are enjoying the half term break. Take care, sending hugs.Jules x