Hi Jules, 

I know you'll be in London enjoying the sights with your family; hope you're all having a great time (remember to build in lots of coffee/treat stops - sightseeing can be pretty tiring ;) 

Hope to hear all about it soon, hugs, Jo xx

Hi Jo

Hopiny my net connection lasts long enough to reply to my e mail - very noisy landline is causing havoc so once again awaiting engineers grrrrr.

Just in from a lovely day out.  Arrived in London in time to watch changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace - Eldest grandson really loved the mounted Guardsmen who were the escort and got some good photos to show their Dad.  Then walked through St James Park to Whitehall (packed lunch in the park) then on through Trafalgar Square to Regent Street (Hamleys to spend his £10 savings).  Zack slept on the tube up toLondon and was great for the whole day considering he was confined to his pushchair!.  Beautiful sunny day and rounded off with a Wimpy tea treat. Now a lazy evening before being back into work tomorrow.  Return to London next Monday (teachers' training day) to do Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London Eye (booked) and if not too cream crackered then the Aquarium.Believe it or not eldest grandson was still running when we came out of the station!!!

How are you doing, okay, I hope.  Nice day for a walk with the dog if you were up to it or are you in planning mode for next term?  Take care and sending hugs back Jules xx

Hello Jules, I'm glad you had a nice day out in London.  Sorry to hear that your Mum is low, must be difficult for you especially at the present time.  I'm enjoying the hols so far and having a nice rest.  Take care and speak soon.  Hope x

Hi Hope

Glad you finding time to relax during the school holidays.Wish my daughter could say the same ha ha. The excess energy of a six year old and little Zack's teething (very very disturbed nights just now) means I know she will be pleased to see school resume. Had phone engineer today who says all is well so we will see how it goes (of course the line was not noisy when they came, how typical is that!). Had daughter and kiddies for a few hours today and helped with homework (reading, spellings and the 'copying'of a poem into his school book was needed and all achieved between me and his Mum.  Somehow easier to concentrate when there maybe a little treat available (had bought him an I Spy book of London and he was very pleased as was able to tick a few off (and no doubt a few more after our next trip on Monday (hoping for good weather for the London Eye). Enjoy your weekend before returning to the mayhem that is work!  Sending hugs  Jules x

'

Hi Brian

Good to hear that your brother in law is doing well and hope this continues (he has a great example in you and someone who truly understands is very helpful).  Congrats to your son on his further archery success and am sure your grand-daughter will be 'catching him up' when school work allows.  So much to fit in. Hope you and Mrs B have had a good day today.  I have had phone engineer (who failed to find a fault and just typical no noise on the line when they came) so will have to see how it goes now. Am going to get myself new cordless phone tomorrow just in case its the 'antique' one I currently have.  Am also trying to take myself in hand with my ' healthy eating' again as the comfort eating brings its own problems.  Have written a list of ingredients for the store cupboard and am planning a session in the kitchen whilst on leave so I can have 'home made' ready meals in the freezer (never really enjoyed cooking but used to batch cook when I worked full time and maybe this will stop me heading towards the 'naughty foods' though still allow myself small treat.

First three days next week already 'booked up' with places to go, people to see plus hopefully getting the garden wall finally built. Am out this evening for my usual Friday night outing (not sure for how much longer as my friends are soon to move to a bungalow nearer to family but apparently I am going for 'sleepovers' as soon as they are settled).

Well ramble over and need to eat before going out so say cheerio for now and wish you and Mrs B a peaceful weekend ahead.  Take care  Jules x

Good morning Jules,

I hope you enjoyed you Friday night out and that maybe you even had a win. As regards the comfort eating, I dont blame you with all you have had to deal with recrently. After all Brianitus is still going strong so who am I to judge you????

Just typical when you want your phone line to play up with the engineer there ready to sort it out, it works perfectly. I have dropped some hints this morning about cheese straws to Mrs B but she was suddenly hard of hearing. This hearing suddenly improves however when I mention flowers!!!!!! Just dont understand it ha ha.

Sounds like you have a busy week ahead of you next week but feel sure you will enjoy it and I know your grandchildren will. It is many years since I went to London to look around.I fact thinking about it I believe it was when my son was quite young and I took him to some of the museums up there.

I hope you enjoy your walk tommorow morning. If you do please dont mention you have bought some more cheese as it makes Kathy's mouth water and we don't want to do that do we. CHEESE KATHY, sorry about that.

Take care Jules, have a peaceful weekend for it sounds as if you will need it for next week, Best wishes and kind thoughts, Brian.

Hi Brian

Well, no luck at the bingo on Friday but still good to be out with friend and to catch up on family news in between games. She also took me Lidl shopping yesterday as they go once a month and I am in the process of re-building a store cupboard ready for some healthier eating (still have to finish the naughty food up but not so much now!).  Kathy is safe from me as the Farmers Market not on today so will not be buying her fave food (hope you are doing okay Kathy - not long now to family wedding and am thinking of you as I know how emotional this will be for you all). Just to tickle your tastebuds Brian saw some nuts whilst shopping and thought of you (did not buy any though!).

Trying to get my head around the fact that I need to voice (write) my concerns of the 'mistakes' made during 'due process' during the arrangements for hubby though know it needs to be done, if only to prevent it happening to another family. I would not wish the emotional fall out on my worst enemy. Have tried to do draft letter but as there are two professionals at fault will have to deal with them separately. Not easy having to think about it all but know that, as a family, we need to have someone take notice and an apology would not be too much to ask I feel.  Perhaps my morning walk later will clear the cobwebs away and give me a boost in the right direction.

Well have bought a new cordless phone so need to read some instructions and see if I can get it set up on my own or whether being such a technophobe I will get the children to sort it when they next pop in.

Have a good day.  Regards  Jules x

Hi Jules,
Just lost a huge note to you, but let's try again....
Love how you say read the instructions before using.... Know it well.
All good here, family arrive 2 weeks tdy, am so excited.
Big sis has strange blood tests increase in creatine kinase will wait for 12 weeks for tests.  Needs lie down during day to be able to stay up 12 hrs plus.  She is 57 so quite a concern.  Best natured and most unselfish of my siblings.  She is the one who travelled out in July to help us and went home a physical and emotional wreck as had not been exposed to a terminal illness before and what is involved.  Was most supportive of how we were dealing with situation, talking and expressing our love a lot openly, but impacted her tremendously.  I will never forget what her spending time with us meant.
Anyway onto brighter subjects, 2 weeks till the family arrive, woo hoo, my madcap crew of cheese freaks, did you hear that Brian??? You would be in for a severe spanking with a birch rod , but honey you may enjoy it too much.... I must say not happy at the new movie out pinching  many of my catch phrases/ sayings.
Been hot last 2 days 40, but nothing you can do to change the weather.  Go with the flow.  Still I spent some time outside doing my stuff.  Yes I am mad, no question.
Great how you are enjoying keeping busy.  I was offered a job recently but not yet ready.....
Let's see if I can copy and paste this without losing it....
lots of love Kathyxxx

Hi Kathy

Can hear the excitement in your post regarding forthcoming family reunion/celebrations and am sure you will all never stop talking whilst they are over. Its wonderful how supportive big sis was for you at the hardest of times and hope that when her tests are completed things have settled down with regard to raised levels - to be honest not sure what medical conditions this could be but hopefully treatable if they remain high.She is no age at all and is must be very tiring for her.  Hope she can sleep on the journey and arrived refreshed. Certainly look forward to hearing all about the wedding in due course. Its over 7 years since our daughter married and still brings wonderful memories flooding back whenever I think about that day.

Went for my usual Sunday stroll (and had a manicure en route) and have had relaxing afternoon as plenty of walking tomorrow when we take grandchildren to London.  Just to whet your appetite could be a packed lunch of brie sandwiches (can you believe have found a 'lower fat' french variety and still tastes good (well had to test it out).))

Well is was nice to be offered a job even if you are not yet ready to take up the reins again just yet. It has to be a confidence booster.  I have two weeks leave as had to use up 'saved just in case' annual leave by end of March. Hoping to get some spring cleaning done and who knows may even get into the garden (new back wall to go up Tuesday weather and builder permitting!) but also have a few appointments to fit in(catch up on) so should be varied and am a bit surprised at how I am managing to fill the days already .

Well that's enough of my rambling.  Hope you are keeping well and don't overdo the gardening in the heat though expect you are well practiced at pacing yourself.  Sending hugs Jules xx