Hi Jules,

Hope you enjoyed your evening out and that you are now enjoying the company of Zack. Children do have this habbit of making us feel happy when they are around. Hope you both are soon recovered from your colds as they can make us feel miserable.

My son and daughter in law are able to renew the feeding button for my grandson but have been advised not to do it at the moment by the gp as the skin aroung it is so inflamed and bleeds every now and then. Hopefully the antibiotics which they have to administer through the button and the cream they apply round it will clear this infection up soon.

My son ordered some cedar arrow shafts from Canada as he couldnt get what he wanted over here. When they despacthed them they wrote the address as UNITED KINGDOM (FRANCE). They have been stuck over there for nearly three weeks before anyone found out what the problem was. So they are now re-making them and hopefully will get the right address this time after the boss told my son He didnt expect to have to teach his despacth staff geography. Needless to say my son is not amused.

We had a nice surprise today when brother and sister in law came to visit us. He has taken the bad news very well allthough both sister in law and Mrs B are finding it hard to deal with. They have to wait until he has had another full body scan before he is given the next round of treatment which they hope will be about three weeks time. Was so nice to see them and to have a good chat with them.

Nice that you have re-adopted the barn owl; they are beautiful creatures. Rather than Mrs B put her owls in a shed, I fear that will be my fate when she runs out of room Ha Ha. When I mentioned this to her she laughed but didnt deny it. She merley said, "Well at least you'll be closer to your timber that way". My grandson is not the only cheecky member of my family.

Hope little one does not keep you awake tonight. Take care Jule, sending best wishes and a big hug your way, Brian.

Hi Brian,
(Apologies for butting in Jules), just had to let you know made cheesy scones, treacle scones, bread and butter pudding, pavlova, cheese sticks, tattie scones and home made pizzas for the visitors.  Drool.....
Just had to have a stir,
Rgds to you and Mrs B
Kathy x

 

Hi Jules,
Well family left 48 hrs ago and well and truly back home and settled in again.  What an absolute wow of a time we had.  Mum is quite remarkable and so on the ball.  She does a lot of crosswords and as a retired teacher is quick to correct our grammer ( or grandpa).  She does a lot of mental arithmetic in her head and is quicker than us with pen and paper.
Latest on sis is another blood test on Monday.  Liver fibrous??  She has been following Sandra Cabots healthy liver diet while here and eating very healthily so we hope the results show an improvement.  She feels fine but with high bp, diabetes and cholesterol issues it is a concern.
Good to see you had a good nights rest when Zack slept over.  It is great to be able to help out isn't it. The littlies give us so much joy don't they.
 Thinking of going home in June to spend more time with mum.  Just a thought at present but even though she is sprightly who knows what the future holds.  Guess it depends on me finding a house/ pet sitter.
Planned on a quiet day yesterday but ended up having a few "drop in " visitors, but that's all good, not a drama, they take me as they find me.
Pets have gone off to bed without me....what's new?
Will be good for you and family to have a few days R & R, pack plenty of t bags.
Ok honey will sign of for now, sending you humongous hugs, precious lady
Kathy xx
 

Hi Kathy

Good to see you pop up on my thread and hope you keeping well.  Sounds like you had a blast/great wedding too, whilst the family were over and no doubt will take you a few days to 'get back to normal'whatever that is.  Hope your sis gets better news at her appointment Monday as it sounds as though she has been doing her best to follow a good diet.  I can relate to that as have been trying to get back to 'healthy' eating as have cholesterol blood test tomorrow (should have gone last October but GP gave me breathing space with so much going on with hubby at the time).  Thanks for the mention of all those lovely sounding baking achievements (never worry about butting in) as I am trying to up fruit and veggies and leave 'naughties' in the shops (my thoughts that if I dont buy them I can't eat them ha ha). Have already told family not to do the Easter Egg thing this year (of course I have still bought for them!).

Emotions running high this week again, as Thursday would have been hubby's 64th birthday and we have arranged the formal scattering of his ashes. Its hard to believe that nearly three months have gone by.  We go away on Easter Monday - no t-bags as we are coffee drinkers ha ha but although we are staying on a caravan park (this will be the first time I have ever been in one!!) so that we have all the amenities for the grandchildren, we will not self cater as they have restaurants on site and good local eateries nearby (daughter and family have been before so know their way around the area).  Looks as though wellies will be required but  it still has time to change!!

Had Zack for his second sleepover last night and not too bad considering the clocks went forward. Very blustery (with heavy squalls) just now but not too bad temperature wise. Have  not been out today; had Zack till late morning and then weather did not entice me out (am in the throws of my first cold for ages (is this liked to my healthy diet!!!)) but hate being indoors all day so maybe if it clears later I can go for a quick stroll (it would be very fast with the wind we have at the moment.  Two collared doves are hanging on to my bird feeding station but are struggling for balance.  The blue ***/coldfinches coping a bit better.

They are making the most of crushed nuts and mealworms.

Am feeling a bit lazy as I watch the madness that is the triathlon taking part in New Zealand!

I expect the pets are finding it strange now that your family have left (or maybe grateful for their space back ha ha).   No pets to look after when I go away so just let the neighbours know so they can take my dustbin in (I will leave it out as rubbish collected the day after we go away).  Am very lucky to have good neighbours in our street.

Well best stop chatting and get on with preparing tonight's meal(a bit more than usual to keep me going until after my blood test tomorrow.  Take care my friend.  Chat again soon.  Jules x

Hi Kathy,

Sorry to hear your families visit had come to an end. Sounds like you had a whale of a time and am so pleased for you truely deserve it. Your mention od all the tastey goodies especially the cheesy one has got my wouth watering, just as you hoped. Mrs B happened to mention the other day that she originall had a set of four playing card shaped pastry cutter, i.e heart diamond ect but some had broken and she now only had one shape left.. So I looked on the internet and have bought her a new set complete wit a round tin to put them in. So for next weekend, she has promised to make me some cheese biscuits with them. I will send you a photo of them just to make you drool but wont tell Mrs B as she would tell me off for stirring and might not make those CHEESY BISCUITS. mmmmmmmm

I am rotten arent I?????

take care Kathy, sending best wishes and a big hug, Brian..

Hi Jules,

Sorry you couldnt get out for your walk. We have had a rainey and blustery day today. The sun has come out now the day is nearly finnished but the wind has got really strong. I went and bought a new bedside alam clock/radio only to find when I got home it was totally diiferent to the one shownSo back to our local Argos and no one seems to know whats gone wrong. Ended up buying a totally differnt one. It has ten pre-sets on the radio but the instructions are not that well written so still struggling. Grandchildren could probably do it just like that.

Both my son and granddaughter won gold medals and a trophy each so very proud of them both. Grandsaon is still improving  and is now being fed every two hours instead of every hour. So much work for his parents. Even when he is well it's 24/7 care but he re-pays it with the laughter he brings to so many peoples lives, including mine.

Hope your visit to Draculars Den goes well and results are good. Wehave a couple of ringed dove visit our garden but we also have a large familiy of magpies always around. 

Take care, best wishe to you and your family, Brian.

Hi Brian

Think internet signal being a pain as just lost long post to you grrrrr.

Glad that your grandson is improving and it must be rewarding for all the family when he comes smiling through. Such a lot for everyone to deal with.  Congrats to your son/grand-daughter on their winning ways - the trophy/medal cabinet is doing well - who knows future British champions.

Got my blood test done early (out by 8.10) and hopped on bus/tube to shopping centre and treated myself to a very large cappuchino (?sp) as had fasted since 7pm last night. Now back home with a large box of tissues and throat soothers (always end up with croaky voice and this time  no different!) Hoping that by Wednesday, when I am next into work, I will be able to talk to customers otherwise it will be a bit embarrassing.  I may have to put off visit to Mum tomorrow as would not want to spread the germs around. 

Hope you and Mrs B having a peaceful day. Take care Jules x

Hi dearest Jules,
Hope you are muddling along ok.
I want to state how wonderful you are but you will tell me you are not, so we will skip that bit.  One day you will mistype Brian and call him Brain and we will never hear the end of that !  
Have you tried cider vinegar and honey in hot water? Hot toddy? Baileys? Vicks?
Great to see you plan on getting away for a few days maybe take a scarf / hat as well as the wellies ?  I am such a mother ..., You will have such a great time.  Good on you.
Coping ok without the family, but so appreciate their visit.  My neighbours are very good.  I am very fortunate indeed. I think when you have lived in the same area for a while (30 years) and neighbours have remained the same we all look out for each other.
So funny this time last week I was rigged up in Trakkie daks, jumper and scarf, now it  is 27 in dining room, no need for a /c, all good.
Ok honey lamb,
Will sign off for now
Take care
Kathy x 

Hi Kathy

Seems strange being indoors on a Tuesday but could not risk infecting the Care Home/Mum so rang to explain with a very husky voice.  All being well will go down on Easter Sunday instead.

Your opening sentence made me smile - muddling is just how it feels and you're right, I am not wonderful, just doing what you gotta do!!. Like yourself have lived in the same road forever (38yrs May when we bought the house!!) and have good neighbourhood watch scheme (headed by my nextdoor neighbour).

Last night was extremely gusty (still is but ideal for the washing on the line - very firmly pegged I can tell you- and another lot doing).  Chased my dustbin lid down the road so have had my exercise outside lol but its still lovely and sunny and so far none of the blustery showers that were forecast (perhaps I should not say that as would like to finish getting washing dry!!).

Daughter had the result of her repeat blood tests and all good so just has appointment at Heart hospital  late April to be fully checked out (genetic extra heart chamber causes her to pass out occasionally and last episode was a bit more serious so they are being thorough thankfully).

Any news from your sister's appointment on Monday?Do hope it was encouraging for her and the family.

Well a busy weekend ahead (entertaining and being entertained/babysitting and then hols) but need to get through the emotion of Thursday first so concentrating on a day at a time. Our son will pick me up from work en route to the crematorium (son in law also offered but they have dentist first in the morning and would take them out of their way whereas son and other half will more or less drive nearby anyway). It means I will not arrive alone and we can all support each other as is the norm of course.  I suppose it will be another stage reached in a necessary journey - not the way I had envisaged spending hubby's next birthday but good for the family to have somewhere to focus our memories when we visit in the future. Our eldest grandson(6yrs) is very interested (so many questions  so we are hoping this will help him understand a bit more) though not all easy to answer.  We have always been open and honest and bless him he has already lost a step great grand-dad in his short life. He and my daughter are doing the race for life the week before Father's Day  which will be more poignant than previous years that my daughter and I have done it .

Hope you doing okay and thanks for your continued support - chatting helps. Take care lovely lady.Jules x