Good afternoon Jules,

Sorry have not replied sooner, but have been working in my garage/workshop and now have two more cannons and coming in rather weary but pleased. New photo attached. You were so right about my grandson liking the cannons but he did ask, why I hadnt made any cannon balls to go with them as he said "They are no good without them". I was making him up a story last night and I got to a point where this huge great hairy creature appeared from out of the jungle and quick as a flash he said, "I know who that is~~~~~~~~~~~ Thats my dad".  Luckily my son wasnt there to hear it but it did make my daughter in law and me laugh.

Your photos of your red poppys look great; It's great the detail you got from the close up shot. Hope you had a great day out onTuesday. I used to often take my two older grandchildren for a walk down through the woods near us to the big mill pond. They loved feeding the geese, ducks and moor hens. We also have Blue *** visiting Mrs B's bird cantina; photo attached. It's nice now you have re-arranged your furniture, you will be able to sit and view your garden, not that you seem to have much time to sit arround much lately. When we popped inti the garden centre, I showed Mrs B a huge bag of peanuts and she said "No, you are not buying then because you'd probably end up keeping them for yourself. As if I would do a thing like that Jules???????

We'v had good news about my brother in law, his psa has dropped quite a lot allthough it's still high. So it looks like the new tablets/medication are working and sister in law was so relieved.  Fingers crossed his psa may come down even further. Have ordered four 2" long polished brass cannon barrels at a reasonable price and will make the smaller wooden carridges for them.

On Tuesday, I was asked to go to Crawley to pick up my oldest grandchildren as through The Young Carers Group, they were taken to a big fun fare where they had free rides all afternoon but just needed picking up at 4,30. My oldest grandson must have had a real good time for he went to sleep on the drive home, even though my granddaughter didnt stop talking diring the 30 minute drive back..

Take care and have a peacful and relaxing weekend, Brian.

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Hi Brian, beef Wellington with the works,[[]]

Hi Kathy,

For once you have failed to wind me up. I am a vegegtarian who doesnt eat any meat. In actual fact I am far worse than most vegegtarians for the list of food I dont like is quite big. It all started when I was quite young. Apparently I used to eat most things but when My Canadian father went back to Canada after the war, I suddenly developed a dislike of all meat and a lot of vegegtables. In fact when I was younger, the smell of certain food used to make me feel sick. My mother took me to see a specialist who had never seen anyone like me before,(and probably never will again) I completely stumped him and after throwing his arms in the air, his answer was that as I was doing okay with my weird diet, to let me carry on as I was.

I wish I could eat more for at time it can be very embarassing especially when we go out and Mrs B is having a proper roast dinner and I am just having potatoes and peas. If they ever do away with them I will fade away rapidly. Mrs B's hairdresser calls me Mr Potato Man.

I hope you are keeping well, Take care and best wishes being sent from me in England, Brian

Good morning Brian

I hope you are starting the day a little less weary but all the efforts you have put into your canons are definitely a satisfactory conclusion to long hours in the workshop. Great results and maybe your grandson is on to something! Do I foresee some 'accompanying balls' soon. Bless him he is such a character and just love his attitude.

Great news about your Brother in Law's psa levels - hope the downward trend continues. Borth his wife and Mrs B must feel much relief just now and  you will know exactly how it feels too.

We had a great picnic/play time in the park on Tuesday and rounded it off with a trip to the garden centre where I managed to lug a large bag of compost into the car along with four new plants.  When we got home I took an old pair of trolley wheels to the car and it was a lot easier to move the compost!!(me things I should have loaded it onto the pushchair (though not sure it would have survived the weight!!!). It was a great day out. Boys enjoyed playing in the wood, digging and den building (sometimes the Park holds den building days and I think they found a previous project to work on!).

Got in from work yesterday and mowed the lawn and put in new plants so hopefully they will be watered in later as the forecast does not look promising (it will save me more watering can trips). Today I am going with my daughter and the boys to visit their other Nanny for lunch and then will take them out for dinner before doing my overnight babysitting stint at their place. It will be good for their parents to have a night off.  I am sure keeping occupied is helping thus far, though no how busy I am my sleeping is still an issue and I find it very frustrating twiddling my thumbs on and off during the night.

Well best go and sort things out before my 'lift' arrives and my ears take a battering from excited youngsters. 

Kathy, your photo did make me feel hungry so despite Brian's aversion to meat, you made me head to the kitchen!!! (not sure that was your intention but hey ho!!!).

Hope you all have a peaceful weekend. Take care.Jules x

Kathy

You are such a tease. Not long home following day and overnighter with the grandchildren so will  sort myself out and get to do the weekly shop before meeting up with friends to go and celebrate workmate's 60th.  Lovely day here so hope it stays dry for the BBQ. Will chat soon. Jules xx

Thought as it is a miserable day weatherwise I would share a couple of recent pics. Daughter enjoyed this for her dessert when we took for boys out to eat!  The Mother blue *** collecting food for her brood!

Come on you lot!  All this teasing with yummy food! I should have taken a picture of my freshcream and strawberry jam donut I ate a little while ago. Mmmmmmmmmmmm..  I think Kathy is trying to tempt you Brian and  hope Mrs B keeps her eye on you!  If I could get insurance I would definitely go and stay with her - then could review the cheesy scones and Pavlova first hand. - heaven!  Hope everyone is ok, and you are coping dear Jules. Are the birds in your garden? See you are a veggie BRian .. our daughter has been for about 23yrs so I know a few yummy recipes.  Do a easy and fab veg chilli that we all prefer to the meat one!

Morning Max

Yes, my coping mechanism seems to be 'keep busy' or the mind occupied at least!! Have been helped by the continuing support of children (mutual of course and upcoming Race for Life and Father's Day this month will require a lot of emotional strength but we will make hubby proud). Daughter has had memory bears made (service she found which makes them from a piece of loved one's clothing) which seems to give her and the grandchildren some comfort.  Sometimes its the everyday stuff I find more of a struggle but pull myself together as I know how privileged I was to have a long marriage/friendship.

The food 'teasing' brings a few smiles all round and if you had said a you had been eating chocolate cake I would have been drooling (not a fresh cream lover!).  Though I did have a slice of walnut and coffee cake one day last week as a treat.  Have stopped buying biscuits as was in danger of the comfort eating getting out of hand again lol.

Yes, the blue *** was in my garden. I have two 'feeding stations', one at the top of the garden and the one in the photo which is two feet from the patio doors (I sat with the door open for around 20 mins before I was able to catch the visit on a very basic camera). Watching the comings and goings gives me a lot of pleasure and my next garden purchase will probably be a new bird table (current one very tatty).

Will be keeping you in my thoughts especially for tomorrow. Sending virtual hugs lovely lady. Jules xx

Hi Jules, Kathy and Max,

Max, I dont think Kathy is trying to tempt me-------------------I know she is ha ha, and the trouble is, a lot of the time its working. Now you have to go and join in by mentioning strawberry jam and cream donuts. Mmmnnnn  Good job Mrs B does keep an eye on me (sometimes she needs both eyes Max)  Joking aside, I also, like Jules, wish you all the best for tommorow and thank you for your continued support

Kathy, you have done it again, Home made chips and you have mentioned the cheese word again. I like chips almost as much as I like cheese, especially home made ones.

Jules, even you have joined in the TEASE BRIAN  party ha ha. I have shown Mrs B whats happening and all she said was she is pleased that someone is getting their own back at last, as she has to put up with a lot of teasing from me at times. I anaged to persued Mrs B to go for another long drive where we used the small country roads again. She  enjoyed her ride out and I stopped to buy her some Kent cherrys and strawberries which didnt last her long. She doesnt get many treats so I was pleased to see her enjoying herself. Have made a pair of cannons both with the black barrells and now know what time it take to make them so can price accordingly. My son and granddaughter both did well at archery over the weekend. On Saturday, my son beat the man who is ranked second in the country at longbow.

Somehow my computer has lost two programs, movie maker and dvd maker. I always make a dvd of my anext door neighbours holiday snaps for her. I have managed to download the movie maker program but cant seem to find the dvdv maker. I downloaded two differnt ones, only to find out they are for a trial period only and have this showing up on and photos made into the slide show so have deleted both of them.

Take care ladies, I wish you all the best, and thanks for all the support Brian.