Hi Jules,

It was great wasn't it, so good to watch. As he said, he didn't have anything to loose so just went for it! Will be looking out for his next match, that's for sure.

Am four weeks on from finishing radiotherapy and went back to work this week.The side effects seemed to have hit hard but it is good to focus on other stuff again even though I am really very sore and a bit vulnerable still. Will get there, just impatient to do so!

Hope you are ok too?

Like you, I enjoy my roses so here's one of mine for you.  Take care  Sue xx

Thanks for the lovely picture, just seemed to say 'peaceful surroundings'. With the hot weather my couple of roses are fast blooming and I have cut a good few to keep them going a little longer indoors!.

I hope being back at work helps your recovery but am sure you will need to take it gently for a while.  My hubby never had radiotherapy and I know treatments have come on considerably since his father had it over 33 years ago!   However I do remember how shattered he felt for a few months (and he was already retired!).

I am still experiencing times of vulnerability following hubby's passing and feeling a little low today (6mth anniversary) but will pick myself up as you do and get on with it.  I accept these feelings as perfectly understandable and try to think of it not as a weakness but as life's learning curve (easier said than done sometimes). Am off to do 'supermarket sweep' shortly and then have my induction session at my local Gymophobics gym this afternoon (a brand new challenge to focus on) and a day out with my children/grandchildren tomorrow to The Cotswold Show.

Have a peaceful weekend.  Jules xx

Hi Jules, I'm so sorry about your hubby and how difficult it must be for you to "get on with it" as you put it. How nice though to be so involved with your family and I hope you have a fantastic day at the Cotswold Show. The Cotswolds are my favourite part of the country and I would love to live there if I could so I envy you having it on your doorstep to enjoy. Hope the Gymophobics was fun and is something you can get into too..

So, another day and another great match, with Heather Watson very nearly getting there (not too many fingernails left after that one!). Will be trying to catch Brown again tomorrow if I can.

Take care and have fun tomorrow.  Sue xx

Hi Sue

Well sleeping is not something that comes easily at the best of times but the storms last night gave me good reason to be wide awake!!!  Thankfully now passed through but was up at 4.30  yikes!!! At least I will not have to water the garden when I get back tonight.

I did enjoy my first session(induction!) at Gymophobics though my exercise/breathing coordination needs some working on ha ha. Very social place which is just what I need and I actually find it very calming to be able to concentrate on something different - only time will tell if I can 'tone up' but they re-assess every ten weeks to see how you are doing though you are monitored at every session and guided through any changes they think may help.  It will give me something to do on the days I do not work!!

Have spent a few long weekends in the Cotswolds over the years and always enjoyed it.  Not quite on my doorstep though as its about 2hrs away so will be leaving around 8. Eldest grandson 6+ will want to be everywhere at once but his brother 20mths will slow process a bit when not in his buggy!! I am going with them (they are only 10mins round the corner from me) and my son and his girlfriend (plus dog) are meeting us there. Nothing like a family get-together to keep the spirits up.

The Watson/Williams match was edge of the seat stuff and really felt for our girl. Sure my neighbours would have heard me yelling her on!!  Will have to catch up on today's play when we get home (daughter and the boys staying over as my son in law is out of a work's do 'socialising around London' today and will probably be like a bear with a sore head tomorrow morning!!! He can have a lay in and I can give my daughter a break from making breakfast.

Hope you have a good day. Jules xx

Good morning Jules,

Found this photo yesterday and thought of you. will talk more soon

Brian

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Thank you so much Brian.  What a beautiful bunch! I have four dahlia plants in bud and growing fast.  These were hubby's favourites and he used to grow them many moons ago. Hope you having a peaceful weekend with Mrs B.  I have the grandchildren playing at my feet and daughter having a little lie in for a change as I was already up when the kiddies woke up.  Chat soon  Jules x

Hi Jules,

Pleased you like the Dalias Jules, they were just like the one my mother used to grow.. As soon as I saw them I though it would be nice to send them to you. Bet the little ones are enjoying their slepover and your company. Also pleased you enjoyed your day out yesterday. Bet you have also enjoyed your tennis this week; there have been some good matches played, although not a tennis fan myself. Its good you have foung yourself an alternative to replace your Friday night out. My mother did join a flower arranging club a few years before she died and to eveyones surprise, really enjoyed herself. I think we should all have one evening out per week if only to meet other people.

Mrs B let me take her out for a 2 1/2 hour drive yesterday mostly through the country lanes and we went to places we have never been to before and she really enjoyed herself. At one point we were on the northbound A21 and there was a huge tail back of traffic on the other side of the road so glad we did get caught in that.

My son and grandaugter have another archery competition at Eastbourne today so hoping they do well. Wishing the weather could have been better for them though we do need the rain. I saw a house on the telly from somewhere in your area that had been hit by the lightning on the telly. When I was about 4 to 5 years old I was staying with my grandparents in a very old farm cottage that was struck by lightening twice in the same storm so know that old saying lightning never strikes twice in the same place is wrong. It moved the foundations to such a degree, there was a 1 1/2 inch gap in the outside brick wall and I could see right into my grandfather worshop. Was quite a frightening experiance and My poor grandmother was always scared if there was a bad storm afterwards. 

Managed to mow both lawns and do they look better now I have sharpend the mower. The blade was so blunt it surprised me it was cutting at all. Well I have rambled enough for one day, so I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. Take care and hope you and your family have a peaceful day, Brian.

HiBrian

Drizzling here at present so will have to dig the brolly out for my visit to Mum. Still will save me watering the garden. Have been able to get away with not mowing for a couple of weeks as the ground so dry the lawn has barely grown (still a few buttercups and daisies though!). My ornamental grasses and the yucca are loving the warmer weather and I have four huge flower stems on the latter. Everlasting sweet pea and passion flower blooming over the garage and  the pots are looking good.  Its been a few years since I had so much colour in the garden as I rarely bothered with the annuals in pots but has given me a bit of a project and am enjoying the results. The dahlias are beginning to bud (one has a hint of yellow showing) and I am pleased I put the tubers in planting baskets as they will be easier to lift at the end of flowering.  Next question is what to have in the containers over the autumn/winter  but may just pop bulbs in.

My daughter and I took the boys for a treat at the Wimpy for lunch and then I had a peaceful afternoon catching up on the housework before returning to work yesterday. First day back always seems a bit of a chore but needs must!!

Bet your son and grandaughter did well with their archery and how lovely that you managed a nice country drive with Mrs B and a big bonus that you were going in the other direction when you came across the queuing traffic!  I am sure many people are making the most of our nice summer days. 

I have finally managed to finish a book - the first for a while.  I have got the next one ready and will see how it goes.  I do miss this form of relaxation (plus the enjoyment of a good tale)  but still find lengthy concentration a challenge and think maybe its linked to the shorter sleeps I have these days.  Maybe if I can improve one the other will follow!!

My late friend used to go to flower arranging classes and ended up doing all her church's arrangements on a rota basis with other members of the congregation. As the gymophobics (just love the name!) sessions are during the day (anytime from 8 -8) I may well look at doing something in the evening but probably not until later in the year when the nights draw in.  I do not want to tackle too much at once and actually do not find the evenings a problem so prefer the day-time activities and social chit chat.

Hope you and Mrs B are having a peaceful day.Chat again soon. Regards Jules x

Good morning Jules,

It's another nice morning here at present. Didnt get on site yesterday as was very busy with one thing and another. Managed to turn another load of mini bud vases yesterday as it's not long before my next show which is a two day affair. Pic attached. My grandaughter won gold and my son won silver in the archery. The man who beat him used to be no one in the country for longbow but was good enough to make several nice comments about my sons skills and told the organiser he should get him into the Sussex team. He and my granddaughter have another major commpetition in about two weeks time and its a two day affair

Granddaughter is doing her work experiance this week. She didnt like any of the ones the school offered her so phoned a company that publish childrens books and asked if they took part in the scheme. She then told the school what she had done and they made the arrangements. I am so pleased the iniative she showed in this. The company are giving her some good things to do and she is really enjoying it.

One of our roses starts off with an orange tint  which then turn to a pink colour before turning white. Mrs B really loves this one. Pleased you are getting back into reading your books again as I know you love this relaxation. It would be no good me doing the gymophobics as they would have to buy loads of WD40 to stop the sound effects of creaking joints.

Whenever I go to my sons and have a carrier bag with me, my youngest grandson always wants to know what I have in the bag and if I dont show him, he looks in the bag himself. So I went there this week with a bag. He looked inside it and found a bit of wood with the words "Nosey Parker" written on it. He was not impressed. I have no doubt at all, he will get his own back on me in the near future.

Take care Jules and I wish you and your family a peaceful and relaxing weekend, Brian.

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The timbers are Yew, Labernum and red faced plywood just as an experiment.