Hello Jules, long time no natter!, hope you are well and all the family, been thinking about you a lot recently and just made some time to say hi xxxxx. Love always Kerrie xxxxx

Hi Kerrie

Lovely to see your name pop up on my thread.  I am coping quite well (I think), thank you. Misss hubby, of course, but slowly making moves forward in my new single status.Like you, returning to work (a month after losing him) has helped considerably. My workmates are supportive when I have a 'dip' and my forum buddies still listen to my ramblings. The children and grandchildren are slowly adjusting too.  I take a lot of comfort knowing that after a three year journey with cancer my hubby is free from the pain and misery it caused him and I was privileged to have been his wife for 37 years (best friend for 42).

I hope you and the family are managing okay. This first year of facing  special dates brings varying emotions but I have good memories, as I am sure you do to, to carry with me on my 'new normal.

Sending virtual hugs. Jules x

Hi Jules,

Sorry not to have replied for a while but I have been very busy the past few days. I have just turned two lighthose's (Picture attached) Had them nearly finished yesterday when while trying to glue the tops on, I broke all eight pillars and dropped one of them on the concrete floor, bruising the base of one of them. My bandsaw blade also broke and then last night, my gold capping came off my tooth so will now have to visit the dentist. Just one of those days so was glad to get to bed last night. But today I have completed them. My next fair is in just over a weeks time, Sat and Sun

Have got to visit the vampires den as they need a blood sample regarding my diabetes. My son and granddaughter have a big archery commpetition this Sat and Sunday. She really enjoyed her job last week and the boss took  his workers out for a dinner on Friday. He has apparently written a glowing report regrding her weeks work to give to her school. Have mowed the lawns;the grass wasnt growing ; t was just the weeds but it made them look untidy.

I hope this week has been a good one for you. Good to read you are getting back to your reading. Hope you are still enjoying the weather. Will chat more soon. best wishes to you and your family, Brian.

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Hi Brian

Well done with the lighthouses especially as you had 'repair jobs' to do after all your hard work - no doubt very frustrating at the time but all good now. 

I am sure the 'vampires den' will treat you gently and with your sense of humour you will make them smile. Annoying thing is having to wait to eat until afterwards (when I had my 'fasting' blood test I took banana in my handbag!

Huge storm here last night which rumbled and flashed for nearly an hour so did not bother going to bed until it was over (gone midnight). It also damaged my guttering so have a 'waterful' above my front door to dodge - another item on the list to get around to sorting.  Still woke up at 5 and as it had brightened by 7 put all my washing out.   Now its back indoors as we had a spell of heavy drizzle - passing though I hope. Thankfully it did not batter my sunflower.

Have a couple of catch up with friends to look forward to tomorrow and next week and work keeping me busy and with the children soon breaking up (next week for my grandson) I enjoy my 'escapes' to the gym. Its only a 30 minute circuit but very social and free from the stresses of life in general.

Good luck to you with your next show and also to your son and grand-daughter (no doubt growing up fast) with their archery competitions. Look forward to hearing all about them. Hope you and the family have a peaceful week.  Julesx

Hi Brian

Having uploaded a pic and then written a long post, it all disappeared - technology playing tricks again.  Here goes for second attempt.

Big storm here last night lasting nearly an hour so did not get to bed until nearly 1am but enjoyed watching it and the garden has had a good drenching.   On the downside it also damaged the guttering above the front door so now when it rains I can have a free shower - another item to add to the 'get done' list. Thankfully did not damage my sunflower which looks lovely - will try and put pic on.

Well done with persevering with your lighthouses - good end results but no doubt very frustrating for you.Good luck with the show and also to your son and granddaughter with their archery comps. Look forward to hearing all about them.

I am having a catch up with friends tomorrow and next week so things to look forward to.  Just about to put my washing out (again) and hope the drizzle has finally cleared otherwise it will get extra rinses as I have to go out and pick up post from sorting office which needs to be signed for,  At least it works for some!! (rubbing salt in the wounds as they may have lost/mislaid a recorded delivery item I sent last week and which has still not arrived),  My sense of humour currently being tested ha ha. So much for paying for extra service as I was sending copy documents to help with pension claims on hubby's Estate. My printer may well run out of ink as will have to repeat the process.

Right here goes with upload, fingers crossed

Good morning Jules.

Your first post did come through allright; you didnt lose it. Two post for the price of one ha ha.

I hope you have a good time catching up with your friends. Thats a great picture of your sunflower, thanks for posting.

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

Hello Jules & Brian, 

Apologies for being absent for so long, I've been busy with everyday things and guess that is in a way some sort of acceptance of my new normal. I haven't forgotten you both though and especially all your support in the past. I notice you are both still supporting others on here and I'm sure everybody is very grateful to you. Jules how are you coping with your journey? You always seem to be doing so well & I know that you are a "glass full" person rather than "glass empty". But as we all know on here grief is a long journey & still creeps up a bites even after time has passed. I'm glad to read all your work buddies have been looking after you and that your lovely family are finding strength together.

Brian I hope you and Mrs B are doing well. I'm loving the flower photo, hope the sun keeps shining.

Take care my forum buddies. Hope x

Hi Jules, loved the sunflower (s). Know what you mean about tricky technology, the way my laptop is playing up at the moment it is likely to be flying out the window very fast and very soon!!  take care Sue x

Hi Hope,

Lovely to see your  name on my thread again. Hope you and the family are keeping well.  How are the two boys doing these days - well young men now!!

My hubby would be smiling at your comment about me being a 'glass half full' person - not sure he ever saw that side of me but suppose his illness changed me in some ways too. I am coping reasonably well and no longer checking in with the GP (she kept an eye on me for several months (mentally as well as physically)) though go back in late November so she can see how things are going.  Keeping busy, as you are also finding, is pretty much the key though I do not mind my own company (as I agree with everything I say haha).  For the time  being I still draw strength from coming onto the forum and meeting my forum buddies and if I can help others in some small way then its worthwhile.

The children and grandchildren were always a big part of our lives and that remains unchanged though we all need our own space at times too.  Special dates will always be special (just more emotive with the memories they bring).

Next weekend I am going to stay with my bingo pal and her husband as we have a social event to attend on the Saturday evening and they recently moved so am looking forward to seeing their new bungalow. Can get there by train so not a problem travelling.  As the bingo hall closed down I no longer play but have now joined local ladies only gym and go 2/3 times a a week.  I don;t win prize money but hope it will  help challenge me!  They run a social lunch time session too so on my days off I sometimes pop in.

Life is different but I was lucky to have hubby's company for 42 years and you cannot take that away. I still think I cope best on a day to day basis but have plans for the home for next year in my head and will see if they come about.

Stay kind to yourself my virtual friend.  I often think of all the 'new' people I have made contact with through the forum and am glad I found it when I did.  Take care. Jules xx