Hi Jules, wow, another great success for your daughter by the sound of it, well done her! Lots of lovely cakes, lots of money raised, with more to follow, a great day for everyone. Hope you managed a good guzzle before giving away your leftovers but how lovely of the gym staff to join in. Our own event went well too so a good time all round I'd say.

Thank you for the "grrr" for yesterday, it really was rather frustrating and, as you say, a stupidly long wait between assessment and op but, there you go, will carry on regardless in the meantime bending your ear and tweeting to the birds!

Gosh, your break is speeding by isn't it (t'was ever thus) but at least you have a few more days to go yet. Are you staying away for your trip to Malvern or just having a day outing? Whichever it is I hope you have a lovely fun time at the show and enjoy the good weather we're promised. I look forward to hearing all about it..

Take care Sue x

Good morning Jules,

Theres not a cloud in the sky at the moment allthough its not that warm outside. I have tranfered a lot of photos to my tablet and found it quite easy, now that I have my 32 gb card to extend the storage capacity. Talking of photos, the photo editing section on Windows 10 is really good. I have been going through my photos and editing them and what were fairly plain photos have been greatly enhanced. Quite amazing how this program has enabled me to improve them. Still have a lot to go but now over half way through. I will probably post a few of them shortly. Took Mrs B shopping as she wanted to get some cards and when we popped into Wilko's I found a canvas painting of a barn owl and it was only £5 so didnt even bother asking if she wanted it as I allready knew what her answer would be.  It must be nearly 24" sq. Also bought a lawn edging tool for £4 as our old one is well past its sell by date, a bit like me really ha ha. Will have to try it out later.

Well done to your daughter for raising so much money and I hope you enjoy your day out tommorow. You are so right what you said about plants dont know where they are. We have a rhodedendron in flower at the moment plus our primroses are doing really well which has pleased Mrs B. Unfortunately she cant do much in the garden these days. When I was working she used to do it all including mowing the lawns but now I'm retired I have taken over. Under supervision of course lol. All your hard work in the garden will pay off in the spring when you will be able to look out your window and see all the colours in your garden  We have strawberries in flower and some berries allready quite well formed so Mrs B had got her beady eyes on them. I have got lots of runners and need to plant these in another container.

I have also just completed updating our wood clubs membership directory. Just have to check it before sending a copy to our committee members. Last Saturday at the craft fair/exhibition, one of our members was showing a wooden colt 45 revolver he had made in timber. It was fantastic and when he pulled the trigger, the hammer came back and the cylider turned around, just like the real thing. Very talented man. Indeed the man who used to be our president told us all, our members could hold their heads up anywhere due to the quality of work made.

Have a great day tommorow and enjoy yourself. Sending kind thoughts and best wishes to you and your family, Brian.

Hi Sue

Was up before the birds this  morning! Awoke at 5am and could not get back off so up and about early. Nlot yet six thirty and I have aready had breakfast (so will need elevenses today).  Trip to Malvern is just a day trip and pick up locally in a couple of hours so not too long before I set out.

Glad your coffee event did well too.  I left all my 'munchies' with the gym staff (the tin headed into the staff room!!) - probably much better for me that I was relieved of all temptation and that it will raise more funds rather than inches (on me) ha ha.

Spent the day with daughter and son's girlfriend yesterday browsing the charity shops and having lunch (managed to slip in a glass of wine with mine).  Both girls picked up items for their wardrobe and I found a lovely purple top as well as a brand new wide black leather belt (just 99p) - we did have some laughs trying stuff on and  great having honest opinions.

Have a good day and enjoy another fine day - its great being able to go out without coats/brolly to weigh me down though have got my book for the coach journey (can leave it on board when we reach Malvern).

Take care and 'bend my ear' anytime as it's good to chat and mutually beneficial as it means I am not the only 'mad' woman who talks with birds .  Just getting light so am awaiting dawn chorus !  Jules x

Hi Brian

You have been keeping very busy as usual - do  you ever relax?!

Was awake and up before the birds this  morning so am currently watching Japanese GP before setting off to catch the coach. Will make a change from my usual Sunday stroll and if the weather is anything like yesterday (warm and sunny) once again will  be leaving coat/brolly indoors. Have a cardigan with me but yesterday ended up tying it round my waist. Its lovely when the Autumn colours are highlighted with sunshine.  Am taking my camera with me today just in case anything catches my eye.  It's a huge Show with all sorts of different exhibitors/sellers (the pdf on the computer ran to several pages with the names of the trade stalls) so am hopeful of picking up some gifts for family/friends as well as hints and tips from some of the experts.

Had a good day out with the girls yesterday and we all picked up a bargain or two for our wardrobes. Enjoyed a social lunch chatting and hearing about my son's girlfriend's plans for her 30th birthday meal in November and talking about Zack's Christening in October.  Not sure where my holiday went to be honest; seems to have gone far too quickly. Still a couple more days to go and then back to the 'grind'. Will pop down to see Mum before I go back as thankfully cold has cleared up.

I bet Mrs B was thrilled with her owl canvas.  I was almost tempted by a stone owl in the Banardo's charity shop but decided carrying it around would do me no favours (it was almost a foot tall!!).

You sound as though you are really getting to grips with your new software - I just do not have the patience (definitely a creature of habit) to learn new technology though the children are trying to get me to up date my mobile ((its one that my son gave me when he left uni 8 yrs ago!!!) and I may consider a tablet when the laptop fails (long may it continue ha ha).

Hope you and Mrs B are enjoying these warm days. I cannot believe I have still not needed to put the  heating on yet and we are almost into October! I even have 'credit' to carry forward on the gas bill - yippee!

Robin and blue *** just arrived on the feeders and also have two dunnocks 'lawn grazing'.  Still  no sign of my usual blackbird pairing though I have seen several red kites in the last few days soaring above.

Right, best stop chatting and clear up before going out.  Take care and best wishes you to, Mrs B and the family.  Jules x

Morning Jules, Managed to stay in bed til six today, despite going up before eight last night (and having a couple of hours snooze in the afternoon too) Mind you, I have always been able to sleep for England!  Cut down the sweet peas yesterday and also trimmed my half of the hedge I share with my "yappy dog" neighbour. Shoulder and boobs protested a bit but it does look good, even if I do say so myself!

Have a lovely day and hope you pick up some more great bargains and tips... take care Sue x 

Good morning Jules,

I hope you had a great day out yesterday and enjoyed the sunshine. Your mention of adding some new things to your wardrobe made me laugh. I just hate buying clothes. Mrs B always ends up doing it for me, bless her. Now it it were tools or timber, or better still nuts, that would be a differnt ball game alltogether ha ha. I have just been down to our local tip to get rid of the sawdust and shavings I have acculiated over the past few weeks  plus some garden waste. Think the attendant was quite surprised at how much I had. Saw one on my cousons down there who I havent seen for about five years.

Just heard this morning my brother in law is going into a hospice today for a few days respite care. When I spoke to sister in law last night she told me she had a mini meltdown one day last week as things got on top of her. I had a long chat with her and told her she is only human and it was better to get it out of her system rather than bottling it up. She said she felt very guilty after shouting in front of brother in law But I assured her he would be understanding. She thanked me for understanding her situation and the support. So it should help both of them. He has been in so much pain she has had to do everything. Apparently the tablets for his perforated ulcer have not helped at all so I told her that it would be good for him to go into the hospice as they are often better than the hospital at sorting out pain relief.

My son took his family to Wakehurst Place yesterday and there were several stalls set up around the grounds one of which was selling cob nuts. The same chap also sells chesnuts. He told the guy I am mad about chestnuts so he told him he even sells them in boxes by mail order and they will be ready shortly so my son has taken details for me. Good lad, isnt he. There was another stand selling apples very cheaply and the stall holder remembered my yougest grandson From Bentley Woodfair last year and had a chat with him. He has apperently copied something from the Paddington Bear movie when he now takes his cap off with a flourish and say good afternoon or good morning to strangers which makes everyone laugh. He is a real charachter Jules.

Well I had better go and hoover out my car as I spilt some sawdust and I had better get it cleaned up before I take Mrs B shopping tommorow morning otherwise I will get my ear bent ha ha.

Take care Jules and enjoy the last couple days of your holiday. Best wishes as always, Brian

HiSue

Bet you were chuffed to see how good your 'trimming and tidying' made the garden look and felt the aches and pains were worth the effort (hope they were short lived though). Hope you have not lost too much of the 'sound barrier' against yappy neighbour (dog not person!!!)

I really enjoyed my day out and spent nearly five hours actually at the show (roadworks on the way back made it rather a long day but I read my book and let the 'driver' take the strain).  There were different workshops running throughout the showground and also some amazing flower and vegetable displays (many being sold off at the end of the day to those willing to carry them home!!).  Generally the plants were dearer than I could buy locally so I did not buy them but did buy some seed packets ready for next spring planting.  There were loads of trade stalls and displays in the arena to watch and wander round and I would definitely go again next year.  Of course the weather was the icing on the cake just wandering round and sitting in the sunshine to enjoy lunch - t-shirt weather and no coat required.  I picked up a couple of gifts with Christmas in mind and also (know Mrs B would like this!) an owl-shaped fruit bowl (folds flat when  not in use) which is currently on my kitchen worktop holding cooking apples. I also bought myself a pair of ear-rings in the shape of butterfly wings in the craft tent so something to remember my day by.

Yesterday I met a friend for lunch and was good to have a catch up on her news and we are hoping to plan a day out in a few weeks when her husband pops 'home' to Wales to do some DIY for his Mother. She also wanted to browse my local charity shops (seems to be on many people's to do list!!) and did find a couple of things she took home with her.  I was not planning on looking but did anyway and found both a plain long black skirt and an evening top - an outfit for six pounds so no complaints!!

Going to visit my Mum in a couple of hours and then have one more bag of tulip bulbs to get in as I gave up at 5pm yesterday after putting in gladioli, purple alium, tulips and spreading a 75 litre bag of compost in the back garden area that needed a top up!  Not surprisingly a few aches this morning but will walk it off.  You will be able to hear the sigh of relief when the last bulb goes in ha ha.  Have protected the newly dug areas with cuttings from a prickly shrub as the local cats delight in digging!

Sad to say am on the last day of my holiday and not looking forward to returning to work tomorrow but have been glad of the opportunity to de-stress (for the most part).

Usual rambling done and hope you are doing okay. Take care  Jules x

Hi Brian

I do hope that a few days of respite at the hospice will help both your brother in law and sister in law.  My friend made several such visits and always said she felt like she was on holiday and they had a wonderful way of 'managing'/'controlling' her pain as well as giving her, her husband and family some breathing space.

I had a really enjoyable day out at the Malvern RHS show. Plenty to see both in the display arenas, judging marquees and general atmosphere was greatly lifted by wonderful sunshine. I browsed many of the stands, found a couple of gifts for others and treated myself  (see reply to Sue to save repeating myself!!). I would definitely go again next year given the chance (coach tour being available).

Spent a couple of hours with a friend over lunch yesterday and also bumped into my daughter and Zack who had stopped for lunch at the same cafe!  My daughter has to go and have a 24hr heart monitor fitted on Thursday and then has her MRI Saturday morning.  Am catching up with her at my son's Sat. evening as his other half is having a Bodyshop at Home Party but my eldest grandson has already told his Mum the MRI 'won't hurt' you just have to  keep really really still.  Hope she does not have to wait to long for the results. It's turning into quite a year one way and another.

Have finally planted the final bag of tulip bulbs and promised myself not to buy any more!! As weather looks set fair for a few more days hope to mow again soon.  Washing is on the line just now and I do not need it covered in spraying grass. Enjoying a lazy-ish afternoon having visited Mum this morning. She is still in the same frame of mind but at least had a few words for me this week.  Once again I took her in a couple of mini battenburg cakes and she had no hesitation in polishing them off with her coffee.

Take care and regards to you and Mrs B and the family. Jules x

Hi Jules, am not surprised you are a "little reluctant" to return to work tomorrow given the lovely times you have had over the last couple of weeks and, gosh, haven't you packed a lot in?! Topped off by your show visit which sounded wonderful and how lovely the weather allowed you to wander about in a t-shirt. The fruit bowl seems just up Brian's street (or should that be tree) and the earrings sound lovely too. It is so nice to find unusual bits & bobs at these kind of events and, as you say, are a momento of the day.

Sorry to hear your daughter is having various tests but how sweet of your grandson to reassure her about the MRI. Fingers crossed for speedy and, obviously good, results.

I cannot believe you have much more room left for bulbs now but see in your reply to Brian that you have managed to find space for the last batch (unless you sneak a few more in?!). You were inadvertently right about my neighbour though, she is even louder and more yappy than her dog! Unfortunately, because our cottages are joined, I can hear them both inside and out at all times of the day & night so trimming the hedge an inch or two does not make a lot of difference in that respect. Luckily, she does tend to go away fairly often so at least there is a bit of time out.

All the best for your return tomorrow, don't work too hard and enjoy the continuing sunshine. Take care  Sue x