Oh Jules forgive my post on my site to you .....I am so sorry not to have known of your hubbies departure.  You know from the support you have given me how well I understand your current situation and my heart goes out to you.  My site tells of my joirney through this uncharted place you find yourself in.  It is difficult but you will come through.

All my thoughts and a big virtual hug

Ian x

Hi Ian

Just lovely to see your name appear on my thread and suspect its just as hard for you to post but I really appreciate the message.  It was a long three years for hubby and I take much comfort in the fact that he is now free from the clutches of his disease which took his happiness away.  I am surrounded by the love of my family and friends (and the ongoing support of virtuality buddies) and now, like you, my life must be lived to the best of my ability. Early days still but so many memories to cherish and share with others - a few late nights of 'story-telling' along the way.

Sending hugs and best wishes and hope all is well with you and Julie in your new life.  Jules x

Good morning Jules,

I was so pleased to hear you had a good time with your family. Fully understand your comments about the emotional aspect and you must have had both happy and sad feelings at the same time. But good memories to keep for the future.

I am just about to fit Mrs B's bigger shelf and your probably right about the owls ha ha. Have just had five magpies in the back garden but they will keep chasing the smaller birds away. You made me laugh re your comments about your new hair style and the hedghog; love your humour.  Had to go to the dentist yesterday for a check up and luckily dont have to go back for ten months. Not a job that has ever appealed to me; looking in peoples mouths all day.

My sister in Canada has sent me a card from dads funeral which had two pictures of dad, one when he was quite young and one taken a few months ago. Even though he was ill he still looked good. .

Hope you dont get wet on you walk to see your mother this morning and I hope when you tell her about your get together she responds.

Take care Jules. Sending kind thoughts and best wishes your way, Brian.

Hi Sue,

Just a quick post to say I hope you are okay and that work and driving are not taking too much out of you. Just take care, best wishes, Brian.

Hi Jules,

Just sending a picture of Mrs B's fire surround with the new shelf. You were spot on;she has four owls on the shelf and two more on the electric fire. She is very pleased with it allthough I wish I could have got the finish better. But by the time Mrs B has got all her ornaments and the owls on it, theres not a lot of shelf to see ha ha. 

Incidently after I took the photo, I couldnt find it on my laptop. It turns out when the battery went flat the other month, the date reset, so the one I took today was shown as being taken back in January. Took me ages to find it ha ha.

Take care, Brian.

Hi Jules & Brian, thank you both for your messages and sorry for the delay. After trying to repy several times last night and again this morning I kept getting the message that I was "not authoirsed to access the page". Have now changed my password and here I am!

The shoulder has recovered so much better than I had dared hoped. Though still a little sore, I am doing my exercises like a good girl (!) and am back to normal work mode, yippee.

Not so good news on the therapy front but will not bore you with all that now and will just enjoy the good result instead.

Hope you are both well and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Take care  Sue x

Hi Brian

Glad you have completed the shelf for Mrs B and had to smile when you said the owls are in residence! Sadly though the picture does not seem to have loaded.

Not a bad visit to Mum (in the dry) and my daughter and grandson decided to join me so 'safety in numbers' ha ha. Unfortunately she had decided to take her frame for the walk (unattended when she knows she should always have her carer with her) a couple of days previously and took a tumble, so is sporting a nasty bruise on her derriere but had been checked over and not too bad thankfully.  We even saw pictures of her attending another resident's 100th birthday party last week (not something she would normally go to) and she had had a manicure and was sporting bright nail varnish!!  Nice to see her having a few good days.

I am glad you have new photos to cherish of your Dad and I do find having pictures around is a good reminder of happy times.  Making new memories now to take the family forward is also an important part of life continuing and just accept the emotional times as part of that process.  I have just received a letter from the funeral directors that looked after hubby so well and they have sent silver star tags to all their 'bereaved families' so that, if we wish, we can write a message and hang it on their memorial Christmas tree for those passed in the last year.   My grandson is to decorate one with my daughter and I will do another and drop them in soon.  We also had to raise a smile when my grandson asked if we could go to the crematorium at night and see if there were decorations/lights/stars on all the memorial trees - another lengthy explanation about 'opening hours' followed!  I just love children's innocence and it is somewhat comforting.

Well, time moves on so will sign off and send you,Mrs B a nut friendly day. Take care. Jules x

Good morning Sue

Delighted to read you are both 'back with us' and also enjoying a good recovery. Am shortly off to work so will message you later and you could never bore us, though by the 'tone' of your message suspect there is more to be told that may not be quite so good news on the therapy front grr.  Good idea to concentrate on the better news.  Have a good day, chat later.  Take care Jules x

Hi Jules,

Photo now available in previous post, sorry about that; my fault

take care Brian.

Thanks Brian, both the new shelf and its embellishments look great and I am sure both you and Mrs B are very happy.  I wonder what the next project will be to keep you busy?  Technical glitches are part of today's frustrations but you always manage to sort them out; well done. Take care. Jules x

Great stuff Brian, it all looks great, no wonder Mrs.B was so pleased! Sue x

Hi Jules, I hope work wasn't tooo bad for you today...have you any nice plans for the weekend other than the garden tidy you mentioned?

My roof work is taking shape at last. After a no show on Monday and a quick visit to put up the scaffolding on Tuesday, they finally started on it yesterday and the flat roof portion is in place. Still lots more to do yet though so I suspect it be will the middle of next before they complete but at least they've started so they'll finish!

Take care  Sue xx

Hi Jules, I hope work wasn't tooo bad for you today...have you any nice plans for the weekend other than the garden tidy you mentioned?

My roof work is taking shape at last. After a no show on Monday and a quick visit to put up the scaffolding on Tuesday, they finally started on it yesterday and the flat roof portion is in place. Still lots more to do yet though so I suspect it be will the middle of next before they complete but at least they've started so they'll finish!

Take care  Sue xx

Hi Sue,

Well as far as the garden goes I was out the front  before I left for work (yes I know it was a bit dark!!) and managed to sort the tubers out so one less job to do.  Weekend weather is looking a bit iffy so will see what else can be managed.

Work was busy, busy and busier. Thankfully got away on time and will not have to face the mahem of the town centre for Friday. Just my weekly shop and the gym tomorrow. No plans for Saturday and then on Sunday will head to my daughters (after gym session) for lunch as eldest grandson turns 7. Monday after work am meeting friends for lunch  and then babysitting in the evening. Life is rather busy all round at the moment so am savouring a quiet evening just now in front of the tv whilst the washing machine does its stuff.

Great news that your roof work is under way and no doubt you will be relieved when its done and dusted and  you can rest easy that you will not need a brolly or buckets indoors. 

Hope work has not been too tiring for you after your week off and that you have some relaxation planned for the weekend.  Take care Jules x

Hi Jules,  what a lovely idea to leave stars on a memorial tree and I hope that, with the tears,  it brought you all some comfort as well? Like you though, not sure about your gandson's nightime visting plan... 

Hope you didn't get too soggy today while shopping and gyming, drizzled most of the day here.

Had a pleasant surprise when I came home today. Yes, they have finished the roof! I won't really see the result until it's light tomorrow but those towels are in the washing machine as we speak. Not sure what they have done with the keys at the moment as they weren't put through the door or left with my neighbour but it's good to know it's all done. Just the bill to come!

Had a busy but ok week. Shoulder aching more now that it was but bearably so and I am still chuffed from the op so all good. Am trying to talk myself into going Christmas shopping tomorrow but will no doubt come up with a list of excuses for not doing so! I am not a shopper at the best of times but don't really have that many to get so it would nice to get started at least.

Have a good day tomorrow and a lovely time on Sunday with the BIrthday Boy.  Take care  Sue xx

Hi Sue

Delighted to read that the roofers had completed the work and hope 'daylight' showed good workmanship. Still waiting for that lottery win to make things easier all round?!! Expect they will pop back with key and the bill!!

Not sure my nerves can stand the tennis at the moment and Hamilton lost out to pole to his team mate --- again  grrrr.

Will talk again when recovered from time with the boys tomorrow ha ha.  Have just finished wrapping up their Xmas gifts just in case the older one decides to be a little too nosy when they are here next weekend (has always been pretty good in previous years - so much so that my daughter and son in law store their gifts for them here!!).

Have a peaceful evening and no rain reached us yet!.  Take care Jules x

Hi Jules, as a nail biter anyway, I have even less now after the tennis but what a match and a great result.

Sorry to hear you knee is giving you gip, I hope your GP can help when you go next week.

Having looked at the roof in daylight I am hoping that they will be back on Monday to finish off, hence why they did not return the keys. The new lead flashing has been cut into the stone wall ok but the bottom edges are very ragged so I assume they will tidy it up a bit.

I did go shopping this morning but rather defeated the object by only getting stuff for myself. Not quite the idea I know but I did write out some Christmas cards this afternoon so a little progress I suppose!

Have a lovely day tomorrow  Take care Sue x

 Morning Jules,

The wind is blowing quite strongly here and the rain has just started. Beter put a couple of bricks in your pocket if you decide to go for your usual Sunday walk.

I am very annoyed with myself. On Friday evening I was using my new tablet when a message poped up on the screen to say my Android operating system needed updating. So I clicked on the button and yes it has changed it but somehow it has also added a lot of programs I didnt want including a couple of adult sites, if you know what I mean. At the moment I cant find a way of deleting them and it will cost more than I paid for the tablet if I take it to a shop to sort out. I have managed to remove one or two programs and will just have to keep trying. I also keep getting pop up notices asking if I want to install other programs, it just makes me so mad. 

Our elderly next door neighbour has told me someone has been ringing her backdoor bell at one o clock at night which has worried her. Her security light also come on when this happens so I think she is having it taken off. As I went past the market stool yesterday, I was pleased to see he had stocked up on the chestnuts for I had virtually cleaned him out on Wednedsay. I was tempted to ask if he had a black Fridat deal going on the nuts ha ha. Sorry to hear your knee is causing you problems. I had to laugh about hiding your grandsons presents. My son was telling us he found my youngest grandson in his room looking under the bed where he had hidden some of the presents. His excuse was he had seen their kitten enter the room and he was just looking for him.  Crafty or what????

I have just completed two more 1000+ word stories on my laptop. Sorry to hear about your mothers fall and hope she is fully recovered now.

Well hope you have a good time with your grandsons, sending kind thoughts as always, Brian

Hi Sue

Hope your roof still okay with the high winds we are experiencing!!  Not much rain here but extremely gusty now.  I am sure your roofers will finish off properly if they want their money ha ha and then return your key.

As was going to daughter's for lunch did not have my usual stroll but popped to the gym anyway. Spent three hours with the birthday boy (still on a high from his reptile party yesterday!) and was nice to be there to watch him open his present and have buffet lunch and cake. Floor was covered in balloons so great time had by all (grown ups still kids at heart ha ha).  My son popped in too and gave me a lift home (might have been doing a Mary Poppins impression otherwise). Got a support on the knee and feels so much better so no painkillers required. Maybe a few days with support will be enough to sort it out. Does not hurt when I am doing gym excercises so fingers crossed something pretty minor.

Glad you managed to shop for yourself and hope it was something nice!  I have ordered a few bits on line (lazy but easier than carrying them home)  for the kitchen (replacing old stuff which has seen better days!!).  Would have put washing out on the line but had a feeling it would have blown away so its stuck indoors (that's what I hate most about this time of year!!)

Daughter has her heart check up later this week so hoping for good feedback from the 24hr monitoring she had a while back. Meeting friends for lunch after I finish work tomorrow and then babysitting in the evening for a couple of hours - keeping me out of mischief though do need to get housework up to scratch before decorations go up.

Take it easy and have a peaceful evening (Mrs Yappy permitting if she is back home). Hugs  Jules x

Good afternoon Brian

Well decided against a morning stroll as was due at my daughters for 11ish.  In the end went to the gym instead and though breezy very little rain so far.  Had a heavy shower whilst n gym but had stopped by the time I came out so walk to see the family was 'wind assisted' ha ha.  As I said to Sue, was given a lift back home by my son and it is now very very windy but still dry.  It will probably rain tomorrow when I have to go to work but have good waterproofs.

I feel very sorry for your elderly neighbour being disturbed late at night but maybe it is the security light which is stopping them being more of a nuisance.  Fingers crossed it does not happen any more.

Our local supermarket had plenty of chestnuts yesterday but no walnut which is what I was after.  I nipped to the high street and they did not have walnuts either grr.  (Just want them for my son who is a fan and prefers to get them in their shells rather than the 'ready to eat' variety.  My son in law says Tesco local has them so may pop there on my way home from work tomorrow. 

Cannot believe that despite it being so overcast today my three solar garden lights are sparkling in the garden.

Glad you still have the writing bug but a nuisance that your tablet is giving you programs you do not need. Hope you get that sorted soon. I have a book by the side of me (Linda La Plante) and will try and get back to it (seem to keep finding reasons to do other things -weird).

Had a call yesterday from Mum's care home to say they had her 'checked out'  by the doctor and apart from a bit of bruising all seems to be okay.  Always a shock when you take a tumble. Will be in to see her on Tuesday all being well.  Have a support on my knee (courtesy of well known chemist) and no painkillers required today so fingers crossed soon be okay again.  Will wear support for work tomorrow and see how it goes as am out for lunch with friends afterwards and then babysittting for a couple of hours in the evening.

Hope you and Mrs B are keeping okay, take care. Jules x

Hi Jules, just back from dinner at my Mum's, very nice it was too!

Glad you had such a lovely time with the Birthday Boy, it is lovely to watch little ones opening present isn't it? (and to eat cake too, musn't forget that!!) Nice that your son took you home so you didn't have to do your Mary Poppins impression after all. It got pretty breezy here as well but has now calmed down again. Rain for tomorrow though so will see if the roofers come to finish things off or not. Luckily that part of the roof is very sheltered so should be ok now.

Hope you knee withstands work tomorrow and that the day goes ok for you. Enjoy your lunch and then the babysitting later and I have my fingers crossed for your daughters check up.

My shopping wasn't terribly exiting, a pair of trousers and a calendar but today I at least managed to get our work Secret Santa pressie. We have a limit of £5 each and do a lucky dip, 11 of us this year..

So another week looms but only three more full weeks to go so can't complain too much.

Take care  Sue xx

Hi Sue

Am sure you enjoyed your Mum's home cooking as much as she enjoys seeing you.

Hope the weather has not delayed your roofers finishing off though would not be surprised given the blustery weather.  Not too much rain here but very mild and dull. Give me chilly and bright any day!!

Like the idea of  the secret santa.  We just have a work meal out for those who want to go (all told there will be 15 of us there this year but some of those are now ex workers coming for a social catch up). Local Pub the venue  and will not be a late one as some staff will be working next day.

Babysitting went smoothly, both boys tucked up by 7 with a story and lights out!  Fast asleep when my son in law got back from the dentist. Will see them all on Friday when we take the boys to see the London Christmas lights and the eldest gets to spend some of his birthday money at Hamleys (can still remember taking my own kids there and love the atmosphere).

Whilst it is good to be kept occupied I think I need time to be reflective and am trying to get some 'balance' if that makes sense.

How long to you get off for Christmas.  I will just have my normal 3 days off(as Christmas falls on those days anyway!!) but because my son and fiancee both work at the University they are off until after New Year.  am hoping I do not have to work extra hours on Christmas Eve (have done in the past) as would like to get to the butchers on the way home!!!

Take care Jules x

Hi Jules, it must be so difficult for you as the festive season hurtles towards us and I can totally understand your desire for a healthy balance between keeping busy and wanting some "you" time. While running around keeps things at bay, as it were, perhaps some quiet time will also help to ease you into this new life that has been forced upon you. I think we all go through various different stages during the grieving process and only by enduring each one can we learn to accept our new lives for what they have become... not easy by any means and I am thinking of you and send lots of hugs.

Hamleys and the Christmas Lights sounds great fun. My Dad always used to take us there too and for little ones it was so exciting so have a lovely day on Friday and say hello to Regent Street for me!

The roof saga continues, they didn't show up yesterday (clearly Mondays are not their cup of tea) but they have been today and (I keep saying it) from what I can see they should finish tomorrow.!

As well as the Secret Santa which is only for our little team, we also have a Department Christmas meal  (40+ of us) which this year is being held at the Kent County Cricket ground. We all pay for ourselves but our " management" supply the equivalent of half a bottle of wine each to go with the meal and also a round of drinks at the pub beforehand if we time it right! I will be driving though so won't be able to take advatage but a nice gesture nonetheless.

Like your son & fiancee, I am off from end of the day on 23rd right though to 4th Jan so a nice long break for us. Sorry to rub it in when you have so little time off and fingers crossed you don't have to work extra time on the 24th.

Take care of yourself   Sue xx