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

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

Morning Sue

Here's hoping that your 'roofing journey' will soon be complete and it can be signed off.  I sometimes think they work several jobs at once and depending on the weather turn up as and when!! I must say the weather has not been too helpful with the high winds and periodic showers.  It was nice to get a glimpse of the sun yesterday as I came out of the gym.

Mum now has her new glasses and seemss to have recovered ok from her tumble.  She even got a book out from the mobile library - now just have to see if you reads it as last time it went back untouched!!!

I am sure you will enjoy the festive break to recharge your batteries.  Working in retail you get used to 'minimum breaks' and as I only work 16hrs a week anyway cannot really complain ha ha. When I first started where I am now I was doing 27hrs and we had a bigger staff.  In those days too the company paid for our Christmas meal but that ended a long time ago.  Our manager always stands a round of drinks on arrival so that's very nice. Normally I travel by public transport to these events but where we are going is a bit awkward from where I live so one of the girls is giving me a lift (well her partner is!!).  I am one of the few staff that travels any distance to work with most living very local to the store (at least I get free travel at my age!).  All the hard work of the staff last week resulted in above average sales so one very happy Manager (at least for a few days).

Like you, my parents used to take me into London (we were only a short bus ride from the centre back then) and there was a time when I was taken to Selfridges just for a haircut and can remember being promised a ride on the rocking horse if I sat still;mad!!!  I then worked in the West End for nearly 11 years so  it was easy for me knowing my way around.  I suspect there will be more of a crowd issue this coming Friday but we are going up as soon as school finishes so will not be too late back hopefully though Zack can always drop off in his pushchair.

Thanks for the hugs; much appreciated. Understanding and accepting the grieving process is definitely something of a learning curve and its the 'not knowing' what will set you off at any given time that is somewhat disconcerting or maybe that'sjust 'hormones' ha ha. However it goes it's important to give the family new memories for their future and beyond and take the old memories along for the ride.

Have a good day and will keep fingers crossed to a completed roof.  Hugs back  too. Jules xx

Hi Jules,

I hope your knees is feeling better now. Glad to hear your mother is okay; I know all to well how a fall shakes you up after the time I had the fall and broke my pubic bone a few years ago. It was so painful and for a long time afterwards, I was wary when walking on any wet surface. Hope she gets to read the book this time. 

We have a busy week this week; Mrs B had to see the nurse for a check yesterday and all was well. Friday she has to go to the hospital for another one, then on Saturday I have another cancer committee meeting. It's completely upset Mrs B's routine, something she really hates I might add. Hope you have been able to get you walnuts. They have had plenty locally, including loads on the local market stall when I replinished my chestnuts today. Made the guy laugh as I told him my sone had also bought some from him. Guess he's getting Brianitus now ha ha.

Will be seeing my grandson tonight for his usual stories as I havent seen him for a couple of weeks. I am also going to make Mrs B a bigger top for her magazine rack shortly as the one she has at the moment is not big enough.

Take care, sending best wishes and kind thought you way, Brian.

Hi Jules, you are right about the roofer doing several jobs at once - yes, you've guessed it, they were a no show again today! Tomorrow will be Day 9 of the supposed 3 day job! Still, the longer they take, the later the bill will arrive, just in time for Christmas at this rate!!

Glad to hear your Mum has recovered from her fall. One of my work colleagues has a screen saver on her computer which says "I didn't trip, I was just giving the floor a hug" !!

I have an eye test booked for Sunday morning so am hoping that whilst in town I can do rather better than last weekends dismal attempt at Christmas shopping (I might actually get something for other people this time, ha ha) I ended up with two pairs of trousers for work last week, both different sizes. Why do the sizes differ depending on the make, I've never understood that? Anyway they both fit so I can have a ritual burning of the old ones now.

How nice that you will be chauffeured to your Christmas do, a great excuse for the odd sip or two and why not after all your hard, hard work? Hope your manager's good mood lasts until then!

Hope tomorrow goes well, take care  Sue xx

Hi Jules, you are right about the roofer doing several jobs at once - yes, you've guessed it, they were a no show again today! Tomorrow will be Day 9 of the supposed 3 day job! Still, the longer they take, the later the bill will arrive, just in time for Christmas at this rate!!

Glad to hear your Mum has recovered from her fall. One of my work colleagues has a screen saver on her computer which says "I didn't trip, I was just giving the floor a hug" !!

I have an eye test booked for Sunday morning so am hoping that whilst in town I can do rather better than last weekends dismal attempt at Christmas shopping (I might actually get something for other people this time, ha ha) I ended up with two pairs of trousers for work last week, both different sizes. Why do the sizes differ depending on the make, I've never understood that? Anyway they both fit so I can have a ritual burning of the old ones now.

How nice that you will be chauffeured to your Christmas do, a great excuse for the odd sip or two and why not after all your hard, hard work? Hope your manager's good mood lasts until then!

Hope tomorrow goes well, take care  Sue xx

Hi Sue

Know what you mean about the 'sizing'of clothes (and why trousers especially!!!).  I always have to try on to make sure and end up taking several different sizes (depending on which shop I am in).  In the 'good old days' most high street stores were consistent but that is rare these days.  I hope you have a successful shopping trip tomorrow and that the eye test does not prove too expensive!  My mum just had her new prescription and is very pleased ' now she has got used to them'. Like me she has varifocals and they do not come cheap.

Had my six month check with GP and she was pretty happy with my physical and mental health. Se had a short chat about hubby as always - she remembers well how she would give him ideas to try, watch him smile and nod and then know full well he would do it his way!!  My knee 'twinges' are muscular and not more arthritis in my body (just yet!!!) and probably due to all the lovely walking I do.  She has suggested wearing a knee support when doing 'miles' if I feel it is necessary and it does seem to be helping  and means less painkillers required. Also need to be a bit more careful when lifting at work (my own fault as it saves several journies when moving stock around).  Go back in six months unless anything crops up in between times.  I also mentioned to her that we still have not had final report from the Coroner's Office (11 months on!!!) and she was appalled but not overly surprised as the system is, in her words ' c...p'.  Just as well it does not affect anything now but would be nice to get it through.

My daughter had her heart check up yesterday and the good news is that there has been no change from her last appointment so should go back in around 3/6 months. She now has  the follow up neurology appointment in mid January and will see what all those test result in.  Thankfully she is keeping well and no more 'faints' since March.

Right, must get back to sorting out Christmas tree decs., in readiness for the hopeful collection of tree on Sunday.  I have a feeling there will be two young helpers when it comes to decorating it so need to get the 'breakables' in a different box so I can add them after they have gone home (cheeky or what!!). Also need to get the washing off the line before leaving to meet the family for our trip to London later this afternoon. At least the weather is looking dry for the occasion.  Beautiful sunshine this morning and though a ittle light cloud building now hopefully will not be too cold this evening by the time we return back home.  Will remember you to Regent Street!  Takes me back years as used to work in the West End and bus dropped me off in Regent Street - my that was 43yrs ago!!!

All the  best for a peaceful weekend and do hope those roofers have turned up to finish off what they started.  Bet they won't be so slow in presenting the bill.  Take care Jules x

Hi Jules, hope you all had a lovely time yesterday and I look forward to hearing all about it.

Good news about your knee and that the support is doing the trick on your hikes. It must have been very reassuring to hear that your GP is happy with you, just be careful at work although I know what you mean about the temptation to get things done more quickly, I am always being told to slow down too! Mind you my work is not as physical as yours. Great news about your daughter and fingers crossed for January.

Well, I called the roofers yesterday morning and they assured me it was all going to be finished and the keys put through the letterbox. Got home to find that yes, it does look as though it's all done but....no keys! So, either they still have more to do or they simply forgot to post the keys. Frustrating or what but almost there and at least its weatherproof now which is just as well as it's very windy and forcast for rain tomorrow. That will be a good test.

Hoping for a relaxing day today with just a trip to the supermarket before a chinese meal tonight with my nice neighbour as he goes off next week to spend his usual month or so with his son & family.over the festive season. Unfortunately, I don't think Mrs.Yappy has similar plans!

Am starting to think about decorating the house and have my Christmas box at the ready. No tree for me (no room for one!) but I do put lights along several of the beams around the house and have various pretties scattered about. Don't bame you for keeping the breakables away from little hands but what fun to have helpers with the tree...

Take care and have a lovely weekend  Sue xx

Hi Sue

Just taking a break from the kitchen (prepping buffet for tonight's meal) to catch up with you.

So once again the builders are keeping you hanging on but I am sure you are happy to have the work completed and hope, if you have had rain (none here yet this weekend) all is well and no buckets and towels required.

Our family trip to London was very good indeed and not as crowded in the shops as we had anticipated. Best of the lights were along New and Old Bond Street (we did them last!). Boys were so good and kept going despite not getting home until three hours after their usual bed-time!!.  Pizza meal in Leicester Square followed by walk up Regent Street, along Oxford Street back via Bond Streets and hot chocolate in Picadilly before getting back on the tube.  Boys both spent some of their birthday money and I bought the meal (very  helpful in that I get free travel though!).  It felt quite strange walking through all the old haunts of my West End working years and was still able to get my bearings ha ha.

Had a relatively quiet day yesterday but did fit in gym visit and supermarket shop.  Like  you have done a bit of Xmas decorating and with a bit of luck will get the tree this afternoon when the lads play 'fetch'.  Just had a text to say daughter and family will be here a little earlier than planned as the Christmas fayre they were visiting had 5 stalls!!!  Thankfully mostly organised.

Have just had an e mail to say the guest house me and my daughter had booked for March weekend in Edinburgh has had to cancel booking as owner has had to close temporarily for health reasons.  All being well the booking agent is going to transfer our booking to another place (gave us a choice of three all close to city centre) and am just awaiting confirmation (it will save me having to trawl the net again!!).

Well had best stop gassing for now and put on my granny hat (rest of Christmas decorating will have to be done another time but at least the housework is done.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend and take care. Jules x

Good morning Jules,

Hope your evening went well and that you all had fun? Sounds like you had a great time on Friday too seeing the sights and even getting "snowed" on. How lovely to wander around your old haunts, especially as it wasn't quite as crowded as you feared it might be. Talking of Picadilly, when I chose to get the bus in rather than the tube (mainly in the summer months), I got chatting to a lady who despte being 83 at the time still went to work every day at the Ritz! 

Had a rather costly trip to the opticians yesterday despite the free eye test voucher. I had anticipated needing perscription glasses as the off the shelf reading ones I have aren't doing the trick anymore so after the test and talking to one of the chaps I went for varifocals, and with new frames as well it all added up to much more than I had thought it would! I get them in two weeks time and I understand they takes a bit of getting used to but hopefully I then won't be straining so much to read all the lovely paperwork I deal with. Am certainly spoiling myself this Christmas aren't I,  just hope nothing else crops up!

Hope today goes well for you and that you aren't too tired after your  fun but hectic few days.

Take care  Sue xx

Hi Sue,

Thanks we had a good family visit and Christmas tree now occupying a huge corner  (just as well I am open plan!!).  Everyone had a hand in making it look lovely and will add the chocolate decs to it on Christmas Eve (might eat them early otherwise ha ha). Just the front window to decorate so the kiddies get a surprise when they visit over the festive weekend.

To follow on from your mention of The Ritz I actually worked opposite for three years before moving branches to next door to the Play Boy Club!!  To say I saw some sights might be a little of an understatement!! Good days. One of these days will 'take tea' at the Ritz (has always been on my list of things to do).

I know how expensive varifocals can be - have worn them for years and did not take me very long to get used to them (blind as a bat without them now!!). Both my parents had them too.  Yesterday when family came my eldest grandson said he may be getting glasses.  His initial eye test showed the possibility but he is going back to have a 'relaxed test' using eye drops to make sure.  Not really surprised as all the family wear them though he is a little younger than we were when first pair required.  With that appointment making a dent in your pocket did you still manage any festive shopping?

Hope all is well with your shoulder and hope you are managing self service therapy okay.  Take care and chat soon. Jules

Hi Jules, there's a coincidence, I used to work for the head offices of Benetton which at that time was based a few doors away from Stringfellows so also saw some interesting sights! Tea at the Ritz sounds good though, definately something I'd like to revisit. We went many years ago when I was a child and had a lovely time.

Good to hear you all had such fun with the tree over the weekend, I bet it looks lovely too. Good thinking about the chocolate treats though, I daren't buy any just yet as I know they'll be long gone before Santa arrives!!

One of my colleagues has also just bought varifocals and managed to get used to them in a couple of days so I am hoping mine will be the same. Hers were not nearly as much as mine though as I seem to have chosen the most expensive frames in the shop, even though they are "frameless" so should really have been the cheapest?! Oh well, you live & learn..    Hope your grandson gets on ok with his re-test.

Had rather gone off the Christmas shopping after that so will probably end up wih my usual mad dash on Christmas Eve if I can't get myself going before then!

My shoulder is aching a bit now after a couple of weeks back at work but overall still very pleased with it, the range of movement is certainly much improved. I never did manage to get the therapist to show me the self massage technique for the other issue depsite repeatedly asking her but with all the scar tissue she discovered I'm not sure how much good it would do anyway. Am seeing the surgeon along with my nurse on the 30th of this month so will seek their advice then.

You'll be glad to hear that the roof is now all done, they did finish it off on Friday but simply forgot to post the keys through the door! This is being done tomorrow so, apart from the small matter of the bill (!), that's finally it. I can now put all the pots back in place and wait fo the bulbs to arrive, not a long wait either as with this mild weather some are already starting to sprout (or whatever it is bulbs do!)

Hope the next couple of days aren't too manic for you.  Take care  Sue x

Hi Sue

Wonderful that your roof is now safely repaired and though you will now have to face the bill (hopefully along with return of keys) at least you have peace of mind that you do not need to use brolly indoors!!

Hopefully your next appointment will give you some guidance as to how you proceed as regards massage therapy (maybe that NHS availability will become a reality!) and hope the surgeon has good news for you. Not surprised the shoulder aches but such good news there is an improvement after all you have been through.

Work has been okay, helped by an 'extra workmate' which I now have for two out of my three mornings until Christmas. Am looking forward to our work's meal this coming Saturday and then seeing my friends celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday. Am juggling the rest of my time between shopping, gym and day to day stuff though tomorrow morning will go and watch my eldest grandson singing during the school carol concert which hopefully will lift the mood and get a little more Christmassy - still difficult to ignore with a large tree taking up a big section of my dining area ha ha - it is somewhat relaxing sitting in the evening with the fairy lights glowing I must admit.

Wish you luck when you manage to do your Christmas shopping - it's easier once you  know what you are going for!!  My final 'on line' order arrived at the weekend (a replacement for damaged parcel) so just need to get it wrapped then I can sit back and enjoy the giving in a couple of weeks time.  My thoughts are somewhat mixed still and am grateful that I have some time to myself Christmas Eve/Day morning before entering into the making of new Christmas memories for us all. It will all be rather different to how we spent last year I know.

Washing up is calling before I set off to work so had best summon some energy and get moving.  Have a good day and thanks for listening to my rambling.  Take care.  Jules

PS  As and when I win that lottery the Ritz will be calling me!!!

Good morning Jules.

While out shoping this morning we popped into Wilkos. Found something that must have been especially desingned for Mrs B; a set of ten battery operated owl Christmas lights. Couldnt leave them them on the shelve could I ?????? They are now nesting on the new fireplace shelve I made her a few days ago. She was thrilled with them to put it mildly.

Last night was our last woodclub meeting for the year and we had what was supposed to be The Hurst Ringers and Singers. They told us they dont sing so one of our club member got that wrong. They are a group of handbell ringer and very good they were too. Made a lovely finsh to our year as they finished off by playing some Christmas song which our member sang along too. Afterwards we had drinks and nibbles and we had asked our member to invite their other halfs along. Everyone I spoke too really enjoyed  the evening. There was a wife of one of our members sitting in the front row who had a great big smile on her face all the time the bell ringers were doing their stuff and she told me afterwards it was one of the best evenings she has had in a very long time. Believe it or not, I just enjoyed watching her smiling.

The next meeting in January will be a very busy one for me as I start taking the club membership fees. Should be a little easier than last year though as we have had to increase the fee to £20 so wont have to bother with change so much. Plus I hope to have all our memnbership cards printed with members names and expiry dates which I am now doing my self.

Hope you enjoyed your visit to see your mum on Tuesday. Pleased you now have an extra member of staff helping; that must make things a lot easier. Sounds like you have another busy weekend ahead of you. I know like many of us, you will have mixed emotions over the next few weeks. Even now both Mrs B and I will have sad thoughts about those we have lost, even more so again this year. But I think we have to accept, those we have lost would want us to enjoy ourselves and not keep grieving for the past But as I am sure you will agree easier said than done.

Take care, enjoy your weekend and just know you will have a great time, Brian.

Hi Jules,  have a lovely time at the concert this morning, am sure your grandson will do you pround. Take care Sue x

Hi Sue,

Pleased to read your roof is now waterproof. Hope your not geeting too tired at work. Hope you have a relaxing weekend,take care, Brian