Hi Brian

I really thought I had replied to this post but cannot see it so big apologies.............. Imust have had a senior moment again!!

I am sure you have found the temperatures a little more bearable recently and from the other threads know you have been cracking on with your wood work and I do enjoy seeing the results.  I am sure your other club members are very grateful for the work you do to get things organised.  Hope you enjoyed the Club's woodturning talk and am sure there was a chance for 'question time' too.

How lovely that your were able to take Mrs B for a country drive.  It is nice to get away from the town hub bub from time to time and see the lovely views nearby.  Delighted too that Brianitus is alive and well (getting de-je-vu as sure I made a comment on this.........perhaps I put it on one of the other threads instead of replying here so apologies again if I am actually repeating myself!!).  Must be annoying when you cannot get your frozen chestnuts so hope they back in stock soon for you to enjoy.  Personally I am in danger of over-indulging in the strawberries (no cream though) and have just enjoyed a bowl for my breakfast.

No plans for the coming weekend so will see what the weather does and make a decision day to day. Have a few chores  I should do to get the spare rooms shipshape (daughter and family staying overnight in a week's time as we are visiting our local RAF airport for their open day and then they are visiting the in-laws the following day so no point in travelling back home, only to come back again. I have ordered a new quilt  cover set for my youngest grandson (he is a Batman fan) so that will be a surprise. He finally out-grew the travel cot so have made one room into twin bedded for the boys and am awaiting a double bed for the other bedroom though they have posh camp beds if this does not come in time!! Apparently they are so comfortable it is a battle between parents and children who sleeps in them!!  I think my son in law is hoping to have his car back by this weekend too (new gearbox/clutch required so not cheap!!) which will mean my daughter gets her wheels backs as  he has had to use her car for getting to work.

Hope you and Mrs B have a pleasant day and a relaxing weekend.  Jules

P.S.  Definitely losing my marbles as have just realised my reply to your post was attached to my hedgehog photo so now an apology for repeating myself.  I have only been up for three hours but am obviously not fully awake yet ha ha.

Hi Hazel

How did your gardening plans go? Well I hope?  I really should get into mine now that it has had a good soaking as it will be easier to weed and move things about.  Also lots of dead heading to do following the downpours.  Bird feeders need re filling (have several baby goldfinches being shown the ropes by mum and dad on the feeder hanging from my new shepherds crook close to the house).  Would love to get a photo but they scare easily so need to get my windows cleaned (rain splattered at present) so I can take them from indoors.  Note to self ...........add cleaning windows to the 'to do' list.

It is a bit cloudy here but a nice breeze so just waiting for the washing to be finished and then will get it outside before I set off.

Have had a couple of busy days at work and a couple of extra hours worked. Already finding parents shopping for 'back to school' even though they have not broken up yet!!  No doubt going to be a busy few weeks ahead which will be challenging to say the least with  reduced staffing levels. Still waiting for the lottery win so I can retire..................well have to have a dream now and then.

Take care my forum friend and have a pleasant weekend.  Jules xx

Hi Jules,

Have been busy this week in my workshop. Now have timber glued up for my lighthouses and some timber part turned ready for cats with movable heads. Nearly got my stock levels finnished so will soon be able to try my new lines.

Have lost some time waithing for a plumber to come and mend a leak. The first one said they had sent the wrong company. The next chap said he would have to get another chap to come and repair it despite being told all the info. I was getting rather annoyed with the time wasted. Finally got it done yesterday afternoon.

My weight has dropped a bit further still and and getting down to the weight I want. Mrs B is supervising me ha ha.

Apologies I have not been on here much lately but have been getting out in my workshop ealy before it get to warm.

I hope your family are all okay, and bet you are glad you now have the weekend to enjoy. Sending kind thoughts your way, Brian.

Wow Brian, you have been doing very well, not only with your woodworking but on sticking to the diet.  I am sure with Mrs B's encouragement and your own willpower you will reach your desired goal.  I just need some of the willpower now so that I can stay on track (not much to lose but getting harder to do it ha ha). Have a 'goal' to reach by mid August but am prone to 'cheating' and no one to slap my wrist ha ha. Need to give myself a good talking to..............again!!

Will be lovely when you can crack on with your new lines as I know you always enjoy producing something different.  With it  being a bit cooler must make working conditions more bearable so hope you have a productive weekend but also take time out to relax.

I am expecting daughter and family down for the weekend as we are attending local community day at our RAF airport (about 15mins walk for me).  Will be lovely to catch up with all their news. 

Am also awaiting my plumber but this is to  begin work on replacing bathroom suite so just hoping to get a start date for definite but it may be next week.  Will try and make myself scarce once work under way and have a weekend with friends soon which could tie in nicely.

Had a good couple of days at work and now looking forward to my days off.  Weather is looking a bit mixed but probably just typical for the start of the school holidays.

Take care and have a pleasant weekend with Mrs B.  I hope her leg is feeling better now.  Jules

Good morning Jules.

I have packed the car ready for the next two days and with my new tables, It all went into the car so much easier and I have a lot more space now and can see out of the back windows now. This fair only runs every two years. I did well there last time but have got so many new lines since then so I am really looking forward to see what they think of my new items. Just hope the weather improves as we are in a gazebo with 3 closed sides. Luckily it will be in the school playground and on hard standing. I will take my camera with me as they have beautiful flower dislays in the local church as part of the festivities. Hope to post some on here if they turn out okay.  Have had to order some more of the metal key rings as I have used the last of them up.  I have ordered 200 as the price was so much cheaper per item this way. Some site were charing the same price for ten as I have for the 200 so you do have to look around.

Mrs B is still not walking very well. She fell over a couple of weeks ago and hurt her leg. I am doing what I can to help her. I had to do the shopping on my own yesterday and luckily got everything right so no balck eye for me ha ha. My son is now a member of the local gym as he is hoping it may help strengthen his ankle and also he hopes to lose some weight as well.

I will have to make another trip to the tip to get rid of my sawdust and shavings. Being hardwood they cant really be used for pet bedding. Surprising how quickly they accumilate.

Hope your mother is still eating okay even if she doesnt talk much. Hope your daughter has settled in okay and your grandson likes his new school. Bet you will be seeing a lot of your grandchildren  over the school holidays. They grow up so quick these days dont they.

Thanks for sharing all your photos over the past few weeks. Take care and am sending kind thoughts to you and your family and also wishing you a great weekend, Brian.

Hi Brian

Sincerely hope that you have had a good couple of days and that the lovely new tables held fast with all your goodies.  Weather my way has been a mix of sunshine and showers  but still pleasantly warm so hope the show you were at did well for all those taking part/visiting.  No doubt a bit tiring but hope it was worth it.  Look forward to seeing your photos as it sounds a great event.

I have been away at friends this weekend and will be going back to them next Saturday as we have all been invited to a mutual friend's 70th and they have offered to put me up bless them.  The lady who is celebrating has requested no gifts but has said anyone who wishes to do so may make a donation int he box provided and then she will  give this to her favoured charity; what a lovely idea.

So sorry to read that Mrs B's leg is still causing her problems and hope with some more rest it and she will be feeling much better .  I am sure she is finding it very frustrating.  Hope your son enjoys his gym membership and that they can help strengthen his foot which will make his life easier also.

The family are all okay as far as I know.  My son and family are on a short break and have taken a cottage in Abegavenny so were able to take the dog along too.  Unfortunately he forgot his camera so will have to rely on his phone to take pictures - he is pretty cross about that!! 

I am having my daughter and the boys stay for a five day break in mid August (their holiday this year) and this will enable them to catch up with all their friends here.  I have taken holiday from work so we should be out and about together too so will look forward to that.  I have several busy weekends ahead which will keep me amused and out of mischief this month.  Unfortunately cannot do much in the garden as everything is pretty wet at the  moment.........I have mushrooms growing in the lawn ha ha and the flowers in the borders/pots have taken a bit of a bashing but no doubt they will recover when the rain stops.

Mum is still enjoying her food but refusing to enter into any conversation but her carers doing a great job at keeping an eye on her and have been making her fresh fruit smoothies which she seems to enjoy.  I will be popping down again this week as usual though it is more a case of watching her sleep.  Still I know I have  been and if she does not wake up during my visit I know the girls tell her I popped in.  Not much more  to be done.

Have a parce to collect tomorrow as they tried to deliver whilst I was out.  New net curtaining to hang once I get it home and that will be nice to see in place.

Look forward to hearing all about the show  when you have recovered enough.  Take care and best wishes to you, Mrs B and the family.  Jules

Hi Jules,

Yes, I had a couple of reasonable days. Saturday morning was okay but it rained nearly all afternoon. Sundat was good weather wise but they put us next to a school building which housed the art exhibition and they hadnt signposted it very well so we didnt have as many visiters as we did last time. But what people did find us were very enthusiastic so it wasnt all bad news. We had several people very intersted in joining our wood club so that was a bonus. Had a lot of laughs. One young boy started rumaging under my table and found two wooden key rings which had fallen off my rack. So I gave them to him and his sister and they were apparently so pleased with them. One of our outher members whos wanted to exhibit unforunately wasnt well enough to attend. My table worked really well and it was so much easier loading everything in mu little car. I have some pictures of our gazebo and some of the flowers in the church which were amazing. The next show there which will be in two years time we be in a much better location.

Mrs B  was pleased now I am back home. Now I am a bit lighter, carrying my boxes up and down stairs didnt leave me out of breath like it used ti do so it proves I feel better at my new lowere weight.. I have spent the morning sorting out all my stock into the correct boxes as Iput them anywhere when packing up last night.

Looks like you have a very busy period ahead of you over the next few weeks.. It must take some strain off you knowingthe staff at the home look after your mother so well.

Take care and am sending kind thoughts your way, Brian.

Gosh Brian, I reckon you need to make yourself another table, so many goodies!  Shame the weather and the positioning of your stands weren't too good.  (Also meant to say on the other thread, sorry about your poor car, especially as the repair will make a hole in your weekend earnings - what a nuisance)

Love the church photos, beautiful.  

Thanks for sharing.  

Hazel xx

Oh, and PS - will you stop gloating about your blooming weight loss, I am SO jealous!  (Well done though)

Hi Brian,

This week seems to be flying past so am a bit behind with catching up with my e mails; apologies and I really am not ignoring you all.

Sad that the weather and placement of your 'pitch' meant less footfall than usual but I know you would have made the best of it and I bet the young lad and his sister were thrilled with their freebie.  At least now you have an easier loading/unloading time with the benefit of your new tables.  The photos just show how hard you work to keep your products moving and I loved the flowers shown in the church. Now to forward plan for two years time!!

Congratulations on the weight loss and nice to know that  you are feeling the benefit and that it gives Mes B less to worry about too.  I need to get back on track as far as food goes.  Have been a bit of a lazy eater since I got back off my hols and it has led to a few pounds going on (always in the wrong place too). Having a pep talk at the gym next week but with a very social weekend ahead of me I doubt that the scales will bring good news!!

You are right in saying that it is a help knowing Mum has good care team in place.  She is rarely awake whenever I go but they always let her know I have  been.  I sit and hold her hand whilst reading with the other. If she wakes at least I can give her family news but apart from eating and sleeping she has no desire for anyone to do anything else.  Respecting her wishes and dignity is paramount now, bless her.

Well am out with a friend tomorrow afternoon/evening in Lonndon and away at the weekend again to celebrate another friendd's 70th so it is all go at the moment.

Hope  you and Mrs B have a peaceful weekend and that the family are keeping well.  Jules