Hi Brian,

Thank you, my knee seems to be responding to the extra support that I have been wearing and thankfully am still enjoying some walking.  Remembrance Sunday here was bright and sunny once the overnight rain cleared and so was able to get to the gym as well as catch up on a few things as well as digging out the things I will need for the Christmas season which will so soon be upon us again.

Your brain must be working overtime with so many stories going on and I would imagine is an ideal alternative to working in the garage as the weather cools down.  Mind you it is mild again here today and no heating required.

Another visit to Mum this morning though little response on her part.  I still try and keep the conversation upbeat but so very hard seeing her like this.

Light relief yesterday evening as my son took me to an event hosted by Chris Packham and Paul Goldstein.  Such wonderful photography of their travels accompanied by their banter and explanations as to how they captured the images. Finally got home just before mid-night.

Good to hear that you have an 18mth appointment for your eyes so must be going well.  I too am enjoying the autumnal colours though a few more leaves have been falling in the past couple of breezy days.  My son has been taking some lovely photographs whilst out walking the dog.

Back into work tomorrow and so far so good.  Busy enough to make the time pass but not.as yet,run off my feet. People do seem to do things more gradually these days but no doubt there will be some last minute December buying (not by me though!!).

Hope you and Mrs B have a peaceful week.  Regards to all. Jules

Good morning Jules.

I have found a way to re-fill my HP cartridges. I hate having to be held to ransome  so will use this method for now.

Had our wood club meeting on Wednesday and one of our new members gave a talk about using old wooden pallets for makinh garden items. First tome he had given a talk so was a bit nervouse but did very well. Have finished some more stories and started some more since my last post. 

There is a fairly new channel on the tv plays plays all old films They advertised a 10 CD  set of 200 (Memory Lane) songs from when Mrs B and I were young children. Did it bring back memories She didnt get chance to write down who it was from so looked it up on the internet They say its only available fron them and with postage it was about £37 with postage but got from Ebay for about £24 with free postage. Just shows you have to shop around It even had Winifred Attwell playing piono amd Mantovani and his orchestra.

My grandson had a review at school He has been having to do cooking which he was not pleased about as he cant eat anythin and he has had a follow uo lesson to ask about the texture and flavour. Any way he made it plain he was not happy about it. His classroom assitant said but you need to learn to cook as on your form you have said you want to adopt an orpham when your older and you willhave to ccok for him. His reply was, Well he can either go to MacDonalds or he can cook his own meals. Whe asked why he wanted to adopt, he replied Every Batman needs a Robin. He had them all in fits of laughter. 

The cd has just arrived so that will keep Mrs B happy

Hope you leg is fully recovered by now and that you can get out for your walks again. Sending best wishes and kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian

Hi Brian,

Good news re your HP cartridges and hope this solves your problems.  Funnily enough have just spent a bit of time this morning printing out all my holiday info and e-tickets to a couple of events which are booked up for next year.  Thought I would do it now just in case my laptop has a problem (it's already lasted longer than the repairer thought it would!!) as have had a few 'blue screen' issues recently!  Now filed away and hope I remember where I put them for safety ha ha.  Of course I can always get the info back up again or go the electronic scanning route (my phone not really up to this).

Sounds as though the CD you bought will bring you both hours of pleasure.  My Dad loved Mantovani and spent hours listening to music (drove my Mum nuts so she bought him headphones).

Your grandson has a great sense of humour and it must seem pointless to him having to think about how things taste etc when he cannot try things for himself.  Slightly different I know but I remember watching a cookery programme where the chef had seafood allergies so could not taste the food he cooked for others so he had to rely on feedback. I wonder if your grandson could 'interview' those trying his cooking and write about it.  Have to say I enjoying eating but not the cooking ha ha and was always glad when school cookery classes were over!

Pleased to say that though the knee/hip is a nuisance, arthritis does not like the cold damp weather either, so it is a grin and bear it situation and does not stop me getting about at the moment.....just a bit slower than I am used to!

Hope you and Mrs B have a peaceful week.  I am meeting up with my daughter in law and the children after lunch as they are visiting a local soft play cafe which I can walk to so looking forward to a chat and coffee break.  Regards Jules

Thanks Jules, just found your post whilst having one of my occasional dips into the forum.  Hope you are well too, apart from your poor old knee (and hip?).  Be careful and don't go too mad in that garden of yours!  Wishing you better, sending love.

Hazel xxx

Thanks Hazel.  Arthritis and the cold weather are not best friends ha ha.  Still walking and doing the garden when the weather allows albeit slower than I would like but am lucky to be able to take my time.

Look after yourself.  Virtual hugs sent your way.  Jules x

Good morning Jules,

Doesnt look very good weather for your Sunday walk today. I take it your mum was still okay the other day. Hope you enjoyed your meeting with the family.

We had our committee meeting on Wednesday and I was thanked by eveyone for the newsletters and the new members I have help recruit this year. We have a very good committee and we all get along very well. They also liked my idea about making a video showing our member demonstrating their work.and have come up with ideas to help. 

Been to cold to do any woodturnong so have concentrated on my story writing Still have seven stories on the go despite finnishing a couple. Our CD came and boy did some of those songs bring back memories ha ha. Have ordered another four set one for Mrs B as I like it also. 

Will definately buy one of those ink tank pinters soon. The cost per page make it feasible for me to print my own stories and I allready have the jigs made to do the binding for paper back books. I tried it before but the print costs ment I had to charge more than I wanted, But this way I can keep the cost right down and sell my stories on my stand just like I used to.

Bet your grandchildren are looking forward to Christmas. So many Christmas adverts of the tv. But I do think Christmas has lost some of its meaning, Maybe its because Im older now. ha ha.

Take care and keep dry if you go for your walk. Sending best wishes to you and your family, Brian

Hi Brian,

Pleased to say  that no rain here so have not long got back from a three mile walk through local woods and then a cuppa overlooking the lido. So nice to be able to stretch my legs before settling down for some afternoon sport on the tv.  If it remains dry today into tomorrow I may even be able to mow the lawn!!

Very glad that your hard work gets appreciated by the WoodClub committee and always nice to have good relations so that future projects can gain approval.  Bet you will be pleased to be able to once again put your own stories into print and hopefully add them to your stall for sale.  Your hobbies fit into the changeable weather very well. 

My visit to Mum took the usual routine with me sitting beside the bed having a one way conversation but she was awake so no doubt taking it all in.  It is very sad as physically she no longer resembles my Mum and mentally she has no interest in her surroundings but will ask if she wants something so we know she is still capable of speech.  We are approaching the time of year she has never really liked and I a currently scratching my head as to what to give her for Christmas that will be of any use.

My hubby loved this time of year and always worked hard to be able to get back from overseas travels in time. One near miss when it was late Christmas Eve before he got home!! As a family we prefer to try and spend the time together rather than spend money on gifts so many years ago came to a fixed (small) amount to just have a little something to open by the tree.  This year I have my sister in law staying for a week but we are out for Christmas day to spend it with my son and family at his inlaws.  I am working my shift on Boxing Day but should be home by mid afternoon.  I am having friends and family on a 'visitor day' just before Christmas which should keep us busy. Still need to unearth the decorations  but do not put them up too early.

Busy week ahead catching up with friends and then on Friday have our Manager's leaving do/Christmas meal to attend so I suppose the festive period will feel closer

Hope you and Mrs B are keeping well and have a pleasant week ahead.  Best regards. Jules 

Good morning Jules,

Hope the strong winds have died down and your internet is working better now. Mine has been very slow this morning or maybe its my laptop. Could even be me, take your pick ha ha. 

My son is picking up my granddaughter today and she is coming home for a month. My chestnut season is coming to an end shortly so will stock up while I can.  Have been busy the last few days what with the newsletter. Januarys is as finished as I can get it untill we have this months meeting. Have also re-done our membership cards ready for printing out. Have also done about 18 months worth of wood quizes to put into the newsletters. Have also found a free program called Word Scramble where you type in a word and it will give you about 50 different versions with the letters all scarmbled up. So I put in types of trees and it scrambled them up good and proper so will also put them into the newsletters and get the members to try and figure out what the tree is. I try to keep on putting in something different each month. Have not got much writting done but hope to get back to it this coming week. One of the things I have had problems with is coming up with original names for my stories. I have now found another free program that generate up to 100 names at a time. Its so easy to use and brings up lots of unusual names which is just what I needed Have allready stored about 600 names for future use 

Bet your grandchildren are getting excited about Christmas. I know mine are. Spoke to my sister in Canada and they have allready had several bouts of snow. We have one last wood club meeting on Wednesday for this year where our members can bring along the partners. We are having a slide show and a quiz  afterwards.So will have to send out a e-mail reminder to our members shortly.

Hope you have a pleasant weekend and can get out for your walk tommorow in the dry.

Sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian 

Hi Brian

Thankfully the high winds were short lived and the internet has been a bit better though I am sure the age of my laptop has something to do with it too!!

I am sure the family are glad to be having your grand-daughter home from University and no doubt it will be a lovely family Christmas with lots of chatting and catching up.

So you are quickly stockpiling the chestnuts.  Still in our greengrocers at the moment but the season is pretty short. I have got walnuts and brazils in (not that I can eat them)  for when the visitors pop in along with all the other usual trimmings for the season.  Home is now decorated and am very pleased with how the tree looks and glad I got one delivered!!

Sounds as though you are well on top of the Club's newsletter and puzzles too (you spoil them). Fascinating that you find yourself delving into the internet to help with names for your stories and I do hope they are bringing enjoyment to those that get a chance to read them.

Weather better today for my walk to see Mum; bright and frosty. They community nurse came in and are pleased with her 'condition'.  She now has to have her food liquidised to help with swallowing but nodded to me that the pain relief is better too.  All  you can ask for really.  As she has no interest inChristmas (has always felt like this) she does not wish to be taken down to the festivities/party events that will be held in the comings weeks and don't blame her for remaining in her own rooom.  She currently has hourly visits by various staff and of course there is the call bell should she choose to use it. Spent an hour with her today bringing her up to date with family news but , for the most part, she keeps her eyes shut and/or sleeps.

The older grandchildren are enjoying school Christmas activities as well as helping with getting their own house ready for visitors on Christmas Day.  Of course they have their present list ready for Father Christmas (the 10 year old has listed most of one particular author's books so that has been an easy one for me!!). I am very pleased to have done everything in readiness for my visitors so apart from perishable food and local butchers pick up on Christmas Eve, I can take a break now.  I am visiting friends this weekend and attending a social night out with them.  It helps to keep busy at this time of year and help the family make ongoing memories.

Hope you and Mrs B are keeping well.Jules