Hi Brian,

Many thanks for keeping me in your thoughts.  This forum has, and still is, playing a part in my onward journey.  Some days it feels just like yesterday and then with a 'little shake up' I am reminded of how time has passed and with the family we continue to make new memories.

Having spent the new year with my daughter and family I returned home and so to work. It was the first year I had been at work on hubby's anniversary day but my workmates and our new manager were supportive and it helped being busy.  I visited the remembrance garden after work for a period of reflection and know how lucky I  was to have this man in my life and how he lives on in our children/grandchildren.

It has been lovely seeing the woodcraaft pictures on other threads and I hope the membership continues to grow and you spend happy hours amongst likeminded friends.  As they say you reap what you sow and friendship through hobbies/interests  can bring much pleasure.  On that note I am getting  back into the gym today not because I have to but because this is another social hub for me with the added benefit of exercise ha ha.  Thankfully did not over-buy for the festive season and so no leftovers to worry about.  A couple of extra pounds to take care of (my daughter in law's Christmas cake was worth it!!) but a beautiful day today so will set off shortly after the gym visit for a bit of a walk.

So far have managed to steer clear of the sales as there is nothing I need and it is easy to buy just because it may seem a bargain. Mind you I  have garden vouchers lurking in my purse (one of the very nice presents from family) so no doubt will be visiting the garden centre soon.

Take care of yourself and best regards to MrsB and the family too.  Jules 

Hi Jules,

I have just bought myself a new headset complete with microphone as my old set the mic had stopped working. I am using it for my stories. Using the voice regognitions software, I completed 13 A5 pages. All I have to do is talk to my computer and it types it up on the screen. I find the longer the sentance I can string together,the more accurate it is. The only problem is I have to speak like a BBC radio announcer ha ha. But it really is a lot quicker and will certainly spped things up. I have completed a story already with the aid of the new mic but still have 13 stories under consruction but have nearly finished another one so hope to start bringing the total down quite rapidly now.  

Mrs B had a surprise today as she had 30 English bluebell bulbs arrive and has allready planted them as most of them were allready sprouting. Added to those I bought her last year, she should hopefully have a decent display in the near future. We have a forsyhia already which has one or two flowrrs out. It has been very cold here today but as my cars battery was getting low, I took Mrs B out for about an hours drive through the country roads this morning which she enjoyed. 

Hope the January sales have not been to busy for you. At least you should by now have finished work for this week although as they say a womans work is never finished at least this is what Mrs B keeps telling me ha ha.

Take care and am sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian

Hi Brian,

Wow, being able to dictate your stories will certainly help with the speed that you can get through them.  Your head must be a mine of ideas to keep so many stories in there and keeping you busy during the colder months until you can get back to the woodcrafting.

The past week has been a mixed one emotionally but am coming out the other side again now and being busy on my work days has been helping me keep focus. Still surprises me to think that four years have now passed since hubby ended his cancer/life's journey and I have to continue moving on.  As they say it is what it is but there will no doubt always be periods which are harder to get through.  

On a good note our new young manager has instilled some well needed energy into the workplace and morale there has somewhat been lifted (always nice to be appreciated and feel that teamwork is alive and well).  Getting the store back to 'normal' is always a big focus and is now well under way. I have some holiday left to use up and so am on leave this coming week.  Would love to be able to get out in the garden but will have to see what the weather allows.  Lawn could do with a mow but it is damp here at the moment (drizzly and grey) so think it will be shopping and then the gym rather than long walk.

Am currently able to see plenty of  bird activity outside including the fleeting glimpses of a couple of red kites and some gulls dive-bombing a garden a couple of doors down (assume they have put out something enticing!!).  Camera battery is on charge and it would be nice to see some sunshine back so I cana get out and enjoy my surroundings.  No major plans for the week though am being treated to a night at the cinema on Tuesday (the ticket was part of myChristmas gift as I had mentioned to my work friend that I fancied going to see Bohemian Rhapsody) and her husband is playing chauffeur for us as it is a 'one night only' showing at a theatre which also has cafe/bar facilities.  A little bit different to going  to the local cinema!!

Wishing you and Mrs B a peaceful weekend and hope you are now well recovered from the cold (your son too) and have been able to catch up with family before your grand-daughter returned to University (hope she is enjoying her chosen course).

Regards. Jules 

Good morning Jules. 

Have had a bit of a funny weekend, On Thursday evening I was eating a Brazil nut when my denture split completely in half, front to back. I took it to my dentist on Friday morning who have sent it off for repair but I wont get it back until this afternoon, So I havent been able  to eat any nuts all weekend and have had to have soft food to eat. My young grandson now calls me the toothless wonder of Sussex ha ha. 

Have completed another story and have started another new one. This one is about a guy whose wife has died from cancer and who leaves him a dvd. On it she tasks, him with setting himself a challenge that will take months to complete as she doesnt want him to spend the rest of his life wallowing in grief and self pity..So I still have 13 stories on the go.Plus I have an idea for yet another one germinating at present. 

Hope youve had a good weekend, and enjoyed your usual Sunday walk. Our neighbour is mowing his lawns as I write. I would have thought they were too damp; I know mine is. Hope you enjoy your week off and are able to get out into your garden Looks like it is going to turn cold for the end of the week. Hope we dont get the snow they have on the continent. Looks really bad. This country would come to a complete standstill, even if we only get half the amount they have.

Well must press on, things to do . Enjoy your week, Brian. . 

Hi Brian,

Hopefully you now have your repaired denture back and will be able to enjoy your nutty selection again.  Once I had my own dentures I no longer ate nuts as lost the enjoyment and found it made my mouth sore. Also to a certain degree you lose some of the pleasure of taste with acrylic 'teeth' ha ha.

Glad the story writing is going so well and you certainly have a head full of ideas so nice to get them recorded for others to enjoy.

Yes thank you, I enjoyed a pretty peaceful weekend and aftermy gym visit on Sunday did indeed go for my Sunday walk. A couple of hours around our local Lido followed by a cuppa and a visit to the nearby garden centre as needed a couple of bits.

Yesterday I went to the cinema to see Mary Poppins Returns and a very good 'escape' from reality it was. Today I have my usual trip to see Mum, followed by the gym and then going to  see my late friend's husband as he needs a witness for his new will. Will have a cuppa with him and his new partner before getting back to make ready for my night out with my friend from work.  She bought me a ticket as part of my Christmas gift (to go with her own) to see Bohemian Rhapsody which has a special showing at our local theatre venue (part of the film was apparently filmed there).  As it is awkward to get there by public transport (three changes) I am getting to her and then her husband will drop us off and has kindly offered to drop me home afterwards.

Weather permitting have other plans for my days off so they are not wasted, one of which will be catching up with my daughter in law and the two little ones so looking forward to that. The time certainly seems to go quicker when you are kept busy and leaves less time for overthinking!

Take care and best regards to you and MrsB.  Jules

Hi Jules,

Have had a busy morning. I have just finnished a 78 page story I told you about and also completed my next newsletter. I have a story to tell you now that I think will make you laugh. My son got home the other evening and my grandson asked what I was doing. He replied, "Grandad is roating his nuts" and my grandson answered quick as a flash by saying, "Then you better tell him to get himself some flameproof underpants". See what I have to put up with ha ha. They were the last of my chestnuts so will now have to revert to the frozen ones.

Took Mrs B out for a ride yesterday which turned out to be a much longer one than I had thought. She was really tired afterwards but we both enjoyed the ride. Have cooked Mrs B a tea tonight but dont go getting excited,,,,,,,,,,,,,, it was only beans on toast and I did even burn the toast ha ha.  Have just bought some LED light bulbs as they only use 90% less electricity and give a much brighter light than my old ones. 

Will re-start one of my other stories tommorow but do also need to get out into my garage as it badly needs another good tidy up. 

Hope you enjoyed your walk today thats if you managed to dodge the rain showers. Pleased you had a busy social week but sorry you were busy at work but as you have said before, at least it makes the time go quick. At the moment I wish I could find something to slow time down ha ha.

I wish you a pleasant week and sending kind thoughts your way, Brian

.

Hi Brian

The writing bug has bitten hard and you are doing very well getting them all sorted out.

Hope Mrs B has now recovered from the trip out after enjoying it at the time.  Quite envious of the Beans on toast meal being served up; always one of my stand by meals and very comforting in this chilly weather.

Your grandson is what I would call a loveable rascal and know you all enjoy the banter.  I should be seeing my eldest two grandsons in the middle of next month and had a meal with my son and family on Monday so keeping up to date with family news,  One more work shift to deal with and then looking forward to spending some time with my feet up and a trip to the Farmers' Market this weekend. 

I visited Mum as usual on Tuesday and she slept through it but I know the staff will let her know I popped by.  Medication and old age playing equal parts now but at least when sleeping she is free from anguish/pain. Doctor is visiting regularly so she is well monitored. 

Was very frosty/icy this morning after last night's rain but no more snow yet thankfully (some possibly forecast for tonight). May have to dig out the thermals ha ha especially when I go outside to de-ice the bird bathing area and keep topping up the feeders.   My daffodils are just about to break bud so hope they are not spoilt as love to see them blooming as a sign that Spring is on the way.

Hope you and Mrs B have a pleasant and peaceful week and enjoy the coming weekend.  Jules

Hi Jules, 

Sorry I havent posted for a while. I have found my time has been taken up with my story writing, I found I had about 14 stories that I had transfered to a program I use to print the out and they were missing on my word program. So I had to find a way to tranfer them back which was not easy bit I evetually got them all copied.  To my surprise I found I had 54 stories from 30 to 154 pages and 37 between 2 to 5 pages long. I still have about 14 under construction. I now have the job of re-proof reding them as I want to select the best one to submit to a publisher. Ineed them in word or Doc format to be able to e-mail them off.  I believe I mentioned. I am less than a quarter of the way so far. 

At least the sun is shining at the moment but the wind sure is cold. I hope you will have a pleasant weekend, best wishes, Brian

Hi Brian

Lovely to hear that you are cracking on with all your stories in readiness for submission to a publisherSo very exciting for you and with so many to choose from I do not envy you making the choice to which to submit.  Wishing you the very best of luck.

Weather is now a lot more mild so good for my walks. Weekend was a little quiet but did manage to get out to do usual routine things.  Visited Mum today and she slept the whole way through my visit which is becoming a regularity bless her so very peaceful time and a bit of reading done and a catch up with her carers who wil let her know I popped in again.

Nice to see the sunshine today and some colour (daffodils and crocus) making an appearance in the garden.  Hoping to get to Kew this week as they have an Orchid Festival taking place so am charging up the battery for the camera with the hope of capturing some of their beauty.

Sending kind regards to you, MrsB and the family for the week ahead.  Jules