Hi Brian

So sorry, for some reason my original reply failed to post  (probably lost signal mid posting).

Really sorry to read about your Dad's setbacks and that you had only just learned of them.  Despite him being a little vague when you spoke on his birthday I a sure he was very glad to hear from you. At 93 he is doing amazingly considering all he is having to deal with. Maybe your step mother does not understand what is going on too well herself and long distance and time differences makes it an added worry for you.  Hopefully the next news you receive will be a bit more informative.  The picture shows just what a fighter he is (my Mum refuses to have any photo now (though have caught her unawares a few times) and has been using walking aids since in her 70's).

Sending best wishes to you and the family, Jules xx

Hi Brian,
Sorry to read of dads set backs.  My isn't he a handsome gent.  He is a tough cookie so he will continue to battle I am sure.
Take care and best wishes to your darling Mrs B
Kathyxx
 

Good morning Jules,

Thanks for your reply and sorry you lost your first reply. Sorry to read about the sickness bug your family have had. I hope they are soon recovered. Have had one of those weeks where I have been so busy but mainly doing little things so I dont have a lot to show for it. I hIred a van on Wednesday as we were offered two two-seater setees by my sister in law. They are in very good condition and the only reason they are changing them is to get recliners as brother in law isnt comfortable in them. We get half way to pick them up and got caught in a five mile hold up caused by a trafic survey. Took absolutely ages and Mrs B was getting very frustrated by the time we finally got through. Why is it I always choose the slowest moving lane???   When we got back I used the van to take the old sofa and chair plus a load of rubbish and sawdust to our local tip.

Its a nice day for your usual Sunday morning walk and hope you are able to resist buying any naughty food. When I visited my young grandson on Wednesday, he asked if he could read me a story he is in the process of writing. He was so pleased when I said yes. I was very impressed as he has used some quite big words for a nine year old and the story was also vey well written and his writing is far better than mine evr will be. He chuckled away when I told I got into more trouble at school for my handwritting than anything else. My son chipped in "That was a very, very long time ago, when dinosaurs ruled the earth". I can see where my grandson get his cheekyness from now, but I wont say where my son gets his from on the groungs it might incriminate me: D

A year or so ago we bought a new rose and this year it is loaded with blooms; picture attached. Mrs B is so pleased with it. Our granddaughter has had her picture in the local paper two weeks running now. First time was for the work she does with a local youth group and second week she was pictued meeting an authur at her school.

Thought somehow you would have this week as a holiday as I know how much you like your tennis. I hope the weather is kind to you and you enjoy your weeks holiday

Take care, sending best wishes and kind thoughts your way, Brian

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Hi Kathy,

Thanks for your reply. Hope you are keeping well and avoiding the temptation of any cheesy things.

Dad certainly look well for a 93 year old. I know he will continue to fight as that is the person he is. I told him I am very proud of him and I could teel that pleased him.

I have included a quote especially for you

Take care, sending best wishes and kind thoughts (you know the cheesy thoughts) you way, Brian

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Hi Brian,
You won't believe I had that quote stored away to send you.  All ok here, roll on summer. Our summer is forecast to be a particularly hot one as this winter has been very cold.  What can you do?  Just go with the flow.  Looking forward to Bimbulbum starting as I am usually awake through the night so can watch the matches ok.  Off to babysit the little ones next weekend so will be kept on my toes.  What joy.  Intend making lots of cheesy dishes...  Shhhh don't tell their mother.  
Will check up on the old bird while there, too witt too woo.
Take care
Kathy x
 

Hi Brian

My Sunday walk was in the rain!! Still the garden needed it.  It rained for a good part of the day so think you were lucky to miss it.

Bet you are pleased with your new furniture and handy that you could move it yourself and use the van to get rid of the old bits and pieces.

Fingers firmly crossed that the bug has been beaten.  Although Zack needed rehydration in hospital on Saturday I have looked after him today and he was his cheeky self.  Joel was also able to go back to school having had to miss Friday as you have to keep them off for at least 48 hrs after sickness.

I had the nausea yesterday afternoon but apart from feeling very tired (sleeping still hard to come by) am coping okay. 

My daughter had her hospital appointment today and they have ruled out epilepsy and diagnosed vasavagel syncope (fainting fits to you and me!).  They have told her to increase the salt in her diet and up the amount of water she drinks especially in hot weather).  They have also given advice to my son in law as to how to position her when she has an episode.  Think they both feel a little more relaxed now they know.  Unless they become more frequent its unlikely she will need to go back.

Apart from my usual visit to Mum tomorrow I have no other plans until the weekend and with the weather looking good the tennis will keep me amused.

Love the colour of the rose.  My white one is very overladen this year so have cut some to bring indoors and just love the perfume.  I have a yellow one in the front garden which has finished its first flowering  but should come on again. With the heatwave promised I will have to water the containers after dark so they get the benefit.

Good that your young grandson is still as cheeky as ever and am sure it runs in the family (love the quote you sent to Kathy) and a sense of humour certainly helps with the stresses of life.  Your grand-daughter sounds like she takes after you with her writing skills to and its lovely that she has been recognised in the paper.

Right, off now to phone an old buddy of my hubby.  Take care and regards to you both and the family.  Jules x

Good morning Jules,

Hope your keeping cool. Sorry to read you had your walk in the rain on Sunday. It was fine all day here. Pleased to hear family have recovered from sickness bug and that they have found no big problems with your daughters health. You must all be quite relieived.

Too hot to work in my garage as it has a low asbestos type roof and gets very hot. Have had an e-mail from my sister in Canada regarding dad. His prostate cancer has come back and spread to his spine. He also has heart problems and blood problems plus a bladder infection. He has told my sister he thinks he is nearing the end of the line which is not like him at all. She also feels the same. She has promised to keep me updated regading his health. Its funny; I only meet my dad for a month but we are so alike; same likes, dislikes and mannerisuims. More like him than my two other brothers who to be fair are half brothers but that doesnt make any difference to me. Having grown up believing I was an only child like you, It has been amazing to find I had had two brothers and three sisters in Canada and then to find I had a sister living about an hours drive away who is so like my mum and who also like the same things as me. It certainly has been a life changing experiance as I always wanted a sister when I was growing up.

Hope you are enjoying watching the tennis and are also able to spend some time in the garden. Mrs B is like you in that she has trouble sleeping. She suffers from restless leg syndrome and think the hot weather is making it worse. Our family of blackbirds seem to love the hot weather as the last couple of days they have been singing non stop virtually all day long. My sister also sent me a link to view a whole load of unusual trees. Even she knows I'm a tree freak. I have downloaded them all. Plus I found another site yesterday and downloaded about another 200 pictures of the USA for one of my threads. After not having any syptoms much for the past few years, my hayfeaver is making my eyes water so have bought some pills to hopefully stop this.. As I write this, it is clouding over at the moment. I dont envy those like my son who has to work out in the heat.

Mrs B asked me to take her to a farm shop about five/six miles away early this morning as they do have some nice vegs and it gave her a short run out. The prices there are similar Tesco's but far fresher quality. I gave Tescos staff a big fright yesterday; I went down there in my short's and trust me, that enough to frighten anyone. Even Mrs B has to wear her dark sunglasses. Incidentally, there was me telling you not to but any naughty foods; when I got to Mr Tesco's they had a lot of things I am not supposed to eat on special offer and I succumed and got told off by she who must be obeyed. I tried the old line about them just falling into the trolley but it didnt work. Think I shall have to come up with some new excuses. So Brianitus is alive and well once more.

Cant belive how quick this week is going by. Will chat again soon,take care, best wishe to you and your family, Brian

Hi Brian

Just returned indoors having had breakfast in the garden.  Very pleasant and am thinking I would have done better to have slept out there!!

It must be sad to receive the news regarding your Dad's delicate health just now and not at all easy having to rely on long distance updates.  Hopefully they can keep him as comfortable as possible but am sure it will be totally frustrating for him and exceptionally tiring bless him. Will keep you all in my thoughts.

You are very brave showing off your knees in public (mine have remained hidden for years unless on a beach!!) and love the thought of MrsB trying to hide behind her dark glasses though it seems as though you are getting away with a lot just now - all that naughty shopping leading to Brianitus.  In this warm weather I have not felt particularly hungry so have not been snacking as much (probably a good thing) but have been enjoying frozen yogourt and fruit.  I suspect that will be somewhat different on Saturday when we are all hoping to go to the Cotswold Show where there will be many home made goodies/rural treats on offer though I know the pulled pork and hog roast would not tempt you!!

I have now, I hope, found an alternative to my night out, though the socialising will be during the day and not just on Fridays!  I have joined  a local(10 mins walk away) Gymophobics centre where you have thirty minutes of excerise and can then socialise if you wish (its lovely relaxed atmosphere and ladies only (ages range from youngsters to 87 and you have a personal programme to follow).  Think it will be good for me to have a new challenge which could also offer the social aspect you miss when living alone.

Have really been enjoying the tennis though it does not stop me from being out and about. This morning I am meeting my daughter and Zack at the library and then going for a coffee before I have to pop into town to pick up an order I have placed.  Will probably lunch out before getting back and hopefully catch Murray's match.  My week off is going far too quickly.

Hope the tablets help your hay fever - not at all pleasant and know quite a few people are struggling with it at the moment.  Only really spending early morning/evening in the garden which is very peaceful and am slowly working my way through a book.  Only another dozen or so waiting to be read now!!!

Apparently we could have some thundery showers today so had best put brolly in my bag as would not make a good candidate for wet t shirt look.

Have a restful day and my regards to you and Mrs B and the family.  Jules x

Hi Jules, as you are a tennis fan, I hope you saw the Nadal/Brown match just now. Wow!  Sue x

Hi Sue

Absolutely riveted in my chair - just amazing tennis. Love it when an underdog wins. U OK?  Jules x