Thanks Sue.  I am not sure what happened regarding the posts as it was not there when I looked the first time and then I was seeing double - hey ho.  Hope your laptop stops messing you around - can be very frustrating (I think I now rely on mine so much I would have to go straight out an get another is this gives up on me!).

Apart from some exercise this morning and usual household chores, a pretty lazy day today and am now rounding off the day with a glass of rose and some culture (First Night of the Proms).  Not my usual music taste but somehow relaxing. 

Wishing you a peaceful weekend. Jules x 

Good morning Jules,

Hope you had a good weekend. Hope your mother is keeping well and is in communicative mode when you visit today. Has your grandson broken up for the school holidays yet? Bet he will be wanting to spend sometime with you during the holidays. My three grandcgildren finnish today about mid-day. Glad to hear your post arrived in the end. So annoying when we are mis-informed.

My granddaughter won another gold medal while my sone thinks he came third but is waiting for the organisers to publish the results.  I have been very busy with my woodturning. I have turned a 12" beech bread board, a cheese plate with a marble insert, a small trinket box and a shaving brush all in the last two days. I have had some things like the brush and marble platter for a long while and thought it about time I did something with them.

I have re-planted our strawberry plants as they have not done as well this year. One tub the dirt was so compacted, I had a job to dig it so hope they will do better now. I had another cancer meeting on Saturday and we  got a lot of things sorted. I had missed the last meeting as it was a mid week one and couldnt make it. One of the ladys was so pleased to see me as she had apparently been worried I was not well, bless her. I have met some great people on these committies in the past few years. On of the other ladies organises a ball each year and has raised over £82,000 for the new Macmillan Horizon Centre being built in Brighton which should open in Febuary. 

We have Mrs B's brother and sister in law coming to visit us this morning so will be great to see them again and get an up-date on his health. My dad is still fighting on allthough he is very weak.

Well, had better run, will chat again soon. Best wishes to both you and your family, Brian.

The bowl is Beech, the lid is Mahogany and the knob is Zebrano.

The handle is Zebrano or otherwise known as Zebrawood.

Oh Brian, 
Love your woodwork.  You are so very talented.
Kathy x 
 

Hi Hope,

So nice to hear from you again. Glad you are doing well. Are your sons coming home from university for the holiday? Echoing what Jules has said, Even now nine years on, there are thime I see my mother favorite flower or hear a song she liked and I get quite emotional. Dont think we ever completely get over losing someone. Take care, Best wishes to you and your family, Brian.

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for your kind words. I have another one to share with you: it's desingned as a cheese board. My son is going to fix the marble in for me as when I try to do it, I get more glue on me than where it's supposed to go. Didnt want to put the cheese on the board as I thought it might tempt you too much Lol

Take care, Best wishes, Brian.[[]]

Hi Brian

Well done to your grand daughter once again and I hope you had a good natter with your brother in law and sister in law.  I am sure both you and Mrs B were happy to see them and hope his health is stable just now.

Your Dad continues to show what a fighter he is though I a sure all the family are concerned at his failing health.

I had a good weekend though a bit of a wobble on Sunday when shopping for a family event later in the year. Emotional thoughts making me question  whether I should be 'enjoying myself'.  Had a good buddy to turn to who helped me 'see sense'. A case of heart and head at odds and the reality of knowing that hubby would not want me to 'waste' my own opportunities in life. I will get there!!

Visited Mum  and just a few words from her side, mostly to tell me I need not stay.  Its difficult for her as she has no wish to continue with her life and does  not want to hear about anyone elses either. Its a struggle for her but the staff keep on trying.  They even gave her a lovely manicure at the weekend. I will return next week. I walked for a couple of miles to the Gym afterwards and its a good way to release day to day stresses and spend some time on myself.

I am taking my daughter and the boys out for lunch on Friday before I go and visit an old friend in the afternoon.  Looking forward to the weekend which I am spending with my friends who recently moved.  Though we speak regularly over the phone, it will be great catching up with all their news and seeing their new bungalow.  We are also at a social event in the evening which hubby and I would normally have attended together. Another 'first' without him and no doubt a few deep breathes to take as we discuss happier times (the memories will keep me going forward of course). On a lighter note there will be no one to ask 'does my bum look big in this'  or hear back the usual response ' it's okay' - as you know he was a man of few words!!

Your woodworking continues to produce some lovely pieces and I hope your forthcoming two day event goes well and does not leave you too shattered.  Best wishes to you, Mrs B and the family.  Jules xx

Hi Jules,

Hope you had an enjoyable weekend with your friends. Regarding your "Wobble" I think we all feel we shouldnt be enjoying ourselves after losing someone but the reality is, they would be quite cross with us if we were to go around feeling sad all the time. You are only human and are bound to get these feelings from time to time. Glad you had a friend who was able to help you get through the wobble.

Regarding your mother, you are so lucky that she is in such a good home. We hear so many horror stories of resident being mistreated. It must give you peace of mind to know the staff give such good care.  I hope your "First" went okay without any emotional hickcups. I think you have done so well Jules.

Well, I am having a day re-coperating from my two day craft show. First day was very good and did well as the weather was great. But Sunday was a differnt kettle of fish. It started rainng as I was leaving home and apart from a short period, continued all day. I still managed to sell a few things first thing but then no more people arrived. Everyone packed up at about two o clock. A couple of bits got wet as there was a hole in the roof of the tent we were in but luckily the finnish wasnt affected. Overall I was very pleased with the end result as several of the new items went. Have brought all the goods in from the car as I left locked in there in the garage overnight. Have re-packed it all and made a list of things I need to turn to replace items sold. I will also have to repair our club display board. It was made several years ago and has taken a lot of abuse. The top has come loose so will have to re-dowel and glued it back together again but it shouldnt take long. 

We may have some new members for our woodclub as we were also promting our club. Some lady liked my small grooved wood blocks that I put my labels/ prices on and has asked me if I would be intersted in making her some. An unexpected result there.

Me and Mrs B has a good chat with her brother and sister in law last week and we shared a few good laughs. Unfortunately on Sunday Mrs B made some cakes and in getting down fron a chair, she has sprained her ankle. She is quite small and cant reach the top of the cupbords so despite me buying a small pair of steps, she will keep using a chair. So I will be doing the shopping on my own tommorow so suspect a few selected Brianitues items may well fall into the trolley. If I dont get the right quality veg, I shall get severley reprimanded by the senior "quality controler" when I get back home.

I hope your vist to your mother goes well tommorow.

Sending very best wishes to you and your family, Brian

.

Hi Brian

Thanks for your understanding words. Most of the time I know I am coping pretty well but you just have to 'ride' with some of the emotions that bereavement brings.  You are right in that hubby would not want me to be down in the dumps but equally would rightly be a bit miffed if I was not missing him.  Those times are always heightened on 'special days' and social events we would normally have attended together. Nonetheless I did 'manage' the weekend first and was able to talk about happier times rather than the sadness his loss brings. 

My friends gave me a very relaxing weekend away and their new bungalow is so much easier for them to manage.  Considering they have only been in four weeks they are pretty well organised and just waiting for the bedroom fitters to come in this week and also arranging for the back garden to be landscaped for them eventually.  I went by train but they insisted on driving me home as it was chucking it down with rain and they had added to my 'luggage' with bags of rhubarb and gooseberries.

Visit to Mum yesterday was not too easy as she is very low and I have asked them to look at her medication again though, to be honest, not sure it would make any difference now. Her only request (actually the only time she spoke to me) when I asked her if I could give her a treat was to respond with ' the only help you can give me is to  give me an end of life pill'. Not exactly what I would call a treat and also nothing I can do about it either.  I felt like I was 18 again as we had similar conversations back then!Just very thankful that the home appears to be a good one (official listing in the top 20) but I still like to keep a regular eye on things.

Poor Mrs B, hurting her foot and I do hope it will soon feel a little easier - us ladies never seem to learn to 'watch our step'. I can just picture you doing the shopping with a big smile of your face as you can pop your favourites into the trolley undisturbed!

Right, I can hear the chimes of the ice cream van and am going to treat myself as the sun is shining.

Take care and best regards to you both and the family.  Jules xx

Hi Jules,

Sorry to read your mother is so down. It must be so hard on you to see her like this. I know you said she was like it when you were young but to see someone you love, wishing for their life to end must be very sad and emotional for you. Pleased you enjoyed your weekend away and bet you enjoyed being with your friends.

Your grandsons request for your presense at the duck pond is lovely and must make you feel good. When my granddaughter was about seven or eight, she would often refuse to go to the local bonfire procession unless I went too as did my middle grandson when he used to go to our local mill pond. Its great our grandchildren want us to be a part of their lives and something I always enjoy. Not only do they enrich out lives but hopefully it's a two way process and they must enjoy it too. When I saw my youngest grandson last night, I told him there was a rumour going round that someone in the family has a birthday shortly. He soon let me know it was him. Cant believe he will be ten years old this weekend. Problem is it makes me feel old. ha ha.

Have now done two lots of shopping this week and both have passed QUALITY CONTROL, Phew, thank goodness but did surprise Mrs B with a big bunch of flowers. Unfortunately when I went to do the first shop on Tuesday, I found my car had a completely flat tyre. I pumped it up and got the shopping done but have since had to have a new tyre as the puncture was too close to the edge. Wednesday I downloaded the new Windows 10 on my laptop. took about two and a have hours to download and install it. Didnt have to pay for it luckily and it seems to have sorted the problems I had with Windows 8. Nice to get the new program for free. It was quite simple to install it as mostly once I started it, it installs itself. If you have Vista or windows 8, you should also be able to get it for free as well. They have listened to the critisium they had when they brought out windows 8 and have brought back some of the things people liked in some of the previous programs. 

Have had to help Mrs B with the housework more today and it has brought home to me how much work you ladies do.  Luckily she still manages to do the cooking. Also had to go and visit the vampires den for another blood test regarding my diabetes. So overall have had quite a busy morning. Last night in bed, I have come up with an idea for another new product. I dont know about you but I often have problems with the ring pulls on tins of baked beans. This will be a wooden T piece with a notch to help pull the ring pull up. One end of the handle will be flattened so as to start the lifting if the ring pull. Will hopefully have a photo to show you of the completed item in the next few days.

I hope you have a peaceful and relaxing weekend. Sending kind regards to you and your family, Brian

Hi Jules,

Here is a picture of my new items as promised, the ring pull handle. Will get Mrs B to try them out tommorow.

Take care, have a good weekend, Brian.[[]]