Re: Hello Everyone

Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:02 pm

Hi Ladies. Just got home and achieved all I needed to do and put the shopping away - sat outside for a while with a parma violet gin mixed with lemonade and now in and after this going to tackle some more ironing which I was too hot to finish yesterday. I did cook two banana breads (no help for the diet) and enjoying a slice now.

Dian, yes garden does look a treat, but much too hot to sit out there for too long today, so back indoors after enjoying that drink out there. I have still got more to turn out from the house and the garden and Maria and I are going to arrange to go to the lockup next week and take some items round to the other charity shop (debra) which is close to Barnardos (might take some items to them also) and I have certainly got some clothes that need turning out from my wardrobe also. Glad to read you enjoyed your day out which included a trip to Lidls, so you are stocked up again and finishing with dinner at your daughter's. That sounds handy the place where your granddaughter takes her dog so it can run and reasonable charge too. See you had planned for yesterday a get-together at a neighbours house to remember the neighbour who passed away and expect you all had a nice time with some good memories about the friend you had lost.

Thanks for the remarks about the flowers Jean, but definitely too hot yesterday and today to sit out there and enjoy them, although yesterday it did darken off late afternoon and we did get a few spots of rain now and again, but nothing that was enough for the garden, so expect will have to water today.

Rita the garden does look colourful, but the grass needs cutting again and that certainly isn't going to get done in this heat, but must do the watering later. That really did mess your day up the day before yesterday waiting for the Iceland delivery that never turned up and finally got to you yesterday. Don't blame you for not ordering there again. See your son and famiy are going away for the weekend - getting away from the building noise at home as he is having a lot of alterations done.

I am looking forward to seeing the greatgrandsons tomorrow when we go out for lunch and just hope another lockdown isn't suddenly imposed on us in Northampton and the places have to close again. It wasn't too busy in the shopping centre this morning and after collecting those items I got the next bus straight back to the centre and got everything done fairly quickly. Have a nice weekend all of you.

Sat Aug 08, 2020 2:18 pm

the carpet man came and we ordered the carpets. now we have to clear the decks in two rooms.
the stomach pain is easier but still a nuisance so I cancelled dinner at Pauls tomorrow. really looking forward to that, but just in case it is a bug
cooler today so far have not been out with Coco legs a bit wobbly but will try later.

Sat Aug 08, 2020 4:20 pm

Pauline that did sound nice enjoying your drink outside and your banana bread too.That is good you and Maria will take more items from the lockup for charity also more items of your own.Does help to have a clear out It will be nice your visit to your great grandsons tomorrow......enjoy
Jean good you have now got your carpets ordered Do hope your tummy has cleared up Pity you had to cancel your visit to Paul
Rita that was really so annoying that carry on with Iceland.Hope your enjoying the nice weather
I had a nice night with the neighbours.We spoke to the ladies daughter in Spain on video which was nice.Also quite a lot of rain last night but the lady had a nice Marguee in her back garden.Sun is scorching here today. I have sat out but had to come in but will now pop out again with a nice cuppa Cat no doubt will follow Have a good weekend all

Sun Aug 09, 2020 1:40 pm

still got the pain a bit, and managed to do a bookcase, normally would be at it clearing the rooms all day.
sunny here with a cool wind. apparently it rained last night.
nice to speak to your neighbours Dian and her daughter in Spain

Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:24 pm

Pauline I am sure you will be having a nice time with family
Jean hope you and David are having a nice day and both feeling fine also Coco
Rita hope your day is going along nicely
Another nice day so went to Homebase to get a long life battery for smoke alarm now got to put it in.Then I popped into HB as it was quiet and got a few items then home. First time I have went shopping by myself so did feel quite drained when I got in but pleased I did do it.

Sun Aug 09, 2020 8:57 pm

Hi Everyone. Had a lovely lunch out with the family and my, has Kylian altered again. He was looking quite different from Hunter earlier this year, but is now looking so much like him again - you can definitely tell they are brothers. I took some photos, but since I got in have been working on some of them to print a few off for Gennie and Maria to see, so really running late this evening. Caught up with the emails and other things on the pc and now want to get a bath and watch some of the recorded t v.

Here is Hunter now, with his daddy (big decision on what sauce to have on his lunch) and two of Kylian with mummy and then one of the new car that Stephen picked up yesterday. He has worked so hard and about time he treated himself. Volvos are such sturdy cars and full of safety features and it even has front seats that massage you and I tried that out. .

I eventually got the ironing finished yesterday and then I stripped the bed and made that up again and all of that washing is dry, so the ironing pile starts again!! There was no way I was going to get any jobs done outside in that heat except for the watering, so after putting the ironed items away I got the hose out and did that and then had a bath early and washed and set my hair and just caught up on some more t v and it was a bit hard to sleep last night and that was in fits and starts and then woke up really too early this morning, but got a bit of vacuuming done downstairs - all looked a bit messy with bits laying around from the cut roll of carpet after that was shifted upstairs. Not sure if I will get much done tomorrow either as Maria and I are off to see Gennie.

Jean sorry to read you have that stomach pain and had to cancel the dinner at Paul's for today. Feeling like that doesn't help when you have got a lot of clearing to do ready for the new carpet and see you have chosen the one you want from the samples he brought along. See you got the bookcase cleared today, but this heat doesn't help when doing jobs like that and not feeling too well you shouldn't try and do more - yes when we were younger we could have kept on all day at jobs like that, but we need to be sensible and take things at a slower pace. Like me with the clearance of things out of the garden, I am starting to wonder if I will complete all I want to do before the Autumn arrives

Dian, that was lovely all of you being able to talk to the daughter in Spain, by video and l expect she appreciated you all getting together and contacting her. Despite the rain I see your neighbour had a marquee up in her garden and you all sat under that. This morning here until about 9 it was quite cool and cloudy, but the sun was soon here again and it has been a hot day and see the weather was good again your way. Yes, always best to keep the batteries renewed in the smoke alarms and see you got that today at Homebase and then popped in HB for a few things. I expect you did feel a bit drained after that as it was the first time you had gone shopping by yourself and hope you rested when you got home.

Rita I hope you have had a restful weekend too and the weather has been good your way.

Must away now ladies and get a few more photos printed off for Gennie and then will try and not be too late getting to bed tonight and thankfully it does seem to have cooled down a bit. Hope you all have a good night's sleep

Mon Aug 10, 2020 11:25 am

lovely photos Pauline and that posh car. glad things are going well for them. the boys do look the same now I think
Stomach is better today but I worn out, so annoying when I have loads to do. this morning finished off the books
Oscar should be coming tomorrow for about four hour, so will probably not get on here
hope all are fine

Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:52 pm

Pauline the children are certainly growing up and do look like each other.How time flies Stephen will enjoy his new car which is looking nice You certainly have caught up with the housework Do hope you sleep better tonight Gennie will be looking forward to your visit with Maria.Hope she is fine
Jean good you are feeling a bit better and well done in getting bookcase done You will be looking forward to seeing Oscar tomorrow
Rita hope you have had a nice weekend with no problems
Dry but chilly today so now off to do some more housework........have a good day ladies

Mon Aug 10, 2020 7:27 pm

Hi Ladies. Another hot day and since I got back from visiting Gennie with Maria, I really have done nothing useful except cool down and rest because the last three days I seem to have been out of the house and going somewhere and all of last week catching up from being away. It has cooled down a bit now and suppose I should stir myself and water the garden.

I got up early to finish off the printing of the photos for Gennie and she was happy to see photos of Hunter and Kylian again and also pleased to see us both. Took some of the banana bread with me, besides her greengages and a few more things and we all enjoyed a slice of that with a coffee and had a chat at a social distance. I cleared out a few of the flower vases for her as some of her birthday flowers were wilting and managed to get one display out of them and put that lot in fresh water. Later the other Maria (who does shopping for Gennie) called in and we then got the first bus that came along which was the 2 into town, a different route from the one we needed, but got off of that at the next estate and then walked the other half of the journey home - better than sitting on the bus with masks on.

Bang crash and another accident at the bottom of the road just now - car going into the back of a small van that was pulling out to go over the roundabout - that blocked the main road for a while as they were discussing it (and one thing said that I heard was "well I didn't do it on purpose, did I") until a fed up bus driver who had been waiting long enough, hooted at them and then they decided to back up a bit off of the main part, but still blocked the road next to me for other drivers trying to get out and this went on with car drivers having to pull around them and go the wrong way round the roundabout to get out. Both vehicles were moveable, but they never thought of pulling them back to the side of the road out of the way - that went on for about 20 minutes and not one police car came past at that time, more's the pity, because they would have both been ordered to shift. Anyway they have both driven off now, so that is the start of another peaceful evening on the Lings Estate and I expect before long we will have the off road motor bike nuisance that has been going on around here on the footpaths - and the police are appealing for info about them to try and catch them.

Back to more pleasant things.

Jean, Gennie had a laugh about the card from you that she opened today - Being old, but at least getting wiser and we all chuckled about that. Glad to read you feel better and the stomach pain has gone, but I don't think any of us feel too good in this humid weather and none of us can really work at what we want to do, but see the book case emptying got completed. Enjoy the time with Oscar tomorrow and know you have planned to take him to Harold Park. Yes, Kylian is looking very much like Hunter now and both growing so well. That Volvo is a posh car, but Stephen certainly deserves something like that now after working so hard and saving for so long and really getting that business of his established.

Dian, Oh yes it is Monday and the start of another week and see it was chilly for you today and none of us like to complain about sunny weather, but this lot here is just getting too much and I certainly haven't got any energy to get any physical work done, but see it was cool enough for you to get some housework done.

Rita I expect it has been really too hot your way too. Your card arrived and Gennie was happy with that and sent her thanks and best wishes to all of you.

I really had better do that watering now and then the washing up and just hope the evening is peaceful (which is not the way it started off here on the roads outside) and you all relax and enjoy it.

Tue Aug 11, 2020 10:19 am

Hi Everyone. So hot again last night which made it difficult to sleep and today I am not going to plan out the day - just do things as I feel like them and the temperatures allow - hope you all have a good day.

Tue Aug 11, 2020 11:44 am

Pauline Gennie would enjoy your visit with Maria. will cheer her up.At least no one was hurt with the accident but not nice to see and some people have no common sense at all Gennie would enjoy seeing the photos of the boys and how much they have grown too.Hope your day was nice and relaxing
Jean I am sure your day with Oscar went well and will see a difference in him as they grow so quick
Rita hope all is good with you and no problems
Just a quick hello as daughter picking me up at 3pm after her work We will go and take greyhound out well daughter will then we are going out for dinner so looking forward to that Overcast and not too bright this morning.Enjoy your day ladies

Wed Aug 12, 2020 11:04 am

Dian how lovely to go out for dinner. tonight we are having a ready meal as the computer man should come. no time on that.
yesterday it was 32 degrees in the car. too hot for Coco and Oscar so that trip to the park got postponed and he packed up
some CDs for us instead and watered the garden.......
today I have done a little packing but it is far too hot to do much. still we are getting there.
Pauline glad Gennie enjoyed the card the rest of you had a laugh.

Wed Aug 12, 2020 2:39 pm

Pauline I am sure you will be having a busy busy day so hope you manage to get all you want finished
Jean yes it was a nice surprise having dinner out but the government paid half.......wise to have cancelled trip to the park when it was so warm.Still nice to spend time with Oscar and bet you see a big difference in him
Rita hope your having a nice day
Well it was a dull overcast morning but by dinner time sun was out and scorching so got a small wash done also managed to cut back grass but had to come in from the heat for awhile and had a nice glass of cold lemonade.Now need to get out and tidy up

Wed Aug 12, 2020 2:51 pm

Hi Ladies.

Today at least, although now as hot as yesterday, it isn't so humid here , but yesterday was awful - the type of humidity that really does get at me and leaves me feeling sick, washed out and really ill. Somehow I had found some more washing and it was dry, so just slowly got the rest of the ironing finished early - if there are any other items soon then they can start the ironing pile again until this heat is over. Ironing board is now closed down and iron away. I did also manage to water the garden early and will have to do that again this evening, but nothing else done outside. All I could do yesterday was get the fan out of the cupboard and plug that in and just spent some of the afternoon on the bed with the fan on a low setting aimed at me and had that on during the night also, so did get some better sleep. At least three times before in weather conditions like that over the years, I have actually passed out with it, so not taking any chances as much as I would like to get things done. I managed to get a couple of ornaments repaired and after posting this I will work on a few more to help clear the decks indoors.

So far we haven't had the storms, but that is terrible in Aberdeenshire with that train crash, which looks as though it was caused by the amount of rain causing a landslide and thinking of those poor people that have been injured and those that are helping in all of that protective and heavy clothing in those conditions - absolutely awful for all involved.

Jean I did wonder if you would go out with Oscar and Coco yesterday to the park and thought you would have to give that a miss and see you did and had to stay home - well done Oscar helping with the packing of the cds and watering the garden with you. It certainly was a much wiser thing to do, to stay indoors with that heat and humidity. See you have done a little more packing today, but not much in this weather and you are having a ready meal this evening as computer man is calling today.

Dian, from the news it seems it has been awful the weather in parts of Scotland and hope you got out yesterday as planned while it was dry, as your daughter was picking you up and then off to give the greyhound a walk and after that out for a dinner and expect you all enjoyed that. Just seen your today's post come through and yes, you all enjoyed the meal out with the Government's half price Mon to Wed. Sun scorching for you today and you have got some washing done and some gardening too. Bet you enjoyed that cold drink and you were planning to get out to do some tidying up - you are braver than me, because there is so much for me to do in the garden, but just cannot face it at the moment.

Rita, I hope you are resting too in this heat and the week is going okay for you.

Looks as though we are forecast those storms later - just wondering if I dare leave the watering and we get the drenching forecast. Hope the rest of the day goes well for all of you

Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:35 am

Will be back later to post as now running late and off to meet Maria this morning at the centre for a lockup clearance. Hope the day starts well for you all.

Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:45 am

it is 10.43am and I have to have the lights on as it is so dark in here. Took Coco out at 8am, and at the moment she is growling at the thunder.
this heat has been horrible especially as we are trying to pack things up. so today am giving is a rest.
sorry to hear how the heat got to your Pauline, wise to stay indoors.
Dian the rain is being chucked down have had to rush and close all the windows.

Thu Aug 13, 2020 4:14 pm

Pauline hope you and Maria managed to get a lot cleared from the lock up.See that horrible humid weather does not suit you at all .Do hope it is a bit better today
Jean see you have had the rain so do hope it has cleared the air for you Good you got Coco out early Wise to have a rest .
Rita hope you are keeping fine and the weather not to hot for you
Well it has turned out another pleasant day here.Took a walk round to Home Bargain and got a few bits of shopping with my walker.Felt quite tired so need to start going a walk more often.Daughter phoned me last night to ask me if I wanted to go on a cruise next April to Norway with her and her husband also my son.Thought it over and have decided not fit enough and think I would just be a nuisance.Still nice to be asked Just said will be happy going to caravan at the moment I am going there on Friday to Sunday so look forward to that Granddaughter and greyhound Elsie going too so will enjoy their company

Thu Aug 13, 2020 4:49 pm

Well I left here just after 9.30 in sunshine (taking the umbrella of course) and as I got there before 10 I went straight into B & M and got a large bag of bird seed and the large bag of peanuts and then over to the centre to meet Maria. Left my shopping in the lock up and we packed up a lot of items for DEBRA charity shop, including all of the dinner service with matching bowls and side plates, plus matching table mats and coasters and the gravy jug and found some more good items for them which included a nice wall picture and tapestry frame. Sorted through the items we needed for Barnardos and left them to collect on another day, plus another lot of glass and china that I will bring home and now there are some good childrens' books, games, toys and jigsaws to sort through and good clothing which we will tackle next time. I reckon that two more goes will clear it. Maria was taking home some items for any future sale (good pictures and photo frames) to stand in her hall in a lovely large wicker basket, which we were picking up on return.

So off we went to the charity shop and got downstairs in the covered car park and the heavens had opened, so we had to wait for it to ease for a while and at the McDonalds end of the car park there is a large downpipe which has a side sealed section (for any other pipe attachement) and the force of water coming down from the roof carpark had forced off the seal and the water was gushing out of there - luckily no cars parked under the 2 sections by it. but there were three cars a bit further along and the water was about halfway up their wheels and getting ready to overflow on that section of pavement, so we crossed quickly and waited in a safer area for it to ease and when it did, up went our umbrellas and we walked quickly to the charity shop and delivered that load. Back to the centre and I put the bird seed and peanuts back in my empty trolley and just a few more things for me to add to a sale and we packed up Maria's trolley with the items to stand in the basket and I found two large bags to put that in and put that across the top of my trolley while we had a coffee and Maria needed some stamps after that and then she went home with her trolley and the basket and I did the shopping I wanted in Tescos and the Pound shop, so off to the bus for me with a full up trolley and a couple of bags and made it home before any further downpours. I certainly was glad I didn't bother to water last evening.

Jean at that time we were at the back of the centre in the lock up and that is when the heavens must have opened here and you mentioned how dark it was your way and Coco was growling at the thunder and you had to dash and close the windows as the heavy rain started. Good job you took her for the walk early this morning. Don't blame you for giving the packing a rest today, but it does seem now that much cooler. Can say it wasn't the heat getting to me, it is the humidity that makes me feel ill and again last night slept with the fan on low and had to take a couple of pain killers because the arthritis has been really playing up. I suppose if the sun gets out again today then everything will start steaming again after the amount of rain that came down. Some of my taller plants got a real battering with that lot.

Dian just seen your post has appeared while I was typing and see you have a pleasant day and went to Home Bargains with your walker and have decided you need to do some more walking with that to build up the muscle power again. As you say, nice to be asked if you wanted to go on the cruise to Norway with the family next year, but can understand you saying no to that, going by how you feel at the moment, but good to know you are off to the caravan again at the weekend - enjoy that.

Rita, hope you haven't been washed away with the storms and no damage done your way.

Got to put the shopping away now and empty that bird seed into the tubs where I store it in the cupboard and then think I need a rest for a while and might get back to the repair of some of the garden ornaments after that. Have a good evening all of you.

Thu Aug 13, 2020 6:27 pm

HURRAH AM HERE GLAD WE HAD SOME RAIN HERE AT LONG LAST I HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR LITERALLY HOURS! DAY AFTER DAY, TO GET IN HERE,
I HAD THIS COMPUTR REPAIRED AT COST OF 75 AND IT IS SO SENSITIVE, OR I AM STUPID, THE LEAST TOUCH AND IT GOES CRAZY JUMPs ABOUT and [i] have to go back and cross out and put letters in right place.
I have tried time after time to get in to this and log in etc but ,,,,, Oh well I am here now. It rained quite a bit but it still muggy, hard to breath, but better than it has been when I felt quite sickly and limp! It must be awful for those in hospitals, patients and staff.

Thu Aug 13, 2020 6:49 pm

its jumped again, lost it but I am here. so glad you are all ok Jean, yes this weather is diffiult to manage to do any housework let alone preparing and clearing way for nrew carpet, and looking after your yung Oscar, exhausitingl
Dian, how lovely that your family asked you to go on holiday to Norway with them, but you are wise to decline best to stay and relax on home ground. Norway is wonderful but as you know keeping gping on holiday dayafter day is wearrying.
Pauline, anothr accident on that road near you, I am glad I do not drive these daysm so many risk takers.++
please excuse this rubbish typing, Pauline and ladies take care this hot weather i will finish cos I cannnot cope with this, type is geting larger then smaller all so delicate touch, I used to be a touch typist now the darn keys defeat me. it have read all your postings ladies and truly have tried previous;y to get in here but no luck.
i think I am becoming a hermit as not seen anyone for days, altho I did venture out for a few minites today to post the form for paying the TV licence.

Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:18 am

glad you are back and ok Rita. have not gotten my laptop back yet. your man seems to know how to charge. mine will be £40 Oscar was ok with us but as you see
to hot to go to the park. he told me he had blue snakes in his garden and I have realised he meant worms. not having seen them in the flat....
Yes it is the humidity that gets me Pauline, not so bad today. have actually done the ironing.
Forgot Rita am not doing any housework as keep tipping things out. the dining room looks like a store house.
Dian how lovely to be asked to go to Norway, been twice. We are having the carpets done as we are not having a holiday this year. nice to be asked though
rang the dentist today as my filling has fallen out, then found my dentist has left. have had numerous ones in this practice, been with the other one for 33 years.
so they are ringing me back.......................

Fri Aug 14, 2020 12:16 pm

Pauline good you and Maria managed to stay nearly dry in that rain storm and more items gifted to charity shops
Jean you will be looking forward to your new carpets.Does cheer house up
Rita know how you feel with the computer as I am not much better but good to hear you are keeping well
Just opened computer and saying new upgrade so in a pick of pickle to get on here so I must try and get younger daughter to come and help me but know she is so busy with her work at the moment so if I disappear you will know what is wrong.I will not be posting till Sunday or maybe Monday as off to caravan shortly.Have a good weekend ladies

Fri Aug 14, 2020 3:15 pm

That is where I have spent some of the morning in that recliner, because finally yesterday that humidity sickness caught up with me. In the morning just had a couple of slices of toast with marmade and a coffee before I met Maria and as mentioned we both had a coffee after visiting the charity shop and when I got home I put the shopping away (large sack of bird seed is still dumped in the kitchen waiting for storage) caught up with the computer work and posted on here, but didn't feel like anything to eat, so went upstairs to rest about 7 and shortly after that fell asleep until about 3.15 in the morning and that is when I had to get up because I knew I was going to be sick and I was. After that still felt bad and crawled back to bed and slept again until 9. Sick feeling has gone from stomach, but just know I am not clear of it yet and so far today just had a couple of small glasses of apple juice and one dry cracker and have no energy to do anything - and I'm not doing anything either, just resting. By tomorrow morning hopefully i will feel back to rights again, but that is how I react when that humidity sickness catches me out. Have passed out before and it usually does end up in a bout of sickness and sleeping for several hours.

Dian, If you don't get back here for a while, we will know it is due to your computer, but have a great time over the weekend with the family at the caravan.

Rita you have done so well struggling with the laptop and posting and I see you too were feeling sickly and limp with the humidity the other day - all I can say is that we should all rest while that is about, but I had arranged to meet Maria and it was cooler and I didn't feel quite so bad, but really I should have phoned Maria and said I didn't think it was wise for me to do the clear out with her, but I must admit I did start to get that sick feeing again while we were having our coffee and I was so glad I got home before it took its toll on me. I am one of the lucky ones because having Pension Credit I don't have to start paying for the t v licence, but see you got out to post the form and you will have to start paying again. Not fair at all the way the BBC have handled that.

Jean I had to laugh about Oscar's description of the worms "blue snakes"- he must find the gardens quite fascinating after living previously in a flat with no garden of their own and bet he enjoyed helping you the other day, because it was far too hot for the trip to the park on that day when you looked after him. See you have done your ironing, but as you have said, no point in doing any housework or tidying while you are doing all of the emptying of things ready for the new carpets.

Stephen and Rachel seem to be enjoying their break in Cornwall and today after a good sleep and a nice breakfast they have been visiting St. Michael's Mount, so although they are staying on the north coast in the St Ives area, I see they have gone across to the south side and that is where we first went when Stephen was young and stayed in the Penzance area a few times and also at Praa Sands, but a few years on when we had Susie we also stayed at Perranporth on the north coast in that large hotel that overlooked the beach (the Ponsmere, which much to protests from local residents has now been demolished and expensive homes built in its place instead) and later on with other members of the family went back there for another holiday in one of the guest houses. As far as I am concerned, Cornwall is one of the most scenic places for holidays (without the rain!!).

I am back to resting again now until I feel better and hope you are all having a peaceful day.

Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:32 pm

well we did not have much rain, it soon dried up and I went to town as I needed to send a belated birthday gift to my daughter/, I am not being mean but from now on I will not worry about xmas or birthdays, just send cards., as everyone, thankfully have what they need and I forget what day it is sometimes Family understand and agree/ buses are pn;y hourly now and I had to wait a while for one comng back so looked in at Boots. and another shop
but didnt buy anything. as not going anywhere or seeing anyone don.t need anything, have enough clothes etc to last for ages.
Pauline I am so sorry this hot weather is making you ill, you are always so active but you must listen to your body and not push yourself to do more. you did well to go to the lock up and sort stuff out, as also Maria is doing well.
Jean, Oscar will enjoy grubbing about in a garden. I think boys need to be able to mess about. you will be glad the rain has come, have the carpet fitters arrived yet?
I hope Dian has a happy time this weekend
I am hoping my son will pop round as they will return from their holiday break in Yorkshire tomorrow.

Sat Aug 15, 2020 11:50 am

Hi Ladies. Last evening I finally had to take some Zapain tabs which ease the arthritic pain, because it was so bad and that is because I haven't been active and had to do too much laying around resting. Anyway about 2 hours after that I woke up feeling that much better and came downstairs and sorted out what money had been switched out of the bank on Thursday and got the finances sorted out, checked the broadband and mobile recent bills and the bank statements and everything okay there. When that was all done I went back to bed about 5.30 and slept until 9 and of course, tablets were wearting off by then, so this morning took another couple and feel much better because of it. The way I have been feeling has made me rest more and not do the usual moving around and of course, that doesn't help the arthritic pain so tablets were needed. Still haven't the energy to do anything strenuous at the moment, but carrying on with sorting ornaments, etc., that need attention.

Hope Dian is enjoying her break at the caravan and by the pictures and emails I am receiving from Rachel they are having a good time and today are off to Kynance Cove and The Lizard - another part of Cornwall that I love.

Rita, I am definitely doing what my body dictates at the moment, because I have no energy still, but with the help of those pain tablets am starting to feel better. I don't like taking more of those tablets than 6 in a week, but had to make it 4 in the last 9 hours. I am allowed to take 8 a day, but won't do that, because I know my body would get too attuned to them and then they wouldn't work so well when really needed and yes, they are really needed at the moment. See you went into town and got a belated birthday card and think that is a good idea, not bothering with birthday or Christmas present from now on, because as you say, everyone seems to have what they need. The vouchers and gift cards I have found handy because then everyone can get what they want. For Aimie's birthday we bought her some good perfume and different bath foam and crystals and said to Sean to take the boys out so she could enjoy some pampering time to herself and for him we got him the Jack Daniels that he likes (and can't afford that often) and a Voucher from The Game, because he likes his games on his mobile (boys and their toys ). Same as you, got clothes that will last for ages and still need to get rid of some and just got the groceries I needed on Thursday and the bird food. It was good that Maria could get to the lock up with me and help with the clearing out and she was amazed at what I had got through and sorted previously. She is coping so well with the treatment, but at the moment, like a lot of us, suffering with hayfever and her eyes playing up with that. I see your family is due back from Yorkshire from their break and you are hoping you will see Peter on their return.

Jean I expect you are still carrying on with the turning out of items so the furniture can be moved easily by the carpet layers. I haven't the energy to do much clearing out at the moment and the garden really is suffering - lots of dead heading, cutting back to do and the lawn needs cutting, but it is going to carry on waiting untll my energy returns. Trouble is for you that the weather hasn't been good for physical energy and you know it has got to be done whether you feel like it or not.

Off to do some repair work now on small items and using the hot glue gun (easier to use now the temperature has gone down). Hope your day goes well ladies.