What I did today.

Thanks all. Yes, it was great to see them all and the children (aged 5 - 10) were all getting on well together. Roll on Christmas.

Belated birthday wishes Anno sounds like you had a lovely time

anno, I did think of you yesterday with birthday wishes but forgot to put them on here. Glad you had a good one anyway. That apple cake sounds scrumptious.
Happy Birthday.

Happy birthday for yesterday Anno what a lovely way to celebrate with the family

... and from me too Anno Happy Birthday for yesterday.

Happy belated Birthday Anno, glad you had such a good weekend. Everyone must have known it was your birthday as there were fireworks all over the place!

Happy birthday for yesterday anno. Glad you had a good weekend with your family

Today I came home from a lovely weekend away, celebrating my birthday with my family. All came together at DS1 and DIL's house in Sandhurst on Sunday, though the day itself was yesterday. Had a great meal cooked by DS1 - he made a fabulous pudding- a sort of caramelised apple upside down cake, with chopped hazelnuts in the sponge. Very moreish. Lots of wine... It was a bit of a shock when DS2 walked in with a huge black eye sustained when playing hockey. Well ... if he will try to head the ball . Kids were all on form and (almost) best behaviour.
We had some fireworks in the garden later. I cannot have a birthday without fireworks! Today, DS checked my train to Reading and found that it had been cancelled (again!) but found me one from Wokingham which got me there in time to catch my train north. Then the tedium of the journey, relieved by reading Trollope - still going through the Pallisers and still captivated. Hard frost in Sandhurst in the morning; light rain here in the afternoon.

sorry about getting that wrong!!

Yes I must too thank myself lucky have my DS safe and well, despite 2 spells in Iraq, only natural to wish had my daughter too!!

My son did extremely well in the Army and in some ways would not have left if his previous partner had not insisted, I do thank her for that!!

My tip me over edge if lost him also!

celeb my nephew is ok -it's Harri's friend who has lost her son.
Glamma I know exactly what you mean about the news. Dd2's husband was in the Royal Marines when she first met him and she was glued to the computer for all the updates. He served twice in Afghanistan and thankfully came home unscathed.

trying to find start of this thread still not great shakes on here. My deepest sympathy as seems like poor soldier killed, likeyou glamma my son was in Iraq twice, and that second winter was awful, wonder how we got through it, kept sending parcels we too were lucky he came home, unlike lot of his men, our son joined Army at 18 he passed exams to be sponsored at uni, and went to Cambridge for 5 years, before Sandhurst, he also went to Sandhurst before uni for 6 weeks, I was so proud of him but my heart goes out to any Mum with son in forces it is such a worry too.

for poor parents of this soldier. To you also Jane you will be needed as support.

Lovely, Nelliemoser. Thanks for that. I can almost hear and smell him (yes I love their smell, even with a full nappy!) And I love their little snuffling noises when they are very, very young. Amazing that that will (God willing) turn into speech, even perhaps song, eventually!

Not as advanced as any of mine at the same age, I think you'll find Nellie

I do hope that all the Gnetters, and their friends, who are suffering from loss and worry start to find some peace today.

Harrigran your friends situation is everyones unthinkable nightmare! The stuff that goes through ones mind when awake in the middle of the night. My DS is into cycling and complains a lot about inconsiderate motorists. Such awful thoughts are always somewhere at the back of my mind.
Thoughts of comfort for your friend, although its hard to think of any in those cirumstances.

isthis Yes those posts sitting together, do show lifes extremes!

Noah's doing well, he still gets what they call "grumpy" a lot but DD feels he is getting into more of a routine. He is putting on weight well but feeding about every two to three hours.

At four weeks he was beginning to look a lot more alert and taking more interest in the world. I saw him about 2 weeks ago and I am going over to see him on Friday (They live 50 miles away.) I will report back.

Its strange but after his mum 33yrs ago I had forgotten just how much tiny babies change in the first few weeks and what mine were like.

Of course being my grandson he will be very advanced for his age?

Jane I can sympathise as to how your SIL must worry when my two boys where in Irag I had the news on 24/7 and followed every news bulletin DH got very cross with me as I was making myself ill with worry but it's something I found I had to do at the time I'm sure if media coverage was not so indepth it would have made things easier,it would not have stopped the worry but at keast I would not have been watching the day to day updates.Both my boys went into the Army straight from school it was all they ever wanted to do and such a change in them in just the training period,they left home boys and came back after training men.
harrigran sympathy to you and your friends on their sad loss I do not how I would cope it's heartbreaking I am just so lucky that my boys came home safe and sound as a few of their friends didn't have that option which saddens me greatly.

nelliemoser this fascinating thread certainly contains the two extremities of out time on this earth ...... how is little Noah? (great name) I reckon he must be about 6 weeks old now. A report please.

I can't imagine a more clear picture of "this mortal coil" than this post nestling up against the three above it. Much love and hugs to your friend harrigran and Yes I too have found the numbness, and confusion, to be an essential instinctive part of Nature protecting and caring for us, enabling us to survive.

harrigran, how very hard this will be, and ten days is a long time to wait. Hopefully the young chap would have known little about it - that might be some small comfort to your friend and her husband. xx

The numbness I believe is natures way of protecting us from the pain,this is our coping mechanism to enable us to function on some level ,so glad the post Mortem has been spared and a date for you to fix on to say your goodbyes...

Have seen my friend today and she is bearing up better than I expected, I suspect she is still in shock, neither she nor her DH had eaten or slept. They have been spared the post mortem and have a date for the funeral, ten days hence alas.

Thanks nonu. Of course it's a worry for his mum (myDSiL) but she would be the first to say that the Army has changed his life, very much for the better.