Another what I did today thread

I have just thought of a good title for an article and noted it down before I forget.

Now just need to write the article..........................................

I have been to IKEA with my DD and her three. Love it there. Had lunch there too. Have bought fleeces for the dog's bed, new tea towels (the old ones will become cleaning cloths) and my DD got a book shelf for her son's ever expanding book collection. We then bought some snack bits from the food shop. A good day was had by all

Saw the family off this morning. Now going round the house finding the things they've left.
So far 1 small vest, 1 small pair of socks, 1 posh sort of sports water bottle thingy.
to see them go. But got a nice text at lunchtime from SiL thanking me for the sandwiches I made them for lunch, along with 2 photos of DGD tucking into hers.

Phoenix well are you going to give us a clue then?

Sorry jane !

As you might now I have been helping our friend who had the stroke. I'm on Bob patrol once a week, and I'm really enjoying it, partly as I can see so much improvement in him each time, but also because I get to walk their 3 dogs (I think I wrote about the first time I took them out, although that was without Bob, a thread "Hooray, at last I can help" or something like that.)

I was thinking about writing something about the experience, not sure where I might submit it, perhaps the stroke association have a newsletter or a blog. So far I only have a title, not sure why this came to me, but I quite like it "Walking The Dogs with Bob"

What do you think?

Phoenix I like it too.

The Stroke Association have a newsletter, as does Different Strokes and the BBC used to have a webmagazine sort of thingy for disabled people but I'm not sure that it still exists. Also look at Disability Arts On-line which publishes stuff by disabled people but might have links.

Can we have tasters?

Lovely reunion lunch today with colleagues I worked with 20 years ago, some of whom I haven't seen for over 10 years. No-one looked any different, despite the intervening years, and three hours rushed by. We met in the John Rylands Library in Manchester - love that place!

kitty of course, once I have written a bit!

Phoenix sorry I must have missed that thread -hard to keep up with Gransnet sometimes!
But yes, I do like it and I think other stroke patients and carers would enjoy, and be helped by reading about yours and Bob's experience. Potential in the subject matter to contain both humour and pathos too.

jane here it is in case you wanted to read it www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/a1195575-Hooray-At-last-I-can-help-Long-sorry-in-advance

Read it now Phoenix
Come on, when's the next instalment?
Also, I can't help feeling that 'everything happens for a reason'

jane glad it made you

I'm still looking for that "reason" at the moment, and to be honest haven't been inspired to write much lately, although if I know myself, I will suddenly be insired and rattle off and scribble down random nonsense at some point.

Somtimes things strike me (not literally, although that has just reminded me of hanging up a dog walking jacket in Bob & Jo's garage and having a cunningly placed lawn rake land on my head, damn well hurt too!) at odd moments. It might be a an idea for a poem (I'm working on one at the moment) or a phrase or even just a title, like the one mentioned. I still have a Word document saved from mid December that is just a title, but as I have saved it, I will probably come back to it sooner or later.

Phoenix perhaps you should carry round a little notebook to note down the things that strike you and then refer back to it when you are in want of inspiration?

Out with BF to garden centre and lunch (all day breakfast for £1.99) Home to snuggle with OH on sofa and watch Whales mating TV. Didn't put us in mood though not when we heard the intimate details of the Right Whale!!!!!!! Tried to pursued OH to book our annual break in the Outer Isles. E-mailed friend in Outer Isles to see if anyone from there going to a big gig in Inverness in August to scrounge a lift when on our (hopeful) holidays. Now on PC typing to Gransnet, just found it and love it already. Anyone want to know details of Right Whale I will pm them

Also just found out that my D is having a baby girl in July (sister for Otto) so have also bought little girlie outfits

Congratulations on your lovely news, ottosnan! We've been to the Outer Hebrides a few times - Inner ones, too! Impossible to describe to anyone who hasn't been!

Hello ottosnan welcome to Gn, and congratulations on a new Grandchild

Oh go-on catch the Uig Ferry from Skye to North Uist, its amazing absolutely wonderful. We have been going for 12 years or so now. Found it through my love of Runrig's music (the two founder member brothers hail from the island)

Thankyou

Hi, ottosnan, welcome to G'net. I'm glad you're enjoying it. We do! I've always wanted to see the outer Hebrides but haven't managed it yet. I'm very fond of the Isle of Mull where I have friends.

Heavens, it's a long time since I heard of Runrig! I have a photo of my 3 girls in Runrig T-shirts circa 1990, after seeing them play at Edinburgh Castle. They also featured years ago at our village Festival, (Aberdour) which runs during the last week in July and precedes the 'other' Festival on the south side of the Forth!

when, my first job was on Deansgate and I used to love walking past the John Rylands building. At school we had four 'houses'; Rylands, Dalton, Joule and Peel - all named for famous men who had connections to Manchester - and one of my school visits was to the Rylands library.

Two little boys and their parents now on the road home! We've had a loving, special time with them, and I wouldn't have it any other way. (bet you can guess what's coming next!) but I am exhausted, achy and feeling rather vulnerable. I think it is probably a pile up of things - Theseus and the hip (so he can't do as much as he would normally) and the looking after him, then the non stop attention with my little lads and so on. My DS and DDiL are wonderful, and do bung in and help a lot but - I really feel my age today

And T is insisting on going to this big meeting in Birmingham tomorrow, and yes, I understand why, but he's not driving yet, and can't get into my little car, so I'll have to drive his big car.

Oh dear, I am feeling sorry for myself, aren't I? Sorry to have gone on and on, but this is the place where I know people will understand.

Oh Ariadne I do feel for you!

I thought Theseus had decided not to go? I do think it's a bit ambitious, sitting for that length of time, can't see it doing him much good at all, but they won't be told, will they?

Plus I expect you could do without it too, especially after such a busy week.

Oh Ariadne I think you need som tlc and some

DD1, SIL and 2 boys arrived on tuesday night for a 5 night stay; phew, I feel as if a whirlwind has whipped through the house. The eldest, Freddie was 3 yesterday, so after a visit to the local toddlers group and a front row seat to watch a crane move the village toilets (no money to fund them) we had a Birthday tea party - oldest was Uncle Hamish at 67 and youngest was DGS 18 months. Much sickly cake was consumed. They are now at a soft play centre with friends, so I am having an hour to myself before a brisk walk round the harbour. [exhausted emoticon]

ga the Ryands now has a lovely cafe area where one can sit in comfort and read the papers or get a meal, and watch the world go by. I could stay in there all day!