Today I have been mainly...

Harri had to smile at your tale. My married son had a birthday last week and all the family got together at his place to celebrate on Saturday. Four year old grandson played with my son's teddy and daughter in law's monkey for ages, he asked to take teddy home to play with and son gracefully refused whilst proffering his wife's monkey instead.

Oh, and thank you so much to all of you who comforted me last week when I was sad.

I am looking out at a blue sky and sunshine, and wondering if it will last long enough for me to get out into the garden and prune a few things. Probably be raining by the time I stop stop faffing around on here get my act together!

Some toys are just irreplaceable aren't they, so good on the shopkeeper

I'm off 'up north' very shortly for a funeral.

Visiting GC, eldest was out with the Brownies at World thinking day event but came home having had a most informative day.
Eldest was in Hexham yesterday and visited an art shop, to buy materials, and sadly left a cuddly toy in the gallery. When the family returned to find the toy the shop had shut for the weekend. Both GC were upset because the toy was very special to them, he is a Bilby an Easter one at that. Those Grans with GC in Australia and indeed Australian Grans will know what I am talking about. I have a mission to go and rescue the Bilby and return him to GD. Shopkeeper had found him and put him in the window with a sign saying he was safe.

Been to a study day about novels and films between the wars - thoroughly enjoyed it.

How lovely for you all kiora

Pleased for you Kiora. A special week

Today I have been counting my lucky stars because

1 over the last two weeks I have seen all three of my beloved children ( not all together at the same time) there was a time when my daughter and I were estranged. I thought I would never see her or her boys. My youngest son is very rarely in the u.k. when he is in the u.k he is not always able to come home. Yesterday he dropped in for an hour. My children have also managed to see each other for a short time.

2 I have seen all 8 of my grandchildren

3 I am now trying to clean up and recover from seeing the lot of them.

Good for you Aka glad that you enjoyed It and the singing group sounds fun.

Today I have spent two hours posting flyers for my new venture, not one phone call as yet, posted loads of flyers, hoping will get busy soon. Also sitting on the armchair with a rotten cold and soar throat. Still, was an excuse to not have to make diner, DH cooked = Takeaway!!

Went! Enjoyed it and we did sing 'Jesusalem'. Terrible coffee, very interesting people. Have been dragooned into persuaded to join the singing group. No audition required!

Been thinking about going to a WI meeting. Looked it up online and there's one meets less than half a mile from me be on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, which I reckon is tonight. So....deliberating if I ought to go or will it be too Jam and Jerusalem?

GA I too clean, or garden, with a vengeance in stressful situations! It helps to get me back on an even keel and the house looks great after.

That's tough, Ariadne, it's happened to me in the past and it's so disappointing. I was lucky enough to have mine down last weekend, along with several more of the family as it was DH's 70th birthday and we had a party.
So, today I have been washing the last of the mountain of bedding and ironing the first lot that dried.Not my favourite job, but worth it for seeing them all. I hope yours can visit soon and the little one is feeling better.

Today I heard that my daughter has found somewhere to rent that's reasonably close to where she hopes to buy a house, so I now have a date for their move. I'm pleased for her as she's been packed and ready to go since Christmas and the oldest grandson has been really unsettled, but [gulp] it's getting all too real. The children will stay here during the move and then join mum and dad when they're in the house, so I shall have a lovely few days with them before they go - and my daughter will only look at houses that have a granny annexe or similar to ensure that we'll come and stay often.
Since hearing the news I have: vacuumed the whole house; excessively cleaned two bathrooms and two toilets; cleaned all the big mirrors in the house (that's seven (!!) and I'm not even vain - promise); dusted and polished all the furniture - upstairs and down; washed all the floors in the house - and now I'm having a cup of tea and (fiercely) counting my blessings, of which there are many.

Well done, merlotgran

Ariadne my arm around your shoulder. I understand.

Today I have been mainly trying to shake off the blues and taking to my grandson the the swing park--eating toooo much, must try and regain control..I have in the last year lost 12lbs, very pleased about that and do not want to ruin all my hard work.

Ariadne Hope they can reschedule soon.

Today, DD3, two little ones (including Bertie the b****r) and I went shopping to Mothercare and to John Lewis. Mothercare went fine - lots of Bertie type things to see and play with.

JL, on the other hand, full of too many interesting things that you shouldn't really play with, so we didn't stay too long. Which is a shame as I wanted to return a purse I had from them in January and which is really worn already.

The girl was less than helpful as I didn't have the receipt although she accepted that they had stocked it. DH had bought me a purse for Christmas that was a bit too big so I took it back, JL gave me vouchers and then I bought a Tula purse, half price in the sale with the vouchers. All a bit of a mess! But I was really disappointed with their attitude.

Ariadne to try to cheer you.

Mine have been and gone. Only got two days this time. They are growing up. [sigh] Missing them.

Forgot the

Lucky!!!

I think I've just got one, anno. My mother's nursing home has just rung to tell me I've won the 'Guess how many sweets in the jar' competition. I get the jar of 62 sweets and a £5 Costa Coffee voucher. That'll please the grandsons!!

Ariadne hope the little one feels better soon.