🦞🦂 *What are we up to?*🦂🦞

Being made redundant is quite a blow.
I was only 55 when I was made redundant and at first it was truly horrible... but in time (a month or so) I realised I didn't want to do direct support work anymore and my lovely husband said " we can afford if do nothing for another month or two, so you can think". He had just had a big promotion so it worked out ok

I was really lucky and went back to university and did an MA in something I didn't even expect to like!

How I love it!

I hope and trust your husband will find a new happy place, Naughtyneine.
🙏
It really can happen

Cherry no brain transplant please. You are a lovely wonderful person with a great sense of humour. I can understand why you’d not want to have epilepsy but we’d miss our lovely Cherry .
Our brains are fascinating things. My memory problem is obviously a part of my brain which functions differently.
My DGD is assisting in research into aspects of the brain and recognition. She finds it so interesting.
Because of my memory issues Cherry my videos are among my most treasured items. I made them deliberately because I knew I would have a problem remembering. No they don’t make me sad they make me happy to be reminded of how happy we were together and what fun we had. To be able to hear DH’s voice again and to see his beautiful smile is just wonderful
Oh dear the team have really let you down . Should we change sides?
Notspaghetti that is exactly what we did for DH’s funeral. His choice for the middle of the service was “When the girl in your arms is the girl in your heart” by Cliff Richard, the photos showed DH as a baby and young man with his mum and dad, our meeting, wedding, children then grandchildren and finally our holidays and family times together. It was really lovely, as was his final resting place, not a wooden coffin but one which was a photograph of a lovely landscape with a lake and hills and blue sky . (Sorry hope I’ve not upset anyone by saying all this)
Oh NN I’m so sorry about your beloved dog and your Dh being made redundant. What a shock for you both. People underestimate what effect the loss of a pet can have. What a lot of stress you’re under. Will your Dh look for another job do you thinK? (Sorry I have no idea how old he is ….and I’m not asking ) I hope your dog isn’t in distress or discomfort.
Sending a big gentle hug and the only quote which I find helps sometimes…. This too will pass. Good your Dhcan talk to you now. It’s so important to share what’s going on.
Grammaretto i Hope you’re not snowed in anywhere and are ok

Has your DMIL space for a marquee extension in the garden, NS?

My DM wanted her funeral 'reception' at her local hotel.
I had worries about this, tbh - especially a possible closure time ( I'm sorry, we have to vacate the room by x o'clock ), cloaks arrangements, cloakroom facilities and access, finding the venue etc.
As so many of the visitors were aged between 80 and 100+, I took the decision to 'host' at my mother's house. Friends and relatives were familiar with her house, could stay as long as they wanted (we had to do a 'high tea' round when the catering ladies had gone!) and they settled so beautifully into familiar and comforting surroundings.

It was if Mum had just popped into the kitchen to put the kettle on.

The marquee people were sensitive and helpful, provided portable heaters and came in the morning of the funeral to put the heating on so it was lovely and warm when we got back from the church. The marquee was connected to the kitchen via a modest corridor.

The 'youngsters' mostly congregated 'outside', the more senior visitors bagged the upholstered furniture indoors.
It was so homely and just felt 'right'🌺.

ixion thank you for sharing the lovely homely feeling at your dear mum's "reception".

We did wonder about this option and I found a lovely young caterer as well... but she has had her garden terraced. It would have to be a rather higgledy-piggledy marquee affair with three narrow levels and four lots of steps between them. Access to the garden is through the garage or the French windows to the sitting room (which may well need to be kept open).

I think it's just as worrying as everywhere else to be honest - but for different reasons!
The house (without using outside space) is unlikely to manage everyone at once... we think at least 50 as there are 32 directly in the family - just as far as her nieces and nephews.

What an individual choice of coffin Doodle. Was it a scene dear to your hearts?
The coffin was one thing my mother-in-law had already chosen. An English willow one, woven here with two bands of green around it.
Everything else seems quite difficult

My husband is emotionally exhausted and hates "admin" at the best of times but at least we can make a start on it as of tomorrow as we do now have a death certificate
love and peaceful slumbers
X

Perhaps the 32 family first, and then the rest of the guests later?

It's quite usual here to stagger arrivals for big groups, to lessen the exhaustion of the hosts.
Very few people want to be there from beginning to end. So kinder on them too and no guilty, 'I'm afraid I have to go....'
.
A lot of hard work for you but you will have the satisfaction of providing a good send off.

Hello all good Lobstars and bad ones too
Thank you for sharing your special stories.
DMiL did in the May so it was a lovely time of year to have the funeral.
She had planned it down to the sandwich fillings! After the church we were to go back to her house but she was living with her DS so it was in his basement flat leading out to the garden. I borrowed a large gazebo.

Because she was 98 and had outlived all her generation, I don't think anyone was excluded.
We, family, made her special dishes from her cookbooks, picked garden flowers and as she insisted "don't be mean with the booze"

But where there are a great many people, I guess you have to hire a venue.

DH died during the COVID pandemic so the guests were reduced to 12 with no hugging or gathering in groups.
We few gathered back at ours, sent for Indian takeaway and opened the best wine.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202601/medium-b3deqm-1000009585.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202601/medium-16cdef-1000009579.jpg

I am having a very good time although I can't sleep despite a beautiful room and warm comfy bed.
We walked on the beach yesterday. Such amazing beaches. Last night we went ceilidh dancing where the group were kind to me as none of the dances were familiar.

There's snow here and an ever changing sky.

Grammaretto i do envy your beach walk despite the snow, it’s over two years since I have seen the sea and I miss it a lot. DH and I used to go to the south coast every few months or so .
Glad you are enjoying your trip.
Notspaghetti no thé scène on DHs coffin was not one we knew but the sort of thing he loved to photograph. Rolling hills and blue sky.
I’ve been back at art today. Not impressed with my contribution but happy to be back with my friends.
Walking group tomorrow but not sure how far I’ll get with my aching hip, take care all

Lovely pictures, Grammaretto - I am envious! I do hope you have an untroubled journey home.
Have you left new lodgers at home to keep an eye on the place?
Do you have a Game Plan for 2026?

Did your walking group go ahead as planned, Doodle? Do you stop, or end up, at a caff? I would need that as my motivation *

I look forward to hearing about your progress at Art Class when it resumes. Are most of your colleagues continuing with you, or do you expect some newbies, maybe?

NN, what a positive bucketload to befall you and your dear man - any one incident would be devastating in itself...
My thoughts are with you and Dear Dog, I know how devastating is the demise of a family pet. I hope DH can cope and that he finds a company needing his skills very quickly. Leaving all this behind for your Big Op will be so difficult, but needs must, especially when such a formidable team of experts has been gathered for you.

Iwonder if you'll get a write up in an esteemed medical journal.
Do ask for a signed copy!

Cherry, do you think we will need cheer leaders if when we descend to the depths of the next division down?
The Championship league, even. Not much about being Champions there.

Did you get to see anything of Gubbins, *Kaimoana?

I hope the 🦞s are safe after the storm.
There have been varying reports of its effects from our family WhatsApp group around the country - and Wales!: are you safe and sound, 🍒?

I'm glad I'm not the grandma of my cousin's brood of littlies who were up before dawn wanting to make snowmen.
BTDT years ago!

Hi Ixion our walking group always starts and ends at the same place pub/restaurant where we have a coffee and a chat. It was very wet today but not as windy as I thought.
I have 7 good friends at art class and we meet up at other times too. There are probably about 20 of us altogether a very nice bunch. I think my art is improving a lot I would say I’m probably around age 10 now whereas I was about age 4 at the beginning. 🤣
Hope everyone is ok and not snowed in. Take care all

That's fabulous art progress. Doodle improving by 6 years in as many months 😄. I would love to see some of your work.

Ixion you and I both failed at wordle! Not that it matters 😒

My final day here. I don't want to go home.
I leave very early tomorrow. It's been yet another lovely day; meeting some of their friends, shopping, museum, exhibition of dolls houses, even speaking Gaelic at the Gaelic café

My new tenants are due to move into the flat on Monday. There's a lot still to get ready before they arrive.

Have you Lobstars survived the snow storms?

Grammaretto 🤣🤣. Looking at it like that is indeed good progress.
Pleased you’ve enjoyed your stay. Will you visit again?
Hope the new lodgers are nice people.

I’m going to the pantomime tomorrow. (Oh yes I am) Cinderella . Church in the morning. Sleep well all

Here’s one for you.

Worthy of a place at the Tate, Doodle .
Snowy view from my window? 😄

Hope you're safely home, Grammaretto and that you found your house safe and sound.

Who would have thought it would come so quickly?
Gubbins starts school this week.

I suppose Spud does too??

Gubbins starts school! I find that hard to believe. She can't be 5 already?
I hope she loves it.

Doodle is it a picture of an aeroplane out of sight?

I did make it home Ixion. My house is still here but very cold so I had a hot bath and came to bed. The sunrise was from the ferry window observation deck coming into Ullapool.

The bus journeys were long but I enjoy the changing landscapes. Sorry to see sheep in white snow fields trying to graze.

Ixion i had to work hard on that to get the right texture.🤣Sorry I did try it’s meant to be a peacock.
Kaimoana no i dont believe it. School already. I bet she’ll love it.
Grammaretto glad you enjoyed your trip. I shall try again with the painting.

Don’t believe it. When I did preview it was there. Oh well. Another snowy scene from my winter collection.

You know when you go to an amateur art exhibition and come across a piece which stops you in your track because it has that certain, indefinably something which makes it infinitely better than everything else?

Your art work has it Doodle. I wish I lived in the UK because I'd buy your work for sure.

This is not idle flatttery. I wish you'd have a little exhibition andshow your skills.

Hear, hear Kaimoana.

Aim high, Doodle.
summer.royalacademy.org.uk/

Doodle, I actually love your peacock. I've seen so many pieces of artwork in galleries that leave me flummoxed as to why they are there, I 🤔 they're a bit emperor's new clothes. Yours is quirky, has character and appeal. It's great 😍.

I'm glad you had such a good time away Grammaretto, from your photos the landscape looks magical. I hope you've warmed up nicely at home now and I hope your new tenants settle in well and prove to be good ones,

Naughtyneine, don't take this the wrong way, because I really am only teasing, of course "knowing the cause of my seizures doesn't help" me ^ "whilst" I am "experiencing them". Why? When I'm having a seizure I don't know anything at all 🤣. To be honest, I'd rather know the cause than not - least then I know I'm conscious 😂.
I'm sending you a warm cwtch, with all you are having to deal with at the moment, life is dealing you an unfair hand X

I hope you are managing okay NotSpaghetti 🌻, and you too Kaimoana 🌼.

Night 🌙 lovely lobStars.

Thank you Cherry - we are bearing up here but such a lot to do.
I wish we weren't so choosy and could just "go with the flow". My husband is agonising over the "right" photos whilst forgetting what the solicitor said... he is writing to all his mum's friends with basic info and saying he will write to them with more info soon.
...there is no point doing anything once if you can do it twice!

I really love him such a lot but his number one skill is not organisation.
😬😬😬

Very very tired
💤
Goodnight
- and nice artwork Doodle!
👍

Good Morning or rather Good Afternoon from a strangely mild Norfolk! Cant believe the sudden change but shouldnt complain - actually Im not complaining but from being wrapped up yesterday suddenly Im taking off my big winter coat in exchange for an anorak!
Doodle I love your peacock it’s brilliant. Clever lady. You definitely must frame it.
No peacocks round here which Im pleased about as they do make an horrendous noise.
However we do have muntjacs. Suck pretty little creatures but they can do an awful amount of damage. We once filled a trough with very pretty orange pansies but in the morning all the heads had been nibbled off! Much of the problem around here is the amount of building going on. It has taken much of the muntjacs habitat so they have no alternative to invade gardens looking for food. Luckily we arent fussy gardeners but have friends who are and they get so cross when their plants are eaten. We arent fussy gardeners quite laid back about it but I suppose it’s annoying if you keep your garden immaculate.
I do worry about Theo although apparently muntjacs dont bother about cats but Im still wary.
NotSpaghetti Yes such a lot to do when someone dies. I try to get my DH to get rid of the amount of “stuff” in our house so that its not so much work for the kids but I might as well bang my head on the wall. I can honestly see an enormous skip appearing in our drive and everything being thrown in!
Well we have friends coming for wine and nibbles later so must make an effort and tidy up. Best wishes to All

I also love your peacock Doodle. It's so bright and cheerful.

My new tenants have just moved in! I have met her at last. They seem very young and very sweet.
Their home is Katmandu.
I have been fussing around trying to get everything ready but now I am sitting down with a G&T. Old habits die hard.

This morning I had BT fit new fast fibre broadband so it's all happening.

I missed both exercise class and history group but it was important to be here for all the comings and goings.

I chuckled at your DH NotSpaghetti with his promise to write again. What a kind fellow.

I have the roe deer to eat everything in my flower beds and in my veg garden the pigeons descend on the winter greens.

Ah well, c'est la vie.

Have you heard how Gubbins' first days at school have been at school, Kaimoana? I get the feeling that she will be no shrinking violet, tho' I could be wrong!

I was going to ask about your new lodgers, Grammaretto, they sound a good choice. Are they new to the area?
Will you miss your landline?

Do you know what you will be painting when you return, Doodle?
Do you get to choose? Is there a theme running through the term? I wish I was artistic- think I'm too much of a pragmatist. Mr.I's family are the artistic ones and luckily, all 3 DC have inherited the skills and enjoyed the pastime.

Would Theo get near your muntjac through choice, Jan? Could he move fast enough to avoid their heels? Barney used to be a nosey parker, but now that he has found our home comforts away from the mean streets, he has become very slothful and pampered. My cousin, on receiving a recent photo, called him 'sweet, but a proper pudding'.

I have to side with your DH I'm afraid, NS. Writing in advance of funeral notifications is something our family does. It started (in my experience ) on the unexpected death of a youngster in the family, when my father wrote to everyone personally before sending formal printed details. He said it removed the shock of getting the invitation out of the blue without any advance warning, and I did the same with my mother's death at 92. Of course, it wouldn't necessarily have been a surprise to most people, but many were elderly and it seemed the kindest thing to do.
I also now feel that writing initially by hand is a sort of catharsis and gives the writer, as well as the recipient, the time and opportunity to reflect and to take a step back from the busy-ness that always surrounds these sad occasions.

Thinking of you all at this difficult time 🌺.