Friendship,advice and support if estrangement has affected your life.

So sorry Granniesunite, I do hope your husbands health improves. Such a worry for you.

I have just bought myself some new paints and watercolour paper as a little treat. Then this morning some flowers arrived from my youngest son who will be coming to stay here on saturday night. Off out to lunch on Sunday with him and DH for a combined Mother’s Day and birthday. I will be 70 on Sunday and I will wear that badge with pride! It is only a number and inside I only feel about 35!

I have just been for a walk and then one my friends from the north east will be phoning me this afternoon. It’s her birthday on saturday. One day before mine. My mam and her mam were in beds side by side in the maternity hospital when we were born. Friends for life!

Happy birthday for Sunday Pixie
How wonderful, your friend for life!

Thank you so much Yoginimeisje xx

Happy Birthday PurplePixie

Happy birthday Purplepixie. Have a wonderful day with your husband and son. ???

Happy birthday Pixie, have a lovely day ?

Happy birthday Pixie.
Well it’s here Mothers Day. We’re all mothers but a lot of us not valued as such, so we let’s spoil ourselves, we did the best we could all of us. I think we should all go to a Health Spa, have lots of pampering, but for those if us that enjoy our food and a drink, we should forget the slimming and diet bit.?

'Happy Birthday PP' and have a lovely day with your son and DH.

Health Spa sounds good to me Allsorts.

for all on this difficult day.

Hi. PP. hope you had a wonderful birthday. ?

Thanks Smike Moses, I always think of you as your lovely son in Australia has different dates for Mothers Day, however one day doesn’t mean that much it’s how we are treated the rest of the time. ?

Morning all another sunny day. Hopefully mother's day wasn't a trial for any of you. I have never bothered much about mother's day. As if you love and care for your mom it's every day not one day in March. My daughter and family come home from a week's holiday in Spain today. Yesterday she text and said sorry they weren't with me. Which was sweet of her but she forgets I had most mother's day since both children left home 2 years after my husband died on my own.

Pixie hope you had a lovely birthday with your husband and son yesterday.

Had a busy week last week. Monday had 14 bags of compost delivered and planted out my 2 blueberry plants into 50cm tubs and planted my 3 remaining strawberry plants from last year into the planter on legs my daughter and family brought me for Christmas it has a lid so like a greenhouse for them. Also my new panels for my greenhouse arrived. But need my daughter and son in law to put them in and then seal them with silicone sealant and cover my greenhouse with pond netting to stop the panels ever blowing out again. A tip from the gardening forum.

Tuesday went to Aldi but took a walk round some roads I wanted to see. Before walking to Aldi. The exercise classes must be doing me good as getting heart points on my step counter. So walking faster. Taxi back as 4 heavy bags of shopping.

Wednesday exercise class. Thursday craft group ,we have been given a new room downstairs with its own loo. The lights a lot better in there as well.

Some of my fence panels had green on them. I painted the fence last year. The green wouldn't clean off so re painted the panels that needed it on Friday and then replanted some plants in different positions.

Saturday varnished my garden gate and frame and put a coat on the underside of my bench.

Sunday changed my bed I do it at the end of the month . I only sleep on my side of our king size so it's not as if it gets dirty. Also it reminds me to put the dishwasher cleaner in and the one for the washing machine. Also put drainer cleaner down the 3 sinks and shower trap. Pegged out the bedding and then gave my bench a varnish on the top side . Then cleaned out my pond . It's a planter with different size rocks in oxygenating plants and 2 water plants in baskets. The birds love it.

Pegged my towels out at 7.30 this morning and going to touch up some paint work in the bungalow .

The rest of the week is all booked up. Tomorrow Sainsbury's delivery in the morning and hair cut in the afternoon . Wednesday exercise class, Thursday craft group. And then seeing my neurologist on Friday and get to find out what this genetic variant they have found in my blood work. It's funny but after 34 years of not knowing what has caused my neurological condition there is a glimmer of hope they may be able to name it. But the 2 people I want to be able to tell I can't my husband is dead and my son doesn't want me. Never mind life goes on. Hopefully my brother and sister in law may finally exchange and complete on their bungalow this week.

If I have said all this before well that's me as I do ramble on.

Take care my friends ?

Thank you Allsorts, unfortunately we didn't get to chat to him yesterday on face time because he's ill in bed with Covid but we'll catch up in a day or two. He's feeling pretty rough but not seriously so, so fingers crossed he doesn't get any worse.

Well you have been a busy bee Whiff. I had a busy week too as my friend was here with her 7 month cockapoo. To say our little one's nose was put out of joint would be an understatement.

They got on very well and it was lovely to see them playing together, but with her's being a puppy, she wanted to play all the time.

Our little poodle kept out of it for most of the time and I think he was grateful that the pup's attention was focused on his 'sister' rather than him.

Hope the news from your neurologist on Friday is good; keep us posted.

Smiles hope your son gets better soon . I know up here Covid figures are raising. Relaxing the rules is madness. As a new variant will pop up soon.

Glad all the dogs got on. And you had a good time with your friend.

Hope your son is better soon smiles.

We know so many people with Covid atm. whiff.

Thank you to everyone for the lovely birthday wishes. I had a fabulous day with DH and my youngest son. We went to a Thai restaurant for lunch then back home for tea and cakes later. He set off for his apartment at 5pm and I wanted to cry. DH took me out for a drink on the evening. DH bought me a beautiful necklace and flowers and I got a lovely red jacket (my favourite colour), flowers, a computer drawing course and some chocolates from my youngest son. They had both bought me a lovely birthday cake, white chocolate and raspberry jam, yummy. A thoroughly lovely day.

But a surprise! A card for birthday and Mother’s Day from my eldest son and he also put some cash in there. I did text him to say thank you and he texted back to say that he hoped that I have a lovely day. What a surprise.

No word from my daughter or her two daughters but after 7 years I didnt expect anything else. Oh well 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.

Smiles I hope your son is recovering well. Such worrying times.

Purplepixie glad you had a lovely birthday / mother's day and what a haul of pressies. And a surprise from your eldest son. Hopefully he won't be horrible to you again. But you are probably on your guard.

If my son had sent me a mother's card I would have wondered why. The thank you the other week confused the hell out of me and upset me. Still don't know why.

This was on a cross stitch chart it's by Hans Christian Andersen

Just living is not enough said the butterfly.
One must have sunshine ,freedom and a little flower.

Just thought it was a nice thought.

Had my hair cut this afternoon. Always nice to have it done especially as I cut a chunk out the other day it got in the varnish. Had put my hair in a pony tail but some escaped . Hope you all had the sunshine again today.

Glad you had a lovely birthday PP and so pleased you got a card from your eldest son too.

Love your little poem/reflection whiff

How lovely Pixie Sounds like you had a really good birthday & mother's day, plus a surprise card from your son!

Whiff re your hair.

I've got something on my wrap I keep by the garden doors, no idea what it is, sooo sticky, washed my hands 3 times and still on my thumb. Maybe tree sap, not the wood preservative I've been spraying on my shed pandals.

Hello everyone.

Had a lovely pm from Whiff just checking I'm ok because I haven't posted for a while. So kind. So I thought I would just drop by and let you know I'm still alive and kicking,

The reason I've not posted is because I am still in the happy position of enjoying a period of domestic harmony with my son and DIL and I really don't want to upset anyone,

. I know that many of you will have been sorely disappointed that another Mother's Day has been and gone and your EACs haven't seen fit to contact you. Heartbreaking. The last thing I wanted to do was rub salt into anyones wounds,

Anyway all is quiet and peaceful here, have seen them a few times recently and each occasion has gone smoothly (mainly because I am still adhering to my red velvet rope policy).

I have no idea how long the peace will last so I just bimble along enjoying the respite. I have learned to just let it all wash over me and now just concentrate on my needs, my dreams, my life.

If my son and DIL and I can maintain this new found understanding and rebuild what was so nearly lost then that would be wonderful but I am not going to pin all my hopes on that scenario.

I shall continue to step back and concentrate on creating a new and happier future. With or without them. If they want to be part of it then great, that will be the icing on the cake. If not then so be it. I can have a happy and fulfilled life without them if needs be. I am happy to have them in my life but not at any price. I have my limits. I have given them a second chance, but I am adamant there won't be a third.

I think they now know this, that they crossed a line and that I wont tolerate being bullied or mistreated. They came to their senses in the end. Will it last or will they fall back into their bad habits. Only be time will tell. But one thing is for sure I am firm in my resolve. And I wont cave in. They can try using the grandchildren as pawns but they will get short shrift if they do. I wont submit to emotional blackmail.

If they don't realise this then they aren't as smart as they like to think they are. ?.

Still keeping busy, got a lot of outside jobs done during the good weather. Now that winter is back (well it feel ,like winter) I am once again turning my attention to some indoor jobs.

Anyway enough of my prattle. Must crack on.

Stay well my friends, ❤️

Lovely to see you DSL
It's heartwarming to hear that things are still going well for you. I think your attitude is one we all need to keep in our minds and hearts. We can have a good life without them, even if it would be better with them. We may not all be in your position but we can all take much from your wise words.

DSL so glad that things are on a fairly even keel for you at the moment!

DerbyshireLass just because you are having a relationship again with your son and daughter in law don't stay away. As you well know I ramble on about my daughter and family and what I do with them. But no one holds that against me. And when others mention relationships with there children I am always glad to read what they have been up to.

As you may have noticed there are no nasty posters here. That element seems to have found other victims for their spite on other threads .

What you have to say is always wise and it's not as if you haven't had a easy time coping with your son and daughter in law. Plus like me and others not having your other half by your side to share the load is extremely hard . But no one would begrudge others still having their husbands and partners. So write and let us know what you have been up when you feel like it but don't disappear all together.

It's funny since May 2020 and my son deciding he know longer wanted me, and getting in touch with Smiles and reading then finally posting on here you have all become friends . Like real friends we don't always agree with eachother but are always here supporting and have your back. Years ago it was called having a pen pal who became a friend. Wonder what you would call it nowadays? Funny how you can care about people just by their words. I suppose it's because we can honestly say how we feel and know others will understand . Where as in real life for me there is no one I can say some of the things I do here. As close family and friends don't understand. They try but unless you had a child and or grandchildren turn their backs on you only someone going through the same knows how it feels.

Don't know about anyone else but wish the sun would be turned back on again. Last Thursday went to craft group in a jumper this week it's back to thick winter coat and thick scarf. Putting my thicker gloves on today. My hands froze yesterday in my leather ones.

Smiles how is your son ? I hope his Covid symptoms haven't gotten worse. How are you and Mr S coping without your beloved cat? Another one of my neighbours is going to have to decide soon to have their dog put to sleep. She's had a long life but is beginning to struggle and has a form of canine dementia. It's sad as she's such a lovely dog. Yet another one who thinks I'm a leaning post but she's a terrier so no fear of her pushing me over.

I have never wanted a pet as don't want anyone dependent on me anymore. But then again it's only been 5 years since I got over my fear of dogs. And I made myself do that because after my first grandson was born my daughter in law got upset when they put their dogs in their crates while I visited. And my son told me how much she was upset. So next time I visited I told them not to do it. So they put them on their leads and I had one dog at a time and then had all 3 then said take the leads off. My son took a photo of us. I had one either side of me on the sofa and one on my foot. He said dad would never believe it. And yet he calls me vindictive and manipulative. But I am glad I got over my fear. As I am not afraid of a dog of any size. And love being with my brother and sister in law and playing with their Jack Russell. She gets excited when she sees me .

Granniesunite hope your husband is getting better. And hope anyone else is well.

Well better get going another busy day for me again but I wouldn't want it another way. Take care all. ?

I would definitely like the sun turned back on whiff. It felt like summer last week and now it feels like the thick of winter. I'm very grateful we got the good weather for our little holiday though.

It's funny since May 2020 and my son deciding he know longer wanted me, and getting in touch with Smiles and reading then finally posting on here you have all become friends . Like real friends we don't always agree with eachother but are always here supporting and have your back. Years ago it was called having a pen pal who became a friend. Wonder what you would call it nowadays? Funny how you can care about people just by their words. I suppose it's because we can honestly say how we feel and know others will understand . Where as in real life for me there is no one I can say some of the things I do here. As close family and friends don't understand. They try but unless you had a child and or grandchildren turn their backs on you only someone going through the same knows how it feels. - all that is just so lovely and so true.

My sinusitis is back but I've still got some medication spray so hopefully it will improve soon. Feeling a bit ropey so mostly just read and watched TV today.

Derbyshire Lass, glad all is well with you and on track, your son clearly didn't want estrangement to his credit. I still find it unfathonable how you can turn your back on your mother and not know or care if they are alive or dead.
Whiff,I will keep my fingers crossed for you and hope you find some answers from the consultant.
Have a good day everyone, a beautiful morning here, blue sky's , absolutely freezing though.