Support and friendship for those whose lives have been affected by estrangement.

Morning everyone.

Hope you had a good night's sleep Whiff and have recovered from your busy day. It doesn't matter how you sound, it's what you have to say that's important.

Coming from Surrey, and despite having lived in North Yorkshire for most of my life, I still say barth as opposed to bath Babs. The boys, both born in North Yorkshire used to say both and despite having lived in Aus, for 12 years, DS hasn't adopted an Australian dialect.

Thank you Hilltop 'practice makes perfect' and we've had plenty of practice over the years dealing with trouble makers with the help of GN.

You didn't miss much Allsorts just the same old nastiness that we're subjected too from time to time.

It's pouring with rain here at the moment but hopefully will clear up later if the forecast is correct. I had a near miss last night while making a cheese sauce for cauliflower cheese. Thankfully I'd only just started so it was just warm because I caught the handle of the sauce pan and tipped it all over myself and the cooker .

You can imagine the mess but Mr. S. was on hand to help clear up.

Hilltop confusing black country and Brummie is a big no no. Since moving here some people asked if I and from Brum but quickly told them no black country. Remember how Lenny Henry used to talk before he went posh that's black country. Jasper Carrot that's Brummie .
Never confuse the 2 with Wolverhampton that'd a step to far 🤣🤣🤣.

The part I grew up they used to say put the pig on the wall to watch the band go by. Never understood what it meant. My brother had a very strong black country accent not like mine but living in Lincolnshire it's toned down a bit.

I much prefect northern accents . Got called Queen the other day by a shop assistant first time that's happened in the 5 years since living here . In Scotland got called hen a lot when we went when my husband was alive.

Had a busy week been out everyday so going to rest today. We'll sort of.but not going out. Sit fit ,covid jab and shopping,joined craft group at Brain Charity,flu jab then back to the Brain Charity to be video interviewed. Funny enough found it easy not having to look at the camera . Had to re say somethings a different way . They filmed me walking and took pictures of me looking at some old photos of me they asked me to take in . Some with my brother as young children. But one of me and my husband dancing on our wedding night it was our first dance and he sang once ,twice, three times a lady to me . But it wasn't sad just happy memories.

Babs my eldest grandson had minor op when 2 weeks old and my youngest grandson had a an operation to improve his life when few months old. But nothing on the scale your grandson has gone through. Like you say he won't remember which is a good thing . But isn't amazing what they can do for babies and young children. What amazes me how small the surgical instruments must be and the skill of the surgeons .

Allsorts glad you are home safely. There have been imposter posters thankfully Grunty spotted how someone was calling themselves BabsO3 and not our Babs who is Babs03. At least GN on the ball and got it all sorted out.

Just means we have to read the posters name carefully. But hate that we have to do that because of some very sad and bitter people .

Storm set to hit the country tomorrow floods and high winds forecast so be careful everyone .

@whiff yes we are so grateful for the care our GS has had at GOSH, and though my daughter and SiL are obviously stressed about it when they saw all the other babies who are seriously ill there and probs won’t get out of the hospital for a very long time they count their blessings.
As you say is not nice having to check posters on here all the time for subtle changes in their monikers. But also would say we should look out for a change in tone and the general character of the post. Have not been on here long but think I have an idea of how you all voice things. If something doesn’t sound right check the moniker.
Well is all excitement the us today are off to Asda 😂

@Smiles, thank goodness your cheese sauce wasn’t hot!
I always get nervous when making jam because of the high temps.
Come to think of it is a long time since we had cauliflower cheese, or macaroni cheese, you have got me thinking about ideas for dinner.
Take care xx

Morning all

Yes raining cats & dogs here too, so waiting for our walkies. Joey wasn't well last night, really worried about him, woke at 4.30am thinking about phoning the vets & trying to puzzle through if it was something he ate and concluded it was quite likely that having cooked all his chicken for his dinner, put 3 pieces in fridge and gave one piece with a quater table spoon of juices each day, last day forgot I was going to save some of the juice to make gravy for Sunday dinner and gave him it all, about 2 table spoons full, which has a lot of fat in but when heated it just looks like juice. So hope that was it, he seems better this morning, he wasn't sick, but panting and sort of licking his lips, as he would do before being sick.

Good job that sauce wasn't boiling hot Smiles! Funny we are having cauliflower cheese for dinner tonight with Toad-in-the-hole and veg. My DD & GC coming, so think they will like that.

Nice to hear from you Hilltop

Enjoy your relaxing day at home Whiff

Smiles glad it wasn't hotter as cheese sauces sticks like glue to your skin and if boiling you would have been really hurt.

I have to be careful when making jam, marmalades and chutneys Babs . But my way mainly involves sitting and watching it boil reading and listening to music .

Yogin glad Joey is ok . Well so far not that relaxing I keep finding things to do .. Plus my dam legs are swollen😠. At least had a letter from the hospital saying I am on the list to see the cardiologist but have to wait for an appointment.

That could have given Joey an uncomfortable tummy Yogin, glad he's much better this morning. You have to be so careful with what they eat don't you. Give him a (((hug))) from me.

I'm sure your DD and the GC will love that, our boys always enjoyed Toad in the Hole when they were younger, now that's something I haven't made for years.

Yes, it could have been pretty disastrous if the sauce had been hot Babs and Whiff but I was more worried about the mess it made all over my new gas hob and down the front of the oven!!!

We often have it and macaroni cheese especially in the autumn and winter with fresh bread; lovely comforting food.

well if your legs are swollen Whiff you really should try to ease off for the rest of the day, not easy for a busy bee like you I know.

Hopefully it wont be too long before your appointment comes through .

@yogi sorry Joey is feeling poorly, am sure he has had plenty of tlc to make him feel better.
Love cauliflower cheese and toad in the hole, just bought some nice cauli and cheese so think we will be eating it tonight.
Whiff you do need a rest if your ankles are swollen let’s hope that appointment for the cardiologist comes through soon xx

Morning all,
To anyone experiencing the worst of storm Ashley am hoping it blows over soon and doesn’t cause too much damage.
We have strong winds but can get those ordinarily, however, is nothing like what the western seaboard of Scotland will suffer.
No walks today are hunkering down and OH has the footy to watch later.
Wishing you all a peaceful day 👋🏽

Had heavy rain and gales all day and it's gotten worse in the last hour . Good job I don't have a problem sleeping.

I hope you here good news about your house completion tomorrow Smiles.

Babs hope your grandson is doing well after his operation.

Yogin if you did manage to go out with Joey hope he didn't get blown away.

Hope everyone else has been safe and not suffered any damage from the storm. I am glad I live in a bungalow even if the wind is whistling down my drive way. Stay safe all.

Thanks all re Joey. Must have been wishful thinking when I said I think he's better. He was really ill all Saturday. It stopped raining so I thought a little walk in the park might perk him up, but the heavens opened & we got soaked! He had his little raincoat on, but his head got drenched! He really was very unwell the rest of the day, didn't eat his lunch time chew but did eat a little dinner of chicken sausage. Refused his Dentex chew, which he absolutely loves. He looked ill. Didn't go out in the garden for a wee, I was sooo worried.

He slept all night, not well in the morning. I had my morning class to go to and when I came back; no greeting at the door with a waggy tail. He was just sitting in 'his' garden room chair, but really pleased to see me back. I thought ' Oh no, what's wrong with him!'

He gradually got better through the day and had a little Sunday dinner. When I'm cooking the dinner, he normally comes in the kitchen hoping for his first, but he didn't come in, I thought I'd take it into him, but then he came trotting in, I was soo pleased to see him. Today seems back to his old self so far.

It's just so worrying when they're not well, as they can't tell you what's wrong and you start thinking the worst!

Morning everyone.

We're at our flat having arrived yesterday. Thankfully there was a lull in the heavy rain as we were bringing things in, and it actually brightened up in the afternoon so we were able to take the dogs out and let them off their leads for a good run.

Mr. S. will be organising the wood he needs to boar out the attic space today and will be doing that tomorrow as he's bowling this afternoon. It's not a large space so hopefully no more than a day's work.

I'm off to Spec savers this afternoon, should have had my eyes tested last December but better late than never .

I hope no one had any damage due to yesterday's storm and are all safe and well.

@whiff rubbish weather here as well but have had to put the washing machine on today, just hoping we can put the washing out because our dryer is out of action.🙁
@yogi poor Joey, glad to hear he is feeling better today, such a worry when they get ill, there really is no knowing with dogs. Our last dog Scout wolfed down a tray of chocolate liqueurs my OH left out on the coffee table, we expected the worst but he was right as rain, however, on another occasion after eating some roast turkey we had set aside for him he was vomiting and poorly for a couple of days.
🤔

@smiles - snap!
I let my appointment for specsavers slide as well, and oh boy do they bombard you with reminders but like you we had too much going on. Finally made it the other week, glad I did because they made out a new prescription for long distance glasses as well as readers. Hadn’t needed help seeing long distance but had noticed I was squinting more when watching the subtitles on the telly. They have said that I don’t need to wear the glasses all the time because my eyes are quite healthy. And my early cataracts haven’t become a problem yet.
🤔

My 'life lesson' for my class on Sunday was All things change by the influence of time So true for me.

Dickhead next door was still parking over my house, leaving his now, caravan free, driveway empty. Thursday, he parked his big van over the front of mine & his family car on his driveway [at last], but it looked like that would be the way it would stay.

Friday morning a man from the highways phoned me and we spoke for about 30mins. Seems no matter what I did nothing would change. It would cost £300 to apply for a crossover another £300 for inspection, if I got the go-ahead it would be nearly £2000 to have the 'work' & listings done. I said; 'so nearly £3000' he reply 'no, your looking at more than £3000! But he indicated that he thought I would not be granted the permission as he thinks the highways want it kept as is.

Next day coming back from walkies, no parking down my road at all. Did a circuit and parked in a spot just before the parking bay, so not allowed, but still off road, thinking I'll keep looking out and move when there's a space. Moved my car over the road into a parking spot. Next time I looked out the space in front of my property was empty [first time in 2.5yrs!] and he'd moved his big van over the front of his own!

Couldn't believe it, what changed [?]. Did he have an Apiphany moment or did the nice guy from the highways phone him and reason with him. I'll probably never know, but for the first time since I've moved here, I'm parked outside my own house . With winter looming, it's a good feeling.

Great news Yogi, after so much stress and annoyance, let’s hope somebody did speak to him and make him see sense. 🤞

That is good news Yogin. I wouldn't be at all surprised if dick head had received a 'phone call from Highways and had a word.

Long may it continue .

Let's hope the highways man had a quiet word Yogi 🤞🤞and you manage to park okay in future, good to hear your little Joey is ok and recovering.

Yoga that’s a win, a parking space in front of your house.

Hello everyone. You’re in Smileless that’s wonderful too.

High winds and gusts all Sunday, my newish dwarf apple tree needs re staking as it’s leaning over now. My cats went out Sunday morning for their usual comfort break but then shot back in, soaking.
Being a crazy cat lady, I have a hand towel especially assigned for drying, so I wrapped each one up and gave them a drying rub with the towel.
They pretend to hate it but now sometimes assume the drying position when they come in soaked.
It amuses me.
I read the notes on Estrangement and sometimes you don’t know why you’re estranged - or why it’s gone on so long?
Could there be reassurance that not to make yourself worried upset or ill over it and that usually there is nothing you can do?

Anyway, just saying. Have a peaceful week everyone.

Babs03 oh no, I’m so sorry! Please apologise to your DH!

Did you mean you’ve moved which is why you miss your DH’s fruit trees?

Hangs head in shame.😳🌱🌱🌱

@sparkly grandma,
No we are moving which is why I will miss the trees but forgive me for being obtuse.
And it gave my DH a good laugh, so don’t worry. 😆

So funny about your cats, we have had cats as well as dogs in our time and they can be hilarious. The thing is they hate being wet probably more than your drying routine. I recall having to wash our little black and white cat when he came home covered in muck after going missing overnight, how he squawked when we tried to put him in the bath and afterwards he made a point of ignoring us.
🤣

Good morning to everyone,
These mornings I feel like I am getting up in the night, have to really give myself a shake to get out of bed, never have been a lie-in kind of person though my DH will stay in bed a bit longer listening to his radio.
For me it’s wordle and quordle then a cuppa in bed before facing the world. I used to do wordle and quordle with my good friend in Lancashire who passed away recently. I mentioned to her DH that I continue to do it every morning so he has now started doing it and we share our results. I have noticed that he sometimes completes the puzzles in the wee hours of the morning so it doesn’t look like he is sleeping very well.
Anyway hope you all have a good day.
Take care 🌹

SparklyGrandma sorry don't understand your paragraph about reading notes on estrangement. I can't remember if you are estranged from family members.

But I can assure you I will never know why my son estranged me . He did it via email with assumptions of how I reacted to things plus changing family history. I also know my daughter in law helped him write it . My son was like his dad spelling mistakes and lack of punctuation. The email had none . But his follow up letter when he sent back his and my grandsons cards and the crushed baby presents for my new grandson all unopened was hand written and was all him . His parting gift to me was saying I don't want your vindictive and manipulative behaviour anywhere near me or my family ever again. Zero contact. This was August 2020 the day after his birthday and second sons birthday .

I have never been vindictive and manipulative towards anyone in my life . I hated my mother in law fir 40 years but I looked after her until she died even thought she told people she had no son or grandchildren and refused to go too their weddings.

Last year I decided to give up any hope for ever seeing my son or grandsons ever again. And feel a weight lifted from my shoulders as the only person hurting was me .

What hurt me the most was realising my son was a cruel coward. He should have told me to my face what he was going to do . Both our children have always been able to talk to us about anything and me after their dad died.

When parents say they don't know why their child or children estrange them then they don't. Last time I saw and spoke to my son was on my birthday in April 2020 . He is no longer the son I knew who was caring and loving no idea who he is but I am no longer the mom he knew. My tolerance for his behaviour is at zero . I still love him and my grandsons . But any trust I had in him died and I will never forgive or forget what my son and daughter in law have done or written about me .