Dh has died and the MN lifesavers are helping us to keep our heads above water

[JuanPotatoTwo]

New thread :). Thought I'd start this one like I ended the last one - Bertie crashed out after a busy day's mischief making.

Hello

DD came 5th in her race and I survived ex, new wife and their toddler being there by sitting with a granny who is fast becoming a friend. She's just been diagnosed with cancer (for the 3rd time) and starts chemo at the end of the week

Done all the jobs etc, so having a quiet 5 before the next round of nappy changes/get ready and school run starts. Then we're meeting DS's new teacher for next year.

book hope it went OK. Not pleasant like you say but needs doing!
willow that is going to hurt and come up nice and purple...hope that you've got some painkillers and that you get home without any delays.
jane hello, hope you're alright too.

Will send Juan a little text to say we're all thinking of her.

I'm wincing Willow, hope it's not too sore & a good journey back for you.

Hope the smear was okay book.

Sorry to hear about your friend cake.

Hi Drama & Jane.
Love to Juan & Selena.

ds1 has activities week and needed to be smart, he has 1 smart shirt - which we got for him to wear to put wedding last year. I mean to ask his dad on Fri evening but my migraine was so bad I was incapable of functioning and didn't, then only remembered last night when he asked if any of John's stuff would fit him. My initial reaction was no (John was big) bit actually most of his old clothes had been cleared out last year and he'd got some new stuff as he'd lost so much weight, and a couple of the shirts were just right for ds1. So sorted and ironed that and then chatted to a fellow WAYer for a while so was up far to late.

Tired this morning, then took well over an hour to get to work (normally 25 minutes) as the A14 was closed. A motorcyclist lost his life in an accident with a lorry .

Hey

Just a quick pop in to send love from Juan for you all. I see we are over 900 posts so will see what she would like to do.

Must have been hard to see him in stuff hat belonged to John, sending you an extra hug.

I'm going to get my head down. Was a busy day. Aiming for calmer tomorrow.

0h squirrels the dreaded A.14 - I was involved in the very dim and distant past in typing what seemed like hundreds of Compulsory Purchase Orders for the original local authority west of Cambridge. Even the headings were 3 lines long, full of figures and text! No word processors or even electric typewriters. Hammering at the keys a good way to vent your frustrations though!

I've been phoning today. The Tell Us Once service seems great for officialdom, and some private companies really excellent, one or two maybe not so good. One definitely not.

Can't do much else probate-wise now until solicitor (friend) back from holidays as he holds the original Wills, and I get the figures back from calls today. So when the funeral is over on Friday I can have a bit of a breather - perhaps.

Love to all including Juan, hope we can sleep well.

Evening all
totally sidetracked this evening with committee meeting, tennis and crotchet . Smear was fine , not as bad as I remembered , but now officially old - that is my last one!
Willow - hope you head is okay , and you get home safe and sound and in bed tonight/tomorrow morning.
Cake - well done your DD, and you - but sorry for your friend - (good that you are able to keep in touch with Juan ) Sleep well, and hopefully not too early a wake up.
Chasing - that sounds a bit bitter sweet , but hopefully you are okay with the clothes - they are so personal .
Well, time for my bed - I normally have DGS on a Tuesday, but it is his induction day. As we have time , we are popping in to see one of my old customers -on the way -she and her husband don't get out much now, but we have stayed friends, so a chat and a cup of coffee. A few bits to do while we are out and then we are picking him up from school and taking him home . Also staying to make tea for every one. I have had a request for quiche - so hopefully will have a bit of pastry left over for him to make something for Mummy and Daddy. Does anyone else have fond memories of grey , pastry with a smear of jam?
Hope all is well Selena - and Somer - hope that pulled muscle is repairing itself
Sleep tight all
Thoughts and Prayers xx

x post with you Selena - you seem to be ploughing through things so well

Good morning. 5:15 is better than 5:05

Rain forecast for the whole of the day. School run, taking the small to indoor play gym and then a bit of respite while he naps, before DDs end of year play and home time...racing to the end of term!

Both children have had really wonderful reports, so proud of them. Really hope we have a nice break, we all deserve it.

Selena you seem to be doing well admin wise. Hope you're ok emotionally (as can be). I have fond memories of my mum typing and us children having a good play with them too

book enjoy your visit. I'm sure the old customer appreciates you popping in.

Hope induction day goes well book, will you be on after school duties come September?

cake, I'm exhausted radome about your early mornings! Actually I'm exhausted anyway, too many late nights although I got to sleep at a reasonable hour last night and feel zonked this morning.

Selena push through that paperwork, hope you are as well as you can be.

I'm fine with ds1 using John's clothes, what got to me was how thin John must have become for them to be suitable for ds1. There is no way his previous clothes would have been any good for ds1.

Work today, ds2 school play this evening - I've told ds1 he is coming with me.
Ds2 also got a lovely report yesterday. SATs were all above 100 which was good as he said he'd got 2/20 of the spellings right, but couldn't remember any of them. His teacher had written such a lovely resume of the year.

Better get on ...

Morning all
damp and cool here - bliss!
Cake - a lie in almost - er not! Well done to your DC for the reports - yes I think everyone in schools are hankering for break up ( DD1 a teacher finishes next week )
Chasing - having lots of sleep when you are exhausted does tend to make it feel worse almost ((hugs)) and again, a lovely report eases the weight on your shoulders.
yes, we shall be doing a school pick up in September. It's not all finalised yet , but there grandparents will also do one day ,, Son in Law works from home once a week, so can do one , but DD has her one half day off a week timetabled for a morning, so not sure what is happening for the other two. They live about 45 minutes away, so its not just a pop out for us.
Right - need to go and sort myself out ready for the day
Have a good day all

Morning all.
Home again😀 flight was awful as he olde restless legs kicked in after about 3/4 hour. Lasted over 2 hours was almost in tears. Took forever for baggage to appear and finally got home after 4. Been and collected guinea pigs made up the hutch and settled them in. Ds s still asleep ds2 couldn't wake up enough to come with me bless him.

Head fine thanks bit of a tender spot though😀
Have to phone garage as got that burning smell on the other side tyre now. No rest for the wicked eh?

Raining when we got back to good o.l Scotland but not now fingers crossed it stays that way and it's actually quite warm.

Well done on all the good reports. Nearly the hols for you hang in there😀

Hello, just checking in before we set off for the concert.

Hope that you get some rest after your holiday now willow can't believe you're straight on to car trouble!

Squirrel it's nice when they get a good report. Glad he did well in his SATs, that's us next year, but I've told DD I don't care if she fails as long as she tries her best.

I am so tired, I don't know which side is up. Get about 7hrs a night but could really do with more.

Juan has said that we should start a new thread when needed and she'll be back when she's ready.

Will come and check in with you all tonight.

Evening all
Willow - what a pain ( literally) I bet you are glad to be back home regardless.
Been a long day in the end - only just nicely got home, but had a lovely evening at DD's - nothing like cooking/making a meal and then able to leave the pots behind .
Lovely old customer so glad to see us, had a problem getting away , so the afternoon was bit curtailed.
I went to spruce up DF and DM 's grave - I go and have a little chat with them while cleaning the stone and such -( I hope that doesn't sound odd)
Just sat with my feet up now , ann easy night.
7 hours obviously isn't enough Cake, you must be on your knees - nice you are keeping in touch with Juan
Thinking of you all

Evening all.

DS2 was funny this morning. He came down for brekkie and wondered why I had my boots on. I told him it was wet outside when I went for GPs. He looked at me in total surprise, no memory of me telling him to get up, no memory of me telling him I was off to get them .

Day got a bit worse! Caught my reading glasses and pulled the leg off! Hopefully just needs a screw replaced, they are just new!!!!

Then emptying out the cases, all the 'soap bags' to discover that ds1's Lynx shower gel had leaked! OMG the stink! Washed everything in the bag, thrice, to try to get rid of the smell, washed the bag, after using about 6 sinkfulls of water and still bubbles appearing threw it in the washer. It still smells but hopefully will die down given time and fresh air! Otherwise its going in the bin. Even ds1 put the extractor fan on in the kitchen to try to get rid of the smell I stunk of it too...thanks ds!

Weird thing happened this evening. Ordered chinese for tea as to tired to cook ( and fridge empty!) after emptying cases and putting (most of) it away. DS2 and I go off to collect it, the road goes down a steep hill which is sort of enclosed by fence and walls. Car very slowly going up the hill, one slowly going down, thought there must be a deer on the road as its a favourite crossing spot, we get closer and there is a dog running around on road! Other cars just leave (!) and I am sat there wondering what to do, not keen on putting a strange dog in car as cant seperate it properly but dont want to leave it to get killed! Just about to get out car and see if its as friendly as it looks when one of those big car/van type things pulls up and a woman gets out, talks to the dog and checks it and puts it in her 'truck' bit. She only runs a dog kennels and club! Never knew there was one where she lives!. She will keep the dog o/n and put out on social media about it. Friend has a micro chip reader she will use as dog didnt have details on collar. Hopefully its just lost not abandoned. Poor thing, big staffie but very friendly. Talk about luck for both me and the dog!

Cake dont know how you do it! I fell asleep earlier on the sofa after tea and dishes. Not doing another thing cept hang up some washing and going to bed am shattered, and this is very early for me!

Squirrels really must be strange about the clothes, but I am sure John would be proud that ds looked good in his shirt.

(((Hugs))) for Selena, Juan and anyone else needing them tonight.

Morning all
quick pop in - just been a bit busy this morning, hanging washing out and such. DD1 asked me to wash and block a shawl she has made for her goddaughter -( a beautiful lacy thing,) but gosh it has taken me ages to get it sorted , it was so soft and lacey- I have been faffing about laying it out so it can air dry on a towel . Off to the allotment now to get a bit done as we are out all afternoon.
Cake - hope you got a lie in
Willow - your life is just a series of adventures it seems to me - mine is very humdrum!
Thinking of you all
Have a good day

Book some of them I could do without! Like today, DS1 had a cold started within hours of getting home, now has barking cough and a temp and am plying him with paracetamol! Your life seems to be very organised and unchaotic, and full of things you enjoy doing, I am actually very jealous.

Still trying to catch up with washing and putting away. Place is a tip! Been for food shopping and odds and ends in town and a lovely cup of proper coffee at Cafe Nero with DS2. Havent had a decent cup of coffee all holiday Of course I forgot all my 'store point cards' as took them out purse before we left to save lugging them all around with me, typical. Got some school supplies and couple of polo tops to try for size for ds2 as high school is white not blue! Going to attack the shoe rack and clean it and put all the holiday shoes on and get rid of the tatty shoes (i.e. DS1's abused trainers and school shoes ) Will need to face the measuring up and ordering of school uniform and getting new shoes at some point....shoot me now!

Hey ladies

I fell asleep with DS at 7:30 and pretty much slept till morning. Then MN wasn't loading for me and I haven't stopped since. Just sitting down while the oven does it's thing.

Willow I hope you've had all your drama now! Lynx is the work of the devil!

book I don't think it's odd to talk to those who have passed but I talk to myself all the time too so maybe not the best person to judge

Hope everyone as OK as can be, need to go off and check on tea. Popping into town tomorrow while children in school.

I'm reading about everyone's lives and thinking replies then forgetting them all when I come to post (sorry). But I'm glad you are all posting.

I had a really good week last week and am much more lethargic this week. Nothing specific just no get up and go.

Ds1 to work with me today as part of their activities week take your child to work day. Wore another of John's shirts. Not sure how John would feel about it really, depressed he'd lost so much weight and isn't around to wear them himself maybe - actually that's my take on it, John was very rarely depressed about anything until the very end of his life.
Anyway we just did 9.30 - 1.30 as I'd had enough by then and went to Aldi on the way home. My assistant helped him do some bookkeeping work for a client VAT return and it was a pleasure watching her impart knowledge she's learned over the last year (she is on her year in industry and finished with us on Friday). Then Ds1 said thank you to her as we left so I was proud of him as well.

Ds2 is making mini treats to take into school for the staff room, mini rice krispie cakes and amaretto biscuits so far. I think cheese straws are on his list as well. He has grown up SO much in the last year and just pretty much gets on with kitchen things now.

Ds2 school sports day was postponed from today to tomorrow due to rain, which was good as I couldn't go today with taking Ds1 to work. So I've swapped my day off to tomorrow and I'll wander down to school to watch it in the morning. Last one!

Don't worry Squirrel I do the same...

Sorry that you are finding this week harder than last. I guess the last few weeks to the end of term is a whirlwind full of school stuff and add to that work etc, I'm sure you're exhausted.

Your boys sound like a real credit to you.

I'm off to bed soon. Sleep well and enjoy sports day.

Evening all
Willow - hopefully it will come to you - its the culmination of a lot of years absolutely flat out working . The organisation is due to that - I am a planner - in my head in a morning I make a list of what I want to get done that day, and I have a virtual time to do everything for best use of time. I have always done it, I'm not sure why . It can be a bit of a flaw too - I get a bit miffed if I have to change what and when !
Cake - hope you manage another good nights sleep :)
Chasing - sounds like your DS's are shaping up well! And don't fret about it not being right this week - its still a grieving time for you (hugs).
Well, I have had a bath, slobbing in dressing gown, about to watch Gardeners World , and realised I hadn't picked the raspberries today, and didn't yesterday due to rain- so- it was nice and cool out there, :) - two big bowls picked . I will leave some out to eat, and freeze the rest. I have promised a couple of puddings/desserts for a big family get together next month , so I think one of them will be some sort of Eton Mess, with raspberries rather than strawberries .
Have a good evening all - sleep well
Thoughts and Prayers

Evening all.

cake I thought my phone was playing up this morning I couldn't get on mn either at first.

book I am a fabulous 'planner' I could get a job planning, list writing and so on. It's the 'doing' it I have difficulty with
But I have attacked the coat rack and shoe rack and it looks so much better and thown a load of shoes out. Have a few unworn things of ds2 I might try selling. Got a pile on stairs to take up. Was 'Mrs frugal' and cut up old towels for wash cloths. (Old habits die hard 😀😀) I tidied out the linen cupboard while I was at it. I am not all hopeless chaos😀😀
I love Rasps more than any fruit. Got some today despite the price 😀 send your Eton mess this way please.

squirrels hope you are feeling better as week goes on. It's ok not to be full of 'vims & vigors' (to quote Tigger) all the time. Ooh are the amaretto biccies easy to make? I love all things almondy.

Hi all, had a lazy day today mostly watching tennis. My IBS has flared up again and it stops me from sleeping properly so I'm feeling a bit worn out, also DS2 had his friend for a sleepover last night and I could hear them laughing into the small hours. Then DH woke me at 7 clattering around

DS1 took himself off for a haircut this morning. He's off to a festival at the weekend so has to look the part!

Cake good to hear from Juan. Hope you get some sleep tonight.

Hi ladies, here we are again yawn

One of the worst nights with DS's nose since we got the hayfever meds. Contemplating taking him back. Wonder if there's something more to it or if he's just got a cold on top (I had coldy symptoms last week). 6 hours for me, but no work today... school run, post office, cleaning and then getting loads of parcels from town with our holiday clothes

Jane I hope the IBS settles

Willow sounds like you get lots done - just in bursts

book We're all recent converts to raspberries after picking some on a PYO farm last summer.

Enjoy the tennis those who watch and will check in later.

Any suggestions for a new thread title????

Just feel zonked this morning, not really sure why. I am not as "up" as I was last week, but no more or less so than I'd been before that.

cake where are you off to on holiday? Still not booked anything here, just haven't got any enthusiasm for it. Hope your ds is just a low level cold and clears up quickly.

Jane hope the IBS flares down.

Willlow you sound very busy to me.

book, I hadn't realised you were 45 mins to dgs - makes after school care a bit more of a bind. My parents are only about 15 mins away so much easier.

Morning all
Willow - Mrs Frugal - - that is me too , with lots of things ....If you like rasps, do you have a corner of a garden to grow them? Very easy and prolific - a joy to pick and eat them at the same time ! We have a system for shoes - they basically get chucked in a big hall shoe box in a heap , and slam the lid down. Well, that is what seems to happen - I put them in tidy and they end up a mess.
Jane - IBS is horrid - (DH suffered badly for years. luckily retirement has reduced his stress ,and he only gets the very rare flare up now ) take care -its a very 'unseen' thing and so its hard to get people to understand how horrible it is
Cake - poor DS ( and you ) - it does sound as if something is exacerbating things - ooh holiday clothes - when are you going ?
Chasing - I think the change in heat overnight has made me sleep more heavily, and that always makes me feel dopey ,and almost more tired .I allow 45 minutes for travelling to DD's /school being a cautious soul - its really about 35 minutes if there is no traffic and no hold ups . I would hate to be late - the one time we decided it didn't take as long, I flung myself out at the school gates with minutes to spare ! Son in Law is great though - he sort of passes by on his way to work, so when we have DGS for the day , he drops him off in his pjs :)
mmm thread title is tricky - something that includes us having a group support chat maybe - will try to think up something, but I'm not very inventive .
Off to pick more currants this morning before the rain forecast - blackcurrants , the last of the redcurrants and jostaberries . Hair dressers at lunch, then watch a bit of tennis - I actually managed to watch it yesterday - I didn't go with DH yesterday- I made it up to him by baking cakes and a gooseberry pie :)
Selena - hope you are okay and coping
Thinking of you all - have a good day

Morning all. Need a degibate kick up the derierre today. Sorted washing took car to garage and not much else 😀

book I don't really. We have alpine strawberries and a blueberry bush. Can't do anymore as landlord is havi g the garden rejigged so will lose some planting space. ( but there will be less room for weeds 😀) will might take a trip to pyo but I do find them more expensive these days than shops or stalls especially for jam making.

cake poor you and poor d's. Hopefully just a cold making things worse. Have you tried that 'sleep' rub stuff? I had it for mine, it's like a cross between Vicks and lavender. Clears their their tubes gently but with the calming lavender too. Course it might not help but just a suggestion.