DH has died and Squirrels broke the last thread without a link to this one! (Juan)

[Chasingsquirrels]

Oh dear - I just posted the 1000 thread. Hope we all find this one.

Selena hugs back.
I just miss him, not particular things as such, just the essence of John.
And if I think about that I just ache for him and tears just leak from my eyes.
So, mostly, I don't think about it I just carry on.

Squirrels ((hugs))
Another bump in the road to knock you off balance. Not surprised you felt the connection with John. Big milestone you can't help but re member fondly. Hopefully it will pass and you won't stay down. Just acknowledge it and try to move past it. Must be so hard but you are amazing don't you forget it.

Went to Edinburgh and got some clothes for me and ds2. Got some new cushions for sofa and towels too! Got a new handbag at last been looking for ages for one I like with plenty pockets 😀
Lunch in pizza hut ds choice but there isn't many options where we were.

Ds1 spent half the day in bed! Left him a list of jobs ha ha only just hanging up washing (inside) when we got back 🤔apparently has been raining (not) you gotta admire his commitment to sleep!

Hi all

Extra hugs for you Squirrel - I'm sure you couldn't not react to being put into that situation with those memories.

Willow are your boys back to school on Monday?

Hair looking good even if I say so myself. Needed it done so badly. DS came out of school sobbing as their group didnt have time to buy anything in their Tesco trip but the other half did!

Sounds like a good day Willow, although I was forgetting you were on half term at first! You must have a long stretch to Christmas, or do you have 2 weeks off now? Ours have a week starting next Friday then finish for Christmas on 15th Dec.

It's good when you have a nice haircut Cake. Sounds like a shopping trip is in order for ds ☺

Yes the boys go back Monday. Apparently one of the teachers thought they went back Friday as he told them to remember their homework next Friday when they finished on Thursday, put me in a panic when ds1 mentioned it last night😁 they have 3 inservice days in nov but don't break up till 21st Dec.

Cake that's a shame poor ds bad planning there. I suspect you will make it up to him. Good haircuts are a great boost to the spirits I love getting my hair done just never get around to it. Like doing other people's too was a hairdresser in a previous life I think😉

Evening all
Chasing - no words of wisdom I'm afraid but a hand hold - you will get through this. Surely better to not bottle it up either (hugs)
Horse - shame your boss has to come back
Willow - wow - result on a good shopping day - I like a lot of pockets too, nothing worse than everything rootling around in a big sack
Black pudding in mac cheese sounds fantastic - we are big lovers of black pudding here .
Cake - a good haircut is such an ego boost. Poor DS , that sounds very like a lack of good planning/management . Not fair.
I enjoyed my morning at school - sat on a teeny tiny chair listening to a phonics lesson My DDs did flash cards, years ago -so I had to be helped by DGS It was fascinating in truth. How teachers do it goodness knows.
A quiet evening ahead. Catching up with location and grand designs on tv, and some crotchet and/or knitting -
Have a nice evening all

Oh squirrel, I had a meltdown too today. All about splashback still not arrived, so the tiler can't finish etc. etc - for the want of a nail or whatever the saying is.

The final straw was that the electrician having finished (hurray), locking the door but turning the key too far, so I couldn't get in. No garage key with me, no way in through the back. Poor DS got his mum sobbing 'I just can't cope with all this, I really can't' down his phone.

A kind neighbour took me to DS at work to pick up his house key, then to his house so I could pick up his garage key (and remember to put his house key in a safe place) then back. Was angry with myself for not having garage key, with electrician for turning key too far, for having a meltdown, for not having DH to rely on, with him for not being THERE when I needed him.

When I got back I had a good run-in with the splashback person. After a long convoluted story about damage to first one, ramble ramble, she told me it would be coming from Hayes, 'you know, near London, so a long way'. To which I replied that my case had arrived overnight from Germany. 'Oh well, Germany, but this is Hayes and it's in Middlesex you know'. I replied that Middlesex was hardly Timbuktu but no response, so I presume her geography in regards to distance is even worse than mine. It's the inefficiency of it all that makes me furious.

book - my son's lovely partner is a primary teacher who came round to pick up DS's key and sat and chatted for nearly 2 hours, telling me inter alia, about some of the children in her class, lack of management backbone to support the staff and generally cheering me up.

Thank you, her and all of you on this thread for keeping me relatively sane.

Selena ((hugs)) for you too. What a day! I would have been in tears too. Wow I would be emailing the company to ask why they think it's a mega difficult business to transport things from one part of the same country to another!

It's horrible when you get days when it never rains but it pours and then the straw that breaks the camel's back. Hope you have a nice relaxing pm.

Oh no, hugs for you too Selena

and chocolate and and and and what ever else for everyone.

I'm done in!

And another hug for you Selena, sometimes it is nothing and sometimes it is everything.

I'm not sure it is a case of getting through it book, more just learning to live with it. There isn't going to be any getting back to normal, just life taking on a different normal.

Just back from taking Ds1 to archery, have to stay as it's not a children's activity but at adult group that accompanied children can attend - at be it Ds1 is bigger than many of the adults ☺.
Means leaving ds2 in his own, which is fine but a feel a bit sorry for him. So we are all watching The Apprentice now.

That will be a long half term for your boys Willow.

Am smiling at you sitting at the teeny reception table & chairs book.

chasing, those bittersweet memories are very poignant
It's the price we pay for loving someone.

Someone once likened bereavement to me as like a tree that comes down in the forest:- the other trees grow and spread and over time the gap gets smaller but there is always a gap where that tree that was originally.

I found that comforting; it takes a long, long time for the trees to spread and make the gap smaller though.

Selena, I really hope it is not too long before your kitchen is complete. Sounds like you were up against it today as well.

evening all
a busy night , crotchet down now.
((hugs)) all around by looks
Selena - what a particularly rubbish day for you, but a nicer end to it thank goodness. Even when, as women , we honestly could cope, it is hard when you have always had someone to rely on.and so mentally draining. Have you actually paid for this splash back? Is there any chance of threatening to not pay, or cancel and go elsewhere ( even if you have no intention of it? )
you should be smiling at me Chasing though I have lost an inch somewhere over the last few years, I am still tall, so my knees where on my chin. How is DS enjoying the archery? - You were getting him a bow for his birthday IIRC?
Horse - that is such a evocative way of understanding loss.
Night all
Thoughts and Prayers

Morning all Friday the 13th here! Will come and post later from a hot island with a cocktail in my hand

(((hugs))) all round

Morning all
Hadn't twigged it was Friday 13th!
Grey and dank here, but windy so I have put a load of bedding in the wash. Double pegging and fingers crossed.
Then off to the allotment to attack the weeds and wheelbarrow compost.
Have a good day all

Very grey here this morning as well.
No work today, so just about to get up (again, having seen the boys off and come back to bed).
Ds1 is loving the archery, the birthday bow is on a IOU, as with the summer holidays etc we only signed up for the club from the beginning of October, although he is also doing the after school club on a Monday so has has a few sessions of that as well. The club instructors do a group visit to an archery shop every couple of months to help advise on kit etc so we will go on the next one and get the bow then.

I used to do archery, I wasn't brilliant but it was very enjoyable.
I particularly liked the Field Archery, where we walked miles through woodland.

Hello, hope Friday has been kind.

Did you have a chance to do something nice for yourself Squirrel even if it's just some extra sleep.

I'm going out for a jog later, other than that not much news. Have made up a parcel to send home for Christmas - can't believe it's time to think about it!

Have you all got plans and or straight forward families? Mine is, but DH's not so much

Well, I've had a better day today. Splashback cancelled and gone to different place (where they can put in glitter too!) and should be here end of next week.

Decorator came and has decided he can go ahead without the tiling being finished, he says my place is a 'lovely challenge' as not been done for so long! He's here around 8 15 Monday!

My cleaner has magically removed most of the brick dust in the lounge - and made a tidy sense of all those wires round the TV for the first time ever.

Dark and gloomy sort of day weather wise, I'm off to Lidl now for some ice cream to ease me into the weekend! No fridge, but freezer so perfect excuse.

New skip arrived so DS going to have a sorting day here tomorrow, then he and I'll hurl stuff in it, very therapeutic.

My family very small and very straightforward cake, so presents/fuss never been much of a problem.

Cheers to everyone.

evening all
a long day here , just finished doing some pear and lemon jam, and thank goodness, this year it has set!
I was at the allotment all morning after hanging out a load of washing. Then ironing, then shopping. Jam made and bottled, so I can sit and relax tonight
Cake - hope the jog went well. I am in awe of everyone who runs. Has DS been sleeping okay?
Selena - good work ! I like a bit of glitter ( I have quartz glitter worktops :) ) So it is firing on all cylinders , you will soon be straight. And another skip! wow :)
I am from a large family, so we agreed a long time ago, when the children were all small not to swap presents . I send out a lot of cards though :) Close family - both DD's have partners and other families, so we do alternate Christmas Days. So this year, we will have everyone on Boxing Day .
Had a lovely message today from my niece ( also my god daughter) - she got engaged over the summer holidays, and just had a 'save the day' for next August. I do love a family wedding . I have sorted out a silver threepence for her dress , small and light to pop in the hem
of whatever she chooses to wear.
Have a relaxing evening all - I am off to have a bath, and then crotchet of course!

Friday 13th went past a RTC today, walking wounded from the looks of things fortunately. Not a good day for that driver.

This week has gone fast. Going to watch DS's old footy team tomorrow; will be strange without him playing but I love that team

Sunday is a housework day inside and out! Have warned DH to keep it free as he'll be doing the outdoor ones.

Selena, glad you cancelled the worktop, I really like the glittery ones; great choice

Hope the jog went well cake. Christmas posting dates already! Remember them well when I worked in a post office, it used to be manic leading upto Christmas.

We usually stay home for the festivities. DH buys for his side, I do mine. We always have a shopping day together to do the DC's presents.

Hi all

Took DS straight to the corner shop to get something yesterday. The injustice was just too much for him! His sleep has been bad as has DH who is poorly.

I'm so rubbish at running, but feel pleased after, so keeping at it.

selena I hope it will be plain sailing now, would love to see pictures when it's done.

We are staying at home this Chrismas. Fil has said he plans to be away but no conversation had with MIL and I won't be asking

DD's party booked and presents bought. Now I just need to get invites out and bake a cake...luckily it's a month away as October seems just too busy!

Bed time for me. A busy day ahead tomorrow, night night x

Home at Christmas is best . I always think its unfair dragging children away from toys and familiarity , too stressful!
Cake - hope DH soon gets better , and that you are getting enough rest , though I doubt it somehow.
Night all, sleep well
Thoughts and Prayers

Gosh missed a lot today!

Been busy clearing out winter/summer clothes for me and kids. Discovered that a few of last year's winter clothes miraculously still fit!

Got a pile of stuff to throw out. Kept clothes to stuff with straw to put in body bags at halloween then discovered message from seller to day they had been delivered the wrong size and were most apologetic and were refunding me. Arghh. Will look tomorrow for other ones.

Also spent an age photographing ds2 clothes to put up for sale on the 'other side'😀 kids sorted out computer games so had some of them too hopefully sell to. Not holding my breath with my luck though.
Weather not great. Washing machine playing up so by time i had done it twice it was raining!

Good news on the splashback and the decorator. Everything getting there in the end.

Hope dh is better soon Cake

We have quiet Xmas here. Ex 'in-laws' used to visit before xmas with pressies but not over Xmas as they preferred a quiet time and were hours away. Ex pops over to see kids at some point now. Only have ex fil and one of my relatives to buy for (and ex from kids of course) as never see any of the rest and they are all adults now (including their kids) Xmas card only now.

Sleep well.
Keep your fingers crossed for me tomorrow for my first shift at cafe😉

Hope all going/gone well, squirrel.

DS and I about to start on skip!!

Afternoon
Hoping everyone is having a relaxing Saturday.
Thoughts of Juan for today and tomorrow.
My day so far - tussling with making a very small knitted unicorn -( well head, horn and mane anyway) . Its done, but considering its about 4" long, it has taken all morning , and some of the afternoon.
But cup of coffee, and then DH and I are off to the allotment , for some fresh air, exercise and veg :)