Sunday

Thanks for the lovely comments, as always.  I woke up as usual in the early hours of the morning, couldn't get back to sleep so came downstairs....and ended up in floods of tears, thinking about our neighbour.  We've not even known them that long, only a couple of years really since husband retired from work and we've had the time (and the dog) to be out and about more and so seeing more of our neighbours.  Plus of course husband has been helping them with their garden since he retired, it gives him an extra purpose as he didn't want to sit around just watching TV.  But the neighbour was such a kind and lovely man and we will miss him a lot.

Our lovely front garden looks like a bomb's hit it at the moment, husband and friend (another lovely neighbour) are out there laying a patio, which means there are plant pots, garden furniture, tools and general 'stuff' scattered everywhere.  But it's going to look really nice when it's finished, and will cut down a lot on mowing, which is why we're (well, he's) doing it.  I'm keeping them supplied with tea and homemade ginger biscuits.  Betty is desperate to be right in the centre of the action, 'helping' - husband has temporarily fenced off a bit of garden so she can be out there watching but out of the way.

I'm really looking forward to going up to Mum's, I just wish it wasn't such a long journey - 3 hours plus each way, even longer for my brother who's coming from Cornwall, around 4.5 hours each way for him.  It wears me out, and I'm only the passenger!  I hope Mum is well enough to go out for lunch, how she feels changes on a daily, sometimes even hourly, basis.  Even if she's well enough, just the effort of getting ready and going out will wear her out and she'll have to have a sleep in the afternoon.  Still, that will give siblings and I a chance to chat again.

It's very grey and dull today, and not particularly warm either, but at least it's not raining.  The forecast for the next couple of days isn't very good though.  

Briony, I can't imagine how you coped with all that amount of work for such a long time - it must indeed have been hell.  We've got a few appointments this coming week, and of course I'll be out all day Wednesday, so at least that's a few times when I won't have to put up with the noise from next door.

I've finished off a card I started yesterday and made another one this morning, it gets easier and quicker with every one and is even more enjoyable.  Made the biscuits for the boys, played with Betty for a bit, sorted some washing out to go on overnight, now I'm about to make a start on preparing the cottage pie for dinner later.