The weekend

 They all arrived around lunchtime on Friday, I'd prepared and laid out a buffet.  We all spent several hours chatting and catching up with family news, and they all wanted to know what was coming up with the tests for husband so I filled them in.  Then they went off to check in at their respective holiday homes, then came back here for dinner, which went down very well and most had seconds.  The rice pud was especially well received, everyone loving it and saying how long it had been since anyone last had rice pudding.  

My girly sleepovers at sister and friend's cottage round the corner from us were so lovely, a real little break for me.  Ironically, we didn't sit outside round the fire pit in the evenings, the 3 of us sat in the lounge chatting, reminiscing, howling with laughter and even shedding a few tears sometimes.  Very cathartic.  Betty clearly missed me, as each morning when I came home she practically hurled herself at me as soon as I walked through the door....aww bless!

On Saturday, husband's 4 relatives all spent the day riding the steam train and having a walk around Watchet, which they pronounced very pretty, and they all loved the train experience.  Husband, sis, friend and I had a relaxing morning, then we took a picnic to Minehead seafront and had a wander along the promenade, the three of us taking it in turns to push sis in her wheelchair (her mobility isn't good at the moment because of her MS).  Then it was back round to sister's cottage for dinner for all 8 of us, friend had made a lovely lamb stew which everyone enjoyed (I had veggie stew).  We all slept very well that night!

Sunday we all had a bit of a lie in and relaxing start.  Another picnic, this time in the lovely Blenheim Gardens park in the town - beautiful floral displays and so peaceful, despite being pretty much in the centre of town - as it's behind the shops most tourists don't even know it's there, so it remains a little oasis of calm.  The ladies all wanted to have a browse in the shops afterwards (being a seaside holiday town most shops are open on Sundays, except in winter), so that's what we did, husband and his brother being left in charge of sister's wheelchair outside of the shops.  We all went back to bro and sil's place for the evening meal (such a good idea for us all to take it in turns to provide evening dinners).  They'd put on a fantastic buffet help yourself spread, with masses of food - too much, as it turned out, we were given lots of leftovers to bring home.

It was interesting to find out how the others all viewed husband's behaviour, they all noticed a difference in him - private comments to me later of "Very forgetful now", "Grumpy old man", "Gets lost in the middle of a story he's telling".  During the buffet meal on Sunday, husband was first up to the table to get his food, not encouraging the ladies to go first and not getting a plate of food for me, as he would always have done in previous years.  He also didn't help with any of the prep when I was doing the food on Friday, nor the picnic prep, nor did he help with washing up.  All of this was noted by the family and remarked on to me later.  A couple of them said it's like he's forgotten how to be a gentleman - or even a husband.  Which is sad but true.  

Apart from a few sticky moments with husband, it was a really lovely weekend and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely, we all said we'd love to do it again.  Betty loved having lots of people making a big fuss of her.  My sister and sis-in-law, who each have small dogs (left at home with relatives), each texted when home to say how tiny their dogs seem in comparison to the big chunk that is Betty! 😂  One of them has a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, the other a Maltipoo (Maltese Terrier x toy poodle).

Both husband and I slept well last night, I've recovered and feel raring to go today, amazingly.  I've felt a bit bloated and sluggish from all the rich food (and lots of carbs that I wouldn't normally eat), so am eating very healthily and lightly for a while.