Sunset

Just loved the sunset last night - it was so beautiful.  Perfect end to a beautiful sunny day

Where Did That Year Go T-Bone!!



I can't believe it's a year ago today that I first met by darling T-Bone  I remember one of the first conversations we had was about Duke Special (as I like them) and he happened to mention he knew Chip the drummer .  He was convinced I would think it was a load of bull****, but I didn't think that, and offered to send T-Bone a CD of Duke Special music.  He said he'd like that, and gave me his address, on the understanding I didn't turn up and murder him in his bed !! So began our swapping of music, and a friendship which would take us places.

One year on, I just wanted to say thank you T-Bone, for an amazing year, happy and ecstatic times, mad daft times, lovely mellow times, loads of music and silliness and above all your amazing friendship which is at the root of it all.  I love your cheerfulness and positiveness, your enthusiasm for all sorts of great creative things such as photography, the countryside and music, I love your easy going and friendly nature, your caring and warm character and above all your daft side! Sometimes when life gets tough it can be hard to raise a smile, but I don't think you have ever failed to make me smile.  Love you always.

As a little momento from the last year,  I thought it might be nice to post a few pics from the last year (and I am sorry I have nicked some from your blog haha!!!!).

Thanks darling - here's to you!!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Haha, where it all started I think - I DID NOT WRITE THIS!!!! lol



The troll pics -Troll  and Monkey Man doing their thang - T-Bone sent this to me (painted by the wonderful Phil) last autumn - sooo funny!!

February - Laurel and Florit!!! - How mean!!!

March - My birthday card (again crafted by Phil) from T-Bone, awww, how could it not win my heart!!

March - The chicken jokes and pics continued

 

April - Walking on the farm,  just before the heavens opened  - walked in the village pub giggling away and soaked to the skin much to the amusement of everyone else!

May - Itchen Navigation Canal walk and a hot, hot hot weekend!

June - Taking the children to the beach in Sussex - ending with bbq on the beach, wot fun!

June - T-Bone greets Heidi the goat, now Gerty the goat, and now owned by T-Bone! Or does Gerty own T-Bone, I think that's probably more like it!

July - Having fun  in the New Forest with our respective children, lovely afternoon mucking about and general silliness

July - Avebury, and camping trip in Wiltshire .  Yes I managed to get T-Bone to sleep under canvas yayy!

August - Dartmoor holiday - Bellever Forest, what a wonderful afternoon that was!

August - T-Bone keeping me sane and cheered when Soph was in Hospital







Bella at the vets tonight

My poor cat Bella has been looking a bit under the weather since late Thursday and quite quiet.  By Saturday she really seemed to be staggering around, and also seems to have lost weight (nearly a kg) and condition, although actually seemed much happier in herself.   The vet has said that she thinks Bella may have a slipped disc!  This is apparently quite rare in cats.  Bella has taken to launching herself from the cat scratching post in the kitchen onto the worktops in recent weeks, so it is entirely possible she has slipped whilst "flying".  Poor Bella.  She has had some anti-inflammatories and already seems much more with it, but it's early days and I need to take her back to the vets in a week and then we will decide on more long term treatment.

I took a couple of photos of her at the vets - the children wanted to come too, as they worship Bella and she was very happy to have their company too.  She was so good in the car and so placid and sweet at the vets.  She really is a very sweet cat and I really hope she isn't in any pain.

Weekend

Beautiful drive up to Marlborough Friday night - got onto the A34 just as the sun was going down.  The sky was so beautiful, I haven't seen such a lovely sunset whilst driving along for a little while now, and it really gladdened my heart!  The subsequent muting of all the colours of the landscape were quite magical and a joy to behold!  Then, a little further on, around Hungerford, I was so lucky to see a mass flight of geese, not once, but three times.  It really was spectactular!  As T-bone said, they were probably on their way to migrate somewhere.  I just love the colours and sights of our landscape - never fails to make a big impression on me and quite often moves me hugely (like the geese).

Great night Friday night - meal out in T-Bone's village pub with loads of others - lots of drinking and laughing involved and of course music. Finally fell into bed at 4 am; although had to share bed space with a dog and his bone lol!  Felt a little bit worse for wear yesterday, but after a good sleep I feel a little bit more human today.

Quiet day today - I am going to read and hopefully finish my book (just reading the musings of Mark Radcliffe which I started when Soph was in hospital) which if achieved, will be the first book I have finished for a long time I am ashamed to say .... I have started loads and then get  given or buy another, and unless I get in the habbit of reading every day, other things get in the way (like itunes and music lol!) and the small time I have available just goes .. think I need to make a conscious decision to get to bed at a decent time so I am more fresh for work and read before sleep ... then I would have achieved two things - be better at work and read more!

Sophie's video

Found Sophie's preschool video the other day and shared with T-bone.  Wot a laff!  Shows my nearly teenager as a 3 year old.  Here are some stills from the video - cute!!

Awwwwwww

Found this photo the other day of my two - Jon would have been about four and a half and Sophie a few weeks old - remember the occasion as if it was yesterday. They both had very dark brown hair when they were born, which was quickly replaced by blonde - why does that happen, weird?!!!  They are still very close and although have brother and sister spats, they do enjoy each other's company and Jon especially is very good whenever Sophie is ill.  He even told me he helped clean up after she was sick at the weekend - can't think of many brothers who would do that!!

Off to the Hospital tomorrow

Well this week has been the house (and street) of the sick! I have had a sore throat and barely able to speak (a blessing to most I am sure!), and all stuffed up, my daughter has been sneezing for England and had bad asthma, then was sick at the weekend (thankfully all over her father this time rather than me!!) and my son has been hacking away too.  My neighbour and friend Brian next door, who I keep an eye on, has also had a heavy cold and been very unsteady on his feet and on Monday after being alerted by his daughter, I went in to find him sat on the stairs looking very pale, and slurring in his speech and generally not well at all. I called an ambulance and he went off to hospital, returning this evening.  We were supposed to be going to the Jazz Club tonight to see Georgie Fame, and for the second time in 10 years, we had to cancel! I think he is ok about it though.  I am sure he is happy to be home and reunited with his beloved pussycat. 

It was really weird him not being around the last couple of days and it made me realise how much I don't like him not being here!  He's like another dad to me and has been so kind to me over the years.  I know he likes coming round for a cup of tea, for a change of scene maybe, and a chance to chat about what ever is on his mind, or just get a plaster applied for a cut finger (bless!).   It's great that we have resumed going to the jazz club, and I know he really enjoys that.  T-bone has sorted out his record deck so that now plays through his hifi and sounds so much better.  He loves his music too - in particular jazz - even though he still claims to hate Miles Davis and in particular "Kind of Blue" - blasphemy!!!

Tomorrow I am off to Southampton General with Soph for her post-asthma Respiratory Consultant's appointment.  It will be interesting to hear if they can offer me any further advice or give her any more treatment.  I could really do with having cat and dog allergy tests for her too.  Poor old Sophie, she has had such a rough ride all her life; I just want her to keep well.  Asthma is such a horrible thing.

So I do hope everything will be back to normal soon!