My husband died in my arms on the 2nd May (2009) - what happens now?

Hi Sue , yes the sun has been out  not that we we're out in it much but it did make the traveling more pleasant . Yes it was funny to see the doormans face drop , i dont think he'd ever heard of any thing like this kind of meet lol . Your pictures have been great Sue , missed you and the other penguins this weekend , hopefully we can get together again .. Take care  xxxLynne xxxx

Fellow penguins - so pleased that you had a good time....... Didn't see anything on the news about rioting penguins marching through the town centre????  But will Newcastle ever recover????

Rosemary - what lovely news........everyone has already said all that can be said I think.......So i will just send best wishes to the happy couple..........(Alan proposed to me about 3 months after we met.  We were married 6 months later and will celebrate 41 years together on Easter Monday!!!!!!)

Love and ((((hugs))))) to you all

Dot xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thank you all for your good wishes and encouraging words, I don't think I would feel so apprehensive if a previous boyfriend hadn't proposed after 6 weeks, they were engaged for a day and you wouldn't BELIEVE how that went wrong (I could put it in a book but everyone would think it was too far tetched and wouldn't happen in real life.... honestly it was untrue).  This one is different though and once Daniel and I get to know him a bit I'm sure it will be fine.

Just been back on Facebook peering at the photo's again, think I have you all sussed now (Judi  have left you a comment on one of the pics - ha ha!)  What must those doormen and bar staff have been saying after you left, but glad you kept one of them smiling, you all have lovely smiles so they should too!

Off to bed now, lots of love to you all night night little penguins, bringing the duvet over you all now xxxxxxxxx

Rosemary, Ray decided when he first met me that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.  We met in 1972, married in 1974 and we were married 34 years and 3 months.  I am pleased for your dear Samantha that she has someone who loves her so much.

Julie, sorry you are in this position hun but welcomne to this lovely thread. The people on here will give you as much support as you want to take. They are very supportive and protective of each other, but it is not all doom and gloom. You will have lots of laughs too if and when you feel up to it. You have a very difficult day ahead of you and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and hope that you manage to hold yourself together to get through the day. 

Teri, I do hope that you are ok. I know that is a silly thing to say at this time, but I just want you to know that I am thinking about you.

Dottee, congratulations for your forthcoming wedding anniversary. I hope you and Alan have a good one. x x x Is Alan feeling any better??

Sue, yet again you have found the best and funniest pictures. Where are you hiding though??

Dave, did you have a good weekend.

I just want to say a big thank you to Gayle for organising the hotel for the meeting. It was lovely.

Thank you ladies for a lovely weekend. Not so sure about the pics tho but hey ho I did tell you I take a rubbish pic. Pity I forgot my brown paper bag.

Anyway I am glad to see you all got home safe.

Love and angel hugs to everyone x x x Patricia x x x

Hi everyone.  I am home safely as well but I have had mother's day visitors since I got home.  I have managed to post my photos on facebook.  I am so tired.  3 hours sleep - how did that happen?  It was lovely to see everyone.  The hotel was great.  The meal was lovely and the company was even better.  I am still laughing at the fixed grin on that poor young barman's face after Lynne told him he HAD to keep smiling!!  I had a walk in the sun this morning Sue - I couldn't sleep - must had just been too excited.

Julie I am so sorry to read about Ian.  Keep posting on here as I can't put into words the support that comes from these lovely people - please join the penguin huddle.  I will be thinking about you on Friday x

Rosemary I think that is lovely news about Samantha & Wayne.  I want to echo what everyone else has said, life is too short.  Samantha has a supportive family.  When Chris & I married 2 & a half years after we met we had only spent 6 weeks in each others company - all the rest of the time we were seperated by the channel.  The longest time we spent with each other was 3 months.  All the rest of our relationship we done by letter (I've still got them all).  Enjoy their happiness.

I'm off to bed now.  I am looking forward to repeating this weekend and meeting the others who couldn't make it this time.  Love to you all xxx

Hi everyone

Well am home - my friend Joannie picked me up from the station and I had tea with her and her husband.  The train journey home was fine - I had a lovely coffee with Ailsa at the station and I think I let her get a word in edgeways but ..... maybe not!

Teri and Julie - I have been following your posts for a couple of weeks now and just want to send you love and hugs. One day at a time, at your own pace.   I am sure it still so raw and numb at the moment, but all I want to say is that I never thought that I would ever 'find' myself again, for such a long time I didn't believe that I would laugh again or see anything positive again.  The ladies here will look after you, will be there, will genuinely understand and not push you at all, but will just let you know that you have friends around you.  Ones who you can rant to, to sob with and hopefully eventually laugh with again.  (((((( the biggest hugs))))))))

I had a fantastic weekend, you were all exactly as I imagined and just as lovely .... which must just go to show what a good judge of character I am!  Lynne - excuse me - I was the one with my eyes closed lying on the bed .... don't you go blaming me for the lack of sleep!! 

Rosemary - ditto to what the others have said ........ but yes, as a mum, you are allowed to be concerned ..... cos that is what we do!!  Sue, I checked under every vehicle incase any other penguins had sneaked in unnoticed.  All you guys were missed ...... but with us.

And yes Ailsa was (for some very bizarre reason) walking at 6am!  Now had it been Helen I mught have understood.  However .......... I did notice that Helen didn't sneak into the gym, not even once!  Pah ..... I think she is conning us, I am not convinced she even knows what a gym looks like!!!!!!  Manda, did you manage to get Lesley nearly home without her buying anything?  I have a feeling that would almost qualify as a 'Mission Impossible'!  Patricia, hope you had a good drive home. So glad you decided to come.  Gayle - don't work too hard this week, and let me know when you are up my way.

Well off to be for me I think - it is nearly Fiona's birthday - so hope that you have a good one hun.

Judi xxxxx

Teri and Julie, welcome to the thread but again I echo what the others have said that we wished you didn't need to join us but you will find this thread a lifeline and the people on it.  I couldn't have coped without them all and the support is incredible.  Teri - I believe you stay near me?  Its a small world.

Well thats me off to bed but just had to post that when I am reading your posts now and just a strange thought that when I read your words now I can hear your voices - not sure if that is worded right but its like because I know what you sound like I can imagine you reading out the words.  Very bizarre but very lovely. 

Night everyone xxx

Oi Gayle - get to bed, you've got work in the morning!  Auntie Judes says so. (And I just know that you can hear me saying that!) J xx

Morning all , just a quick one before work , Gayle i know what you mean now about hearing people as they post , i can see them too and thats not always a good thing lol . No its really good . Judi young lady might i remind you WHO TOOK THE WINE  ? Ha ha .. Had the best weekend ever ladies .

 Happy birthday Fiona xx

and Yes Judi i think i went near the gym a lot more times than Helen , even tho it was because i was lost a few times lol , i still break out in a cold sweat thinking about it .. Anyway no more time .

 Have a good day everyone , i hope every body had a good motheres day . My kids all came down at tea time and we had a take away and with  the lovely texts a got of my step daughters  i feel suitably spoiled .

. Speak latee xxx Lynne xxxx

happy birthday, Fiona

xxx