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

Sounds good to me..........just leave me the Baileys and a straw please...................xxxxxxx

Am signing off now - I think i could go to sleep on the back of a galloping hedgehog!!!!!!!!!!

Night night all........love and more ((((hugs)))))

Dot xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Evening everyone,

Sue, I am so so sorry to hear your news.  What a terrible week you have had and I am thinking of you over the weekend.  Sending you a big penguin hug too.  Sorry to hear your job news too Lesley but glad you are positive about it.

Rosemary - never heard that about tomato ketchup?  My old dog used to do that all the time and the stink is awful.  Helen, have a great night and Ailsa and Dottee have a good weekend.

Lynne, well done on the car!  See we are all a lot stronger and braver - very proud you did it. 

Well had a great two days.  Met Lynne and we did a bit of shopping then had a nice meal then the show.  I did enjoy the show but it is always disappointing when you don't get picked but there was 1500 people there lol.  Had a nice easy drive back today and stopped at Gretna (yes more shopping) on the way home so it was good.  Not got much planned for the weekend although Wully's family are coming to visit tomorrow - oh joy!  They haven't been here before so this is a big first.  Oh well just need to do it so they can see the boys and then that will be me done for another few months.  My mum and dad are talking about having a BBQ tomorrow night so will probably go round there after Wully's sister leaves as she probably won't be here that long.

Take care penguins

Gayle xxx

thanks, everyone.

would you believe we also have HMIs (her majesty's Inspectors, no less) inspecting Ofsted as they are inspecting us. No pressure, then.......

Evening all

If the inspectors are inspecting the inspectors maybe they won't have time to inspect the inspectees Sue!!  You know we are thinking of you  hun (((  ))).

Lynne - well what are you like, and Rosemary too, good on you both re 'the deal' and you know what, it doesn't really matter if it wasn't the best deal in the world - the fact is you guys did it and that is what matters. 

We have had some wonderful sunshine too this week - but right now it is torrential rain out there, so Joey is refusing to even look vaguely awake in case I make them go out!!

Glad and jealous that you some of you met up again, can't wait til September.  Shopping Gayle, now there's a surprise ..... not!

Dottee - I have a plasterer coming tomorrow to take down and rebuild half a wall ...... could someone please explain to me why he suggested it woudl be helpful if I scrapped the wallpaper off first ... answers on a postcard. Can I be the gnome that goes fishing please?  Oh no, I had better let Alan be that one, I will be the one  sitting by the wishing well.

Am planning to spend the weekend 'doing an Ailsa' again and sort out more 'stuff'.  Seem to be on a roll at the moment.  Do you think there is anything useful in the boxes I found in the garage ... you know the ones that Ed and I packed up 16 years ago when we moved here!! I have a sneaky feeling that if I haven't needed any of it yet then there is a fairly good possibility that I won't need whatever is in them now.

Off to bed soon as my long lie has been blown out of the water by  the 8 o'clock arrival of said plasterer, so night night all.  Speak tomorrow - loads and loads of love - Judi xx

Evening everyone.  A special 'evening' and ((((((hugs)))))) for Sue this weekend.  Each one of your messages just seemed to spell more pressure Sue so I really can't blame you for lacking motivation.  Take care of yourself xx.

I have been to York Races today and had a nice day in the sun.  However i just can't seem to enjoy things like that like I used to be able to.  I drove rather than travel on the coach with the others as they were planning on going into York for the night as well.  We would have been out for about 14 hours by the time they get home and I don't feel I have the energy to do that right now.  Also I am doing the Wakefield race for life at 10:30 tomorrow so I need a clear head.  I think I am feeling a bit fed up because work.  No-one else got in.  Some of them were still going to come along and support me but between York tonight and the good weather they all appear to have changed their plans.  Looks like I will be there on my own - feeling very sulky about it.  I will be fine in the morning and my neighbour, who I have not seen for a few weeks, has invited me for lunch afterwards.  Compared to the problems Sue & Lesley are having right now my sulk in minor.

I'm glad it sounds lke you enjoyed the JE show Lynne, Manda  & Gayle.   I think Lynne & Manda are in York today as well so I hope you are having a great time.

Judi I am sure there will be nothing useful in those boxes if you haven't needed it in 16 years but I bet if you open & look in them you end up keeping a lot of it!!  Voice of experience speaking!!
Gayle I hope the BBQ & the visit from Wully's family goes smoothly.

Well I had better get some sleep before this race.  Take care everyone.  Ailsa xx

Morning everyone.  Looks like another nice day here so I am glad this race is quite early as an afternoon one would be very hot.  Sorry I was sounding a bit sorry for myself last night.  I was tired which always makes me miss Chris more.  Then I think because the people who were going to do the race with me have found other things to do in the lovely weather I realised I was reminded that I don't have my best mate with me who I could always rely on for support.  Something I took for granted.  I was feeling huffy.  Not a good look.  I will get ready for the race soon and go and enjoy it - there will be lots of other lovely people there doing this and I will almost definately meet someone I know there.  I have quite a few sponsors so it will be for a good cause.

Dot are the builders anywhere near finishing yet?  You seem to have been covered in plaster dust for more than enough time by now.  I hope that galloping hedgehog slowed down the other night and let you sleep.

Judi I don't understand the request from the plasterer for you to remove the wall paper before he knocks it down.  Ask him when he comes to do it - would be nice to know why!  Hope the rain has gone and Joey is going out again.

I'm glad you are feeling a bit better Lesley and that there are some more good days now.

Helen it sounds like Friday was looking like being a nice night out - hope you had fun.

Well done with the car Lynne.  Very brave!  I hate doing things with cars as well.  I know someone who can do my MOTs but even then I feel inadequate.  Straight after having the van MOTd I found I had a headlight out - just bad luck but then I found a cover from the light electrics loose in the engine compartment of the van.  Further investigation shows the other one is missing as well.  I am going to ring the mechanic tomorrow and have a word with him.

Well done selling the polo Rosemary - another thing I struggle with.

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine.  Have a good day.  Ailsa xxx   

Morning Ailsa and everyone xx

Good luck with your race this morning, I can understand your sulks, think I would feel the same. Hopefully like you say you will meet up with someone when you get there xx

Yes I had a lovely night Friday, we went for a few drinks and a lovely meal. Yesterday I spent in the garden and had quite a lazy day xx

Lynne hope you re having a great time but think somehow you ll be bit rough today he he told you about those jaggerbombs!! Is it York again?

Sue I m glad to hear you had a nice day yesterday, hope you feel more settled today x

Judi how s the sorting going? Bet it s all back in its box lol x

Rosemary and Gayle enjoyed our `party` on POA last night hee hee xx

Have a good Sunday everyone

Helen xxx

Morning all - well not quite so bright and beautiful here today, in fact raining - but I shan't complain as yesterday was positively tropical!  (Well, for Aberdeen).

Ailsa, I completely understand your huff, sounds absolutely logical to me hun.  So today just you imagine that we are all running alongside you (keep out of Lynne's way - you don't want to trip over her!) and we are cheering you on every step xxxxxxxx

Helen - excuse me - what is POA and why were you, Gayle and Rosemary having a party with out me?  I would have had a shower and done my hair and dressed up and everything if I had known!!!

Off to B&Q in a few minutes to buy some proper storage boxes ....... yes ok, some of the mystery box contents are coming with me and I very stupidly started to tidy out the cavernous cupboard under the stairs yesterday ...... still - it will all look nice and organised, won't it, if I put it into stacking boxes ! lol.

Speak later - loads of love Judi xxx

Morning everyone,

Ailsa, hope the race goes well and thinking of you.  I can totally understand the sulk about not having your best friend about to make plans with so sulk all you like!  We all know the feeling and do it ourselves.  Sue, you have been in my thoughts this week and I hope you are okay.  Judi, you are a busy bee!  Slow down or we will change your name but well done - sounds like you are keeping busy and doing okay.  We will need to meet up again soon.  I will probably be up in the next couple of weeks.  POA is our secret group on FB lol.  We couldn't get onto Mac site so we camped up over there with Rosemary's ledge and all the dogs came too - Joe and Kat would have loved it as it was bonio's all round!

I have had a strange weekend.  Like I mentioned on POA something strange and perhaps scarey has happened the past few months and I am just very confused.  Sorry I am probably not making much sense but don't want to put too much as I am a little nervous of who is reading posts now.  I may have fallen victim to an internet stalker but still looking into it.  I have been so jumpy all weekend and everytime my phone goes I get on edge (if I am right this person knows all my details and everything about my life).  I just need to get to the bottom of it (which I might never do) and then I will feel more relaxed.  Anyway, I am off to do some work and then go out and do a bit of sunbathing.  I am so tired this weekend so will try to take it easy today ahead of my usual manic week with work and social life lol.

Take care penguins and try to enjoy some sunshine.

Gayle xxx

Hello, my dear fellow penguins. 
Strangely enough, i had a fantastic day yesterday. I had the company of helen, Alice and sarah. Yesterday morning we filled the church with flowers - as far as we could, we put the same as we did last year - roses, delphiniums, sunflowers (one for each grandchild, including little Max) and carnations. then we went to the cemetery, where it was just so beautiful, and placed yellow roses, irises, bluebells amd forget me nots from the garden. Alice's drama group was performimg at an eco fair in town, so we went to watch that, then helen, sarah and ~i had lunch outside at the italian restaurant in our town.
we came back and fed the animals, then went to the garden centre where we met Chris and his family. after we got back, we sat in the garden and Sharon came round. Last evening, Alice, helen and i went out for a meal and then slobbed at home! Somehow, the day was just right; I just know that Alan would have aapproved so much

This morning, helan and i went tp church and the service was beautiful. again, alice's drama group were involved in a dramatic presentation of he pentecost story. it was all just so lovely - like an oasis of calm in the middle of all the rest of the chaos. helen and I are gardening this afternoon, and alice has gone to rehearsal for her concert next week.

I should do some work for ofsted next week, but surprisingly !!! can't be a****d. what are they going to do - sack me? bring it on.

love to the posse

sue xxx