Today I have been mainly...

GA . I hope you DS has recovered his equilibrium and I bet you've been a great support.

Brilliant news Marelli - there are soooo many hats out there you had better start right away.

How awful for you Boheminan - stay warm.

Tiggy we had DD2 and her 1 year old stay for 14 weeks - it was lovely and we now have a great relationship with DGD2 but I was so glad when they went.

I went to buy fillet steak for a special meal for DH as it's Feb 14th, then DD3 came round with her two and now I think I'm too tired to do any sort of meal special or otherwise.

Congratulations to your son and his fiancée Marelli!

Today we have been down at Kynance Cove, Cornwall, watching the sea and waves from a safe distance. DD down for a day or two to take granddaughter to local uni for interview. She has been offered a place, so that's good news. Gales are now whipping around the house and rain still keeps coming - though the forecast sounds a little bit better.

Awful news ga hope DS is not too shocked.
Congratulations to Marelli's DS.
DH took me out to lunch today, in a restaurant in a village on a hill, lovely when we arrived but cloud was down to the ground when we left and the rain was sleety and horrible.

Worn out!
Went to archery this morning to find that they'd decided to shoot outdoors!
I wasn't dressed for it, but the weather was sunny.
They'd lost my stool so I had to shoot from my mobility scooter! Not very good!
Then as I was hoisting the scooter into the car- the scooter fell apart!!!
Several men came to help. The through pin holding the seat to frame had fallen out.
It took another woman though to be able to replace the pin!
Drove straight from there to DDs as she and oh were under the weather. Spent the afternoon playing with toddler while mummy looked after tiddler.
What a day!

I had a wonderful day today - DBH was out all day doing athletics at a championship and had to leave early and be back late. Utter bliss - read in bed with a mug of hot chocolate, made myself pancakes with maple syrup as a brunch, then just microwaved some frozen curry later on, after having caught up with some mending whilst also catching up with some recordings before he got back and hogged the tv. A day of rest before the pandemonium that is half-term begins.

Sorry about the burglary, GA - it worries me, DS's flat was broken into and the lock on the door broken off, but his room was left alone, they took the tv and bits and pieces of electrical equipment from the living areas, jointly owned by the flatmates.

Great news,*Marelli*. Congrats to your son and his fiancée.
Ariadne, if you want to be pedantic, the plural of triathlon would be triathla, but let's stick with triathlons or nobody will understand us.

Have visited youngest son who actually disturbed the burglar in the act and phoned the police from his bedroom - must have been really scared, but did all the right things thank goodness. It's made up his mind that he's going to get the dog he's always wanted. For a lot of reasons we're all agreed that yes, it's time he did - he's always had pets and has looked after them all very well and he will no doubt dote on a dog.
Then after leaving him waiting for the SOCO to arrive we drove off to spend the weekend with our very small church family at Buckfast, almost in the shadow of the Abbey. Today after house cleaning we stopped in on our older son to deliver a birthday card and reassure him that his brother's okay. Home in time to get warm (was cold all weekend) before venturing out to the local nursing home to sing and chat with the residents. Now having another quick peek at GN before going to bed. G'night all.

cleaning the top of my cooker while waiting for the Cooker Cleaning Man to arrives. So ashamed of it I am. Also sitting with my decorating while he patronisingly told me what contrasting walls and architrave meant. Silly old git. DH just sat there smiling inanely and did not contribute one iota to the conversation as to what colours our hall, stair and landing should be.

Just finished reorganising the pantry, and the double mattress for the '3-sleeper' bunk beds has just arrived.

Mr Aka is away for a few days (he's be upset to have missed the mackerel in mustard), so I bullied persuaded the delivery men to take it upstairs and into the my bedroom (it took two of them) now all I have to do is unwrap it, wrestle it into the spare room, up onto the bottom bunk and make the bed.

If you don't hear from me for the rest of the week afternoon, I'll be lying trapped under it. Thinking on, I'd best put my mobile phone in my pocket just in case

Aka I can just imagine you stuck on the top bunk with your legs waving helplessly in the air!

Thank you all so much for your congratulations for DS and his new fiancee. It means a lot!

Oh, I do hate making the bunk beds! Especially now that the knee and the hip are so bad. (Seen the consultant, waiting for a call from the hospital!! Knee first.)

Today I have been cooking and baking, ready for two littlest DGC and their parents' visit. I have made a homity pie forums veggies, and have the makings of a beef and potato pie ready to assemble. Large chocolate cake about to come put of the oven. Delia Smith eat your heart out!

Congratulations from me too Marelli I didn't see your post earlier.

Gally very proud that I did it all by myself. It was a a triumph of brains over brawn.

Don't think I have either today, aka

I hate making the top bunk bed, I would love to get rid of it but need it for the DGs.

Went to visit DS today in Cambridge, to deliver the printer that he left behind, and went shopping for clothes for him, had lunch out. He looks well but his flat left a little to be desired, I refrained from offering to help which was quite hard. It was lovely to see him though. I reckon I shall have just got used to him being away, when he will return for most of the summer.

Really cross, came back from my lunch out to find that central heating has gone off. Two year old system with the supposed most reliable boiler you can buy. At least the hot water is on.

Bit sad today - my smallest DGS has developed a bad ear infection, and is on antibiotics, so they won't be coming today. They have been on a short break and were then coming here. (They live in Hampshire)

Of course I completely understand, and think that they are doing the right thing, and I have been here with each of the other five DGC at various stages. But I am still very sorry that I won't see them and their parents, and I know you will all understand.

Yes - I know I'm lucky to see them at all, and that they don't live thousands of miles away, but I am still just a bit sad.

Ariadne . I'd be upset too. Hope little one is better soon.

It's a big disappointment Ariadne ...perhaps they'll schedule in another visit soon?

Today I've been mainly running around like a headless chicken....Up at 7.30 to get DH off on his weekly fishing trip. Everything was ready when his friend who takes him rang up to say he'd overslept and would be another half an hour. I jumped in the shower only to have DH yelling at me to get out again because the farm road was blocked (a lorry had got stuck in a pothole!) and would I drive him so far down and help him transfer all his stuff into his friend's car which was waiting the other side of said lorry? I did that (with wet hair) then drove back home looking forward to a large mug of coffee when DH rang to say he'd left his specs on the workshop bench and would I mind?????????????????

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

I am now watching Homes Under The Hammer. The ironing can wait!!

Ariadne no wonder you are feeling sad Why do these things always seem to happen just when you've been looking forward to something? Hope poor little DGS will soon be better, bless him, ear infections can be very painful.

Sorting out yet another pair of decent trousers without pockets ripped due to overload of crap essential items for DH before he went to give talk.

Searching net to find a Wildlife Photography Day for his birthday which he does not officially have this year.

Trying to find a slot between his non-birthday and DGD's birthday celebrations when now (as not Leap Year) fall on same day

Sorted that one: Croissant and cake Sunday am and Birthday Meal for some of us in evening at home.

Trying to get hold of his shameful awkward son who has not contacted his dad since Christmas. Just hope he gets back at least to see how his father's radio-therapy went. Grrrrrrr!!!

Ariadne some for you. Not as nice as big loving smile from beloved grandson. Hope he is better soon. It's such a huff huff disappointment and casts a little grey cloud over the day.

I feel your disappointment Ariadne. Ear infections are nasty at any age - one of my GSs has had a lot of them as well as being deaf in one ear. Luckily they respond quite quickly given the correct antibiotics. I hope you will see him soon.
merlot, I think you deserve a medal!