Friendship,advice and support if estrangement has affected your life.

Don't know about you but the nights are drawing in and chilly of a morning. I listen to Classic FM and just heard Bill Turnbull died yesterday. Always seemed a nice man .

Had a bit of good news at exercise class we have another 4 weeks. Yah. Yesterday we was supposed to be the last class. Mind you she works us hard. My poor knees today. We did some different exercises. It's my own fault I like to keep in time with the music and should have slowed down . But she plays a lot of music from 60-70's and they have a good beat.

Well only craft group this afternoon and tomorrow will pick the last of my tomatoes. And need to winter proof my greenhouse with the old panels and get seeds started in a couple of weeks for over winter crops.

DerbyshireLass you sound very pro active with decluttering. I also hate working to other people's time table if I decide on something I get it done.

Your choirs next concert sounds lovely Smiles . Glad you got on top of the admin and Mr S is still hard at it. What's his next job?

Well not much to say today. Hopefully you will all have a good day.

I know what you mean about things having too many gadgets DL. There are 8 programs on my dish washer and I only use 2. One that lasts 28 minutes and the other which I rarely use lasts 58 minutes. One lasts 3 hours!!! I mean why on earth would you need a wash to last that long.

It's good that your GS has told her they wont be living together, gets that out of the way and better for her outburst to have happened before the baby's born.

We replaced our cooker 4 years ago. The one we replaced was only a year old, brand new when we moved in but the oven
wasn't very good. In particular my cakes and meringues weren't nearly as good as they'd always been so I was glad to get shot of it.

A bit chilly here last night too Whiff and if things weren't the way they are I'd have put the heating on for an hour but opted for a cardigan instead.

Good news about your exercise class going on for another 4 weeks . It's difficult to be a bit slower when there's a good beat as that tends to take over doesn't it.

Mr. S. has just set off to the flat, still quite a bit to do. Some beading to fit and one side of the pocket door into the kitchen to paint which has to be last job because if you open the door while the paint is wet, it catches in some places and scrapes the wet paint off. Lesson learned the hard way.

Underlay to put down in the living room and on the stairs. Don't know if he'll get it all done today but I know he'll do his best.

Concert should be good, the more we do, the less nervous I feel before hand and the more I enjoy them. A nice sunny morning here so I'll do some house work. It's a big house so takes some doing but I actually enjoy it!!!

Morning everyone. Another productive day for me yesterday which I'm pleased about because lately (not including our time at the lodge), I've been really struggling to get into first gear.

Too many days where in the evening, I've thought of the things I was going to do, but never got around too. Telling myself 'it's OK, you can do that tomorrow' and not doing them then either.

The old saying 'if you want something doing, ask a busy person' is true. When you're retired it's so easy to put things off for another day and I've always been a busy person, when something needs doing, it gets done there and then.

Nothing major, just everyday tasks and of course there's the work I have to do as treasurer and yes, you were all right, I should have retired in March. Maybe that's what's behind the way I feel, yet when I go our study and get going on the computer, it's fine.

Of course there's all this uncertainty and worry about how we'll all manage to pay our bills this winter. DS said a couple of months ago that he may come for Christmas, but he's just been hit with a big bill that we've sent some money to help out with, so that doesn't seem likely now.

I haven't mentioned it, better to wait and see if he brings it up again. If not for helping him out now, we'd have helped with the cost of him coming over but don't think we could do that now.

Oh dear, I'm a proper moaning mini this morning aren't I.

Thanks for listening. I'll be back later, determined to be brighter.

Don't worry Smiles.....moan away. We all have to let off steam now and again.

I'm a bit up and down too. Yesterday I felt dreadful.....IBS flare up but thankfully feel better today. It's stress related. I'm not sleeping very well, waking up very early .....a classic sign of stress/mild depression. I am not aware of feeling depressed, certainly not what I would call clinical depressions but I do seem to having a few "low days" just lately.

This Morning I awoke at 4.00 from a nightmare about my son and DIL. Says it all really, when they haunt your dreams. It's bad enough that they monopolise our thoughts during waking hours. It's been 10 weeks again......wonder if I will be graced with their presence this weekend. ??. I have to admit I really do feel that now I am just a "duty visit" that has to be squeezed in around every 2 to 3 months or so for forms sake. Not a nice feeling if I'm honest.

Never mind I am gradually taking steps to improve my life - even before the house move. I am eating healthily and exercising every day. Have lost about 4.5lbs so far and the regular exercise is starting to help with the aches and pains. I am also upping the personal care too, not exactly "tres chic" yet but marginally less "bag lady". ??.

I'll get there. Just need to trust the Compound Effect". In six months time I shall be a new woman, rising like a Phoenix from the ashes.

One positive to come out of the energy crisis............Well, maybe ...........apparently if we keep our homes at a lower temperature we have to burn more calories to maintain our body heat. Lol. Might help me with the weight loss programme. ?.

All joking apart it is a worrying prospect though isn't it, every time I go food shopping I can't help but notice the price rises. I think we are going to have to be very creative this winter.

Hope you're right about the Indian summer & mild winter DSL All my new plants are just blooming nicely now, so dread the winter when they will fade. Like you Whiff I love my garden. House selling & Buying is a very long process!

Well done MrS. on all your handy work, that's what I miss being on my own. Good luck with your next choir concert Smiles

DL What an awful situation with your GS, poor baby not even born yet!

One day my estD will have to tell her D about the fraudulent birth certificate. How they did it I don't know. The first one didn't have the fathers name on it, so I take it that has something to do with it.

I suddenly have spell check on here, never had it before [as I'm sure you could tell Where did that come from, has anyone else suddenly got it too? In other words, is it from GN? It's very good.

Just read the last few posts. I do hope your DS comes over for Xmas Smiles wouldn't that be lovely! One of my favourite programmes at the moment is DIY Chateau, it's great to see the women getting stuck into all the hard work and of course the men learning on the job, makes me get up and have a go at my jobs that need doing, it's so informative, lots of good tips.

4.5lbs well done DSL it's not easy losing weight and definitely gets harder as we get older.

10 weeks with no contact. I just couldn't put up with it and so admire you for how you handle their crap. I'd be chomping at the bit, waiting for him to contact me so I could tell him not to bother. Enough's enough but as well as them there's your relationship with your GC to consider.

We were never in that position and I thank God that we've never known our GC and in reality aren't really GP's at all.

Thanks YoginI'm sure it will be OK and if it isn't, it wont be for the lack of effort. It would be beyond lovely if DS came for Christmas. I miss him so much but realistically I can't see it happening.

Maybe that's something else that's affecting me atm. I don't know, hearing someone say 'mum' and 'dad', giving and receiving a hug are such small things but we don't even get them do we.

Oh listen to me, off again.

I know what you mean Smiles I remember when I was newly cut out, being in a shopping centre and a little girl, about the same age as my estGD, came running into the arms of her GM, with them hugging & kissing & laughing. No idea who they were but remember it vividly!

Things like that you don't forget Yogin because they hurt so much at the time. I must say, I do find that sort of thing easier now. I think it's partly because our GC are older now, 10.5 and nearly 7 (I think for the youngest) so I know they're not little anymore and that helps somehow.

Yep….I too have been up and down recently. Am so glad Sep is here and hopefully can get back into some routines. DL am in awe of the way you are managing the family situation. Wish I had your clarity of thought. I sometimes tie myself up in knots wondering what’s the right thing to do. Sorry to hear of the situation with your son and dil Derbyshire. Guess is a case of sucking up the hurt in order to maintain a semblance of relationship. Can’t imagine what living this is like though. I hope you really can find other things in life that bring you happiness so they take up less head space. Well done on losing the weight - you’ve inspired me to give it a go.
Have stopped listening to so much news as is so depressing. I think the world our children live through is going to be v different from what we have experienced. I know in tough times I’ve especially valued having family around. I sometimes wonder if our EC miss this….and us. And why it’s all so definitive? Do they wonder if we’ve changed? Apparently not. We were judged, sentenced and the key thrown away it seems.

Hello.
I'm never sure of "the rules" on asking after someone but I just wondered if Whiff is around as I haven't seen her about.
Hopefully she is just busy and enjoying herself.
Just ignore me if I shouldn't have asked.
Thank you.

Well I'm gobsmacked. But in a nice way.

Son and gc came here today......without DIL. Apparently she wanted to be alone so she could give the house a good clean.

More or less as soon as he arrived my son raised the subject of not seeing his brother. Obviously it has been playing on his mind. I advised him they needed to try and sort this out between themselves, not to involve other family members, including me. He said he would make a move.

I decided this was an opening for me to try and clear the air.

So I put my cards on the table and told him exactly how I was feeling about being sidelined and ignored and especially how hurt I had felt over the anniversary. He was stunned. For a few minutes he was speechless, then he got a bit defensive, making excuses, he was busy and so on. I stood my ground......quietly but firmly. I was determined not to let him off the hook or let him deflect me, or allow him to make flimsy excuses. So I just said what I needed to say, quietly, gently with no histrionics and not casting any blame,

He then asked for some time and went into another room. I said that's ok, I've said all I wanted to say and that I was not going to keep harping on, that I had said my piece and had nothing further to add.

When he came back he was calm. I said "are we friends" and he look so relieved, he just nodded, still shaken by what I had said and not really able to speak. I had clearly shocked him but to his credit he took it well. We had a hug and I ruffled his hair and he smiled, the first really warm and genuine smile I have seen in a long while. True to my word, I then changed the subject.

I wonder if he had wanted to "clear the air" himself but hadn't known how to go about it. He obviously had had no idea how I was feeling because my speaking up today gave him such a jolt.

Will it be enough, only time will tell but at least he knows the score.........I won't intervene on his behalf with his brother, he needs to sort that out and he realises that sidelining me or avoiding me is not acceptable and that I won't put up with it.

Anyway we ended up having a lovely day. He visibly relaxed, conversation was easy and it was lovely to see him as his old cheerful self again.

It will be interesting to see how he is next time DIL visits with him..... I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now I'm just pleased that the barriers have come down.

Spring.....you are right the news is just too depressing for words, and you are right about our children having to live in a very different world from now on. It's actually one of the things my son and I talked about this afternoon. Even when energy prices stabilise it's going to be a while before the economy recovers. I am afraid it's likely to be years rather than months.

I did touch on the subject with both my sons some time ago, warning them of what was coming, Luckily they did both listen and have done all they can to strengthen their financial positions. They are both quite savvy, especially my youngest son. It's ironic really because he used to be such a spendthrift when he was younger. When he graduated from university his finances were in such a state I suggested he came back home for a while. He did exactly that and he did a complete 180 degree turn. He's now very astute and financially literate. ....working towards FIRE. (Financial Independence Retire Early). A few years ago I bought both of my boys a copy of a book on the subject and they seem to have got on board, I also directed them to Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert.

I am afraid things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. I don't want to come over all doom and gloom but I think there is a perfect storm brewing.

Maybe, just maybe, there might be a silver lining. It might be a wake up call for some EAC to reconnect with their families. It will be families who pull together and support each other who stand the best chance of coming out the other side. That's how people survived in the past.

Stubborn pride and standing alone and isolated won't cut it when the proverbial hits the fan.

Just a quick one as I had a lie in this morning. Will post more later.

MissA I am fine thank you for asking after me. I have been reading but in the middle of the 3rd pain flare in 5 weeks. Not that it stops me .

DerbyshireLass you differently are a warrior queen complete with crown, chariot,fur cape and spear.

Nice to see you, Whiff.sorry about the flare, though.

See you soon.

It was kind of you to ask MissA.

I felt quite emotional reading your post DSL. It does sound as if your son was wanting to talk about things but didn't know how to go about it. You handled it brilliantly, telling him how you feel without making it into a drama, and then allowing him to go away for a short while to think over what you'd said.

Time will tell, as will the next time you see your d.i.l. as to whether or not you've made any real progress. One of the fist things we noticed with our ES was how different he was in our company when she wasn't around.

Just like he used to be, but then it was all change again when they were together.

So sorry about your pain flare up Whiff. The 3rd in 5 weeks; will you be mentioning this again to your specialist, even if it's just to put your mind at ease.

Take extra special care of yourself today x.

Good Morning everyone.

Whiff so sorry to hear about your pain flare up, it's miserable having to live with chronic pain or having to be constantly aware of how you move your body to minimise pain. I've just been to the supermarket, one false move and I wrenched my knee again. Hey ho. Will just rest it for a while.

Smiles......I did my best to get my point across without creating a fuss or a drama and without piling on the guilt. I know he's not just busy but he's also feeling overwhelmed so the last thing I want to do is add to the pressure he's under. He let it slip that he does "most of the childcare".....meals, bathtimes, often nursery pick ups as well as all the playing, dealing with nighttime waking and so on. He even cuts their hair, does a brilliant job of it too. At the same time he does all the cooking, food shopping, his own laundry, some cleaning and tidying up, the garden and tries to pull in diy as well. All whilst holding down a busy full time job (he's just been promoted, so more responsibility).

It's hard to see sometimes just what DIL does contribute. I know she works full time too and has a longer commute than he does but even so it does seem that my son goes over and beyond "his share" of the workload. Still it's none of my business. I never comment but I can see he does get overwhelmed and very tired, which is why I have been so reluctant to speak up before now.

I'm not sure whether the need to do a deep clean yesterday was genuine or whether it was an excuse to avoid me. Anyway as you say, time will tell. I'm not going to overthink it, just wait and see. I have said what I wanted to say and we've cleared the air. For the first time in weeks I had a good nights sleep last night and didn't wake up at some godforsaken hour feeling stressed and anxious. Nice feeling.

WW going well. Still sticking to the healthy eating and regular yoga/pilates. Weigh in day tomorrow but I can tell by my clothes I'm on my way. Today I am wearing some jeans I haven't been able to fit jnto for a while. They actually feel quite loose. ?

.

DSL, it seems as if your son has too much to do in little time. He does seem to care just not enough time.
Whiff, sorry about your flare up. Hope it's soon sorted.I’ve felt off colour for a few weeks now. I know it will be at least 6 weeks before I see my son, then it’s a short visit, but I listened to an excellent tape on Sixty and me, it says how unfair a lot of demands parents put on grown up children hoping things to continue in the same way almost as they used to, when its impossible, everyone will put their partner first. I do get upset when I go two months between visits, despite frequent phone calls and realise it’s my attitude that needs to change, I compare myself to what others do with their grown up children, mine will never be like that and it really helped me listening to that point of view, be glad if what I do have.
Spring, I to try to avoid the news, yet I did on Friday, I could have cried, so very depressing, I think I try to avoid it because there’s nothing I can do, it’s just got to happen almost, but the plight of those in Pakistan is horrifying. We have nothing to moan about compared to them.

DSL - am so pleased with how your son’s visit went and really hope clearing the air improves things going forwards. Looks like life is looking up with the weight loss too. Well done. Sorry about the latest flare up Whiff - like Smiles hope you can mention it to the consultant and he can give some useful advice. Allsorts, I think life for our children is very different from when we were younger, and the pressures created by email and a blurred home/work balance makes life very hard for them. I agree we can’t/shouldn’t expect too much. Re others children, I remember being told a while back that ‘comparison is the thief of joy’. And as we’re all too aware, we never know what’s really going on in others families.

DSL I am so glad that you have had a chance to have an honest discussion with your son

Comparison is the thief of joy, I hadn't heard that saying. I think when you are estranged from one child and it's been a long time, so the time for any exchange long past, it makes you extra sensitive to your relationship with the other adult child, of course some people lose their only child to estrangement, unbearable. My friends all have good relationships with their children, go on holidays etc, spend many weekends together, I do seem the odd one out. However, times together are good, they text and ring and are super busy and enjoying life. I do think I have be one very anxious, my long spell of various health problems have woken me up to the fact that indeed no ones coming, that I am soley responsible for myself. I am waking up to the need of a different place to live one not so time consuming as this place, it used to be easy. Yoga, Whiff have done it, DSL going through the process, just in time I think as property prices dropping. I'm almost looking forward to it.
It has been such a help knowing this forum is here.
Hope you all have a good day, I need to get out and buy done new trainers, I want colourful ones this time. No grey, navy or black.

DerbyshireLass glad you had the talk with your son . In fact I am envious I would love to have a talk like that with my son. Don't know if I could be as calm as you where though. It's the not knowing how they are that gets to me especially not knowing the name of my grandson. As much as I wanted to text him to check they where all ok after the shooting I knew there was no point as he wouldn't answer me. I suppose that's another thing for my daughter in law to hold against me the fact I didn't text. You are dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

The realtionship between my son and daughter will never be mended it had be cracked for years and him sending the emails was the final straw for her. But that's their choice. I have never inferred .

Well done with the brilliant weight lose. But remember it's a marathon not a sprint.

I found deciding what I wanted out of life very freeing and it was only 3 things,move house,lose weight and get fit. Other people may what exotic holiday holidays and fancy dinners etc but I have simple wants. But apart from my son I am happier than I have been since my husband died. Plus slimmer and fitter . Love my bungalow . My daughter and grandson's where here yesterday. She put my green bin out for me as I couldn't move it. I couldn't open the drawer with my clean bedding not lift the mattress so she made the bed for me. She said everytime she looks at my bedroom she loves it and how well everything I choose goes together.

That's the fun thing about moving choosing colours etc. But I decided to have an open mind about colours etc. And surprised myself with what I choose but wouldn't change a thing.

As nannie wasn't well my grandson's decided to clean for me. Really they love wearing my microfiber mitts for dusting and playing with my long handled dusters and carpet sweeper. But they did a good job. But it was comical seeing them both doing it especially the 22 month old. The 4 year old climbed up to clean my pictures and then did my french windows.

I know how lucky to have them. The oldest starts school tomorrow. My daughter showed me pictures of his class room and a video the school sent. They have a wall for each pupil to have their family photo in. Things have certainly changed since my pair where at school. Only 30 in his class and 200 in the whole school. So each year only had one class. Like the primary school my children went to . It was the smallest in the borough and still was when I left.

Estrangement if full off what if's and why didn't I see it coming. But as hard as we all find it we have to learn to live with it and it's hard. But we have to live the life we want and for once put ourselves first. Which is hard as parents and grandparents we put others first. I know I lost me through having others dependent on me and never realised . But there comes a time when we need and deserve to put ourselves first. I know I couldn't continue living the life I was as it wasn't living but existing. Since my move live my life to the full.

I see how others here have realised that's what they need to do. Some realised it long before I did. And glad to hear all your adventures . Some people would and have tried to make out all the previous support threads are doom and gloom and we are bashing our children. But we aren't we are honest about what's happened to us and together that has given us strength to get through a horrible situation.

The doom and gloom merchants must have a lot of time on their hands and must be very unhappy people to feel the need to attack us.
Thankfully not many of them about.

Allsorts you are in for an adventure a new chapter in your life. Moving isn't easier and will stress you to your limits but it's well worth it.

DerbyshireLass hope you hear good news about your move this week .

Spring nice to see you with us. Never heard that saying before but seems very apt.

Spoke to my neurologists secretary and said if the flares get more frequent then to contact my GP and the referral will get do quicker that way.

Can't remember if I said about my PIP decision and MRN decision. Well it will go to tribunal but have the help from a lovely woman from the Brain Charity. May take months before it gets that far as I have to wait for a letter from the courts as I am now registered, then they send a letter to PIP and then they send me a bundle which I pass on to the Brain Charity. And it goes on from there.

Whilst what is happening in the Ukraine is awful it annoyed when I was on hold to PIP a recorded message said any Ukrainian with a 6 month stay needs to apply for an extension so their PIP payments don't stop but anyone with a 36 month stay order not to worry their payments will continue.

Why are they getting PIP payments? 34 years I have fought for help. I know many others who have been refused help. At least we have paid something towards this country via wages. I can't understand how people entering this country can get PIP payments. As no doubt people here have tried for PIP or attendance allowance and know how hard it is .
Rant over.

Still in flare but can't let it stop me doing what I want.

Have a good day everyone.

Hope you're feeling better today Whiff sorry to hear about your flare-ups, yes you need to let the doctors know and maybe they can help with medication, I know you are already taking lots but who knows.

Allsorts Lots of GP only see their AC&GC once a month or so and that's their normal. I know what you mean as regard to being estranged from one AC, you then are very aware when the ones in your life don't call. My DD went on holiday for a week, back last Monday, normally I get, a few pics or even a quick phone call, but this time didn't get anything at all. Her m.i.l & s.i.l were holidaying nearby and also the other s.i.l came down to visit them, so they were super busy, but I kept looking at my phone waiting for a message or pic . I phoned my DD a day after they got back, never mentioned anything, but at the time I started to wonder if I'd done or said anything wrong, but of course they were just super busy on their holidays!

DSL Good you cleared the air with your son, perhaps he can relay some of your feelings to his wife and smooth things over. I know you feel 10 weeks is too long to not hear or see them, but when you consider I and others haven't seen ours for 10yrs! What I would give if I could see mine every 10 weeks, and that's not a dig at you, really, as I said about my DD being on holiday, it was only 9 days, but it felt like forever, and I was feeling quite upset.

Whiff sorry to hear about your PIP taking sooo long to became final and quite understandable you feel those just arriving in our country seem to already have it in place, doesn't seem fair does it. So funny to hear about your little helpers & how nice your DD is in helping you, lifting a mattress is too much, I can't do that. Maybe when you get your PIP through you could get a little help with the things you can't manage.

DSL - congrats on confronting your son. I always feel it best to speak your mind. And, it's positive that you did it without any dramas. I hope it works well.?

Whiff - sorry about your flare up. You might not have to go to tribunal. A Mandatory Reconsideration form has to be submitted to them first, and the DWP have a habit of sometimes changing their decision before it goes to full appeal.

Been a quiet, but busy few days here - had the decorator in again to spruce up before the winter. He's brilliant, clears up wonderfully, but it still means clutter and boxes all over the place.?

The news is constantly gloomy - wish someone could show a happy story on the news. It's depressing.

My son, resident in America, is currently on a break to one of the Hawaiian islands. It looks gorgeous, and when he sent some pics, I really wished I was on a sunbed, flowers garlanded around my neck, and sipping cocktails...no chance though lol

Ah well, on we press, no doubt the news will be full of who the latest leader is who's climbed aboard the Tory Titanic.?

Hope everyone has a nice day.?

Good morning all.

Allsorts ....you are starting to sound much stronger and more focussed now. You are right about "no one is coming". That's the hardest part of losing ones partner isn't it, the realisation that you really are alone. Yes families and friends can be there for us (or not) but ultimately it's all down to us to rebuild our lives. Throw estrangement and health issues into the mix and it's not surprising that we falter at times and feel low from time to time, but we pick ourselves up.

"Fall 7 times, get up 8 times". Or however many it takes.

I do think that when we become estranged from one of our children (even if, as in my case, it was only for a short while) it does strip your confidence and makes you more anxious about your relationship with your other children. It can be hard to fully relax sometimes because the spectre of estrangement is always there.

Hey ho.....Que sera and all that. We cannot undo the past. I admit I could have handled things better when Madam first began her campaign against us. I kept on turning a blind eye, acquiescing to her increasingly unreasonable demands, just so as not to rock the boat. Maybe if I had been more assertive and less of a doormat things might not have reached such pretty pass. Maybe not.

I finally reached a point where I thought enough is enough found my voice and said what needed to be said. My son visiting by himself and obviously wanted to talk gave me my opening. It wasn't easy, outwardly I may have seemed calm but inwardly I was shaking like a leaf.

I decided it was high time to acknowledge the elephant in the room and I am glad I did. I feel better for it, whatever the final outcome. Whatever happens now I know I can handle it. For me not knowing where I stood was very difficult and stressful. It was making me ill. I already feel much better, sleeping properly again and no longer feel anxious all the time.

My husband had a saying "That was then and this is now". From him I learned not to fear change because change is inevitable, that we cannot stop it so we may as well embrace it. Holding onto the past and regretting my mistakes is futile, a total waste of time and energy and doing so will only hold me back from building the new life I want. So now that I've said my piece I'm just letting go. My son can endeavour to make amends to his brother and start paying some attention to his wider family or not. It's his choice but at least I've made him aware of where he was falling short as a son and brother and what he was throwing away.

Being busy is not an excuse for neglecting family or friends. I just don't buy that one. Relationships are like a garden, if you don't tend them they wither away and die. There are 10,080 minutes in a week. It is possible to find then 5 minutes for a quick phone call, or even just a text to say hi no matter how stretched you are. If you have time to watch tv then you have time to stay in touch with family.

Whiff.......thanks for your good wishes re the house sale. I do hope it doesn't collapse because of the current economic situation but if it does, well I'll just keep trying. I might have to put my plans on hold for a while but I'll get there in the end. I don't feel stressed or anxious about the move. It will happen all in good time.

In the meantime I shall concentrate on losing weight and getting stronger and healthier. 5lbs lost in 3 weeks.... slow but sure. Have booked a skip for next week. Looking forward to having a good old turf out. ?

Nice warm sunny day again and it looks set fair for the week. The longer we can manage without hearing the better......