Our New Life in Devon

 On Saturday evening my daughter rang me for a chat around half past nine. While we were still chatting on the phone the doorbell rang and in walked daughter and granddaughter carrying a bouquet of flowers each and a Mother's Day card. She was still talking to me on the phone! I had no idea they were coming, as I knew they had gone to a zoo earlier in the day near Bristol. OH rushed upstairs to sort out the pull out bed and bedding. I always get it ready the day before when I know someone is arriving. Our youngest son gave our daughter a card and chocolates to bring to me too. Daughter and granddaughter stayed the night and went to bed around half past 11. Then, at 11.45pm, our eldest son rang me to wish me a happy Mother's Day! Apparently, they had all gone out for a meal and he fell asleep on the sofa when they came home. Well the thought was there and he knows I'm always around until 1am anyway lol. On Sunday we all drove to Dawlish and found a nice tea room for coffee a...

 Well would you believe it!!! We have a family only group chat on FB messenger and Mark our son posted yesterday. He's sent a booking to come here from the 3rd week in December until the 1st week in January on a half board basis lolol. That's 15 nights in total! And daughter saw it and is booking the same for herself and granddaughter! Talk about getting in early. Well that's the 3 single beds taken for Xmas and New Year. We do have one bed that pulls out into a double so I guess that we could move the spare mattress downstairs somewhere if anyone else turns up. Also, we have a double high airbed that just about fits in the living room, that our eldest son left here for when he stays. Daughter has suggested we should convert the loft too! When we first moved here my lovely neighbour said if ever I feel lonely I can always pop round for a cup of coffee - chance would be a fine thing lol. Daughter rang today telling me she's trying to book a flight to Germany for this sum...

 Daughter stayed for 5 days which was nice to have her and the granddaughter here. I'd started catching up on the housework and decided to buy some new net curtains for the living room and upstairs landing. Well, they were here when we moved in so well past their best. We drove to Trago Mills and were spoiled for choice. Also, we picked up a curtain pole as we've decided to put curtains over the patio doors leading to the conservatory to keep the heat in. I'm ill again, but this time it's just an eye infection. It's annoying but I had a spare unopened tube of ointment in the fridge so don't need to see the GP tg. It's a pain though as you have to apply it 5 x a day. Son came for the night this week which was nice to have company. Our youngest spaniel Lola was delighted as she really loves him. When he had a slipped disc he stayed here for weeks and slept on the floor with her (his choice as we did have a spare bed!) I'm never lonely here it's like a ...

 Daughter and Granddaughter arrived just after 1am so not too late. I rarely go to bed before 1am as I can't sleep before around 2am. Courtesy of working in a residential children's unit as a social worker, with teenagers in crisis, as the early hours were often our busiest times. Tried many times to get back to a sensible bedtime but then I'm just awake for most of the night. I do sleep well now though usually for 7 or 8 hours unless I have a morning appointment. Talking of appointments I had yet another at the surgery today with a nurse for a full health check. Apparently the NHS is doing health checks on people my age and again in 5 years time. Weight, height, blood pressure, blood test for cholesterol and diabetes and at least 40 questions about family history of heart problems etc and my lifestyle. Quite intrusive really, questions about what I eat, do I exercise, do I drink alcohol, do I smoke etc. The nurse was very nice and she's just filling out a form on her c...

 Travelling home to South Devon I started to feel really tired and fell asleep in the car. Sleeping in the day is very unusual for me and only ever happens when I'm ill or going to be ill, so I knew I'd caught something. This was probably at the school play as there were over 60 children taking part. Germ bags my OH calls them 😆                             The School Play Next day I had a message from my daughter saying she was off work with a flu like virus, exactly the same as what I had. Not bad enough for flu and very severe for a cold with a temperature at the start. So, really I haven't done anything this week apart from rest, sleep and eat. Valentines day was nice as OH bought me a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates. He does this every year. Daughter and Granddaughter are on their way here atm. They are arriving late tonight, which isn't a problem as I'm always up until the early hours anyway. ...

 My son and sister arrived for the weekend at the end of January as arranged. On arrival she didn't seem too bad but deteriorated over the weekend. She's suffered with poor health unfortunately for many years, and a few days after she returned home went in hospital. I'm hoping to visit her tomorrow afternoon for an hour or so. I managed to spend a lovely afternoon visiting my friend in Exeter after sister left. She was baking scones which were lovely with butter and jam. OH took the dogs for a nice long walk in the park so we had a good catch up on our own. Must ask her for the recipe when I next visit.  We're staying at our daughter's home for a few days atm. We have tickets to see the school play as granddaughter is in their drama group. Saturday we're hoping to meet up for lunch with our son, daughter-in-law and oldest granddaughter in a local pub for a carvery. Then, Saturday night, it's babysitting duty, as daughter is going for a leaving do meal with h...