Our New Life in Devon

 We had son Mark pop in for a couple of days last week, and then travelled back to South Gloucestershire for my dental appointment on Sunday. I think Mark would like to live in this area if there was a job for him. Unfortunately, wages are quite low here and there's not much work around.  We stayed with our daughter on Sunday evening ready for the dentist Monday lunchtime. At 9.30am Monday I had a phone call cancelling my appointment for 12.30! I really wish I could get an NHS dentist in Devon as 100 miles is a long way to travel especially when they cancelled at short notice. We always travel the day before as the M5 is often very congested especially if there's an accident. They have re-booked for 3 weeks time. It's not the first time it's happened either. I've had several cancelled appointments over the last few years. I suppose I should think I'm lucky really to still have an NHS dentist as many people don't have one. We all went for curry at a local res...

 Travelled back to our hometown yesterday and called in to see our eldest son. He's renovating his dining room and it's starting to look very good. Son always strips everything back when decorating, ie new patio doors, walls plastered, new flooring, new skirting board etc. He's definitely a perfectionist. We met DGD on the way to daughter's home riding her bike home from school. DD and her colleagues all meet up in a local pub with their children every Friday, so we spent an hour there before going to DDs home. Its really nice that they are all friends as well as colleagues. Today, Saturday, OH put up a shelf in DGDs bedroom, and then we spent the day visiting relatives. Managed to catch 2 nieces, 2 sisters, sister's boyfriend, and our Brother-in-law. Haven't seen him for months, as he's been staying on and off with his mum and sister since my sister died last year. We took DGD around with us as we're looking after her while DD is away for the weekend. I...

 Son, Daughter, granddaughter and adult nephew all came to stay over this Bank Holiday weekend! We were quite full up here. I told OH he should consider converting the loft for the amount of visitors we get lol. Nephew slept on a high, blow up airbed in the living room as all spare beds were taken. Son left on Sunday, as he's working today Bank Holiday Monday, and daughter, granddaughter and nephew left today. It was definitely busy here! Next weekend we are staying at daughter's home to look after the granddaughter. Daughter is going on a Spa Weekend with her friend. It was a Xmas present she received. Hopefully we will visit our eldest son, daughter in law and our other 2 grandchildren while staying there.  In the meantime I'm on the 3rd lot of washing tonight, and more to do tomorrow. I'm getting everything ready washed and ironed ready to pack for the weekend. It's much colder here now than last week and it was down to 5C last night. We only had 22C here at most...

 The doorbell rang on Monday afternoon, and there stood daughter and granddaughter saying, 'surprise surprise!" I didn't even know they were coming, but it was nice to see them again. Our dog, Molly, was at the groomers that day, which is a good thing as daughter is allergic, and so am I now. I never was before I had these 2 spaniels. Molly came home and smelled lovely of coconut shampoo. We all settled on a Chinese takeaway for dinner as we didn't have enough food thawed out in the fridge to cook for them both.  Tuesday Mark, our son, came in the evening for 2 nights. He's back at work on Good Friday and working all over Easter.. We all had a walk around the town but I didn't buy anything, and we ended up in a nice little friendly pub for a drink. Granddaughter had fun walking the dogs on the beach and park each day with son and OH. She loves it here and didn't want to go home!  Wednesday we all went for a meal in a village between Dawlish and Teignmouth. ...

 Returned home tonight as I've been to London for a few days. I quite liked being a tourist with my daughter. We stayed in a very nice 4* hotel on the outskirts of London, with a pool, gym, sauna etc. which was great for daughter while I relaxed in our room. I was very impressed with how clean the streets were in our area, not one piece of litter anywhere, not even a cigarette butt. We toured a local shopping outlet where prices were very low for branded items and travelled on the underground each day. I fell in love with a summer jacket (which is fatal)  and just had to buy it in Oxford Street! It was quite expensive but I didn't buy anything else on this trip lol. We walked through a huge beautiful park near Buckingham Palace, houses of Parliament and Big Ben. The next day we went for afternoon tea at the Ritz. You really feel like royalty there with the staff all very attentive, real tea in silver pots, sugar cubes with tongs, lovely sandwiches, scones and cakes. I even rec...

 We had a nice surprise the other day as son Mark and our nephew came on a day visit. They met OH in the park as it was his time for dog walking, so they knew where to find him. I love it when people just turn up, as it's the way we've always lived. Many other people I know are on the 'appointments system' including our DIL but son is fine about it if she's at work lol. One friend of mine always needs a weeks notice for us to arrange a visit, which I do find strange as she lives alone and isn't very active.  If family are staying over then we do arrange things around them, so 24hrs notice is usually given. This nephew has always been like another son, and we're very close. He's lived with us for months at a time several times over the years. Ebay sales are so poor at the moment I'm considering giving it up. My sister and her friends are having the same problems with nothing selling also. Everything came to a standstill early February when they starte...

 I've had a nice few days with Mark staying here. He's well over his monthly contracted hours so has taken time off in leiu. It's great having him here as he's a good help around the house, vacuuming, helping OH cook, loading the dishwasher etc. He's a perfectionist so everything is done really well. Daughter has almost finished granddaughter's room. OH put the wardrobe and desk together for her when he stayed there and she's put the curtain up. They are just waiting for the bed now and it's finished. She's sent me some photos and it all looks lovely.  Had a message this week from an old friend I haven't seen for years. I went to her mother's funeral about 7 years ago. I think that was the last time I heard from her! Her mum was a lovely, kind lady who was always kind to my family when we were young. TBH I'm not that keen on rekindling the friendship as she's one of life's users - the sort that needs loads of favours doing but won...