!?Grrrrrrrr

 Yesterday was supposed to be moving day...they eventually received the keys to the cottage at 9:35 last night...completion had taken place at 9:30am! Very poorly planned move to have either women or people needing a stent fitted plus an ex husband helping. The place she was going to just the couple were doing it all themselves meaning their small rent a van load number one didn't get unloaded until nearly 4pm.    However in the 4 houurs they waited they got nothing ready to move such as all her plants and pots and garden things..Hubby got shouted at by a very viscious daughter at 5pm when he offered to help. Apparently they had until midnight to clear out. So he pointed out that actually that would have been midday and they were technically trespassing. We kept a curtain open in order to watch them struggle. I believe that they only dismantled a large polytunnel last evening in the dark. So nothing ended up moving yesterday from our place apart from their cars which they parked there late last night. They only really wanted to move in things from the horsebox that hubby and son-in -law had fetched from the in-laws the night before and which had to be moved out of a shed as the bull needed bringing into the shed due to beaters being around today! 

One thing moved a little too fast yesterday lunchtime though...me down the stairs carrying armfuls of washing...today I will not be lifting much of anything and have a hot water bottle attached to my back.

In hindsight we should have known that moving would be just as traumatic as purchasing really!

Blessings J. x

One More Sleep!

 Hopefully tomorrow daughter and her little family will finally complete on the purchase of the cottage next to us. It has certainly been a long time coming...so much time with many ups and downs so when the news arrived last Thursday that the searches were back none of us became excited...well they managed to exchange contracts the very next day and fingers and toes are crossed there are no last minute hiccups tomorrow.

I had already booked the week off...thinking I would be out in the garden tilling the vast quantity of bulbs I’d purchased...of course the weather has had other ideas so I’ve stayed close to the Aga preserving apples, pears and chutney daily..

This morning I think I am beginning to feel a slight fizz of something that could be considered excitement...maybe after a delicious coffee I will be able to gage my feelings further...

The irony of it is that all these months daughter has been on maternity leave...and she starts back at school on Monday...such good timing!

Best wishes go to Weaver of The Grass for a speedy recovery...I read on Sue’s blog she has suffered a fall.

I’ll update soon...the thought of my carpet being free of toys for some of the time is really appealing right now!

Blessings J. x

Grabbing Five Minutes...

 Of peace that would be...

The 'lodgers' have left for a trip out as Son in Law has the day off from school today...

I have been making the most of the quiet time but now am indulging in a little me time...

Arthur the budgie has been cleaned out and is chirping along to some music...

However I have just realised that one of the kittens has discovered his cage which I had left on the table to serve as a change of scenery for him...oops...sorry Arthur!

Speaking of the kittens let me introduce you to the little darlings...

Meet Kitty...

and Wilbur...

These two scamps are finding their way into my broken heart and are getting away with some pretty mischevious antics...should the front door curtain provide endless hours of enjoyment??

It is just as well our leather suite has served us well for over ten years...it is ageing rather quickly at the moment though I have to admit they are two cute time wasters.

The photo of Kitty is older than the one of Wilbur I believe, anyway they are both much larger than this now...

Neither is aftaid of the big black dog...Bea (Grand-dog)...

 Hubby and I were able to take a trip up North last week to stay with our Son and his partner...

Hubby helped him with some electrics and plumbing...

I took up some paperwork and managed to get a reasonable amount done without little people trying to help...

The local searches are due back a week from today...

I hope...really hope there will be no further delays with the move...

We all need to move on and have our own space...

I know that when Bea goes the loss of Heidi may well become more apparent than ever...

I will deal with this in my own way...

Making myself get out for a non-dog walk is proving difficult...but I am determined that when the family have vacated I shall begin to lose my excess weight again...this time hopefully keeping it off too...

To think that years ago I was such a skinny ninny and couldn't put any weight on...really!

I must thank all of you that wrote kind messages with regard to our news of losing Heidi...she was indeed one of those very special dogs who makes a place in our hearts and will never be forgotten. I miss her resting her white whiskered tooth missing chin on my lap at mealtimes and not having her greet me everytime I return home...but she is sill in my heart and her spirit is with me when I go walking in the woods. She is free of pain and I owed her enough not to make her linger when life became too much...

Blessings J. x

The End of an Era

Not sure how many will have noticed my recent absence from all things blogging.

Well today I return with an explanation...

My beloved dog Heidi failed in the last few weeks and on more than one occasion I nearly made ‘the call’

Sadly on Tuesday morning I had no choice but to do so and then waited until 5:50 when the surgery would be empty to take her in.

The end was beautiful if any end can be. She looked so relaxed and peaceful.

But then I had to leave her. Well her body. I hope her spirit will some day find its way back home to us and can freely roam the lanes and woodland she loved. For Heidi there is no more pain. My heart however feels as though a massive chunk is missing. I am going to work later today and am not sure whether it will be a blessed distraction or not. I shall have to walk one of the residents dogs as I usually do. 

Do we ever really know if our decisions are too soon...we realise if they are too late, but timing such things is painfully tricky. Several nights  I lay awake with tears streaming not knowing quite what to do for the best.

I’m not sure how the gap Heidi has left will or can ever be filled. We do now have two adorable little kittens who came to live with us a week ago. I nearly cancelled them as Heidi was going downhill. However they belonged to a niece who really wanted them to stay in the family. I mustn’t push them aside in my grief for they have done nothing wrong. I’m not yet ready to introduce them to you though.  For now it’s about the memories...the happy times...

Rest in peace my beloved Heidi.

J. x