A day of mixed feelings

Today would have been Dick's birthday.  He should have been 54 today and we should have been opening presents and laughing and enjoying his day.  But instead we  - Tom, my mum and I - are driving to Swansea to see Tom graduate from university.  It was Dick's dearest wish that Tom complete his degree and he has,  so we are very proud of him.  I know that the tone of this entry is perhaps a little less upbeat than others and you would be right.  Dick's absence is huge at the moment and we are all affected by it.  But we also know that we have to be pleased with Tom's achievement and I have to recognise that between us, Dick and I, we produced two fine sons who we are proud of.

So, we are putting on the glad rags, painting on the face and making it a day to celebrate Tom's achievement.  Just as we would have it he were here.  I have packed the camera and the tissues.  I think both will be used to full effect!

Summer days and windy weather

Gosh it is windy here!  More like a winter's day than mid-summer but last week had some lovely days.  I visited my friend Sue and her husband and the weather was glorious.  We sat outside to eat and went to Champneys for the day when the sun shone and it was heavenly.  I even came away with a bit of a tan. 

It was a lovely experience.  We didn't do any treatment but did an exercise class - very gentle - and swam and had a guided tour of the gardens as well as eating in the restaurant.  The food was delicious!  We had a fab day and it was lovely to spend time with Sue.  She has been a good friend over the years of scrapbooking and I always enjoy seeing her.

I left them and went to London for a workshop for my new Bernina sewing machine on Wednesday.  What an eye-opener that turned out to be!  I reckon that thing is within a whisker of being able to make toast, butter it and present it attractively on the plate!!!  It is a wonderful piece of machinery and I am desperate to use it and enjoy it.  I must make time to do it but at the moment I am busy and it is lovely to be like that.

The kitchen plans are taking shape.  Units chose, tiles chosen, sofa ordered, blinds chosen but not ordered etc etc. Seems like the wall I am knocking down might be a supporting wall so now I need a Structural Engineer and an RSJ but I am not worried about that!  I am assured it is all perfectly OK. It's a bit daunting but I'll get there.  Who knows, I might even develop a taste for it all and become a property magnate....................I think not!!!

I have cleared out the study completely.  It was a long job and at times a bit gut-wrenching but it is done and organised and I feel very good about it all.  I've even become an E-bay seller and that is good fun.  Might as well make some money from all the junk we have accumulated.  Funny how one man/woman's junk is another man's desirable object.