Choosing a spot was difficult.  There were so many lovely places to choose from but we wanted something to be a landmark in case we wanted to return to the spot, so this is where we chose.

It was lovely spending time together with Ben and Tom.  As they are both planning their futures, I am aware that these moments will become rarer and even more precious.  We took several photos - Tom was the main photographer and this photo of Ben with Monty and I is one which I really like.

It isn't that flattering of me - truly it is the jumper not me!!! - but I love the fact that we are doing something very special to us all and sharing the moment.

(And doesn't Monty look well too!)

Of course we had a lovely lunch at the Rockingham afterwards.  I am back trying to lose weight again with Slimming World.  It never ceases does it!  But a lovely plate of roast pork went down a treat before we headed off back to Winchester, the final duty done!

I am looking forward to the weekend away at Scrapfever next week.  It wil be my first weekend away, scrapping, for nearly a year.  (I did spend a weekend with my Lurvelie friends last autumn but I used the time for quilting rather than scrapping!)  This time I am taking all the supplies, all the photos and hoping to achieve everything on the timetable!

The garden has been transformed at the front but the work is still continuing.  It was a bit of a shock when I first saw it done - despite me knowing full-well what we had planned but of course it still lacks the planting and that will soften the whole thing.  Now I can sit outside in the evening and enjoy the sun.  The back garden loses the sun after about 3.30pm.

Ben has an interview at Bedford University next week and we are hoping that he will get a place for September.  We are keeping everything crossed for him.

Tom is now doing lots of things with the TA and loving it.  He is working towards his army selection for the regular army with lots of training - long runs, PE with the TA and rugby training too.

We are scattering Dick's ashes this weekend at Canada Common in the New Forest- as he asked us to. We are hoping that the weather will be good and the boys and I will have lunch in the pub just down the road - somewhere Dick and I used to eat when we went there.  His grandparents lived there and his holidays were often spent running around the common as a child and he had very happy memories of the place.

I'll try to take things in some kind of order so that you are getting a bit of a feel for how we are all doing but I am grateful that I feel very positive about everything and lucky that I have been able to do many things that I didn't feel I could.

The first of all of these of course was my skiing holiday!  It was a challenge on so many levels.  The first holiday on my own, the first skiing for 25 years, the first demanding challenge to my knee and so on!  To say I loved it was an understatement.  I revelled in finding that I could have a good time at my level and doing my own thing.  I realised that I can enjoy my life doing what I want and am confident enough now to not feel that I must have someone with me to do things and enjoy them.  Of course having someone with you, if they are the right person is an absolute bonus but it isn't essential and I am hoping that my friends see this as a good a positive thing and not that they are no longer required.

Here is a photo or two of me to prove I was there and was doing it.

Nifty ski suit eh?  As you can see, we were a varied group of skiers and it was lovely to meet lots of different people of different ages and backgrounds.  We had to do a slalom race......not something I enjoy but here I am, giving it a go.  I was first down so it was a bit daunting!

Probably not the most elegant but there you go!

The place that we were in - Monte Bondone was absolutely beautiful and there were lovely views from every corner.  One of the group has uploaded some photos to Photobucket so I am posting a couple here for you to see.

What beautiful icicles and the snow was the best I have ever seen.  It truly was a winter wonderland.  I only fell over a couple of times (useful really as I am hopeless at getting up again!) but the thickness of the snow meant that it really wan't a problem.

The picture below is a view of one of the easier runs which we enjoyed every day.  We were able to ski back to the village where we were staying and only had a few hundred metres to walk before we could drop off the skis and boots for storage (and warming!) over night.  Such service!

Anyway, the holiday is over, the knee is back down to its normal size and life goes on.

I am conscious of how much has happened and changed in the last 10 months of my life. I wonder sometimes where my old life is and how it sits along side my new one.  The house has undergone a huge transformation.  Most of it a necessity.  On returning from holiday the bathroom was finished and looking stunning.  I have to say also that the horrible smell coming from Tom's room has also gone - it turned out to be a damp carpet from a leak rather than the dirty socks which I accused him of!  (Past experience might have had something to do with that accusation!!)  Anyway, for those of you who have asked, here is a photo of the finished bathroom.

(Note:  camera batteries are flat so will add it at a later time!)

Chloe Clio came back from the body repair shop looking beautiful last Friday.  I was thrilled with it and felt that another chapter had closed..................until Saturday morning when I parked her in a car park in Winchester and came back to find that it was scraped down the same side that had been repaired!  Of course, no name, no address or anything from the perpetrator!  Heyho!  It will be fixed next week.

Finally the whole conundrum of my job has had to be sorted.  The maternity cover which I had taken thinking it was longer than it turned out to be, has come to an end - or at least will have done on Friday.  There are offers of supply until the end of term and various negotiations are going on to see what can transpire for the summer term.  I hope to have something more definite in the not too distant future.

It is a quandry.  I love being at home.  I love my house, taking Monty out, doing my quilting, reading and seeing my friends but I do need to do a little work.  When I am working I want to do my best.  The current job situation has been difficult because taking on a job part-way through the year and a job-share at that, is taxing.  I live in the hope that eventually all my finances - probate, compensation etc etc will be sorted and I shall not need to do too much.  I hate to admit it but I find I get more tired than I did a few years ago but I suppose that is not surprising.  Let's not dwell on that!

I am hoping to start my training for the Race for Life in the next week.  My knee is rested and ready for another onslaught I think.  Thank you to everyone who has supported and sponsored me.  It is very uplifting.

Like many of you, I am constantly thinking of Dick.  I wonder always what he would make of it all.  I hope he would be pleased.  He always told me that he had confidence I would make a decent life for myself.  I feel I am doing that and am giving myself a small cheer. In 10 months ...............you've come a long way, baby!!!