Today I've mostly bin...

[giraffe]

My bridesmaids (well their Mums) made their dresses.

[LAT]

My daughter was saying that if/when she gets married she doesn't expect the bridesmaids to wear identical outfits but rather to have a colour scheme for them to adhere to so that they can choose something that will suit them. But it is an if/when.

[gill216]

... not smoking for a whole month now.

[giraffe]

Well done Gill.

[Bunnylump]

WOW!! That really is fantastic news, Gill. Well done.

[maisie ladybird]

Well done Gill!

[gill216]

11 more days and its time to reduce the NRT level and have another fight with myself. This time I feel it's a fight I can win. I've done the hard part already and it wasn't something I expected to happen. My main aim was just to cut down considerably. I'd tried every which way to stop and couldn't. This time I didn't even try.

Somebody is on my side for a change. They've opened a shop around the corner at home too. I was seriously contemplating a franchise myself. I've also spotted that the NHS quit site has added these things as an option.

[MBH]

That is really great news Gill - keep up the good work. Hve you seen improvements in your health, wealth, etc? Write them down and celebrate them

[gill216]

Thinking of our great nephew Dexter, aged 8. On Saturday he was helping dad with the bar at his grandparents golden wedding anniversary party and doing all the things 8 year olds do. On Monday he was admitted to Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge and he's about to have his first treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Symptoms over the last week? A bit tired and a pasty face but he's pale skinned anyway. He's a redhead. Tired? He'd had a few late nights. Long term prognosis is good though.


Bit concerned about my tin tent too but that is insignificant really now. Flood warning in place for Withernsea in general with expected overtopping of the sea defences. Guess that means a few more feet of the cliff edge will go. At least they haven't specifically named our park. They have for 2 parks in neighbouring villages. Or does that mean the whole of the town is at a greater risk?

[giraffe]

Gosh that does sound sudden and rather terrifying, but good that the prognosis is encouraging.

It's very windy here, I can't remember it ever being this windy here. I just heard a noise like a tile shifting on the roof, but it is pouring, so I'm not going to investigate.

[gill216]

Yes very sudden. Not unusual though apparently. This illness can develop over a few days to a few weeks. Survival rate is something like 90% in children of his age. Selfish, but I hope he's not in the other 10%.

[giraffe]

Not selfish at all. Of course you want him to get better.

[Wulfruna]

So sorry to hear about the little fellow - what an unpleasant thing to happen. But I have great faith in the Health Service to come up trumps when needed.
As for your own efforts - keep up the good work!

[LAT]

Sorry to hear about Dexter. Hope it all turns out OK for him

And well done on the non-smoking Gill!

[kathlyn]

Gill- I hope Dexter will be ok and good luck with the non smoking plan.

Went to see Andre Rieu in concert at Wembley Arena last night. It was very good and the encore section went on for 45 mins. I can thoroughly recommend it to anyone thinking of going to see one of his concerts. The only draw back at Wembley was the acoustics were a bit ropy in places.

[LAT]

Today we went to Salisbury to a special carol service in the cathedral put on by the Lullaby Trust - which is what the charity that funds research and support for cot deaths now calls itself. It was a lovely service with the choir singing a few carols as well as several for the whole congregation. My daughter came down last night and my son just for the day so that they could come with us. Oh and we had a nice lunch out at a pub on the way there.

[Bunnylump]

Yesterday we went to K's school Christmas fair. She had her little choir singing to open it - including one of the songs they are going to perform at the O2 in January. They did very well, even with three part harmony!! (And aren't 7 year olds cute? I tend to forget, as I spend my days mostly with hormonal teenagers!! )

The good news is that (it being a school almost entirely populated by kids from well-to-do parents who all vie with each other to be seen to donate the best raffle prize ) we spent £3 on tombola prizes and came away with 3 bottles of wine. I'd call that a result.

[Bunnylump]

...Starting YET ANOTHER new member of staff. We can't retain staff, mainly because the pay is such an insult for what we expect people to do. Anyway, we started yet another young graduate (they're the only people who are prepared to take the ludicrous wage, and use us as a training ground before they go off to a real job.) He's a nice lad, of about 21. Well, talk about baptism of fire for him. The first lesson I took him to was year 7s, who were learning about the human reproductive system!!! But hey, he coped. Even when I almost went into hysterics when one of the kids answered the question

"What happens if the egg is not fertilised?" with

"The egg rolls out of the lady's bottom."

[Bunnylump]

...Making a Peter Pan outfit for myself AND another one for Janet. Like you do.

[Wulfruna]

...Making a Peter Pan outfit for myself AND another one for Janet. Like you do.

The mind boggles..... do we need to do this?