Sad news

We've had a very emotional day today. Wallace was worse again this morning and Hugh and I rushed him up to the vet. After checking him over and discussing his problems it was decided that the kindest thing for him was to stop his suffering and pain. We brought him home for the afternoon so that everyone could say their goodbyes and spend some time with him.

Jon, Emily and I took him back to the vets this evening where he was put to sleep. Although we are all so sad, we have some comfort knowing that he is no longer in pain or discomfort.

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Thank you Wallace for being part of our lives for 9 1/2 years. We're really going to miss you as you were very much a part of our family.

RIP

xx

A lazy Sunday

It's been a lovely lazy Sunday! Apart from doing some washing and hanging it out and doing the dishes when needed, I've ignored housework and just relaxed :) Hugh got home from Sarah's last night and Claire and Craig also came home yesterday so today we've had all the children at home and we're back to normal. Jon took Claire out for a driving lesson after Church this morning and I'm told she did really well. Jon had started teaching her a year or so ago but she didn't carry on with the lessons. She now seems to be in the right mind set and has set learning to drive as one of her things to do this year. Go Claire!!

When she got home she was making bacon sandwiches for herself and Craig and asked if anyone else wanted. She ended up making for all of us ;) Thank you Claire!

Hugh on his laptop in his room

And Emily striking a pose - she's been watching Canada's Next Top Model. Please note the wonderful jawline ;)

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This afternoon I read the paper, did a few puzzles, had a short snooze and read blogs. Deb and Dave popped round later this afternoon and brought me a cake stand I'd been admiring when Deb and I went to Wakehurst last week. Deb and Dave went there for a walk this morning and Deb bought it for me. Thank you so much, I love it! I'll have to make a cake or cupcakes to put on it so I can take some photos ;)

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Can't believe it's Monday again tomorrow and the start of another week. Looking forward to our Starbucks coffee - but not the shopping so much! Am hoping to sort myself out and start doing some exercise this coming week - nothing too strenuous as I'm hopelessly unfit! Thinking of starting with a walk up through town and back again. If I can do that three or four times this week that would be good. Let's see how I get on after the first walk lol!

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Hope this week turns out to be a good one :)

xx

Saturday again!

It felt quite strange waking up this morning knowing there were only three of us in the house - Hugh went up to see Sarah,his girlfriend, in London on Thursday and will be back later today and Claire was "babysitting" Craig's younger brother last night (he's 11 or 12) and staying over then going straight to work from there this morning. Jon was up before 5am (I could hear him singing and doing dishes in the kitchen, as I drifted in and out of sleep) and Emily stayed in her room till about 9.30am though she woke up a bit earlier. I was up just after 7am - I think - and once showered, dressed, etc., I had a little tidy up spree. The lounge was looking nice and cozy so I took a few photos

It's not a very big room but we enjoy sitting in there. It's just not as big as we'd sometimes like when we have family over (though the stairs come in handy as extra seating).

After breakfast (Jon was giving a guitar lesson upstairs) I made some banana loaf but instead of making it into a loaf, I made it into cupcakes/muffins instead. I ummed and aahhed about putting some cream cheese icing on them but in the end decided to leave them "as is" as they're quite nice cut in half and buttered (different, I know, but I like them that way). While the cakes were cooking I got on and did the ironing, while listening to some Michael Buble, so that I had everything out the way in the morning leaving me free to relax in the afternoon.

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I think I've mentioned before that Jon's daughter, Michelle, is getting married in the summer. They've set the date for 03 July and this week she asked me if I would take the wedding photos. I've taken photos at a few weddings before but always feel there is room for improvement - whether it's in photo quality or the poses - so I've started to think about what lenses might be best suited and I'm going to have a think about the type of photos we may want to take. (If any of you have any advice or ideas, I'd be happy to hear them. You can either leave a comment or send me an email - 'email me' is in the side bar.) I had a chat last night with Dad about his thoughts on what might be suitable and he said he has a lens I might like to have a play with. I popped round there at lunch time (and took some cakes too) and we had an hour or so chatting about photography and weddings. The lens I've borrowed is the Canon EF-S 17 - 85mm.

This photo was taken at 17mm focusing on the orchids on the sideboard

And then here taken at 85mm. I'm looking forward to trying it out some more and getting a feel for it. I want to know that during the service I will be able to zoom in or out without having to move around (in the registry office they normally like the photographer to stand still and a bit to the side.) I've got a few months to work on ideas but like the idea of starting early.

Mum seeing me off when I left ;o)

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Emily had made herself some lunch by the time I got home so I made something for myself and got to watch Thurday night's Greys Anatomy while I ate. We've just started Season 6 over here and I'm so looking forward to it. Not good that I ended up in tears in the 1st episode though (I'm terrible and cry very easily!). Anyway, the series link is set to record and I just have to be patient enough to wait for each weekly installment! ;o) I wonder when Private Practice will be back too, I'm sure they overlapped a bit last year.

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I hope you're enjoying your weekend, wherever you are.

xx

Not a lot going on

It's been damp and pretty miserable today, not the sort of weather that makes you want to go out and do anything, so things have been pretty quiet. Jon took Claire in to work this morning because he wanted to pick up a paper, which gave me the chance to have a cup of tea before going to pick up Emily from school a bit later and take her to the orthodontist. Just a routine appointment and things seem to be going well - apart from the fact she still has one baby tooth that hasn't come out and they've suggested she have it pulled when she sees our dentist on 01 March. Needless to say, Emily is not thrilled by that idea so I think there could be a lot of tooth wiggling between now and then ;o) This was actually taken after Emily got home from school but seeing as I forgot to take one at the orthodontists, it will have to do.

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I've had a dull headache for a few days now (PMT perhaps?) and after lunch I was feeling cold and achy so I went and lay down and read my book for a while. Haven't done that in a long time but I felt better for it afterwards.

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This afternoon I made a start on the dreaded filing. Not a job I particularly enjoy but a necessity none the less. I have filed most of it but because Jon was working in the study, and I was making a bit of noise, I didn't get it all done. Procrastination anyone??? I did take a photo of the paperwork all sorted and ready to be filed but when I went to upload it I realised that you could make out names, our address and in some cases account numbers - hmmmm, maybe not such a good idea to put it on the net!!! You'll just have to take my word for it instead.

This was Charlie telling me he wanted to be fed ;o) When I ask him if he wants some food he answers me and I just happened to catch him while he was doing it lol!

Cloud and Wallace in their basket. They quite enjoy going in here at the moment because it's in front of the radiator and nice and warm. Unfortunately, Wallace seems to have been in a bit of pain tonight, we're not sure why, so I guess he'll be going to the vets tomorrow if he still doesn't seem right in the morning :(