Daughters

Thankful to have spent good quality time with daughters over last few days. Younger one to ice rink, middle one good meal out and fun with a corset (don’t ask), older one helping to move house. Grateful that younger daughter has a new placement on her course and started this week- she really wasn’t looking forward to it but after some prayer she said it was fantastic and looking forward to going back again.

Attics are good

Thankful to see a good friend again and have good chats and coffee (or chocolate if you’re that way inclined). Great to see her attic - would love to get my hands on the tidying. Wonderful to see friend’s face when she discovered some new colours on her scraping mandalas. Nice to know that the “increase your low sex drive” stones were still in a particular crystal shop. Really pleased to get books and music and candle holder from lovely friend. Nice that younger daughter has taken me up on taking her to ice rink and also that her snake seems to like her (hopefully not to eat her). Thankful that God hears our prayers - been praying for a lot of people lately.

Christmas with Family

Wow no grats for over two weeks!!! Doesn’t mean I haven’t been grateful - I really am. Spent wonderful Christmas and new year with extended family. Laughter and fun most of the time and being looked after for meals - what a life!! Very grateful I have social media friends who can answer fairly immediately - means I know someone’s out there all the time. Also grateful for new friends - who knows what 2020 will bring. Thankful for church friends who have invited me out for a meal at the weekend. Back getting a lot better so can drive a lot more now - still some way to go before I’m happy. Grateful that two daughters have got some hobbies (dress making and python snake !!).

Dresses

Wow a week past since I’ve done my grats. I still am so grateful for many things. Middle daughter has started a new hobby (sewing) and has made her first dress- looks impressive. Had quite a few lunches out with past friends and new - good catching up with news. Gave some Betty Blush chocolates to 92 year old saxophonist called Betty - the delight on her face was priceless. Met up with new band friends at their inaugural concert. Went to first Carol Service with new friend which was good. Lovely friend who is such a good support to me is so much better which is a real blessing - also given me books to read, new Netflix series to watch - she’s a star.

Friends

Haven’t been posting for a while mainly because I’ve been seeing a variety of friends which I realise I may have taken for granted - more effort required to be thankful and appreciative - acts of kindness don’t hurt so let’s try a few. Lovely phone call this week from a 90 year old I know to see how I was so have got her a box of chocolates (Betty’s Blush) that she had commissioned a long time ago. Been out to several places to lunch over past week - so grateful there is so much choice in Northumberland.

Presents

Lovely friend giving me more presents - ink stamping thingys for my sister in law teacher and a robust gin glass for me - cool. Met a new friend (well hope they will be) for a coffee and then lunch - gave them a Christmas tree stand - just what was wanted for the recently cut down tree!! Went out with band friends for two glasses of wine in our usual hostelry - good laugh and catch up.

Party time

Fantastic meeting up with ex work colleagues at their Christmas party- went incognito and loved the reactions- food and drink good - some acrobatics and nice free Eton Mess stall. Enjoyed buying a half price cat tree for youngest daughter Christmas present even though she hasn’t got a cat - proud of her wanting to foster cats short term before an owner can be found. Nearly joined an acting group for a play next July but they found someone slightly more experienced - still glad I was going to go through with it. Met an interesting man in a charity shop who talked to me about going out to Saudi Arabia for Christmas period to stay with a wealthy sheikh - really pleased I took the time to listen to his story.