I know what you mean about feeling ill...I have come down with this cough that's going around, so ive been in bed early every night this week.....

I feel totally out of the loop, what has been going on? anything exciting?

no idea really whats going on with john and Josie, but at least they brought us all together and created friendships.

trying to find something interesting to watch on TV. I liked the last leg, that was back on Friday night, but...what else is worth seeing? Or reading?

Sorry to hear this, please
joined the sickness club

not been up to much really, hubs did go away for a while

as for the tv , haven't found much to interest me
well besides the sport you know i love to watch

was all in a pickle yesterday..... Liverpool were playing as well as England cricket team and if
that wasn't enough England rugby was also on, all at the same time

not sure whats been going on around the net, so i,m just as out of the loop as you are M x

hope you are feeling better
take care Jx

Hi
My neck is killing me despite numerous sessions at the osteopath and painkillers!

I'm reading the books of Elena Ferrante - great!! Also just read Seven Principles of Physics - great. EMPIRE by Niall Ferguson.

As for TV - SPIN on Fridays on More4 is terrific as is the Good Wife and Death in Paradise.

Does this help?

If we had more people, I'd suggest starting the book club again.

im feeling much better than I did, I managed to get into the garden to plant some crocus, just please tell me they don't die if there is a heavy frost? I planted some on where we buried our old dog last year, with his initial letter, it seemed to fit.

There are some nasty bugs going around aren't there, hopefully the frost and cold weather will kill a few of them off.

Now war and peace is finished, I am trying to find other things to watch, it looks almost as if its time again for Eurovision......and im fascinated by watching the supervet programme, where the vet fixes all the animals. it is quite incredible what he can do.

I still want to find a book club somewhere, I think I may have to start my own, the trouble is my timetable with work etc , is so variable, some weeks I have almost nothing , and some weeks I am busy almost all week....the only ones I could find locally clashed with other things.....so back to the drawing board!

hey almost a joint post......

I like the idea of a book club........but we need tea and biscuits as well....I will try and put those books on my book list!!

I do like the Good wife, that is great TV. My husband is enjoying Spin, but we have just finished watching Deutschland 83, and I cant cope with too many foreign language programmes!! maybe I will try Death in paradise again..

and here I am again...on a wet and miserable day......

isn't it silly how much time you can spend doing almost nothing!! I had a lovely day in London yesterday wandering around the V and A museum, a lovely day of escapism, which is so nice to do at times....

But all the rest of the week has been busy busy busy , Time does go differently as you get older doesn't it!!

Time really does fly when you get older! You are right there augusta.

Sorry I haven't been on, but been having neck and hand problems.

My crocuses - and other bulbs - are alive and sprouting despite a week of heavy frosts.

How are we all?

We are now planning a small party for our anniversary (it was in January). O/H has finally agreed to buy some ready made things so we don't have to make so many things! A friend has also bought us a case of champagne.

Going to the John Soane Museum on Thursday - hope I can remember which turning off Kingsway!

Anyway, must get going. I am cooking today - doing a New England dinner - salt beef, cabbage and potatoes - with carrots and green veg of course!

Enjoy the end of the weekend.

Good monday morn

hope all are feeling better

Feeling very jealous of my son today, he has just booked a week in Rome for May.
He is of with the girlfriend , lovely girl, and both are not really into the beach holiday, so Rome will be perfect for them

This euro vote is weighing heavy on my mind, such a big thing, need to read
everything and make a informed decision.

need to pop to the shops now, the fridge is empty
be back soon x

Yum Yum now that sounds good x

I cant get my head around whats going on in Europe at all, trouble is I think for the last 20 years so much has been blamed on Europe and the EU , things like not selling wonky vegetables, yet now we find out from programmes like Jamie and Jimmy that its actually more about the convenience of the supermarkets than anything else!!
its so hard to know what the actual facts are.

And even though it does seem pretty obvious that the European beauracracy isn't perfect, isn't it actually better to be part of the discussion to change things, rather than leaving?

but it will be interesting to see how the debate develops.

And I have also been doing a course on internet stranger danger, and how dangerous the internet can be for children.

It was so scary and thought provoking. Basically they were saying far too many children are unaware of the risks, and far too many parents have no idea of the risks that children are exposing themselves to. Most children are aware of the risk of a stranger in a white van tempting them with sweets, but will chat perfectly happily to total strangers in an online game like Minecraft. And children have no idea how easy it is for adults to geotrace their address or cross reference from one platform onto another, so go from a relatively safe path on an online game, to talking on instagram or snapchat.

We also talked about the sheer amount of inappropriate imagery that kids get exposed to, from songs, videos and song lyrics, and inappropriate content within games like grand theft auto. There is a new app , musicality which KS2 kids, and older are having fun with, which is where they mime along to song lyrics and then the song is automatically uploaded to the web. But often the lyrics are totally unsuitable for any child, and those copied images are then shared everywhere.

But the scariest thing was that the worst thing the kids could think of, was if their parents found out they had been doing this, they might stop them going online, rather than any realisation that the biggest danger was from trusting strangers on the internet.
so as adults we need to be careful, not to punish kids for going online, and putting themselves potentially into dangerous situations where they might be groomed or manipulated by someone nasty, but instead try and get them to talk, so they can be warned.

Another awful thing going around is the scary selfie, photos of kids in dangerous situations posted online to impress, which easily could be dangerous, if they are doing something like leaning over a bridge, over a motorway.....

its a scary world out there, I don't think I want to be young!!!

Interesting post augusta.

Kids don't seem to have hobbies or 'collect' anything anymore and most can't hold any kind of conversation because they are too involved with their tablets/smart phones! I have banned them from our house. For some reason some parents seem to be afraid to monitor their child's computer activity. Mine were so strict. . .

My last course on Art Crime was amazing. Lots of interaction with the tutor which made it so interesting. Wish I had the money to actually take a degree - that would make 4 if I finished it.

How are we all?

I managed to get into London yesterday - great trip. Met a friend I hadn't seen since before Xmas. We went to the John Soane house and then we walked around Lincoln Fields and Lincoln Inn. Parks police were practicing their cycling and there were two people practicing boxing - too cold for me.

No news of John I see. Wonder when he is coming over - or has he been and gone? I thought he was coming over in January for some reason! Oh well.

Have a good weekend all.

Art crime sounds fascinating, and I too would love to do another degree, either for interest or in something practical, I think a jewellery degree would be amazing, trouble is cost...and being at a time of my life where we want everything paid off in time for retirement!

I haven't heard anything about John, but he looks happy, which is good to hear,

Is anyone else watching the rugby? Or planning to watch the Oscars tonight, or the Night manager?

I,ve been watching the rugby....... love the game, didn't get hold of any tickets this year, but it did look cold at twickenham , so we were quite pleased

love watching the oscars red carpet, not so much the show, pleased for Leo though
well deserved

Morning!!!

I've been relegated to watching the rugby upstairs with closed doors - o/h says I shout and scream too much!!!

Think I overdid it yesterday - went to London to see the Garden exhibition at the Royal Academy. WONDERFUL and very very uplifting.

I have put a wash on, emptied the dishwasher, made o/h's lunch and printed out more things for my course - this is the toughest yet! When he leaves for work, I am going to make some breakfast and return to bed with a hot wheatpad round my neck for a couple of hours - going to London tomorrow to meet a friend for lunch - but might actually do a bit of shopping too - want to get home early!!!!

Fed up with US primaries! If this is the best choice for Americans, I give UP!!!!!

Have a good day all.

afternoon all, Im impressed by all your trips out Nyannie! I saw the gardens exhibition as well, its wonderful isn't it....

made me want to get out into the garden and plant things........mothers day tomorrow, I think we are going somewhere for lunch, its nice to be spoilt!

Morning all

Hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day.

We have cleared out the kitchen. Got rid of four pans that were losing their non-stick surface, found 6 spatulas - 4 for the charity bag and 5 whisks - 3 for the charity shop. Where do we get all this stuff from?

Off to London to see the Garden exhibition again - I loved it first time.

My course on the MOONS is fascinating - so many beautiful pictures and videos. I'm even learning - and RETAINING - things!!!!

Sad to see no news of John.

Have a good day all.

wow what a busy bee you have been
those charity shop near you must be very pleased
i do love a charity shop .... i must admit

mothers day was lovely those lovely boys of mine , bought me a new charm to go on my necklace ..... i now have a mothers day rose links of london charm to go with the rest, very pleased

i have been so busy, so not around much, we must get together soon for lunch.
would hate to lose touch

looking forward to the rugby tomorrow, shout away Nyannie , ignore hubby

charity shops and car boot sales can be great fun,.....its a good way to spend money, and get the fun of spending without breaking the bank....

still no news of John, just a couple of pictures on instagram, which do brighten the day up.

I would love to get together for lunch, lets suggest a few dates? its nice to have things to look forwards to, and I will try and get on here a bit more.......life just tends to get in the way !!

Love a good car boot , great for plants, I take Dad he loves them

i,m pretty free in April for a luncheon, and perhaps a museum

i,m looking into getting a new car, don,t need my big estate anymore, looking for something small and fun.

Nyannie the rugby was fantastic on Sat, Wales in the last ten mins really came back at us, a very nervous ending

of to kingston now, hubs wants a new suit

Morning all

Been busy with my course on MOONS! Fabulous ! Also now reading most of the Shakespeare plays I haven't for another course!!!

Would love to meet up sometime - I can't do anything until early May though.

Anyone interested in meeting up for lunch, please send me a PM with dates and what you would like to do.

Gather there is no news of John.

Have a lovely weekend - what is left of it anyway and send me a PM!!!

just one more week to go until Easter, and then a bit of calm for a few weeks,

I would love to meet up sometime, its nice to do something entirely for myself. So much of my life is about work or family, which is wonderful, but sometimes its nice to just do things for myself! This year has just gone so fast....that I often have no idea where the weeks have gone.

Although I have been lucky enough to go up to London and do quite a few interesting things, I just need to make sure I book a few more things!

So we won the rugby, and I have become engrossed in the latest series of House of Cards! Its so interesting to watch in parallel with the latest presidential election race news! im not sure which one currently is more fantastical than the other!

And to go from the sublime to the ridiculous, I have also been watching Girls, with Lena Dunham, which is like an updated version of sex in the city...its ..........fascinating....I am so glad I am not young at the moment, there just are no rules about how to behave.....at all. Which I think makes life and relationships extremely confusing.

morning all.....everyone must be busy.

I think there are some more photos of John online, looking good ...

apart from that Happy Easter everyone.

We watched Martian last night, what an odd film. I liked elements of it, but it felt so slow, and I got confused about the time it to to do things, I thought it took about 4 years for a trip to mars, that's about 1,400 days, to go one way, so how did the spaceship that rescued Matt Damon have time to get back to earth and then back to Mars, in time?

Hope you had a good Easter.

Do you have the link for the photos?

Cleaned refrigerator, did more decluttering - and we have yet ANOTHER leak! Not surprising when we had 60 mph winds and torrential rain!

Having fish and chips tonight for dinner.

Busy week ahead.

Hope everyone is happy and healthy.