It's warm!! Well warmER

The bird bath has been very popular this morning. It has been frozen pretty much constantly for the last 2 or 3 weeks but now had water again rather than ice and there has been a lot of splashing going on. The birds have queued up in the trees to take their turn. Just watched a robin hogging it. He/she was loving it and splashed around a lot. It's still only about 6C outside but seems so much warmer than 2C with a wind chill of -5.

I had an early start this morning with Jen going to a new dentist for the first time and guess what? The only appointment I could get to see my doctor in the next two weeks is 8.10 next Monday morning! :-( It's bad enough being a Monday but 8.10?? He is fully booked this week and only in on Monday next week *sigh*.
Between a long wait for a blood test to be done and now a wait to see doc, it will be over a month since initial request. Good job it's not urgent eh? At least I know the blood test results will be there. They should already be there now!

Mum

Did you watch 'midwives' last night? I found the deaths of the loving brother and sister very moving and I was in floods of tears. It brought back some awful memories and some good ones for me. I re-lived the day I heard my Mum had finally left us after a severe stroke, followed by my lovely hubby, Peter later that same day.
I had spent time at Mum's bedside that last week, just sitting holding her hand and talking to her, not knowing if she could hear me or if it sunk in, as she drifted in and out of consciousness. One piece of news I know she did hear was that my first grandchild was on the way. Later on she managed to say "Craig - baby", with difficulty, in a lucid moment.
 Losing Peter was a huge blow and nowhere near as peaceful as he had the full response team working on him to bring him back. They sent me out of the room while they tried all sorts to bring his fluttery heart back working but to no avail. I don't think he knew what was happening. I had found him 'asleep' in his chair in front of the tv, but could feel a faint pulse so opened the front door and  dialled 999 while I tried to drag him onto the floor. The paramedic was there in less than 2 minutes! and the ambulance followed about 2 mins after that. They did all they could.
All that happened 7 1/2 years ago now yet the memories of that day will be with me forever. It took me 3-4 years to be able to watch CPR and re-suss scenes on Casualty and Holby City without feeling that panic again.

January 2011

My grandson will be 7 next month and is the most adorable little boy. I had the chance to spend time with him and his half brother last week, enjoying bedtime especially. Alex is gentle and loving and loves being read to in bed. I got special lovely hugs as he snuggled down. Jack is almost 11 now and way too grown up for a story or hugs and kisses... but he can't run away when he's in bed *evil grin*.
Horrible Grandma inflicting kisses on him!

I am lucky that this last cold snap came before most of my camellia buds had opened. The few that had went brown very quickly with the deep frosts, and the rest seem to have halted their opening. I hope they do recover and open later rather than just dropping off.
The pic was last year showing the first buds opening. Not so many are open yet so fingers crossed they survive the frosts.
The blooms are lovely and the bush looks spectacular for about 3 weeks.
There are daffs well up now and should be flowering before too long :-)
Spring is on its way.


I am watching the skies for the starling flight displays, but it is maybe a bit early yet. There are several around Poole town and I love to watch them while I walk the dog pre-sunset. It won't be long - I've seen small training flights taking place with last years babies practising the moves.

We had a shock last week to find our quiz pub has changed hands and the new owners were moving in on Tuesday! I do hope they don't do major changes to the menu, but I expect there will be quite a few. The Acorn is one of the few remaining pubs in the area that is a drinking pub that does food, rather than a restaurant that does beer. Their meal prices were very reasonable with most dishes in the £4-£7 range. Good basic pub grub, nothing fancy, but well cooked and a good plateful for the money. We will miss Margaret's meals. Hope they have some food in for tonight!

Keep warm folks - not long until summer! :-)
xx