Another Birthday

I've had a super weekend. First I took trains to stay with friends near Eastbourne, and it was good to catch up with them as I haven't seen them since they came to George's funeral in September 14. On Sunday morning I was back on the train, hoping to get to Worthing, but had to change onto a bus at Brighton because of the dreaded engineering works.

I arrived in time to be met my family so we could go to the Angmering Manor Hotel for another birthday celebration. My first husband's sister, Hazel, aunt to my two offspring, will be 70 tomorrow, so my daughter colluded with a friend to organise the surprise lunch party at the weekend at this heavenly venue.

Heavenly it was, built in the 16th century and still has lots of original features. We had a room to ourselves that comfortably fitted the 15 of us. The food was good, and so was the conversation. Afterwards we looked around the garden and peeped in the windows of the indoor swimming pool that has been added at the back. One lucky couple who came all the way from Wales had booked in for a 2 night stay.

We had all chipped in for Hazel's present - a helicopter flight over the coast and the South Downs that she can now cross off her bucket list. She was quite overcome as you can see in the photo.

Birthday Celebrations

On Friday, we celebrated my daughter's birthday in style at the Rancho American Steakhouse at Poole Quay. The food was great and everyone had a good time.

It was my third outing of the day, following a lovely morning walk in the winter sunshine on Sandbanks Beach, and an afternoon of singing at Hamworthy library. I loved it all but I'm still so tired, and I can't get my head around work this weekend.

After the Storms

Today my fences are being repaired following the storms which brought one side down and the other threatening. I thought the work wouldn't happen as it rained a lot this morning but as soon as it eased a bit the man turned up to start the job. The man is my new neighbour on the other side of the broken fence. When we went to discuss it with them the first time we met them, we discovered that fencing is one of his many skills, and he offered to do it on a Saturday when he didn't have other work.

So that was a problem easily solved. We'd already had one person to look at the job but he never came back with the quote he promised. They are all swamped with work because of the storm damage. My fence panels are ok and I don't suppose the repair work would be lucrative. But it's in the interests of my neighbour as well as me to get it done, and I will pay him cash, so everyone will be happy.

The Work Comes In

I've been working again. Asked for commissions from a former customer and was welcomed with open arms. I now have five more articles under my belt. It  took me  a while to get back into the routine of researching and writing, so the pieces took longer to put together than they should. But it was good to have a purpose for each day and something to do while I was pretty housebound with a bad cold. Now to sit back and relax.

Tomorrow the family are off to London for another long weekend. They won't be back till Monday, which will seem strange as I've got so used to having them around all the time. I've invited a friend to come and stay for the weekend so I won't be alone. She was recently widowed and is very stressed by all the arrangements she needs to make for her own solitary life, so it will be good for her to get away from  her home for a bit.

Everything seems to be changing at the moment. The one constant is the dogs. I shall have to walk them on my own this weekend as my friend will not be up to it.