It's always lovely to see members of the family and close friends.  I've done well this week, with visits on Wednesday (OH's family) and today (my family and friend)  Got a trifle nostalgic, for that and other reasons too.  Good memories are a blessing

This is one of my Polyvore montages.  Yesterday we had guests for tea so I got out the best china and my lovely Indian tea trolley and there was cake, and they brought cake too.  And we took their dog for quite a long walk along the path called Longstrops. And we really did have a lovely time.

This photo was taken about 5 years ago at Sutton Hoo, when mum could still totter along with her wheels.  She has given permission to tell you this story.  She had a hospital appointment yesterday and when it was over I had to go and get the car, so I left her in the reception area, parked alongside a lie of chairs.  When I got back I saw a friend who came to say a few words.  Then mum said,"When are you going to get the wheelchair"  "What wheelchair" I said. "The one to take me out to the car" she said.  My friend and I looked at her. "Oh, I'm sitting in it aren't I" she said.  Oh we did larf.  And that's the blessing, that mum and I do still have lots of laughs!

I am blessed with lovely friends who know me well enough to trust that me that dinner will be properly cooked and unlikely to cause illness, even if the kitchen is a bit of a mess, and the rest of the house for that matter.

I have been a dutiful daughter for most of today.  It is a pleasure but boy oh boy am I tired now.  But, through the wonders of modern technology I have been able to settle down to St John Passion on BBC4 as I taped it.  Bliss.

I have been trying to come up with some clever abstract allegorical picture for this post. I've given up, have some flowers instead.  I am feeling a bit soppy actually, so forgive me if I am being a bit sentimental today but I have really had it brought home to me that, while it is lovely to have friends who are there when you need them, it is really special when you realise that they need you too.

I experienced a somewhat surprising and wonderful few minutes of mutual sharing of faith and the love of God with a Muslim and a Hindu yesterday.  At the same time.

I was in the right place at the right time yesterday, to give some help to someone in distress.

I was up very early this morning as the new deal is that I go and get mum's breakfast and help her have a wash on a Monday morning.  Last night I posted a few drafts, just with a picture, so that I have some available for the days when I do this from the iPad. Pleased to see that it worked. And yesterday I had a lovely walk with OH and we stopped by at The Farmhouse for a drink on the way back.  we both had coffee!

It's funny how things often work out for the best.  Now that, by mutual consent, mum isn't coming to stay overnight anymore, we have been spending more quality time together, on the phone as well as with me going over to hers.

While singing hymns and eating strawberries in church yesterday afternoon I met two ladies who are involved with Suffolk Family Carers. I do already belong but they gave me a lot to think about and it was very kind of them to talk to me about things for quite a long time afterwards too.

I had a pretty well perfect day yesterday.  The walk was great, although the route had to be changed at short notice due to a sign going up saying there was a bull in one of the fields we were meant to cross.  Then we ended up the wrong side of a big barred metal gate that was locked so we all had to climb over it with the help of two gentlemen of the party.  Some of us took a shorter route back to Bucklesham Church while the others went up to Brightwell.  Some risked the field and had to run away from the bull and the cows that were with it!  I got to know a couple of people walking and another two during lunch which was just fab (although service rather slow)  I had lambs liver and bacon and mash and beer battered onion rings followed by a chocolate marquise with orange sorbet.  I got back about 3.15 and put my feet up on the settee for a while and pottered about a bit and then in the evening me and the OH watched a DVD of Morse and I had some cheese and biscuits and a lovely glass of Old Rosie.  The picture is a screen shot of Google Maps satellite photo of where we walked.  I think I did a bit over 2 miles in the end and it has encouraged me to make the effort again.

I like this poem.  I know that not everyone who reads these posts shares my faith, and I hope I never try to force it on people, but I will talk about it.  Some of you know that the last few weeks have been quite difficult and, while I don't exactly feel that I have been carried, I certainly have felt God very close to me and known that he was ready to pick me up if I needed it.  It is a blessing that comes with troubles, feeling His presence.  It has been there in quiet times on my own and there in the huge support I get from some very special friends.

This photo is of my dad, in honour of Father's Day.  He used to do a lot of amateur Dramatics and this was taken for the front of house in about 1973.  He passed away in 1974.
Anyway, took mum home yesterday, she's finished the course of antibiotics so I didn't have to set my alarm for 5.00 this morning.  Now for bacon rolls at church and lovely gardens this afternoon

Oops, nearly forgot today, it's nearly 3 in the afternoon, I must have been having fun!  I have been trying to sort out old photos but not getting very far.  This is my mum and dad on their first proper date, which I think was in Southend.  So that's something to be thankful for, 'cos if that hadn't happened then neither would I.

I was reading a post from Suffolk Carers on Facebook yesterday.  They invited people to give a brief description of a typical day.  I was going to do mine but when I read what other people had put I felt quite ashamed.  I have so little to put up with compared to so many of them.
The photo is of  lupins in my garden, my hand moved, and I am going to try again deliberately this time, as I rather like the abstract effect

Gold stars for the lad who saw my OH trying to struggle the bin back to the house( I wish he wouldn't!) and offered to help

My poor mum has developed a tooth abscess so it's all hands to the pumps as I try and sort out and take her for an emergency dental appointment.  The thing I am grateful for is that it didn't happen while I was immobilised

I can sit comfortably at the PC again!  So I got on with some administration type stuff yesterday and then I drew a picture with the Sketch Pad program.  And the grass has been cut by the ever wonderful Sally.  Win Win Win

Yesterday I had a long relaxed and truly fab lunch HERE with my BFF Heather.  We both had paella and it was all perfectly cooked, and then we had naughty puddings and ice cream.  It was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours and their chairs are very comfortable so my back didn't protest too much at all.  I am now going to try to get back to my normal (?) routine (!!??)