Whoops!

Didn't realise it had been so long since I blogged. A thousand apologies to friends who are waiting for news of how I am, I am so sorry to have kept you waiting!




Well, the big news is the kitchen and bedroom/ensuite are finished - YAY!!!! All that's needed now in both rooms are the 'little touches' - decent curtains etc. etc. A few pics, first the kitchen ....



Those dreadful boring blue curtains at the window are temporary I assure you - am looking for something much brighter and more cheerful!

Now the bedroom and ensuite ...







The bedlinen is also temporary for this room but is bright and cheerful and roughly the colours I'm planning to use, because I am totally besotted with my shower curtain and had to have it the minute I clapped eyes on it! Better picture below:










It inspired me to scrap - after a fashion! This is what I did this afternoon, the first scrapping I've done since goodness knows when - I hope it has kicked my dozey mojo into action...







A bit blurry I'm afraid! I matched cardstock exactly to the colours in the curtain and copied the patterns. Bought 4 cheap silver coloured frames and even managed to hang them on the wall opposite the beds.

Now, as to how I'm doing.... A lot better than I expected to be honest. I'm sure having workmen in the house for so long has helped. I've had to make decisions and generally be practical about what needs to be done, and haven't really had time to brood or wallow in self-pity.

We'd known since Derek had his aneurysm operation in 2000 that his time was limited - the consultant told us in 2001 that we had maybe three or four years before the abdominal aneurysm would reach a size that would start giving problems. We were lucky and had 7 years. We tried to make the best of it, but at the same time we BOTH mourned the loss of the man Derek had been. If I'm to be truthful here I have to say that after his kidney removal at christmas I did not expect him to live until the end of this year. Each time he was ill it seemed to take more out of him and each time he recovered less well.

And this may shock you - I am not surprised at how things have turned out. Why? Because each time we've moved house Derek has had a major illness within 6 months. The first move was followed by a heart attack, which led to severe angina and eventually bypass surgery; the second move was followed by the aneurysm; the temporary move last year (between selling our house and moving here) was marred by the diabetes diagnosis; and finally the move here ......

As to what I'm going to do - stay here in Spain or return to the UK - I haven't made any decisions about that yet, and don't plan to for several months. First and foremost, I'm certain Derek would be hugely disappointed in me if I threw in the towel and high-tailed it back to Lincolnshire straight away. Second - well, I read the papers and watch Sky news - do I WANT to go back to the UK, what has it got to offer me (or anyone else for that matter)? - NOTHING, ZERO, ZILCH ..... (apart from the family that is). I certainly never want to own property over there again, seems you're a sitting duck for every tax and price hike known to man if your money's in bricks and mortar - NO THANK YOU! Having said that, I haven't a clue at the moment what I'm going to do with myself here, haven't had time to see what there is on offer, although one of my priorities is to get going with Spanish and I believe there is free tuition via the Town Hall. The children are telling me to stay where I am, although Sara would also like me to go 'home' as she worries about me so much! I do at least need to try and build a life for myself here, otherwise it will be a terrible waste of everything we worked towards.

We hope to hold some kind of memorial service in the UK later in the year, that is something I must start thinking about. I'll probably go back in June/July to start preparing for it, and I would like it to be around 5th September, which would be our 43rd anniversary. I wonder if anyone thinks that's morbid?

Sara, Chloe and Elli arrive here next Wednesday for a week. We're looking forward to seeing each other, and crossing our fingers for lovely weather! I hope the boys and their families will be able to visit soon as well. We had dreadful rain again last week, the workmen had just finished in the house and I was looking forward to getting out and about, looking for the things I want to finish the new rooms, but it was so awful I stayed put - very depressing though!

OK, I've whittered on long enough - thank you for your patience! And thanks to everyone who's been sending me messages and emails and reminding me that this update is long overdue! .... Bless all of you ......