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I am home, yes I had my break from la Belle France and my ailing husband...

Arrived in the UK early evening, son-in-law and daughter shared the driving (I navigated!) We travelled through sunshine, rain and snow before reaching Calais (no illegals in sight I hasten to add!) in good time and caught an earlier ferry to Dover. Arrived at daughters picking up fish and chips en route (yummy!). Sunday was a 'chilling' day. Both youngest and middle daughters turned up with their offspring, so I had the pleasure of all of my 7 grandchildren under one roof for an afternoon. Got a superb picture of Thomas, Alex and Georges together, brilliant!!! Young Terry was still getting over surgery and looked quite poorly. The girls (my daughters) had a furious row (comme d'habitude) which diffused quickly once middle daughter left. Sometimes I do despair.

On Monday went for optician check - the 1st in years I hasten to add - and a quick look around the local town. Oh so different to here in rural France. Lots of young unemployed guys around during the day - wasn't like that 10 years ago. I find that the traffic is horrendous and so much pollution. I do so love the South East of the UK but is has become so, well, busy .

Tuesday I went to see my dear sweet Mother, she will be 89 years old next week. We had a lovely quiet time together. I am trying to get my family history together but when it comes to Mum it is difficult. You may gather from the previous sentence that she was born in 1921, yes it is true but she was born in Ireland and then brought up in a convent. There are records missing and I am having problems finding more about her family.... Am on the case though.

Dear Mum, she is losing her hearing... My older sister takes her to see the audiologist.
He says "hello Mrs W..., I understand you have a problem with your hearing".
Mum replies, "Pardon?",
Consultant says "you have a problem with your hearing!",
Mum says "Pardon?",
Consultant moves his chair closer and looks Mum squarely in the face and says "Mrs. W... you have a hearing problem?".
Mum says " Oh yes, I do!" and then she gives one of her lovely chuckles.....
I can just picture this.

So now Mum is up for hearing aids that will cut the disturbing noises and give her clarity of hearing. It will make it so much better for me when phoning her - I will not have to shout down the phone "Mum, it's me Patsy, Mum are you there?" etc...).

It was so good to see her again, it is just once a year. She is on her own, rambling around in a big house with a big garden to contend with. As she said to me "I am not moving, no way, this is my home, the only proper home I have known." Mum and Dad moved in when I was 2 weeks old on the 14th February 1947.. I moved out on the 14th February 1970, the day I got married......

Did a lovely carvery lunch on Tuesday with Mum, Big Sis, Little Sis and Sister-in-Law. Oh would so like to do it again soon. It snowed as well!!!!

On the Weds I went to stay with a dear friend (of 30+ yrs) who lost her husband last year. It was a super afternoon and evening. We had so much to talk about. She has moved into a superb little house in a local village not too far from my Brother and Sister-in-Law. Went and had lunch with their daughter on the Thurs and Vicki and Kath joined us. It was an absolute delight. I haven't seen Karen for ages, she is an absolute darling and has her own business making unique cards for all occasions www.crumblecards.co.uk

Thurs and Fri stayed with Vicki and then off to Kaths for Sat Sun and Mon. Dear Georges was poorly and cried a lot. I slept on Ians Fishing bed (chronic back ache!).
Met up with some young mums that I have known for some time. Was lovely to see them after such a long time. By Tuesday I was ready to come back.

I had been phoning Jeff daily - he was not abandoned at all. I needed to check on him, just to hear him. If there was any problem I would have changed flights etc just to get back and see if he was OK.

Took Ryanair flight from Stansted to Poitiers. What a lovely trip, weather was clear, a nice companion in the next seat, and it was not a lumpy flight at all. I think I could do it again no probs. I would like to become a seasoned traveller - I could cope with it..

When Kathy dropped me off at the airport she said, "Mum, would you like me to come in with you?" I chuckled "I am sure I can cope". She left me to my own devices... It was so easy.

So I arrived home to a hale and hearty husband.

Jeff went to see the pneumologist on the 1st March. A friend went with him, just to sit in on the consultation in case he missed anything said. Consultant was pleased that the smoking had been stopped and after examination confirmed that he had COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) which I had already looked up and thought was the problem. So now my dear husband and life long partner (43 years!!!!) must now reconsider his lifestyle. It is an 'affectation longe duree', he will never get better and may get 5% or 10% improvement in his lungs. He has been told to walk at least 3k a day. To the top of our lane and back is 2k and he does that twice a day walking the dog so he is on the right track at last. A friend of Vickis is a physiotherapist and she suggests blowing up balloons to improve his lung function. I have also suggested that he goes to the local pool a couple of times a week so he can swim which will also help... I just want him to survive for as long as possible.