I don't usually blog twice in the one day. NO I am not becoming a blogoholic so don't send me support group numbers (Sandy) or write sympathetic tags. I need to tell you something.

I AM GOING TO BE A GRANDPARENT!! again and also for the fourth time. There is no news more wonderful. Well maybe if the neurologist could say:"It is as if Ray had never had a stroke." that would qualify. Our DIL is 40+ but happy to be having her second child, baby sibling to our adored Tori. We are happy too, another little one is such a blessing. Tori is off to school next year but I'm sure will happily come here for overnights and some Saturdays so we are not losing her, just changing the days. Now there is also the new little one to look forward to.

I just love the way people reach out in times of stress in a way that is non-threatening and meaningful. I had a mammogram today. I left Ray in the main reception area, trod a quiet corridor and crossed silent carpet to a small reception space where the nurse comes to collect you. A woman came out of one of the doors and said: "Thank goodness that is over, you'll be next." and vanished. Then a smiling woman came around the corner and started a conversation as soon as she sat down, before minutes had gone by we were laughing and joking and telling each other our troubles. She had been back many times as she had had breast surgery on one breast and needed to have the other monitored.

When the nurse came to collect me she asked if my friend would be okay waiting for me there. We both looked blank and said that we had never met before. She said:"I coud hear you laughing, I thought you must be best friends." I can say that for a moment or two it certainly felt like we were and both of us got relief from our own troubles as we talked to a stranger about hers. Another kind of support, like we get here but face-to-face.

Christmas cards are arriving by the handful and I am still not half way through sending mine. I feel like a slow writer this year, too much sadness has happened and I was feeling overburdened by it. But now I have the GOOD,GREAT etc news my pen will just fly across the paper. That will make it even harder than usual to read my writing.