I've been a bit down this week. Of course I have had a cold in the nose and that is a miserable feeling. I have tried taking remedies like head-ache meds to see if that helps but whatever I try wears off after a few hours and I go on feeling like a rhinoseros.

The weather has been colder as we go into the middle of winter. It looks fine and sunny but there is that nasty undercurrent of colder air. I have all the doors and windows open today though as the house was getting a musty smell and I thought I would give it a good airing while it is not actually raining. Not that we have had a lot of rain, just cloudy days and some drizzle. Not enough to make hay with. But the good news for down south is that there has been snow, so all who can afford to take their kids to see snow these winter school holidays are no doubt down there now building snowmen and having snow ball fights. While most of the country is still in drought.

My little friend who I take to church and craft has been undergoing tests and has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She still has some more tests to do. She doesn't have a family of her own but has many nieces she has helped raise so they are rallying around her. I have also helped her keep some of her appointments. It is hard to see someone you like going through this pain and suffering. I guess we all have had cancer touch family and friends and so that is why we pass on the emails with the burning candle, put money in boxes for cancer research charities etc. Still leaves you with that helpless feeling though, doesn't it?

I haven't had many replies to my invitation to our afternoon tea for our wedding anniversary on 26th July. I haven't sent out formal invitations, but I have sent out some emails and rang a few people, most of them say they will get back to me. I thought I'd celebrate our 40th as who knows if we will make our 50th? And if we do maybe our kids will throw us another party then, who knows? In the meantime I hope we get some replies in the positive so we don't have to have a food fight with all the left over food. I know Trevor is planning on a few special things and I have organised a cake so who wants some?

There seem to be a lot of bad news stories in the papers of late. I know we've had concerns about rising fuel costs, falling stock markets and global warming but these are all things we know are going to happen from time to time. The price of fossil fuel will double, treble etc and we will all learn to live with it or go back to walking everywhere and having a brick chimney stack on top of our homes again. We, the human race, have done a lot of living over many centuries and are not about to leave Planet Earth. I, for one, will not use the car more than I have to if prices get much higher, but we have to do some things, like keep medical appointments, and I guess we will budget for those extra prices, won't we?

I am trying to concentrate on the good things in life. I am blessed to have a roof over my head and food on the table. Ray may have disabilities but to date they have been manageable. I have minor health issues but compared to a lot of people I am superwoman. That is on my good days.....lol. So not a lot to complain about. But some days I get on my pity pot and stay there for a while doing the "poor me" chorus. Not an attractive sight I guess, so I will try not to do it, and if I do do it sometimes I will cut the episode as short as I can.

Blessing no 2.....

So roll on summer. Enjoy yours, you northern folk, your winter will come soon enough.