PortiaBentley Member

Well hello Crackers. I can’t believe it’s been nearly 2 years since I last posted. And the fact that I’m back may give you an inkling that I have been struggling with my weight and wellbeing for a while. This time I started well then got an annoying pop up which kept interrupting my activity and wouldn’t go away. A…

Hello Crackers I've been enjoying the posts but had little time for responding. It's been very busy at work but it seems to be going well and my contract has been extended until 30 June so that's good! Eating and exercise have been taking a back seat due to long work days and a long journey to work coupled with bad weather…

Happy New Year Crackers! I hope that for all of us the new year brings health and good fortune. No new year resolution other than to live well and happy for me. God bless you all. PB xxxx

Hello all and may I add my own Merry Christmas to you all. Since my last post I went down with a throat infection which took away my voice. I'm now battling a chesty cough so sadly absolutely no singing this Christmas. Hope to be up to singing on 8th Jan when we are joining with a local brass band so not a total washout.…

Just a quick check in before I go to church. Lovely to see all the posts! Typically, I've gone down with a bug and can bearly speak never mind sing.... all is well otherwise though. Only one more week and then a lovely long weekend. I have, for the first time in years finished cards and presents. Now just need energy to…

Oh LMV you've certainly had an Annus horribilis. It's so sad and so exhausting for you. My wish is for you to have a much better 2017! I won't be sorry to see the back of this year either but my troubles are minimal and my ankle is mended so I will count my blessings. My fairy goddaughter has come to stay with her granny…

Hello Crackers - what a lovely long post MITM and so good to hear you are out of plaster - it does take time to get back to normal though doesn't it. Its also good to hear you are doing well on the weight front - you have been amazing and an inspiration (even if at the moment I am making no progress I know that it is…

Hi BM your cat sounds a lot like one I had called Frodo. He was big and had attitude but only one eye which made him look quite scary but in fact he was a big softie and quite a local character. It was hard to lose him but I had him for about 13 years so he did quite well. I missed him a lot. I'm sure the sores aren't as…

HI BM - lovely to read your post - it sounds like your health is still a worry though - I'm so sorry to hear that. How long before you will be able to come to the house in Somerset? Are you hoping to retire there? How long is it till you go to Bali? Is that a holiday or work for your OH? I have promised myself I will try…

Hello Crackers - I'm so sorry its been a while since I've been on here. I can only plead that I have had the busiest few weeks with leaving early and getting home late. I did get the texts and I'm very grateful for your concern and thoughts. My life is (at last) looking up - I have a new job - although its only until…

Hello Crackers. Thank you for the birthday wishes. I had a lovely time and yes I made chocolate cake which I filled with fresh cream and strawberries from my garden. It looked a mess but tasted very good and there wasn't much left! My guests have all gone home now so I'm eating left overs and clearing up slowly. Off to…

Hi Bracken - Pie Jesu is usually sung by a high soprano (if its the one I know!) so I'm quite impressed if a adult male could do it - unless he is a counter tenor? Not a name I know though. Beautiful piece of music. I am in preparation for a bbq later today as its my birthday tomorrow as I will be at work. However, my…

Hi Bracken I was moved yesterday too as my granddad Storey went over the top at the Somme. He was just 17 and he was wounded and taken prisoner so I guess he was one of the lucky ones. I don't know much about his brother Albert but he was the one who set off for Saskatchewan after the war. At this point I wish I could…

Well hello Crackers. What a week its been! But first - hi BM - good to see you. Love to you too! First I'd better tell you about my new job (temp). I am PA support in a plant hire company so the first thing that happened was that I was issued with a bright orange vest - to prevent me being run over by diggers and JCBs…

Delighted to say that I have a temp contract starting Monday

Hello Crackers - well that was annoying. I had written part of a blog and then added a couple of photos (Before photos of my living room) and then managed to lose both. So here goes again. Bracken I love your description of your garden and like you I would blub copiously over a dead animal and bury it with gentleness (if…

MITM. WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Crackers - well a quick look in - and lovely to hear from you BM. You'll soon be seeing Maisie for real I hope? My situation has not changed at the moment and there appear to be very few jobs around that are suitable, but I have a few irons in the fire and I guess it is still quite early days - I'm just impatient. I…

Hi BM. Doing ok (if not focus send on weight loss).

HI BM - great to see you. Welcome. thank you for your kind thoughts - Mum is doing well after her cancer scare - thankfully, no cancer has been detected although she needs treatment for stones in her bile ducts and a pancreas that isn't working as it should. As far as singing is concerned I had a lovely Choral Evensong to…

Sadly, MITM, the political situation in the UK is hardly better. We are polarising around racism and fear as we head towards the referendum. There is basically no reliable information about the truth because the politicians (and the media) are spinning everything so much they couldn't begin to tell you what was truthful…

Hi Crackers = well I must say that I have been supported and comforted by the actions of friends over the past few days and have been out the last two evenings and, although I was still feeling quite sick yesterday morning I do feel now that the shock is beginning to wear off and I feel a bit more ready to face the next…

Hello Crackers - well I've been a bit quiet for the last few days for good reason. My job at UCS has been terminated as of today. I've had an awful week as I was rather expecting it, but I'm now feeling quite relieved as it is all over. Don't know what else to say at the moment - probably need to sleep on the situation.…

Hello Bracken - yes the awful fire in Fort McMurray has been making the news here - it is quite an extraordinary thing and quite difficult to imagine a whole town going up in smoke - so many people made homeless and losing everything they hold dear - my thoughts are with them. To be fair its a relief from the elections…

Hello Deborah - and welcome back. Its good to hear from you and know that you are making small steps to recovery. Also lovely to know that Mum and baby are doing well - that must give you some relief too. A quick pop in is all it takes I hope to let you know that you are watched for daily and we are very glad to have you…

Hello Crackers - good to see your lovely posts about gardening Bracken - I so wish I could enjoy gardening, but its far too much like hard work! Also, I find myself freaked out by the insects in a garden.... Bracken I think you are right to wait to see your GP re your specialist. Here in the UK we have a fast track system…

Well Good Morning Crackers - I'm amazed to say that I slept through till 8.00am this morning - something I never do. I'm not sure why as I didn't have a particularly busy day yesterday (although I did shift some furniture around). Next Thursday, for the QUeens Birthday I am singing the first verse of Rule Brittania,…

Hi Crackers - well the witch queen really did it this time. She started my probation meeting by telling me that she wanted to extend it!!!! The policy is that should the manager want to extend my probation I should have been informed before hand, in writing. HR should have been present and I should have been given the…

Oh Bailey my heart goes out to you but even so it's good to see the transformation taking place in the course of your post. I can relate to all those horrible feelings you describe. Pulling yourself together is not helpful advice when you are in the depths like that though. Don't apologise to the Crackers! You have nothing…

That one looks pretty fab to me. I make chocolate cake a lot but I can't decorate. Just discovered I won 5X£25 on the premium bonds this month. Nice!