days out...

Hello Friends,
I wouldn't wonder if I did not have any friends left I have been so bad at updating my blog...SORRY... I am going to try to make amends and start to write more regularly.  I am always afraid that I am boring you as day by day  I seem to follow the same old patren...mostly !!   However since last time I wrote life had been interesting !!   My friend Sheila arrived down from Edinburgh ( via Cardiff where she had been visiting her daughter) It is great when Sheila arrives. we have known each other now for over 40 years now. We are true friends as we were out of contact for quite a while and suddenly got re acquainted and it was as if we had met only a few days before, other than the fact that we had a whole lot of news to catch up with. (We had first met at a Spina Bifida Meeting. Sheila had a son Martin with Spina Bifida he was one of the older children when we started up the Ass. and Sheila was very involved right from the start.)  Sheila is now on her own since Martin died ..and also Martin her husband...when she is down with me we have good times especially as we can get out and about in the car. Sheila does not drive so enjoys that.  We paid a visit to our nearest Safari Park Longleat. It is a great place and not far from me here in Box, only takes about 40 mins to drive there.  It is a beautiful estate owned by Lord Bath and was one of the first Safari Parks to open in the UK.  It is quite fascinating being able to see so many wild animals at very close up ! The lions are my favs. but there are also beautiful Giraffes that are Mary's favs. This year we were able to admire quite a few new babies they look so cute. The one place I do not drive in is the monkey park...these monkeys are...well..monkeys and are all over your car in a second ripping of window wipers, trying to get the rubber off round doors and widows,  really quite frightening and certainly not my idea of fun !! (when you go into the enclosure you do so at your own risk )   As well as many many animals this year they had a new one to show us and that was a very old elephant Rosie who is around 60years old.... it is only a few weeks ago that there was shown in the TV and in newspapers her being very cruelly treated by her owners at a circus. It caused quite an uproar and Lord Bath stepped in and has re homed her. She is settling in well and whilst we were there was enjoying the freedom of being able to give herself a dust bath and throwing dust all over herself, she new keeper watching from the distance.  I read only on Friday that she is now so comfortable that they have even been able to take her out for short walks in the estate.  It takes quite some time to get around the estate at least 2 hours slowly driving through and at the end after we have parked the car it is time for lunch and after that to see some more smaller animals at close range. The funniest of them must be thee Mere Cats..they are so cute and inquisitive, I think they are my fav small animal...We did not have time this time..or the energy ! to visit the beautiful gardens but plan to do so soon, as we got the kind of ticket that allows us entry as often as we like to the gardens especially... Another day when my other friend Pam was over from Bath we all went to a small town called Marlborough. It is most famous for having a very large and important School , Marlborough College..It is small enough to be able to walk along one side of the main street and cross over and walk along the other side admiring all the shops that are different from shops we find in most towns. There are also some lovey little alleyways to pop into to find yet more little shops. Lost of delightful cafes and pubs.  Needless to say a stop at one of the pubs was a must for lunch..On our way back I drove over what is called the Marlborough downs. This is a range of hills above the town. Mostly chalk hills with some lovely panoramic views. quite a few horse racing stables are around and you can often see the horses out on their gallops. This road eventually passes Lynham Airfield some of you may know that most of the troops who have died in Afghanistan etc are brought home to Lyneham and then via the small town of Wooten Basset where every time they pass through the people of the village come out to line the streets, neither Pam or Sheila had been through the small town before so that was again something new for them. Of course a day shopping in Bath is always on the list of things to do !!
So you see that has kept me a wee bit busy....since Sheila went home Mary and I have had various Dr. and hospital appointments..nothing particularly wrong so no worries...also a friend of mine has had a daughter in hospital now Ann cannot drive as she had had to have two toes removed...one on each foot recently and one especially is proving difficult to heal...anyway she needed transport to and from the hospital so Sybil's Taxi was much in demand.  I have visited the hospital so much in these last few months I swear the car knows it's own way there !! Thankfully Jane is home now so Ann only needs help to go some shopping..
My niece Beth is continuing to have a hard time trying to get the house ready for putting on sale. There is so much to clear out it can get a bit overwhelming at times.  I have tried to help but am afraid I am not much help ...I did go up and removed about 5 books  LOL  my sister must have 100's at least ....5 bookcases full....see what I mean about me not being much help !! Beth and Max organised a come and collect whatever you want day last Saturday and although quite a lot was taken it still hardly made a dent in what is still to find places for.  Max and a friend have made a start on decorating each room in turn and this week have been laying a new wood on the decking floor...It just seems to go on and on. It will be a relief to us all when it can be put on sale...and hopefully sell....It is not a good time to be selling at the moment as there is not much money going around especially for mortgages for younger folks...
My other sister Margaret is getting better, Her hands have healed amazingly. I can hardly believe it hardly a scar to be seen. I certainly had never heard of Sweets Disease..and it was a terrible worrying time. I only pray that she can regain a bit of stenghth as she is still very wobbly on her legs the result I suppose of the heart failure and it will just take a time for her to get back her oomph !!
Better go now. Promise to come back soon....promise ,

Till then remember to always   LOVE ONE ANOTHER.