Folks- it's been a tough week. I am sure you have all had them. Sometimes we have a month of them. Sometimes even a year of them. Had that experience?
But it's been interesting and I have learnt a lot. It hasn't been wasted. That's one thing I have learnt over the last forty odd years: life can be damned difficult, and painful, but there's always something to learn if you are prepared to look for it.
To encapsulate. First of all, after my lovely day on Monday on which I felt great, I started to feel poorly and tired. Learning? I just went with it and rested when I could. I am waiting surgery, and I just need to be patient and manage on a day to day basis as best I can.
Secondly, I found out my operation has been put back a week, so it's now mid November rather than at the beginning. And it's not confirmed yet. Learning? Patience. There are folk in a lot worse of situation who need the slot. I will manage. It will pass.
Thirdly, I have had really tough news on a few friends of mine and their health. You know who you are. I am praying for you and sending positive energy. Learning? I am reminded how important my friends are to me and how much I love them. And that life is really painful sometimes and how we need to support each other through hard times. I have also learnt just how important my faith is to me, and how much strength I get from it.
And finally, we got disappointing news about a piece of work that we hoped to get and didn't. We will find out why on Tuesday. It has been a tough week in the business generally: waiting for answers, waiting for decisions, lots of hope and interest but not the action we had hoped for yet. We are opening our own training room soon, and it is a big step and a marvellous opportunity, but with any big step its a challenge. Exciting and scarey at the same time.
Learning? Where do I start? How much my attitude has changed in the last few years. I think bigger, I think more creatively, I am more bullish, I have real confidence in what I can do, what other half can do, what our wonderful team can do, what the business can do. And I have learnt from the past that playing it small often brings you what you are trying to avoid. Trying to stay safe can be dangerous. Keeping it small can keep it vulnerable. And also that it's ok to fail, as long as you are trying and learning and doing your very best.
I am re-visiting my old favourite book of business and personal effectiveness: 'The seven habits of highly effective people'. For me, it's still the best and it is incredibly inspirational. If you don't know it, I highly recommend it.
' For hope grew round me, like the twining vine'
We went off to Peebles Hydro Hotel for Christmas a day early. We were supposed to leave on Christmas Eve but the snow was so bad and the forecast even worse, that we thought we would make a run for it. I am glad we did even though it was a bit of a rush at the end. The snow was even worse there than it was here, and on Christmas Eve it snowed up there quite a lot. What a relief to get into the hotel, unpack and sink our teeth into the best mince pies ever ( and I mean that- fabulous!).
Lad and Dad
Teenager and his cousin
I think we are making some progress on the festive front. Tree is now up and a few more presents are bought, and some even wrapped. Cards are still not done but I am not intending to send too many. No point getting stressed about that....
My three kings - aren't they brilliant?
Advent candles from our Church- St Mary's Church Windermere.
Hi folks
My mum's bathroom is no longer. It is a shell. A serious leak developed on Saturday and finally it has been identified as a leaking pipe under the bath. The damage is very serious. The bathroom is now gutted. She has insurance of course, but predictably the insurance company is already starting to play hard ball. Such as ' ....well just because she has no running water, no toilet, no bathroom facilities.... doesn't mean the place is uninhabitable does it?'.
Well, I feel so much better! I have slept, lazed and generally chilled out (with mum looking after me in splendid fashion) and now I feel great. Other than coughing, sneezing and laughing which still hurts I am very much on the mend. Keyhole surgery is brilliant! I am so glad the surgeon was able to do it. 
This is my last post before hospital tomorrow. One more night before the gall bladder is history. I am very excited and most of all relieved. The last few days have been very difficult to say the least and I will be happy to free myself and the family from all the uncertainty and anxiety.
I posted on Halloween that we had a day out at Hawkshead which is a lovely little village in the Lake District. Very popular place for tourists as the scenery is lovely, and the village is very quaint. There are loads of coffee shops, traditional pubs and gift shops. A good day was had by all. Picture of teenager, other half and our wonderful Australian exchange visitor.
We went to the Holker Hall winter fair today. It is always a lovely day out. Real fires, lots of coffees cakes and hot chocolates. A food fair, lots of crafts, alpacas, a barbecue tent with lakeland local burgers and sausages. I always spend a fortune and today was no exception. My Christmas shopping has started folks.
I have never been a big fan of fireworks. In fact, I have never liked them. It's the noise. I don't like all the cracks and bangs. They can be really pretty to look at but if I never saw one again it wouldn't bother me. I worry about how dangerous they are, and I feel sorry for all the terrified animals. All in all.... I wouldn't be sorry November 5th was cancelled-permenantly.
My poor boy has been in the wars again. After scaring me recently with a potential broken rib incident, he decided to dislocate his shoulder on Sunday. X rays, laughing gas and a sling later and we are back on course to normality. 
Apparently, this is a bridge of teenagers. A competition to see how long they could stay up. Just after this the bridge collapsed.
If I could live anywhere it would be Ullswater because of the scenery, but it's pretty remote for a family with an extroverted teenage boy who loves to see friends and play sport.
It was a wonderful feeling to actually be there after all that imagining. The weather was perfect for walking. Sunny and warm at times, but with a chilly wind to keep me cool ( check out the pink fleece- bought this year in San Fran Cisco- it is freezing there!).
