hello Helen XxHUGXX

Hello Hope, how are you? I’m glad you are feeling better and that you have started your boxing class. As I’ve said many times before, I think that exercise is so important for a healthy mind. Of course I’m still doing my exercises.

Sounds like you’ve got a nice weekend lined up. I personally don’t have much on.

Doing volunteer work is very honourable and is sure to give you a good feeling about yourself.

Yep, Valentines Day is coming up. I’ll have to give that some thought! Have you got any Valentines plans?

Well, have a nice weekend!

Hello Chloe, how are you? Any plans for the weekend?

I asked my wife about collars for dogs that are pulling and she said chain collars (she knows some people don’t like using them, but they are affective) or martingale collars. She also recommended a longer lead and said practice walking so the lead is slack and not tight, just to check that your dog isn’t pulling. Hope this helps.

Well, have a good weekend.

Brencoot Xx Thank you I got him the longer training lead and he is a really good boy. Thank you XXX he just woke me up to go out to the toilet. He is such a loveable adorable dog and loves to please us, really can’t thank you enough. The staffie loves him he gets a bit cross when the puppy is too playful yet he sleeps eats and they hang out together like besso buddies. We cleared the garage out today and are making it into an office. It needed insulating everything either gets eaten by mice or goes damp. We got all the pushbikes in the garden shed including the tag along, yet there is no room for my husbands motorbike, so we probably need another shed. Hope your having a wonderful weekend thank your wife for all her wonderful wonderful advice XXXXHUGXXXX

HELLO, Hope
I loved your quote and find it quite uplifting.
You do seem to be getting to grips with everything.  Good luck with the exercise - sounds a bit too strenuous for me.
I can recommend the voluntary work.  I know the aim really is to help others less fortunate but it is
very satisfying (I just work one afternoon each week for Hospice).  All my good wishes, jean x

Dave crisp life coaching had this on his webpage today
I enjoyed it because assumption is the mother of all mess ups Xxx
The Mobile Phone Story

Several men were in a golf club locker room.

A mobile phone rings.

“Yes I can talk,” says the man answering the call, “You’re shopping are you? That’s nice.”

The listening men smile to each other.

“You want to order those new carpets? Okay.. And they’ll include the curtains for an extra five thousand?.. Sure, why not?”

More smiles among the listeners.

“You want to book that week on Necker Island?.. They’re holding the price at twenty-two thousand?.. Sounds a bargain.. You want a fortnight?.. If that’s what you want honey, okay by me.”

Smiles turn to expressions of mild envy.

“And you want to give the builder the go-ahead for the new conservatory? Seventy-five thousand if we say yes today? Sounds fair.. sure, that’s fine.”

The listeners exchange glances of amazement.

“Okay sugar, see you later.. Yes, love you too,” says the man, ending the call.
Somebody somewhere needed to hear that story today because my mind sometimes does lie to me, tells me untruths which upset me, when the truth is so much different kinder and the reality so much nicer than I think xxxhug xx Chloe

Hello Chloe, how are you? Is the office for you or your husband, or both? No room for his motorbike!?! I would imagine his motorbike would be the first thing in there ahead of the bicycles!

Didn’t do much over the weekend. I heard it might snow again this week. Something to look forward to!! Not!

Well, hope you are OK, and I’m glad you are enjoying your dogs!

Take it easy.

Brencoot Xx We have just got our tower back and then experienced problems with our phone line. The puppy got the blame and folks though he probably chewed through the cable. Yet we discovered the carpet fitters had srewed the trim through the cable and it wasn’t the little man at all. He can’t get the motorbike in the shed he said he could keep it in the office. Think again !!! Mind you I do remember a friend when I was younger whose partner had dismantled his motorbike in her living room, not this girl !!!! ha ha A man has to realise things change after marriage and kids no sex no motorbikes no money teeeee heeeee baby needs new shoes Xxx The dogs are adorable. The puppy plays with the goats and is so funny to watch and if he is chewing something he shouldn’t he hides it under his head and paws so so funny. He also hides under my daughters bed and steals toys. Sadly as he is getting bigger we can spot his tail sticking out the side. What have you been up to ? Was London an adventure ? Are you opening a shui restaurant in convent garden XXx Chloe

Hello Chloe, how are you? Poor dog, gets the blame for everything!

Yep, things change after marriage! What’s the old saying “men marry women hoping that they won’t change, women marry men hoping that they will!”.

London was London. Not a big fan to be honest. Certainly not planning to open a restaurant there. not at this time anyway. Banks still aren’t keen on lending money to restaurants full stop at the moment, so wondering what to do now. May try to change direction a bit for a while. We’ll see. Oh, but it won’t be a sushi restaurant anyway.

It’s been snowing quite a bit up here today and has settled a bit too. Hope it doesn’t stick around too long. What about there?

Well, take care.

Brencoot Xx No sushi Xx I thought you wrote a sushi restaurant before now was it hope that mentioned it ? one of he goats has taken to climbing trees I was at a friends house, looked out of her window to see one of the goats up her tree. He was having a wonderful time eating the leaves. We could not stop laughing. My husband is now worried silly we’ll have trouble keeping them in. They just love my friend I am sure they wont stray far. They have their coats back on. It has snowed for a while a couple of times, nothing has settled its just really really cold cold with a whistling wind. May I ask what sort of restaurant I am convinced you said sushi to Hope Xx Yes so true men do change to please us girls I guess children are such a joy the man continues to support his family and changes as a husband father and friend. They do give up their sports for their family. When I sold my husbands paraglider on ebay I thought what do I write so I wrote after having our little daughter I find less time to fly. My husband and I then found other gliders already on ebay which read after the birth of our ....I haven’t used etc…I felt so guilty and my husband said dont be daft I wouldn’t change it for the world I would rather take little one out on the pushbike. If it was awful no man would marry or have children would they ? Has your snow settled will the children be playing in it for half term XXx best go to bed ZZZzzzzz Chloe

Hello again Chloe, how are you today? I’m fairly sure most men don’t mind changing for their children (or their wives), cos none of my friends who have kids have complained about having to change things for them.

I guess goats can climb quite well, after all, there are mountain goats.

I may have said that I WASN’T going to open a sushi restaurant. It’s hard to explain the kind of food I want to sell cos hardly anybody in the UK would know what it is, but it’s a famous food from Hiroshima, and I guess could be likened to something like a pizza or pancake. I would call the restaurant Hiroshima, cos everyone knows Hiroshima for all negative reasons and I’d like to show people that there’s more to Hiroshima than bombs and I’d also like to give a percentage of the profits (if I could make any!) to charities related to Hiroshima and anti-nuclear weapon charities. It seems impossible at the moment though with banks still not lending money etc., so like I think I said before, I’m wondering what to do now.

Well, do you have any plans for the weekend?

Take it easy

Brencoot Xx I love the idea Xxx I love the idea of Hiroshima because it constantly reminded me as a child that revenge in a cruel evil way was wrong. As a child I would lie in bed and think about the nuclear attack so much so it made me cry and I was very afraid of the nuclear age, so much so that I couldn’t sleep. What a wonderful wonderful idea Xxx lest they forget Xx just proves the best revenge is Success XXhugXx It was because Anoela Gay was in the charts and I listened to the record over and over again (sorry I can’t spell it) then when I was told the story I was was stricken with grief and never played the record again. If I see anything on the history channel I cry and cry and my husband turns it over for me because I find it so distressing. On the movie pearl harbour the captain of the japanese ship said we have unleash a demon and he was really worried about the revenge and the consequences. I am not sure that is true that he said that or thought it yet watching the pearl harbour movie ... Well I cried then because I knew it mean Hiroshima. I find it very strange that I have these emtions and it is very very embarrassing when it happens in public because some people might think it was pity and hate me. I love your idea I love it Xxx I would love to see a Hiroshima in the high street XX The goats have their coats back on it is soooooooo cold. They are amazing at climbing, they have tiny bony bodies with little bellies and can jump like deer. They are so beautiful when they run and they can clear any fence below 5ft. They are clever cuddly and just like pet dogs. They push their noses under my arm for a cuddle they are so funny Xx Sadly I rarely get notified of your posts sorry I didn’t reply sooner. This weekend we plan to spend some time walking and being outside hopefully it won’t be so cold and windy XXHope you have a wonderful weekend are you still training ? Chloe Xx

Hi Brencoot, Chloe and Jean,

How are we all?  Are we enjoying the weekend?
Well, I have decided to give myself A DAY OFF today   It has been a pretty busy week for me, getting out there in the real world&seeing; people&meeting; new people&doing; the house work&walking;&contacting; tradesman to come over and fix a few things around the house…blah blah blah!  Well, the trademan is meant to come today and do the work, but still have not heard from him yet.  I was getting a bit frustrated for a moment about that, then I thought to myself: hey, hand on a minute, I can only do so much and there is not much that I can do now, but to wait to hear back from the tradesman.  Also I have done so well this well with all the tasks that I set out to do, feeling positive and hopeful for getting closer to my passion and dream, so today I am giving myself a permission to stop, revive and survive!!!  Having that in mind, I sat down with a bowl of delicious cereal, and it never tasted this better.  Mind over body, and I am training my mind to be calm and settled regardless what happens around me.  Not easy, but it works sometimes.  What do you think?  Do you give yourself a day off sometimes?

Yes, Valentine’s day this weekend.  I have got a very cute card for my man, and I will go to the shops later and get some goodies for him.  Maybe some chocolate… not sure yet, but I will see.  Importantly, we will spend the day together and just hang out.  He has been working hard laterly, and there is not much time left after spending the whole day at work&travelling; home etc.  I tell my partner that I LOVE HIM everyday now.  I feel that it is important to let the loved ones know how I feel towards them.  LOVE is amazing.

Wow, that’s great that you do volunteer work as well, Jean.  People in the community sectors are so much nicer and calmer and grounded.  I am priviledged to be part of it.  Helping people is great, and it just opens your mind to a different world. 

Brencoot, is it snowing at your end still?  I wish it could be cooler here, but it has been quite warm here laterly :-0 Have I told you that I am a big Japanese food eater?  I love sushi, sashimi… and I can just eat it everyday if I can   Are you a good cook?

Hey, Chloe, no way you are blaming the puppy!!!  I will have to be the devil’s advocate for him from now on…hahaha.  I am going to spend some time with my puppy today, and I am very excited.  Dogs are just amazing.  They are non-judgmental, and are always there for you no matter what! 

Hope you all are well, and looking after yourself.

lol
Hope

Hello Hope, how are you? You have already got your card from your husband? That’s a bit early isn’t it?

I’m glad to hear that you are working on being calm no matter what happens around you. I really think that is important cos there are so many things out of our control, so it’s better if we can accept them. How does the old saying go, something like “give me the courage to change the things I can, and accept the things I can’t”.

Of course I love Japanese food too, and although we cook it quite a bit at home, it is something I miss abotu not being in Japan. I wouldn’t say I’m an amazing cook by any means, but I certainly quite enjoy it and if I had more time, I would like to get into it more and start to try more new dishes. However, with work etc., I often just tend to stick to things that are fairly quick to cook after work.

Oh, as for the weather, we had a bit more snow earlier in the week, but it’s gone again now, although it still isn’t exactly warm.

Well, enjoy Valentines weekend. Take it easy!

Hello Chloe, hows it going? Do you have any plans for the Valentines weekend? In Japan, on Valentines Day women give to men (women have to give to lots of men; colleagues, friends etc., usually chocolate) and then on March 14 (“White Day”), men have to give something back. It’s even more commercial than it is here.

The Japanese are surprisingly not bitter about the bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but I think that’s cos they realise that they did some bad things in the past too. It’s funny though, the reaction Mayumi (my wife) gets when she tells people (I mean non-Japanese people) she is from Hiroshima! It’s just like you’ve told somebody a family member has died, people don’t know what to say. Yep, the Enola Gay dropped the bomb, “Little Boy”. The OMD song “Enola Gay” is actually not really a bad song about the bomb, cos one of the lines actually says “Enola Gay, you should’ve stayed at home yesterday”. I heard the OMD singers talking about that song recently and they said they tried to make it as neutral as possible.

I would love to have a go at the restaurant, but it’s just frustrating cos it feels like it might never get off the ground, especially with the economy still languishing and with the banks so hesitant to lend money to cafes/restaurants. I’ve certainly lost a fair bit of confidence for it too, so like I said before, I’m thinking about what to do.

Yeah, it’s pretty cold for the last few days, so tough on your animals no doubt. I’m hoping it stays OK for the weekend so I can get out on my bike, but we’ll see.

Well, I hope you have a good Valentines weekend. Take it easy.