If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that at times I think life is like the weather. One minute we have cornflower-blue skies and sunshine, then clouds, rain, and strong winds the next. The day starts sunny, so feeling upbeat, you think I’ll have a BBQ. One solitary cloud floats across the sun and before you realise it is peeing with rain and blowing a hoolie.
More sad news …
It’s been another sad week with the news of yet another friend’s passing. A friend we’ve known for 20 years, one of the first we met in Portugal, and who is the same age as me. We lost touch when she moved away, but after months of silence, she reached out via FB on the 20th of December to wish me a fun Christmas and said she thinks of me when she sees an ad for cocktail makers. That made me laugh, and I intended, when the Christmas festivities were over, to suggest we meet up for a cocktail or two. A couple of weeks later, she was gone.
And, a couple of days later, our son-in-law’s father passed away. That was expected, but even so, the news was still a shock.
It’s for moments like these that I will be dipping into my Positive Energy note tin to stay strong and to remind myself live in the moment.
Man Flu
This week I succumbed to Mr P’s man flu. I now regret taking the mick out of poor Mr Piglet because I suffered and didn’t have the energy to exercise, nada as I stared mindlessly at the television and PC screen like a bleary-eyed, snotty-nosed zombie.
Physio
I am pleased to say my cold passed quickly, which meant I could attend this week’s physio session. The first in over a month! Thankfully, I maintained momentum with the exercises during my absence, so she was delighted by my progress getting down on the floor and I’ve been driving the manual car thanks to the clutch exercises to build muscle.
Frugal?
I used up the roast gammon in the freezer by making a delicious ham and leek pie! A saving of around €10, and I used up a pack of courgettes on a tuna pasta bake. 50cents
World News
I shake my head in disbelief as I listen to Trump’s bilge and betrayal. I hope Europe stands firm on Tariff’s and not give in to this Bully. What will he demand next? Buckingham Palace? Sounds far-fetched, but nothing is off limits to this man.
YAY!!
If we were having coffee, I’d finish our chat by telling you the weekend ended on a high! The sun shone on Saturday and Sunday, and I managed to spend quality time gardening.
Got two lots of laundry washed and dried. After weeks of daily rain, clearing half my laundry pile was a relief!
Enjoyed the ‘thank you’ meal with the volunteers from ACCT, the animal charity shop. I got a little tipsy and slept until 10am the next morning, when I was awoken by Mr Piglet, who was worried about what we were going to have for dinner. (That made me laugh)
I will be adding several Positive Notes to my jar.
My thanks to Natalie for continuing to host the Weekend Coffee Share!

I’m very sorry to hear of your friend’s passing, as well as your son-in-law’s Father. I’m happy for you that you recovered so quickly from the cold, and turned right around and had some fun!
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thanks, Tracy. What with the horrendous weather and barrage of sad news it’s tough at times to stay positive. But for every negative I endeavour to find positivies
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So sorry for your losses Carole, always a difficult time. Glad your cold was short lived. Gardening is good for the soul for sure. I also accompany the daily news from America and just know that I would feel petrified if I lived in America right now! That man is deranged and I don’t know how any one can think otherwise!
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thanks, Sami. Lets hope the losses are behind us now and all our friends and family stay well.
The numpty is certainly deranged and as I write this I am listening to the polital discussions now. I would also be petrified if I lived in the US and understand why we have so many Americans bailing out and moving to Portugal
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I’m sorry for your losses. I’ve been pursuing things for the sake of living in the moment. I preach this to my other friends telling them now is the youngest they’ll be but they still don’t get it and we’re in our 30s and 40s.
Oh my gosh, the news from America is exhausting — I’m saying this as an American. A year may have passed but I feel like we have lived through a decade’s worth of American news.
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You are wise to live in the moment and the advice to your friends is solid. No one knows what is around the next corner at whatever age. And of course people in their 30s and 40s having a wider options than those in the 70s. So much I wished I had done but it off.
I feel sorry for the normal people of America. I watched the news today and the man has completely destroyed trust in America as an ally. Trust that once broken will be diffiuclt to repair. But there you go … we are mere mortals
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So sorry to hear of the two deaths. Glad you made your late friend laugh over cocktail making. Did she have a favourite cocktail? Maybe this is something you can have in her memory.
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Hi Lana, I made her laugh because I was the cocktail queen. Her tipple of choice was wine. But a nice idea.
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I am sorry for your losses.
The time gardening sounds wonderful!
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Hi Maria, thank you. Time in the garden always brings peace to my soul.
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Sorry you weren’t feeling well. I agree with Terry – a caring button would be lovely! But still some bright sides like physio and laundry (said no one ever…). But definitely sorry for your losses. Tough to lose friends and family.
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Thanks, Bernie. I didn’t realsie getting the laundry washed and dried would make me so happy! Who knew … LoL As for losses time will heal.
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Sorry to hear of your losses. I’m glad your weekend ended on a high though. Keep filling your jar with positive notes. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
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Thanks, Natalie. IT’s been a tough few weeks.
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So sorry to hear of the passing of two people in your life. It’s never easy, even if it was expected.
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Thank you, ephesians. No, it still comes as a shock.
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Absolutely.
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I wish there was a “care” reaction button. Sometimes it doesn’t feel right to hit “like” on a sad post. So sorry for your losses and for your health issues, Carole. I’m happy that your cold was short-lived, as many of the bugs over here this flu season are hanging on for a long time. Thankfully, hubs and I have managed to dodge them … so far.
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Hi ~Terry, I have often thought there should be a care button. :)
I held up and at least the week ended on positive notes.
As for Flu, I was suprised we got through our trip to the UK, Christmas and New Year festivities before we succumbed.
All our friends have it, had it or are getting over it. Hope you manage to dodge it.
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Glad yours was short lived. Mine has lasted a week today so have kept life simple.
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Normally I am not so lucky :( Hope you are feeling better now.
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