I haven't taken a single photo in about 10 days

The reason I've been quiet is because we have just spent a week in England as my mother in law sadly passed away, so we went over for her funeral. It was a lovely affair and fitting tribute to her, and as is always the way at funerals, a chance for K to catch up with cousins he hadn't seen in decades and old family friends. My poor hubby has lost both his parents this year so you can imagine what an absolute crap year it has been for him, with all the worry about my health too. We are so looking forward to saying goodbye to 2015!

I managed OK with the travelling as we had a cabin on the ferry both ways, and coped with hours spent sitting on my donut cushions. I think other people's sofas are more comfortable (with the donuts) than mine and I've now realised that ours is really quite low which is why I always struggle getting up off it and feel like a doddery old biddy, yet I seemed a lot more agile when I was in England (or maybe it's something in the air? Not the water as I took my own bottled cos I hate chlorinated tap water. Or perhaps it's all that delicious junk food I ate!).

Of course we did some food and clothes shopping as there is a huge Tesco and M&S only four miles from my brother in law's house, and during the time there ate all our favourite foods. Oh the joy of having take away curry delivered to the door! I've forgotten what that is like. And custard tarts, mmmmmm! We bought loads of yummy things home and I've put on even more weight.

I couldn't go to England without seeing my mum so we squeezed in a couple of nights with her as I had not seen her for two years, and saw my brother too.  

Though when we got home Monday morning I completely crashed and spent the entire day in bed with zero energy, which is probably not surprising. But it was so great to have a change of scene, and see some family, both of ours. And I didn't take a single photo!! Sometimes you need a break from that too. Rain and wind didn't help in that respect but I did enjoy seeing what bits of the countryside we did see, although it seemed that a lot of our travelling was done whilst it was dark.

My lovely neighbour looked after the menagerie whilst we were away as there wasn't time to organise housesitters and interestingly the cats didn't ignore us at all when we got home, maybe they just don't like having housesitters here so enjoyed their freedom!

Since I got home I've had two hospital appointments so haven't got back into the swing of things yet. So blogging will be resumed shortly - I do have some photos waiting to be posted as I haven't introduced you to my new hens yet. :-)

Hope you are all well and apologies for not looking in on your blogs as I have not spent much time on the internet. I'll be dropping by shortly to see if you have been behaving yourselves! And thanks to the friend who let me know that the mystery tree in my last post is indeed Red Oak, Quercus rubra. xx 

Just some leaves from October.