27th February 2026 Mailer

Knee-d an Automatic by Janice McFarlane

About 30 years ago I lived in a married quarter at RAF Digby in Lincolnshire. As married quarters go it was decent and large. The kitchen was large and functional with a tiled floor. One weekend my husband had mopped the floor I walked into the kitchen and slipped on the wet floor landing on my left knee. To cut a long story short when I had it x-rayed I had broken my kneecap completely in half., and for 6 awful weeks was non weight bearing and has a cast on from foot to thigh. At the A&E the nurse said that I would definitely get arthritis in that knee as I got older, and she wasnt wrong. Fast forward to the last few years she was right and I now have severe osteoarthritis in that knee. Since Ive always driven a manual car in the last year I was struggling with pain using the clutch and the village I live in has a few hills in all directions and hill starts were problematic. My husband doesnt drive so this year we both knew that we would have to get an automatic car. I was nervous on first drive but soon got the hang of it and wondered why we didnt do this sooner. We were unable to venture for days out with our other car but hopefully this year it will change.

cup1429593_905 by Janice McFarlane

cup1429728_905 by Janice McFarlane

Saturday in Sydney by Vicki Avcin

We dropped in early to see my birth Mum and took a nice vase and soft and cuddly throw rug in for her. The flowers we brought in yesterday had no vase so we nipped into K Mart to get one and I saw this lovely rug that I thought would be good for putting over her knees come winter time. She loved the feel of it so we made a good choice! Then it was in the car for an hours trip up the coast to catch up with the most lovely people ever, cousins through my birth family. We went up to the Golf Club for a yummy lunch with the most spectacular view of the coast to admire. After spending a couple of hours there we went back to the house where the conversation just flowed as if wed known each other forever. I met Rob and Susan the same day I met my birth mother but each time we get together the conversation just flows so easily. Never run out of things to talk about either. Then just on dark we drove back into Sydney, got some dinner and back to the motel. Didnt take much to get to sleep after all that lovely fresh sea air. My designs this week are both from my journal style designs.

My designs this week are both from my journal style designs.

cup1299393_543 by Vicki Avcin

cup1299391_543 by Vicki Avcin

My … by Carol Clarke

… youngest granddaughter, Olivia, was competing in the English 800 metres final … she came 1st in her heat and 4th in the final, but as the the race was a combined England/Scotland race and the girl who finished 3rd was competing for Scotland Olivia is now the English bronze medalist! Not only that but in the heats on Saturday she got a new PB (personal best) … and yet another PB in the final too!! Her dad, my youngest son, is also a runner … and hes competing this weekend …. Hes won many medals and is the reining European silver medalist in his age group, and hes competing this weekend in the qualifying races for that event this year, Ill update this with my news next week! lol

cup964109_359 by Carol Clarke

cup963558_359 by Carol Clarke

Sunshine! by Sue Way

After so many days of continuous heavy rain in the UK, we finally had some sunshine! The day before this picture was taken, good old hubby took the boys out in torrential rain. This meant that they had to wear their raincoats. Sam doesnt mind wearing his, but Billy is a bit of a drama queen and spends the first part of the walk trying to shake it off. You can tell by his face in this picture that he was as happy to see the sunshine as we were. Sam still got wet after a dip in the sea. My end of month SALE is now on! With 20% off of ALL my designs! Empty that wish list and fill your basket with goodies!

cup1428838_38 by Sue Way

cup1428966_38 by Sue Way