No pics today, but I have sad news to share.

We helped some friends move their essentials back to the UK a few weeks ago. They had to go due to a sudden illness which meant the driver could no longer drive and its impossible to get by without a car out here - there are NO BUSSES and we live miles from shops etc. More friends moved into the house to prepare it for sale. Thursday night it burnt down. Both sets of friends have lost everything important to them in the fire. The fire hydrenant had no water so the firemen couldnt put it out. They had to watch it burn. One of the cats went with the house, one is hurt, the other ok.

Pam has been to visit this afternoon and we have started to make patchwork quilts. Two reasons - one, she needs bedding and two - she needs to do something that takes her mind off the fire. They have moved back to their own house (which is a building site, we are all used to living in one of them) but keep realising what they have lost, silly things like slippers, kettle, bedding, hairbrush, tapemeasure, teabags, all their Christmas food from the full freezer, a handmade Christmas cake they had just been given....it goes on and on. I was going to give them an iron as Pam said she had lost hers in the fire, then we both burst out laughing when we realised they had no clothes to iron anyway!

The owners of the house are being brought back on Monday, Pam isnt sure how she'll face her, but it wasnt Pams fault, it just happened.

Then I got a phone call from my daughter to say my mother has been taken into hospital. Im awaiting further news. Its hard sometimes being in another country from the rest of the family...

I hope tomorrow brings some cheerful news, maybe if the weather is fine Ill go for a walk with my camera and dog

Speak again soon
xx