Hi Brian

Glad to read that your bug is almost gone now (they really seem to be hanging around this year) and that you may now be suffering from 'keyboard finger syndrome' after completing the new directory for your Wood  Club.

It too have had to visit to the GP as waterworks problems left me feeling like a washed out dishrag at work today and knew I could put it off no longer.  Have antibiotics for the infection and await results from sample analysis which should be back byMonday.  Typical to get this when I really need to be helping with my daughter (very tired trying to cope with new baby which is not settling so well at the moment).  Tonight my son in law has sent her to bed early and is doing the late evening feed so she can get some proper sleep.  She is such a good Mum but trying to do too much too soon!!!

Hubby has his first appointment for physio at the local hospice day treatment centre tomorrow and hopefully this will aid his restricted arm movement.  His consultant does not think its linked to his cancer and could be due to muscle wastage.  Fingers crossed physio session will eventually prove useful.  He is also having blood tests repeated so they can monitor any changes prior to his next scheduled appointment in January.  Did you have yours repeated yet?  If so hope all is well foryou.

Take care and best wishes to  you and the family.  Jules xx

Morning Jules,  I do hope your antibiotics are kicking in, water infections are a nightmare.  I know when I had a bad one last year my GP said I'd been battling on with the over-counter medicines for too long and the infection had got a good hold.  I had to have 2 courses of antibiotics to get rid of it, but once she hit on the 2nd antibiotic it worked almost instantly.  Like you I had sample sent to the hospital but all was OK thankfully.  Hope the same happens for you, nothing worse than having to stay near to the toilet for the never ending trips!

I've just returned from the gym which always makes me feel better, I'm desperately trying to regain some control over my life again, somedays are harder than others.  Hubby tells me I am beginning to look more like my usual self (that's a relief as this year I feel like I've aged about 20 years!).  To be honest I don't know if I'll ever be my "usual" self, I'm someone different now.  My youngest summed it up really well, he said it was harder for me being an only child because if I had had a sibling there would still be another part of my parents alive and our childhood memories would still be together. I think he is so right as it feels like my past has been swept away in one fail swoop.  People tell me I'm doing really well and I suppose I'm doing OK, but nobody knows how I often feel inwardly. Still one day at a time, as I'm always advising others, and the better days are a little more frequent now.

How sweet your grandson looking through the catalogues, I remember mine doing the same thing.  My youngest's birthday is 1 Dec so like you we always wait until after his birthday to really think about his Christmas pressies. Mind you gone are the days when they were little and you could get a big sack of toys relatively cheap - plastic toy soliders were always a big feature in our house!  Nowadays it is one technology present which usually costs a small fortune!

Really hope your hubby gets on OK with his physio today, the hospice provide so many wonderful treatments don't they?  Ours even offered me complimentary stress relief treatments but unfortunately I didn't have time to take up their offer.  I expect hubby will probably need a few sessions to improve but I'm sure it will help. Anyway have a good weekend.  Take care.  Hope x

Hi Hope

Sorry for the delayed reply. Have felt rather weary (night-time was bad enough but getting up more frequently has taken its toll).  Managed to complete my shift at work yesterday but was shattered by time I got in.  Happily my hubby spent a few hours at my daughters and she and the baby were having a better day but think it did him good to be there rather than sitting alone indoors!!  He did go to his appointment but it turned out just to be an 'introducation to what was on offer at the Hospice day centre'. He did get a massage but was not particualy bothered about staying. Says its not what he needs at the moment.  Think he just finds going there is another reminder of his illness.  He did bring the leaflets home for me to read!!  Whilst he was there, another physio left a message on our house phone for him to arrange an appointment and he tried getting in touch but so far just an answerphone so have to wait and try and sort it out next week.

Glad you enjoyed getting back to the gym and good that your husband thinks its helping you get back to 'being you' if that makes sense.  Its all a case of making the most of the better days isn't it and I see you are also responding to Ian and can understand his anguish at the ever-changing emotional pain.  Thats what I love about this forum - so many (unfortunately) can relate to what others are feeling and the mutual support is wonderful.

Hope your boys' exams/tests go well and that  you all have a peaceful weekend.  Virtual hugs  Jules x

Hi Jules,

I hope you are feeling better and that the antibiotics have meant that you have to get up less frequently during the night.  A decent sleep always makes us more able to cope with anything life throws at us, so I hope you can get one soon.  Can understand that the hospice visit was to your hubby a reminder of his illness; I guess the time needs to be right to embark on what's on offer there but good to know that there is a lot of support together with therapies available.  Hopefully he will be able to get in touch with the other physio soon and start to make some progress.

I'm having a fairly quiet time this weekend, eldest home but studying and youngest will be doing football - have to go to a match on Sunday so fingers crossed for dry weather!  Hope you have a good weekend.  Hope x

Morning(just) Jules,

There you are saying you have got up late at 8am and there's me still in bed (albeit reading) until 10am.!!!!

I have to say I am geneally tired and sometimes it's good to go with the flow and listen to what your body is telling you.

It sounds to me like you need to look after yourself as well as everybody else Jules.

You've had an infection and it will be a little while after you have finished the antibiotics that you'll get back to normal.

What fun for you all this afternoon, I am sure you'll have a lovely time.

The weather up here is sunny but threatening rain.!!

Back to my upholstery to be finished for Mondays inspection.

Have a lovely weekend

Annabel.xx

Good morning Jules,

Glad you had a good nights sleep for once and as you say it's your body's way of telling you that you badly needed the extra sleep. Glad you liked the quotation on the other thread.

It's Mrs B's birthday today so my son arrived with our two youngest grandchildren to give her birthday presents.  My youngest grandson who has all the problems came in and hugged me saying  "Hello old man". I call him young man and this now is his reply to me every time. He and his brother then sang Happy Birthday to Mrs B after which he went up to her and kissed her. It's hard to believe this is the same little boy who was told he would never talk and I could see my wife was not only very pleased with this but has admitted to me since she is very proud of him.

I went to see him the on Thursday and made up a short story for him as he was off school as he was not feeling well. After I had finished the story he opened his front door and went out into the porch. I told him to come back in several time but he told me he was looking for something. He came back in and handed me a small chestnut and said, "That's for you granddad for making me up a story and as I know you like chestnuts".  He told me he had saved this one especially for me. I was quite touched by this.

Hope the weather allows you to go and enjoy the Christmas festivities this afternoon with your family.  It's always a great time of year especially when you have young ones around you for they make Christmas what is is.

Take care and enjoy your weekend Jules. Talk again soon, Brian

Afternoon Brian

Firstly belated happy birthday to your wife. Do hope you and all the family helped with her celebrations and am really pleased that your bug cleared up in time for you to enjoy them too.  No doubt nuts are now firmly back on the menu.

Could really relate to the hello old man greetings.  Many months ago my eldest grandson asked why I was out of puff after playing footie in the back garden (at my age I should know better) and I said it was just that I was old!!  Now every time I  am slow, at doing something or cannot immediately answer his questions the quote is always ' its okay, it's just cos you are old'.    Shamefully this usually finds me and my daughter in stitches which just means he says it even more!! 

The weekend has seen me feeling a little better (less time in the loo too) so hope the antibiotics doing the trick (due to get results Monday as to whether I need more/different prescription).  Our daughter and the children were around for the day yesterday and son in law joined us when he finished work early afternoon.  Baby was in cuddly mode (so I made the most of that) and our eldest went with my hubby and 'helped' him do the weekly shop.  Strange there were a few 'new' items in the trolley though he ate my grapes rather than moan for sweets (he did get a chocolate bar from Grandad's box though (so did my daughter!!!).  Later  in the afternoon we went to the local fun day/switch on of our High St.'s Christmas lights and it was lovely that all the shops had set up stalls on the pavement (few pounds went missing on the tombolla and I found a couple of gifts too- bought not won).  We then all trooped into the fish and chippie restaurant and tucked in!!  Hubby managed a VERY LARGE piece of Skate with chips and his ever present glass of milk (I then realised why he had 'missed' lunch!!)

Today he is catching up on his 'dozes' and I have once again trotted to and from the launderette and got the washing dry outside in such beautiful autumnal sunshine - really lifts the spirits.  Having ironed it all I am now sitting down for the afternoon before returning to the routine of work tomorrow.

Hope you enjoyed your woodturning and managed to get it all done despite it being a bit chilly.  Have often wished I had practical skills but am too ham-fisted!!!

Take care and enjoy that precious family time.  Best regards Jules x

Hi Jules,

Glad to hear that you are feeling a bit better, hopefully results tomorrow will be fine.  Also good for you for having a well deserved lie in this weekend - perhaps the glass of wine aided your extra sleep!  Well youngest's football match got cancelled for some reason but it gave me a chance to catch up on some chores.  Have been meaning to ask you how your Mum is doing lately?  I hope all is going OK. Speak soon, Hope x

Hi Hope

I suppose the only consolation that the football match was cancelled is that you did not have to stand around in the cold!  Still you would think they would say why. Wonder if, like us, you have had lots of rain the last couple of days and the ground was waterlogged.  Its a long time since I have had puddles on the lawn, such was the force of the downpours on Friday!!  Still today it was beautiful sunshine and I love the autumn colours of the trees right now.  Strangely though we still have a lovely yellow rose flowering in our front garden (planted 21 yrs ago in memory of hubby's mum).

Thank you so much for taking the time to ask about my Mum.  My last visit to her was last Tuesday and it was  one of the better days for a long time.  It did not start well as the home had rung to say she had for some reason decided to get herself up and dressed early (did not ring her bell for assistance) and had fallen.  However a thorough check over revealed all was well thankfully. I had already planned to go down so kept to the plan and quite honestly expected the usual sad trip.  However I was met with a smile and she was in chatty mode and had been joining in with a couple of activities.  She showed interest for the first time in months and it was a rather surreal visit as she was making plans to 'be better'.  Whilst lovely to have a positive visit, this has happened 'for 1 day only' before so I made the most of it and will see how things are when I pop in again this week.

I read that your eldest is studying hard and wish him the very best of luck when he sits his exams.  He sounds so dedicated to what he wants to become and I am sure he will do very well.  Take care of yourself. Jules x