Hi Jo

Do not work Fridays but helped with our 'Black Friday' set up as it began on Thursday lol.  Of course I will be in on Monday for the 'reversal' of the set up.  High Street certainly buzzing with lots of people but thankfully apart from some liquid gifts I am all sorted apart from writing cards .Working in retail means I don't fancy shopping after 5+ hrs on my feet!!  Do hopefully  have a day trip to Bath Christmas Market in a week's time (for the pure enjoyment of retail therapy!!) with my friend from work.

Dietician (we saw one way back when hubby had chemo) bascically is recommending different protein shakes for hubby to try but may be giving me a call as well.  Following my frustrating blub air is clear indoors and hubby has been trying to eat a little (and more often) when he is awake. I cannot ask for more bless him - we both have things to learn from this journey and feel sure that will be ongoing and I may well have to give myself some serious talkings to along the way but we are in it together which is the most important factor at present.

Thanks for your continued support - it all means a lot especially when those who use this community forum are going through enough themselves.  Have a good weekend and hope Paddy does not run you (your partner) ragged.  Take care, sending hugs  Jules x

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for your messages and support which are appreciated (though I wish it was not from first hand knowledge).  If you browse the reply to Garf above you will see where we are at (saves me repeating  myself ha ha).

It was somewhat of a relief to know I am doing all the right things (apart from nagging him to eat when he does not really want it) and have been given lots of reassurance that they are at the end on the telephone anytime I need to talk to them.  We are very lucky to have excellent local services which I can reach by bus though hubby still not interested in support of 'club' run by local hospice as prefers his own company. No doubt he will 'get it in the ear again' when he has GP appointment on Thursday afternoon - fingers being kept crossed that this may be the last 'check up' prior to Christmas.

Hope you are keeping well and will be thinking of you as am sure you are having your own emotional struggles whilst being so kind as to respond to 'like folk' on the forum.  As to my eating okay, this is my comfort (could probably do with cutting out naughty snacks though) which will no doubt come back to haunt me when I get on the scales (have avoided cholesterol check up as sure it will have gone up again  - oops).  Chat again soon.  Sending hugs  Jules x

Hi Jo

So nice to hear from you.  How are you doing?

Am counting down the hours to our appointment this afternoon and just feels like we are jumping hurdles towards Christmas at the moment.  Cannot believe I have managed to be organised though keeping busy seems the only way forward. So lucky to have supportive children close by as I know they must be struggling inside whilst bravely carrying on (we all know that feeling here).

Our 'Friday night socials' have continued so far though I am doubtful about  hubby making the walk to the pub this week though he is hoping to at least sit in with his mate over a glass of something whilt I am out with his wife.  Bingo prizes remain much the same (but depends on footfall) though to be honest the winning has become less important as its the getting out that offers the release just now.  Our friends also popped round for a cuppa yesterday afternoon.  As we could not attend the Christmas meal we were hoping to support on Tuesday I had asked them to buy raffle tickets on my behalf (raising funds for local hospice) and they turned up with three prizes for us!  The evening raised over £1200 so although not there in person we heard all about it which was lovely.

This Saturday is my work's Christmas meal so will see if I get to it. Its only for staff anyway but it will depend how things are.  I know hubby will want me to go as he tried to get me to go alone on Tuesday but that just did not feel right and have to go with my 'heart' at the moment.

With Christmas fast approaching work is understandably busy but their support has also been amazing and its helping with my coping mechanism as less time to think!

That new Aldi cheese sounds weird but wonderful and I have treated 'our table' to a basket of shortbread and fudge (both things that are very naughty but can be shared when people drop in). Hubby trying to up the amount of 'shakes' though know he is struggling (far to stubborn to admit it) and continues to refuse 'outside assistance/aids' (understand his need for independence but it would  make it easy for him and his body).

Take care and hope you are enjoying some peace and quiet before the festivities and maybe getting some strolls with partner and puppy (probably growing up fast - dog not other half ).  Sending hugs  Jules x

HI Jules,

I hope this afternoons meeting with gp weny well. Pleased to read you feel more in the knoe now;I feel it is always a help. I bet you and hubby will be pleased this is the last appointment before Christmas.

I have been a bit late on site  the last couple of days as Mrs B has also had her last appointment before Christmas, She is however a bit upset as she has been told her kidneys are not working as well as they should due in part to her diabetes.One more problem to add to her list and brings it up to about twelve health problems she faces on top of having to put up with me????? 

Sorry you did not feel like going to the charity do the other evening but can understand you felt you couldnt go without hubby as I often feel like this with Mrs B. Trouble is you can often feel guilty either way. Brother in law was in hospital again last weekend. He suffers from aterial fibrilation and collaped on Sunday morning. They have altered his heart medication and will just have to wait and see what happens. He got home on Tuesday and so far so good. My son has beten his personal best for his longbow by 41 points and is getting close to the county record.

I started writting this about a hour ago and had to stop for tea. Hope you enjoy your evening out tommorow and hubby enjoys a drink with his friend. Take care jules, Sending big hugs, Brian.

Hi Jo

By the time I posted this morning I had already been up an hour!!!  My usual get up time is 6 am and I leave for work at 7.30 but somehow my body clock does not differentiate between work and non work days lol.

Visit to GP had mixed results in that his bloods showed better levels than last time in most respects (a surprise even to the doctor!).  However it also flagged raised white cells which usually indicates an infection so she has prescribed antibiotics just in case which I can collect in the morning.  Another plus was that swab of his coccyx sore shows no infection present.  By the time we got home (he insisted on driving himself despite offer of a lift) he was shattered and is now curled up in front of the fire.  Unless things change he goes back in three weeks and must try and eat/drink as and when he can to try and improve energy levels.

Wishing you a peaceful and happy weekend.  Seasonal hugs.  Jules x

Hi Brian

Thanks for your kind words and GP check up had mixed results - good points were that ulcer is infection free (they took a swab to check) and also his blood tests showed improvement in some areas (so should not require blood transfusion) but also evidence of possible infection.  As he has been coughing a lot more in recent days she has prescribed a course of antibiotics to be on the safe side (especially with Christmas now fast approaching).  He is pretty wobbly on his pins (but refusing help as usual) so may not make it down the pub (too far to walk) but I am hoping he will feel up to keeping his mate company indoors as it will do him good to have some one else to chat with.   All staying stable his next check up will be in  mid January though district nurses will still come in twice a week for dressings.

Sorry to hear that Mrs B is experiencing kidney problems and hope new medication will help her out.  I know diabetes can have so many different affects on the body and I am sure you will be keeping an eye on her whilst she keeps as eye on the nut supplies!!!  Also hope the brother in law will continue to improve following his collapse which must be worrying for all concerned.

Have heard today that hubby's siblings arrived safely on the Isle of Man and his sister is now settling herself in (with her two cats) whilst brother and sister in law return to collect rest of belongings and their two dogs.  At least now we have an address and landline and before long they will be back online too so can keep them updated.

Well our daughter is taking me shopping in the morning (after I have been to launderette) so that should be my last trip before Christmas (will  just get in basic supplies as in theory we are away from Xmas Eve through to the 27th).  I only have two days left to do at work next week before a four day break though expect to be kept pretty busy.  Think we are non uniform on the 24th so may have to break out Christmas hat/jumper ha ha.

Have a peaceful weekend with Mrs B and good to see that your son is doing well.  Regards Jules x

Hi Jules,

Just wanted to drop you a quick line after being somewhat absent for the last week.  Work has been crazy and problematic to put it mildly and it's all too long winded to go into here.  I have also been doing some investigative work into Dad's past this last week.

I always knew that he served in the merchant navy and sailed up and down the east coast of America but I found out recently what shipping company he worked for.  As a result I have downloaded a great picture of the ship he was on but there is also a website that is still going run by the people who once worked for Manchester Shipping even though it has been out of business since the early eighties. I have given them as much detail as I can and I am hoping to be contacted by someone who knew him althouhg I know it is a long shot as there were many ships at the time that sailed all over the world.

Right I have to get back but I will send the compulsory hugs and best wishes to you both.

Garf. xx

Good morning Jules,

I hope you managed to get your shopping done okay yesterday. We have finished now until after Christmas. Sorry to hear hubby has an infection and hope medication soon clears it up. We are spending Christmas day on our own and think Mrs B will appreciate this. We have our son and family coming to us on Boxing day so this should be nice and will enjoy having the grandchildren here. My son took them up town yesterday as they had the great big American Coca Cola lorry up in the car park complete with all the lights and carol singers. Thats what I miss most of all regarding our modern Christmas is that we havent had any carol singers coming round for years now.

I expect work has been very busy for you last week and I bet you will enjoy your time off especially as you dont have to cook for two days though I expect you will offer to help. I have come up with an idea for a jig that should enable me to turn oval picture frames rather than having to use my router to do them. I feel confident it should work and will try making the jig in the new year when weather is warm enough,

Sister in law and brother in law visited us yesterday which pleased Mrs B. I had bought then two packs of button type batteries as the pound shop near them dont stock them. My youngest grandson missed his school trip to see the Disney film Frozen last week as his teaching assitant was ill, but the school not only refunded the money he'd paid but also bought him the DVD. I thought this was so nice of them.

I hope you have enjoyed your Sunday morning walk today and if you bought some naughty food, dont worry, it's Christmas and we all do it, especially me with my chestnuts. I am still working my way through the 5kg sack I bought at the market.

Hope you both have a peaceful day today, hugs being sent your way, Brian.

Good morning Jules,

I hope you managed to get your shopping done okay yesterday. We have finished now until after Christmas. Sorry to hear hubby has an infection and hope medication soon clears it up. We are spending Christmas day on our own and think Mrs B will appreciate this. We have our son and family coming to us on Boxing day so this should be nice and will enjoy having the grandchildren here. My son took them up town yesterday as they had the great big American Coca Cola lorry up in the car park complete with all the lights and carol singers. Thats what I miss most of all regarding our modern Christmas is that we havent had any carol singers coming round for years now.

I expect work has been very busy for you last week and I bet you will enjoy your time off especially as you dont have to cook for two days though I expect you will offer to help. I have come up with an idea for a jig that should enable me to turn oval picture frames rather than having to use my router to do them. I feel confident it should work and will try making the jig in the new year when weather is warm enough,

Sister in law and brother in law visited us yesterday which pleased Mrs B. I had bought then two packs of button type batteries as the pound shop near them dont stock them. My youngest grandson missed his school trip to see the Disney film Frozen last week as his teaching assitant was ill, but the school not only refunded the money he'd paid but also bought him the DVD. I thought this was so nice of them.

I hope you have enjoyed your Sunday morning walk today and if you bought some naughty food, dont worry, it's Christmas and we all do it, especially me with my chestnuts. I am still working my way through the 5kg sack I bought at the market.

Hope you both have a peaceful day today, hugs being sent your way, Brian.