Hi Jo

So pleased to read that you had a good Christmas with the family and hope you were spoilt rotten. Very handy having a residential pet sitter at home (and thoughtful one too) - was he working over the festive period? I must say I did enjoy the break away from routine and we all valued the family time.  Our daughter was at the inlaws (first time in many years) and also enjoyed Christmas with the boys (though they were so excited and have boundless energy - oh to be young again ). Their main gifts were money/vouchers so the bank account looks better!!  They both had lego/duplo which is a longterm favourite (eldest grandson still enjoying building with his brother's duplo!!).  Eldest grandson's main gift request was met with lots of enthusiasm (a metal detector) and he found nearly £2 on his first outing (along with plenty of rubbish).  He is also loving reading so a good few books were received. We always set a family 'present budget' which makes it easier for everyone.  Hope you had some nice treats.

Well best go and do some housework (seems very strange being at home on a Wednesday).  I have had to take a spur of the moment holiday day as we have hospital bed due to be delivered sometime today(district nurse visited yesterday and it was put on order and 2 hrs later had a call to say it was coming today).  Hopefully the commode will arrive at the same time and then all will be at ground floor level and in place so that he does not have to go upstairs unless he wants to (district nurse was a lovely lady yesterday and had just the right way of putting things across so hubby accepting things are necessary now to help him). We are very lucky with the support team we have in place.

Hope you and the family have a peaceful and relaxing New Year. Will raise a glass to all our forum friends.  Take care of yourself.  Sending hugs   Jules x

Hi Jules,

Sorry to hear that hubby has got to the stage where he has trouble getting upstairs. I expect you must have mixed feeling about this, on one hand glad that he has finnaly accepted the extra help but also you must be feeling sad that his cancer is slowly taking away his mobility and independance. Hope you have not had to much work to do to make room for the bed and glad you have such a good team looking after you both.. We men are so lucky to have our wifes who love and care for us like you obviously do and I have to say I dont know where I would be without Mrs B to organise me. Trust me Jules, that takes some doing!!!!!!!!!

Another very frosty day here today allthough temperature rising better than yesterday.  Niether me or Mrs B stay up to see the new year in, (I need all the beauty sleep I can get)  allthough we will be woken up by the fireworks no doubt. Have had several new ideas for stories but just cant get them written fast enough. I have been rather lazy of the festive period. I have downloaded a clip of someone playing a pedal steel guitar. I would love to try one of these but with me playing it would probably sound like a cat in pain and would leed to the evacuation of the niehboirhood lol.

Take care Jules, hoping everything goes to plan and that it make life a lot easier for hubby, hugs BrIan

Hi Jules and everybody,

Jules I am sorry to read about hubby's reducing mobility and I am sure this is really hurting him mentally without the frustration of simply not being able to get about.  As Brian has said maybe the acceptance of the extra help is a small silver lining?

No one here will really undertand this bit to let you know I just spoke to Claire who is still very happy after leaving her job and she has another interview to go to next week.  In the meantime I need to speak to head office to try and explain how the back up and support from Glasgow has suffered greatly since they let her leave.

I will leave by wising you and everyone here all the very best for 2015 and may next year bring some kind of breakthrough in beating this damn disease.

Love and hugs to you Jules.

Garf. xxx

Hi Jules,

Hope you had a nice Christmas.  I was sorry to read that hubby's mobility has declined further but it sounds like your district nurses are very good and have everything in order to accommodate him on ground floor. Hope he finds his new bed comfy.

Well nearly another year over, I want to thank you for being such a good virtual buddy to me during my ups and downs of 2014 and to wish you all the very best for 2015.   Hope xx

Good evening Brian

Hubby's breathing has got worse over the past few days though thankfully he tells me pain relief still working ok.  He has been very tired today and slept a good deal but I am so pleased that we now have facilities fully set up.  Hospital bed/pressure mattress and commode all in place by mid afternoon.  I had cleared  what was necessary in our through lounge and we are lucky to have plenty of room to acccomate this.  I ferried things upstairs in stages and nothing heavier than a dining room chair so no complaints.  Making king-sized bedding adapt to single bed was fun but manageable (he hates duvets so has sheets and blankets and can enjoy home comforts and familiar surroundings). 

Our daughter and son in law are going to try to explain things to our eldest grandson tomorrow (they are with friends this evening) as am sure there will be plenty of questions when he comes to visit next and we are all very honest with him but this is one of the hardest journies to help little ones understand. If hubby can be left tomorrow I will make a flying visit to see Mum as am sure she will be concerned too.

Well, I wish you peace and health for 2015.  We already have fireworks around here which are a bit premature!! and I do feel for those people who have pets as they really do not like the noise.  Hope to chat in the New Year and thank you for your company during 2014 which has helped considerably.hugs Jules

Good Evening Garf

Sending New YEar best wishes to you and Mrs G and thank you for your continued company during 2014. My forum buddies have, along with our children/grandchildren, good friends, helped keep me going. Hubby's breathing giving some cause for concern just now so keeping a close eye and will call out support if needs be.  Of course, he continues to say  he 'feels fine'.  Am off work now until Monday though may well have to take leave anyway as hubby wants care to continue in the home and will have to take it day by day.  Next planned Nurse's visit is Friday but I can call 24/7 if I am at all worried(hubby thinks I am over-reacting!!!).  Will see what tomorrow holds for us.

Am pleased that Claire is feeling good about herself and hope her interview goes well.  Know you miss the connection with her in the Glasgow office and the understanding you both have for each other's problems.  Fingers are firmly crossed that the 'powers that be' listen to suggestions and  make your worklife just that bit easier.  Take care Garf and chat again in 2015.  Hugs  Jules x

Hi Hope

Thanks for your kind words but this forum is all about mutual support and thats still the case.  We had a most relaxing Christmas with our son and girlfriend along with her parents and sister.  Quiet and just what we needed.  Hubby is struggling a bit  more now with the breathlessness we knew would be part of this rotten journey but still adament that he is 'fine' with current pain relief.  Its little comfort to be honest but at least he is managing some liquids throughout the day.  Nurse due in again on Friday if I do not need them before - thankfully we are fully set up in the lounge now as all equipment delivered this afternoon (within 24hrs of asking);, such wonderful service considering the time of year.

Hope you and the family enjoyed the festivities and know if they re-introduce PM I will drop you a line to see how you are doing with the new place.  No signs yet of it coming back and I really wish they could have sorted this side of things before making the switch, hey ho.

Take care of yourself and wish you and the family health and happiness for 2015.  Hugs  Jules x

Hello Jules glad everything set up for hubby downstairs and that he has good view of your garden with Spring  not to far off and birds to see and new plants to see lovely im thinking off you Jules as you approach the new year ..Happy New Year to you both xSueanne