Hi Jules,

Thanks we had a great weekend..... we even sat down and watched my sons wedding video .. which is very funny as he was sent the wrong trousers for the wedding - they were midget ones and it took a lot on the day to sort it out before the ceremony!

Yes you must savour some moments of joy and peace, when you can get them, and don't feel guilty about it.  You have a right to release your stress.  I look back in horror at some of the photos of me taken over the past 3-4 years.  I looked so stressed and old.  I looked pale and pasty.  I have subsequently lost a lot of excess weight and current feel and I believe look 10 years younger than I did then!  For me the release of the stress, and finding a way forward that can be appropriately shared with someone special, really makes you realise how negative it was living under stress.  So please Jules do take opportunities, when you can, to laugh and forget the stress and concerns you are living under ... there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  It is important for your well being to do so, to enable you to cope. ......Sorry sermon over but do take a little bit of time out for you too just to try and de stress.......

Must get back to some work.  Have a nice week

Kind thoughts and hugs

Ian x

Morning Ian

It's so good to read you are enjoying life again and have a lot going on.

Am doing  my best to enjoy our life in the here and now.  Losing my close friend (just my age) last Friday makes everything feel very real but my children have been very supportive as usual and work continues to be a 'part time' outlet.  Hubby enjoyed a cuddle with our baby grandson yesterday and my arms are in need of recovery as there was a lot of 'bouncing and throwing up in the air'.  Baby is very good and now sitting on his own so was on a blanket on the floor playing with his toys - time really does shoot by.  We are having him for a few hours on Sunday so will enjoy a walk in the 'planned sunshine!!'

Take care and returning hugs.  Jules x

Hi Ian

Have just caught up on this thread (ended up in hopsital last week and got bored silly).

So glad you and your new lady are off for a spa weekend.  I really hope you enjoy it. 

As to getting the cat and dog to get on you might have an uphil task on your hands.  Our cat Jess would tolerate the next door neighbours cat Bruce until Bruce started to try and creep up on her.  After a few times when he did not succeed Jess had had enough and went for him.  Despite the fact he is about twice her size she really got him and drew blood.  Now the nearest he will get is sitting on the fence unless Jess decides to head for the fence when his disappears.  Did apologise to neighbours but they had seen what Bruce had been up to and said it served him right.  Given that two cats dont get on with a cat and dog it may take some time.

Best wishes.

Gill

Hi Gill,

Hope you are good today.

Sorry its taken so long to reply. My computer has had a problem and I've now got this tablet I am using.

Yes Jack my dog gives Raph (Julie's female!) cat a wide birth on all occasions.

We had a lovely spa weekend that was just what we needed.  Jack went for the first time to Julie's sisters for the duration but she has two girls who wore him out so that was good.  He came back in need of a spa weekend himself!

Take care

Virtual hugs and kisses

Ian x

Hi Ian

So glad the spa weekend went well.  I am sure if you search hard enough you can find a Spa for Jack as well.  IT certainly sounds as thought he could do with it.

Had my first partial treatment yesterday which even though is only supposed to take less than two hours it was still 3pm before we got home having been at the hospital from before 9am.  As usual pharmacy were late in sending the one drug I needed down.  Daft thing is they sent this one drug down for another patient but did not send down the rest of her drugs!

Am feeling fine today and have been told that I should begin to feel stronger soon.  Am going back to work on a very part tiem bases on 02 June so feeling stronger would be good.

Best wishes.

Gill

Hi Gill

Good to hear the treatment has started with no problems.I dearly hope you are up and running by the 2June.  My.fingers will be crossed for you.  I know the waiting game oh too well.  I was there with my wife on numerous occasions.  The systems in most hospitals don,t seem fit for purpose!!

Yes the spa we went to would have taken cat and dogs too.  Our room had doggie biscuits and a rug and two bowels for Jack as I said he might come! Maybe next time !

Oh well back to the grind

Kind thoughts and hugs

Ianx

Morning Ian

Just wanted to wish you a good weekend ahead.  Am still getting my head around the thought of Jack going for a 'spa treatment' and love the idea that your room had doggie biscuits - hope it had a bar for the human visitors too.

After a stressful week am having a 'me morning'as hubby has gone to be given a guided tour around my son's workplace (research lab facility at Brunel dealing with metals so should be of interest (he worked in the canning industry all his life albeit as an engineer))

Take care and glad to be reading that life is treating you and Julie well.  Hugs  Jules x

Good morning Jules,

Pleased to hear you are having a 'me' morning. Really enjoy it   . I have a busy day with Julie mum, sister & husband and kids coming over to mine for the afternoon! Then we have a lunch do on Sunday to go to.

I just hope we get some good weather.

Let me know how it goes for you today.

Yes Jack may come with us next time we do that Spa! 

Have a nice weekend Jules

Big hugs

Ian xx

Hi Ian

Pleased to hear that Jack might join you on your next spa weekend.  What about your partner's cat?  Will you find something suitable for her so she doesn't feel too left out of things.

Have to say I was really surpised with the first partial session.  Was far more tired after this than I had been after the six full chemos which was most unepxected.  Final treatment is on 10 June and I have warned work that it is unlikley I will be in the next day.  Was a bit miffed after having been told at a previous session there would be no more drugs with the two partial sessions that I still have to take an anti-viral three times a day.  Doctor told me I should continue taking this until I have run out.  Told him there was no chance.  I will take it for three weeks after final session but given that after each session I have been given more than necessary I could probably take it for another two or three months.  He said this was really ok and he did not realise that they were giving me (and probably everyone else) far more than we actually need.

Hard to believe that this time next week will have done my first session back at work.  Will probably spend most of the morning deleting emails from the last 4.5 months so nothing too taxing.

Best wishes.

Gill