Morning terri

Glad poor Charlie is finally feeling better and seems like you would prefer to transfer to another GP having rightly lost trust in your current doctor over the diagnosis problems you have encountered recently.  Do you have the option to move to another practice in your area perhaps?  We are pretty lucky in that our surgery has 4/5 doctors available (once you get past the receptionists!!) and hubby now sees the same one at each appointment for continuity of care which is great.  Bless her she always asks after me too though I have never seen her.

I see that you are on hols from tomorrow - that will be lovely after such a hectic period.  Is hubby off too so you can enjoy some family time or are you managing a few days away? Whatever  you do hope you enjoy yourself and all keep well.  Bet Charlie will enjoy his extra Mummy time too.

Our weekend went okay.  Last Friday we had a lovely pub lunch with our son (his birthday) and his other half.  We heard all about his birthday present from her - a day as a zookeeper at London Zoo (he was in his element helping to muck out and feed all sorts of animals and at the end of the planned day had some free time to visit the reptile house (he has always had a love of herpetology and has a pet snake (which is now 15yrs old)).  The pub overlooked beautiful lake and the sun shone and we had such a relaxing couple of hours and the food was amazing (they obviously have a great chef as we all had something different and it arrived at the same time, home made and beautifully prepared and hot- in hubby's case also spicy as he had a plate of Laska fish soup (he had not had this since travelling for business in Malaysia a good few years ago and he was impressed!!).  We also went out for our usual Friday night socialising.  Hubby was pretty tired on Saturday morning so I did the weekly shop on foot whilst he slept on.  We babysat for our daughter and son in law  on Saturday evening (there first night out together since Zack arrived (can you believe he is already 19 weeks!!).  They were both settled  in bed and asleep by 7.15 so an easy evening.  They were home by 11.30 but due to the fact that there had been a car crash just outside their flat half hour before they arrived home (no one hurt but the drunk woman driver had managed to hit up to three parked cars before rolling her own) which blocked our car in (how she avoided ours and son in law's work car was truly amazing!!) and we had to wait until 12.45 when the police were able to guide us out!!  No one hurt thankfully but the driver could barely stand and they told my son in law (once she had been taken away in the police van) that she was almost 6 times over the limit according to the roadside breathalyser and just a few minutes from her front door when it happened.  She had babyseats in the back of the car  but thankfully they were empty.

Sunday was extremely quiet as hubby virtually slept all day, just waking when I got meals.  This seems to happen when he has been out and about  as I think its an emotional strain on him.  He is still struggling to clear the cough/cattarh from his last cold but his general health has remained good which we must assume is a plus and he is not one to complain (never has been and doubt he ever will) as he has a very laid back personality.  All being well he is off to visit his old work this Friday so they can pick his brains re a current job so no doubt he will be sitting with a smile on his face then.

Hope your Mum and hubby's stepdad doing well. Enjoy your hols and chat again when you have the time.  Take care. Jules xx

Hi Jules,

Wow, zookeeper for a day, that sounds like fun, and I've always wanted a snake but never got one and now I think I'm a bit lazy as I have my dog, Charlie (and husband) and that's enough for now, keeps me busy enough haha although if jamie was to give me a tortoise tomorrow I'd be overjoyed

So I've been off work all week and have basically been stripping bedroom walls (finally!) Can't find our wallpaper steamer so have been doing it with a wet cloth mainly, so its taken all week haha but we're not in a mega rush, had a plastered come out today and he's going to give us a quote by teatime, but he can't come til the week after next so we can't really do anything until then now anyway. We've broken down our wardrobe and drawers (big sturdy old fashioned ones from the previous owner (a little old lady who'd lived here since being a child) shame to get rid but I've no idea how they got them upstairs because they seemed too massive to get downstairs, so all our clothes are in suitcases and holdalls and are in Charlies room along with everything else so Charlie will be in with us for a couple of weeks til its done, which I don't mind love his little cuddles and he loves to watch 'i dont believe It' one foot in the grave) with us on a nightime before he goes into his own bed

So we've a lot going on here. It was my mums birthday on Tuesday so I sent her some flowers and a balloon and I'm hoping to get over this weekend, jamie has been working as usual and Charlie been at childninders so I have t been over yet, (I like to get him back to his routine if he has time off, because sometimes he gets a bit upset going back) She's doing well, eating and getting out and about in a wheelchair.

My doctor is really nice, its this other one, he hasn't been there too long, Im not sure if he's a locum who has like a regular one day a week there? Anyway I won't be seeing him again or Charlie, but I think we'll still be staying at that practice.

Gosh, I'm glad they were ok and not involved with that accident, I don't understand why people drink and drive I really don't. It makes me angry and ill at the same time just thinking about it. I'm glad all turned out ok.

Did hubby get to visit work? Hope so and cheered him up a bit

Hope you're ok and still smiling, will speak soon

Take care Terri xx

Hi Terri

Wow and I thought you were having a holiday!!  Sounds like you have been very busy but then a change is as good as a rest so they say. I am sure you will  be delighted when it is all fresh and new though.  Mind you sharing your roomwith Charlie and clothes in suitcases could be a holiday scenario.

Great to hear that  your Mum is coping well and am sure the flowers and balloon will have lifted her spirits too.  Hope you managed a visit this weekend as she must love to catch up with you and the family.Perhaps Charlie will get a ride in the wheelchair  on Granny's knee!  It would have been myDad's birthday this weekend so have found myself in a bit of a reflective mood (maybe not a bad thing as he was a very positive person and I am finding strength in remembering some of his well said words).

Hubby did indeed get into his work meeting (just a half day but over 2hrs driving all told).Seemed to cope well on the day and even had his usual evening out afterwards.  Yesterday was another story as its obvious to me (no input from him as usual) he was physically and mentally shattered.  He was lethargic and miserable (to be fair I had prepared myself for this as have seen it before when he has to put any kind of effort into doing something).  We took it slowly and he drove me to the supermarket (got a look when I suggested I did it alone!!) but as soon as we returned he was asleep in his chair and thats how the rest of the day passed though I did wake him for meals.  Will see how he is today when he gets up.  Am planning a walk to the Farmers Market as the sun is shining and the exercise and fresh air helps but will wait until I get him his breakfast before setting out.  By the sound of it I should go before lunch as apparently more wet weather is approaching.

Looking forward to the coming week as I am only in for two days and then have a few days holiday (finishing up holiday entitlement before 1st April when the new one begins!!).  All being well we have a couple of things planned one of them being a lunch with our friends (her birthdday) to a new local Tapas Bar.  Also am trying to arrange a day out with one of my friends for some window shopping/lunch.  Need a new lawnmower (exciting ) if I am every going to be able to cut the now very long grass (though if it keeps raining I can seeme having to use shears first.

Am managing to keep smiling, thanks for asking and there are many who are facing hard battles for so many reasons; you realise that a smile given and received is worth so much.

Hope you manage to visit Mum and all is well in your family. Have a good week (even if you are back to 'paid work') and hope to chat again soon.  hugs from jules xx

Hey Jules,

I'm on my last day off today, and I've spent a good two hours of it crying on and off, I watched Philadelphia, its such a good film, the soundtrack is amazing and tom hanks and denzel Washington are just brilliant. I've seen it lots of times but I still find it as enthralling as the first time. Have you seen it? If not, I recommend it.

I got to see my mum on sun, the nurse was there as I got there, changing her dressing. I took the opportunity to ask how much she weighs as mum said she'd been told she lost a pound or so last week. They weigh her in kilos, she is roughly 36.5 kilos which is around 5st 11. She weighed 38 kilos the time before so she had lost about three pounds. But she says she feels great, she feels like she is on the up, so that's good. She wanted to go out to matalan, which is at the side of the Tesco so we went and she bought a couple of things, then we went into Tesco and she had a look around and bought a few bits of food that she fancied and then we went to the cafe in there, which is a Costa coffee, we had two medium coffees which were like soup bowls! And a slice of cake each, my niece summer was with us and she had some chicken nuggets and chips and did some colouring in that an assistant gave her.  Mum ate all but a bite of the cake, and that was because she said it was dry, and they were big slices too, it was lovely to see her eat so heartily! When we went home summer read me a book that she won at school in a readers raffle, two of her classmates put her forward to win, and it was about dinosaurs, she really amazed me, (she'll be six in June) she was reading do brilliantly. There were some big words in there and she shocked me at how well she can read. Its brilliant, because she actually loves to read too, so that'll be a big help, I was the same at her age, still love to read now too. My mum was dozing. We were only out two hours but it tired her out bless her. Really enjoyed the day. Charlie didn't come with me because my mum doesn't feel strong enough to have him there all day yet. (Not cos he's naughty lol he's just active all the time, wants to play and never sits still haha) but I'm sure it won't be long til she's up to it, she says how she's missing him so much and feels guilty about it but I've told her not to be daft, he won't forget her!

So all the bedroom is done now ready for the plasterer who is starting next tues, so that's something to look forward to. I'm bringing Charlies bed into our room tonight because I'm aching so much on a morning from balancing on the edge haha

I went to my very first zumba class last night too, and survived! It was quite fun, and I'm not aching half as much as I thought I would. I'm going again next week

Aww, I know what you mean about birthdays they do have a habit of making you ponder don't they? But its especially nice if the person was a particularly positive person, always makes you feel better to think what they would've done/said about certain situations, makes you feel more positive yourself.

Glad the hubby managed to get to work, even if it did tire him out, I'm sure it made him feel better.

Did you manage to get to the farmers market and buy some delicious goodies?

Hehe good luck with buying a lawnmower....and then using it, gardening is my least favourite thing to do ever, I have two lawns one at front one at the back and they're only tiny, but I still hate all the getting it out, then sweeping the paths and trimming the edges, think I'm just lazy ha, jamie just bought some bulbs so I'm sure we'll be planting those over the next couple of weeks, booooo! So I hope its not as much of a chore to you!

I've never been to a tapas bar so you'll have to tell me all about it, I hope its lovely

You're certainly right about a smile     ( I just wish some customers thought like that at 6 in the morning haha)

Well I'm glad you're all ok and still smiling hope your mum is doing well also

Speak soon, hugs, Terri x

Morning Terri

Well, as you finished your time off, I began mine Only working a 3 day week means by just taking 2 extra days (last of current year's holiday entitlement) I have a 6 day break.  Today the sun is shining brightly and all being well hubby going to drive me to pick up 'reserved' mower and I can once again get into the garden instead of just looking at it waiting to be mown!!!  Hubby currently dozing whilst his painkillers do their bit and he will have breakfast and then we will pop out.

Generally will take each day as it comes but have plans in place for Monday (day out with a friend) and Tuesday we are both out for lunch with our friends (her birthday so our treat though expect a fight over the bill as she likes to 'share' everything).  We may also get a fish and chip supper tomorrow as we are not on our usual nights out (our friends off to the races for the day as part of a relative's 60th birthday celebrations).

Glad  you found your Mum doing well and up for time out to enjoy a bit of shopping/lunch.  Can understand you not having Charlie with you (little ones, though love them to bits, can be very tiring.  Fingers crossed it wont be too long before your Mum can improve her weight/enegery levels and enjoy the whole family for a few hours.  Always more difficult when there is distance involved too.

Well, just had a pause as district nurse called to check on the old man.  No wonder he prefers it when she calls and I am at work - young and blonde and very nice.  He told her all is much the same and pain controlled with current medication (and I mentioned that he is loathe to go out 'just for exercise' - probably not what he wanted me to mention but they need to know what is going on to be able to monitor him properly).  His next consultant appointment is end of the  month so they will call back afterwards unless he calls them.  Very good support and she also told me I can call for a chat anytime too.

Still waiting for hubby to eat his breakfast (now more like brunch) so think shopping will be p.m. now but its good not having to fit work in too.

Hope all the family doing okay and that hubby's stepdad continues to make good progress.

Look after yourself and hope you did not find too much 'catching up' to do when you went back to work.    Take care  Jules xx

Hi Jules,

Have you had a nice break from work then? Sounds like it was going to a nice relaxed one, and you hopefully got a couple of the sunny days in there?

Is the hubby still doing ok on the painkillers too? Although when his nurse comes I'm sure it takes his mind off it haha 

Jamie's stepdad is doing just great, still waiting to heal properly before he gets his 'voice' back, I'm not sure what he's decided to go with yet in terms of that though, I don't want to seem too nosey lol

I've just phoned my mum this afternoon, haven't spoken to her in a couple of days, and she's got pleurisy! Sharp pains in her left lung and a bit short of breath, she has some antibiotics and they've told her if she's no better when she's done them she has to go back in to hospital. So we've all got our fingers crossed they work, because last thing she needs is to take a step back. She says she's still eating, which is always the thing that stops when she's off it, so that's good I guess. So bit of a waiting game now, bless her.

How's your mum doing, much the same? Does she like to sit in the gardens or anything when its sunny? Sun seems to cheer people up, hope it works for your mum too

Had an eventful morning at work today, I slept in, first time in about a year! (Because I started at 4.30am the prev morning doing pos for a new promo launch) and it was only ten mins, but then I had to de ice the car which I wasn't expecting! So that was fifteen mins, when I got to work, the fire alarm was going off, and apparently the fire brigade had been and left as it was a false alarm, but the smoke bomb had gone off. But the previous morning my key to the two locks on the front door snapped in the top one, and the late person hadn't been passed the message so he locked the bottom one, which was the same key! So I had to wake him up and go and get his key so we didn't open the shop until about 6.10 only ten mins late, but while I was going to get the keys my ops manager had turned up because the store manager hadn't updated the keyholder list and the lad is on hols the next one didn't answer his phone so then it goes to ops.....he was ok and pleasant but there was an email in the afternoon telling the whole group he'd been called out and its the sm job to update the keyholder list so I think my boss might have a telling off tomorrow :/ and the worst thing is, it was the helium balloons that we'd put up the prev morning for the launch! We've to take them down each night now lol

Anyway I hope you're keeping well, and still smiling

Take care, speak soon, hugs, Terri xx

Hi Terri

Good to hear from you and I hope by now the antibiotics are starting to help your Mum.  What a shame she had to be hit with pleurisy but treatable so thats a relief.  Keeping fingers crossed she will soon be loads better and continuing to build up her strength again.

You certainly sound like it was 'fun and games' at the store. Who would think that a few balloons could cause so much trouble.  Still.never a dull moment eh  Talking 'work' we are a two level store and have been without our escalator for some weeks now (we do have a lift!!) so getting plenty of exercise up and down two flights of stairs regularly (you guessed it -I work on first floor).

Of course we take all the flack from the customers but the 'keep smiling' seems to annoy them more!!  The engineers were back again (the whole escalator workings are spread all over our stockroom and part of our department looks like an engineering workshop) first it was going to be a quick fix and now we have block and tackle and the major bearing had gone so we are 'awaiting part'.   Fingers crossed it will be okay soon.  Not sure what I will see when I go in tomorrow as when I left Thursday afternoon the lift door had jammed and our supervisor was scratching her head!!  (Manager has been on holiday all week- funny how these things happen when the boss is away).

Well my few days off were pretty good.  With every day dry and some sunny I achieved a lot in the garden (and now I have the momentum going so am trying to do a couple of hours each day whilst the weather is being good to us)- two mowings already (got a new lite flymo and its a dream!!) and front garden done.  Back garden half weeded now and once my hair is dry and its a bit warmer I shall be out there today.  Hubby never been one for doing anything in the garden (or even sitting in it) so I am finding it therapeutic and peaceful.  Soon be able to sit and read out there.  During the hols we managed a fish and chip supper out plus took our friends out to lunch (tapas) as it was her birthday.  We sat in the restaurant for over two hours, had 9 tapas between us plus two bottles of red wine and us girls had dessert too!!  We then went back to our friends place for coffee and mints before she ran us home (hubby said we could walk ! and its only a 15min slow stroll but she would not hear of it - I nearly got him some exercise ha ha.  I also spent a day out with my friend from work (her day off) and we went to Windsor for a lazy day window shopping (well did go in and bag a couple of bargains in the sales) plus a stroll round the outside of the castle and along the Thames before enjoying another lunch (one a glass of wine this time!!).

Will be visiting Mum again this Tuesday  and my daughter and youngest will be coming too.  He is now 5 months and really gurgling a lot and starting to be weaned -  the family popped in for a few hours yesterday whilst son in law was at work (he joined us when he finished for the day) and with such lovely weather our eldest grandson was in the front door and then out the back door straight into the garden  - enjoys himself dismantling the rockery looking for 'interesting things' and then plays 'off roading' with his cars in the border (have always left spaces for him to play in so no plants come to any harm!! (did the same with my kids when they were young and it works!!!).  Thinking about buying a 'swingball' for us this year (last year was a mini goalmouth but the foxes made a large hole in it!! and its easier taking him to the park for footie now he is bigger).

Well hubby still seems to be managing the pain (though he is still lacking in communication and I am having to guess!!) and has not had to use many of his back up morphine.  He really never complains but looks so incredibly sad and its rotten feeling pretty helpless to change things for him.  Still trying to stay in 'normal' mode because thats what he wants.  However he is spending longer in bed in the mornings and sleeps quite a bit (unless we have company!).  Did manage to get a lovely picture of him and the grandsons yesterday (camera always to hand when they come over as they change so much and its lovely to catch them unawares sometimes!!). Also means I can show the pics to my Mum.

Well think thats enough of a ramble - you can see I do not get a lot of chances to chat.  Take care of yourself and  hope you have good news re Mum very soon.  Hugs   Jules xx

Hi Jules,

Sorry its taken so long!

Happy mothers day! Hope you have a fab day and get spoilt rotten

How's work, is the escalator fixed yet? I hope so! When I worked in the superstore when it broke down I remember the nightmare it caused, don't envy you! And then the lift door jamming, what are the odds?!

Sounds like you had some busy time off, gardening! Again, don't envy you lol and you managed to get out for your friends birthday, I keep saying we're going to try tapas, but we never have.....yet! Well hopefully the good weather will arrive soon to stay and all your hard work will be worth it like you said, when you can sit outside with a book that's the bit I like too haha

How is your mum doing, did she rally round for the visit? I hope she enjoyed the baby

Glad to know your hubby is doing ok and managing well

My mum is doing ok, the pleurisy seems to have gone now, no pains etc we went to Liverpool hosp on tues and the prof changed some tablets and said to carry on with the tb chemo for at least two to three more months and it should be ok. He's happy with how she's doing. So that's good

We went to a little fair that comes often yesterday and Charlie went on a few rides, he lives them and then he won two goldfish which he's called woody and buzz, we went and bought a tank and we're going to put them in today

Jamie went diving with sharks on Friday, he loved it, he said he panicked at first when training to scuba cos he said its against everything you do normally lol but soon got into the swing of it, and then really really enjoyed the dive. We got some great photos too so good memories to keep hold of

Anyway sorry it took so long, had chest infection all week finally got in at docs on thurs but just been sleeping and working mainly, really knocked me for six, still coughing badly too, might be a sticker and need another lot after these but hopefully not, they're like bullets lol

Anyway speak to you soon, hope you're all well and good and you are keeping happy an still smiling

Take care Terri xx

Hi Terri

Hope that your nasty infection has been zapped by the 'bullet' tablets and that you will soon be feeling a lot better. How you managed to work through it is amazing (and probably why its hanging around!!) and not surprising you feeling tired.  Hope Mother's Day was good for you.  Great here.  Visited Mum in the morning and she managed a smile but otherwise much the same; she did have a little conversation (think the staff had been busy geeing everyone up for their visitors and they were all in their 'sunday best' clothes ).  She is still very  much not wanting to see her 88th birthday (mid May) but as I said her mind might be saying one thing but her body (and me) are saying otherwise. They had a concert arranged for the residents during the week but she, as usual, refused to go along (dont think she was the only one) but those that went really enjoyed the music.  Barely a week goes by without some outside entertainment being arranged and they have an activity lady 10.30 till 4 every week day who is amazing with them all and does everything from manicures to crosswords and exercises.  Never a dull moment for those wanting a fuller life.  Our children along with son in law, grandchildren and son's partner all came visiting in the afternoon and the lounge looks lovely with the additions of beautiful bunches of flowers and an indoor azalea tree. We spent the afternoon in and out of the garden (playing Swingball which had been delivered in the morning (a surprise for our grandson)). All in all a lovely day.

Good news re your own Mum and hope her recovery continues apace.  Am sure she was spoilt Sunday too.How about yourself- pressie from Charlie and lots of hugs I hope?  Bet he is enjoying the goldfish.  My grandson has a land snail as a pet currently (helping out another parent from the school who had loads of 'babies' to find homes for when their pet produced!!).  Not my idea pet but will be calling in the feed it whilst they have a week at the inlaws in Wigan during first week of school hols.  When they return (Easter weekend) they are planning on doing up their bedroom (painting) so to help out we are having the baby overnight Easter Monday (working all day - yuk) and then all day Tuesday to keep him away from the worst of the fumes and give them a free day with the paint brushes (eldest grandson is aiming to help!!).  Will be hoping for dry weather so can go for walk to the park or lido and feed the ducks- maybe talk grandad into lunch out!!).

Fantastic memories for all the family with Jamie 's Shark Experience.  Hubby and my son both passed SCUBA exams when taking a course in Turkey good few years back.  My son and girlfriend still keep it going and belong to local Club and are off to Spain in May for a diving trip so expect to see some good film on their return.

Have a Friday night out free week as my friend is seeing her brother who is visiting from Ireland so must decide what to do with myself (get used to the routine of having a night out and even had a little win last week which was an added bonus!  Also we go back to her place for a glass of wine whilst the boys finish their evening at the pub (she picks them up and drops us home afterwards).

Well its hubby's birthday tomorrow and we are being treated to fish and chips so no cooking (feels like my birthday too).  His sister, brother and sister in law are all away house hunting on the Isle of Man but am hoping they remember to at least give him a ring.  I will leave his gifts on the table for him to see when he gets up as I will be at work.Fingers crossed he will be happy with what he finds.

Well he is sleeping at present so will have to postpone the housework (shame) and take my book into the garden - beautiful here now the mist has cleared.

Hope you have a good week/weekend and take care of yourself. Chat soon.  Hugs   Jules xx

Good news re your own Mum too - sounds like she is bouncing back to health slowly (often the best way).