We had a lovely lunch but his hands are causing problems.   He dropped his knife on the plate and the poor lady on the next table nearly jumped out of her chair,  I mouthed sorry and she smiled back.  People can see the struggle he's having, shaky hands and slow walk but we enjoyed ourselves,  came home and our neighbour came round and put our table together.  By this time I'd had two vodka and lime plus a glass of wine so I was told to sit down and not get involved !  Today has been busy, busy and our love seat has been built so I've had four lots of cardboard to take to the tip, then our old bench was chopped up so off I went again.  Hubby has nodded  off a lot today and says he's tired and doesn't know why.  I tell him to sleep if he needs to, he's eating well so that's a bonus.  Family arrive tomorrow and I've just eaten Alfie's chocolate , it was calling me from the bunk beds, eat me!  So I did.  Xx

Hubby is very tired and his wounds are playing up,  so I leave him in bed and go to Tesco for a family shop.  I buy my neighbour some corona to say thanks for his help, It's not good to take these kindnesses for granted.   Faye should be here soon with two excited children, hubby has replaced the eaten chocolate and we'll keep my naughtiness quiet!  The weather has changed so it's  wet and windy which is annoying as it would be nice to sit in the garden I've worked so hard to get ready.  I'm hoping to eat al fresco tomorrow,  so keep fingers crossed for decent weather.  So if I go missing for a few days, forgive me because I'll  be doing nice things.  Xx

Hello Carol; not sure where the last few days have gone.  Weather was quite good over the bank holiday weekend but has been pretty depressing since then.  I keep blaming the weather for not being able to do anything in the garden but that quiet voice (conscience?) tells me it is not stopping me from cleaning inside the house.  Sorry Norman has been failing a bit sometimes but am pleased he has been enjoying outings too.  You seem to cope by keeping busy - and the occasional glass of wine - but I imagine there are still nagging worries at the back of your mind even while you try to do so much.  Hope you enjoyed the wedding dresses through the ages thingie.

The spring flowers (bluebells, various daffodils and odd bits and pieces) in my front, I cannot call it a garden it is more a strip of earth, were gone almost as soon as they arrived in the late spring weather.  Some of them I planted myself others were here when I moved in.    They were followed by my peony roses - a glorious colour - and everything is now just a muddy mess.  Some new grass has started to grow in parts of the back garden but has not grown at all in others.  Life is full of mysteries to me.  Annie

Hi ANNIE,  I've  been so busy that I've just sat down after playing badminton in the garden with Alfie.  They are going home tomorrow and I'm supposed to be going to a children's fund raising coffee morning at a good friends, I'm not sure I'll make it!  Yes I do keep busy it doesn't give you time to think the worst, I've spent a lot of time in the garden and the family arrive and it pours down.  Hope its a little better down your way. Xx

I've been awake since 6.15 am as Ella woke early and as it was her last day she was going to talk and talk until they left at 8.00 am.  They are home safe and sound and I've finally sat down.  We have packed so much into two and a half days it feels like a week!  Trampoline park, normal park, lunch out, chasing Pokemon trails for Alfie with me trying to follow a ten year olds directions,  whilst driving.  Yesterday was our only sunny day so Faye's friend came with her child and all three of them ran around the garden like lunatics whilst we sat talking and Grandma drank wine (trust me I needed it).  Hubby stayed in the house he has coped well but looked exhausted.   Faye has said he needs to write down what he wants to say to the Oncologist,  so she tells me this, I don't tell her that he's humouring her because I know that even if there was a list it would not be used!  The trouble with grown up children is that they still believe what we say is true.  They are here for a few days, flitting in and out giving sage advice and going home thinking they have helped!  I haven't even had a cup of tea in bed, I've got up with Ella and fed them both, taken tea up to hubby and popped one into Faye and a head appears from under the duvet,  Oh Mum go back to bed and I'll get up!!  This NEVER happens.  So washing done beds made and we are somewhat back to pre visit.  I thought I was at a coffee morning today, fortunately a friend texted it's the 8th of June, otherwise I would be dressed up with nowhere to go.  I'm having a nod off now! See you tomorrow. 

Crikey,  we must have been tired, I wake at seven as a drilling noise permeates my tired mind, who on earth is busy building stuff at this time of the day,  I'll have another half hour but sleep til ten.  I nearly have a fit but realised it doesn't matter!  I go to town, have a peaceful scone and coffee and chill out.  Hubby looks exhausted and falls asleep again, he's decided to see another GP about his hands and I agree as he is suffering badly.  He has dressed nicely today wearing a brown merino jumper and white shirt, but we spot two holes in the sleeve, is it moths he asks, looks like it I say, oh good, I'm now  moth eaten as well as everything else! !  A sense of humor, it has been missing for some time and it's nice to hear it.    The family have gone to meet each other at Kensington park today I hope the weather is better than our pouring rain!

Hi there.   Your family seem to be very caring and although we moan their naivety it would be awful if they didn't show how much they love us.    Nice morning here.  Paul, my pal here, went to Epsom for the Derby yesterday with his mates and came back with more cash than he left with so he was pleased.   He has good friends who help him - he has COPD and various other bits and pieces - but was pretty exhausted when he got home.  I thought I would tidy and clean the living room - he never throws anything anyway - instead I took the dog for a walk, lay on the settee and read my book and then fell asleep.  Come 4pm I decided I must do something useful, ran around for a couple of hours by which time I was covered in sweat and the dog needed another walk.  I have half-tidied and reorganised the stuff in the living room.  Sorry Norman is suffering with his hands and hope the new GP can give some help.  Just realised it is dog-walking time again so need to get dressed.  Annie

Hi ANNIE,  what a lot of dog walking!  My two grandchildren want a dog but Mummy and Daddy have told them they're allergic to them.  They've had no pets at all, it's a shame as they teach you responsibility to others.  We had dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, gold fish and haMs terse,    all came to an ignoble end but we loved them all!!  They love being here and never want to go home.  Ella ate everything we put in front of her, so I mention this to her and she whispers in my ear that my food is lovely but Mummy and Daddy's isn't!   I have a secret little smile as Faye hated cooking and handling raw meat, picking it up with finger and thumb and pulling a face all the time.  Faye is so worried about her Dad and feels pretty much unable to help as she is so far away.  They all love us both dearly and we must have done something right, as they keep coming back.  Enjoy the rest of the day Annie, I'm done now,  television and a glass of wine sound relaxing.  Love Carol x

It has taken hubby three hours to bathe, shave, dress wounds and get dressed and it's  one thirty before he comes down.  I keep running up and down to make sure everything is OK but it's a struggle with his bad hands.  I make bacon buns and tea for him, putting everything on the table so he doesn't have to carry things.  He dropped a whole cup of tea on the newspaper and breakfast top on Thursday, it's amazing how far a cup of tea spreads.  It took Faye and me two tea towels, dishcloth and hot soapy water to clean up.  It went under the TV, down the new cream chairs, dripped onto the floor and everything was sticky!  I'm done for the day as I'm tired and we're off to James Cook early tomorrow.   My cleaner is coming so she can struggle with the bunk beds and everything else.  Once I would have started the minute they left, now I shut doors and ignore it!  I'm sat here with a can of fly spray as I have a rogue fly who must have sensed my intention as it's disappeared but I'm poised if it returns.  Take care all my forum friends x