Not what you wanted to hear Julie but coping with the full truth is better than being fobbed off.  Norman's had spread and they couldn't operate, even today Faye again asked me why.  We can only help and support you through this and will always be here if you need to get it off your chest.  One day at a time, don't look beyond today, cope with that and you will survive.   Love Carol x 

Our lovely neighbours are in Gibraltar,  it's armegeddon here, wind rain and anything the weather can throw at us, I'm even bringing leaves in the house, despite trying to get in and out in as little an opening that I can, so when they return he'll be straight into tidying up mode.  He's on building a new car port, it now looks like an abandoned swimming pool full of leaves.  I've had to wash hubby's hair over the kitchen sink, it's like going back to the 1940s.  Our plumber can't get the taps so we're trying new spindles first.  Faye suggests he have a shower, don't go there I tell her, it's been discussed and Dad's vetoed all suggestions!  So I'm hunkered down for the rest of the day and the garden has been abandoned again.  I've just bought Harry some more Lego, he's so clever with it, it's age 12 and he's 7, but he'll do it in a crack.  Last time he was here he sat on our kitchen bar stall, now what mustn't you do I ask him, I know Grandma, not swing around on it or Grandad will get cross and shout at me, then he'll get grumpy and upset you!  I rubbed his little blonde head, got it in one love, I say!  They are so funny, last time Ella was here Mummy said something to her about what she was doing, oh just get on with it and tell me off now, she replied,  I think that's the first time I've seen Faye lost for words.  Stay warm everyone. X

Hi everyone,

Annie, Not sure Neil would appreciate all of what I'm saying to him, not quite that bad, he hadn't done his tax return which means I now have to, but I can't find half of what I need, very frustrating.  He's not telling me where the paperwork is, and I've gone through so much of it, and still haven't found it.  I still talk to my Dad, who I adored, and he has been gone nearly 10 years, not so much Mum, we weren't all that close.  The photos from the 2nd were Deana's wedding, and the one of Neil in the truck.  I really like the one of him in the truck.

Carol, I forgot all about the royal wedding being televised, still had the radio on, so missed the whole thing.  Will have to check and see if I can watch it later.  It's good that Norman doesn't have any trouble with his breathing despite the loss of lung function.  Just as well it was too much like hard work to pull his rosehip tablets apart, can't imagine what his beef dinner would have tasted like if he'd done that.  Kids are wonderful with the things they say, I only wish I could remember some of the funny things Sebastian, Colby and Stevie have said.  They have us with tears running down our cheeks from laughing.

Gloria, How lovely of your daughter to spoil you with a few days away.  The weather soulds terrible from what you are all saying.  Here at least we are finally getting a taste of spring and have had a couple of quite warm days.  The nights are still cold though.  I haven't noticed any Christmas decorations in the shops yet but I don't suppose it will be long.

Julie, I hope your birthday tea with your grandaughter was enjoyable.  A short break from all your worries.  And belated birthday wishes to her.  As Carol said, one day at a time.

Love to all, take care.  Sue xx
 

Hi Sue, I bet you're calling Neil things you've never called him before.   I'm the book keeper in this family,  so at least it gets done.  I hope you find it all and get it out the way.  I always try and remember some of the funny things the children say it's lovely to remember them.  When we were at the party a couple of weeks ago Harry was telling me how much he loved me, he then put t his head in my lap and said I was so snuggly, then sat up, and put his hand on my hair dragging it all the way down, whilst saying I lover  your white hair Grandma, you're like a Princess!  His Daddy nearly had a fit thinking I was going to be cross because he messed my hair up, I've cone to realise over the past few months, messy hair is worth having.  Take care Sue, speak tomorrow. X

Hello everyone . Hope you are all ok on this rainy October morning.

The birthday party went really well apart from the birthday girl being really tired!  She had been to see Disney on Ice and to build a bear to spend birthday money so perhaps we can forgive her.  We went to a lovely little Italian in Warrington, great food and a very cosy atmosphere.  Just waiting for her to arrive for a couple of hours while Michael visits his dad. It will be so nice to spend a little time with her.  She too loves 'doing hair' and plastered mine with the hand gel last time she visited Dave in hospital!

Dave's good today, he had a pint of blood last night which has perked him up and they're taking his catheter out tonight so he'll be even more mobile.  Small steps!

The Drs are actually talking about doing the op, maybe in 3 weeks time.  It will take 8 hours so he needs to be as strong as possible.

I'll keep you posted.  Take care everyone.

Julie xx

Hi all my girls, isn't it nice to fit in normal daily life in with the cancer life, I try and keep the two seperate and never talk about it when with others, it becomes the main topic of conversation and you can see people's, eyes glazing over with boredom !   Little ones get tired, Ella is up so early that by 7pm she's had enough, so early doors dinner for my family birthday meal, she nearly finished me off at Norman's 70th,  I'd put confetti on the table but it was silver foil and without my realising she'd dropped some in my white wine, which obviously I obediently drank and I ended up with a foil SEVENTY stuck in my throat!    Julie, Norman was so much better after his blood transfusion the difference was amazing.  So let's hope he gets stronger for the operation, it will be a long day for you, Norman was in surgery for that time when he had his quadruple bypass in his legs, will someone be with you?  Well we're off to post my invites I've just managed to write the wrong date on one of them because hubby wouldn't shut up and kept trying to make me watch daily politics, which I hate I had to tell him to shut up as I only had ten invites and no spares!  So take care all if you.xx

Hello everyone, I've had a good day, a girlfriend came to visit this afternoon, A glass of wine, and some laughs.
Julie, Good to hear Dave is feeling better and that they are talking about doing his op in maybe 3 weeks.  One of the surgeons here would call it day surgery, his take on making light of something quite major, he said they call it that because it takes all day.  While actual day surgery you go in early and you're out the same day for something minor.
Carol, I managed to catch a little of the royal wedding, she looked beautiful and her dress was gorgeous.  Charlotte and the other flower girls wer adorable.  Bea's outfit was lovely also.  Didn't see too much of it but what I saw was great. 
I'm going to have a slighter earlier night and ready my book, a rather grisly murder. 
Take care and love to all.  Sue xx
 

Well I asked hubby to drive me around to drop off my invites, this was at 1.00 pm and we've just got back!  Maggie and Paul invite us in, I don't want to says my misery guts of a husband, but Joan is there having coffee, Barry her husband died very quickly of cancer and she wants to see Norman,  the next thing I know he's out the car and socialising.   Two hours later after coffee for him and naturally wine for me we've had a hilarious reminiscent time, remembering surprise 40th bashes where Maggie had ordered a role poly stripper  who was a cave woman, she picked Paul up, threw him over her shoulder and spun him round and round, I've never laughed so much in my life, then everytime he complained she hit him on the head with her caveman club.  So we leave there, call at Mary and Joe's, who arrived home at four o clock this morning and end up chatting , drinking nd those two watching golf.  So our tea has been steak pie, potatoes and green beans for Sunday lunch!  No sign of our new neighbours yet, hopefully she'll fit in more with us friendly lot. X

My husband is not enjoying my new routine since his cancer was diagnosed stable.  My cleaner arrives early as I want to blitz the conservatory,  even the roof, so he's left to get on with it by himself.  He moans about being cold because I have the door open because us two are working and we're hot!  Then he says we've missed a bit of window, the cleaner says, I've not done that yer, then he doesn't like the new rug, what's he moaning about now, she asks me!  Anything he can think of, he's like this all the time, well she says I'm glad mine left and I don't have to listen to him.  We smile at each other and I shut the patio doors to drown him out!  I don't know what to have to eat he says, I ignore him and the next thing I hear is huffing and puffing, what's wrong, I can't get the lid off the marmalade he moans.  So I've swept three ton of leaves up, Norman next door is home but he only did his, which is unusual, mind he has more land, so more leaves.  I'm hoping the plumber gets these taps sorted, Faye says to tell Dad to shower, you tell him I say I'm not suggesting it again, she shuts up.  This being made to do things for himself is a bit of a culture shock but get used to it because I'm not giving in!