Probably because I don't know how!  Give me a clue what to do. Caz

  Hi girls. Hope everyone is keeping warm. Winter is all of a sudden here. Bitter cold yesterday and today with rain too in Shropshire. My daughters took me out shopping yesterday and lunch. I enjoyed it but so tired I fell asleep in the chair when I got home. My friend picked me up today and took me to buy a washing machine. Mines been on the blink for a while but it’s 12 years old so can’t grumble. Seems like I’m replacing all at the moment. Not long bought cooker plus fridge freezer. Washer being delivered and connected 9 in the morning. Long last got appointment for my biopsy . Weirdly for 27th Nov at 11 am which is exactly the same time and day as my check up with haematology. Rang to alter haematology appointment and was told 18 th Dec was the first I could have. I said I have had weeks waiting and worrying and no sleep already and needed to know the result of the biopsy before that date. Receptionist said she would email my Dr and let me know. The lump went into an open sore as the others did including the benign one but is now healing and feels lot less painful so I am praying it’s a benign one again.Dont understand why the rogue ones appear except I know my immune systems low yet from chemo. I lost just over two stone. Needed to lose some but not in this way. Good news is that the hair is growing back and looks curly but grey. Can’t do my highlites till 6 months. So getting stronger and getting about a bit more. Praying that this latest lump is not the cancer back. Much love to everyone xxx

Hello everyone

Had a busy few days with lots of visitors - I feel I've fed all of Widnes cake and tea!

Well it's scan time tomorrow.  We have to be at the hospital for 8 am so will have to leave here at 7 to make sure.  Dave has to have fluids before and after the scan to protect his kidneys.  Results then, on the 28th when we will see the Prof who may or may not do the op.  I'm dreading that meeting.  But we still have a few days of limbo left, best make the most of it.  Good friends are taking us out for Sunday lunch to a nice country pub in Cheshire.  Looking forward to that.  Dave has been really well and dare I say it, looks like he's put a bit of weight on.  Then, just to bring us back to earth, has had diarrhoea and some pain in his stomache tonight. I'm hoping it's just his body adjusting to the end of the antibiotics.  One the tablets he was on was a question on University Challenge this week.  Not often I can answer them but I did this week!

We all seem to have similar reading habits!  I read in bed when I can't sleep.  It usually sends me off for a few hours at least.  Currently reading Macbeth by Jo Nesbo.  It's different but I am enjoying it.

Hope everyone is doing ok.  Thinking about you all.  Gloria, hope your results are good and welcome back Sue - good to hear from you.

Wish us luck tomorrow.

Julie

x

Hi Julie. Just to wish all the best for tomorrow and good result from the scan when you hear. It’s awful waiting for scan etc results. You can’t stop thinking and worrying I know. Good sign I would think that Dave has put a bit of weight on. I too had tummy trouble with antibiotics. Think they can cause it. Enjoy your lunch out on Sunday. I think the more we get out and about if we are able really helps. I love reading too. Helps to relax me I think. Reading Penny Vincenzi s A Question of Trust. Love her books. Hoping and praying for good news for us all. Lots of hugs xx

Thanks Gloria.  It's 9.30 and I Just got back home as he has to stay till 3.30 pm.  I'll go and pick him up then.  There are times when you feel very alone in all this so your message cheered me up - thanks.

x

Julie

Hi my girls, I was going to write today about my trip to James Cook and the outcome but having read all the messages my thoughts immediately turned to how you are all coping.  So good luck to Julie and Dave please,  please let us know what happens .  The 28th isn't from off but so far ahead when you want to know what is going to happen.  Gloria, I was worried about you as I'm Aware you are waiting results ltoo and I'm still sending little prayers your way,  sent one this morning whilst bored out of my head for two long hours!   I honestly thought they were building me a complete new version of my falling apart hubby,  but no, they gave me the old one back!   Sue I didn't get round to writing last night as Faye rang to say her husband said she should let me do what I want, a voice of reason me thinks.   Then Lisa rang to say she had fallen over at work  and ended up in hospital with  badly sprained ankle,  apparently one of her male workmates carried her to a taxi as she couldn't walk, a knight in shining armour, they do exist, I thought like unicorns they no longer existed.  So she's laid up and I'm now only going to her house, Faye is coming home Boxing day so I will call in on the way.  So a lot going on with us all it seems.  As I've said previously keeping busy keeps your mind occupied .  Food, drink and good friends what more could we ask for apart from good health?    So my friend is coming soon, love to all you brave ladies,  Sue I will write tonight.  So funny that we all love a good read,  we should start a book club!!  Thinking of you all.  Love, love, Carol 

Hi Ladies,
Gloria, it's almost summer here but we are in the middle of a really cold spell.  Thunder and lightning, rain and I've put the heating on the last 2 evenings.  I'm hoping my washing machine isn't on the way out, seems to be getting noisier.  We had it fixed nearly years ago and the repairman said then that would keep it going for a while but it wouldn't be worth fixing it again, and it must be 11 years old now.  Hoping your results are good when you get them.  The 27th isn't too far away at least, although the wait is always a worrying time.  Was your hair curly prior to your diagnosis, a girlfriends hair grew back curly after treatment where it was straight prior.  Sounds good that you are getting stronger and getting out a bit more.

Julie, That's wonderful that Dave is doing well, and possibly put on some weight.  Hope his scan results are positive and that they will schedule his surgery soon.  With luck his tummy problems are just from his antibiotics and will clear in a day or two.  I read each night when I go to bed, sometimes during the day as well.  My next door neighbour lent me a bag of books last week to read, a couple of romances but the majority are my favourite crime/murder.  I'm doing ok, and this weekend I'm going to Melbourne for a for a get-together at a club with Neils workmates and their partners.  It should be good, great company and nice food.

Carol, It's nice that there are still some knights in shining armour around,  Keeping busy helps enormously.  Is Lisa's ankle improving at all yet?  They are the things we all want food, drink, good friends and health.  I've been busy today, taking Deana's car to be fixed , then Eli this afternoon, then when Nick finished work back down to pick up her car, then a bit of shopping, nothing interesting though just groceries and food.  I ended up turning off the computer last night with the storm we had.  At least today it wasn't storming, just rain and cold.

Take care, love to all.  Sue xx
 

Hello everyone; I am pleased to hear that everyone has better news - long may it continue.  I had my trip to the theatre despite having not read the original email correctly. I thought my sister was coming on Monday evening and we were going to the theatre on Tuesday evening.  It was a good job I re-read it on Monday - it turned out she was coming here on Tuesday evening and we were going to the theatre on Wednesday afternoon.  Actually I was quite pleased as I had spent part of Monday making up the spare room bed and generally clearing up a bit - so come Tuesday - when she was coming - I had already done everything.   To be honest I was not too keen on the Dreamgirls performance - it was far too loud;  I could not hear the lyrics and I literally lost the plot several times.  Still quite a lot of people seemed to enjoy it.  When I looked up the reviews on returning home, they were split 50:50 down the middle.  Some saying brilliant singing and story the others saying too loud, a weak story and generally incomprehensible.  I sometimes wonder how many reviews are actually genuine.  When the cousins - who invited us - asked how I liked it I did the typically British thing and mumbled something about good singing but sometimes didn't quite get the plot.  Anyway, I have just got back from taking Paul to the pub to play poker - his mobility scooter has gone off for repairs and service yesterday - he is so attached to it he rang the company this morning to see how it was!  I also took Muffin to the common; he is  having one of his hyper days and barked at every person or dog he saw.   I don't really notice his hyperactivity so much these days but when someone comes to stay they need to be forewarned or Muffin will eat bits of paper and anything else that takes his fancy.  I tried - oh how I tried - to get him trained when we first got him but to little avail.  Although the change of dog food stopped him racing around the house non-stop he still has manic moments.  He was already two years old and learned the basics but sometimes just ignores them.  We cope because we don't care and have got used to putting things out of his reach.  Love to all.  Annie

Some days there are things that hit you out of the blue and you feel like you want to run away from it all.  My day started well, car wash tyre check amd up on the ramp because I thought there was still a banging from the wood I ran over  but apparently it was my imagination.   So back home hubby seems a lot better and goes out for a ride.   I decided to hoover up, dust and sit down and chill out.  I should have known better.   My phone rings and it's a solicitor working for my car insurance company.  In July 2017 in the middle of chemo a wonderful woman hit me on a mini roundabout, no one was hurt,  the cars were repaired and it was fifty fifty as no one witnessed it.   I am now being sued for personal injury as she states she has whiplash !  I really do not need this type of angst in my life, it's too much to cope with.  So I  now have all of this to add into the equation, cancer,  disabled hubby, a daughter laid up who I can't help and an opportunist chasing me for money.  Let's hope tomorrow is a better day.   Love to you all.  Xx

Right, this should be resolved surely without too much grief; if you and the other driver mutually agreed that the accident was fifty:fifty surely it doesn't matter what she is saying happened to her.  And even if it did why the delay of 18 months.  Sounds like a try-on.  Just keep saying "get lost" and they may drop it.    Too many of these cons abound everywhere these days.  Annie

Trouble is Annie she decided three months later that she had suffered whiplash so my Insurance company are having to fight the claim which then puts the blame on me as her own insurance won't pay out  it's my fault, so no its not simple.  Even the solicitor that rang yesterday called her a money grabber.  So they won't give in until we threaten court and they back down.  I'm just so mad as it's months since it happened and it's not nice .  Because of her I've had about twenty unsolicited calls from solicitors trying to get me to claim whiplash as her insurance handed over my details!  It's never ending and very annoying.  Xx

Trouble is Annie she decided three months later that she had suffered whiplash so my Insurance company are having to fight the claim which then puts the blame on me as her own insurance won't pay out  it's my fault, so no its not simple.  Even the solicitor that rang yesterday called her a money grabber.  So they won't give in until we threaten court and they back down.  I'm just so mad as it's months since it happened and it's not nice .  Because of her I've had about twenty unsolicited calls from solicitors trying to get me to claim whiplash as her insurance handed over my details!  It's never ending and very annoying.  Xx

Calm yourself, Carol, there are more important things in your life.    It appears that you can do nothing but let your insurers battle this out - in court if need be but her insurers may decide it is a waste of time.  I know about waste of time calls from solicitors.  I once hit a car - not a big accident - which seemed to come out of nowhere.  Long story cut short - it turned out that this driver seemed to make a habit of setting up accidents then claiming on them.  I made a statement to my insurers solicitors and I was not penalised in any way.  I have no idea what the outcome was (and I did not care too much).  It was bizarre - as I walked towards his car the passenger suddenly got out of the car and ran away!    I was badly shaken though - I just could not understand how it had happened.  And I got lots of the kind of telephone calls you mention!  Tell yourself that there is very little you can do about this at the moment which I imagine is the case.  But feel free to pass on any worries to your mates here.  Annie

I've calmed down!  I worked in a Court long enough to be a witness in one.  Sometimes when you are dealing with the bigger picture it's the stupid mundane things that annoy you, because they are not important, compared to cancer  but they niggle away at time you don't want to waste on them.  I've just food shopped today,  and tomorrow presents will be wrapped to take with me.  Faye isn't  pleased that having only thought of my welfare I'm now not seeing her,  if she hadn't interfered and put every obstacle in my way I could have kept to my original plan!   I'm in that sort of mood today where I'm not really into calming the waters so I kept quiet.  It's pitch dark and cold, I haven't spoken to Lisa but she'll soldier on as she always does.  Faye was tidying Ella's bedroom to take toys to the school fayre,  Alfie cried when she tried to get rid of some cuddly toys.   I did laugh as when we moved house the girls were in their twenties and I had put loads out previously for the charity shop, or so I thought!   When we cleared the attic out a big black bin bag of toys was there, I looked bemused until hubby fesses up that each time I had a clear out, he'd snuck them back in the house because they had been so upset.   We actually brought them to this house and Ella plays with them.  So tea to cook and Strictly to watch, I'm glad I'm not going anywhere.   Xx

Dear Carol, I wouldn't worry too much, although I do understand that on top of everything else, it just adds to the stress.  Put it in the hands of your insurance company, and I doubt very much it will come to anything.  Sounds very much like she is just trying  to scam you all.  Whiplash from my understanding is one of those things they can't prove or disprove, which is why so many try using it.  But so long after your minor accident.  Not sure if you have the same in the UK, we have caller number display, I tend to ignore calls I don't recognise, also help that the home phone doesn't ring loudly (even on full volume) and unless you're on top of it, you just don't hear it.
Went to Melbourne tonight, it was really good, a few tears, but laughs as well.  I have no idea how they managed to get hold of some of the people there, some worked with Neil over 20 years ago.  They had booked for 100.  I was told it was the old crew, but never dreamt it would be that many.
Hope you've all had a good day and have something nice planned for the weekend.

Take care, and love to all.  Sue xxx
 

I've just spent five hours wrapping Christmas presents,  initially it was only those going South but I had a captive audience, the husband so I did them all.  The grand prix was on so he came in handy as paper  holder and getting sticky labels off!  Tea has gone out of the window so it's bacon sandwiches instead.   I look back at last year and I'm more content this year as we know where we are regarding the cancer, we see the Oncologist early December and should be given a new plan to work with .  An appointment has arrived for his RA, he told me it was April but the letter is for first week of January,  see I told you his ears were bunged up!  He's just said Christmas is a pain!  Honestly all that he has done is pull stickers off and use his elbow to keep the wrapping paper flat, then when everyone loves everything he'll be there telling them he did it all! Sue, it sounds like a marvellous night but also bitter sweet, but it showed how much people thought of you.  I'm taking everyone's advice and letting the Insurance company deal with the car situation,  greedy people always get their comeuppance .  Gloria how are you doing?  Annie, your stories are funny and I hope your back is a little better.   Love Carol xx 

Hello all

You've all had lots of things happening to you since I was last here.  You are all so strong and coping with whatever this life is throwing at you.  Carol, you could do without the extra worry but it sounds like you've got the measure of this woman...bring it on!!  Gloria, have you had anything from Drs yet?  Sue, how lovely for all those people to meet up and share memories of your husband.  It must have been hard for you but wonderful at the same time.  Annie, hope you are ok.

We had a lovely lunch out with friends today in a country pub in Cheshire.  It was very Christmassy and the food was so good. Felt very decadent drinking red wine at Sunday lunchtime.  It was nice to do something sociable - I think we've been in a bit of a bubble for the past month or two.  Dave was good and ate 3 courses ( I could only manage 1), his tummy troubles seem to have improved.  Big day on Wednesday, results and plan for treatment.  Will post again after then.

Love to everyone.  Julie xxx

One more problem to add to the list last night, a friend sent me a WhatsApp  message and I clicked on the link, sending a message to all my contacts,  so Faye rang me immediately as her husband is an IT expert and it was  a scam, this sent me into  spiral of worry and what could I do at that time of night.  So another worrying sleepless night, I get up and  drive to town to get my phone checked, they tell me not to worry but I've disabled a lot of apps.  Just in case!  I hate things like this as I'm not really tech savvy, and panic.  My car has to go in tomorrow as the tracking is out and despite assurances I KNOW there's a knocking underneath so that's being looked at.  I pop into Binns as I now need the loo and on the way back I spot a cuddly penguin with  scarf and buy it to go with Ella's penguin pyjamas,she will adore it.  So at home I'm met by hubby, you've got to ring Faye about the scam.  Oh for God's sake I thought this was all over !   Anyway it's in the Independent newspaper and I need to be more careful so another hour fiddling around on my phone, I'll kill the person that sent it in the first place I mumble to myself !!  A cup of coffee and a headache tablet later I feel more in control.   Life was so much easier before technology took over,  we made arrangements and stuck to them, no texts,  no WhatsApp or face book but we all knew what was going on!  Anyway I've ranted enough so Julie it's sounded like a marvellous Sunday lunch, I sometimes think it's only the wine and vodka that have got me through!   Please let me know what happens  when you know, I'm hoping Gloria is doing OK and has some sort of diagnosis to put her mind at rest.  Oh I've also bought myself some grown up pyjamas with owls on, Ella and I should look quite cute together.   Love to you all,  Carol xx  

Hi Ladies,

Carol, I have the first of the Christmas presents here to wrap.  Still lots more to buy.  That's really good that you feel more content this year when compared to last year.  Hope it continues.  Loved my tea tonight, felt like a breadroll with ham, tomato, rocket, onion and a yummy chilli and lime dressing, and as I just have to please myself, that;s just what I had.  Glad to see you have taken our advice and are letting your insurance handle matters.  

Julie, My night out was hard, but really wonderful.  I keep finding out things even I didn't know.  It's nice and they along with me have some wonderful memories.  Sounds great that Dave was able to eat 3 courses.  Hoping you get positive results and a plan on Wednesday.

Annie, Hope you're well.  Shame you were a little disappointed with the theatre the other night.  Most of them now are extremely loud.  Neil used to struggle to hear them clearly when they were so loud.  I'm sure you enjoyed the time with your sister and cousins though.  

Gloria,  Hope you have had good news from the Dr. 

Take care, and lots of love to all.  Sue xx

Carol, can you tell us about the scam just in case it ends up in our inboxes?  They terrify me too; I am not remotely technical (you may have noticed) and get myself into quite a state if I think something untowards has happened.   Annie

Hi Annie, it was a voucher for Asda supermarket sent to my WhatsApp it asked me three questions and then forward to friends,  I think I was tired because normally I wouldn't do it.  Apparently they then say you've been selected to receive it and ask for bank details,  which I would never do anyway .  So be careful.   Xx

Thanks Carol.  Yes when emails start asking for personal details that is usually the point where what is left of my brain starts to ring the alarm.  It is so awful that you have to be so alert so much of the time on the internet.  There is often one that comes through purporting to be from Amazon and asking you to confirm account details otherwise your account will be closed.  Hateful people.  Annie