Hi Carol, I wouldn't think the weather at present here would contribute. I'm just hoping there isn't any more.  Janet's death was unexpected just a month ago she was doing well, and then the last week, she apparently just went downhill...Gordon's funeral was today, I didn't go though, I did find out it wasn't his cancer, he had 3 heart attacks over 3 days, totally unrelated to his cancer.  Deana is going to Janet's funeral with me on Thursday, so I will have company.  She could well even drive one way.Wouldn't like to get anything serious on my own, but Deana is only a phone call away, and only minutes from me if I really needed her. The first couple of days of my cold I felt worse, so stuffed up, but that stage has cleared now, just a nasty chesty sounding cough and lots of sneezing.  Not as sick as you were.
I've been out again today weeding.  My green bin is 3/4 full, but I've pretty much cleared them all now.
Deam had to take Eli back to the children's hospital and they checked his burns,  she doesn't have to take him back again.  They are mostly healed, and only 1 little dressing which only has to stay on for 4-5 days.  He is allowed baths again as well instead of just a sponge down.  He loves his bath.  The area that was burn is still pink but the Dr says that should fade over the next 6-12 months, with no scarring.  He was very lucky.  I will have him tomorrow and Wednesday.
Good to hear your garage door has been fixed.  I know what you mean with parcel deliveries.  If I am in the laundry or my bedroom by the time I get to the door they are getting back in their van.  Most parcels now I say it can be left on the porch, saves me the trip to the post office.
I'd say your are right with the cleaner not wanting to come back.  Some of them are great but others prefer to do as little as the can.  Your two tree's would look lovely and it does make it feel more like Christmas when decorations are up.  
Hope all goes well at the hospital.  Those worrying undertones don't leave with cancer.  

Hope everyone is doing as well as they can.

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

Hi Sue,  I'm sat waiting to go to the hospital,  the cough is not good but he insists he's OK.  This is the worry with cancer, you never know what is happening but one week to Christmas and our lives will be full of happy children,  food and good drink, I think I may buy some strawberry gin for us girls and Tugs loves a good red wine, he loves that I decant it into a crystal decanter,  for our silver wedding my Dad bought us a whole set of crystal glasses I still have all of them, mind no one else is allowed to wash them!  That's lovely news about Eli   no scarring and clear for his first Christmas.   I'm just bringing all the presents down to put  under the tree, it looks really pretty now.  I've just had a text from Fiona saying the mental health team have agreed she can go home with family and friends support .  I've known this young lady for 18 years and was even at her house when she went into labour,  so I ended  up driving her the twenty miles to the hospital !  Ella was an Angel in the Nativity play so Faye sent the video, it made me cry glad tears,  she's my amazing Angel, I am missing so much with these three lovely grandchildren of mine.  So signing off now, glad you are feeling better.   Love Carol xx

This husband of mine is on a sticky wicket.  We see the Oncologist ,she arranges an X ray so we have to go downstairs , he's to weak to walk so I get a wheelchair.   I'm in the way he moans,  I move him then people think we're in the queue , see I told you we were in the way,  our lovely nurse spots me and rings for a porter, don't do that he says she can push me!  This means that I have four lots of fire doors to get through.  The lift to negotiate and the same in the X ray department so I stand my ground,  a lovely porter arrives, hello he says are you waiting for a Porter?  Yes he replied but only because my idle wife won't push me and he wonders why I'm not talking to him.  

Hi Carol, They never listen...At least no he is on the antibiotics.  I love crystal, hve heaps, but it's all still packed...Never unpacked it as we never used it.  Wine, scotch or almost anything looks lovely when decanted into crystal.  It's wonderful news that Fiona can go home, hoping she continues to do well.  It will be good for her I imagine to be home for Christmas.  I've got a video ordered of Sebastion and Colby's Christmas play.  Will probably get that Christmas Eve when Bree comes down here.  You do miss a lot when someone has cancer, appointments, not well enough, all sorts of reasons.  Neil missed lots of things, I missed some but went to what I could.  It's great that Norman feels well enough to go to the Xmas lunch.  My Christmas lights aren't up, and I can't see them getting put up at this stage.  Poor Nick hasn't had time to do them, not surprising with all they have had to deal with.  Hopefully you will get to any that are held for New Year's.  We have a Christmas market on the shores of the lake on Thursday evening, but I doubt very much Deana and I will be back in time to go.  I was looking forward to it, but there is always next year.  Enjoy your afternoon of peace. 
I've had Eli this afternoon,  He was a sweetheart,  Seems ages since I had him last, but it was only 2 weeks ago.  Have him all day tomorrow, I'll be worn out when he goes home.  So heading to bed earlier tonight.  Till tomorrow.

Gloria, Julie and Annie, hope you are all doing well.

Take care.  Love Sue xx

Well I'm having a great day , car in for MOT. Rubbish to the tip and I've ground my teeth so much the filling has come out,  so now have emergency appointment at 3pm.  Some days things just get worse,  the cough is a little better but he doesn't like taking antibiotics because they dry his chest up, that's the whole point of them.   Anyway he says they won't work if it's not an infection,  but the X ray showed it on Monday,  how can it not be,  well they said it looked like it, he either needs to remember the truth or the other version.  Because unlike him I remember what is said!  Harry has just rang they re going to see Santa, he's only 7 so still believes it's what Christmas is about and it's lovely.   Grandma I have to tell you something , I've passed my yellow belt in tai kw on do  and also have freedom of the book.   Not quite sure what that means but I think it means he can choose any book at school and not be told what he has to read. Sue the lakeside fayre sounds so nice but trying to get round to everything is impossible.  I bet you were glad to have the little one again, you must miss him.  The other girls have disappeared for now but we're all busy at this time and I'm  sure we will hear from them soon. Love Carol xx 

Hi Carol,
Not such a good day.  The dentist would be enough to make it a bad day for me.  I'd say the antibiotics are already working if his cough seems a little better.  They love seeing Santa.  Bree's all love it.  Bree usually includes a framed photo of their visit each Christmas.  I have one from each year on display in the family room, hopefully I will add to it this year.  They seem to get younger and younger though when they have doubt about the reality of Santa.  Deana hasn't taken Eli this year, think she's running out of time un;ess she travels to Geelong over the weekend.  Not sure she has time though.  I don't think I will get to the lakeside fair tomorrow.  The funeral doesn't start till 3.30pm so pretty sure by the time we get back it will be over and packed up.  A shame I'll miss it but we have to have our priorities right.

It was lovely having Eli today, and all day at that.  I was ready for nap by the time he went home.  He is such a good baby.  It really is a pleasure having him.  Deana was saying today she can't wait for Christmas so he can have the walker/activity centre I have bought him.  He so wants to walk and uses a chair or anything else thats handy.  He's actually worked out how to release the brake on the pram and was walking around pushing it.  Then after I moved the pram, he was pushing one of thedining chairs around. 
That is really good that Harry has passed his yellow belt.  I had to search to find our where that one came.  It's the first full colour and it means that the student is beginning to learn and create a foundation in taekwondo. The color yellow represents the ground or earth in which the seed of knowledge has been planted and will grow.  Cass did a martial art when she was young and I knew each colour belt meant something.  Well done Harry.

Hope the other girls are doing well, you are probably right, they will be busy in the leadup to Christmas.

Have a day day, take care.  Love Sue xx

Hi Carol,

What a day.  Left at 10.30am, only because Deana being a florist by trade wanted to stop at a supplier to get some flowers for orders she has for Christmas. took us no longer  than 35 mins for the detour. Traffic was horrendous though.  Road works just out of Colac as they are duplicating the highway.  So we sat for nearly 15 mins as only one lane open.  Then on the freeway a truck had lost its load of hay, so that was banked up for miles, and we crawled literally.  Then traffic was heavy through Melbourne finally made it with 5 mins to spare.  We had planned to get there early, find somewhere to have a coffee, maybe a bite to eat.  But that wasn't to happen, so we were hungry and thirsty when we finally arrived. What should have taken 3 hours 10 mins, took 4 hours 20 mins.  The service was lovely but lengthy.  Janet was loved by so many, she really was a wonderful woman.  I knew Janet had a beautiful voice but found out today she was the lead singer in a popular band back in the 60's.  "Janet and the Three Spires".  She grew up in Bedworth, England. She still has 1 brother in London but 2 live here.  It was just really sad and I found it hard, took me right back to Neil's. 
How has your day been?  Good I hope.

I am exhausted, and have a sore backside, that's what happens from sitting in the car for so long.  So going to head to bed.

Take care all.  Love Sue xx

 

Dear Sue, what a nightmare for you both.  It is so stressful when you know that you have to be somewhere on time, the stress levels rise but for you it must have been bitter sweet .  That's the problem,  there is always something to remind you of your loss.   I admire your strength and spirit that is seeing you through .  My tooth is sorted and Mary and I went shopping and had coffee and cake, a little shopping and bought a new rug for the conservatory as Ella says the jute one hurts her knees!  I've just received a handmade Christmas card from Harry with a big I Love You written inside and two verses of jingle bells and we wish you a merry Christmas .  Grandad got a shop bought one, He said you can tell who's the favourite!   I think tea will be late as I forgot to take it out of the freezer,  still neither of us are that hungry.  Off to town tomorrow for my nails, still have my birthday varnish on, how good is that?  I'm  off to my brothers on Sunday I won't stay long as Karen smokes non stop, it's horrible and I drive home stinking of *** ash, with the car windows down!!  Hopefully your back is better .  Love Carol xx 

Hello !

Sorry I haven't been in touch for a while.  I have been thinking about you all and the ups and downs you will have been through over the past few weeks.  

Sorry if I've already told you this, but we had good results last week (kidneys working at 75%, heart rate back to normal and diet/ weight gain good).  Just waiting for the scan now (Christmas Eve!) and results on Jan 2nd.  He's almost back to normal, for the time being.

It will be a different Christmas this year.  I have 'done' Christmas for the last 10 years or so, for son and family, my parents and mum in law.  This year we are going to our son's. It feels really strange not to be in control but I will enjoy it.  I'm not driving so can really enjoy it!  We've also had some lovely cards and gifts from unexpected places - people are kind.  We feel guilty not doing dinner for our parents (son doesn't have room to invite anyone else!) so we have put together little hampers for them, with things that they wouldn't buy for themselves.  Mum in law will go to Dave's brother's and we will visit my mum and dad on Christmas morning.  

Sue and Carol and all the other stay strong regulars, I hope you all have a peaceful and happy Christmas, as far as ever is possible.  

I will be in touch again soon.

Much love, Julie xxx