Well firstly Sue I replied to your last post but its gone and my avatar has also disappeared!  I have literally been on the go since the family arrived Sunday, Ella has been awake at 6am each morning and this is a shock to the system for me as I've only been in bed for a few hours.  The amount of food that they consume is unbelievable and feeding them all takes a lot of planning.  Sue, Luke and Hannah all arrived Monday night, so there were eight of us in the kitchen whilst I cooked tea!  I left Faye chatting as She doesn't see them much, so when she came to help it was all done.  Tuesday Alfie went to golf with Grandad and Faye went to her old school friends ut I still never got time to post. So they've all gone and I've got a rotten stiff neck again!  Thank God for Sarah who's coming tomorrow to re do everything for Lisa to arrive.  Ella wanted to leave Big Ted here and put me in the boot to go home with her, Grandad could stay here on his own she stated, he wasn't pleased!  Lots of new clothes fot Ella for a six year old she has a definite fashion sense, denim shorts with daisies on them plus a daisy T shirt, a pretty denim dress with a rainbow in sequins on the front which caught the sunshine and created a kaleidoscope of colours. So a quiet afternoon, hubby is a lot better although he was not at all well Monday and struggled to keep up with us all.  I've booked us into the Shaun the Sheep pub for Sunday lunch as I'm sick of cooking, Auntie Sue is coming as well. So my washing has spun and I'm off to town to get some painkillers!!  Love to all. Xx

Dear Carol,

Sounds like you had a wonderful albeit busy time with family there.  6am would be a shock for me also, I do it when I have to, but I'm really not a morning person.  And like you I've only been in bed a few hours.  I can imagine the amount of food you have gone through since the weekend,  I'm getting used to cooking and shopping for 1.  Still making casseroles that serve 4 or 6, but that gives me meals in the freezer.  Love that Ella wanted to leave Big Ted there and take you home with her.  Poor Grandad.  Glad to hear Norman is feeling a lot better. I've had quite a relaxing week.  Hydrotherapy on Monday and this evening.  Yesterday I had Eli. He shakes his head now if he doesn't want something, and blows kisses when he's leaving, such a cutie.  We played musical cars last night as Deana was going to Melbourne today.  I had Deana's little Swift last night, Then she picked that up this morning to take to Melbourne and I had the Tiida today (it has the  baby seat), Nick picked that up to get Eli from daycare, and I got mine back then.  We do this almost every Wednesday now.  Then tomorrow Graham and Elaine are coming to visit and we are all having lunch at Brian and Jo's.  Should be a good day.

When does Lisa arrive?  You'll be busy again then.

Take care, Lots of love.  Sue xx

Helo all.  Sorry to keep nipping in and out.  I have finally grasped the task of trying to find a bungalow in Somerset.  My son is (gently) nudging me by looking up suitable properties in the area I have given him; he is good at things like that.  Paul needs to get away from the stairs and if it means that I have less running up and down stairs when he is unwell that suits me fine.  So I have started looking at properties again and am going back again nexTuesday/Wednesday as I have found two properties that look nice.  We need a secure rear garden for Muffin; a secure front garden would be good too but he has a tendency to bark at any cats which go past.  He doesn't want to get any nearer to cats than that as he came across two cats fighting in our garden a few months ago.  He started to run towards them just as the cats lunged at each other - cats don't hold back.  Muffin skidded to a half and decided discretion was the better part of valour - he went indoors while I threw water over the moggies.   I have put Prague on hold for the time being - I need to concentrate on selling this house and buying a bungalow. I have been happy living here for the lkast twenty years but I somehow feel that a lot of the things and people associated with it are no longer there - i will miss some good neighbours but hopefully we can keep in touch to some degree.   Sorry your neck is causing you problems, Carol.  I have not forgotten your request for a photo.  The one where I was "dancing" with my niece's son is actually a video and as I was sideways on and bent almost double to get to Fin's level all you see is a mass of blonde hair obscuring my face.  I am going to have to work out how to post a photo from my new phone.    I am a Labour party member and not sorry to be away for the next meeting (Chuka Umunna is our ex-Labour MP).  When I worked for Lambeth Council I was in charge of housing repairs (nightmare) and met with Chuka as part of my job as he took an interest in everything.  Love to all.  Annie

Hi girls, the next lot land tomorrow but hubby still has an infection so back to the GP again today.  We received a letter from his RA consultant, everything's listed and when you read it its amazing he's still here!  So he now has chronic kidney disease which he hadn't realised but it was diagnosed during chemo but he forgot, so he calmed down when I explained it to him.  The arthritis is definitely due to treatment as it's diagnosed as flaring up in the last 18 _ 24 months.  Sue, I hope you had a marvellous time, I'm pleased you mentioned the swapping of car seats as I need to get Harry's out of my tidy garage, at least I know where it is now.  Annie, I can understand you putting Prague on hold as moving is more important for you and Paul.  Norman wanted a bungalow but I didn't because some family had one and I felt like you could hear everything going on!  Faye has just texted to say they miss us, she is trying to get us to move near her, she tells us they have built "old people flats with a balcony" we look at each other imperceptibly knowing neither of us want to do this, my goodness I don't even think of myself as an old person!  It's funny really because last Saturday when I was in Tesco a person on a massive mobility scooter came alongside me at the tills and I couldn't move.  I was telling Lisa the tale and said old people in their seventies shouldn't shop on Saturday as it was too busy and they had all week to go!  She started giggling and I suddenly realised that I was talking about myself, minus the scooter.  So no word from our other ladies for some time now I hope they are OK.  If I go missing it's because I don't have time!  My neck is better now, I think sitting on the floor playing Monopoly didn't help and my little Ella is getting heavy to pick up, but the cuddles are worth it.  Love to you both. Xx

Hi Ladies,
It was a lovely afternoon catching with Graham, Elaine, Brian and Josanne.  Josanne prepared a lovely lunch.  We have never bothered buying an extra carseat for Eli, it's much more fun playing musical cars.  Always a surprise to find out which car you will be driving for the day.  Norman's chronic kidney disease does explain the frequency of problems.  Chemo does both good and bad and many suffer with the effects from having it. Of course Faye would like you to move nearer, and Ella would love it too, but it's all dependant on whether you want to move.  "Old people flats with a balcony", she's really not selling her idea very well.  Enjoy your visitors and hopefully Norman will stay well and be able to keep up with you all.  I caught up with a girlfriend yesterday, had a couple of hours enjoying a cuppa while we chatted.  My youngest daughter turns 31 on Thursday, that makes me feel old.  Will probably have them over for dinner next weekend, unless she decides she would rather go out.  Will have a lazy day tomorrow.

Take care, love to all.  Sue xx

Hi there girls. I’ve been through a bit of a bad time lately. Stomach and back troubles and so weak and low. Got myself into a bit of a state thinking the cancer was back. Got a lovely GP who I have been seeing and she helped so much and put me on Diazapan and made me believe in myself again. And of course my lovely daughters have been there for me too. I’ve been staying with them in turn and they have got me out and about and I have some strength coming back now, bodywise and mindwise. I hope you are all ok and enjoying these lovely sunny days we are having. I have been trying to put my profile pic on but my lovely grandson Ben did it for me tonight. He is 21 and working in Manchester studying hard to take his exams in the insurance world like his dad. He is so like his grandad my Dennis it’s wonderful but heartbreaking too. Lots of love and hugs to all xxx

Hi everyone, I'm back after a whirlwind nine days of feeding, shopping, trampolining, rock climbing, parks and the seaside, through which hubby has held his own, everyone has gone this morning and he's dosing in the sunshine after saying how quiet it is!  I suggested Seaton Carew on Saturday and he said I was mad, February and the North East Coast but I stood my ground and said we were going, meet us over there for fish and chips but he decided we would all go in one car.  So we arrived and it was heaving!  The sun was out and shining off the sea which was actually blue, very rare here and we couldn't find anywhere to park.  Hubby kept saying he could not believe how busy it was, he thought we would be the only muppets there!  So we parked further out and Lisa, Harry and I walked along the sea front and played in the arcades, Lisa rang Dad and an ice cream van had parked by his car, so he was eating a 99 and stood outside.  He looked so happy when we got back to him.  Off for fish and chips and we sat on a bench at the headland, watching yachts going by and the seagulls swirling on the wind and diving to pinch Harry's chips.  A wonderful day out and enjoyed by all.  We brought seaweed and shells and fossils home and Harry built an alien.  Yesterday we had lunch at our favourite pub, had tea and cake at Auntie Sue's and Luna paid a visit where she licked Harry's trousers because they had gravy on them!  So I am off out for tea with my friends and then the movie Mary Queen of Scots   I'll answer my lovely girl's messages tomorrow  when I get back from James Cook hospital.  Love. Carol xx

A beautiful day again although cold out of the sun.  I've just tried to cut some long strands of hedge off but I'm too little to reach it, so more money to pay out.  Hubby has been religiously drinking water and today I've bought decaf tea bags, Sue suggested mixing them in with the normal ones so he doesn't notice.  She went straight decaf after her kidney transplant and said it was like  coming off drugs cold turkey!  So he's gone for some fresh air and a ride on his buggy, I've taken him off ibuprofen as well because the oncologist was adamant he didn't take them during chemo.  A little annoyed at this measure but he then remembered that she had said that.  It's worrying as having coped with everything else this is not a good prognosis and we need to get back on track.  Sue I hope  you have a lovely time with your family and the birthday celebrations, it is 4pm here so will soon be tomorrow for you.  Love Carol x

Hi Ladies,

Gloria. It's great that you are getting out and about and that you are getting some strength back.  Lovely profile picture that your grandson has added for you.

Carol. Seaton Carew sounds lovely.  Kids are so imaginative. Making an elien out of bits and pieces brought back from the beach.  Hope you enjoyed the movie.  It does make me feel old, Deana is my baby.  Cass is 43 and it's her daughter's (Tia) birthday in a couple of weeks, she'll be 17.  I wonder where the time went.  Norman will have to take more care and listen to what the Drs tell him,  and actually do what they tell him.  That's great news that Dorothy has been given the all clear.
Deana's birthday is today and she doesn't want to do anything,I still may be able to coax her into coming here for tea Sat.  I had to laugh the other when I had Eli, he has now started with a funny crawl, on his hands and feet with his bum stuck up in the air.  He looks so funny when he does this.  We have come to the conclusion that while he can walk (I've seen him take 20 steps) he still generally crawl as he can crawl so quickly.  Walking just isn't quick enough yet, so he drops and crawls.  He has cut another 2 teeth in the last week, and doesn't look like a baby so much anymore, starting to look more like a little boy.  He is growing up.  Neil wasn't supposed to take Ibuprofen either with his cancer.
I made some lovely corn fritters for tea last night.  Hadn't made them before, but will definitely make them again.  Have leftovers so probably have them tonight with the leftover salad.  Get my nails done this afternoon, and call in to see Deana after that, and wish her happy birthday.  We have summer weather again this week every day has been over 30.  it's supposed to get to 36 today, which will be nice. Nice weather till at least early next week.
Going to close now as I have to get these floors done, hopefully before I go out later.

Take care, and love to all.  Sue xx