Another expensive day!  My eyes are healthy which is pleasing but my vision has changed in the last two and a half years so new glasses!  I cough up half the payment of £140.00 and decide I have enough clothes to see me through the summer, plus a new washing machine to keep them clean!  I pop into Binns to take my bra back, ne naw, ne naw, the alarm goes but no one jumps on me, then I head for the ladies toilet not realising that there are scanners as you go in, I'm surprised the staff didn't jump on me, but everyone ignored it!!  So security tag gone off I go to get Jean.  Its her 49th wedding anniversary, so she's happy we're going out, we share an egg sandwich and half  a piece of carrot cake, very thrifty.  Back home hubby has been for his blood test, I made him drink a full glass of diluted juice a full glass of water and a cup of tea, he pulls a face but I threatened to tell our daughters if he didn't, that worked, he's more scared of their wrath than mine.  But when I get home he's had another bad nose bleed, these concern him more than the cancer, so we'll ask the nurses about it tomorrow.  I don't think it's serious, but he's worried.  I've just had a large glass of rose wine and feel chilled out.  I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.  Love Carol x 

I've had the most awful headache all day, and my patience is not good.  Hubby keeps ranting on about Brexit and I keep saying I'm not interested but he won't shut up.  I hunker down in the front room, take a risk to get some lunch and he says the Internet has gone down.. It hasn't, when are we getting the new broadband he enquires, we've got it, I set it all up whilst you were with me, this just doesn't register at all.  He's got lots of bruises and is worried about them, so by the time we leave for the hospital we're both stressed.  Anyway. Off for a scan in X Ray, he actually asks for a porter to wheel him, that's a first, then Delphine comes to get him, she's our McMillan nurse, and she shows us the X rays from today and last time, no change, how good is that, she says considering the diagnosis two years ago he's doing remarkably well!  The bruising is due to taking steroids and the nose bleeds because of his RA meds.  We both look relieved, call and buy chocolate to celebrate  have a soothing cup of de caf (still isn't aware he's drinking it) and I'm going to celebrate with a big glass of rose wine.  The girls will be thrilled, a lovely return gift for Lisa when she gets back from Singapore.  Love to you all. Xx

I practically overdosed on chocolate, wine and paracetamol last night as my head hurt so much, I gave up at ten pm, took hot milk and my book up and read until I had finished it.  It always disappoints me when I've thoroughly enjoyed a good book then find the ending rushed and nothing like I thought it would end!  A lot better today so off out to buy food.  Back home hubby decided to go out as the weather is good, he leaves and I look at the lawn and decided it's time to tackle it for its first cut.  So two hours later it's looking good, birds are fed, bird bath filled and then I sit with a glass of wine in the sunshine and watch the birds, they are in their element with so much stuff being kicked up from the lawnmower.  Beef curry for tea, another wine and a scandic noir film on BBC 4, a good night.  Love Carol x 

Dear Carol,
The lasagna was ok, but I think I prefer the traditional way of making it in layers.  The sauce would be good with just pasta.  Recipe follows:

1 brown onion
500g lean beef mince
½ tspn garlic powder or minced garlic
½ tspn mixed herbs
1 zucchini grated
1 carrot peeled and grated
1 cup mushrooms chopped finely
300ml canned condensed tomato soup
400g canned diced tomatoes
1 tblspn tomato paste
½ cup water 
Heat a large frypan and spray with cooking spray.  Sauté the onion, then add mince, using a wooden spoon to remove lumps as it cooks.  Add herbs and garlic.  Add zucchini, carrot and mushrooms and stir through.  Add tomato paste, soup, water, can of tomatoes and stir to combine.  Cover and simmer for ½ hour.
The original recipe had lasagna sheets broken into the sauce to simmer, then bechamel sauce and grated cheese on top, again covered and cooked till cheese had melted.  I added extra minced garlic, probably a bit over a tspn.  The sauce was tasty.  I have 5 serves in the freezer, but it probably serves 4 if you're feeding men or teens.
It really doesn't matter whether it's car repairs, new appliances, prams or glasses, it's all getting very expensive.  Your were being very thrifty when you had a bite to eat with Jean.  That really is wonderful news that Normans tests show no change.  Also good that the nose bleeds and bruising are nothing to be concerned about, although I'm sure you would both prefer they weren't occuring.
I shouldn't laugh but it's hilarious that Norman hasn't realised he is drinking de-caf.  The girls will be thrilled wish the results.
What a dissappointment to not have a good ending to a great book.  Glad you are feeling better today.  The beef curry sounds good, I didn't feel like anything that I have frozen, ended up having toast with avocado, tomato and cheese, thoroughly enjoyed it.  It was nice for a change.  The birds love it with a freshly mowed lawn.   We have nothing decent on TV at present.  Must learn how to watch a DVD, we have some really good shows on DVD, and I don't seem to be able to get it going.  It's all connected through the TV and using the DVD remote doesn't do it.  The smart TV, I've got my doubts, all it does is make it more complicated.  I had no problems with the last TV.  Have had a storm tonight, wonderful show with lightning and thunder but hardly any rain.  Had the front door open to watch.  I love storms, as long as I'm not out in it.
Deana and I are of to Melbourne tomorrow, she needs flowers for the shop, but after that we are going to Births. Deaths and Marriages.  I've got to get a copy of my previous marriage certificate, to prove who I am.  I have my birth certificate, then my marriage certificate to Neil, but the surnames are different on each.  What a pain.  Hopefully it won't take too long once we get in there.  Then aqua balance tomorrow night.  

Hope everyone is doing well.  Take care, love to all.  Sue xxx

Dear Sue, thanks so much for the recipe I may try it next time the family lands.  Lisa is home safely and she and Faye are happy with Dad's latest x Ray.  To celebrate we took off for a long drive in the glorious sunshine and being in the car, avoiding the horrible wind.  We ended up in Northumberland which is practically the border between us and Scotland!  Back into Weardale, over the barren moors, just like Wuthering Heights, dropped into Teesdale near High Force, over the bridge into Barnard Castle, a bag of chips munched in the car and back home for a well deserved cup of tea, we even saw a marvellous rainbow but unfortunately not the pot of gold at the end, but let's not be greedy, we had our own pot of gold on Friday.  It was funny in Tesco yesterday, an old man on his own asks me where the tissues were, toilet or nose I ask, he looks bewildered  then I realise they are in the same place, go straight ahead, follow the aisle for washing powder and you'll be there, thanks he says, then promptly turns right and walks in the opposite direction, I didn't bother running after him.  So I put my shopping on the conveyer belt, handbag on the floor next to my feet, go to pay and a little old lady had shoved her trolley so close to me she'd run over my handbag, excuse me you've run over my bag, well that's a stupid place to put it young lady she reprimanded me, well it was quite safe before you ran over it, It'll get stolen she tells me, I give up!  So I park my trolley by my boot, put my handbag in the car, turn round, all my shopping has disappeared including the trolley, my face must have been a picture as I look left, right, see a lady rushing with a trolley further up the car park, has she stolen my trolley!  I walk across the road and lo and behold it's alongside another car,  I suddenly realised I had parked in the bit that is slanted for the drains and it had rolled off on its own for an adventure!!  Talk about Penelope Pittstop, me, I could write a book about my trials and tribulations.  Take care, love Carol x 

Just managed to get some action from my new router - am dripping sweat and knackered.  But it is working!  Must take dog out for a walk - he is driving me nuts too, poor Muffin.  Had a lovely walk on Saturday around West End of London with many thousands of like minded friends; leg still aching but well worth it.  Annie 

Well done Annie, my new router and broadband was pretty easy to do, so I was quite chuffed with it!  I rang Faye this morning to see if she would like to see the Mary Quant exhibition at the V & A but she reckons it will be sold out, so I've left her to have a look.  Busy day, new washing machine, he puts it in shows me how to work it and goes.  I ring the warranty in and the guy asks me to give the number of the machine, its on the inside of the door, only problem is I can't get the door open!  In the end I rang Mary as she has a Hotpoint, she pops down, pulls the door and it opens, how did you do that, brute force she says!  I knew I was getting weaker with age but not that bad!  Hubby has gone out for fresh air, he is drinking water without being told to, he def looks a lot better, despite, cancer, copd, RA and one leg!!  He's just suggested a ride to the coast tomorrow, that would be lovely.  See you tomorrow. Xx

Hi Ladies,
The drive to Northumberland would have been lovely.  Luckily all our supermarket carparks are level so no runaway trolleys, the look on your face would have been priceless.  Deana and I went into the city yesterday, I too walk a long way.  We parked the car at Southbank (which is just across the bridge from the city), so walked into town.  Eli was grinning at everybody, he seemed to enjoy the new sights and all the people.  Went in and ordered my certificate and told there was a two hour wait so went to a nice cafe for a bite of lunch.  Back to Births. Deaths & Marriages and a 20 minute wait for my marriage certificate.  Then the drive back home.  Eli was so good considering he was in the car seat for a couple of hours then the pram.  We could only let him out for a walk the last 20 mins while we waited for the certificate.

When we got home I had photocopying to do so I could send of all the info needed.  I have always had issues with our printer.. but despite having the usual problems I managed to get it all done and posted  it today.  It's only me that has a problem with it.  Now Deana has to change a couple of the ink cartridges.  I won't even attempt to do that. Tonight I went to the Rotary meeting, which was really good.  They had a guest speaker tonight, and his talk was really good.  Tomorrow night I'm of to the theatre "A Taste of Ireland", which is similar to to Lord of the Dance.  Apparently a couple of the performers are from Lord of the Dance.  I'm looking forward to it.

Norman seems to be doing very well, which is great. 

It's absolutely freezing here tonight, so I'm of to bed where it will be nice and warm.  So take care, and enjoy your day tomorrow. Lots of love.  Sue xxx

Am trying to get myself back into some sort of normal and am takign the time to catch up on your own.    It is nice not to have to race to get a few posts in before the system gives up on me.    I started out with the router bits and pieces and the instructions - no sweat I thought, I can do this.  Half an hour later with bits and pieces all over the floor and desk but no response from the router.  It turned out to be the the plug that I put into the socket.  Not simple.  The plug had to have bits and pieces fitted to it (heaven knows why) and they were not all connecting properly.  The joy when things started to light up.  I felt for you and your washing machine - why do they put information where you cannot see or reach it.  The problem with instructions I find is that a few words from the start they start using long technical terms which mean very little to me so I have to guess what to do.  For example "If you system has a (long technical word) you should do one of two alternatives".   Haven't a clue so I have to try the possibilities until something happens.  Anyway that is okay now; if I can just work out why the printer is not working properly (i.e. it is refusing to print despite my best efforts) thigns will be hunky dory.  I went to the Epsom website who gave me three alterantives to try in the case of one of the three being relevant to my printer.  Sadly none of them seems relevant to my printer.  I will have to get one of my more knowledgeable neighbours to have a look; actually that could be just about anybody.  Hello Sue; good to hear from you; glad you are getting out and about.  I hope you enjoy your evening out.  Annie