Sorry to keep disappearing; I went away for a couple of days to stay with friends during which time I tripped and cracked a bone in my right arm (osteoporosis strikes again) and had to stay there until I could comfortably drive myself home.  It is not very comfortable now the cast is off so I am trying to keep typing down to a minimum.  I had to come back eventually as a new mattress I had ordered was being delivered (I had been going to buy a laptop to carry around but decided the mattress was more urgent as the old one was not very comfortable).  When it arrived (all rolled up) it was so heavy that the combined efforts of Paul and myself could not get it upstairs (what with his chest and my arm that was not surprising) so one of his pals from the pub came and carried it up for me.  As soon as it came out of its cardboard wrappings it opened up in every direction (it's a memory foam one)  - I should have got Paul's pal to take the old mattress downstairs first but he was in a hurry as he was going to see his mum in hospital.  Anyway, it eventually sorted itself out and is absolutely wonderfully comfortable.  Thanks goodness for that as I would never have managed to return it!   I am not going to post too much as my arm still hurts and for some reason - I have abdominal pains which I am hoping were only caused by a new pair of denim jeans I have been wearing in - they are always too tight at first.  Sorry if my general grouchiness translates into this post.  It will be easier if I just sit quietly and catch up on everyone' else's doings.  Annie

 Hi Carol and girls. Sorry Norman is poorly again. Hope the antibiotics are kicking in now. I think not only the cancer lowers you but the treatments really leave behind a load of problems. I get aches and pains I never had before and I have not got back much energy yet. I cleaned my oven and cleaned and tidied the kitchen and had to have a break before I could hang the washing out. But I’m grateful I can do things now and my hair is really growing well. I’ve had my blonde back in so bits of me are coming back I feel. We had a wonderful time in the IOM over Easter for Connor and Charlie’s Christenings. Two of my dear little great grandsons. Lovely weather and great family time. Stayed in a beautiful hotel just outside Douglas in pretty grounds with a lake and golf course. I really felt it when we came home and they dropped me off and I shut the door behind me. That’s when I miss Dennis most. Sue I know just how you feel. Can’t say it ever goes away, nor do you want it to but the hurt softens a little and you somehow learn to live without them. It’s been 13 years since I lost my soulmate but something reminds me of him every day. I feel him with me especially in the garden. We have a lovely sunny day here and the chap that does my garden has been and it’s looking good. Loads of buds coming out everywhere. Looks like it’s a good year for clematis and the wisteria is looking good too. Find the garden very healing. Can’t do as much as I used to but still love to potter. Hope every one is ok and enjoying the spring weather at the moment. Lots of love. Gloria xxx

Dear Carol, Annie and Gloria,
Eli's hearing is fine, no problems with that, although they did find he has fluid in both ears so another appointment in August to check that.  If still there then probably a referral to an ENT specialist.  It's good they aren't taking any chances and if it becomes a problem it will be dealt with sooner rather than later..  If there is a lot of fluid it can affect their hearing and you don't want that in their early years when learning to talk, which is what happened to Stevie. A lot of what she says isn't pronounced correctly, it's improving as her hearing has improved, but so much better to avoid it if you can. Eli  loves balloons, so while in the shoppng centre we passed a shop that sold them so after lunch I bought him one.  So cheap and the fun he had with it while we were driving was well worth it.
Mr Higgins is a funny cat, I'm apparently not allowed to have a bookmark in my book, most nights he takes it out to play with, but this morning when I woke up it was in the water bowl.  The things that amuse him.
Gloria, I think I'll always miss Neil, but already that really raw loss has passed.  Some days are way harder than others though.  Sunday even though the kids (grandkids) with their antics made it a lot easier than it would have been, was still hard, it would have been his 60th and of course we were doing something he so loved doing. none of us forgot why we were all there. It's good though that you sound like you are feeling more like your old self, even though you still tire.  Wisteria is beautiful, and gardens are healing.  I wish we had spring weather, not long till winter here though, and have had some really cold miserable days.
Annie, we can't afford to fall, just hope your arm heals quickly.  It so limits what we are able to do.
Carol, Hoping Norman continues to improve and is back to his usual before long.

Heading to bed, as I have Eli tomorrow.  Take care, and love to all.  Sue xxx

Hi my girls!  A really boring stressful day here, doctors this morning to get antibiotics so up early, then off to James Cook for his RA check up, the drop off was a nightmare and car parking is traumatic, at least by the time I got back a kind nurse was pushing him to the reception.  Gloria the Christening sounds so beautiful and what glorious weather you had, my garden is looking good and we managed to sit out when Faye came home, I'm pleased you are feeling more like you, I think it takes its toll on you having treatment Norman has been struggling all week.  Annie, you've done my favourite trick, fell over, you don't sound grouchy just fed up, I wish I'd been there to see the mattress malarkey!  Sue, you have coped so well since losing Neil, but you have carried on, helped others along the way and getting your social life back on track.  I'm going to have to ring friends now as the Jazz night has been cancelled due to lack of kitchen staff, so annoying though it will be on again.  So love to you all.  Xx Carol 

Hubby is a little better today but lacking energy, it's a gorgeous day so he just rides to Richmond to admire the scenery and doesn't bother having a coffee as he can't be bothered to talk to anyone.  I do my dance class, Chrstine is still in a wrist band after falling off the toilet and they can't tell if it's cracked as it's too swollen.  Dorothy tells me she did what I said last week and did her favourite dance, I want to Boogie without watching the instructor, she's very pleased with herself and I tell her I'm. Impressed that she remembered what I'd said a week ago. We have a laugh about that!  Back home next door are having new windows so I pop and ask if they would have time to check two of mine, I need a security man to pull them shut.  He comes round, fixes them and says no charge  It just goes to show that a nice smile and pleasant behaviour goes a long way, hubby says it's my big boobs and blue eyes that swing it every time!!  He's told me today he's a very lucky man having married me, I agree with him!!  Love to you all.  Xx

Up and ready for zumba, check phone, it's been cancelled, Kimberly's asked me to let people know, I think her Grandma is dying.  So Margaret and I head off to Wynyard Hall, have lunch, meander the Glass House, full of beautiful candles, flowers, wine glasses and other gorgeous goodies, but very expensive, they're getting the gardens ready for the summer.  Pumpkins, corn on the cob, cauliflowers all to be turned into soups for us to eat at a later date.  I got lost coming back but ended up meandering through pretty villages until we spotted a sign for home.  The GP has just called to book another appointment for hubby, that's about six in the next month, oh joy!  Finally got hold of Chris to say Jazz night cancelled, she's been in Valenzia, a last minute booking she says, soo jealous, a trip away would be a dream.  So girls hoping all is well.  Catch up soon. Xx

I think this husband of mine is pulling the wool over my eyes!  He has an appointment with the copd nurse at 9.30am, he doesn't feel well he says, he's hot and thinks he has a temperature, I feel his head and disagree, he's wheezy and feels horrible. So I keep calm, leave him alone and off he goes.  Thirty minutes later he's back home, blood pressure spot on, oxygen levels. 97%, breath flow 98% and no chest infections.  So basically healthier than me!  I mow the lawn, sweep up, chop the fir tree down that is overhanging the bins and drips on me constantly, sweep up again and Norman next door starts laughing at me, apparently I have fir tree stuck to my head, what are you doing he asks, so he gets his Strimmer cuts it all down in five minutes flat and tells me off for not asking for help!  Hubby decides to nod off in the conservatory and within a few minutes is snoring and wheezing away, bless him he does look worn out.  So another daughter visiting this weekend, here we come the Bees Wing Pub, I'm not cooking again!!  See you soon. Xx

Dear Carol,
Car parlking always seems to be hoorrendous at hospitals.. you would think as they have people visiting who usually aren't well, they would all have more close to the hospital.  Some of ours have multilevel carparking with lifts so you can get off at the floor you need in the hospital.  It should be mandatory at all.  I ahree with Norman the big boobs and blue eyes played a part but I think the smile and being pleasant help a lot too.  It would have been a good day lunch and then your walk through the Glass House, it.  It is neverending appointments with cancer, whether you are have active treatment or not.It's goo that Norman is doing well despite his claims of feeling horrible,  It was lovely of your neighbour to help.  I did a search of strimmer (never heard of it) and we call it a whipper snipper.  I used to hate when Neil used ours.  He used to go over everything, plants and all,. More visitors, can't say I blame you saying you'd eat at the Bees Wing Club.  Visitors while love ly to see are a lot of work.
Its been a couple of days since I responded.. been busy yet again.  Tuesday I had Eli, then that evening I had Rotary.  Yesterday I was running around paying bills then had aqua balance last night and today had my nails done.  Called in to see Deana after that and bought a tunic for winter.  Looking forward to a nice quiet day tomorrow washing and ironing.  Can think of lots I'd rather be doing but it needs doing.
Still catching up from all the early mornings I've had.  Glad at least I don't have to go with Deana to the flower market in the morning.
Off to bed will see you tomorrow.
Take care, and love to all.  Sue xx

 

Hi Sue, I was going to try and write before now but have been to Tesco for food, bought Harry two new T shirts and Lisa a bath towel as the hand towels won't go round her boobs!  It always amazes me when people want big boobs, they're so inconvenient and nothing falls properly.  I bought some Gordon's raspberry gin for us two girls to slurp, hubby just shook his head and said we two had turned into plonkies (meaning drinkers!) I then chucked a massive bag of ice cubes across the work top for the gin and he said he never thought he would see the day when I couldn't be bothered to make ice cubes.  Having crawled around on my hands and knees picking up dead crisps, bits of toast and all the other detritus he chucks under the breakfast bar, he's got a cheek.  He's a lot better today and has got his sense of humour back which is good omen for our weekend. You sound so busy and deserve a quiet day, my friend rang and said she never puts her feet up as its too boring, I felt like saying well live in my shoes for a few months you'd be begging to put your feet up!  I rang Lisa on her house phone this morning as her mobile reception is terrible, This is BT it said, call screening 8lis on this number, state your name after the beep,  having done that I got nowhere, so I called her mobile and said it was the Secret Service calling but I didn't know the pass word, is it Lisa's Mum. Harry's grandma or Tugs mum in law?  She rang me back in fits of laughter, Tugs changed it to stop his Mother calling at all hours, she has mental health issues and can contact him on his mobile, so has he banned me as well I ask laughing, she's decided she needs to read the instructions!  So forgive me if I go missing a few days of girly catch up, food, gin and keeping an 8 year old entertained.  See you soon.  Love Carol x