Hi girls, welcome back Annie, who's the penelope Pittstop now! Sue, I can just imagine you typing between the four paws, I'd have done the same, we are so soft where animals are concerned, our birds now eat from both feeders so Scrooges plan to cut Down has failed, he said they will be walking soon as they are too fat to fly!  He's very much up and down at the moment, in a bad head space and difficult to deal with.. Richmond was beautiful and the weather matched it.  I did laugh as Margaret has a soft top sports car and she put the roof back, crikey I thought it's not that warm and travelling down the motorway at 70 would not be fun anyway, we drove two miles and she pulled over to put it back up. Thankfully she felt cold too.  I said to hubby next time I'll have to take a chiffon scarf and hope it doesn't get stuck in the wheels and choke me, like that famous actress.  Bought a very nice white lace top, coffee and red velvet cake and back home hubby looked totally miserable with himself.. Do you fancy going out for tea he asked, honestly I'd have stayed home but we went out and he just stared into space and previously had been talking about cardboard coffins for when he dies because we're not wasting money on  a wooden one,  chuck me over the hedge he says morbidly, I'm not doing that I retort, it would mean more cleaning up for me, he didn't see the funny side of that.  So today I've got nails done, jumpsuit altered so I can do it up, spectacles repaired and a new watch strap put on for him on his broken watch.  I drove home full of trepidation and low and behold he's shaved put a smile on his face and asked for a hug. Talk about swings and roundabouts, this life of a cancer sufferer is full of daily struggles, love, laughter and worries.  So I'm hoping to make it to London, Faye only lives twenty minutes away from King's Cross, I  could always land on her doorstep for the day, I'll let you know how it goes. Xx

Hi Carol and girls. Not been too good last few days. Dreadful back ache and stomach trouble. Always something. Hoping it’s just the after effects of chemo. Then last night my eldest granddaughter Catherine  in the IOM messaged me to say my little great grandson was in hospital . They said he had chest infection. Today they are saying it’s pheumonia and flu and he is in isolation. He is only 14 months old bless him. So very worried and wish they were nearer although as my daughter Cathy says we can’t do anything. Feel so helpless. He is a sweet happy little soul. Hoping for better news soon. Your remark about Norman saying about cardboard coffins brought a smile. My Dennis used to say Don’t spend a lot of money just use cardboard for my coffin. Walkers crisp boxes will do. I’m having a glass of wine while I’m cooking my dinner. Might have another. That’s just how I feel . Love to all xxx

Dear Annie,
Welcome back..So sorry to hear about your arm.  really hope it heals quickly.  Unlike you in that situation I'm sure I would have said numerous rude words rather than just thinking them.  By the sound of it by the tikme you find your next house you wont have much clearing to do.  It would be lovely watching the birds feeding, and the squirrel and the fox.  

Dear Carol,  I tend to do things around them when they are sleeping, would rather not disturb them, but it was very difficult to type, and he isnt a small cat .  At least Cookie if she gets in the same position doesn't cover the keyboard, but she usually gets on my knee.  I love the way both you and Annie feed the birds.  
Normans moods come with having cancer.  Neil was very much the same, and his mood could go up or down frequently.  He was being quite morbid talking about coffins and the like.  Unlike he would see the funny side of anything much in that sort of mood.
Even on a warm day not sure I'd enjoy being in the car with the roof back.  I have a sunroof in mine and rarely actually open it.  
Is Faye feeling better, or you just might go anyway?  I'm sure it will be lovely either way.
Quiet day for me today, although Neil's sister arrived back from Vietnam this morning, and rang as she is worried about her Mum, who doesn't like Allyson travelling and of course there were tears,  Neil's mum had telephoned me earlier, sounded fine.  She is good at making you feel guilty for doing something you enjoy.  
Tomorrow I'll catch up with Bree and them tea and show with Neil's old work mates.  Should be a good day.
Have a good weekend and take care.  Love to all.  Sue xx

Hi girls, a marvellous long fifteen hour day, the Eye was brilliant and London looked marvellous from above, but the queue, despite a ticket was like a meandering snake.  Off for lunch at a small Italian. With two tables only, freshly cooked food, expensive wine at ten pounds a glass but hey ho It's my day out, the son in law came to the rescue and Paid the bill!  Off to the British Museum, Mum and Dad are members now so went to the bar whilst Harry showed me the dinosaurs. The whale where they all slept underneath last winter, under his bottom Grandma he tells me, did he poop on you I ask, no he says I turned over in time and he pooped on Mummy.  The lift was out of order so I had to climb five flights of concrete stairs, by the second lot I was out of breath Don't worry Grandma he says I'll go at your pace and starts climbing like a snail, the lovely little boy he is.  We meet Mummy and Daddy, go and see the Moon room, hummingbirds stuck on pins which Lisa and I hated, then back out into the rain and off for another drink.  We get the tube together and they get off at Leicester Square, Harry is now upset at leaving me, so big hugs and tears and two upset people.  I'm supposed to have time at Kings X to get a book and food but as usual this doesn't work out, for some unknown reason we're stuck at Russell Square and I make my train with three minutes to spare!!  Two ladies are sat opposite me, I guage them at about 70 years old and twig they are sister in laws, twenty minutes in we start chatting, they both live near me, one about a mile away, I knew your face she says, how funny, anyway we yakked on for two hours, one of them called Carol kept getting mini bottles of wine out of her handbag and proceeded to get quite merry, at least she shared her sandwiches with me.  Isn't life funny, out of a whole train my booked seat is with women the same age and who live in the same area, loads of drunk men got on at York and proceeded to flirt with is, have a great night they shout as we get off the train.  Hubby is waiting for me and is cross that despite sitting in the drop off spot the police have banged on his window and told him to move, I bet if he was young and drunk they'd have ignored him.  He's missed me he says, it's boring when I'm not there, this is funny because when I am there I come second to the bloody TV!  Anyway a good night's sleep, my swollen feet have gone down and we're going for a drink.  I'll reply to you girls tomorrow.  Much love, Carol xx

Hi to all,

Gloria, We were posting at the same time.  Sorry to hear you still aren't feeling better.  Your poor little grandson.  He is in the best place to get better, but it is still worrying, and as helpless as you all feel there really isn't anything you can do.  He's is only a couple of months younger than Eli, my grandson. Hope you gett better news soon.  Enjoy your glass of wine, maybe even have a 2nd.

Carol,  Sounds like you had a wonderful but long day in London.  The eye would have been great.  I want to do the ours (Melbourne Star) that we have in Melbourne at night.  Neil never would, he didn't like them, one day I will.  I would struggle to climb 5 flights of stairs.  So good on you being able to do it even if Harry slowed to a snail pace.  He sounds like such a sweet boy.  When we went to Perth we did a tour of a beautiful cave, had to go down 333 steps,  The caves were well worth it but honestly, I thought I would die coming out.  Never again.  What luck on the train with lovely companyand snacks for the journey home.

Saturday I went to Melbourne, caught up with Bree and then the dinner, which was good.  My drive home was very slow, the fog was terrible, haven't seen it that bad for a long time.  I got home safely though.  I had a great day at the market yesterday.  Enjoyed my stint on the sausage sizzle.  When I finished there, had a wander through the market.  Bought a lovely bamboo windchime.  Nick will put that up for me a some stage.  My old one, while it still sounds lovely, is falling apart. I've been looking for a new one for a while and they are hard to find in the shops.  Today I've got to go to the supermarket, I have to make something to take for supper for the Rotary meeting tomorrow, it's a combined meeting with the other Rotary club and there is a guest speaker.  Different venue, so we are all taking a plate.  Not even sure what I'll make yet.  Then have aqua balance this evening also.  Our class on Wednesday has been cancelled for both this week and next.

Best start looking for a recipe.  Talk soon.  Take care, love to all.  Sue xx

Hi all my girls, what a time we are all having, we just get over one hurdle and an even bigger one is out in front of us.  Gloria I'm so sad to hear that you are still struggling the chemotherapy seems to have long lasting effects, it certainly has with hubby. Poor little grandson, please, please let us know when he is well, I will say a special prayer for him.  Dear Sue, a marvellous day by the sounds of it, fog, I hate it.  During the late sixties we used to go to a club called the C & B at Reeth which is way up in the hills.  One night with me driving our original little mini we set off home, hubby drunk as usual and drove straight into fog, it was so bad he had to stick his head out of the window and shout, left, left, right, right, as there was a sheer drop on my side!  Everyone followed us in a lconvoy which scared me even more because if we'd gone over the edge they would have followed us like Lemmings, such a scary memorable night. But as you can see we made it home!  Norman and I went for a drink yesterday afternoon as he'd been stuck home alone, I had five glasses of rose wine and thoroughly enjoyed my chatty afternoon with us all reminiscing about the olden days.  Norman has a terrible wheeze and it's worrying us both, I can hear it across the kitchen even with the TV at 90 decibels!!  Our bedroom window is stuck open again so I've had to use the cancer get out clause to get someone to come today, it's the only thing it comes in handy for when you want something doing immediately.  Enjoy rotary Sue, our Sue is off to stay with Lisa this weekend. Then she's going to my Step Mothers for a few days, the one that calls her daughter in law a ***, such a lovely person.  Then back up to see Faye, I'm actually jealous as she'll see all the home improvements that Lisa has had done whilst I'll be lucky to get down there any time soon.  So off to get my feet sorted out so I can clump around London and the V & A museum on Saturday.  So nice to keep abreast of what you are all up to.  Love Carol x 

I've just been to a cricket match between two schools and to meet my friend who has struggled with mental health basically since she was a young lady, it was so cold when the sun went down that I've come home early before I catch pneumonia. I haven't seen her for two years due to hubby's cancer and her health but it was like old times and we are going to meet for lunch soon for a proper catch up, where kids can't eavesdrop on adult conversations!  Hubby has been out all afternoon at his club, had a scrumptious sausage and onion sandwich he tells me, I may have toast later he say pointedly, looking at me, OK I say, I'm off to watch TV.   Us zumba girls are going to see the new Elton John film, have tea and a few drinks after half term because like me they have grandchildren to deal with.  I rang Faye, Ella has decided she's vegetarian now, but has already had meat for lunch, it was beef she tells Mummy, well we're having chicken for tea, that's the same she replies, no its not beef is from a cow. Apparently she shrieks and asks if it's a baby cow, no a grown one Faye says, oh that's OK then she says I'll have the chicken. Faye says she can't cope anymore!!  So hope you're okay, see you tomorrow. Xx

Dear Carol,
Fog can be scary, at least my drive home it's a good road, two lanes each direction and divided highway, so if you are careful it's ok, but those roads you were driving years ago with a sheer drop. not sure I could have kept going.  It gets like that on the drive to Apollo Bay, through the hills and drops on the side in numerous spots.  Just as well there are some advantages with having cancer and you were able to quickly get the windown seen to.  Although annoying as it would be, you'd rather deal with the window than the cancer.  The Rotary meeting was really interesting, with the speakers being 2 doctors a pharmacist and 2 people impacted by having a family member addicted to drugs (prescription).  Had had no idea it was such a huge problem.  I was pleased the slice I made for supper turned out well.  I cook, but don't tend to make sweets much.  I was able to bring home an empty plate.  Then last night I spent the night at Deana's, so I was there this morning when Eli woke up, gave him his breakfrast and got him ready for day-care.  I had to laugh on Tuesday when I went to Deana's to watch him,  I came in and he threw himself on the floor (upset), as he realised then that Deana was going to leave him.  Nick comes home 4.45, Eli is so happy to see Dad, so I gather up my things to go and Eli again throws himself on the floor as I'm going.  He never likes me leaving.  So cute.  You'll get up to visit Faye and see her home improvements.  Ella;s vegetarianism probably won't last, but will be a challenge for Faye if Ella sticks to it.  It's difficult to prepare meals that meet needs that all the family love.
It's lovely to have friends like that, who you may not see so often, but it's like it was only yesterday that you saw them when you do catch up.  The clips I've seen of the Elton John film look really good.  I want to see it also.  Love his music, and have seen him live a couple of times.  So hope you have a lovely night out when you see it with the Zumba girls.
Tomorrow I'll get my nails done as appointment last week was cancelled..  Then Friday off to Melbourne, lunch with Bree.  Then hopefully a quiet weekend I think.  I'm hoping to do a bit of cooking.

Have a great day and take care.  Love to all, Sue xxx

Hi Girls, Hope they were able to sort Normans foot at James Cook.  You are so lucky to have a spare Norman that is so handy.  The family day sounds like fun.  I'm not entirely sure they should be talking about vegetarian's at school when they are so young.  They should be eating a wide variety of foods while they are still growing.  Later on if that's what they choose for whatever reason, that's fine.  Cass's eldest (Tia) for a while was a vegetarian (she was 15, I personally think still a little young), and it was so difficult for Cass preparing meals for the whole family, trying to just prepare 1 meal rather than 2.  Luckily it didn't last any long than 12 months, she cooked bacon and eggs one Sunday morning and Tia apparently couldn't resist the bacon.  That was the end of that.  Tia from all accounts suffered the whole time, just not feeling well, headaches.  Nothing serious but constantly complaining of various ailments.
I think Eli is really adorable, I am probably biased a bit though.  I can understand why Lisa would want you to move, but also understand why you won't., Despite what family may want you to do, you have to do what's right for you.  Hopefully you didn't get a parking ticket.

I went to Melbourne today, had a yummy lunch with Bree then went to the bank to try and pay of the house mortgage.  Why can't it just be a simple process, but no, they've sent an email to head office and I'll hear back from them.  I embarassed myself though, when I was leaving (we'd been sitting at a table with a bench seat attached to the wall, I thought it went the whole length of the wall)  I slide across the bench seat to get past the table to stand, but the seat ended just past the table.  I ended up on my rear end on the floor.  Of course I find it difficult getting up because of my knees, so an incident report was filled in, just in case I've hurt myself.  I'm fine, was just so embarassed., firstly at going over edge then at the ungainly way I get up.  At least I was wearing pants.  Apparently I'll get a phone call next week just to make sure I'm fine.  They were good though, even offered me tea, coffee or water.
Quiet day tomorrow, hopefully get some cooking done.

Take care, and love to all.  Sue xx