Dear Carol,

Hopefully Norman will improve, well, at least have him more comfortable, with lower temperatures.  Neil wasn't supposed to take ibuprofen either, he still took it though as he didn't believe me when I told him the Dr had said not to.  Will your handy Norman take a look at your Hoover, quite often it's quite simple to rectify, Neil used to fix mine all the time prior to me getting a Dyson.  (he never had to look at the Dyson, hadn't had it long enough to have anything wrong.  I didn't think it would be the norm to have aircon in too many houses in the UK.  The family has managed to get very nearly everything they could this winter, but so far I have remained healthy except for just the slightest cold.  Hopefully I will stay healthy.  Bree still sounds terrible, her cough is terrible, Deana at least is just about over her bug, and Stevie went back to school today.  At least the kids recover quickly.  Eli is well apart from teething woes.  His canines are coming through and he's out of sorts, and teething is the only thing we can put it down to.  No temps, no runny nose, no upset tummny.
With luck the Dr will give Norman a thorough check-up and try to find what's causing his headaches and stiff neck.  Cancer does that to us, we never know from day to day how anything will be.  The good thing is he just keeps going.  As hard as it is living in limbo it's better than him giving up.

I ordered the first of the Christmas presents today.  I saw "Boppi the booty shaking llama" today and instantly thought Stevie would love this.  Had to ring Bree to double check, she agreed with me, so it's ordered and Stevie will get it for Christmas.  I have finally got Neil's car transferred into my name, such a relief.  Registration was due this Friday and we couldn't register it again until it was in my name.  I think I had told you previously that Deana and Nick use it.  I have Nick's car sitting in my driveway.  Neil and Nick swapped cars a couple of years ago.  Eventually Nick will sell the one sitting in my driveway.  It wasn't at all practical when you have a family.  A hotted up, noisy, turbo charged, petrol guzzling Subaru, and Neil loved driving it, (he was a hoon).

Hope things go well at the Drs.  Take care, love to all.  Sue xx

Dear Sue, he's not been good today, his strength has deserted him and I know that he is worrying about how lethargic he feels.  On a good note I have booked a ticket to go and see Lisa for a weekend I need to have a break and as long as I leave food he will be OK as he's not really doing much but sleeping and reading the paper.  Norman and Debbie will be away but Mary and Joe only live five minutes away so they will check in him.  I have had a really busy day, my new hoover turned up so to fix it to the garage wall near a plug I've had to shift everything around, the broken fridge is going and then it meant sweeping up and hovering the garage, then to the tip, plus all the bedding to do from last week, it's a good job I'm a fit old bird!!  Faye rang from Keilder forest, it's a midge fest and Gordy has been bitten to death, it took longer to get there so we are now not meeting up which seems the best option at the moment, but they're staying Friday, we are going out to eat!!  I now have a free week which is unusual, but will no doubt find something else to do.  Norman has eaten today which is good as he refused food all day yesterday, I don't freak out about that now as he has plenty of weight on him.  Pleased the car is sorted, my Beetle belongs to me and Norman has a mobility car so that would just be returned, our Wills are made and the house is ours anyway so no complications at the moment.  Take care, love Carol x 

Hello all

It's been a while since I posted but felt I should let you know we're still here!  At long last Dave had his operation today!  It all went well and the surgeon was confident he got everything out that needed to come out.  It's been a traumatic couple of days but we got the result we wanted, after an op lasting 8 hours.  I know he's not out of the woods yet but hopeful we can see an end to things after some final chemo in a few months time.  I'm sorry I've not been in touch but we share the iPad and I wouldn't want Dave to read some of the things we write about!  

I'm sorry Norman's not been too good.  Carol, you are amazingly resilient.  You find pleasure in your family and friends - where would we be without them.  Sue how are you doing (sorry, slipped into Joey from Friends...)?  Sorry you're having hassle due to lack of a will.  You too seem to have a great network of family and friends. 

So, I get to see Dave tomorrow in ICU.  He'll be in hospital for 10-12days so I will post while he's in!

Nice to be back in touch again!  Julie xx

Wow, how great to hear from you, we have discussed you in our postings and its so good that Dave has finally had the op and that it has gone so well.  Please, please keep us updated and don't disappear again, it's not allowed!!  I was on the verge of asking an old legal clerk acquaintance if she knew a Dave from blah, blah, don't think I would have got very  far though.  Resilience gets you through, if I give in we might as well call it a day, I did say to Mary this morning that he sometimes thinks was it worth it, but Daves situation is more upbeat which is brilliant.  I have actually booked a weekend at Lisa's and Mary and Joe will keep an eye on hubby for me.  Apart from reading the paper, going to the golf club to see friends  Norman will not do much, I said to Lisa he'll be fine as long as I leave food and drink for him, she replied that's what we do for the Cats!   Faye is staying again Friday so we will see them again, if truth were known Norman would be happier if they didn't but we will cope, as usual. So I hope his recovery goes well, you can message privately which no one but me will see.  Much love Carol x

Dear Carol,
So sorry to hear that Norman hasn't picked up with the cooler weather.  Understandable that he would be worrying about how he feels.  Good to hear that you are going for a weekend to see Lisa.  I know you worry about Norman but to look after Norman you have to look after yourself first.  And as you say if you have food prepared and Mary and Joe check on him, he'll be fine.  Just as well you are fit with all you've done today just to get the new hoover on the wall.  Midges are horrible, we call them sandflies here and I'm allergic to them, got bitten years ago when I went fishing with Neil once. took weeks for them to heal.  I've avoided them ever since.  It's good that Norman has eaten, hope it continues today.  Neil and I had 2 cars one was in my name the other in his. Things would have been so much easier if he'd made a will.  I've spoken to my solicitor about making my will, I certainly don't want to leave the klids with all the problems I've had/still having.`

Julie, It's so good to hear from you and especially that even though Dave is in ICU, his surgery wemt well.  How long do they expect him to be in ICU?  Hopefully he won't have any setbacks and copes well with the chemo in a few months.

I went to Rotary this evening. did some ironing this afternoon and a little more when I got home.  Tomorrow afternoon I'll watch Eli and will spend the night at Deana's as she is off to the flower market Thursday morning.  If I don't manage to get on the computer tomorrow evening you'll know why.

Take care, and please Julie keep us updated with Dave, even if you PM Carol.

Love to all, Sue xx

Hello Sue and Carol

Thank you for the warm welcome back!  I can't believe it's almost a year since I joined you.  Where does the time go.....?

Visited Dave this afternoon.  I was really surprised to see him sitting up in the chair and not lying in bed!  He had numerous tubes and lines in but looked really well for someone who'd just had an 8 hour operation!  So relieved.  They're moving him off ICU into PERU (pancreatic enhanced recovery unit) this evening so will have most of the lines removed. All being well he'll be in hospital for 8-12 days.  He will have to have more chemo in a couple of months time but (fingers crossed) we can see an end in sight.  The nurses were surprised that he'd developed a pressure sore on his backside so quickly until he told them he'd done it doing sit-ups on the carpet a few days ago!  He's always liked to keep fit(!).  The hospital gets a lot of stick but they really have been wonderful.  The staff are amazing, so kind and supportive.  I know he may have ups and downs over the next few days but the big hurdle is over now.  Cancer is so up and down, I think I'm more prepared for the downs now. Well, as ever I can be.

How good of you Carol, to think about asking your contacts if they knew Dave!  It's our son Michael Balmer who is the solicitor though!  He worked at Newcastle Mags court for a while when he first qualified.  His wedding seems a long while ago now and Matilda is still our joy, though we don't see as much of her now she is at school.  She stayed with us for 3 days last week  which really helped to distract us from the looming op.

Thanks again for the welcome back.  I will keep in touch even when Dave is out of hospital.  Hope Norman has picked up and Sue, get that will sorted!

Love

Julie x

Hi girls, I've been struggling to sign in as they have somehow wiped out all my information, so a new password set up but again today, it's all gone!!  Still hubby is a lot better, a large dose of steroids for five days, a good night's sleep and we may be back on track, his oxygen levels were 97% so that cheered him up.  He's just gone to fill his buggy up with petrol, couldn't find the can until he spotted a tiny bit of it sticking out of our recycling bottle box, apparently having stood it in there Gordy had then dumped all the Stella bottles and wine bottles on top of it, we obviously drank a lot because of the hot weather, we're not plonkers!!  So Julie, such good news, now are you sure the bed sores were from push ups, not carpet burns from other amorous activities, or is that your story and you're sticking to it??!!    It's hard work when they're in hospital as your days are spent parking and visiting, Norman was in for a month with his blood clot and amputation, that nearly broke me.  We do have to be resilient for these men of ours. Still we've had good times unfortunately now we have the worse times.  So stay strong Julie, we're all rooting for you both, keep us updated as you know I'm here everyday for you.  Much love to you and Sue.  Carol xx

Dear Julie and Carol,

Julie,  Nealy a year already, it really doesn't seem that long ago in some ways and yet in others it seems like we've been talking for years.  That's wonderful news that Dave was looking so well and sitting in a chair when you visited.  While chemo isn't pleasant at least when that starts Dave will have past the worst of it, he has had the surgery and will probably be well on his way recovering from that.  You'll be able see the end in sight.  It helps too I think when the hospital staff are so good. 
While I haven't made a will yet, it will get done sooner rather than later, not that I plan on going anywhere just yet.  Would have been lovely having Matilda stay for a few days before Dave's surgery, and keep his and your mind of his approaching surgery.

Carol, It's so good to hear than Norman is a lot better today.  I've been drinking heaps today, not alcohol though, just tea, my throat is so dry and sore, I've succumbed to Deana's throat infection, although mine is nowhere near as bad as hers was.  It started yesterday.  Although talking about drinking I forget to mention I did buy a bottle of pink gin lat week when I went to Melbourne.  Tried it over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it, even bought tonic water for it.

A lazy day today  once I got home from Deana's.  I binge watched a series (first 5 episodes anyway) on Netflix while I crocheted, with Mr Higgins trying to get my crochet hook. I did vacuum the floors before I started watching.  It will be early to bed I think tonight.

Take care, lots of love to you both.  Sue xxxx

Hubby is very down in the dumps, I'm going out and he doesn't say anything apart from if Norman next door is building a gate he'll have to stay home, OK I say, at least you'll have some one to talk to! Coffee, cake and chatter with Mary cheers me up and she gets what she needs for Teneriefe I but two new bra's as they finally have my size in stocks. Back home he's even more miserable and admits he's fed up feeling ill, what more can I do, nothing really, it's such a shame. After a bite to eat I pop to the chemist to collect the new inhaler and buy some soluble painkillers, I pretend they're for me as Boots ask too many questions and give you a lecture on what you can take, oh for the olden days when you purchased what you needed without the ninth degree being invoked!! Our new gate is finished, hubby is sleeping and the family return tomorrow. Poor Sue, it was odds on you'd get it!! What are you watching on the box set!? I'm watching a "Walter Presents" box set called The Adulterer, it's brilliant, sub titles but so good. I probably won't post tomorrow as family around. Love to you all, Carol x