Hi everyone, I'm back after a whirlwind visit from the family, it was like a tornado has been through my house in 18 hours!  I've been up since 6am after a night of little sleep as unbeknown to me Gordy had shut and locked the bedroom window in mine and Alfies room as Alfie sleep walks, it's a good job I'm not a Moth as I would have perished in the night.  Lots of sobbing when they left with Ella crying into bunnies head, she nearly set me off.  Hubby managed well, a lot better frame of mind yesterday I think he realised that the poor you sympathy was not going to be handed out, being miserable on your own is not much fun!  Faye said would he be alright next weekend and I explained that he needed to cope on his own as he is relying on me too much. She agreed with me but I could see she would still worry about her Dad.  So Julie, good news on the recovery front for Dave, all seems to be going as planned, it's so nice when you receive so many good wishes you suddenly realise how much you are loved, we'll always support you on here.  I've been chopping roses back, sweeping up and thought I would have a break before lunch.  Sue hope all is well and you're having a good weekend.  Love Carol x 

Dear Carol and Julie,

Carol, With luck Norman will cheer up before too long.  Can understand that he's fed up with feeeling ill all the time.  Glad your shopping trip with Mary cheered you up and that you were able to buy some bras in your size.  Pharmacies are extra cautious now with most medications here, everything is computerised so its relatively easy to keep tabs on what you buy and how often.  It almost sounds the same ikn the UK.  Your spare Norman finished the gate, he really is handy.  I was lucky I wasn't anywhere near as unwell as Deana was.  I'm already feeling loads better, although I sound like a seal everytime I cough, and barely have a voice for a couple of hours when I first get up.  I've been watching Marcella, a British "Nordic"-noir detective series.  It has been really good, hope I don't have to wait too long for the next series. 
It's wonderful when family visit, although if your anything like me, as much as you want them to come and thoroughly enjoy their visit, it's good too when they leave albeit sad.  Maybe it's just me that feels like that, my grandchildren are hard work, at least Bree's boys are.  They are so full on.  I'm worn out after a visit from them.  Glad Norman managed well with the visitors, and that he was in a better frame of mind.  Your garden much be beautiful with all the work you do in it.  I've had a quiet couple of days, staying indoors away from people, I'll keep my germs to myself.  A lot of crochet done while I've watched TV with a few chores in between.

Julie,  That's wonderful that Dave is doing so well.  I know they get you up fairly quickly after any surgery but the fact that he is walking up and down stairs is really good, I wouldn't have thought he would of been up to doing that just yet.  How did he go with solid food?   I hope you enjoyed your lunch with Michael and Matilda.  Hopefully Dave will continue to do well and gets to go home hopefully next Thursday.

Have a good weekend, love to all Sue xxxx

 

Hi girls, I have been attacked by something nasty and have had very little sleep due to the scratching in the night, my arm looks like it's been in a fight of its own!!  We're off to a funeral now and as it's so warm I'll have to put some concealer on it as it looks disgusting.  Hubby looks very smart and I'm driving (oh joy) as he won't be able to get from the car park to the crem.  So I'll have a proper catch up later as I need to get dressed.  Love to you all.  Carol xx

Dear Carol,

I wonder what attacked you.  Nothing worse than being that itchy.  My mother swore by cammomile lotion to stop itching, which won't improve the look of your arms at all.  I like Pinetarsol, but it leaves the smell of pine tar, probably not what you want to go out smelling like, although I quite like the smell, think you'd probably prefer something more like Dior, Givenchy or Guerlain.
I heard back from the plumber today ew the water solar panel.  Apparently it's still under warranty although they don't cover frost, but after speaking to the company it's going to be assessed regardless, so I'll see what happens.. Not expecting anything though if they don't cover frost.  Time will tell.
Not sure I'll be on the computer tomorrow night as it looks like Deana is going to the market on Wednesday morning which means I'll be at hers tomorrow night.  A busy day tomorrow, nail appointment, then have rotary tomorrow evening, then I'll get ready to go to Deanas.  Didn't go to aqua balance tonight, I still sound like a seal when I cough, and coughing a lot, although I really don't feel too bad.

I won't say have a great day, as you're going to a funeral.  Hope it goes well  though.

Take care, love to all.  Sue xx

Hi Carol and Sue. Snap Carol something bit me couple days ago on my arm. That’s one of the things about hot weather I do not enjoy. It’s difficult to sleep in it too. Can understand Norman feeling Naggy. I have had an awful head cold which has left me with a nasty cough and then got a water trouble. Also got dreadful back ache since the Chemo. It really pulls you down when with low energy you can’t do stuff you used to. I am managing a bit of gardening now which I love though. Been helping my youngest daughter Sally and hubby to sort out and pack up for house move tomorrow. Moving from a large 4 bedroom house where they have lived for the last 15 years with the kids now grown up and in their 20s. They are buying a large 4 bedroom flat with beautiful views over the river Severn but no utility , conservatory or garage or shed so a lot of stuff has had to go. Think there will be more. I think the more space you have the more clutter you keep. I can’t do a lot but will be chief tea and coffee maker. Sue I hope you start to feel better soon and Carol hope the bite heals ok. Lots of love to you. Gloria xxx

Hello ladies!

Good news, Dave is coming home this afternoon.  He has recovered so well his surgeon discharged him this morning!  I may not post for a few days now as will probably be busy waiting on him!  O sorry, I meant looking after him!  So looking forward to getting him home.  He still has his staples in so the district nurse will come to take them out in a day or two.  It doesn't look like he will be diabetic either, which is a bonus.  He's eating really well, dietician just said don't have a steak for a week or two.  We will have to go back in a few weeks to discuss the results of the samples of the tumour to see what chemo he will have.  

I didn't get to have lunch with Michael & Matilda on Saturday as Michael came down with a cold and we couldn't risk him taking germs into the ward, so I didn't get my Matilda fix.  She was disappointed as she'd made grandad a get well card.

Hope everyone's doing ok - how is your bite Carol?  I sometimes have allergic reactions to bites and an antihistamine tablet helps (piriton or similar).  Sue, hope your cough is improving.

Love to everyone and I promise to keep in touch this time!

Julie

Well what a lot of news in two days!  First Julie, so pleased for you both, such good news, as you say a lot of visits go by the wayside when someone is unwell, Norman always got something when they went home, even just a cold would affect him.  So take care, you were right the first time, running around after them is what we do!  Gloria, I'm so sorry you are still suffering but as I said chemo seems to leave a miriad of problems, the older you are, the bad neck has settled down, without his knowledge I have disposed of his old pillow and put a new one in, I'm hoping that's helped.  We are now filling in numerous forms for his blue badge, it's ridiculous, he's had one for ten years but we still have to jump through hoops to renew it, we need a new photo but that's hard work as we have to get to a photo booth, send the old one back I tell him, no he thinks they'll check it, so when I get home this morning I'm asked if he looks smart enough, yes, but you've got exactly the same outfit on as in the old photo, no I haven't he says crossly, but when we check he has!  Sue, hopefully you will stop honking like a seal soon, these poorly people have a lot to answer for, getting my nails done on Thursday for my trip away.  The funeral was short and sweet, but a guy crunched in next to me on the last bench at the back, this made me so hot I started scratching again but the eulogy was so long I couldn't move to take my jacket off, it's a good job I didn't have to live in the jungle I'm so not good in hot weather, when she finished and the granddaughter got up to speak I scrambled out of it and breathed a sigh of relief.  Julie, please don't disappear again as its lovely to catch up.  Gloria the new place sounds marvellous and we downsized when ours left it seems the sensible thing to do.  I'm looking forward to my Harry fix, only two days til I go, keep everything crossed for me that he stays well until then!!  Love to you all, Carol x 

Hi girls, a busy day here.  I suggest we take his wheelchair for our new photo but no it's not happening as the day he's in a wheelchair for good he'd rather be dead, for God's sake I say it's a one off but thanks for that cheery thought!  In the car he tries to belt himself in as a driver, not a passenger and gets cross that my seat belt obviously isn't working, I put my cognitive behaviour training in place, smile sweetly and drive off.  So we made it, off to the post office where I buy a box of paperclips to put it all together except I can't get into the Box, the poor woman behind the counter used every appliance to hand to open them, whilst we both muttered about how difficult everything is to get into.  After putting it in the post I go and retrieve hubby who informs me that "we've dropped a clanger", he forgot to sign the new photo as I rushed off before he could say anything!!  Back home I ring the council and explain what's happened, don't worry they say it will be fine.  I've done all my ironing, watered the plants, hung everything up and cooked tea, hubby washed up and smashed my wine glass, oh God I hope I've made the right decision to leave him home alone.  So hopefully all of you are doing well, I won't post when away as I've decided to leave my I pad at home.  Take care and see you next week with all the news.  Love Carol x 

Hi Ladies,

Gloria, I hope Sally and her her hubbies move went well, it's awful trying to pack up and sort through what's going with you.  It's so true, the more space you have the more clutter you have.  At least in winter we don't have to deal with biting bugs.  Sorry to hear you are still suffering from the after efffects of chemo, can only hope they lessen in time.  Do what you can and rest as needed,  Let others help if you have offers from family/friends.  I still sound like a honking seal, seems a lot of these      cold type things can hang around quite a while.  At least I feel ok, just don't sound it.

Julie, What wonderful news.  I hope he continues to recover without any hiccups.  Look after him and keep his recovery going.  That's great that it is looking like he won't be diabetic either.  What a shame you weren't able to catch up with Michael and Matilda, but we all now it;s now worth taking a chance if anyoin e isn't feeling 100%.  There will be more opportunities for Michael and Matilda to catch up.  I do understand Matilda's dissappointment.  

Carol, Hope Norman's Blue Badge will be renewed without too m,any problems.  They are not as hard to get here.  Norman will be fine.  Your spare Norman will check on him I'm sure.  Whether your crockery will be fine is another matter altogether.  He might be ok and leave all his dishes until you come hom.  Have a wonderful time away and get your Harry fix.  

Take care everyone.  Love to all Sue xx