Hi all my girls!  Firstly Sue is fine but has been busy putting a few changes in place, I'm sure she'll let you know when it's all sorted.  Julie, so pleased that Dave is doing so well.  Norman did exactly the same, just stared into space as if he was trying to come to terms with things.  It's so difficult when you think you may die but survive. It's a mindset that you have to come out of, just be patient and encourage him to do things, I used to just say, right we're going out just the two of us and we'd take off for the hills, looking at the lovely world around us all, it always cheered him up and he came back feeling better.  M & S have lost the plot big time, I never think of clothes shopping in there its so higgeldy piggeldy that I can't be bothered to look.  One day I saw a massive poster on the wall for some winter trousers, I hunted the store in the Metro for them and gave up. Asking an assistant about them she said they'd sold out in two days. So why leave the poster up I asked, she just shook her head and walked off!  Anyway they've fallen out the ftse 100, that says it all.  I do keep busy otherwise we'd be pulling each others hair out!  I am sick of him watching the Brexit fiasco and trying to converse with me, I got annoyed yesterday after mowing the lawn, chopping the clematis down, sweeping up and emptying the bins when he started again, I live in the Real world I said, not some cloistered kiddies Chambers, I'm Not Interested!!  I GET THE MESSAGE he replied, I do hope so!!  So we're going out as its a beautiful day, not sure where but he gets his new car next week. So a farewell drive in our trusty old one.  Love to you all.  Carol x

Hi Ladies,

Sorry to make you worry, but I have been very busy.  Deana, Nick and Eli have moved in with me.  I hadn't realised how much would be involved in combining the contents of two housholds into one.  It's still a work in progress with many tubs still unpacked.  We have been sorting through everything as we both had everything we require, so will be getting rid of a lot.  And finding a home for what we are keeping.  But with their move, I have gained two more cats and a lizard.  The cats have been much better than expected and we've had no fighting just a bit of growling and hissing.  My cats have taken a liking to watching Gideon in his tank (lizard) I think hoping to make a meal of him.  At least they can't get to him.  It is so much easier now when Deana makes her trips to Melbourne, I don't have to spend the night at their house.  I think once we are all organised it will be good having them here.

Now to try and catch up a bit.

Carol, Your shopping trip to TK Maxx certainly was productive.  I have a lot of wool here, especially baby wool in colours that Eli is certainly too old for now, so I'll just knit something, that will be used later by someone.  Lots of friends have kids who will be having babies before too long.  Like you when my girls were little I did all their knitting, made some beautiful things for them.  A gorgeous little pink dress, jacket, booties, hat.  A gorgeous shawl, in a pale coffee colour, which was passed on to my girls.  
Hopefully the Wellman tablets will continue to help.  Men don't listen well, They only seem to catch little snippets of what we say.  Neil also frequently said I hadn't told him things, when I knew I had.  Hopefully Norman's results will be good when he visits the Oncologist.
The weather here has picked up a little, we actually had one day when I wore a summer dress, although as I type now it is raining and we have a cold weekend ahead.  
Alfie is a good looking you man, and looking very grown up in his unoform.  Does that make him roughly 12 or 13 years old.  I'm comparing his age going into senior school with the age ours are when they go to high school.  I know people love their pets (I'd be lost without mine) but I don't work my life around them.  What's wrong with taking the dog out earlier for a walk if you manage it at the usual time.  They don't consider the environment at all with packaging for things like china and glassware.  Although what I hat the most is polystyrene.  It is so hard to dispose of and leaves little bits everywhere.  Norman's new car will give him something else to think about and might give him the urge to go out a bit.  He'll want to show it.

Gloria, I think one day there will be a cure for cancer, probably not in our lifetime though.  Sorry to heasr about your counsin.  It was wonderful that his children were able to speak about their father during the service.  He would have been proud of them.

Julia, It's good to hear Dave is doing well.  He could well be depressed, from what I gather it is very common in cancer patients.  I can understand your frustration though as there really doesn't seem to be much we can do to help with that.  Time, I think, when things really get back to what was normal.  Matilda's visit would have cheered him up though.

Not sure how well I've caught up, probably missed quite a bit.  I'll try and get on more often while we are still sorting everything.

Take care and love to all.  Sue xx

So pleased to have you back Sue, although I knew what was happening.  Norman didn't want to go out, something about putting fuel in the car when it's going back, so he ran me into Darlington and I went and had soup and roll in Binns, read the paper and had a little look around, bought some jeggings, denim for the winter and went and had my nails painted Ruby red.  I think he just wasn't bothered about going out but it's best to go with the flow.  Just tootled about today doing some sewing jobs, then I poured a large glass of red wine, sat in the sunny conservatory and read my Good Housekeeping book, they had a special Martha Hall skin care offer so I ordered it for Faye, she's suffered terribly with hormone related skin problems which have upset her a lot, especially now she's 46.  She always had Snow White skin colour so it's hard for her.  Alfie faced timed last night, he's 12 this October, all is going well and school dinners are great, he's deveoped hollow legs so that's good to know.  Norman went out but it's very windy and his wheeze isn't getting better, we think it's a permanent thing, it's a shame as it's not nice for him.  I forgot to tell you, my new foundation was a tint which I hadn't realised so when I put the usual amount on my face I nearly had a fit as it looked as though I was auditioning for the old Al Johnson show, where they blacked their faces up!!  It took three loads of soap, water, make up remover and a flannel to get off before I could go out, hubby and I did laugh.  So love to all of you, Carol x 

A busy day, I pop to take Josies parcel over and she looks exhausted.  Her daughter is getting married next month and the wedding is a mixture of divorced parents, grown up children not happy with her relationship with their Dad although they're engaged, she's late fifties and he's seventy, crikey when do our children ever grow up!!  So I tell her she's the Brides Mother and should be kow towed to, not relegated to annoying fiance.  I like that she says, they can all kow tow to me!!  I tell her about Lisa's wedding, a Mum with mental health issues so Anthony's Dad left when he was six, another marriage with three step brothers and sisters and three months before the wedding he up sticks and goes off with Sue, who he finally marries, try sorting that out, who sits on the top table, oh my God she says mines a doddle compared to yours!!  See I do come in handy sometimes.  Hubby is looking quite well, we've received a letter from our surgery this morning offering McMillan nurse help, follow ups, talks about cancer and its left over life ect.  I can't believe they've only just done this but it's a step in the right direction and he seems up for it.  So pork curry for tea and the first Strictly evening, autumn is definitely coming.  Love Carol x 

Hi all. Had a phone call from my sister the early hours. She had woken with chest pains and was on way to hospital. She had same just 12 months ago and was rushed to Stoke hospital . She had stents fitted then and has been fine since, even been abroad. They are not sure if it’s the heart or a blood clot on the lungs. I went up to see her with my daughter Sally this afternoon. She is very emotional and frightened. Not like her at all. Upset me too. Life is a *** sometimes. Just waiting to know what the CT scan she had today shows. Came home after shopping to my next door neighbour ringing me to say she had had scare in the night and called Dr. She had pins and needles down her one side. Thank god id got some wine in my shopping. Just had a glass or two. Needed it. Going really like Autumn here and feeling like it too. Carol that’s great to get help from McMillan . Better late than ever eh. Love to all . Gloria xxx

Dear Gloria, so sorry to hear about your sister and hopefully you'll know soon.  Its hard when you are unwell yourself as you cope but to see nearest and dearest suffer is hard.  So just dropped by to say I'm here if you need to vent!  Love Carol x x

Hi Ladies,

Just a short note today.  Still busy unpacking.. get some done and more arrive.  Norman should have his new car by now I guess.  Is he happy with it and shown it off?  Norman's wheeze could well be permanent although I hope it isn't.  I got a chuckle from your foundation making you look like you were autitioning for an Al Johnson show.  I'm surprised they can't give Faye something if it's hormone related.  Terrible at any age but I almost think it woujld be worse now as don't expect to have problems when we get older.  It does make it hard to do seating and even if you should invite certain ones in these situations, but I'm sure they'll get it all sorted before too long.  It's about time you had Mcmillan nurses helping.  It certainly is a step in the right direction.

So sorry to hear about your sister Gloria, Hope they find out what the cause is quickly and treat it.  

Hope you're all doing as well as you can.  Take care and love to all.  Sue xx

1hi girls, I'm sorry for going missing but like you Sue I've been busy.  We had a marvellous ride out on Sunday, we laughed and joked and sang songs on the radio whilst getting lost between Middleton in Teesdale and Stanhope because my husband missed the turning and we couldn't turn round in the small narrow road with cliff edges on either side!!  So we did a big loop de. Loop and ended back up in Middleton in Teesdale again!!  Lisa rang., her MRI was back and she's got a broken foot!  Despite X rays and GP appointments it was only when she went privately that an MRI was done, she's got a footballers injury the 5th metatarsal bone, so physio and rest, very difficult when you commute to London, have an active 8 year old and a massive garden.  Monday I was at the dentist again, Maggie came round for me to sign her new driving licence photo, Tuesday, zumba, horrible as Kimberley is getting married this week, so we had a new girl, the girls were laughing at me as I kept pulling faces as we were doing stupid Indian head movements which I'm sure was going to cause us permanent damage, Flo said think positive, I'm.sick of thinking positively I replied, I have to do it each day!!  Today Mary and I saw each other for the last time as she's off to her apartment for three weeks.  I've also bought new wicker baskets for my wardrobe so have had a massive clear out, shoes, jumpers, tops, handbags, boots all to the charity shop in Norman's cleaned out car, he's getting the new one on Friday.  So we're having a take away as the meat I finally remembered to get out the freezer is still frozen, I'm having a glass of pinot grigio whilst writing this, chilling out and catching up on correspondence.  Faye got her new face cream and seemed pleased, the doctors don't seem interested in her skin, it seems to be bottom of their list of complaints. But it's very distressing when you have to live with it when you've always had lovely skin.  So girls, hope all.ia well.  Love Carol x 

Had a lovely day out with Margaret. She's on a diet so we just had coffee, you can have cake she says but I honestly couldn't sit and eat cake in front of her.  So today we picked up his new car, I didn't think I would get a new one two years ago he states, me  neither, we've come a long way since he got his last one.  We had a few jerkey moments coming home as he was a little heavy footed and I noticed the passenger air bag was off, oh you'll be fine he says. To say I hung on for grim death is an understatement!. I'm not getting in it again until is activated I say, oh my old one was like that, the light went out after a couple of miles, still not getting in I state, well thanks for your confidence in my driving he retorts, its now fixed!  The lawn is mowed and I tried to cut the black lace down but I'm too little to reach, I may ask my spare Norman to help when he gets back.  Sue rang she's off to Gleneagles to watch the ladies golf with Luke, then visit her friend Jan's grave, another cancer that she didn't beat.  I'm struggling to find an egg free cake, M & S don't do one, so apparently they are looking at trying to produce one as they hadn't really noticed that there wasn't one, so it will be lovely if they manage to do that in the future.  Off to cook tea now.  Xx