I've had a really busy couple of days and have just sat down.  Zumba was meant to be the Christmas one so everyone had reindeer ears, santa hats and dangly earrings but Kimberly had been unexpectedly invited out by one of the nursing homes she teaches in and she couldn't get out of it, so Nichola stood in but had nothing prepared song wise so it was all very boring!  I left early as my car was in for Mot, Margaret picked me up and we went to Yarm, had lunch and did some shopping.  Back to collect my car and when I get home hubby says his amazon box isn't working and he's not got Internet connection, he looks annoyed when I say it's all working fine, he thinks I'm a miracle worker and can do everything.  So to cut a long story short A power adapter was ordered, my spare Norman has connected it, he took the cable out of the free view box and connected it to the aerial, he leaves and hubby decides to put it back on the free view box which obviously doesn't work then blames me for disconnecting it, I was so bloody mad I've thrown the cable at him and left him to it! In between all of this I've done my ironing, filled forms in, done the bank statement and been to pay the paper bill, get some shopping and collect his prescription, oh and take him to vote at the worst possible place for us steep steps, no rail, gritted slope and its only 2.5 degrees.  No wonder my patience is short.  We're having soup and toast for tea as hubby has had massive meals since Saturday and it's not good for him.  Off out to Northallerton for lunch with Sue tomorrow, hopefully the TV won't get hurled through the window!  See you tomorrow, love Carol x 

Dear Carol,

It's funny when that happens and we think we are still dreaming.  Sounds like your delivery arrived just when you need it.  It's been cool here today but we have some scorching weather coming, next Wed is forecast to be to 40 degs.  I love summer but that is even a little extreme for me.  Love the sound of your Zumba class with the chocolates afterward.  Nick is finally over his bug and went back to work Tuesday.  Deana did go to the Drs and has a few different viruses, as well as conjunctivitis, but finally seems to be getting better.  Had to laugh with Nick's comment about her red devil eyes.  She really looked and sounded terrible.  Rotary was good as usual and we only have 1 more, which is our Christmas Dinner on Tuesday until after the New Year.  Still the market on Sunday and a Bunnings BBQ though before Christmas.

Deana and Nick were out for tea tonight so I made a pot of pumpkin soup,  Been out today, had to buy a 1st birthday present for my nieces daughter.  Going to Melbourne for her birthday party tomorrow afternoon, then a Christmas function with Neil's old work place.  So a busy day tomorrow, then the market on Sunday, I'm helping on the BBQ stall.  So will be looking for a quiet day on Monday.

Even if your Zumba class wasn't all that great today, having some lunch and shopping with Margaret would have been enjoyable.  I'm no good when it comes to connecting things like that.  Neil was and Nick is, so I leave that sort of thing to him.    I guess I should close so I can wrap this present for Savannah and then iron whatever I decide to wear tomorrow night.

Bily, It's good that they are checking on Bren.  Hope you both are staying as well as you can.

Take care and love to all.  Sue xx

I had a lovely day with Sue yesterday and lunch was delicious.  We sat for so long chatting that I had to move the car and put more time on it!  The sale was on so I bought some new place mats for the diviner table and a new casserole dish as I had managed to drop mine, smashing it to smithereens and sweeping bits of glass up for the rest of the week.  I had left hubby home alone and my wine delivery turned up.  He doesn't do deliveries, couldn't understand the Eastern European man who had to ring his wife to confirm he was over 18 years old, hubby said he tried to say I'm. 73 with grey hair obviously Iim over 18!!  He hadn't understood that you now have to declare your age, but for goodness sake surely common sense comes into play, but we did giggle  about it.  Sue, I'm pleased everyone is getting back on track. It's so annoying when you are unwell, nothing gets done as you would wish, I'm actually just starting to feel normal again.  My canvas portrait of the three grandchildren has arrived it looks lovely, hubby will be pleased with it.  So spaghetti and meatballs for tea, the Strictly final, whuch should be good.  See you all soon, Carol xx

Another busy but happy day, although hubby now is suffering badly with trapped wind, unfortunately its the same side as the tumour, so my black thoughts creep into my mind.  The children now have a Xmas tree which looks very pretty, shining unicorn decorations, stars and angels with their names on them. Sweetie filled hanging star, angel and bell, one wouldn't close so I had to eat some of the sweets!  Hubby put new batteries in everything and when I said to leave one set of Berry lights where the batteries had gone bad, he ignored me, so whilst he was still trying to extract them I cut the cable in half, he didn't notice and then exclaimed, I've done it, you should have seen his face as I walked off with the rest of it!!  I've bought my pink gin, the boy's larger and just helped to wrap my own present up as his attempt was a complete mess, so we did it together which he said was much better, good job I had lots of spare paper.  So I'm signing off now, next tree will go up tomorrow.  Carol xx

The other tree is up and looks beautiful, I drag hubby into the front room to show him, I'm so proud of you he says, you've worked hard and it all looks so beautiful, I can't say what I'm thinking as each time I do this I think it may be our last Christmas together.  He's not well, he aches all over, his cough is harsh and the indigestion is putting him off food.  But we plod on and try to make it magical  for us all.  Off to the tip to dump all the cardboard and I take my ceramic angels that I broke but stuck back together and the skip lady says they're so nice, so I give them to her, so much better than smashing them up, they've gone to a new home.  I have Santa's and reindeer and wooly snowmen that we had when our girls were little, so it's lovely to put them out for their children.  It's cold here but we're happy to hunker down and stay warm in our Christmas grotto.  Love Carol x 

Dear Carol,

Surely commen sense would tell the delivery man that Norman was over 18.  Grey hair or not, even if you look young for your age no one could think you were under 18.  Deana was feeling so much better over the weekend that on Sunday they went to the berry farm and picked berries, strawberries and tayberries.  Then today made a couple of banana snf tasyberry breads.  Your portrait of the grandchildren will be lovely.  It is so nice to have pictures of them at home.  

Try not to think black thoughts, I know it's easy for me to say but so much harder when you are dealing with cancer.  Just curious - how many Christmas trees do you/will you have?  We just have the one, and really that's more than enough here, with Eli and 4 cats.  Each morning either Deana or myself put baubles back that are scattered thoughout the house.

I had a great day Saturday, first at Savannah's 1st birthday party, then the Christmas dinner later.  I was so full by the time we had finished eating.  Antipasto to start, then pasta, then main of either baked ham or fish with veggies, then canoli, a fruit platter next, then they bring out the coffee and panettone.  It's always the same when we go there, the food never stops and it's delicious.  Then Sunday, I was on the BBQ stall at the market.  Our biggest one yet, so many different stalls and we were run off our feet, could barely keep up with orders.  I was so tired by the time I got home.  Had a very quiet day today, have written all (I think) my Christmas cards, and have them ready to post tomorrow.  Spoke to Brianna today and now on Wednesday I am going to Melbourne (taking Eli) with me so I can get Colby and Sebastians Christmas present.  Apparently they each want a fish, so getting 2 small fish tanks and a couple of fish.  1 for each of them.  Just about done then, only have to get something for my brother and his wife Tina and Eli still.  
Friday we have a forecast temperature of 42°, just a little extreme. and I have to go out,  Have a nail appointment in the afternoon and she doesn't have aircon.

Hope Norman is feeling better quickly,

Take care and love to all.  Sue xx
 

I'm up at 7am as hubby is coughing so much, he's sat forlornly on the edge of the bath and says he doesn't know what's worse the cough or the pain in his ribs.  I make him tea and paracetamol and he climbs back into bed.  By 8am I have a doctors appointment with a GP he likes and when he comes home he is a little chirpier.  No chest infection but the radiotherapy has played havoc with his digestion and his lungs, so stronger steroids, an understanding doctor who tells him he's doing so well with the stage he's at.  We're a lot more content with this outcome and I breathe a sigh of relief that there is no infection.  It's now 1pm and I feel like I've been up for hours!  So Sue, it sounds like a wonderful busy time with relatives, meals out and all the running around, don't get sunburnt on the market stall.  Is it just all of you at Christmas or are others coming over.?  I'm getting my mails done tomorrow as they are a mess and won't last another week, may just have a coffee and cake in town and look in House of fraser for a change, I don't need anything but it will look pretty.  So Norman is going out to see the Toffs and I am going to wash the kitchen floor so he doesn't slip on the wet tiles.  Billy hope you and Bren are OK, missed you over the last couple of days, the others have disappeared as well!!  Take care, love Carol x 

Hi Carol still here and fighting both just got over a bug "i hope" took bren to hospital appointment this morning didn't know what it was for. Turns out it was to see if her prolapse needs operating on, if we had known we could have told them it's gone back, so another wasted journey. But at least we know for sure now. Glad hubby's more relaxed now he's had a check up hope you and all are doing OK,. (p.s. I was waiting till something happened different to us, its usually same o same o day in week in can get very boring,. I've got a tree up not bothering with anything else it takes hours to put up and longer to take down and clean up. (I think it means I'm getting like scrounge). But it means we can do what we like when we like just hoping there's plenty of nice films on over the holidays then we'll be happy,. I know it's early yet but good tidings to all,. Xxxxxxx :-):-)

Dear Carol,

Poor Norman, good to hear he was chirpier when he got home from the Drs.  He is really doing so well considering. By 1pm you had been up hours.  It has been busy here, I got my cards posted today.  Heard the report from the last market.  We had more people through the gate, the BBQ stall made more than its ever made.  And I didn't get sunburnt, we are actually under cover, which is good as I burn easily.  Dinner tonight was wonderful, and our Kris Kringle was a lot of fun.  I ended up with a squirrel nutcracker (which will come in handy, as my last nutcracker broke last Christmas).  Christmas Day it will just be Deana, Nick, Eli, and myself till mid afternoon then Bree, Jamie and her 3 are coming for tea.  We have turkey and a baked ham, hasselback potatoes and salad for tea with plum pudding and possibly Eton mess for dessert.  Sangria to drink, as it will more than likely be warm.  Then Boxing Day Deana, Nick and Eli are going to Geelong for Nicks family get together, and I'm unsure yet whether I'll stay home or go to Cass's. (She actually asked if I wanted to come). Not sure I want to do the 3 hr drive each way though.  
I have a nail appointment Friday to get something Christmasy.  Tomorrow I'm of to Melbourne with Eli, so glad my car has climate control as it's going to be hot. 41 in Melbourne tomorrow.  

It's a busy time for everybody, so understandable really that they are not posting as often.

Take care, hope Norman keeps improving,  Love to all.  Sue xx