I've been at a birthday party all afternoon, drunk prosecco, ate soft cake and talked until my jaw ached.  Its funny really as these girls and I have known each other since we were fifteen years old and upwards.  We reminisced about old times and Jill said she thought I was the sassy one!  I never knew that!  I'm home now as three hours is enough at the moment and hubby needs feeding.  He's doing well today and has stayed home.  Lisa has finally got home two days late and it's snowing here.  Hope you are doing OK,  love Carol x 

Hi Carol, good news (i think) ceiling hoists coming Thursday fitting Thurs /Fri. Been trying to get most of the things out of two rooms and upstairs out the way. But limited to what i can move. Upstairs rather crowded now ornaments, pictures chairs,. If fitters not happy I'll tell them not to bother. Hopefully they'll take the two wheeled hoists back with them. There will be some room then. I'm managing OK health normal. Bren seems to be a bit up and down now and again. Glad your favourite tooth is sorted and Norman seems bit better lately.

Wishing everyone things start getting better because it's about time it did. Love to all..... Billy xxx

P.s love the cake anthea, xx

Dear Carol,

Our pets do become part of the family, and it's heartbreaking when they pass.  Hayley was devasted Saturday, she was only 3 or 4 when they got Neo and they have been inseparable.  They have almost finished the back yard.  We now have garden beds (no plants yet, we'll add them) and it's all level now, no step from the back porch.  Which is great for both Eli and I.  I will actually start using the back yard, once the grass has grown.  It will be great for Eli to have a back yard he can play in.
One thing I did like when Neil's cancer was getting worse, Instead of driving all the way to Geelong we just went to the local hospital cancer centre and we would have a video call with the Dr in Geelong. the nurses here could do any checks that were necessary.  It was so much easier on Neil, 1/2 an hour all up compared to roughly 4 if we had to go to Geelong.  All hospitals should use that system for patients with cancer or other long terms or serious illnesses.  
It's great catching up with long time friends, great reminiscing about old times.  Sounds like a great day.  

Dear Anthea, Glad it was a lovely day for your Sisters birthday, a shame Steve wasn't able to go but he can only do what he feels up to doing.  So they were really quick getting the stairlift in.  Sorry to hear Steve seems to be getting weaker, it must be hard on you too.  Hopefully you slept well after the party.  You did a wonderfully with the cake, it looks beautiful, and I bet it tasted great too.  It's good to hear that Norman is doing well so far on the new treatment.  Hope it continues and works.  Even our news has mentioned your bad weather with flights being cancelled, at least Lisa finally made it home, albeit overdue.

Dear Billy, Hope they finally get the hoist in and fitted by Friday.  Glad to hear your doing opk, sorry though that Bren is a bit up and down.  Hope the medications help her as she is on them longer.

A few quiet days here, well as far as going out, it been very noisy though with the trucks delivering numerous loads of soil and wood. and of course the equipment they've used in the backyard.  Valentines day tomorrow so Deana has been very busy.  Sunday I'm on the gate at the market, greeting everybody.

Take care, and love to all.  Sue xx



 

Hi sue looking good for the hoists. Probably not use them unless not very well. But ideal for the carers. Bit of bad news bella's thought to have bladder infection again waiting for results of water sample but vet said definitely blood there., more meds to sort out. Good job my head still works right just rest of the body wants changing. Thinking of you and all our friends on here god bless and good luck........ Billy 

Dear all, I've actually been to the Metro centre today and had a little shop and a bite to eat.  The weather is atrocious so hubby stayed home.  I came back with new pants and socks for him, they look big he says, a 36 waist will be too big, I point out he no longer has a waist and they're the same size as what he's wearing, they still look big he says.  New socks, they look big is it one size fits all, no I've bought size 6 to 8 as usual, still look too big he huffs, a new jumper, I've got one like that, no he hasn't I say and go and get the other one, oh yes totally different colour he admits! Mary rings me, she's bought size 10 knickers, they won't even fit me she wails, so another trip out to take back what we bought!  My mouth tastes like mothballs and it's the last of the antibiotics today, I have a feeling I might need to go back.  Looking forward to seeing Faye and the children, I bought Ella a cuddly leopard toy, she'll love it.  So signing off as we're having a take away for tea, a night off before everyone comes and I have to feed them.  Love to you all, Carol x 

I've paid for my day out as my mouth has swollen again, back to the dentist and still have an infection and bits of bone that haven't settled, he said its worse than an abscess, I don't need telling that I say, how's the bad taste, like mothballs I reply, stop eating mothballs he says, love a comedic dentist!  More antibiotics but no charge, thank God its like having a mortgage on your tooth!  Hubby is looking forward to seeing the family and hopefully the next storm won't cause problems.  All the food shopping is done, the house is tidy until they arrive and I'm sat with my feet up.  Hope you're all doing well,  love Carol x 

Hi Carol,

Just a note to say I'm still following your blog, although not as often as I did.  I think that's a sign that I have stopped being as consumed by my own cancer story, therefore not logging on as often, which has to be a good thing. The real reason is probably far simpler, my arthritic knee has been taking up all my thoughts, but, hopefully, that, too is losing its grip on my daily consciousness because I got cortisone injections last week and had nearly a full week of awakening when the alarm clock tells me, instead of being awakened by pain.  Until today, that is, but I've been to the physio today and was told it doesn't necessarily mean it has stopped working, it takes up to three weeks to be fully effective.   Just like with your dental problems, pain can divert your mind from all sorts of other problems - and not always in a good way. 
Glad to hear you are still living your life and recording it as you go, you write so well it is always a pleasure to catch up with you, especially when there is no bad news. There was nothing I could say when I read about Norman's latest bad news, I just felt so sad for you but,as ever, you are taking it all in your stride. It seems 2020 has it in for this group of people, adding more and more to their burdens.

I plan to hibernate this weekend if the weather turns out to be as bad as predicted, I only have to walk the dog, so the car can stay put.  I left the lights on when I went to the physio today and it wouldn't start when I came out. I rang the RAC and was told it would be about 90 minutes to wait. I went back in and they made me a drink and found me some reading material so I could wait in the warm.  It got too warm after a while so I said I would wait in the car as the rescue people wouldn't be long.  When I got in I thought I would try it again just in case and it started!!!  I made a hasty call to the RAC to cancel the call out and headed home before it stopped again.. I need to give it a good run without lights to charge the battery properly. Perhaps next month...

Have a lovely time with the family, those grandchildren of yours sound wonderful. Every time I ask my children for grandkids I get a dog!  I now have three canine grandsons, and I must say there are times when I appreciate that, but it would be lovely to have a little one or two to spoil.

Christine xx

Chrissie 

 I was so sad when I read this, it is so unfair. I have no words of comfort because there is nothing I could say that would help, but I do wish the best possible outcome for your granddaughter.

Christine xxx

Hi everyone, Faye has rang to say they aren't coming tomorrow as the weather is too bad.  I'm so fed up with disappointments that I can't drag the energy up to be upset.  She's going to try on Monday instead when storm Dennis has gone, the name itself annoys me as that was my Dad's name and he was Always causing trouble one way or another!  Lisa isn't very well as she's been left with a post viral cold bug, it's a shame as its Harry's birthday this weekend and she has lots planned.  Hubby is fed up as it's too windy for him to go out and I've just done a stack of ironing, including the table cloth from Christmas!!  He had a bad night, cold one minute, boiling hot the next so we think this is due to side effects, when we pulled the bedding back there were great big black marks on the sheets, we have no idea what has happened during the night, it's a mystery so I've bought new bedding.  Christine it's lovely to hear from you, you've had a tough time but sound upbeat like the rest of us, just getting on with it.  I'm so pleased you enjoy my writing, I started writing a book once but never finished it, I often think having read some books I should have persevered more.  I was a little annoyed the other afternoon at Pauline's birthday bash as one "friend" asked how Norman was and I said he'd just started immunotherapy, but it's been three years she stated since he was diagnosed and he's still having problems!  I felt like saying, oh I'm sorry, perhaps if he'd died you'd be more sympathetic!  No one understands what you go through unless you are coping with it yourself, fortunately I've learnt to keep quiet, you certainly find out who's going to be there for you until the end.  Love to you all,  Carol x x