Dear Carol,
It sounds like you had a wonderful few day, despite them being tiring.  Ipads/tablets do take over, even Eli at 2 watches Peppa Pig on Deana's tablet and knows how to skip the ads.  I'm not in favour of him using it at his age but I'm only Grandma.  You will need a couple of days to recover before next weeks movie, theatre and Normans's treatment.  
Is Margaret's coffee really that bad?  Enjoy the chat even if you won't enjoy the coffee.  Having family nearby really does help.  Not sure about the quote, sounds very "Life of Brian" to me.  Neil loved Monty Python, wasn't my cup of tea though.
Is there any sign of your horrid weather easing or going completely.  The other night on our news they were showing areas flooded.  Hoping none of you are affected by any flooding.  I hope Norman was joking with his comment of the little old lady in the black coat.  The G&T's while heating tea would have chilled you out.  Hope you enjoy your morning back at dance.tomorrow? I think anyway.  

Anthea, We always hope for a few more weeks.  You will be numb and shocked.  It's great you have family around especially now to help you make arrangements, I found it very hard making the arrangements, even with my girls around. 
Thinking of you and your family.  As has been said we are here if you need.

Take care, and love to all Sue xx

 

Hi all, I made it to zumba but had to clear four inches of snow off his car with a broom and drive past the surgery to make sure he could walk on it without my help.  I arrive home at exactly the same time and he says he is really annoyed, let's get in the house he says and I'll tell you.  I've arranged to go with Mary to the cinema and have lunch so my stomach sinks, I know it's not going to happen.  Anyway he thinks he has a urine infection, took a sample as per previous occasions but the nurse said they don't do that anymore he has to get a GP appointment.  His blood pressure is high and he tells her that he's struggling with everything and does not want to come back, she's not interested at all.  I call our surgery and ask why they wouldn't help him, long story short, we are seeing a doctor at 4.20pm.  I cancel Mary and then he gets upset saying he's ruined my day, it does not matter I say, it matters to me he says.  So another day at home on the sofa, I will grow tendrils if I sit here any longer!!  Sue, I know what you mean about I pads, Alfie was the same but I kept it to a minimum time.  Even if you are only Grandma in my opinion if you're looking after them you're in charge.  Lisa is still very unwell and it's on my mind, I've just sent some flowers to cheer her up.  I'm not ringing her because she will ask after her Dad and she doesn't need more worry.  So sorry everyone it's not much fun here at the moment and it's still cold Sue, 3.5 degrees with a snow warning again.  Hospital Thursday I'm living in hope that I make it to the theatre, I'm giving the tickets to Mary so they can go without me, if needs be.  See you soon. Love Carol x 

Dear Carol, 
It must be so disappointing that you couldn't have lunch with Mary and go to the cinema.  But I know you would give up anything for Norman.  We all do that, I did for Neil.  It's sweet that Norman said he ruined your day.  Kids today learn so quickly how to use electronics.  I sort of do limit Eli's use of it when I have him, I would much rather he play with his toys or ride one of his toys, and I'm always happy to read to him, and he has some lovely books.  I can't change everything, but slowly getting a few things changed.  Of a night when Eli went to bed, Nick would go in and lie on the bed with Eli, for anything up to an hour, later Nick would put him in his cot.  Well, finally we have NIck putting him in his cot, giving him a kiss and walking out and shutting the door.  The first night he really performed, cried, screamed for 1/2 an hour.  Deana went in and tried to calm him down, she came out upset and teary.  I went in 5 mins later and got him laying down.  We've progressed tonight he only performed for 5 mins, then layed down and drank his bottle, and was asleep in no time.  He goes down for a nap great for anyone else, just not for them.  I said you'll be doing that for ages if you don't stop it.  As much as you don't like to see/hear them so upset, they either had to follow through or he wins, and nothing changes.  He a sweety though, I had him today as they sent him home from daycare because of two spots on his backside.  Deana was not impressed, she had to leave work come home and get my car, as Nick had their car with the carseat, then pick him up.  Nick wasn't able to leave work, and Deana couldn't get anyone to fill in at the shop for the whole afternoon, so I cancelled my nail appointment and had him.  They sent him home early on Friday because of a couple of spots on his cheek.  Deana had him at the Drs on Monday as he needed a clearance to go back to Daycare.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with him, he's happy, eating, playing, and no temp.  So I have him again tomorrow, my usual Wednesday.
I had thought your weather would be improving a bit, Spring can't be too far away.  3.5 degrees and a snow warning.  I don't know how you all cope with that.  I would never leave the house.
I hope Lisa feels better soon, some of these things really take a while to clear up.  The flowers will cheer up up a little though.
Hopefully Norman will be ok after his treatment on Thursday and you can still make it to the theatre.
Glad you got an appointment for today at the Drs. for Norman, Iit's hard to understand how they can treat someone in his situation like that. Our Drs surgery was great with Neil if we rang he was always seen that day,(generally not long after our phonecall, whether they had spare appointments or not, and they did that with any patients with a serious illness. And always by the Dr and not the nurse.  On one occassion after the palliative nurse rang, the Dr even turned up at home.

Not too much happening here.  The backyard was finished over a week ago.  Nick has put grass seed down and we have grass coming up.  Fruit trees have been planted, a lemon, pomegranate, fig, blueberry bush and a finger lime.  We'll get a plum tree too, and a magnolia,  It starting to take shape.  It will be good when Eli can go out and play in the backyard.

I went to Rotary tonight.  Tomorrow Eli and I will go for a walk to the shops so I can buy an onion, I called in at the supermarket to get what I wanted for a pot of soup that I want to make tomorrow, checked the recipe when I got home, and I've forgotten the onion.  The walk will be nice for both of us and it's not too far from home.  I might have to get my car checked, I think the battery might be about to go, it was hard to start when I went to Rotary, it usually starts very easily, and I'd rather not get stuck somewhere, even though I have roadside assist (RACV).

Hope everyone is doing as well as they can.  Take care.  Sue xx
 

Hi sue I have a bit of good news not about health. Wheeled hoists have finally gone after i phoned to tell them to pick them up, workmen who fitted ceiling hoists were supposed to. So finally i can sleep in same room as bren and thares a bit of room.. Oh no snow here yet quit sunny really but not very warm yet. (north Lincolnshire)

Hoping everyone as well as can be love..... Billy xxx 

Hi Billy,

That is great news.  I'm sure Bren would be very happy about that.  Does that mean you are due to get some snow.  Hopefully the sun will stay and eventually warm up a bit.  How is your shoulder (I think) after all the furniture moving?

Hope you are both doing as well as you can. 

Love Sue xx

Hi everyone, didn't post yesterday as I actually spent time out the house.  Ran down to surgery with his specimen, then off to dance class. Mary and I decided to go and see Emma and have some lunch, the film was excellent and Miranda Hart was very funny, we also had lunch and a white wine spritzer as I was driving.  I rang Lisa she had had the worst night ever she said, I've sent you a gift I tell her, is it a gun so I can shoot myself she asks!  Harry is getting distressed as she's never ill, back to her doctor and she now has a chest infection and has antibiotics and is signed off for two weeks.  Back home hubby looks pale and drawn, doesn't want to eat but when I cook a beef, ale and dumplings he eats the whole lot.  Florence has just rang she has a sore throat and says she won't go to the theatre because of me, that's ridiculous I tell her I can't self isolate everywhere I go, we decide we will both wear scarves over our faces, oh the joy of dealing with cancer every day is exhausting.  So I'm just going to call Lisa to see how she is and I'll reply to you all personally tomorrow.  Love Carol x 

Hi Carol as soon as i saw your letter i smiled to myself where you said you RAN to the surgery, i thought bet you used the car. If you did run I'll certainly apologise you must be alot fitter than me. You haven't mentioned your tooth lately so hopefully it's OK now. We're all thinking of Norman and next treatment. Hope you're not over doing things.. Good luck and best wishes for the future. 

Billy xxx 

You're so clever Billy, yes I ran down in the car, I don't generally run anywhere as my boobs are too big, hence having to do cross country jogs aged fifteen I swore down then it was too painful to ever run again!!  Tooth seems to be healing but having gone out last night, talked too much and laughed too much I looked a bit hamsterish at bedtime.  Oh my God the sounds of the sixties was hilarious.  The Searchers, The Trems  (previously Tremeloes but only one original one left) The Dakotas, The Swinging Blue Jeans, wonderful music but we were really concerned that they would stay standing the full time as some of them must be hitting 80 years and looked it!  The leather trousers should have been banned and the older one looked like he was wearing leather jogging pants with a tie string waist to accommodate his pot belly.  But a good time was had by us girls and we came away laughing.  Norman had his treatment hassle free, he waited up for me as it was nearly midnight when I got home, I took him a cup of tea at 8.45 this morning and he was oblivious to my presence.  I went to get my hair cut, got the shopping, got home at 11.30 and he was still asleep.  I thought oh my goodness have I left him and he wasn't alive, so I prodded him with my finger to see if he was breathing, he turned over and said, did you have a good night's sleep?  I pointed out it was now dinner time and he'd slept right through, which was good.  He'd decided yesterday to tell the cancer nurse he had a bladder infection despite my telling him I was calling the surgery for the results, so by the time I got back the nurse had written it all down and said we needed to see the oncologist sooner because of this, I was so cross as his sample was Crystal Clear, was that the reception you spoke too, no an actual doctor I told him, he looked sheepish and apologised to the nurse, we eye balled each other as if to say, Men!!  Anyway Sue, wish I was in your new garden, must send us a finished photo with Eli running around.  Lisa has a quote for her kitchen refit, guess how much she asks me, about thirty grand I say, oh she says we thought it was a lot but you're re only two grand out!!  Go for it girl I tell her she deserves it.  Chris, hope all is going well, haven't heard from you for a while, so it worries me you may have more problems.  Take care all, love Carol x 

Hi Carol glad Norman slept well, should make him feel better (good sleep always does i think). Was just trying to imagine you running to the car, it's making my eyes water rather bad. As you said hope Chris is OK.

Hoping everyone else is as good as can be. Love... Billy xxx