Dear Anthea how lovely to hear from you and congratulations on your little granddaughter, I remember Ella being born one week and to the hour of my Mum's funeral and she was the biggest lift ever.  As you will see she was a pink unicorn yesterday but we had many snuggles and secrets whispered in Grandma's ear when she came as she always slept with me in my big king size bed.  You are in for such a memorable time as she grows but yes it is bittersweet without Steve.  These holiday times don't help but we all put a brave face on and smile for all our family.  Sue knows better than me about grief and i truly try not to look to the future, like you all, one day at a time is my motto.  Please keep us up to date if you want to, it's so nice to hear about what is happening and especially when a grandchild is involved, I hadn't realised you were still reading my rubbish!  It sounds like you made the right choice regarding work, you need what's best for you.  It's quiet here as no one can see anyone, not even outside which I frankly find ridiculous.  We can queue with strangers but can't see a long time friend for a walk, our Boris has definitely lost the plot.  Take care all of you, love Carol x 

Dear Billy, please let me know you're OK.  Carol x 

Hi again! Yes carol, Boris has definitely lost the plot but I think I probably would have if I was him! I can stand next to someone on the till - less than 2m apart - for 4 hours but cant go for a coffee with that person after our shift!! I really can't even think about what Steve would have made of all this, especially as he couldn't travel or watch any of his beloved sport! I was booked to go to New York with my sister for my birthday in October as that is Steve's birthday too. It was cancelled as expected but we had a nice few days away in North Norfolk instead and my daughter and baby joined us for one night. Hopefully we will get to New York but there are other places I'd like to visit when we're finally allowed to travel properly again. I think going forward that you'll have to have paperwork to show you've had the vaccine before travelling! I definitely made the right decision about work and as I still have my mum to care for one day a week suits me! I'm so glad I decided to post, it's lovely to read your replies. I'll try not to leave it so long  next time! Take care and stay safe, love Anthea xx

Steve would have been like Norman, what a load of rubbish (was going to use the B word but it would have been edited out!  Matt Hancock crying on the TV this morning, get a back bone and grow up Norman said to the telly.  In the meantime I'm watching an 8 year old boy who gave all his Christmas presents away to poor children, then in July was diagnosed with a brain tumour, he was sat there smiling away, with a shaved head, learning to talk again and still smiling, his parents have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and when Phil and Holly presented him with a Nintendo Switch game, do you know what he said, that's nice I won't need so many presents for my birthday now, I literally sat with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, it puts my difficulties into perspective.  So another trip out for bloods and hopefully no phone call saying they're no good.  I've just popped to see Ann with flowers as she is home after a major hysterectomy for womb cancer, she and Dave were happy to see someone else, so I had coffee and we had a laugh.  I'm off to get my nails done tomorrow in the hope that we can go out soon.  Welcome back Anthea, we need more chat so we don't get bored. Love Carol x 

Dear Carol and Anthea,
Neil would have been the same, I don't know how he would have coped with the lockdown with no fishing,  For a large of it they still played football here but with no-one actually watching the game.  It was very strange watching games on TV with only the players attending, not a single person in the stands.  Neil would have been really uposet though at not being abloe to go fishing.  
I watched the clip with Matt Hamcock, are you sure he was even crying, it almost look more like he was trying to hide laughter..  What a selfless little boy.  Things like that really to puts things in poerspective.
Hoping there will be no phone call saying Normans bloods results aren't good.  It's nice that you were able to visit Ann and Dave and cheer them both up after her surgery.  
Carol, like you I was getting worried about Billy but found his last post a few days where he says, 
"I apologise to all My lovely friends for not talking to them much lately but struggling to figure words out properly sometimes better than others like just now good.   Brenda still improving slowly."
It's good that Bren is still improving, albeit slowly, but not sure the comment about himself.  Hopefully the blood work they are doing gives results that enables them to do something.
Not too much happening here, went to Rotary last night and up early to watch Eli today.  Deana has left for the flower market and Nick is getting ready for work.  So I'm up for Eli, although Hopefully he won't wake for a few hours yet.

Take care and love to all.  Sue xx
 

I'm sorry I've been missing but it's been a busy week.  Hubby had his treatment yesterday but it took hours as there were 15 patients and 3 nurses, the machines kept breaking down and when they hooked him up he said the infusion was put up from. 200 to 500, so it was speedy gonzales but he has been known to be wrong!  Faye rang, she has been offered a full time job in a school so it's ideal for her as these jibs are like hen's teeth, as she only qualified this year we are very proud of her.  Hubby and I did laugh this morning as we were reading about the DNAR issue and are expecting a knock on our door, having read that it gives on fitness levels I've decided to get back to the gym ASAP, I pointed out that he is doomed, he said he might as well throw thebtiwel in now!  But as I pointed out they have to get past me first.  I've been spending money this afternoon as there are a lot of sales on, although we can't go out I will live in hope that I can wear them next year.  I was expecting Luke to arrive but he hasn't and although I spoke to him last night about his Mum's tongue biopsy and operation when he said all was well I'm now worried.  So hope all is well, love Carol x 

Dear Carol,
Like you I have been busy.  Thursday was relatively quiet.  Friday I was rostered on at Anam Cara, quite a busy day with 5 guests.  Then today I was there again, they didn't have any volunteers for today, their usual volunteer had something else planned, so I said I was happy to help, Still 5 guests but even busier than yesterday.  I'm very proud of myself, I did things I never thought I would or even be capable of doing.  I was worn out by the time I left though.  So back again tomorrow, although only 4 guests, one was taken to hospital today with a blocked feeding tube. They are not expecting him back for a couple of days. Hopefully tomorrow won't be quite so busy, as Deana and Nick are going to an adventure park tomorrow. It opens at 6pm for Eli to see Santa and all the Christmas activities/decorations, so I'll have to come home and cook for myself.  So they are looking forward to showground goodies for tea.  It's ok, I like cooking usually, just may not be too keen on the idea if I'm as tired as I was when I first got home today. Not at all used to working solidly for 5 hours anymore.  Didn't really stop apart from 10 mins where I actually sat and enjoyed a cup of tea while the guests were eating lunch.

Wonderful news re Faye's job offer.  Can understand you being proud of her.  Surely the DNAR is only required for end-of-life situations.  Neil had a DNR (same as DNAR) order done for himself.  Basically in his situation they didn't do anything to prolong his life, they kept him pain free, if his heart had given up, they didn't do anything to get it going again.. His GP had a copy, the hospital, as well as us.  Ours was if an ambulance was called either Neil or myself would show them and they then knew what treatment they could do in any situation. or if he changed doctors, we had a copy for them.  I know we'd rather not think about these things but it's worth having done for when it's needed.  One of the palliative nurses helped him fill it all out, as there was quite a few pages to it. A little like doing a will,  Doesn't mean it will be acted on any time soon.

I've done a little shopping also, nothing too much (and not Christmas shopping, still have to start that) I've bought a couple of tops that are suitable for me wear at Anam Cara, as part of what I do is in the kitchen, I need tops with sleeves but also don't want anything too low where if I bend over I'm showing too much.  I've also ordered another top but it won't arrive for another week at least, I'm guessing.  

Waiting for the kids to let me know what my grandchildren would like, Deana has no idea at this stage what Eli needs, I'm thinking clothes might be good, he has so many toys at present.  He has lots of cars, trucks and there is a train set, set up in the family room, which he loves, but how many can you play with at a time.  And I can't forget his dodos (dinosaurs).  I did laugh tonight though when they got him ready for bed,  They had only just bought him 3 sets of pyjamas, put the first of them on tonight and he'll have outgrown them within a month.  I'm thinking maybe some pyjamas in size 4 at least then he'll wear them all summer.  He is getting so big, and he's not quite 3.

This coming week I have 2 Christmas functions to go to, Rotary Christmas break-up is Tuesday, then on Saturday I have one at Neil's old workplace in Melbourne, looking forward to both.  I was also invited to Anam Cara's next week but I had already accepted for Melbourne.  It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas here.  So sorry your Christmas won't be what it usually is, or hope it would be.

If Luke's Mum's operation was just the biospy she would be reasonably ok, if they did more than the biopsy, I'd probably be worried too.

Despite Norman's treatment taking hours, hopefully he is well after having it.

Stay safe and love to all.  Sue xx

Hi dear carol and sue.

Had day in hospital Friday had five blood tests in 7 1/2 hours to check My bodys metabolism with My new meds against My old ones. So hopefully I'll get results around Christmas and someone will know what is going on finally .

Had tree's up for months once Brenda starts she keeps on till she gets her own way, lights glitter ornaments.

Love to all hope you have a good Christmas and new year 

Billy XXX

Dear Billy, so lovely to catch up, let's hope you get sorted,  it probably makes Bren happy seeing the tree.  It's quiet as we can't see anyone or go anywhere, you know me I like to keep busy and socialise.  Dorothy brought me a lovely card yesterday and she is getting thinner and says her daughter won't go near her, I'm not sure why, I may give Ray a ring and see what is happening.  Christine sent me a hand made card with two People on the front with sparkly masks on!  I will have to buy more cards as I've only got Tesco ones left, which look cheap for good friends!  Lisa texted to say Harry's school report is excellent and they are glad they sent him there.  The tree is not decorated but is enormous, we will see it tomorrow in all.its glory.  Well my gym is shut, I am so upset as it was my one escape to do something normal and healthy, so instead I've had coffee cake and coffee, I now feel sick.  It is nearly dark here we really need some sunshine and daylight we might as well live in the North Pole, in an Igloo.  So see you soon, love Carol x