Hi,everyone,

I'm afraid I haven't put my decorations up yet. I usually do them the weekend before Christmas.  That way there's a chance they will still be up in the New Year.  I love to see them go up but after Christmas Day I just want them gone!  I have finally finished all my dog portraits, I just hope the paint is dry before I need to wrap the ones I have done as gifts for my daughter.  There is a lot of white in their portraits and that is the slowest oil colour to dry.  I delivered my paid commission and received some very flattering reviews of the painting, I thought it was good, and I certainly couldn't have done anything else to it but it is nice to hear that my work is appreciated, and paid for!

Wow, the weather has certainly defied all the global warming protests! Usually we would be sloshing round in the muddy melted snow by now, as temperatures don't usually stay low enough at this time of the year, to still be icy.  I have put spikes on my shoes for dog walking.  Archie, as usual is desperate to go out, but he takes longer and longer to walk in the snow, and if before we have been out ten minutes, I ask, "Do you want to go back." He turns round and early drags me back down the lane in his eagerness to get back indoors.  He isn't cold, with his thick double coat, but his little feet must feel uncomfortable on the ice and snow. It makes for beautiful views, though, with everything crisp and clean looking.  All plans to lower the heating and keep warm with layers of clothing and blankets were to no avail this week.  As you said, Carol, the weather was so cold, the heating didn't even touch it.  I followed some advice I read somewhere that if you lowered the output of the boiler you would save money, the radiators would still get hot although it may take a little longer because less gas was being used.  I thought that sounded sensible and turned my boiler down about 10%. I don't know how that could possibly save money when the thermostat never switched it off all day. It might have burned 10% less but it was on for 25% longer! Still, with my layers and blankets I was toasty warm.

I hope your trains are not cancelled, Carol.  I think there is a list of the strike dates online. If the weather stays like this you don't want to be driving.  My car hasn't moved off my drive since Friday when I visited an old friend who lives even further in the wilds than I do, and the roads were beginning to ice over but there hadn't been any snow then.  When I awoke to see the snow on Saturday I was so glad I didn't have to go out in the car, at all. It's funny to think I loved driving in all weathers when I was younger, rather than be dependent on public transport. Snow? Ice? Fog? Pooh! Now I don't even like driving in the dark because the oncoming headlights blind me. 

Oh! Billy, I hope those side effects are not too horrible, for you and you are resting when you need to.  I think your carers probably go to lots of people who live on their own, who don't have the ability to put Christmas decorations up, even if they wanted to. 

I am expecting a telephone call from the Clinical Pharmacist at our doctors' surgery, tomorrow.  I got a text a week or so ago asking me to book an appointment for a medication review. I promptly forgot about it and only remembered today.  I hope they are not thinking of taking my pain meds away. I'm a tough old  dear but don't like pain and I get so much joint pain as side effects of the hormone meds, not to mention my dodgy knees, I now actually take my tablets, whereas I used to regularly forget them.

Time to go to sleep, take care, stay warm 

love

Christine xx

Hello Christine and Billy, sorry for the long delay but I've been busy.  My presentation speech went really well and many came up to me and said how inspirational it had been, also said how nice I looked, probably because I did dress for an audience whereas everyone else were in jeans and boring jumpers, so I've been put down to talk at other events which I'm very proud to be able to do.  The drive home from Durham was awful as it was freezing fog, so different from driving up as I missed my turning due to being blinded by the sun, ended up on the wrong side of the river, gave up and rang Fiona, if you don't come and get me I said I'm going home!  Tugs came that night, he was stressed as his washer wipers had packed in and with the fog it had been an awful journey, but he took the presents, had two cups of tea and a large slice of Victoria sponge and when he left it was clearing a little, ring me when you get back I said.  He didn't so I sat worried and rang him, oh I'm so sorry he said I forgot , that's fine I said crossly, I imagined you going over the big drop going into Middleton as there is no barrier and floating down the river Tees in a crashed car!  Saturday night was our ballet dinner and it was very good, mind I got dressed up in a sparkly top and smart trousers but Cathie who I was picking up dressed to keep warm, pixie boots, thick brown leggings, a khaki tabard, gillet with a hood and looked like she was going on a hike, everyone else were in their finery but hey ho it takes allsorts.  Yesterday I went and collected my electric blanket as I managed to pour boiling hot water all over the worktops when filling my water bottle and nearly scalded myself, it was on the bed last night and I left it on as it was awful outside.  I braved the weather to go to the Christmas Carol service but it had rained on top of the snow and was sheer ice, so when I got out the car my foot slipped off the kerb and tipped me forward and I hit my head off the car door, fortunately it was open but I hit the rubber surround and had a big black mark on my forehead which friends tried to scrub off me before the service began, it didn't half hurt! So staying home now, it's warmer but raining and I'm out tomorrow for lunch, as usual Christine has said she's not well and won't be coming, she does it all the time.  Wednesday Maureen and Debbie are coming in for nibbles and prosecco then Thursday I'm off to Fayes.  So have the best Christmas you can and we'll catch up in the New year.  Love Carol x 

I have finally come to bed after a night With Lisa, Tugs and Harry.  My heart is not in it and I don't care about the New Year, its just another day without Norman.  So all my love and best wishes to you all.  Carol xx 

Not been on here for a while, and just catching up.

Billy, sorry to hear you're going through the worst of it again. You've proven time and again, you can bounce back, and this will probably be no different.

Carol, you're good at communicating, so it's no surprise you nailed the speech/presentation. Unlike myself, who falls to pieces whenever i have to talk in front of 2 or more people i don't know at work.

Keith

Sending good wishes to you all!

Billy hasn't signed into Cancer Chat since 12 December, which is very unusual for him. Obviously very tough times.

Well done on that presentation, Carol and for making an effort to dress up. I'm spending New Year alone but have been invited out for the day tomorrow.

Last week I got a hospital cancellation appointment at very short notice and now have several new diagnoses plus referral for further tests. It's major life impact stuff with a need to see several consultants over the next few months. Am trying not to be too blue about it all. Maybe I should have chosen a different username. Ha, ha.

Christine – I hope your medication review went well and you were satisfied with the outcome with enough meds in the armoury to keep pain under control etc.

I'm going to wish you all a Happy New year because the alternative of not saying anything seems worse.  Sorry you're finding things tough, Carol, but grief is like that. Hopefully, your mood will pick back up again as you get into the swing of a New Year and regular activities. You had seemed brighter for a while, but Christmas and New Year can be difficult. I'm raising a glass to everyone regardless. Take care all. xx

Hi Rose and anyone left!  Thanks for the good wishes and yes it's tough as it's the anniversary of Norman's death this month, one whole year, so much done yet a lot of it seems pointless without him, there's anew Lewis Capaldi song called Pointless and it makes me cry every time I hear it.  Also now awaiting the outcome of the complaint which is due ie 23rd January, then a decision to be made.  I've not been very well over Christmas which was very annoying as I'd been fine before.  The lipoma is pressing on a nerve so I called the consultants secretary yesterday to see how long I will be waiting, the six month list is now one year, so I asked to go private, he doesn't do private work so that takes me back to square one.  Called the surgery yesterday four times, each time I was asked to call back at another time, so I called at 4.30pm, left on hold for over thirty minutes, when she answered the phone the secretary had left, call again at 9am she tells me, I've not bothered!  Lisa is at the holiday home but we've not seen each other as we'd been together since last Thursday.  I'm. Sorry everything has got worse for you, not a good start to the year for you.  Billy is obviously struggling with everything and I'm sure he will get in touch with us when he has time.  Christine I hope you are OK as not heard from you either.  All my decorations have come down today and the roofer called about my ridge tiles and started talking about scaffolding, brilliant, more money and a fine beginning to my new year, life does not get easier for any of us.  So take care all of you.  Xx

Dear Carol, A year already ... how time has flown! Anniversaries can be so so hard...And a screaming nerve won't help.  I do hope you get through to your GP soon. Really hope you have plenty of activities to get you out of the house and that you aren't stuck in doing roofing supervision, dealing with illness, pain and grief.

I've got myself involved in a couple of research groups. While I'm not eligible for new med trials, there are other ways to be involved, I may as well help humanity as much as I can. Have been warned pictures may feature in a medical text book. Ha, ha. Going to be a busy couple of weeks.

Take care all. xx

Hi everyone, Rose that sounds very exciting, fame at last.  Billy has apparently had a bad cold but worried about him as is every one else.  Christine are you OK?  I'm struggling this month, depressed and in pain.  Rang the private hospital and as of yet no reply so I'll call again tomorrow.  Now have nodules on my back so I'm doing an e consult in the morning.  Last night was a mare!  I was awoken by a noise I didn't recognise, laid there trying to pin point it, got out of bed, 4am, opened the door and oh my god I thought the house was on fire, the noise was horrific and I couldn't think straight.  So I came downstairs and grabbed a chair to knock off the fire alarm, leant against the cloakroom door to balance me forgetting that I'd left it open because it keeps sticking as the door handle is broken, nearly fell into the cloakroom, all I did was set the fire alarm off, so now had two alarms going off.  Then I realised it was the house alarm which I never use and couldn't remember the code!  I suddenly remembered that it was the previous owners year of birth, jabbed that in and it stopped, I then had to check that no one had broken in which was scary.  I finally climbed back into  my cold bed, heart pounding and tried to get back to sleep.  The roof saga goes on, today a quote of £950 to repair rridge tiles, that's a lot I think, I've asked Norman next door what he thinks and booked two more quotes.  Life does not get easier and the rain has never ceased since I came home.  Some lunch then off to buy Ella a birthday card as she is ten on Sunday, she's having a pizza, film sleep over with five friends, good luck Faye!  Carol x

Haha the old woken up to some strange noise story. I have 2 of those. Once when i was still staying with my mum. I was awoken around 3am to some intense rumbling noise. I can only liken it to how i imagine some old Roman Colosseum chariot would sound running through your house. The ground shaking too.

Thought the house was about to explode. Was utterly terrified. Then i remembered my mum telling me, before she had gone away on holiday, that to always switch the boiler off as the thermostat had stopped working. The noise was the boiler boiling away and the steam rushing through the pipes. Switched the boiler off and had to release the steam via the taps. The water was literally boiling as it came out the taps. Lesson learned.

The second time was being awoken at 5am with the smoke alarm going off. I mean, these things simply never go off when no one is cooking etc. So I thought there must be a fire. Then it stopped, but i was too paranoid to go back to bed. Turned out it was the parrot (we have an African Grey) :laugh: as she did it again when i went through the living room. Over the years, when we had a landline we used to go rushing through for the phone only to realise it was her mimicking it. But you could never tell the difference, so you had no choice but to check if you were out the room. Which meant she did it more if she felt abandoned.