Hi and welcome to the forum which I hope you will find supportive.  My story is more that of my late husband as I joined when he was diagnosed and the support of the forum for nearly three years during his illness helped me considerably.  Since he passed away in January 2015  the virtual friends I made here continue to chat and show me kindness just by listening to me rabbit on!!

You are more than welcome to post on my thread but it may also be worth starting a thread of your own and perhaps mentioning the kind of cancer you have in the title.  This way others who may relate to your own personal journey can respond and I am sure there are many who will definitely understand the sleepless nights along with all the emotions you go through as you undergo treatment and wish you all the best with your treatment plan and hope you have family and friends who can also be there for a support network. Jules

Good morning Jules, 

Hope you enjoyed meeting your friend and also your shopping with family. Its nice to meet up with old friends and catch. 

When my grandfather was alive, I hade to go to a sawmill in Wiltshire not that far from where he lived. So I took him with me and later in the day I drove him to the very small village where he used to live.  As we drove down the street, he was telling me who used to live in each house. We turned around and drove up the other side till we came to a house which he didnt say anything about. So I asked hin who lived there and he said it was his best friend. He added he doubted if he was still alive. I saw there was someone in the garden so I persueded him to go and investigate. It was his best friend and it was so heart warming to see them meet after so many years. We spent about two hours there so he could cathch up on all the local gossip He did enjoy that trip, so much so it was all he talked about for weeks and weeks afterwards. I promised him one weekend I would take him and my mother down there for the day but before I could arrange it he died fron a heart attack. It is one big regrets in my life we naver got to make that trip

Last November I gave two talks which lasted about an hour and a half. I was asked by one of the ladies present if I would give the same talk to her group. Well it has now been confirmed for early Febuary and I am also due to give a slideshow presentation on trees in September for the group I visited in November plus the same one for our wood club at some stage. I enjoyed doing the last one and am looking forward to doing these. My sister who lives about an hour away from me runs a gardening club and If I can get a projecter I may be doing one for her club too. On another note, we had a large garden not that far from us which closed to the public several years ago. My sister has informed me it is re-opening in April and her club have booked a visit there in May. I will meet her there and go round the garden with her and her friends. I shall look forward to this. 

Looking forward to when the weather warms up so I can get back out in my man shed and do some more turning. I do miss not being able to get out there. Gives Mrs B a break from me winding her up as well ha ha. Though she will probably moan at me when I leave wood shavings in the carpets. I try telling her they are top quality hardwood shavings but it doesnt have any affect. Some people just have no appreciation for quality and I still end up with bent ears ha ha. 

Take care and sending best wishes to you and your family, Brian.

Hi Brian

Had a lovely few hours catching up with my friend.  We worked together when in our teens/early twenties and then she emigrated to New Zealand. I also got to meet her 'new' partner of 7 years!!  New memories were made as they had tickets to go up The Shard so once we had caught up over a coffee they asked me to join them.  Was able to purchase a ticket for the same time slot and what wonderful views from both the 69th and 72nd floors. Of course we were all taking photos which have now been shared on another social website.

I loved the story about your grandfather and the visit to his old home village and that chance meeting with his old best friend.Tinged with sadness that the repeat visit was unable to go ahead but if it had not been for you he would not have made the first visit either and thus never had the chance to catch up at all.

You are going to be kept busy with all those lovely talks but I bet you enjoy them as much as those who you present them too.Would be great if you could borrow a projector for you to give the slideshow at your sister's gardening club too.  I do remember you talking about that local garden which had closed and how  you had enjoyed it when it used to be open.  How nice that you will now get the opportunity to re-visit with your sister when it re-opens.Hope it lives up to expectations after all this time.

I had a good weekend with my daughter and familyand am now trying to play catch up indoors and the gym.  Having been outside to fill the bird feedersI find that two of my neighbours fence panels are broken and leaning into their garden so my son will have to keep his dog on lead when he visits until they are fixed (the neighbours are not know for doing things in a hurry!).

After a bitterly cold but sunny day yesterday it is now cold and dull today so planning on staying in front of the fire this afternoon and catching up on my mail, electronic and otherwise!

Best regards to you and Mrs B and hope your grand-daughter is now feeling much better.Jules

Hi Jules, 

I thought you were still in your early twenties for you are so young at heart. Glad you had a great time both with your friend and family. Congratulation on your good news about the baby and on the good news about the new job. Bet you got a terrific view from the Shard. 

Going back to the story about my grandfather, Before I took him to his little village, I also took him to The Hawk Conservancy. We arrived just in time for one of their flying demonstrations. This Lanner Falcon was released and flew up to the top of the field where it found a thermal and went up so high it was just a speck in the sky. They called it down with the aid of the lure and it swooped down at a heck of a speed and flew right over my grandfathers head, nearly taking his hat off.  He told me, "I've lived in the country all my life but I aint never seen anything like that". He was made up about it. When we were nearly home, I took him into a local pub as he liked an occasional drink. He kept looking round and then made the comment "Its changed a bit since I was in here last" So I asked hime how long ago that was and he replied, "Cor blimey,that was when I was in the home gaurd during the war". The barman had to walk off as he was choking back the laughter.  . He also loved Monkey Puzzle trees. Whenever I took him out, he would always mention it when he saw the first one. I didnt get on at all with my step father and my grandfather was more of a father figure to me than my step father ever was. He was quite a charachter trust me. 

This morning I have fixed up a light complete with a movement sensor for our back garden as it is so dark you cant see the steps. Very pleased with it so far but will have to wait until its completely dark to get the benifit of it and to set it up properly. I have three local library drop ins planned for the next few weeks to try and get more members for our club. There are another three local libraries I will contact once I have done these. 

Like you I have got to get my diet back on track as over the holiday I have put on more than I wanted. My chestnuts are all but finished but at least the shop up town is now stocking my frozen ones again so will be paying them a visit soon. I was talking with my siter who live about an hours drive away and she told me her club has to pay anything up to eighty pounds for people to give a talk to her gardening club so am probably going to buy one of those projectors. It just shows how much I have changed,A few years ago I would never have given a talk but now I actually enjoy doing it and am not even nervous about doing it. 

By the time you get to read this you should not have to go tp work for a few days So I will wish you and your family a plesant weekend, Brian.

Hi Brian,

As they say you are only as young as you feel and that varies day to day ha ha.  I think I have more of my late Dad's character in me.  He was disabled in WWII but always said that his life was precious because a soldier from the other side helped him stay still in the truck that took him to the field hospital. I grew up on his war tales and despite losing a limb at the age of 21 he was a very happy chappy!  Like your grandfather taught you, my Dad taught me so much and, for the most part, was always supportive of my decisions.  He was always amazing in how he supported my Mum through her bi polar meltdowns and to this day do not know how he managed that.  I think it was a case of love conquering all as they were very much a couple. My daughter was very close to her granddad too

The trip up The Shard was amazing perhaps the more so because I had no idea when I left the house that morning that I would be going there.  A couple of shots below. To think I had only grabbed my camera at the last minute as was going to rely on my phone for our get-together!!

Hope the new lighting for the steps proved a success and makes things easier to navigate.

Your series of up coming talks will certainly keep you busy.  Are you sure that MrsB is not spurring you on to give her a break from making cheese straws etc ha ha.  Seriously it is wonderful that you can put together such talks as well as present them to interested clubs.  I am sure they pick up on your own enthusiasm for the subject. Good luck with all your planned projects in 2018.

I did read my mail once my work shifts were done and dusted.  A busy couple of days but they do help give my week some structure as well as the inevitable help with the bills.  Had a nice surprise this week in that I have managed to cut my electric consumption in the past year so my direct debit has nearly halved woohoo.  Now just need to win more than a tenner on the lottery...........keep on dreaming....Jules.

Kind regards to you Mrs B and the family.Jules

Great shots from the Shard, thanks Jules - a nice little bonus for you on your day out. 

Hazel xx

Thanks Hazel, it will be a wonderful memory of a few hours spent with a friend I made in my late teens when we both worked at the same place.  She emigrated in late 80's and this was the first get together for 10years so a lot to catch up on! We were so lucky when the sun came out just half an hour before our 'ride' up.

Have a good weekend.  Jules x 

Hi Jules, 

Can just picture you and your brolly this morning auditioning for Mary Poppins ha ha. Hope you dont get too wet. 

Had to take Mrs B for a check up this morningand we were both glad to get back home. The rain is rattling on the window pains as I write this and it looks like the backgarden will soon be under water.  Bonus is I wont have to water the plants ha ha.

The light works perfectly thank you and I am very pleased with it. Have just realized we are allready halfway through the month so will have to get busy on my next newsletter.For this months wood quiz I have found it talkes 50 gallons of sap from a maple tree to make one gallon of maple syrup.We trid to book the hal where we have our Christmas sale and exhibition but the only date we could get is very late, bieng the 21 and 22 of Decmber. So we have allready booked the hall for 2019. Now thats forward planning. 

Have worked out the timber sizes I need to cut for my owl salt and pepper pots I am going to turn this year. I have just set a meeting up for our club with the organisers of our three day show at the May Bank holiday weekend.

Thanks for the photos from the Shard. Bet it was good to catch up with your friend. We have primroses out in our back garden but with all the rain they look a bit sorry for theirselves. 

Take care, sending best wishes to you and your family, Brian

Hope Mrs B's check up was all good, Brian.

Hazel xx

Hi Brian,

Took my brolly but no Mary Poppins as too windy to bother putting it up!!  Managed to dodge most of the showers by going out a little later too.  No standing water here though I do have a 15ft soakaway under my lawn (a requirement when we had a mini extension done over 30 years ago!).  Lawn could do with a mow but will probably have to wait a bit for that!!

Hope Mrs B's check up went well and you were nice a cosy indoors afterwards with a cuppa.So it's heads down for the newsletter and quiz setting and before you know it the wood club will be back after it's winter break and Spring will be under way.  Snowdrops are out in my neighbours front garden and my daffodils are in bud...........crazy. A tiny bit of colour in my back garden from the winter jasmine and even a lone anenome still in flower.  With the bare branches of the larger shrubs I am seeing a big increase in sparrows visiting but you can probably take bets that when the RSPB birdwatch weekend happens they will disappear!!

Will look forward to seeing the results of your timber labours as soon as the weather warms up enough for you to get into your man shed.

Visited Mum today and good to see she is still comfortable with her pain well under control. Sad to see a once robust lady now so delicate but think she knew I was there as there was a flicker of recognition when I went into her room.  As always I chatted about family for a while before just sitting reading whilst she dozed. Went to the gym afterwards as provides a good social outlet as well as trying to help with my fitness levels.

Take care and best wishes returned to you and the family.  Jules

Hi Jules, 

Mrs B's check up was okay thank you. 

I had my old intenet supplier phone me up again the other day so I told them I packed them up many months ago as they were absolutely useless. They wanted to know who I was with now and I replied "A reliable company who have two call centres in this country and all the staff speak Emglish I can understand". That took the wind out of them.anf they quickly hung up. 

I am now helping to organise two 3 day wood shows for our club one at the end of May and one at the end of August. Me and another committee member are meeting with the ladies who arrange the marquee for us to discuss things. It could be done over the phone but much prefer to do things like this face to face.

I have worked out how to attach the four LED lamps to my stand and wont have to buy anything to do it so thats good.

My granddaughter is very pleased as she has been told she has passed tests to go either to Cambridge or Warick Universities. So pleased for her as she has worked so hard for this over the past few years and is very dedicated. Very proud of her as well..She wants to be a writer and I wish her all the luck for this. 

Just found a new site and ordered some small glass eyes for my owls/birds as they look so much better than the plastic ones I have. 

I hope you are able to take your usual Sunday walk as I know you dont like stay indoors for too long. I dont do much walking for pleasure these days unfortunately as Mrs B cant walk that far and I do miss this. I like walking especially new places I havent been to before

What you said about your mother was just how I felt about my mother. To see her in that bed in the hospital was so painful as my mother had always been a very keen gardener. She knew all the names of the plants and had always been very active and independant. So I do understand how it makes you feel. 

Take care and I am sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian.

Hi Jules, 

Mrs B's check up was okay thank you. 

I had my old intenet supplier phone me up again the other day so I told them I packed them up many months ago as they were absolutely useless. They wanted to know who I was with now and I replied "A reliable company who have two call centres in this country and all the staff speak Emglish I can understand". That took the wind out of them.anf they quickly hung up. 

I am now helping to organise two 3 day wood shows for our club one at the end of May and one at the end of August. Me and another committee member are meeting with the ladies who arrange the marquee for us to discuss things. It could be done over the phone but much prefer to do things like this face to face.

I have worked out how to attach the four LED lamps to my stand and wont have to buy anything to do it so thats good.

My granddaughter is very pleased as she has been told she has passed tests to go either to Cambridge or Warick Universities. So pleased for her as she has worked so hard for this over the past few years and is very dedicated. Very proud of her as well..She wants to be a writer and I wish her all the luck for this. 

Just found a new site and ordered some small glass eyes for my owls/birds as they look so much better than the plastic ones I have. 

I hope you are able to take your usual Sunday walk as I know you dont like stay indoors for too long. I dont do much walking for pleasure these days unfortunately as Mrs B cant walk that far and I do miss this. I like walking especially new places I havent been to before

What you said about your mother was just how I felt about my mother. To see her in that bed in the hospital was so painful as my mother had always been a very keen gardener. She knew all the names of the plants and had always been very active and independant. So I do understand how it makes you feel. 

Take care and I am sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian.

Hi Brian,

Thanks for your kind thoughts. This forum still so supporting and helps a great deal to talk though feelings (sometimes more than others).

Absolutely prefer to be out and about but today was another rainy start.  Have been to the gym but came straight back home as it is now throwing down wet snow and no pleasure to walk in it even thoughI had my wellington boots on.  Another afternoon spent in front of the fire me thinks. Just as well I made the most of the Friday sunshine.

I am sure your event planning will go well and I do agree that it is much nicer to talk things through face to face when possible. It gives you more of a feel for what is needed and a personal contact to help too.

Iam spending some time going down memory lane just now as clearing out an old filing unit in readiness for it having to be moved when some electrical work is done in the hall, hopefully next month. The shredder is very busy and my recycling collection will definitely be larger than the usual bag this week ha ha.  Some of the things I have come across go back to the kid's school years so fun to re-read.

Wonderful news for your grand-daughter and hope she gets the place she prefers.  Exciting times for the family.

Kind regards to you and the family. Jules

Hi Jules,

Had a phone call from my son telling me one of our localgarden centres was selling off some mini led lights for £1. (Reduced from £8.99) So I took Mrs B after lunch and have bought two sets of 36 battery powered chasing lights, (red and green) and two sets of 18 lights in white and am very pleased. I will find a way to fit them permanatly on my stand. Might just buy a few more next week as I pay more for the battery holders which take 3 No 1.5 volt AA batteries with switches. 

It has been raining here all day but at least we dont have the snow like you've had. You were brave to go out in that weather. 

Take care Kind thoughts being sent to you and your family, Brian.

Many congrats to your granddaughter, Brian - I'm sure she'll make it as a writer if she is anything like you!

Glad to hear that Mrs B's check up was okay, too. 

Full steam ahead now for all your new woodwork projects - once it's warm enough to get out to your workshop!  Look forward to seeing the results of your efforts in due course Brian.

Hazel xx

Hi Brian

Sounds as though our garden centres are doing much the same offers as the  Chrismas area in our local store has had everything reduced but not quite as low as £1 - a great bargain and I bet you and Mrs B both enjoyed your visit.  I will be re-visiting soon to top up on bird seed.

Luckily the snow was short lived as it turned back to rain later and has been pretty wet since.  The crocuses in my front garden are now in a pretty sorry state but the daffs are standing tall and in good bud. Hopefully a sign of Spring.  My neighbour has a lovely display of snowdrops (always does better than me with these but then I had problems with a pesky squirrel who seems to take a liking to my little bulbs!!

Pleased to say that at last I am managing to read some more and yesterday picked up three books for £6 at work as our clearance continues.  As I never used to read at night I tried this as a way to 'concentrate' and it has helped. Currently on a new title by David Baldacci.  I also now take a book with me when visiting Mum as with no conversation from her it makes the time spent there a little more comfortable I tried asking her if she would like me to read to her but she shook her head.There appears to be only one carer that she will have the odd word with now.  Having said that she was sitting up in bed eating her porridge when I went on Tuesday so that was nice to see.

Looks like dry and cooler for my commute today but once work out of the way have an evening out with a couple of friends for a 'catch up curry' to look forward to.

Hope you and Mrs B have a relaxing day.  I must finish my 'healthy breakfast'  as am trying to be 'good' and get fit for my Spring break.  Had my assessment at the gym on Tuesday so am re-focussed with new exercises set up for the next ten weeks or so (subject to three weekly reviews).  No need to go mad but would like to shift a few pounds that I put on in the build up to Christmas. It's like the 'neverending story' ha ha. Take care. Jules 

Good morning Jules,

Weve had so much rain our back garden is vitually water logged. Like you we have some daffs in a pot which are in tight bud and some primroses which have been flowering most of the winter. There is something eating the flowers and I cant find out what is doing it. I do know we have a little mouse we see occasionaly out there and wonder if its him or her. 

Mrs B was surprised on Wednesday when she had a small package turn up. It was a Roy Orbison C.D. she had been looking for for some while and I had found it on a well known sitebut didnt tell her as I wanted it to be a surprise for her. After all she does have to put up with me and my aggravations. As I write this she has started playing it while she is doing the ironing

I did spend a few hours out in the garage the other day and altered my stand so I can quickly clip on my four spotlights. Others in our club have to clamp a bit of timber on their stand to fix their lights on but I cant be hasseled with this. Its supposed to be warmer on Sunday so will probably try and fix those small lights icluding the battery packs permanantly on my stand. I do need to spend a day out there tidying the workshop up again as it has got in a bit of a mess. 

I have managed to lose about three pounds I put on over Christmas but still have a few more to lose to gat back to where I was. I want to get it even lower this time as I did feel better for losing those extra pounds. It will help when I can get back in the workshop again once it has got a little warmer for I wont be sitting about so much. 

Glad your mother is still eating okay even if she isnt very talkative. Hope you enjoyed your meal last night with your friend too. Pleased you have started reading again for I know how much you enjoyed this pastime. I have a couple of books by the author you metioned and good ones they are. I have two stories I am writing at the moment but have come to a bit of a standstill on both for the moment as have had other things to do.

Bet you are pleased work is over for a few days and have the weekend to look forward too. I have had hints about picking up the new Argos book tommorow from Mrs B so  will probably pick up some of my frozen chestnuts at the same time ha ha. 

I wish you a pleasant weekend and am sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian. 

Hi Brian,

Well the drizzle has set in here but I managed to get to the garden centre in the dry this morning so 2 mile walk achieved; I cheated and caught the bus half way back though!  Just stocked up on bird food there and grabbed a coffee in the little cafe (managed to stay away from all the other goodies this time round ha ha).

I am pleased that MrsB was delighted with her surprise CD. My parents used to like Roy Orbison (back in the day of vinyl).  I think the last CD I bought was a hit from the musicals and these days just tend to have the radio on rather than the CD player which sits on one of my shelves.  Every so often I do load it up (it takes 5 cds)  whilst doing the housework.

Am planning to take part in the RSPB Birdwatch count this weekend but no other plans at the moment. Will see what tomorrow's weather brings as it is supposed to be the better day.

Sounds as though you are doing well with your 'lights' set up and bet you enjoyed being able to get into your garage.  It's one of those things that as fast as you clear up one lot of mess made, then you are working to create more ha ha but you always have such lovely goodies to show for it and I am sure Mrs B knows you far too well to worry about it!

Like you I am hoping to shed a few more unwanted pounds in the coming weeks............it would be great if you could buy willpower off the shelves as easily as you can get everything else.  Still my mindset is a little healthier just now so hoping for the best and once the weather improves hope my legs will carry me for a few more miles (hip still giving me a few problems but nothing a couple of painkillers cannot control from time to time).

I am sure if you get the chance you will be picking up that catalogue for Mrs B and she can spend a few hours here and there planning her spending!!  I no longer bother with the paper format as have got into the habit of 'googling' when I am planning a purchase.  I hope soon to be having more work done indoors which may well lead to a shopping trip or two.

Hope you have and peaceful weekend and enjoy those chestnuts if you manage to find the frozen ones. Regards to you both and the family. Take care. Jules

Hi Jules, 

Just a quick post. 

I did manage to pick up my frozen chestnuts. In fact I boufht two packs and tried to tell Mrs B it was a buy one get one free deal but she saw throught it She know me too well h ha

Take care, Brian.

You haven't got the hang of this, Brian.  You should be going for the "Buy TWO get one free"! or "They only sold them in packs of four; its a special offer".

Well Brian, Mrs B knows you very well and you cannot pull the wool over her eyes ha ha. So you have squirrelled away your new supply of chestnuts but doubt they will be in frozen hibernation for long.  Enjoy!

My special offer today was two for the price of one on mealworms but I wont be adding these to my diet:D

Have a good day.  Jules

Hi Jules.

I buy lots of mealworms for my mates up the drive and mix them with peanuts the robins love them as do the tree rats and crows I have fed wild birds up the drive for many years cannot feed anything in my garden her next door has three cats..regards to you all lol, George