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

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 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. 

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

Hi George

Feeding our wild friends is a lovely pasttime and as I do not have a pet find it very relaxing to watch the birds and the odd squirrel in my own garden.  Here are a couple I managed to 'snap' in the past few days.

Hope you and the family and doing ok my friend.  Jules

Hi George, hope all is well with you and yours, not forgetting Ria!  

Take care, Hazel xx

Nice pics Jules, especially the cheeky squirrel with the little button nose!

Thanks, Hazel xx

Hi Jules,

Hope your visit to your mother went okay today this morning. Plus hope  your visit toyour gymn wasnt to strenouse.I am waiting for someone to come and put a new handle on our toilet cistern as the old one broke in Mrs B's hand. I have also had someone look at my garage roof as it has been leaking rather badly again. I have bought Mrs B a third Roy Orbison C D  and its a tree C D  set. We dont know hardly any of the songs  but it didnt cost much. I will let you know what Mrs B thinks of when she has played them. 

At least its dry here at the moment. Thanks for sharing the great photos.

I am visiting our local gardens tommorow moring to finalize the arrangements for our to carft fairs.The first one is not until the May Bank Holiay but want to sort things out as the timesoon flies by these days. I did enjoy my chestnuts the other night. Little bit of oil in the tray and roasted them 

Have had the glass eyes I ordered from China arrive so will use them on my Owl salt and Pepper pots Am looking forward to getting out in my workshop once again as soon as it gets a bit warmer.

Sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian.

Hi Brian

Hope the loo handle gets fixed quick.  I currently have a push button variety and it can be a nuisance when it gets stuck.  Luckily my son showed me how to remedy it so did not have to resort to a 'bucket to flush' the last time.  Mrs B does not know her own strength ha ha.  She is going to be in her element with all the new music you are finding for her.  Hope also that your garage leak can be sorted once and for all as you will soon have to work under a brolly if not.  Most annoying for you I'm sure.

Thanks for asking about Mum.  Not a good visit and very difficult for all concerned bless her. Still she was aware that I was there towards the end of my stay and I a so grateful to the staff as always so gentle with her needs.

Visited the gym afterwards and always a good stress reliever.  It is only a 30min circuit and the machines adjustable to personal requirements so always manageable.  Good news too in that I managed just over a 1lb loss this week so heading the in the right direction (again)!!

Beautiful sunny but frosty start today and a sign of Spring in the garden so really enjoyed my 2 mile walk to visit Mum.

Hope you have a peaceful day.  Jules