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

Hi Brian,

Brilliant news that Mrs B is homeward bound and know she will really appreciate all your efforts and no doubt there will be a few chuckles at your 'new skills'. L plates indeed;I think a set of P plates are the order of the day (cost the same ha ha)  or maybe she can set you some homework to test your know how.  Fingers crossed that her diabetes will be stablised now but I know you will have your eagle eyes on her.

  Seriously it is never easy having to jump in at the deep end and I certainly have not learnt new DIY skills since hubby died  but come to rely on the 'tradesmen' and their skills! However my duster is being kept very busy whilst the refurbishment carries on.  Day off today as the tiles 'bond' but full steam ahead again tomorrow.

When the tiler arrived yesterday(booked by my plumber) it was a nice surprise to find I knew him.  He was in the same class as my daughter throughout her school years.........small world...............and he still recognised me!!

Hope you both have a more relaxed evening. Take good care.Jules

Oh, that's lovely news, Brian.  I hope you did actually put those L-plates on, it would have given her a good laugh when she got home, the best tonic.  Better hide the whites that have gone coloured and the scorched ironing though ;-) 

Seriously, hope she feels much better now, you will have to spoil her for a few days, though I'm sure you will anyway without my advice! 

Take care both. 

Hazel xx

Hi Brian.been following your post,s and glad the boss lady is home and she gets right ,Still having trouble with my pc but getting to old for it may get out the old one.regards to you both george

Good morning folks,

Thanks Jules, Hazel and George for your kind words. 

Its so nice to have Mrs B back home again but trying to slowher down is like trying to slow down a couple of full grown Shire hores in full trott  Its he main housework day today so as well as getting some more shopping for her and also getting another precription for her, I have been helping as much as I can. How she keeps going I dont know!!!!!!! I feel tired just watching her. 

I take my driving test of the washing machine next week (had a pre test today which I passed with flowing colours) under Mrs B's eagle eyesha ha.

She has got to go back to the hospital next Monday for a check up but its right on her dinnertime.

Take care everyone and thanks again, Brian.. 

Bless her, typical woman!  Good thing she has you, Brian, she's a lucky girl on that score.  Make sure you take care of yourself as well, though!  

Hugs to both, Hazel xx

Hi Brian

Glad Mrs B is feeling more like herself but hope she does not overdo it too quickly as she would not want to be back in hospital again.  Fingers crossed with you sharing the chores (when allowed) all will be well when she has her check up next week and with your practise runs with the washing machine it is all sounding good ha ha.  I wish I could show you the video my son sent of 21mth old Darcey emptying the washing machine and then filling the tumble dryer ..............she loves to help!!!

I have been out most of today as the toilet has been out of commision whilst the tiling gets done.  They will re-connect overnight and then it's out again tomorrow whilst they do the flooring tiles/grouting.  I am meeting a friend in town tomorrow so will have use of public loos ha ha. Finally when the tiling is finished then the new amenities will be connected so has not  been too bad at all.

This morning I went to the garden centre and had a coffee stop plus stocked up on   suet pellets whilst reduced as well as a pack of fat balls so should be okay now until the next 20% off weekend.  Feeders have had their weekly wash and brush up and now refilled in case the promised cold weekend takes hold.  So far it has just been a heavy showers kind of afternoon,  I also bought  some Summer tubers to go in a hanging basket but will not plant up just yet.

Take care of yourself  as well as Mrs B as all that 'woman's work' can be tiring!!  (probably not a fashiionable choice of words ha ha).

Best regards to you all. Jules

Good morning Jules.  

It has been snowing here since about 9.00 am but is not laying. Wind is very cold though

Hope work is soon finished so you can enjoy the new bathroom.Hope you also enjoy you day out with your friend. 

Mrs B is someone who likes sticking to a routine so is pleased to be able to get back to near normal. The bottoms of my shoes nearly caught fire trying to hald her back yesterday despite me offering to help. I suppose, no one does it as well as you can yourself at the end of the day. Its so nice to have her back home. I have had several of my wood club friends phone/e-mail to see how she is which was nic of them. 

I have also started yet another story and have written eight pages so far. Its about a retired bomb disposal man who gets called in to deal with an unexploded bomb found in the small local harbour after a bad storm and he meets with a woman who runs a local resturant and is set in the west country. Am enjoying writting it.

Snow is falling a lot harder now and is starting to lay. 

Take care of your self and I wish you a relaxing Sunday, Brian

Hi Brian

Not too much snow here and now starting to thaw a bit.  Have been in the garden and sorted the birds out and had a good view of next door's huge pond (wind ripped out an already loose fence panel) and their duck visitors.

Just waiting for the Tiler to check the bathroom flooring and pick up his gear then off out for my walk to the Famrs/Artisan's Market.  Maybe a hot bowl of soup awaits ha ha!!

Glad MrsB now okay and if  you do live to a routine (my Mum always did which is probably why I dont!!) then it is hard when disrupted no matter how well others do with helping out.

Stay safe and warm and would appear to be the ideal reason to continue writing your new story. When will we see your words in print somewhere?   You have so much patience and obviously enjoy your storytelling so would be lovely for others to see the end results.

Hope you both have a peaceful Sunday and that the family are all ok. Jules

Good morning Jules,

Your mention of the bird feeders reminded me of what happened this morning Mrs B had put more water out for the birds as the other lot was frozen solid. A starling landed on Mrs B's bird table and went for a drink He gulped a beakful down and suddenly shook his head vigorously as much as to say, "Flipping heck,,,,,,,,,, That water was cold" then flew oiff as if he didnt want anymore of that. I couldnt help but laugh at its reaction. 

Have got to take Mrs B back to the hospital on Monday for a check up. She has now got her diabetes under control again thank goodness. She is still feeling a bit weak and tired I told her it has taken a lot out of her and she needs a few days to recover.

Take care on your walk out today and enjoy your soup. Sending best wishes to you and your family, Brian.

Good morning Jules,

Your mention of the bird feeders reminded me of what happened this morning Mrs B had put more water out for the birds as the other lot was frozen solid. A starling landed on Mrs B's bird table and went for a drink He gulped a beakful down and suddenly shook his head vigorously as much as to say, "Flipping heck,,,,,,,,,, That water was cold" then flew oiff as if he didnt want anymore of that. I couldnt help but laugh at its reaction. 

Have got to take Mrs B back to the hospital on Monday for a check up. She has now got her diabetes under control again thank goodness. She is still feeling a bit weak and tired I told her it has taken a lot out of her and she needs a few days to recover.

Take care on your walk out today and enjoy your soup. Sending best wishes to you and your family, Brian.

Hi All, very cold in cheshre but a fantastic sky had 3 good walks with RIA and fed about 150 gulls must be bad on the coast  our local fields are full of gulls .Aldi shopping tues need some bird feed and perhaps a bottle of highland earl .Regards for now keep warm ,george .

Hi Brian

I do hope that Mrs B's check up yesterday went well though bet you were both glad to be back in the warm afterwards.  It was quite a chilly day here but remained dry so after going to the gym I was able to go on  my walk to the Farmers' market and came home with some lovely freshly baked artisan bread and local cheese.....needless to say not  exactly a healthy eating day ha ha.  I know the weight will be up a little when I have my assessment later today but in this colder weather it is a lot harder to 'be good'!!

Just waiting for the workforce to arrive and then will go down and visit Mum.  Thankfully the  tiling in the bathroom is now complete (he worked all weekend) so the plumbers are back today to continue.  Who knows by the end of this week some normality may well have returned.  Both the plumber and the tiler went to school with my daughter  so have had a few trips down memory lane as well as catching up with their growing family news over the past  15 yrs or so.Made me feel my age I can tell you.

Best regards to you both.  Jules 

Hi George

Yes pretty chilly over the last few days in Middlesex too and still have a tiny amount of snow lying in the garden but with temperatures on the rise agan no doubt that will go today.  We get a few gulls round here but they do not drop into my garden (yet!!).   With a 'lido' just a couple of miles away they make that home, more so in the winter months.

It is wonderful that  you and little rascal Ria are enjoying your walks and the wildlife.  I am visiting Mum this morning and  having coffee with a friend after lunch which will keep me out of the way of the workmen before doing my two day work shifts Wed/Thurs. 

Enjoy your tipple after the Aldi trip. It will warm the 'cockles of your heart' my forum friend.  Jules

Hi Jules,Busy time comming, up at our local hospital tues have had a problem in the bowel for weeks it as taken 6 weeks to get a app but it looks like the right man ,and whyenshawe is the best place for me I have had 5 operations in there over 20 years .Not going to be a  nice time for anne she is more worried than I am .Sons Mrs is taking me and will stay with me all the time .As for today had two great warks with RIA and dinner with our eldest Beverley .Regards for now .george .

Hi George

Hope Tuesday's hospital trip goes well for you.  The waiting period gives Ann more time to build her concern though I am sure she is used to you taking it in your stride bless you both.  Hope Beverly is keeping okay too.Do let us all know how you get on if you get a moment between your strolls with ever faithful RIA. Enjoy your weekend.  Jules

Hi George, 

Just a quick post to wish you well for tommorrows hospital op. Hope you are soon back home with your wife and Ria, Brian

Hi Jules, 

Hope you enjoyed your weekend and that your renovations are soon finnished. Something to look forward to.

Have had a busy day. First thing took Mrs B to sugery for another blood test. Then fired up my older back-up laptop and found there was a queue of updates waiting Have been working on this on and off all day and still only the first one going through. Have mowed the front and back lawns. the front was easy but the back one was so wet it made it very hard work. Have also boiled a load more chips ready for freezing. I spray then with oil then put them in a big freezer bag. They cook very nicely in the air fryer. Have also done my frozen chestnut in there and they were the best I have had yet. Also this evening will start work on a 40 page A4 folder as I am putting a load of wood club photos in there so we can take this to our shows to show people the variety of work that our members undertake. Plus did the hoovering for Mrs B.

We do have a nice display of primroses in our back garden curtesy of our local birds. Plus our new fortsythia is coming into bloom. The lilac in the front garden is alsoin bud now and the leaves on the cherry tree are also just opening up. Spring must be nearly here. 

Hope your visit to your mother goes well tommorrow. Also your visit to the gym.

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

Hi All .The day went well lots of poory people there ,the staff were just fantastic as always he gave me a good going over and said the lumps were not anything to worry about but right in the bowel he wants a Computed tomography done soon as possible.So will just have to wait and get nurse Ria to look after DAD.. He did say there was a small lump like a hernia on my belly ?.But time will tell he wants me to my GP over  some pain in my neck .,regards to all keep fit and warm  george .

Hi Brian,

You have been a vey busy boy the last few days. I too managed several hours in the garden over the weekend and lawn is mowed/edged and borders weeded. I also moved one of my bird's feeding stations.  The daffs are still coming through and the front garden has a good show of the miniature vesions in bloom though with the workman's rubbish piling up around them!  Today or tomorrow should see this collected and it will look a lot better then.

Bathroom just awaiting a couple of bits (shower dial replacement being picked up  today) and cupboard doors and then  they will be back to finish off.

My daughter and grandsons were down for a few hours yesterday as they already broken up for Easter.  They were going to their old school at the end of day to see old friends and apparently there were lots of hugs going around.  I will see them all again Easter Monday all  being well when the all the family meet up for a pub lucnch followed by a walk.

Mum once again slept through my visit but there appears to be little change and she is comfortable and still having her meals. I continue to enjoy the gym and will be back there on Friday once my two work days are done and dusted.

Wishing you, Mrs B and the family a peaceful and pleasant week. Jules

Hi George

Pleased to hear you were well looked after during your hospital visit and hopefully you will have not too long to wait for the appointment for the computed tomography and fingers crossed your GP can help with your neck pain.  I am sure Ann was pleased to have you back home and the lovely RIA too.  Take care and keep enjoying your strolls.  Jules