Hi

i had a similar visit 5 days ago, except I've never been through this before, I'm still waiting on CT as my lymph nodes were also affected 

I don't know how I'm meant to feel, I just feel like I need all the results now and the wait is excruciating 

I have a 3 week wait for CT due to coronavirus although I am on an emergency cancellation list

i would welcome any advice at all on how best to deal with this, I'm 43 and have 3 young children 

xxx

Hi AMil,

I am sorry to hear you are joining the club no one wants to join!! I think my advice would be to always try and remain positive. Medicine has moved on so much that breast cancer has a really high survival rate - in the 90%'s. Talk to people - friends/family or even us. I found that people who had been through/were going through BC had a better understanding of what I was going through but my friends and family were still amazing. Try and keep busy, between appointments. Waiting for scans/results is definitely one of the hardest parts!!! 
Remember, this is just a 'blip' The 3 of us all had very different journeys but we were there to talk about it and share worries and advice. Happy to do the same for you.

Caroline

Hi Caroline, 

Thank you for caring, but I don't believe the odd day of eating rubbish will kill me.  I am usually a very healthy eater but my stocks were low because I didn't order online groceries as I planned to shop personally today. I did, too! So now my fridge is full, my cupboard is stocked up and the poor little freezer is groaning it's so full.   I'll still cook too much, never got out of the habit of cooking for four. Chicken and vegetable stir fry tonight (and tomorrow and tomorrow etc) 

I am sure your niece will thrive now she's in your care.  She's a lucky girl to have an aunt who cares.  I'm sorry to hear about your sister. I can only imagine how you felt when you also got breast cancer! 

I had the Oxford vaccine, which I was quite happy with, despite the rumours about it not working on over 65's.  I watched the programme on TV about the making of it and was impressed. There had been reports of three hour queues at my vaccination centre so I was a bit worried about standing around in the cold, so I wore lots of  layers and my warmest coat and then the flipping queues were minimal. The whole process was very well organised, and there seemed to be more volunteers than recipients.  I had divested myself of coat and top fleece even before I reached the bay for my jab as I was roasting! On the way out I wasn't alone in struggling to get into my big coat before going back out in the cold. Then, joy of joys I went to the supermarket and stocked up on all the things I forget when ordering food online!

I will get my mojo back as soon as it's warm enough to do things out of doors again and the news becomes less boring.  I stopped enjoying snow the first year we came back to live in UK from Saudi Arabia and got snowed in for a week.  There have been some days when even Archie hasn't wanted to go out, and others when it wasn't safe to do so. I believe it is forecast again later in the week .  :(  

In the meantime I shall continue to watch rubbish telly and fall asleep while trying to read a book!

It could be worse! As the lamented and amazing Captain Sir Tom said " Tomorrow will be a good day,!"

Enjoy getting to know what 18 year old girls do, these days, I wonder,  have the boys changed in any way since being at such close quarters with a young female. I had an Ex, once, whose taste in women was totally influenced by his slightly older girl cousin, who stayed with his family for a summer when he was obviously at an impressionable age!  Of course I didn't find this out until I met said cousin many years later and saw she could have been my twin! He was already an Ex by then!

Dont work too hard, 

Love

Christine xxx

Hi Christine,

I glad to hear your fridge and freezer are full. I'm one to talk as if I lived on my own I would just live on tinned soup and toast!!!

The boys have been really good accepting my niece. She's not a typical 18 yr old girl. She is a very big girl, who is gay and dresses in boys clothes most of the time. She did have lovely long hair for years but shaved it all off a few years ago and often gets mistaken for a boy.

Good to hear you've had your vaccine. My mum and dad have now both had theirs too, which is a relief. Hopefully I well get to see them this year. They have very high expectations of this year getting back to normal and have booked a cruise for July! I did ask if they are covered in case it doesn't happen. They said they needed something to look forward to, which I can appreciate.

Weve only had a little snow down here, which is a downside of living in the south as I love it. Just lots of rain, which makes for wet and muddy dog walks.

Take care. Sending hugs.

Caroline xx
 

Oh dear,  That poor girl!  I'm so glad she has you to help her through this awful time. Being 18 is bad enough for our emotional health, everything is so extreme with the old hormones running riot, without having extra problems associated with her sad childhood. Bless her, I hope she blossoms under your loving care and finds a lovely girlfriend to boost her confidence.

Christine. xxx

Hi ladies
Hope we're all doing well, I am now but was absolutely pants last week after my covid shot..odd as I had side effects mild on cancer treatment but I'm so glad have obviously never had covid as what I had was quite unwelcome! All the parents have now had first jab which is good.

I have to say Caroline your niece sounds like a young version of my sister, she's somewhere in the LTBQ arena (not 100% sure myself to be honest!) and is a big girl.  She was so small and scrawny growing up (meaning I could always beat her in a fight) and then mid teens suddenly grew upwards and outwards- I'm 5'6 on a good day and she's over 6 feet, she's also quite wide leading the lovely blunt Taiwanese to regularly ask her 'why are you so fat?"!! She also had ridiculously long hair (down past her bum) and once managed to smuggle builders nails on board a plane as they were holding up her bun (thankfully she decided against taking over the aircraft!). She's very happy over there though and I hope your niece also finds her place in the world, she's lucky to have your family to support her when needed and hope its bringing a bit of change and joy to your life too.

Christine - I hope you've been managing to get out ok a bit more now the weather has improved.  My mother down south had her shot Monday and has promised to actually leave the house and go for walks - she hadn't left the house apart from to put bins out for months!  And she had a new hip not so long ago and they don't benefit from doing nothing.  I hope your vaccination was an 'occassion', I did consider really dressing up for it but then couldn't be bothered as it was raining so much!  Wellies & dress not the look I was aiming for.

I hope you're both enjoying seeing the lovely spring bulbs coming up, think I spied a dwarf iris in the front garden (they're my favourite) and will be out later post shower to examine further, daffs next I reckon.

Did you have pancakes last week?  I love them but its just too much faff for one so had gnocchi instead (sort of smaller, potato pancakes mmm?).  My family sent round their pictures just to rub it in my face, well apart from the Taiwan contingent who are still celebrating New Year (seems to go on for months - that's what you get for no Christmas I guess!) - and are sooo physically lose to one another, lucky them.

Feeling so much better overall and ready for the start of proper abdominal exercises soon - the return of the 6 pack! Yeah right....aim for a 1 pack maybe!  And happy to report have not fallen off the new bike yet.
Hope you're both happy with what Boris had to say, I am as it fits in with my plans! normal service at my gym is priority to give the poor woods near me a much needed rest (the paths are too well trodden and muddy).  Did I mention am doing a McMillan Mighty Hike early July in Yorkshire dales with 5 other idiots (team 'Impressive T1ts' - not that the others in the team had any choice in the name!!), I need some hills in my life for practice - its very flat where I am.   After the hike am dog-sitting near Halifax for the northern mother so seeing lots of pals up there and as the walk is near my father's will be seeing him too (he finds out of immunotherapy is an option this week to prolong his time). Getting quite tired of the same scenery here...done all the walks/bike rides in the locality and am looking forward to going further afield (maybe the next but one county!!)
My challenge for this week is to track down a brand of letrozole that I haven't tried yet as the current brand has now stopped being produced (great!) so hopefully will be able to find another that only has mild side effects - the first 2 I tried were less than ideal.
Right better get on and get ready to do some work!
XX

 

Hi Sam, (and Caroline)

I am really glad to hear from you - it seems a while and I was beginning to wonder if you were ok, as you have had a lot going on.  I smiled when I read about your reaction to the Covid jab, as when I wrote about having my jab, it was only a few hours after I'd had it and I felt fine, didn't feel the needle, not a mark on my arm,  certainly no pain in my arm. That was mid afternoon, when I wrote that. At 8.30 that evening, exactly ten hours to the minute from getting the jab I started reacting. It was hell for the next 18 hours, then as fast as it came, it stopped. I felt like I'd done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson and my temp spiked at 102, accompanied by uncontrollable shivering, pounding headache and aches in every muscle. Does that sound familiar? Thank goodness it only lasted 18 hours for me. My next door neighbour had her jab in the late afternoon so she didn't start feeling ill until the next day and she felt bad for two whole days. It's good that our immune systems were ready for the fight, but I'm not looking forward to the second dose.

I'm still having to fight my daughter if I want to go out shopping. I needed milk, she gave me three litres so I stayed home. When that was gone I said I needed to go out and she argued with me for half an hour, threatening to text her brother. For some reason she thinks I take more notice of him. I won, in the end, but had to promise to go only to one store for essentials. I was telling my son today and he said she did text him but he didn't know what he could do from 200 miles away so he ignored it. Then he started asking why I couldn't just get everything delivered, as I said I needed to go and get some things personally.  When he pushed it I played my ace card and embarrassed him by saying there are some intimate things I was not going to talk to him about. Perfect!  He soon backed off! Victory for me! Unfortunately I can't get away with that with my daughter!

It is lovely to see the signs of Spring. We had one day last week that was so pleasant that I actually went into the front garden to clear away some of the winter debris that I should have cleared before the winter set in. It was lovely to find new growth peeping up from under the dead stems and leaves of my summer perennials. I cleared all the beds in the back garden months ago and planted a big bag of daffodils in troughs and pots. I found some polystyrene sheets that I wrapped round the largest trough to keep them warm and they are now twice as tall as the others. If I can remember, I'll get some fleece for all of them next year as I feel guilty that the others got so cold that their growth has been stunted! 

I did make pancakes last week! It's easy Peasy. I just whisked an egg with some melted butter, a slurp of milk and a couple of spoonful of flour. I got four quite large pancakes out of that, just added sugar and lemon and that was tea!  They were good, too.  I know the cookbooks say you should rest the batter for hours etc but there's no need. 

I laughed at your description of those tiny Taiwanese fat shaming your sister. I had a similar experience in Singapore, I was shopping for clothes and saw something I liked and asked if there was one in my size. The midget assistant looked me up and down and said 'No largee largee!" I was young and slim then, too. 5ft 7in and size 12!  

I also thought Boris seems to have finally got it right this time. I feel the five week intervals between steps to freedom is wise. My daughter is desperate for the swimming pool on her street to open again. She had really got into her early morning swims and she was doing so well, health wise. Since the latest lockdown she seems to be developing more symptoms of her ME and she has been quite poorly. She got the ME after getting glandular fever about eight years ago, so I imagine that those people suffering from long Covid must be suffering similar symptoms. It was just called post viral fatigue when she first started with it then when it went on and on she was tested for everything under the sun until they came up with ME!  
I'm glad to hear you haven't broken your bike, and I'm most impressed by your mighty hike plans. There's no shortage of hills round here, you would be able to practice to your heart's content. Archie turns his nose up at them if he thinks they are too steep for his little legs. 
What side effects are you getting from the Letrozole? I just get what the pharmacy sends, I noticed the last lot were a different make from previously but they didn't seem to cause more or less side effects. After all the fuss I made in the beginning, I'm ashamed to say that they don't bother me much. I get hot flushes a few times a day but they don't last long and if they are causing more aches and pains I don't notice because I have succumbed to a regime of taking pain killers for my knee. 

I'm surprised that I have written so much as I feel I have nothing to say with lockdown, no news, no gossip, just boredom. I must start painting again. I haven't done any since Christmas and I've just received my Christmas present from my sister in California- wishing me a happy birthday (New Year's Eve) if the parcel didn't get here for Christmas!  I thought it had been lost in the post but no,  it was posted on February 18th by her son, who found it in his garage after his parents had finally gone to their retirement home in Belize! 

I hope all is well at yours, Caroline and you are not working too hard. 

Stay safe, 

Lots of love 

Christine xxx
 

Hello ladies

Just checking in that all is rosy on this lovely(ish) (now) spring day. Today I will be bringing a very unruly Passion flower plant that attacks people as they walk past my front garden under pruning control as well as the rose bush that makes me feel like sleeping beauty as it stops everyone getting down the path to my house unscathed, yep its a gardening day.  Sounds like you've done all your spring garden chores early doors Christine, I'm always a little late to the party (and thank the lack of garden waste bin emptying around me!).

My training for the MacMillan hike is going well, my dodgy toenail has not yet fallen off and my legs are still working so all good in that respect, and seem to have successfully changed letrozole manufacturers to one that also suits generally so not moving like a 90+ yr old on a morning though the hot flushes are even more impressive since the change...yay!  Am thinking that maybe it wasn't the 'fault' of the first two manufacturers I tried, it could have just been a settling in period?

On for my 2nd covid shot at end of April which means I'll be able to run amok mid-May, beware Surrey...the boyfriend had his without incident which was amazing given he's needle phobic and the biggest hypochondriac ever.

On for seeing the Southampton mother for Easter weekend, in the garden, don't think I've seen her since September...I wish she was more like Christine and was eager to get out & about, she's not left her house/garden for months...she believes that its like rush hour Oxford Street in the small, New Forest, village she lives in!

I've also completed a jigsaw, so addictive!  It was a really challenging one ...Van Gogh's starry night, and I didn't cheat either! The main challenge that the more annoying of the cats wanted to help (amazingly she didn't eat any of the pieces).

So got my hair booked for the Saturday after opening, looking like a cross between Boris J and Vera is not a good look on me, I watch that 10 years younger programme and can now see from personal experience how ageing an 'interesting' hairstyle can age one.

Any painting yet Christine? I'm thinking about phase 2 of painting the kitchen (did the units, walls need doing now)...it will be a long term project, just for a change..

Caroline - hope your niece is settling in well and the keep fit in the gym/utility room is going well, I'm just impressed I haven't fallen off the new bike yet (it will happen, hopefully in some nice comfy mud).

Hope you're both out in some fresh air this weekend XX

Hey ladies, 

lovely to hear how well you are both doing. All going ok here. Niece has settled ok. Now on antidepressants which seem to be working but we still have up and down days. I've also got her a volunteer job 3 days a week in a local primary school. Hopefully it will give her a purpose, get her out meeting people and means she isn't home alone all week while we are all at work. It's been hard work and I find it exhausting. 
Healthwise - been absolutely fine. Didn't really think about cancer at all until the last week or so. Had a couple of patients at work who had breast cancer that had come back after many years and then I noticed a pain in my ribs and started fretting about it as couldn't think of anything I'd done to make my ribs hurt.  Brain went into overdrive. Called the breast nurse on Thursday and she called me back yesterday. I told her it was probably nothing and just me worrying over nothing - I was probably making them sore as I keep poking them to see if they are sore!! Anyway she has booked me an appointment to see the breast cancer nurse specialist on the 1st April. I am thinking that I may cancel if my sore ribs have improved as I will feel like a fraud!! I've probably pulled something with my utility room exercise classes!! I thought I'd parked this so feel annoyed with myself for worrying over something that is more than likely nothing.

But other than that, everything is ticking along. Work is changing as the Covid cases drop. I have my second jab on the 31st March. Puppy is now nearly 8 months old and just had a 'welfare' haircut due to it being so long it was affecting his sight but he wouldn't allow us to do it. Looks like a different dog! We've been doing some dog training over Zoom and he's proved he's a quick learner when treats are involved! I have got my hair appointment booked in for the 13th. Having short hair that needs cutting every 5 weeks hasn't proved a positive during lockdown!! I look like a shaggy sheep!!! 
I have also decided to grow some plants!! I bought some packets of seeds and am attempting to grow them. I'm really not green fingered so will see how it goes!!

Anyway, hope you are both doing well and hopefully life will improve as the time moves on!!

Caroline xx

Hi Girls!

Something spooky just happened. I'm writing this on my old iPad that I sometimes used until it died. Just for curiosity I charged it up, today, and blow me! It is working. Even spookier it opened on this site!  The reason this is spooky is that I had just told my daughter that I was going to catch up with you both as it had been a while. Anyway, I have enjoyed rereading all our messages since Christmas and remembered there have been happenings in your lives recently.  Caroline, did you see the breast cancer nurse and get your fears discounted? Sam have you had the next step in your plastic surgery?

i decided to call the doctor a couple of weeks ago because I was feeling so blah!  Not feeling ill but so tired and lethargic, not eating properly and forgetting things.  I asked for blood tests in case I had stressed my liver by taking more medication than I ever had in my whole life. I had the blood taken  last Thursday and on Friday morning a practice nurse rang to say they had arranged for a delivery of folic acid from the pharmacy. No explanation of why so I looked it up and the list of symptoms of a deficiency was identical to the list of symptoms I had written down to tell the doctor but forgot to read it to her, right down to the tinnitus that has been driving me mad, lately.  I have high hopes of this new tablet. I have had to work out the best time to take it because it can be affected by some of the other meds.  I think the Amitriptyline is causing problems with acid reflux, so my Lansoprazole prescription has been doubled but the Lansoprazole can stop the folic acid being absorbed so I have about five reminders on my phone telling me when to take which tablets!!! And this is the person who wouldn't take a painkiller in years gone by!

I go for my second jab next Friday. We're not planning to go pubbing yet, although my daughter is dreaming of a cider in the beer garden of our local. She has nearly killed herself this week, by going swimming every morning and instead of easing in to it, she did a mile for each of the first three days, but had to give up after half a mile on the fourth. Since then she's been in agony with a doozy of a migraine. Fortunately she was still on holiday, so she's been able to give in and rest in a dark room.  

There is nothing else to report, I hope you are ok and everything is going well with you.

Agh!!!! The iPad is on the blink again, it just went black and took lots of fiddling with buttons to get back to this, so I'd better sign off before my typing all goes into the ether.

lots of love to you both

Christine xx

Archie sends a woof to Eddie 

Hi ladies,

lovely to hear from you Christine and hope all is good with you Sam.

Isnt that just bizarre about your lack of folic acid! I know it is something you need to take when trying to get pregnant but then falls off the radar! But hopefully it will sort everything out. I'm still terrible with medication. I'm better at taking my tamoxifen but my adcal pills get forgotten on a regular basis. 
Me and hubby are off down to Corfe this weekend, in the camper van and I have to say I am looking forward to it but also feeling slightly anxious. I think we both need a break from the busy household we live in and spend some time on our own, together. We are taking both dogs so it will be Eddie's first trip away from home! The weather is looking beautiful - sunshine but chilly so lots of walks and we are planning on going into Swanage for the day. 
I had my appointment with the BC nurse on April 1st. Typically my rib pain had got so much better but I did have a tenderness in my right hand abdomen. The nurse said she couldn't feel anything and wasn't worried but would send me for a CT scan as reassurance. She has also referred me to the gynae dept as some issues down there too but they come and go. I had my scan a week ago, but not heard anything back yet. I am pretty sure everything will be fine but the odd doubt creeps into my brain every now and then. 
A lady on our team has just told us that she has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She's only a year older than me. It always tends to wind you a bit when you hears that someone you know has got to tread the path.  All you can do is offer support. I always found people who had been or were going through something similar, easier to talk to, as they understand your worries and fears to a greater degree.

Sam, how is your dad doing? And how is work? We haven't heard from you for a while, so hope everything is ok?

Ive now had both my Covid jabs - felt pretty rough after the 2nd one but only for a day. 
Anyway, I'm sat at my desk, not working and have shed loads to do, so better crack on. Take care!!

Caroline xx

Hi Christine & Caroline,

Glad the niece is settled and that your checking out of boob related issues was OK so far and hope outstanding stuff comes back with no issues, I've got consultation with plastic surgeon Thurs for symmetry, nipple creation and other delightful gubbins...yay! Never heard of Corfe but am imagining it just like Corfu!!

The father is ok but is getting very tired and is lacking a bit of enthusiasm this week but he did go out for a Sunday roast and then a trip to Harrogate so has probably overdone it, the silly fool.  Am going up for a long weekend May and hopefully the sister is coming over from Taiwan June (no idea what the covid situation will be but we'll see) so will see him then too.

Good news re the folic acid, who knew a deficiency could cause so many issues, like many I suspect they only associate it with pregnant women.  And good news re your spooky iPad that knew you wanted to get in touch, I'm a big believer in fate...

I am sooo busy, been back at work 4 weeks now and though still on a phased return I am super busy all the time, but busy on my terms! Very important...
Am loving being back at the gym, had to leave the new bike all alone in the car park, think 3 padlocks (and CCTV) will be sufficient to deter any would be thief, seems to be working so far!  Also had my hair sorted out Saturday, what a relief...I decided a change was in order so am now bleach blond and resemble a young Bridget Neilson according to my pals (better than looking like Vera/Boris that I did previously and that was despite my cutting it!)
Isn't it nice to be able to see people again?  I've had a few meet ups in gardens and walks with pals which has been bloody lovely.  
My training for the MacMillan hike is going well although I did nearly kill myself near Caroline.  Went to visit the mother down there and thought I'd get down early to go for a walk/avoid the traffic. I'd planned a 4 hr walk and was fine up until hr 3 and the last hr took me 2 as I was so knackered and kept going the wrong way (brain would not work despite the technology at hand re an app telling me where to go) so suffered the day after. Learnt not to overdo it too soon and am now sticking to 3 hrs and building up gradually....sounds like your daughter thinks she's super-woman too eh Christine?
I've my 2nd covid jab Monday so am expecting to feel delightful (!!) for 2 days after as I did with 1st shot...much more preferable to having the real thing though.
I've also been busy making plans to get back up north to see the father so planning to go up the weekend before end May bank hol...can't wait.  He's doing fine but getting more tired as time passes, only to be expected I guess.  And the sister from Taiwan is hopefully due to get jab soon so hopefully (fingers crossed) coming over June so another trip oop north for me...yay!
Drafted the above earlier in the week and then my week went somewhat unexpectedly so am now in Southampton as the mother down here is not well and am sooo annoyed that it took her gardener to call me and tell me that she was under the weather, when I arrived she was clearly not well and very confused so after discussion with 111 an ambulance and hospital admission occurred.  Whilst the change of scenery is nice (!) I would rather it were under different circumstances!!!  I am however LOVING early morning training walks & runs in the new forest (2 mins from where I am), amazing to look round and see NO-ONE, never get that in bl00dy Surrey! Those ponies are not very talkative though...damn them.

She is ok but is very slow mentally & physically, the thinking so far (awaiting MRI results) is that she's had another stroke (she had some mini ones years ago that went unnoticed until a visit to the opticians). So many what-ifs run through my head but let's see what happens eh?  So am in her house looking after her cats and poor Adrian is looking in on mine twice a day and I've got to go back 'up north' for the jab so minimising travel is a wee bit challenging at the moment (sorry Boris).
I do hope your weeks aren't quite as eventful as mine, bl00dy parents eh? (I'd insert a smiley face if I wasn't such a Luddite).  

Stay well both of you XX

Hi Christine & Caroline,

Glad the niece is settled and that your checking out of boob related issues was OK so far and hope outstanding stuff comes back with no issues, I've got consultation with plastic surgeon Thurs for symmetry, nipple creation and other delightful gubbins...yay! Never heard of Corfe but am imagining it just like Corfu!!

The father is ok but is getting very tired and is lacking a bit of enthusiasm this week but he did go out for a Sunday roast and then a trip to Harrogate so has probably overdone it, the silly fool.  Am going up for a long weekend May and hopefully the sister is coming over from Taiwan June (no idea what the covid situation will be but we'll see) so will see him then too.

Good news re the folic acid, who knew a deficiency could cause so many issues, like many I suspect they only associate it with pregnant women.  And good news re your spooky iPad that knew you wanted to get in touch, I'm a big believer in fate...

I am sooo busy, been back at work 4 weeks now and though still on a phased return I am super busy all the time, but busy on my terms! Very important...
Am loving being back at the gym, had to leave the new bike all alone in the car park, think 3 padlocks (and CCTV) will be sufficient to deter any would be thief, seems to be working so far!  Also had my hair sorted out Saturday, what a relief...I decided a change was in order so am now bleach blond and resemble a young Bridget Neilson according to my pals (better than looking like Vera/Boris that I did previously and that was despite my cutting it!)
Isn't it nice to be able to see people again?  I've had a few meet ups in gardens and walks with pals which has been bloody lovely.  
My training for the MacMillan hike is going well although I did nearly kill myself near Caroline.  Went to visit the mother down there and thought I'd get down early to go for a walk/avoid the traffic. I'd planned a 4 hr walk and was fine up until hr 3 and the last hr took me 2 as I was so knackered and kept going the wrong way (brain would not work despite the technology at hand re an app telling me where to go) so suffered the day after. Learnt not to overdo it too soon and am now sticking to 3 hrs and building up gradually....sounds like your daughter thinks she's super-woman too eh Christine?
I've my 2nd covid jab Monday so am expecting to feel delightful (!!) for 2 days after as I did with 1st shot...much more preferable to having the real thing though.
I've also been busy making plans to get back up north to see the father so planning to go up the weekend before end May bank hol...can't wait.  He's doing fine but getting more tired as time passes, only to be expected I guess.  And the sister from Taiwan is hopefully due to get jab soon so hopefully (fingers crossed) coming over June so another trip oop north for me...yay!
Drafted the above earlier in the week and then my week went somewhat unexpectedly so am now in Southampton as the mother down here is not well and am sooo annoyed that it took her gardener to call me and tell me that she was under the weather, when I arrived she was clearly not well and very confused so after discussion with 111 an ambulance and hospital admission occurred.  Whilst the change of scenery is nice (!) I would rather it were under different circumstances!!!  I am however LOVING early morning training walks & runs in the new forest (2 mins from where I am), amazing to look round and see NO-ONE, never get that in bl00dy Surrey! Those ponies are not very talkative though...damn them.

She is ok but is very slow mentally & physically, the thinking so far (awaiting MRI results) is that she's had another stroke (she had some mini ones years ago that went unnoticed until a visit to the opticians). So many what-ifs run through my head but let's see what happens eh?  So am in her house looking after her cats and poor Adrian is looking in on mine twice a day and I've got to go back 'up north' for the jab so minimising travel is a wee bit challenging at the moment (sorry Boris).
I do hope your weeks aren't quite as eventful as mine, bl00dy parents eh? (I'd insert a smiley face if I wasn't such a Luddite).  

Stay well both of you XX

Oh Sam!!

im so sorry to hear that your mum is so unwell but lovely that you have gone to help. The New Forest is such a beautiful area. We go camping down near Lymington so travel down there quite a bit. I hope your mum improves soon. At least she's in the hospital and being looked after.

Take it easy on those training walks! I've done many Moonwalks (walking a marathon, through London, at night, in your bra). Build up slowly! Although I know the lost/long walk wasn't planned :laugh:

Good to hear your dad is doing ok but sad to hear he is tiring. Hopefully your sister will get her jab and be able to come over in June.

Your comment about Corfe being like Corfu made me chuckle!! If only! Corfe is in Dorset. It's famous for its ruined castle. The weather is beautiful but chilly. We are off to Swanage on the bus today. That's a seaside town not far away. Might even dip my toes in the sea!!

Well, I need to get my *** in the shower!! So have a wonderful weekend all!!

Caroline xx

Hi girls,

How nice to get such speedy replies. Sam, I'm sorry you've got two parents to worry about, now, especially when you have so much to do, yourself.  You sound like a superwoman to me with your hiking and cycling.  You need to pace yourself, though. Like my daughter, you grab life by the scruff of the neck and try to beat it into submission despite all it throws at you. She is crashing at the moment, so I took her to the pub on Thursday, we took the dogs and had a lovely couple of hours in the garden enjoying the buzz of people's voices in the evening sun. It got flipping cold, though, after the sun had dipped out of sight.  I am  becoming quite the gadabout, because on Tuesday, my Tuesday at Two Facetime friends and I are going OUT for lunch, weather permitting. My weather app is promising 70% rain, so there may be a change of plan, although I think there might be a marquee to shelter us.

I had my second Covid jab yesterday and had no reaction this time. My arm is a bit sore but that isn't necessarily from the jab as I've been having physio for torn tendons. I hope things are still on track for opening up more when your sister is due to arrive, Sam.

I hope your scan results are reassuring,  Caroline. Even if you think things are ok it is still good to have it confirmed.  You are both busy girls, these  days. I have almost forgotten what it was to have to work for a living. I must say retirement is the best job I've ever had but for the low pay!  Because of all the years we were abroad I have only partial state pension and an equally low work pension.  It's amazing how easy it is to adjust, though, especially when you have no rent/mortgage to pay. My son bought me this bungalow and I just pay running costs, and like many people have found, lockdown has been a great money saver.

I still haven't heard anything from the doc about my blood tests. I have to have another one in a few weeks to see if my folic acid levels have improved  I really think it is conflicting medications that have caused the deficiency.  I did my research,         ( otherwise known as Dr. Google) and found that the lansoprazole which I take for acid reflux can impede the absorption of folate from food. But the Amitriptyline I take for pain can reduce the effect of the Lansoprazole! Are you still with me?  Recently I have been having reflux breakthrough, which I can't cope with, so my Lansoprazole dose was doubled, ergo low folic acid levels! So now I'm juggling my meds times to find a balance between them. It would have been nice to hear this from the horse's mouth, so to speak, I just hope my increasing senility improves with the folic acid enough to keep me on schedule!

Good luck with your impending delightful gubbins, Sam.

I hope you are having a great weekend in Corfe, Caroline. 

Catch you later.

Christine xxx