I have just been diagnosed with stage 4 secondary liver cancer. I felt I was in free fall whe I was told a few ago. I want to run but I can't.  We are a member of a club we do not want to be in and yet more that a third of people will get cancer. It's terrifying. I'm finding hard it to be the sick one too. I'm the fixer and doer in my family and I can't get used to not being that person any more. 

I wish you good luck with treatment. I also find Maggie's centre invaluable for counseling at the moment they have save me a few times ️

You sound so like me, the doer and fixer. I don't even know how to do being an invalid!. "free fall and wanting to run describe me perfectly too. This week I have been diagnosed with secondary breat cancer. I have no idea whether it's treaable, although I undrestand it's not curable. Iam terrified and just want a bit more time. It's awful how many of us are in the same situaton. xx

I am so sorry to hear that. But I have read that treatment today means people can survive secondary breast cancer for many years. Can I ask how long ago it was since you first had breast cancer? We are always here for a chat and support 

xx

Thank you,of course I don't mind you asking, I have never been diagosed with cancer before, it's such a bolt from the blue. 

Oh I am so sorry to hear this. But this forum can be great  for support and talking to people going through similar journeys. Xx

Hi [@surreygal]‍ 

I'm a temporary Surrey gal too (Epsom) so you're in good company.  The cancer nonsense can be a lot to get your head around but all of us on here have seen it off and I know you can too...and if I can add I have the whole kit & kaboddle of treatments and it is very doable, I was lucky that I had few side effects and recovered well after surgeries and you may well be the same...don't assume you'll be in the minority of those who really suffer as they really are a very small percentage.

As Caroline says we're here if you have any queries (practical stuff is my speciality!!).

Good luck.

Sam

Thank you all, your replies mean so much to me at  the moment. I am clutching at any little straw.. I hope to be  here one day being as positive and supportive as you all. 

I think it comes as you go along your journey. It makes you appreciate life so much more and you have to become a warrior, pick up your armour and go into the battle. Xx

Hi ladies
Gosh its been mad busy here, what with return to work full time my mother has also been in hospital, she was really quite poorly and kept having complication upon complication so, in a sad way, am happy to report that she died this week.  I'm the more practical one out of me and my sister (who is over from Taiwan, thankfully) so we will now be in full-on clearance/admin mode to sort out whatever needs doing, I've never done this before but luckily Adrian knows exactly what needs doing so is effectively project managing us!  So much paperwork...
I am fine otherwise and enjoying being back at work, though it is curtailing my keep fit regime somewhat! No more 3 hour bike rides during the week...boo!  Probably as well as will wear out my knees soon...My training for the MacMillan walk is going well and I've been on some beautiful walks around the New Forest (where the mother lived), only one problem down here (am there currently), no blummin hills...its like Holland!
Am glad to report that I managed to get up north last weekend to see a pal, see my Father, and help the economy by spending far too much in teh shops in Leeds...its been far too long since my credit card had such a good thrashing. I actually felt quite emotional being back in Yorkshire after 7 months-far too long indeed.  The father was on good form and we had a good couple of days together, he's getting very tired now though, to be expected given his prognosis I guess.
So now we've got me, having had BC, my father with his kidney cancer and the mother's PET scan showed she most likely had lymphoma...what a bloody bunch eh?  Have told my sister (the only other member of family) to be on the look out!  Poor her.
Am going home later on today (my sister is going up north to see our father) so get to have a rest, which will be LOVELY! I think my hanging baskets and window boxes need some attention over the bank holiday.
I'll just end by telling you how utterly useless my plastic surgeon's secretary is.  I contacted her for dates on 22 April and but for one mail telling me she was on it I've not heard anything re dates for phase 2 of boobs/stomach...good to see that going private doesn't confer any advantage! As I'll need some lipo to the natural boob (as had a lumpectomy there) and no longer have enough stomach fat (thankfully) they need to use thigh lard (nice) so will have to wear compression cycling shorts afterwards, deffo not one for the summer..am thinking December now, the anniversary of the original body changes.
Anyway I do hope you're both really good and not having similar challenges to me.
Caroline - I hope your niece is settled now and is flourishing in her new home. Are you enjoying the gym again, I certainly am, even though now I'm working 9-5 means going early doors in the morning as working from home means when it comes to 5pm its quite an effort to get on the bike to go there (plus there's more traffic).
Christine - hope you're staying clear of Bolton! You'll be glad to know that I am now on my second set of compression gloves/sleeves and its 6 months since first lot and by heck they were quite grim at the end with not an awful lot of working elastic in them.  Hope your lymphodema is also OK, I was reading something on cancer research website about exercises specific to areas of lymphodema that someone had put on facebook, not sure if you've seen this? Are you enjoying your garden, I'm loving wandering round and seeing what's happening, my neighbours are on baby blue *** watch as have some that are starting to fly, the watch consists of watching the cats more than the birds I think...there will be trouble if either of mine intervene...

Enjoy the warmer weather ladies XX

Oh Sam! I am so sorry to hear about your mum but at least both you and your sister were with her. I worked with the bereavement team during Covid where we gave out information about what to do following the death and it can be very overwhelming so glad to hear that Adrian is project managing. 
Good to hear you got up to Leeds to see your dad. I had a sneaky trip to Doncaster in Feb when hubby went up for a meeting but not got back there for a proper visit yet. I have managed to persuade my parents to come down here at the end of June as they have been very worried about going out after staying in for so long. 
My niece is doing brilliantly. She is losing weight albeit slowly and has been offered a job as a classroom assistant. She has had some hypnotherapy sessions which have turned her around! So no longer as needy or low mood. 
Im back at the gym twice a week which I don't really love but feel better once I've been! 
Anyway have to shoot off - we are off away in the motorhome for the weekend and hubby is moaning at me to get sorted!

Take care ladies and hope all is good with you Christine

xx

Hi Girls, 

It is always good to hear from you, but sorry for your bad news, Sam.  I understand how you feel, sad but glad that your mum isn't suffering any more. I well remember the huge amount of red tape to go through. It was up to me to handle it all when we lost our parents, a year apart. How many death certificates you have to get!  I was about your age when they died and twenty five years later I still shudder when I think of it but being so busy that week before the funeral does get you through it. I wasn't particularly close to my mother or father but I moved in with them to care for them for two years when they were ill and l learned more about them and had more real conversations with them during that time than ever before.  My dad went first then after my mum went I ran away with my new fella to Central America for six months!  So beware, losing your parents can have weird effects!!! 

 I live in a little village equidistant from Bolton and Blackburn so I'm going nowhere!

I watched "Botched" yesterday, it has become a guilty pleasure seeing people who have been disfigured by bad plastic surgery get fixed and see the idiot plastic surgery addicts being refused their request for bigger boobs and bum than they already have  Anyway, the point of that confession is to tell you there was a lady on who had been butchered by the surgeon who did her DIEP(?) with scars like a road map. Her tummy tuck scar was way too high and her new boobs were like a jigsaw puzzle.  They managed to correct it so all was well in the end but I hope your surgeon does a better job than hers. She had a double mastectomy to start with.  

Caroline, I knew your niece would thrive in your care! I'm so glad for her and you! Have a fabulous weekend, you are going to have good weather, I think.

While it is lovely to have good weather for a change, I have to mow month long grass that has been well watered by all the rain. I was talked into doing the "No Mow May" thing for the sake of our pollenising flying insects. My lawns are not very big but my little battery operated mower will have a huge job to do, not to mention my poor old muscles!  

I hope everything goes well, Sam. At least you will be allowed a funeral.

Lots of love

Christine xxx

Hi Sam, Hi Caroline,

Don't panic, I'm just checking in to say hello.

All is well with us, here, although it's a bit disappointing that we are now back to typical British Summertime with cold, wet and windy weather after that brief period of   hot sunshine and balmy nights.

I hope you and yours are all well and happy,

Christine (and Archie the demon dog!) xxx

Hi Sam, Hi Caroline,

Don't panic, I'm just checking in to say hello.

All is well with us, here, although it's a bit disappointing that we are now back to typical British Summertime with cold, wet and windy weather after that brief period of   hot sunshine and balmy nights.

I hope you and yours are all well and happy,

Christine (and Archie the demon dog!) xxx

Hello there

This is sooo annoying, my iPad, which I usually access this site through (and is from the 1920s) has given up living..and doing this on mobile is pants...why can't I start a new paragraph . Can, maybe, add emojis though??

All fab here, work, although full time for some time, is good and am now soooper healthy (reckon the fittest I've ever been) thanks to gym, cycling and training for the McMillan hike I did early July (we had ALOT of fun). Following Yorkshire dales hike spent some quality time around Yorkshire seeing pals and family..it was LOVELY!!

think the bulk of the mother's stuff is sorted...and it's only resulted in 3 official complaints to banks and credit card company so far...bl99dy ridiculous! Luckily I like a fight with these faceless institutions whose procedures fail spectacularly when you really need help and support.

My current challenge is integrating my mother's cats (Tom and a Molly, like my 2). It's now week 2 and we're all being very patient so all going well so far, I think I've finally become the crazy cat lady that I was destined to be..hurrah!

Sorry Christine but am loving the current weather! And will finish by wishing you both 'happy Yorkshire day'!

Xx

Hi there,

I'm so pleased that things are going so well for you, it's brilliant to hear you are so well.
Crazy cat lady eh? You're a few short yet, you need at least a dozen to deserve the title fully.  I feel I can hardly call myself Sheltie Lady anymore as I rarely have Smudge here since lockdown so I only have Archie now.  My daughter has been joyfully working from home and Smudge will not be a happy boy if she goes back to the office.  She leaves him with me if she has to go somewhere for more than a couple of hours but I swear he would be happier if she left him at home. He loves me to bits when I go to theirs, drives Archie mad with jealousy, but makes it very clear that he would prefer to be elsewhere if he's here without her.  Little so and so! I hate to think about all those lockdown puppies when their owners go back out to work, they will be devastated. Having said that, Charlie, my son's little terrier had to go back to her day care while my son was doing the Land's End to John o' Groats Motorcycle ride on midsummer's day, (which raised over £55k for Cancer Research) as his partner had to go to work for a couple of days. She said Charlie couldn't get in there quickly enough to see all her pals, didn't look back, and she must have played all day because as soon as she got home she had her dinner then fell asleep until morning!

Did you really prefer the cold and wet weather? I know it got a bit too hot the week before but what shocked me was the speed with which it went from very hot to cold, not warm, and the rain was unbelievable!  Today has been nice! Got my washing dried on the line, did some weeding and went for a long walk with Archie. Now it's feet up until bed time :)

Glad you have nearly won the battles with the banks etc, they really are a pain when you are not the person who is named on the account, even though you have supplied the documentary evidence they asked for!

Isn't it nice to know we have come through our cancer battle successfully for now.  I am quite resigned to to the fact that it could come back but so what?  We all have to go from something and I'll be 75 at New Year so I'm having a good run.
I went through a couple of months of the blah's recently, I might have already mentioned it, I phoned the doc and she sent me for a blood test. It turned out I was suffering from a deficiency of Folic Acid. Since taking the supplements I am great. I've had more injections in my knees so I can walk pain free.  I am still getting problems from the Letrozole, I've got carpal tunnel syndrome and a trigger finger and tendon problems but I just keep taking the tablets! My doc has kept me pain free! 
 
I'm out tomorrow to meet the girls at the park, we are going to walk there instead of meeting on FaceTime. It will be my first social outing for weeks! It will only be a sedate walk, there will be other dogs for Archie to ignore but it's a big park so it will do us good.

Keep smiling, stay away from any Covid germs, and have a lovely summer with your cats!

Christine xxx

Hi Sam and Chris, 

just wanted to check in and say hi! Hope you are both well. Had my second yr mammogram a couple of weeks ago, still waiting results but no news is good news. Suffering with neck pain at the mo but dr google seems to think it maybe a pinched nerve. Got an appointment with muscular skeletal dr next week and an X-ray. Think not taking my calcium tablets may now have come to bite me on the bum!

I had a trip up to Doncaster last weekend for a school reunion, as we had all turned 50. I had an amazing time. Was lovely to catch up with friends and family but taking me longer to recover! Still exhausted now - nearly a week later! Joy of being 50! 
So just wanted to say Hi, hope you are both well. I'm now off to climb into my bed.

love Caroline xx

Good to hear you are doing well.  I too had my second year mammogram just over a week ago and had the result within days - all good.  No abnormalities found.  Also had my bone density test done the same day.  Appointment also received for my mammogram next year!!  Hope your results are clear too.

Hi Pandy,

that's good to hear. It's the waiting that's always the worst! 
caroline x

Hey Caroline,

Nice to hear from you. You may have had your results by now! and if your hospital is anything like mine you only get a swift result if they want to get you in their clutches again, so I am assuming all is well. I had a scary day at the hospital myself, last week. I had noticed a pain, like a bruise, and a slightly tender lump under the skin, in my right calf and thought it was something new that I should perhaps keep an eye on. Of course I forgot about it for a week and when I checked again it wasn't there! Yay!! However, I then noticed my thigh felt tender and when I investigated I found a Long lump that went from a few inches above my knee, to just below my groin. I showed it to my daughter and she could see a long blue line where it was sore. I decided to phone the doc the next day. I rang at 8 am and was lucky enough to get through bu 8.15. I told the receptionist I thought I had a varicose vein starting and she promised the doctor would phone me some time in the morning. I was very surprised when she rang at 9.o'clock and I described what I had found and very casually she said that if I could pop down there and then she would be able to see me and find out what I was describing.  I assumed she meant that she didn't have any other patients until a bit later. I just grabbed my keys, gave Archie a piece of carrot and told him I wouldn't be long and drove off. The surgery is only five minutes away and the doctor came and got me straight away. After looking and feeling my leg she said she thought I'd better go to the blood clinic at the hospital.  I asked when I should go and she said, "NOW!!" and almost pushed me out of the door.  I didn't know whether to go home and grab my phone or to dash down to the hospital to get there before it got crowded. I needed the loo, so instead I dashed round the corner to my daughter's house and told her what was happening.

I was at the hospital by 9.30 and when I got through the Covid questions and temperature test, I went to reception, being very pleased to see an almost empty waiting room on the way. When I got to reception, I could see the receptionist had a paper with my name on it and thought I would get seen soon.  No!  The young lady demanded paperwork, which I didn't have!  Apparently I should have picked up paperwork from the desk at the doctor's, but the new system since Covid meant you didn't pass the desk on the way out because of the one way system!  The young lady told me that I would have to wait until the paperwork was faxed over before anyone could see me.  By this time the empty waiting room had only one seat left that didn't have a Do Not Sit Here notice on it. So I sat and waited. At 11.o'clock I got up and asked at the desk if my paperwork had come through and she said it had just arrived and to go back and sit down until she found a nurse. At 1pm my name was called for triage- absolutely no complaints there, a lovely nurse took bloods and measurements etc and told me to wait (Agh!!!) for the blood test results.  I asked if I could nip home and get my phone, only to be told that I couldn't leave the hospital in case I had a blood clot. She did get my daughter's phone number for me and I was able to phone her. She had an appointment at another hospital for pre-ops for her gall bladder removal  next week. I  innocently said if I was out before she got home I would pop in and get Smudge and take him to mine. Smudge is recovering from a big operation to remove a soft tissue sarcoma and the wound is taking a while to heal, so he needs quite a lot of supervision in case he licks or scratches the wound.  What an optimist I am!  I waited another two hours before my name was called again, this time I had an ultrasound scan of my whole leg. I asked if I could phone my daughter and God bless her, she was already on her way to my house to pick up Archie, who had been alone since 9.00 am.  I now had to wait to see the doctor!  Yep, another hour!  When I did eventually see him I swear I was out again in five minutes and he accompanied me to the reception desk, where there was a whole new team on duty. He told me that I didn't have a deep vein thrombosis (hooray!) but I did have a superficial vein thrombosis that was 20 cm in length and I was to take one tablet a day for 21 days, he repeated that about three times, and three days before the 21 days are up I have to go to the blood clinic for blood tests and I must go back to see him after the 21 days!!!  Fortunately they gave me a normal green prescription so I didn't have to wait again at the hospital pharmacy, and I creaked my way to the car and set off for my daughter's via our local pharmacy where I got in just as they were about to close to pick up my anti-coagulant tablets. So I now have one more tablet to remember to take!  
Of course my kids went into over-protective parent mode. She insisted I told her brother, and they both then forbade me to do anything that could incur a cut or graze. (As if I would listen!). Then on Monday, after I had spent two hours trimming the very prickly mixed hedges on two sides of my front garden, leaving the trimmings in the flower beds until I had the energy to pick them up later in the day when I planned to also mow the lawn, I was collapsed on my recliner in my dressing gown, clothes having been removed as they were saturated with sweat, my doorbell rang.
I cussed like a sailor because the footrest takes ages to go down so I couldn't just jump up from the chair, I couldn't see my keys so went out of the back door to see who was disturbing me and probably trying to sell me something, and there was my son and his dog, Charlie.  I was delighted to see him, of course, but when he saw all the hedge clippings I had cut that morning he told me off for doing something so dangerous. The good news is, he finished the job for me, and mowed the lawn before taking me to the pub for food!  He took his sister out that night, to the village local and got her drunk! She was alert enough to take him breakfast in bed the next morning, though, as she is back working in the office two days a week and that was one of her days. 
They both said they had planned his visit before my new problem had arisen but I think they were ganging up on me again because I am so old and feeble and need their supervision!

Sorry this is such a tome, I was never any good at précis!

I hope you realise that is the most I have had to write about in months!  I have my 2yr mammogram next week. I'm hoping they don't find any more calcifications that will require me to sit at the mammogram machine having my breast stapled to the base again, like last year. 
i am smiling at the joys of being fifty!!!  Wait until you are 75! Then you'll know what exhaustion is.. God! I'm turning into one of those old dears who  add a year to their age as if 74 isn't old enough. I have three months and a bit before the next year goes on. I like 75 it's a nice solid number. 
i hope your neck feels better. The calcium tablets I take are sweet, lemon flavour suckers, but I still forget to take them.

Sam, I hope you get the email so you  an read this, as well as Caroline's post. Hope you are ok. 
 

Love

Christine xxx

Hey all!

I'm here, fear not, all good(ish) at my end. My main challenge regarding replying is that I'm doing this on my phone which is a right royal pain in the ar5e. The lovely Adrian bought me a shiny new iPad and keyboard/stand thingy recently for my birthday but it won't connect to the bl09dy router...blummin useless Apple products!!...so am awaiting the tech support Adrian to resolve ( could take some time).

I love that Christine after her full on blood story decided to tackle a thorny hedge... typical!! And well done, I do believe quite often in throwing caution to the wind (is that the saying! I'm forever getting sayings confused...causing much amusement). I like to think of you verging on three quarters re your advancing age, it's the accountant in me! Anyway glad you survived a potential blood-letting!! And Archie eats carrots? good eyesight as a result I hope.

I also got an all clear re annual mammogram, luckily I'm not a worrier as it took a mere 6 weeks to find out - due to holidays apparently!! I've my bone scan end of the month, think they're doing ok as no cracks yet when I regularly fall off my bike...oops.

An amazing time in sunny Donnie eh Caroline? That's a first on me . Glad you've finally got to fully celebrate your 50th. Am curious as to what you had to drink if it took you a week to recover, must be good stuff..

I've just returned from a long weekend at my father's, he's quite fragile now with mobility issues and sleeps all the time as the terminal cancer continues to progress, good to see him (and the north, of course) but sad also. Hopefully he'll make it to next year as would be remiss to lose 2 blummin parents in one year mmm??

 You'll be glad to know that my mother's 2 cats have integrated just fine with my 2 furry beasts, still a little hissing but nothing significant. I am the cat whisperer...or mad old cat woman? 

Just sent off the myriad of forms re my mother's intestate estate and paid the tax... joy. Hopefully be able to sell her house soon. 

So all fine health wise and an now trying to plan, for Dec, phase 2 of reconstruction (nipple on new boob, filling in where had lumpectomy plus lift, removal of underarm displaced fat!!), Hope surgeon can fit me in  as work are being a bit funny about time off.

And work is ok but just keeps getting in the way of much more fun activities!! I want to retire...

So other than having a very bruised (we're talking deep purple) bum (ref bike falling off!), am doing well. Glad to hear you're both fit and healthy (ish!). 

Keep well...and Christine stop giving your offspring palpitations!

Xx

Oh I've missed you, Sam!  
 

You make me laugh out loud. While it's really good that we are getting on with our lives post cancer trauma, it's lovely to catch up with you and Caroline, as you were with me from the beginning.. Sorry to hear your dad is going through so much. I lost my parents within fourteen months of each other and it was hard!  Good news about the cats, though. 
Glad your mammogram was clear but I don't envy you having the reconstruction.  I feel your pain re wanting to retire. That has been my daughter's mantra since the day I retired, nearly fifteen years ago! Her day is getting closer, though. She's an accountant, too, so has it planned almost to the day, dependent on her health not getting any worse. She is having her gall bladder out next week, on the same day that I have my mammogram.  Hopefully that will take care of one of her big problems.  
I forgot about the bone scans, I should be getting one soon, I suppose. Hopefully the calcium and vitamin D tablets I've been taking have kept them at the strength they were last time. They said I had osteopenia then, but no more than is expected at my age. You'll have to stop falling off that bike, though. That is pushing your luck!

I have been giving Archie pieces of carrot instead of more fattening treats on the advice of a vet last year when his weight was up.  This year his annual checkup was with a different vet and he had lost a whole kilo. The vet sounded concerned when she said he had lost weight but I told her it was the result of a year's effort on my part. He is now a perfect 7.5 kilos. He is also a sweetheart now  it was a long slog but he has turned into a well behaved, loving, polite little chap who is a pleasure to take out.

I hope you do get your reconstruction in December and that you recover from it well. Keep well, keep smiling, and get your iPad online  I can't imagine having to type these long missives on my phone.

Lots of love to you both, keep checking in now and again, please. 
 

Christine xxx

So lovely to hear from you both! Christine - wow! What an experience re your leg! And then cutting the hedge! Tough cookie. Hope your daughter's op goes ok. And my dogs love carrots too!! And cucumber! 

Sam, good to see your are doing ok too and not lost your sense of humour. Prosecco seems to be my downfall! And I still don't learn! Had a night out last night - which didn't end too pretty. Seems my health anxieties are not as under control as I thought and I ended up crying on my friend's front lawn, telling her I didn't want to die! ‍♀️. But happy to say that my mammogram results came back today and are all clear! Huge sigh of relief! But I'm sticking to the soft drinks this evening. 
Glad to hear the cats are settled and I'm sorry to hear that your dad is deteriorating. And maybe get some stabilisers for the bike . 
Speak soon.

Caroline 
 

Morning both,

Am (finally) on the new iPad…its so much easier to babble on (unfortunately for you two).

Thought I’d drop you a note as I approach another, and hopefully my final, operation to with this very annoying cancer gubbins!

All going really well here in spite of all the challenges out there!  Work is ok, still getting in the way of what I want to do with my life (cycle, gym, not work basically!), probably doesn’t help that there’s days are so blummin’ short. So last work day Monday and will be in central London for 7.30am (yay!) Tuesday morning for a new nipple, scar revision on stomach, reduction of new boob and fat grafting to old boob.  It will be a much more straightforward op than last Decembers and should only be 2-3 hrs…a walk in the park!  I get a night in hospital (as am private don’t mind this at all, its like a nice hotel only with not quite as good food).

Am all set for Christmas (ha!), all presses bought (despite the fact that I won’t see some pals till 2022), tree up (none of the 4 eejit cats have mounted it yet but there’s still plenty of time) and house looks as festive as I can be bothered making it look. I have yet to write my cards but am saving that for a chore during my recuperation (hopefully a couple of weeks).

I have a lift back from hospital by a pal who’s over from Ireland, not sure how skilled a nurse she is (she isn’t) but as long as she doesn’t poison me then that’ll have to do!  Adrian will be providing domestic assistance though his idea of ‘cleaning’ is quite different to mine - he’s more of a low standard but frequent whereas I am high standard of cleanliness but VERY infrequently!

Idiot cats have integrated really well, we have 3 fatties who make such a cacophony pre morning feed and little pretty Sulla who’s a real grazer and prefers to loiter upstairs but is very fierce! The latter makes feeding time every more challenging.  I need to make sure my eardrums are not pierced by the noise, I don’t lose a limb in the feeding frenzy and that Sulla actually gets to eat her food.  Hope both your hounds are in fine fettle, as are you of course (humans generally behind animals in my thoughts at the best of times).

My sister is over from Taiwan currently visiting my ailing father up north so will get to spend some time next weekend (and have her wait on me!) before she flies back.  My father is ok but is just on the slow steady decline energy and health wise that you’d expect with terminal cancer.  I’ll go up and see him in January after my recovery.  It would be nice to finish dealing with my mother’s estate before having to think about my fathers! The fact that he’s married will much simplify matters though. Still waiting for the nod from the probate office (so I can liquidate the mother's stuff) and am hoping her house is ok in Southampton (the gardener keeps an eye on it thankfully)

Christine - hope your daughter’s bladder op was ok and that you’ve arranged a bone scan (mine showed my bones have got better in the past 3 years - must be all that exercise!), I should have them every 3 years (as am osteopenic) - you may be the same? Tell your daughter to get a retirement countdown app (2 yrs, 7months…)!  Was your mammo ok?

Caroline - glad your mammo results all good. And its good to have a good (if alcohol induced) cry once in a while, I’ve been at the receiving end of some of those recently (for reasons a lot less impactful that cancer), I’m more of a loud and obnoxious drunk who thinks everyone loves her & is her pal and who falls into people/garden hedges/ponds….a joy to behold so I am told. And I don’t think no there’s been any bike accidents of late though did get 5 (a new record) punctures on a ride the other day and had to walk home in the snow for 90 mins (there was a confusion over inner-tubes, am usually very well organised to deal with such matters when out & about! Am now much better planned for this eventuality I hasten to add).

I hope you’re both behaving well and can therefore expect a good visit from Santa shortly

Sam XX