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Had results today from biopsy on tonsil and now know its cancer, its all been really quick what with scans and hospital visits so not really had time to think about it now it's just starting to sink in but I'm pretty positive, I'm told its spread to a lymph node has anyone else had this 

HiAli

I am sorry to hear your diagnosis, but the first thing I would say is there is always hope. Al my friend here has the same and is currently undergoing all the treatment. He is having a six week course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy over most of the week meaning daily trips. The first thing they have to do is make sure you have no teeth that will get corroded by treatment so need removing first,. They then measure you for the mask this apparently is quite comfortable. They then arrrange the neginnings of the treatment. It will not be easy so you will need a good support system around you - family, macmillans, friends especially when you have down days. Some people loose taste buds during treatment some can find swallowing hard but if you look back on our talks there are mouth exeercises to do. 

Find all the exciting food things you love that are highly flacoured and stock up you will need to keep your weight up and need things that are exciting to make you smile. 

good luck i am here is you want to talk. 

stay strong x

Hi Elona

I'm really relieved the doctor didn't seem to worried he said I may have something called oestoradionecrosis they will check when they do cameras, hope your ok and managed to have a good weekend the medication your on sounds like a nightmare 25 tablets I struggle swallowing a couple of paracetamol and to feel sick all the time is awful hope it eases soon, can we have some more mini mafia please I've missed reading about them 

Look after yourself

Allison xx

oh of coourse I thought people had become fed up with the mini mafia so stopped writing. i had wreitten to give people something different to read to try a diversion as you say but didnt think it had been wanted. 

Alli i am so glad you are ok and hope this new diagnosis is not too bad and they can do something about it. 

have just been for my monthly blood test and check up. have not heard anything today so presume that must mean the bloods are back to ok. my urates were very high and that was causing my sickness feeling they can cause all sorts of illnesses like gout apparently but are ovbiously a side effects of tablets. my liver was slightly up and vitamin D very low so have had to get myself some multivitaminsl They have extended my steroinds and anti sickness tablets and have more bloods in another month. 

the mini mafia builders have been secretely beavering away in the garden - they made the most of the butter nut squash by building and extension to the hotel underneath and pushing up the veggie patch in this back area only problem is they decided to build a subway under a pavement slab and this is slowly subsiding so they are working on a way of strengthening the sides before they get norticed and the pavement is adjusted. thisa new subway is a delightful way for the hotel guests to visit the country field and take the air as people say when they visit the sea side!! The hotelier is thrilled with the progress now the builders are actually working rather than sitting on their bums! and is thinking of the money he should be raking in especially when the advert comes out in the Home and country magazine advertisement pages. - lovely country resort not far from sea side boosting pleasent views, plenty of free fresh vegetables,  biscuits and running water. Pond to play in and humans to annoy. 

Little miss is getting on ok with her boyfriend they have had a few tiffs but puppy love never runs smoothly and she gets a little jealous when he tries to smooth talk other girls - he has told her he is too young to settle down yet but likes having her on his arm. She wants more after all girls do come into season pretty quickly and her hormones are ticking!! but for the timne being she is prepared to wait. 

the families are getting ready for the Christmas perade - I know a little early but you have to remember it takes time to get these things ready; they have to gather all sorts of colourful waste to make their perade with and they like to steal a little to decorate their nests with too - a little colour always makes them house proud and they like to compete with each other. this parade is not going to have a king or queen since it is a christmas thing so they are going to have santa, elves, and christmas bnnies instead of reindeers. old man rattus the senior memeber of the clan is always santa and he takes his job very very seriously so he has started practicing his ho ho ho. The mums are making their christmas puddings and mince pies and the elvf outfits for the littel ones because there is a competition for the best costume and they have to go find clittery things they can stitch on. crisp packets are glossy and can be used, tin foil is useful for making structures and frmes for girls tutu type skirts, or cutting out elf shaped ears. Angie won last year she stole a piece of someones curtain by biting it of to the disgust of the owners who i hear freaked out when she say bite marks ! and make it into a very posh outfir. date for parade is 11th December so they have plenty of time. 

take care of yourself xx

Hi Elona

Thank you for the latest on the mini mafia you are so talented I think you could write a book, it made me smile especially the Christmas parade and the bunnys instead of reindeer lol I read it to my partner Gary when he came round and he thought it was brilliant, it was perfect timing as I've felt a bit rubbish today I finally finished the enenemas on Sunday and the flare of ulcerative colitis has come back have been up and down to the loo like a yoyo, will have to phone ibd nurse on Monday back on steroids methinks. Has the sickness wore off at all I don't know how you do it working and looking after the hedgehogs have the babies and belvedine been set free now or are they still with you

Enjoy the rest of your weekend

Allison xx

hi Ali

so sorry to hear your ulcerative collitis is back, talk abouyt how i fo it you are amazing! 

i will be on the sickness tablets for sometime yet i think it comes in waves. no all the hogs are still with me the boys are fine but Kay is a little underweight, little reluctant to separate her as they all sleep together. Belvedine is doibg well.

glad i made you smile that makes me smile too. 

the latest on the parade has been a little difficult the bunnnies had their harness fittings and it didnt go quite to plan. Bobtail was too excited he could not keep still, he kept hoppping on the spot so it took about fifty attempts to ge tthe harness over his head after all the mini mafia have to use a ladder to get up to his head and then the harness had to be handed up. the ladder kept wobbling back and firwrd each time Bobtail hopped and the mafia were getting a little frustrated. it was not until they nearly kicked him of the parade he stopped long enough for it to get over his head and get adjusted. Cotton was very proud of her harness but she wouldnt let the mafia take it of and wanted to go show it of to all her friends and family. the mafia were quite exhausted and were beginning to wonder if this would all be worth it

The elders Santa costume has needed some major patching up because the mice have decided to move in next door and didnt realsie that the cosutme was not a nice bed. they chewed a hole in the top and trousers right over the bum so there was a lot of scouring around for some red material. thankfully some one had thrown out some wrapping paper - ok it ws birthday paper with dinosaurs on it but at least it was also red. Santa may be a little unconventional this year! he has a large santa bag made out of a walkers crisp packet and filled with sunflower seeds colected from the locals bird tables. these are going to be given out on the day. storage of all these things has been a little tricky but there is a half deserted barn just down the road that will surficce this year it has a sold sign on it so the mini mafia are already scouting out other potential areas. 

in one part of the barn the carol singers are practising. they are ok but are in desperate need of some practise. Ben and his brother bill have been told if they don. not improve to just mine the songs. or they could have a triangle to ting. Steph has been told to lower her voice - she thinks she is good but shows of too much and out sings the others. Jack is also tone deaf but loves to sing so they have not got the heart to tell him. luckily they have tilly and lucy who have lovely voices and can lead the others. hopefully by the parade they will be passable. 

little miss boyfriend has decided to surprise little miss then but is keeping it a secret shhhhhh...

take care of yourself xxx

Hi Elona

That was wonderful I love the bunny names cotton and bobtail maybe if little misses boyfriend proposes they could have a bunny drawn carriage for the wedding hehe, all ok here had pre op yesterday and go for day surgery tomorrow have got soups and yogurts in in case throats sore so I'm prepared. Hope your ok and the anti sickness tablets are helping, glad belvedine and the hedgehogs are doing well hope Kay manages to put on a bit of weight shame you can't get hedgehog ensures lol

Take care

Allison xx

Hi 

Had the day surgery Wednesday and it went well just a sore throat afterwards, the doctor said he doesn't think there's anything to worry about

2 weeks for biopsy results so will know for definite but until then I'm not worrying, I'm back on the enenemas again colitis flare refuses to give up but if it works eventually ill keep doing them, hope you are all ok and getting excited for Christmas

Take care Allison xx

Hi Alli

Just a quick note to say glad your surgery went well, everything is looking very positive, I'm really please for you. Hope you're colitis settles soon.  Take care

Judy xx

Hi Alli

so glad all went ok and your doing ok. yes definately dont worry hopefully the two weeks will go quickly. x

hope the collitis settles too cant be nice. you take care x

Hi JUdy how are youdoing??

well the manager of the hotel was very upset the extension was squashed and all the builders hard work demolished in minutes! (my demolishing!), he is trying to decided whether he can sue or behave in a decidedly vengeful manner! the builders dont care because of course it just means more work for them and naturally they are guaranteed jobs so alls good there. so far no signs of any work being done so suspect they are sitting on their laurels again. 

Little miss boyfriend has been out and bought a ring - well i say ring rats dont do rings for fingers because they cannot find anything small enough so its for their tails. after all they are very proud of their tails so this highlights it and shows oif to everyone that they are engaged or married. this ring was a bead he found from a bacelet that was thrown out and handed into to the local 'jewelers', the inside of the bead needed to be made a bit bigger but it is very pretty pink shades in colour so he thinks she will like it. he is also organising the families to get together on the parade for a picnic where he hopes little miss will say yes in front of everyone. (he has already got permission from little miss dad, her mum is not convinced he is good enough but hopefully with all the effort he is putting in she will come round). 

there has been a mass baking day in the village where everyone is making Christmas cakes they spent all week foraging for nuts and fruit thrown out for the birds or dropped by people and birds and this has now been divided per household and everyone has been baking. they all like putting their own spin on the cake some like an extra piece of fruit or a dribble of alcohol or anything else they fancy. tomorrow they are going to make a gingerbread house to erect on the field and be part of the feast afterwards. they will be able to nibble at it after the day has gone. 

i have been really tired this week it has been a bit busy at work we have had several people go down with covid because they went out for a leaving do for one of our receptionists and this was her final goodbye giv them covid,. luckily iam ok. thibk iam running on air though and trying to breathe when busy through nose is impossible. hubby is quite surprised i have coped so that is a bonus. still on mopre sickness tablets and steroids for another three weeks then i go back for another appointment. 

take care x

Hi Elona

im good thank you, hubby is doing really well. We have an appt with the dietician this week and going to ask if he can drop to just 1 ensure a day now, his RIG tube is gone and he's eating well and maintaining weight.  We're going to Chester at the weekend for the Xmas market, a bit of shopping followed by a nice Thai meal then spending the night at the lovely Chester Grovesnor hotel.  This is the last of the morale gifts that the children gave us on his final radiotherapy day.

its lovely to see minimafia back and also lovely to know you're back at work ( don't know if you agree Lol) but it's a step forward to some normality.

take care

Judy xx

Hi Judy 

glad to hear the hubby is doing really well and eating ok. the weekend sounds lovely and one I am sure you will both enjoy - have fun. really enjoy it. I want to hear baout all the goodies you get lol 

Being back at work is good to have some normality so from that point of view is good lol i am having to adjust my hours slightly to cope and make sure i get enough breaks. 

the mafia are still continuing the cooking for Christmas they are making ginger bread cookies. These are deterrant cookies as well as decorative and the mini faia believe in krankus who comes for all the naughty kids and is very bad. so they make a huge krankus that has horns on his head and a hunch back. he walks with a staff and is coloured in black. it is to scare everyone as well. near his feet they make little mini mafia whoi are more colourful and are trying to run away. as they run away they are throwing pressents at each other. this is part of the christmas celebration to be put up in the field and can be eaten on january 5th. it will get covered in scellophane to prevent it getting wet and run away! 

Hi Judy 

glad to hear the hubby is doing really well and eating ok. the weekend sounds lovely and one I am sure you will both enjoy - have fun. really enjoy it. I want to hear baout all the goodies you get lol 

Being back at work is good to have some normality so from that point of view is good lol i am having to adjust my hours slightly to cope and make sure i get enough breaks. 

the mafia are still continuing the cooking for Christmas they are making ginger bread cookies. These are deterrant cookies as well as decorative and the mini faia believe in krankus who comes for all the naughty kids and is very bad. so they make a huge krankus that has horns on his head and a hunch back. he walks with a staff and is coloured in black. it is to scare everyone as well. near his feet they make little mini mafia whoi are more colourful and are trying to run away. as they run away they are throwing pressents at each other. this is part of the christmas celebration to be put up in the field and can be eaten on january 5th. it will get covered in scellophane to prevent it getting wet and run away! 

Hi Elona

The mini mafia sound like they have been very busy lol, hope your ok and are not finding work to tiring, I know what you mean about work making you feel more normal I am actually missing it I got made redundant from debenhams in April so once I'm back to normal will be looking for a new job

Went to lymphedema clinic on Wednesday and have lots of excesises and today went back today to get special plasters that help open capilarys had to do patch test first in case of allergys, hoping double chin will have vanished by the 10th as we are going to a wedding but think I'm expecting a miracle lol, we are off to Ludlow for medieval fare tomorrow back Monday so I'm quite excited

Take care Allison xx

 Hi Elona

Hope you are well and are managing to get enough breaks at work also get as much sleep as you can your body heals best when you sleep, all good with me the biopsy results were clear so massive relief can enjoy being cancer free now

Take care Allison xx

Hi Alli 

am so pleased for you that is fantastic news!!! I cannot imagine the relief you must feel fantastic!! just got to get everything else to settle donw and yu will bne fine. 

I have been very ill recently so not around much the medication makes me nauseaous all the time and i cannot eat anything except very bland things - so cooking up a storm is not going to happen this year, I tried to cook a christmas dinner for two friends - our turn and they loved it but i could not eat much and the net day I was throwing up and am only just getting over it well stomach is keeping food down but protesting at the same time. it is getting me down :(

i hve 7 hedgehogs outside - four are almost hibernating they are a family of three and another girl who decided she didnt want to be on her own so crept in with them! then there are two un incubatrors and on heat pads and another inside at the moment because she has been very unwell herself with lungworm. 

one of the large mini mafia decided to try and creep back into the carport and has been upsetting the dog everytime he goes out - it was trying all sorts of things to see if they were food worthy even lime garden cover! unfrotunately they did find a new bag of cat food ... 

outside the builders have been at work because a few new holes haved appeared but they will be given short thrift when iam up to it. 

have a great chrismas xx

Oh Elona I'm so sorry your feeling so bad how much longer do you have to take the medication for could they give you different anti sickness tablets, its not going to be much of a Christmas for you just try and rest as much as you can not that it sounds like you can when your looking after poorly hedgehogs and trying to vacate the mini mafia, really hope you feel better soon 

Take care Allison xxx

thank you Alli and Judy,

the mini mafia wish you both a good Christmas they are secretly planning an invasion of the hedgehog party food but we have them sussed and the food us not in a large tub - will take a few teeth to get into! 

the youn g mafia are getting very excited because they are expecting lots from santa this year even if they have been naughty they secretly know they will not get any coal. 

the parents have been goingout a lot on the scrounge to see what they can find to amuse the kids, at the moment there are several pickings as it has not been too cold to freee over food left overs or rubbish to raid. they are also making their homes all snug and warm to cuddle up together when it gets cold. 

the last procession went well - no real callamities thank goodness although Bruce got flung over the field and eneded up in a ditch breaking his leg so hes still on crutches. 

am aiming on having a good rest when we finish work on friday. think i will curl up on the sofa with the fire going and the dogs and just mellow. 

have a lovely time x

Hi everyone 

me and the mini mafia wish you all a happy New Year - have a good evening and tomorrow and hope the 2022 is a much better year for all. 

x

All the best hope you have a lovely evening to and feel much better in the new year, happy New year to the mini mafia hope to hear more of there antics when your feeling better

Take care Allison xxx

Hi Elona

Hope everyone had a good new year and I'm hoping we all feel healthier, how are you feeling now has the sickness eased at all. After the latest visit with the oncologist he wants me to have another scan I've been having discomfort when I swallow and some pain between my shoulder blades he asked if I was having heartburn but I've been taking omoprezole for months to stop it, so sick of trying not to worry its exhausting its my mum's partners funeral next week so have to be strong for my mum and the kids. Sorry to be a misery hope your having a better start to the year

Take care Allison xx

oh sweetie am so sorry that has got to be hard it always is when someone we love passes. my heart goes out to your mum and you all xx

i hope the scan goes ok and it is just the lymphadenitis causing your discomfort. will be thinking of you. pleasse try not to worry. am here for you to talk any time x

my treatment is not going so well either, i had to go onto vitamin D tablets that have helped lower the sickness because my levels were getting very low then had to have more bloods yesterday and today get a phone call telling me i have to go see the consultant wednesday. i have problems eating too everything i eat tastes wrong - my taste buds are shot to bits - i cannot eat a lot of things now fat in butter, cooking makes me sick, cannot drink milk eat chocolate, cannot taste sweet things they taste bitter, have just been eating carbiohydrates and now started on fruit. lump is still tender and flares up is depressing. i also need to get my eyes done again all of a sudden they have started to deteriorate. 

the mini mafia have been on the move they have made a hole from my garden or next doors to mine on the other side now. little buggers are traavelling like gypsies to see where they can make the best nest. i think my compost is being used as one at the moment. obviously the hotelier is making good money to employ those useless builders - they give the game away when a pile of dirt is found where it should not be! (too muuch celebrating over new year). sorry will tell more another time. 

take care 

Elona xx

I'm so sorry your having problems I hoped it would have been getting easier for you the medication your on is brutal its every bit as bad as chemo by the sound of it, do you have to take it much longer, maybe the bloods you had done are showing its to much for your body to cope with. I feel stupid for being so anxious it could just be after effects from the treatment my oncologist is lovely but a man of few words and I have lots of questions  but usually come out of appt with more than when I went in lol, I'm going to take each day as it comes and try not to worry till I have the scan. I wish I could say something that would make you feel better please stay strong and try and stay positive this will be over one day and we can get back to a normal life again, hope the mini mafia behave

Allison xxx