31.8.14

Well I've had a few day away and id like to say I'm rested and ready for what life brings......
Im shattered! And i have swollen ankles too!
I went on a scrapbooking weekend with the girlies, or as i call it, 'Crapping'. It was certainly a good giggle. Lots of nice, but fairly healthy food, the odd glass of vino, loads and loads of laughs, and of course, some scrapbooking. Enjoyed bringing out my creative side.
The negative side was the fatigue. I found i was quite tired sitting doing not much, and........ the music. One of the ladies took her iPod and dock.......Paul Potts, Carpenters and, god forbid, Abba, over and over and over again! I have Mamma Mia ringing in my ears even now.
The good thing of course was my little chat with my favourite haematologist, Dr Jack.
Scan results were due on friday, so not having heard from him by 2.30 i could wait no more!!! I know he's at work and i know he's in meetings all friday morning, but this is important.
So i rang him.
He said, 'Jill (in a surprised voice, god forbid he says he forgot!!!), I'm tearing about, but its all good. Have you got a bite on your right groin????'
No!
'Theres a small area there, and on your lungs. Have you got a chest infection?'
No, but i have a cough at the mo.
'Well theres 2 areas lit up but i can assure you they're not lymphoma!'
He said he'd see me in 12 weeks, the little minx, playing hard to get!
I told him i had an appointment with him on friday and he said i needn't bother if i don't want to cos the results are good! Needless to say i will still be seeing him on friday! I will have questions! So he said we'd do some baseline (post lymphoma) bloods.
5 days to grow 6 inches of hair and lose 2 stone!
So home again, unpacked most of my scrap sh*t. Scrambled eggs and coco pops, not together of course. Twice nearly dozed off in my cuddle chair in front of the TV, but not of course whilst X Factor is on. OMG how I've missed it. The girl singing Mariah Carey. Simon said it sounded like she'd swallowed lots of people and they were all trying to get out. And the Italian who sang a Michael Jackson song. What a voice. Seemed to have the wrong body for that voice.
So its september tomorrow - my birthday month! I expect to be spoilt and pampered for the whole month. Theres a piece of machinery that i became acquainted with this weekend. The eBosser. I shall put this on my birthday list along with bino's, a gardening stool that i can kneel on whilst gardening, and some secateurs. I can think up lots more so don't worry theres not enough on my list. All I've gotta do now is suck up to my boys!
Anyway heres a rough idea of what scrapbooking is. 2 of my pages, not photo'd well i might add.

28.8.14

Spa day - phase 2.
Off to the Connaught Hotel in Bournemouth with Lyn for a day of chatting, eating, drinking and massaging. And maybe a  bit of swimming, hot tubbing, steaming and saunaing. An old round good day hopefully going on the last spa day with Linda.
Today however, theres a little bad news.
Dottie has picked up on my 'weigh yourself every day' and 'eat low cal food'. I caught her in the bathroom on the scales this morning. She hasn't quite grasped how it works, but she was giving it her all. And last night she was sick! Has she now got bulimia nervosa? I will be observing her closely.
I will de flea her today and see if that raises her self esteem.
Anyway, i had better get ready and dash off for some fill and chill (eat and relax).
Oh heavenly! A lovely massage and the food was divine. Another good day in the Connaught Hotel.
I came home and would have been floating, if i didn't weigh so much!!!
Visited Linda and she dyed my hair, my roots to be exact. Yes my hair is growing and i have roots. Never been so pleased to see roots before.
I have packed and loaded the car ready for my weekend in Broadwindsor, scrapbooking. I just have a few things to chuck in the motor in the morning. I cannot wait. Im gonna have a ball.
I have no internet whilst I'm away, so there'll be no blogging, or anything else for that matter. I wonder if i will be able to control myself and not eat all the nice things that will be on offer? I have bought some fruit to take, and a few chewy sweets rather than eating chocolate cake etc.
Good luck with that!!!

27.8.14

Sam said to me, 'Whats that on your mouth?' I answered, 'its a wrinkle!' He said 'it looks like a cut!' Like I've been out swashbuckling all night!!!
Anyway, its PET scan day today. The day i have a scan to see if my lymphoma has left home or is still residing inside me! Its not gonna be fun!
Its starts off with me being nil by mouth except for water. I told you it wasn't gonna be fun.
Im so hungry! And I'm dying for a coffee. Ive had a cup of hot water and thats it. I must remember, i have to drink loads of water!
Well thats a load of bad advice. The nice girl at the PET/CT portacabin told me i could have had a coffee if i liked and it would have made no difference to the scan!!! Bummer.
So Linda and I, yes my little angel came with me, sat and waited for the nice girlie with her few forms! I think a whole tree was chopped down specially.
Anyway, i was questioned and questioned. Felt like i was in custody in a police station, although they were very friendly. I was cannulated, blood sugar tested (5.5 - normal) and then placed in the holding room pre scan. I was injected with radioactive glucose and left to vegetate for an hour.

This isn't my arm, but gives you an idea of the unusual syringe. I was unlucky enough to have a proper cannula and not a little butterfly!

An hour of relaxation in a chair that you felt you'd tip out of if the foot lift wasn't in place! Oh NHS, how you let us down!
After an hour i felt like my mum had come down from heaven. 'Jill, would you like to go to the toilet?'
Ablutions done and i was arranged on the scan bed. Arms arranged over my head, which isn't easy these days as my arms stretch, but my shrivelled up veins are not as able to do it. Very uncomfortable. 20 mins later after I've been in and out of the scan like my credit card in my purse when I'm out shopping!
I ceased up on the bed. 'Would you like some help getting off the bed?' asked Adam, the nice man who cannulated me.
I was handed a monkey pole (or rope) to pull myself up!
Then was the mad rush to eat food.
We drove to Castle Point and went to eats and treats for a panini.
1) it wasn't a panini
2) it was cold
3) the benches were so hard, needed a cushion
4) an old bat sat on the next table and lit up a cigarette and smoke billowed (I exaggerate) over us whilst we enjoyed our lunch.
The mug of tea was wonderful tho.
A little retail therapy and then i returned Linda to her rightful home and whizzed off to Nurturing by Nature for the pre-ordered large box of minced chicken for the dogs. It wasn't in! So went home empty handed.
Visited by Jenni.
And then a relaxing evening whilst the rain chucked it down. No plant watering needed.
Now the uncomfortable wait for results, hopefully on friday.
Now cuddled up in bed with the lovely thought of a coffee first thing in the morning, before my spa day with Lyn to thank her for walking the doggies for the last few months.

28.8.14

So what happens a month or so after chemo?
Everyones different of course, but for me, apart from needing to lose weight and grow some hair, my fingers are so tender. I can't open jars and bottles without them being very sore. I have no strength in my hands either. Its amazing the amount of every day things that need your finger tips, and i can't do them!!! Im scrapbooking at the weekend, and I'm wondering how I'm gonna manage!
(Scrapbooking - a method of preserving personal and family history in the form of a scrapbook or photo album)
Headaches are another one. Ive had stabbing pains in the back left side of the head. Not excruciating, but flipping annoying. I suppose its neuralgia, nerve pain. Apparently fairly common for chemo patients. The pains have been for about 48 - 72 hours and now have moved to the left side of my head just under my ear!
Fatigue. I feel fine, then bang, and i have no energy to do anything. I have pushed myself a fair bit, some days being back to normal, and when i say normal, i mean pre diagnosis, about 9 months ago. Other days i have managed to drag my corpse out of bed by 11 only to lounge on the cuddle chair in the living room in front of the tv shouting to Sam, 'Can i have a cup of tea please!' His reply, 'do it yourself you lazy hag!'
He does get the cuppa for me tho!!!
My arms ache! Its a 'blame the cannula' thing! If i reach up with either of my arms it feels like my veins are too short and are being stretched. The veins in my wrist just above the thumb are very hard and tender, and the amount of people who when talking, gently smack me on the wrist without realising is unbelievable. And my inner lower arm is very tender. It feels like its all bruised.
I have a cough. This could be a virus, but i think its a side effect of one of my medications. I hope to finish these tablets soon. When i say soon, its when my cardiologist sends me an appointment for another echo and ECG. This will determine my need for the tabs i believe.
A few funny dreams, but i think i had them before. They're just part of my insane personality. As an example, last night i had a few dreams of which i find it difficult to remember, but i do remember running the bath and doing something downstairs in a different house to the one i live in, and i returned to find it had over run and was about 3 foot deep with water in the bathroom, which is impossible cos the water would leave through the door and fill the bedroom and go down the stairs etc. In this dream, the water stayed in the bathroom.
And last but certainly not least, whenever i do anything strenuous i get very achey, very quickly. You know what its like if you do the gardening, the next day you may seize up a little. This, but worse. But also if i sit down to relax, equally i seize up. When i get up to walk into the kitchen, i look like I'm about 70 years old! All i need is a zimmer frame and a strong odour of wee and i will be that geriatric!
Other than all that, I'm fine! I shouldn't complain, I'm happier now than when i was having the chemo. I felt rough at times, certainly for the first 2 thirds, the last third being a lot easier.
I must say i have the taste buds back, ready and willing to sample any type of food that catches their eye!
No more nausea. No more drainpipe down the throat feeling. No more sore mouth, to a degree. Obviously visiting the dentist didn't help with that one, but its better than it was. And do you know what? I can't remember what else i had! The mind is a powerful thing. It has allowed me to forget some of the nasty bits, a bit like child birth. You forget the pain and remember the little bumpkin you end up with.
Altho maybe its not the mind being powerful, maybe its the chemo brain!
Whatever it is, it needs to be taken to bed and put out of its misery until about 7am.
So i shall climb the steps to sleepy byes.

24.8.14

FRIDAY - Had a day out with Rochelle. She can talk for England! I thought i was bad. But nice day at Toad Hall. Home then to prepare for Rachel, Mark, Linzi, Simon, Sarah and Mark coming round for a chinese takeaway. Oh it was wonderful. So good. Not had one for years. A chinese i mean. Sundaes to follow. Various ice creams, sauces and toppings such as smarties, maltesers, meringue, marsh mallows, flakes, wafer fingers and cream. The maltesers went missing...... Mark flipping Coughlan. And my Cava also went missing..... Rachel flipping Coughlan. She assured me it was her wine, poured into a virgin glass by her own fair hands!!! Liar liar pants on fire.  I did however get some lovely Lillies and Asters. It was a very nice evening and i managed to stay up till gone 12.
SATURDAY - After a late night, i decided on a lay in. So late in fact, that i didn't get up until it was time to bath ready for Adrians 50th birthday bash. I was trying to decide what fancy dress outfit i could wear. The theme was 70's, 80's and 90's pop stars. How may popstars do you know with as little hair as i am sporting at the mo. Cilla Black and Petula Clark. Short hair but they wear structured clothes, and the only thing i could wear thats structured at the mo would be scaffolding! I decided my best bet was Miley Cyrus. Bald and no clothes. So i did Miley with her clothes on.  It went well until Ali, the party host, told us we had to sing a song belonging to the star that we were impersonating.
Wrecking ball - naked and twerking on a demolition ball. Luckily i gave it a miss.
SUNDAY - lunch with Julie at Peters Finger in Lytchett Minster. Sat nav took me to Upton, about mile and half away. Very useful. But i found the place and one roast pork later i was stuffed and unable to fit in a dessert. Lovely to see Julie.  Came home and managed to do some more gardening until it got cold and dark ish. And then indoors to chill with the girls who managed to spend the evening arguing over, and chewing a plastic burger toy.

21.8.14

SUNDAY - Tidying the lounge has been constant. Occasionally i sit down and the untidiness gets to my OCD and i have to get up and carry on. Im getting there, but its a slow process. Everything had a place before Sam said 'lets change rooms', now I'm finding it difficult to find homes for everything. I may have to chuck stuff out!
MONDAY - Went to see Lee Evans in concert with Chris and Heidi (his friend). He was very funny.  Lee Evans was very funny too!!! Im surprised he doesn't do his performance with a drip up. He sweats so  much. He must be dehydrated. No wonder he's so slim, maybe i should become a stand up comedian, but it would be nice if i could sit down whilst i do it, before i fall down!! Strangely he went into serious mode at the end of the performance. He started to play piano and guitar and sing, with meaning, not with jokes, which was a disappointment for me. I felt it was a little self indulgent and a bit cringey.
Id still go and see him again tho. He was hilarious. I noticed he swears a lot, which isn't a problem, but i didn't notice it before, and he keeps doing this type of laugh whilst looking down. Either cos he's trying to remember whats next or cos of a lack of confidence. Very odd, but then he is only human.
WEDNESDAY - It was root canal filling day today! Cos of some anxiety that i seem to have now (although i did have it before chemo where the dentist was concerned), i had a valium tab and by the time i got to the dentist i was definitely chilling! All i can say is, it went swimmingly. I had no problem with it, and 45 mins later i was sat outside in the waiting room whilst Sam took his turn in the electric chair.
THURSDAY - Today however, is hygienist day. Im hoping after 6 months of trying my best to floss and clean a mouth that was very sore, the hygienist is gonna remove so much plaque that i lose half a stone in weight. That would make me very happy!
With regards my weight, i have lost half a stone! I was hoping for more by now, but when you're being invited out for lunch and having BBQ's to thank those wonderful people who have been supportive to me, its gonna take some time.
BBQ Phase 2 is on friday. Although less of the BBQ and more of a take away. A bit more relaxing for me.
Hygienist done. Apparently my teeth weren't too bad considering I've not had any pointy shiny tools in my mouth since last year. Another negative out the way. All I've got now is my scan next wednesday, and results on the friday. Then i can relax.
Lunch with Marion and Terry. And a jolly good catchup.
I look forward to the weekend, which in my opinion starts now, thursday evening.
In the meantime, i shall top up my sleeping! I seem to have become fatigued again. Its weird how it pops out from no where and I'm unable to do anything except zzzzzzzz!  I woke at 7.40 this morning which is an absolute lay in for me, and then i fell asleep this evening about 9, and if i remember rightly, about 5 too. Sleeping sickness!
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

18.8.14

Yes i missed a day, so bite me!
Ive decided i don't have loads of chemo stuff to report, or anything else for that matter so I'm gonna stop blogging every day. It gives you all a break from 'i feel ill, i feel better'!
I will still blog, but not every day, maybe once or twice a week depending on how popular i am, and how many times I'm invited out! Obviously i will be available for treatment and tests, and anything health related. I have a scan scheduled for the 27th august. Looking forward to that!
But today you're in for a treat!
Yesterday after dropping Joe and Jon back at the station for their journey home and back to reality, i met up with my friend Chris for lunch which was nice.
I returned home and stripped the bed, tidied up from the BBQ, inside and out. Put some washing on and sat down with my laptop for a few silly games. Nice and relaxed.
BANG. Sam enters the room!!!
In my house on the ground floor i have a kitchen/diner, one large room and 2 smaller ones. The present layout is:-
the large room - Sams bedroom inclusive of all his recording/music stuff
small room 1 - lounge
small room 2 - my treatment room for all your hair removal and nail needs!!
I tend to spend more time sat in the kitchen diner. Its quite comfy in there.
Well.........Sam and i chatted a while back about him having the 2 small rooms and the large room can become the lounge, as it was intended. French windows and a retractable awning leading onto the patio.
We decided to do it!
It'll be ok in the end I'm sure! But currently, everywhere, and i mean everywhere, is a mess. Sams rooms are fairly well together, but my lounge and diner and hallway are looking like a disaster has occurred.
Today i will mostly be sorting!
However, right now, i have some photos of my garden, all neatly coiffured and in one of them you can just see my painted bench but the colour is indistinguishable.

If you look at the bottom photo in the bottom right hand corner you can just see the tip of a bird table and that is the colour of the bench. Not the purple i hoped for but i can find the colour paint anywhere, except on Haskins outdoor woodwork. I may ask if they have a bit of spare paint or where they get it from.

But look how neat it looks, and thats all down to Lindas hubby, Ian. He was round 4 or 5 hours and didn't stop. He's fantastic. 

And don't worry, i won't put photos of my 'lounge', it would be far too upsetting for you all and could lead to you all needing cognitive behavioural therapy! But in the bottom photo you can just make out my awning and french windows. Don't zoom in, don't do it!!!

Anyway, id better get up! Id better walk the dogs. And then id better start tidying the lounge before Chris gets round this afternoon. He's back again cos we're going to see Lee Evans this evening along with Heidi. Looking forward to that! Even more so, Im looking forward to a rest too!!!

Now after all my blurb about only blogging once a week, i may be back tomorrow!

16.8.14

Its B day - BBQ!
A day full of stress and work. Why stress, i hear you ask? For about 6 months I've had nothing to do, nothing to arrange, nothing to organise. I just sat!
Im so out of practice that I'm finding it, not difficult, but it came so easy to me before, so a little bit stressful.
And the work, I've had to make a list, which i always did before, but its more of a necessity now. Luckily i have Sam, Matt, Joe and Jonathon to help, hopefully.
On the whole tho, I'm looking forward to it.
My sprained shoulder is still sore but I'm sure i can battle through it.
Its 9.30pm. Im shattered. I can hardly walk cos my ankles and my back are so sore. I spent all morning chopping veg to make salads and stuff. Ive sorted, arranged, organised, and so on. The garden looks a treat with my table cloths and jugs of flowers on each table, and the newly bought chair cushions look so nice.
Ian has been round and blitzed the garden and done such a good job. I will photograph it tomorrow and show you how gorgeous it looks, immaculate.
A quick bath and time to get my new dress on. Its 4 inches too long!!! Best plans and all that!!! So another, old, dress chosen instead, and downstairs just in time for the guests arriving.
Sat and chatted for an hour or so. Why is it i can't just sit and continue chatting? Why is it i have to go and organise and do all the washing up etc? Why can't i delegate? Is it cos i don't think anyone can do it better than me?
By 5 i was knackered. My ankles were aching and my back, only to get worse throughout the evening cos i can't just sit.
5 o clock and barbecue lit, more organising for me in the kitchen.  Sam and Matt were amazing. Joe and Jenni helped a lot too.
Everyone had praise for the chefs - Sam and Matt, and for me for all the food. I had no appetite. I chose all the food i liked and i couldn't eat it! Ice cream sundaes for desert. I managed one of them!!! They were lovely, everyone enjoyed them. And it wasn't long until people started to go, in fact they all went before it was dark, which was a shame as i bought lots of lanterns specially.
So its 9.30 and I'm sat on my bed and nearly every part of me is throbbing. I really need to sort out a stretching routine cos everytime i do anything, my body aches.
There is lots of food on trays scattered round the kitchen which needs putting in the fridge, if theres any room.
Tomorrow i have so much to sort out to get the house back to how it was.
But right now i feel so tired that i can't be bothered to crack a joke or even smile. So I'm gonna leave it here and go to bed.
Goodnight from Mrs Grumpy.

15.8.14

Big shop at Sainsburys, ready for the BBQ.  A mortgage has been arranged specially. Sam came along for the ride and kept me in check! A whole car boot full and it only just about fitted in the fridge.
Actually, its not for the BBQ, its a little snack for me this evening!
I picked Joe and Jonathon up from the station, a little drive down to Bournemouth Pier and back again for them to see the sea. It was so clear, the view. It looked beautiful. So lucky to live here.
So home and cup of tea in the summer house and then back to my rightful place, in the kitchen.
Roast chicken was lovely. Stuffing, potatoes, cabbage, carrots and broccoli. Difficult to execute cos of the lack of work surfaces. The kitchen is full of bread rolls, different sauces, bottles of juice, and onions....... so many onions. Its gonna be fun chopping them tomorrow!
Away from my BBQ, my health.
I have sprained my shoulder, maybe when i was swimming yesterday at the spa day. Im sure it will go quickly, it better!!
My fingers seem to be getting more tender. I find it difficult to open things, i.e. tupperware pots. Hope it goes in time.
The shortness of breath seems to be a bit better. Indigestion is better than it was.
I think I'm getting better!
Still fatigued, but i can cope with that.
And on that note, time for sleep.

14.8.14

What a busy bee I've been. Gardening, tidying, organising and arranging.
The BBQ is as clean as it can be, the bedroom is ready for Joe and Jonathon coming to visit, the garden is still a mess in places, and thats the way its staying for a while cos I'm too busy at the mo.
Today is spa day. Me and Linda are off for a day or champagne, lunch, massage, relaxing, swimming and jacuzzi-ing, chatting non stop, laughter and other lovely things.
My only worry - will the swimming costume still fit!!!
It fits!!
After an unavoidable delay we arrived at the Connaught Hotel in Bournemouth. What a lovely  place. The staff were so friendly as well. We had a champagne lunch. It was beautiful. Then a massage, which was really nice. And then a few hours of relaxing, chatting, swimming, chatting, relaxing, a cup of tea and a bit more chatting! Had such a lovely time. And I've gotta do it all again in a couple of weeks with Lyn.
Home at 7pm. Bed at 7.30!!! Not really, but I'm shattered, so in bed now - its 10pm!
Good night sleepy head.

12.8.14

Woke up to the sad news that Robin Williams has died at the age of 63. What an absolutely awful shame. He apparently was the most empathetic and caring man. Always one of my favourites especially in Mrs Doubtfire. He made me laugh so much.
Dentist appointment this morning. I had to cancel my last appointment in january because of the chemo. Cos of low immunity its not recommended, but also, chemo causes your mouth to be sore, in my case anyway, and feeling rough, you're really not up to instruments, hands, etc in your mouth.
I have been aware of some pain in one of my teeth, so i was not looking forward to it.
X-rays taken and i have a hole in that same tooth. Surprise!
Im booked in next week to have it filled. Its close to the nerve. She has said she will try to fill it but if she can't it will be a root canal filling! Something to look forward to.
Now onto the wonderful job of cleaning a barbecue that hasn't been used for over a year. What a mess!
Ive painted it with oven cleaner and then it poured down! Each time the sun comes out i go out and titivate it a bit.
And there was what looked like a black widow spider in it. Extra meat for the BBQ!
Looking a lot better, but nobody would mistake it for a new one!
Tomorrow i shall mainly be shopping for BBQ stuff, and i need some pillows for Joe and Jonathon coming to stay. Its either new pillows or roll up the dogs bed.
Ive just realised i didn't post this! My memory!

11.8.14

Bench painted! I will take a photo later, or tomorrow when its dry and in place!
I did an hour and half of painting and gardening.
The first time for months I've had a very warm bath and been able to soak in it. Lovely.
An hour also spent chatting with people on the Hodgkins Lymphoma site. Its time for me to be able to give back a bit. New members asking questions and needing advice. Its lovely to be able to help someone.
Theres one lady, her hubby is sooooo itchy he can't stand it. He has sweats, and many enlarged lymph glands. He has an ultra sound tomorrow. He needs a biopsy taken from a lump cos an US won't diagnose it. But it seems almost text book that he has lymphoma. Don't get me wrong, neither me nor other members are now in the habit of diagnosing, but she has already decided it sounds like lymphoma!!! Ill let you know when i find out.
Another member, she had it for 2 and half years until she was diagnosed.
She saw the doctor with itching amongst other things and GP said it was in her mind. She was even called Mrs Itch by the GP!!! GP printed off the internet about itching being in the mind and gave it to her.  I would have printed out HL and taken it to the GP to ensure she didn't misdiagnose again!!!
Lizzie, another member, is also panicking cos she has her check up this afternoon. Cos she's lost some weight she thinks the lymphoma is back. Im almost certain its nothing, but this is the life of a lymphoma sufferer in remission. A life full of worry and paranoia.
But anyway, paranoia but to bed and on with some chores.
I got a bit carried away. Theres an area that was overgrown, in fact theres loads of areas that are overgrown. Well I've dug it all, weeded it all, covered it with membrane and I'm deciding what to do next!!
I also now need to be on traction. Im knackered, and I'm supposed to be going shopping with Linda at 3 and I'm covered in mud and I'm hot and sweaty!
Shopping done. Partly ready for BBQ on saturday.
Just home in time for food and out with the Rock Choir girls, Jenni, Jenny, Laura and Linda. Had a hoot.
Now home ready for bed.

10.8.14

Oh its wet wet wet (sang to the sounds of 'Oh its hot hot hot'!).
Absolutely chucking it down and very blustery. The window slammed shut at about 4am, which saved me having to get up and close it cos the blind was banging back and forth, and keeping me awake.
Unable to paint the bench cos it was so damp and by the time the sun came out i was shattered. The fatigue has returned. Oh well, i better take it easy then!!
So.......
Spoke to no one.
Bored to tears!
Tidied the linen cupboard, got bedding ready for Joes visit next weekend, changed my bed.
Tomorrow i intend doing stuff. Im having a BBQ next weekend and i have loads to sort out. I have another BBQ the following friday.
So as its 10.30 i should be up them stairs!

9.8.14

Woohoo. First coat of colour on my bench done and now drying in the sun. I went a bit mad and painted everything else in the garden too. Bird table, tit box (!), the floor, me..........
The washings on the line blowing in the wind. Gotta get it all dry before the storms tomorrow!
I had so much washing (2 loads!) that i hung it all on the line and i couldn't be bothered to hang all of Sams socks, so draped them over the garden chair right in line to the sun. One or two blew off and the dogs have been chewing them!!! Oops.
Not much else to report until 7.30.
Lyns Hen do at Peppinos. Food was ok. Lovely company. Got a bit raucous at times. Filthy lot these nurses!!! A goody bag full of willys and stuff, and a cupcake and love hearts.
In bed and ready for shuteye.
So just a quickie today. Don't think tomorrows gonna be much longer either.

8.8.14

A bit more gardening this morning. So much to do.
Had a lovely phone call from Elizabeth!
She has an American accent and is probably living in Delhi!
'Hello Ma'am. My name is Elizabeth. I have been informed somebody from your address has had a car accident in the last 2 years. Is that correct?'
'Well you seem to know all about it so you tell me.'
'Can you tell me who had the accident, Ma'am?'
'You obviously know all about it, so you tell me who it was.'
'I have a report from RTA department, thats road traffic accident,  saying somebody at your address had an accident in the last 2 years.'
'If you know theres been an accident at this address then tell me about it.'
'My name is Elizabeth. I have been informed somebody from your address has had a car accident. Is that correct?'
'I can't remember, tell me when it was.'
'Ok.'
The phone went dead.
Sounds like a 'no win, no fee' online solicitors to me!!!
A little trip to Castle Point for a coffee with Linda. Got there and realised id left my phone at home. I felt like id had my limbs cut off! Normally, when we meet, either she rings me or vice versa to see where i am. No phone. No arrangements of where to meet other than M&S. I stood by the main door and waited. It was 2.30 and no sign. I chatted with the young man giving out lingerie money off vouchers. Nice man. A lady offered to ring Linda using her phone, but of course, i don't know her number! Nice lady to offer tho. It got to 2.45 and still no sign. Eventually she walked through the entrance looking like a wreck, mentally anyway.
She'd got caught in the roadworks on the way to C Point, (I'd taken another route specially cos of the traffic jam, i got caught the other day) after receiving a stressful phone call before she left home.
So she was unaware i had left my phone at home. She was just buzzing! Poor thing. Nothing a chat, a coffee and a shared slice of bakewell tart couldn't sort out, for now anyway.
Got home to s huge spider lounging in the corner or the hall. Obviously drying off from the rain.
He was too high up for me to catch him in a glass, so the hoover technique was used. He's now back out in the rain. No rent, no room!!
Dotties been scratching a lot just lately. Ruby joined in. And at Chris's house, his dogs too.
Don't know who infested whom, but we've got rid of the rats and the fleas have moved in!!
I dont understand it. The girls were de-flead on july 6th and aug 3rd.
So a trip to the vet and £135 for the pleasure!
Ive sprayed the house from top to bottom and I'm sat on my bed waiting for it all to settle before i can start on a chicken dopiaza!
The curry was divine, and i have 2 portions in the freezer for when i feel like a ruby murray!
So after a busy day, its time for peeps!
See ya tomorrow.

7.8.14

Met Tracy at Golden Acres today for a cuppa tea and a toasted tea cake. Nice catch up. Heard all her news and told her mine. We can both talk for England! She bought me a lovely sign which I've put on my dresser until i decide where its forever home is. Isn't it lovely, and so apt!

Bought a couple of geraniums and now have the job of potting them and sorting my other, nearly dead, pots! I got a bit carried away and started hacking at ivy and other plants in the vicinity of the pots. But the important thing, i did it!
Marion nipped round to see me and we talked Italian Lakes. She's just got back from her holiday staying at Bellagio on Lake Como, a place where Chris and I go every december.
Whilst chatting with Marion a Wessex Water van pulled up armed with my Non Return Valve.
Asta la Vista rats!!!!
It didn't fit!!!!
They've gotta come back and do something to make it fit. Normally they just slide in, but a liner has been put in to make the drain stronger in the past. Why am i not surprised it wasn't straight forward?
The boss came along too and tried to explain why the problem wasn't sorted, and still isn't sorted. Usually they go through the steps they've done with me and its sorted which makes him believe theres a further problem. That being, the pipes that run under the house may have a crack where rats get in. With one of these valves in that will stop the problem, but it doesn't help the fact there could be a crack and that could do damage to the property. So next job is to get in contact with the insurance company and get a camera down the loo!
Hang on a minute, didn't i ring the insurance company earlier in the year with that same request?
I shall ring them on monday and see what they say!
At least the valve will stop the dirty little creatures in, fingers crossed.
What if they put the valve in and a rat or 2 are already in the house? They won't be able to get out. I have visions of them moving into the spare room, asking for a TV and helping themselves to stuff out of the fridge. A bit of cheese every so often, maybe rice krispies for brekky. Sage and onion stuffing for lunch. I know they like that cos they helped themselves to a box before i realised they were getting into one of my kitchen drawers.
One thing i did ask the boss when he was here......
Is there anyway you can catch some rats and take them to the house where the people who sold me the house have moved to and put them in their drains?
His reply, 'It can be arranged!' Bless him. If he could, i would seriously consider it!!
A lovely visit from Linda. We've not seen much of each other cos she's been so busy since her holiday catching up with work, so lots to chat about.
Whilst we were attempting to catch up a couple of weeks in a short space of time the door bell rang.
A young lady in a t shirt with a charity logo (don't ask me which charity) stood there.
'Hi, I've just been to your neighbours down the road, George and Margaret.'
'Never heard of them,' i replied.
'Have you noticed our car in the street?'
'Im sorry i give to charity in my own way not by people knocking on my door.'
'Im not asking for money or handouts,' she replied, 'we're just coming round chatting to people.'
I replied, 'Ive just had chemo and not interested in standing at my door chatting about charities.'
'Is there someone else i can talk to then?'
The flipping nerve. Theres so much i could have said to her, but i didn't want to be rude or swear!
And she looked annoyed that she didn't get her own way!
Apart from the sign saying no circulars, adverts or charity stuff through my letterbox please, i need one saying, no charity callers as well.
Maybe a beware of the dogs sign!

6.8.14

Hello! Mrs Stroppy from Bournemouth here!!
I must be getting back to normal cos I'm noticing irritating things on the radio whilst I'm driving!
Theres a competition on Heart radio.
3 celebs (and i use the term very loosely) say one word each in the catchphrase, 'Who's, on, heart'.
Listeners ring in and guess who says which bit and i believe the prize is quite hefty.
The thing that has got my goat......
A listener names the 'celebs' he or she thinks it is, and the DJ says, 'Shall i lock those names in?'
Why doesn't he say, is that your final answer? He's not locking anything into anything. No keys involved. He just plays a 'jingle' that makes a sound that everyone knows means they're 'locked in'.
Why does that irritate me so much?
I can't stay irritated for long when I'm left this little package on my doorstep!

Not sure exactly who left it, but i have an idea. The cake angel would be a good name for her.
I shall have to put the kettle on and cut a slice, its only right.
Oh its turning into an even better day.
Wessex Water have telephoned me and they're going to fit a non return valve in my drains to stop the demon rats from breaking and entering my house! And probably on friday. Hip hip hooray! No more scratching, no more patter of tiny feet, and no more reason for me to swear at the little blighters!
Oh! Apparently, the cake angel isn't the person i thought it was. I am in the dark as to the good samaritan. Its a mystery!
2 more things for today.
I can't stand Nicole Scherzinger doing adverts. Hair shampoo (don't know which brand) on airplanes and erotic noises, and muller yoghurts. She irritates me. She's so silly and giggly. She's probably doing what she's been told to do, but i can't cope with those ads. Saying that, i didn't like her on X Factor either. She's too over the top. Just had to tell you that.
And the other thing, a revelation. You know how you've heard how exercise allows you to release endorphins which make you feel good and give you a buzz? Well its never happened to me. Today a doctor on TV (so its gotta be true!) was saying this is impossible cos endorphin molecules are too big to pass through whatever membrane they would need to pass through. AND... exercise doesn't make everyone fitter, thats a myth. Its genetic as to whether it makes you fitter. It may be good for you, but doesn't make you fitter. AND.... its not the exercise thats good for depression, its the being outside thats good for depression.
They tested a group of 65 year olds. They performed short burst of exercise for a minute or so and that had more benefits than a long session.
Now I'm sure there are plenty of people who will argue with all this but i quite like the fact that its debatable. So, in the words of Heart radio, I'm gonna 'lock this in'!!!

5.8.14

Home sweet home and then a quick visit to Jean and Rochelle. Non stop chatting.
Lip chatting, thirst quenching, love giving, humour taking, good buzzing, cool talking, fast chatting, cool grazing, afternoon tea!
Home sweet home again!
No letters, no voicemails on the land line, thats what i like to see. Nothing that requires me doing anything. Sam had filled the dishwasher, AND turned it on! Im lost, nothing to do!! Ive been so busy at Chris's house, which is good, it means I'm getting back to normal.
I am making a green thai chicken curry, or is is a chicken green thai curry? Or maybe even a green chicken thai curry? Whatever it is, it smells flipping wonderful.

Delicious and nutritious!

Tomorrow is Slimming World weigh in. My first one. Hope I've done well. Ive been fairly well behaved!!!!

I shall let you know, i have no doubt. 

Now i must catch up with some shut eye. Im shattered after a couple of days with Chris, what a slave driver!

4.8.14

A busy busy bee today.

Tidied my bedroom at Chris's house. The untidiness was none of my doing i might add. Cos Chris moved in about 6 weeks ago, and cos he can't get upstairs, it stayed a mess until today. Now it looks almost pleasant. A nice lick of paint, a tv point, a tv, a curtain, and it will look lovely.

So then i went to the garden centre with Sharon and Chloe and bought some plants for Chris's garden. Camellias and roses. Sharon dug a huge hole in the clay soil so we could leave the plants in the large pots (sunk in the soil), otherwise they wouldn't last five minutes. Ive fed them and watered them, so fingers crossed.

I repotted Chris's cheese plant. It was drooping badly cos no body ever looks after his plants! It is now staked and in a large pot with holes for drainage. Maybe someone will care for 'Cheesy' when I'm not here?

And a trip to Sainsburys for some food for the day, and dog food (minced beef) cos i wasn't intending staying here 2 nights and therefore didn't have enough food. 

I am now shattered. Could do with bed, but its only 8.30. What a lightweight.

I shall now attempt to turn on the TV in the living room. Sky! I had Sky for years at my last house, so why have i no clue how to turn the flipping TV on!

Haha, 5 minutes and I've done it.

I am now gonna retire on the sofa with the doggies. All 9 of them!

3.8.14

A day of mixed feelings and its only 6.18am.
I awoke feeling happy that next door neighbours are away camping for a few days and so i am not awaken at 6.30, as i am every sunday, by the sound of 'him' going to golf at 6.30, and the sound of his very noisy exhaust, only to realise i have awoken anyway!
Then to see Rachels lovely doggie, Princess Pigalina, has gone to the doggie heaven in the sky. She will have pride of place being that she was such a sweetheart. Its always so sad when this happen. I always feel more for animals than humans but just wish i didn't have to cry whenever i hear this has happened. I cant imagine how Rachel and Mark must be feeling. And it was Marks birthday too. How awful.
RIP Pigalina.
But life goes on. Its a beautiful day already. The sky is blue and the sun is shining. Or is it Pig shining down on us all?
I was driving to Chris's house and my iPod was playing. I was singing along having a whale of a time. And then, 'More than a Woman' by Tavares came on. I have a soft spot for that song because my mum used to think it was 'Bald headed woman', and how strange a bald headed woman was singing it. Me!!
Ive noticed a few of my symptoms seem to be disappearing. I don't have indigestion so much now, which is wonderful. My taste buds seem to be back and my mouth doesn't feel so fuzzy. Im not so short of breath, which I'm really happy about. My hair is growing back, as is my eyelashes, and my facial hair!! My goatee is really shapely now!!! And probably a few other things, but my symptom of being forgetful and stupid remains!!!
However i seem to have an anxiety problem now. Not so much as I'm anxious about stuff and having panic attacks or anything. But i seem to see the dangers in things. I was hedge trimming and kept thinking the trimmer on a down ward stroke of the bushes could easily cut my leg or foot. I was ironing and fully aware that i could burn my arm if i leant over too far. I was chewing some gum in the car whilst singing and kept thinking i could inhale it, and whilst choking i could crash the car. I must say I've had this for a little while, not sure if it were before chemo or after. I can't remember that!!!!
Maybe a frontal lobotomy would help!

2.8.14

My back was aching yesterday so i was trying to be careful with it. It felt a lot better this morning so i lazed about a bit.
It was pouring down so i thought it was gonna be like that all day. But i was wrong. The sun came out and smiled down on everyone. I decided to do a few chores outside. But what shall i do, theres so much that needs doing.
I decided on hedge trimming.
Hedge trimmer on alert, i trimmed the first bush, which happened to be prickly. I did the front but couldn't reach the top so its very straggly on top. The same happened as i moved along the bushes. Loads taken off tho. The garden looks bigger! Still loads to do tho.
And guess what? My backs hurting again!
Its time to do some dinner, so i had better venture downstairs after an ickle rest and hope the back is feeling better.
It seems to me, cos I've not done anything strenuous for 6 months or so, if i do anything now, i get a bad back! Hope it sorts itself out soon.
Tomorrow I'm off to see Chris again, so hopefully my back will get a rest.
Anyway time for The Inbetweeners the Movie. Very funny but it affects my OCD. All the lads and the girls are ripping of their clothes and running to the sea to do a bit of skinny dipping. Chucking bags and undies and clothes on the way to the shore. All i can think is, 'Pick up your stuff and fold it neatly and keep it all together on a sunbed.'
Throw caution to the wind? Never!

1.8.14

August already.
Ive waited since january for august to arrive. Ive been desperate, and its taken so long. Now its here. Ive been through so much and now i almost feel like it was a dream, or a nightmare.
I feel like skipping!
I had a very lazy morning. I stayed in bed! I didn't intend doing that. I was about to get up and a friend rang me and we were on the phone for over an hour. I only said a few words mind you!!! Hard to believe, but true.
So i got up, I went to the travel agents to drop some paperwork for the cruise, and then i met Linda for lunch at castle point and did a bit of shopping.
Now I'm home. I have a choice of ironing, repotting my flower pots, painting the bench, paint my nails, or just plain sitting on my a*se watching tv.
Which is it to be? I'll leave it to you to guess!
I did very little, but i did paint my nails.

I must remember to wear my marigolds.
For some unknown reason i have back ache today. Of course, the first thing you think of is, 'its back'! Im sure its not, but it can't help but cross your mind.
Out for dinner with Miss Linzi this evening. Nice to catch up altho we had an argument (not a real one) about who sent the first text. Me!
The food was crap, but the company was good.
Home now and tucked up in bed.
Tomorrows another day.