Clare - your baby boy had the look of Mum about him. It is so lovely when they like “tradition”. My 38yr old baby boy still beavers away at the Space Lego in his stocking at Christmas. He laughingly tells me he is too old now, but was so proud to phone me and quiz me re a rattling sound…his six year old daughter and four year old son ( my darling monsters) making Lego spaceships!!!
Sleep well …Galantophiles is a new word for me so thank you for the education
Cackles xx
Clare, your son will have a particularly nice birthday tomorrow, I’m sure, especially as you weren’t even sure you’d be there for it. And if he does get a Thomas cake, can you please add it as your avatar so we can take a look and ooze admiration for you again. My cooking has always been a bit hit-and-miss. My kids kept a pizza that I’d “cooked” on top of the cupboard for a year - I’d turned the thing into a dark brown frisbee!
Have a lovely day tomorrow, and keep wrapped up warm, it’s really brass monkeys out there tonight and set to get colder. The last thing we need is you slipping over on some ice and breaking bits of yourself.
CM
x
Dear Ladies,
I have been a follower of the BCC website intermitently since diagnosis in December 2010, but truth be told I have not posted messages but have been incredibly grateful to those that have. During that time I have found several threads and many personal experiences incredibly moving. So many wonderful individuals sharing, coping and supporting each other.
Clare, your inner strength, your humour, your compassion for others and humility is something to behold and admire.
Your children and loved ones will already know how much they love you and the eternal mark that you have made on their lives. I hope that they will also gain a warm glow when they know how much you have affected the lives of so many that you have not met but have touched in a quite remarkable way. You are a true role model without having set out to be one; the true mark of a special person.
I wish you all fun and laughter as you celebrate your son’s birthday tomorrow, may it be a day to remember for you all.
Sending lots of love,
Suzanne x
Hi there,
Just woken up after another dozy evening infront of the fire…yum
I had a lovely day today, busy though, my own fault of course because I don’t seem to know when to sit still. I made the cake, not decorated it yet, but hopefully i’ll get to do a bit tomorrow before the lazy birthday boy gets up. I made some butternut squash soup while i was waiting for the cake and also gutted some partridge a kind neighbour donated. Then it was a rush to get dressed for the ladies that lunch.
I drove as I can’t drink much anyway and mine is the only car I would have a chance of getting out of. Was overjoyed to see, nice high chairs with arms when we got to the pub, I had bought a cushion too in case, in the hope that I could get up when it was time to go.
we had a great time with all the catching up of gossip as we haven’t been together for such a long time, usually we met once a month and treated ourselves to a dinner out together but I have missed the last few. Then they all came back for a coffee and port until the school bus came, luckily it stops just outside my house, so we could gather in the kids easily. I admit to having one too many ports…and that unfortunately was my downfall, literly.
My daughter came in and helped me light a fire and I was just getting the coal out of the bag she had bought into the kitchen and I went over again…luckily again, it was a gentle fall, if very inelegant :o) I couldn’t move at first but made my way eventually to the sittingroom and after about 10 mins I managed to get up to the settee. That unfortunately is too low for me to get out of but it was softer than the floor lol. I only had to wait for half an hour before XOH came in and heaved me up again but it does frighten me now,being so weak, I will have to be more careful in future and now will take my stick with me.
So it started off well today, had the little port induced blip and then spent the evening resting.
I may take Jamie to the same pub as today as I know its ok for me to get up and out and it was lovely food too, so he should enjoy it.
Off to bed now as XOH is waiting to see if I can get up ok and get to bed (so kind)
Night night all, hopefully you all have a good nights rest
Clare xxx
Can understand that unreliable feeling as I have a ‘back issue’ at present that just gives way…
It always makes me scream (and stumble) but luckily I’ve always been indoors and I can steady myself. Can quite imagine how inelegant it must be for you, knowing that you can’t right yourself…
You be very careful Clare and maybe give up a little independence if you’re on your own. Wait to be independent when others are in shouting distance.
Obviously I don’t want to lecture you but I’m not sure your stick would be much help if you stumble again and you’re on your own…
I know we all worry for you, as these past couple of days have seen you slip a little too often…
Your tales read as amusing but it must be a great worry for you.
So sorry that you’re experiencing this loss of energy/support.
Would an alarm fob or mobile phone be an addition to you pockets at this time? Just as a precaution?
Good to read your XOH has put you to bed safely.
He does sound a good egg!
Hope you rest easy tonight…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Wx
Clare regards falling, please be careful when carrying hot mug of tea or whatever. Like Welsh Girl I don’t mean to talk to you like to an inferior, but just like to pass on my thoughts and concerns, like I would do if I would see you face to face.
Hope you have a good day,
Christine xx
Clare, you always make us smile with your vivid and self-deprecating descriptions… it must be very worrying for you to fall or to be unable to get up, no matter how much you make light of it. I am glad XOH and offspring are able to help. Sounds like a VERY busy, productive and fun day for you.
Have a lovely day today with Thomas the Tank cake… I’m sure it’ll be brilliant. Enjoy lunch and be careful with the falling over juice 
Haha,
Falling over juice, I think must be reserved for bedtime, then I will have something soft to fall on.
I have had a whole week of sleep and wake up feeeling like superwoman but I guess I’m not anymore and will heed all your kind warnings and be goodish…
My next on the list to do is totally stupid but I may do it if I feel secure and have enogh help.
For the last 8 years my friend Carolle and I have become the sledging queens on the slopes in my village, we used to start in the morning and go back very exhausted bunnies, having been up and down the slopes all day. homemade blackcurrant vodka always helps in this situation and I carry a hip flask to help us on our way.
At lunch we were trying to work out the logistics of A, getting me to the slopes (nice man 4x4) B, getting me up the hill then C, Whizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. We tend to go down on canoes as they fit lots of people on and they are so smooth to ride. We shall have to see how much snow we get and how many willing helpers there are to get me on my way :o) I know its fallhardy but I could be doing canoing in the river also, but i have marked that one off as it really would be dangerous and fallhardy to do it. I’ll let you know how I get on as I have a feeling its gonna be now or never :o) Carolle dared me too, so thats like a red rag to a bull :o)
I hope you all have had a good nights rest and have the best day you can with all your worries and pain control.
Clare xxx
Morning Clare
We’re waiting for snow here in Northants too. Forecast for late afternoon and I’m hoping it doesn’t come sooner or else I might get stuck at lazer maze with 10 screeching 12 year old girls - what is it about girls of that age and the noise they make!?!
I think a military operation to get you on a sledge is a fantastic idea and how lovely to have a great bunch of mates to help you and to share the fun.
Exciting day ahead. Lots of spoons needed;-)
Laurie x
Clare, I double-dare you! Sledging in a canoe sounds like a complete hoot!
Morning Clare
Hope you get to go sledging my kids are so excited we even bought snow goggles this year for them as kept getting face freeze and couldn’t see when going down very big hill!! We even got our retired neighbours to come last year. It is brilliant, thrilling, exciting such a rush. We have two seated sledges from costo they are brilliant, as for canoe that must be brilliant and fast. Both my kids go. Canoeing they hire the boats of the club they are in. I do hope you get lots of help and a 4x4 if I lived closer I would come and take you.
Let’s hope we get enough to go
Silver xxxx
Morning Clare
What are you like;-)
Sounds fun though.
We live opposite a large open space, the Common, and a bit further along there is a big ‘bowl’ that is ideal for sledging so it will be very busy later if we do get the predicted snow.
Last year when we had the 1st dump (ski-ing talk, just to show off!) I was doing my usual early morning walk across the Common to get my newspaper when I spotted a lady walking towards me. I couldn’t quite see what she was carrying, some sort of bright bag? Anyway she got closer and eventually passed me and I saw she had a sledge. Well, I’m no spring chicken and she must have been 10 years older than me, but she just smiled and said she wanted to hit the slopes before all the children got up and couldn’t resist it. It made me smile all day, what a gal
Have a great day whether you sledge or not and enjoy it with your son.
Nicky xx
Morning Clare
Have woken up to beautiful sunshine here in Warwickshire but snow due from this afternoon onwards! I love the snow. Still remember waking in the early hours and getting hubby up to go for a walk before the rest of the world got up…what children we were…lol! Perhaps my snow drops will bloom now the weather is colder.
Hope you get to slide down that slippery slope and feel about 10 again followed by a hot drink by the fire. Feel those cheeks burn!
Twinky x x
Sounds like great fun to me Clare, hope you get the snow and the help to make it happen. Enjoy your sons birthday I’m sure he’ll love the cake.
Thankyou for all the vivid pictures and the smiles! Keep warm aned keep enjoying life xxx
Go for it Clare!
If you want to be safety conscious, you could alway wear a cycle helmet and borrow someones skate boarding knee and elbow pads, then wear so many clothes that no bump will hurt.
You may need some strong folk to help you get up though!
Have fun!
Dx
Did you get to sledge Clare? It sounds incredibly brave of you but absolutely fantastic too! Reminds me of when me and my friend Alison used the tea-trays from her mum’s catering van to go down the hill when we were about 10! We didn’t half get into trouble, but have never forgotten it. Just sitting here now watching the smow fall. I spoke to my son last night who is in Moscow where its -28 degrees. So glad I am not there right now!
Take care in the snow (I sound like my mum now!)
((( ))) & love, Mo xxx
Hi Clare,
Here’s a sledge for you - if you haven’t managed to go today, just imagine yourself on this with a vapour trail of snow flying up behind you!
*
* * ___________
* * __|______|____)
D’s right - you need lots of protection due to your recent penchant for coming a cropper. How about the sort of thing an ice hockey goalie wears? Then we just need to find you a couple of strong handsome ski instructors to help you get on and off… That I’d love to see!
Love,
Jane xxx
Hi there :o)
I’ve had a lovely day, finished the cake but just did a death by chocolate cake as I really didn’t have the time for a full out Thomas creation. Glad I didn’t too as it hasn’t been touched as we were so full from lunch.
We went out to a lovely pub, just outside a little village called Thrup, its always crowded out in there so its some recommendation and we have been saying for years that we would go there. Jamie was pleased too, so we were all happy. The food was great, chairs were high enough too :o) I shall start grading the pubs by their chairs soon lol…
We all had starters and mains but apart from Jamie we were totally stuffed, but he had spotted dick and custard for pudding. Its the first time since XOH and the family have been out together and it really was lovely to do something as a family, the children loved it too and hopefully will be a good memory for all of us.
Jamie has left now for a night on the tiles, I guess. Not sure where he’s off too. A friend just popped in with some really girlie DVD’s so I’ll be watching one of those any minute now in front of the fire.
Snow not really very good at the moment, fingers crossed for a lot over night…It was funny also today Mum said ‘go for it’ when I said about going out to try and get down the slopes but my sister was much more worried about it. If I can’t do it, it will be a shame, we will see what snow we have in the morning :o) and the people out to help me. Between my XOH and Carolles husband I will get heaved up at the end, so thats a comfort to know.
Hope everyone is wrapped up warm
Clare xxx
Good to hear you’re tucked up warm by the fire Clare, tomorrow’s the day for the snowy adventures. Don’t forget about keeping your feet above your hips to help with the puffiness. That gives you an excuse to have your feet up on the back of the sofa as you loll (I always used to get told off for that when I was a kid).
Hi Clare,
I remember earlier on in this thread you said it might be a bit optimistic to try and make it for Jamies birthday. Well you did it, and had a wonderful day - so well done that woman!
Really hope the weather is conducive for sledging tomorrow.
Love your posts - feel so priviledged you are sharing your time with us
love and strength hun
kaj
xxx