And that sun extends all the way into Northamptonshire! Big dog has decided to lie in the sun in his basket. Unfortunately our garden is North-ish facing so the sun doesn’t stay around for long at this time of the year. He’s enjoying it while he can - a message for all of us whether or not we have BC I think!
Isn’t it great when understanding friends call Clare? Knowing that you don’t have to fuss or tidy and they will just be happy with you as you and enjoying time in your company.
Clare,I think you would be on a “naughty” bench, whoops wrong thread!
Glad you had a great night with lots of laughs, love daffies too, a beautiful show but a lot of work afterwards! We had them in the borders big mistake and also on the bankings, they are worth it though, brighten up the whole garden! xx
Down to Bucks with the rays as well. We have had a bramble bash on the common. Burning them to keep the common a common not a tangled wilderness. At various paces the lovely snowdrop was to be seen . All bunches were examined by the " bashers" after been told all about our naughty Clare. So your good work goes on and the number of Claredrops enthusiasts increases!!! I did notice the odd crocus, and wondered why the cows had not eaten them. The birds demolish them in my garden,
Sleep well tonight Clare.
Laurie your dog sounds very sensible.my mutt loved the heat. As for clearing up for friends, what a waste of time. It is better to clear up after they have been. Mine all ignore the odd cobweb etc…they have them too.
Night night
Cackles
I have had a lovely day, again :o) I am a lucky lady :o)
My friend Ju came, with dog and child, totally different mood today, I suggested we went and wandered round woodstock and perhaps have lunch as there is one safe place i know there where I can get up LOL.
We had a lovely time, just browsing the shops ( its where Blenheim Palace is ) so very quaint and pretty. Had a nice lunch too. XOH looked after the dogs, so all was well. I also took her to where my Claredrops are growing on the banks of the single track roads, before my nice walk and made her and her daughter look inside them too, she never had bothered either…
Just fell asleep after she had gone, was so exhausted and need to save myself for the cinema tomorrow with Jenny. She has been at me to go for ages and we have found a nice girlie film to see with Judi Dentch in and many of the cast of calendar girls too.
I am going to keep cushions in the car from now on as they seem to be a regular requirement if I am to go out.
Glad you have all had a good day and the sun has shined on you, night night all, I am going to attempt an early night, in the vain hope that i can sleep some more.
Sounds like you had a lovely day out. The film you mentioned looks good and it’s so nice to see that there is something out which acknowledges that some of us in this world aren’t size 0, under 25 and perfect!
Have you found a picture of Tigger yet ChoccieMuffin? Would like to see that.
Glad you’ve been having a good time this last week Clare. I don’t know where you find the energy! I know the film you’re talking about seeing tomorrow. Saw Dame Judy talking about it on Graham Norton’s show a week or so ago. Might go & see it Weds afternoon after my first chemo. I can drink one of those buckets of pop they serve whilst watching…that’ll start flushing the toxic stuff out!
Libby hope you’re not too sore after your op. I’m just preparing myself for the onslaught of chemo…soft toothbrush, mouthwash, fibre bars & more fibre bars…lol. Anyone else starting chemo soon?
Just retired to bed with my book (Ozzy Osborne’s autobiography…frankly I’m amazed he can remember anything) and yes the bunnies are tucked up under the bed. Can’t believe they go that every night now. It’s only just recently started but despite the occassional chewing of boxes in the early hours I love having then nearby. They spent most of the day frolicking in the garden where my Clare Drops are now in full bloom & look lovely!
Been having a bit of trouble with Hubby. He’s been excessively tearful over Snowy but I think it’s just everything catching up with him as chemo looms for me. We didn’t know one another when I last faced this so it’s all new to him. He read the notes on the drugs & the hospital treatment guidelines today so it’s all starting to seem very real now. He’ll be fine…he’s got me looking after him!
Clare, sounds like you’ve had a couple of really lovely days, so glad you’ve been having fun, laughter really is a wonderful thing. Hope you manage to get a good nights rest so you can enjoy the film.
Twinky so sorry to hear about your bunny, but glad the other two are giving you comfort. Good luck with the chemo, sounds as if you are well prepared. Hope your hubby recovers soon, it’s probably the anxiety about your treatment as well as your loss.
Donna, welcome to the thread.
Hello to all you lovelies, hope you’ve had a good weekend and that the new week is kind to us all xx
Hello again, see I’m not lurking now I’m out in the open. Thanks for the welcome girls.I’d even put a photo of me on here if I only knew how! Me and computers don’t go well together!
Me lurking? That’s funny, those who know me well would also laugh. I’m the one who has to be told to be quiet usually. Well, since my diagnosis I’m all the more out there and grabbing any opportunity to enjoy myself, usually noisily - it’s the only way! Except when I’m alone, then I’m quiet except till I trip over the nearest feather and draw attention to myself! Sorry I’m waffling. Perhaps I should join Clare on the naughty bench.
I wonder how many more readers of this thread log in to catch up with you lovely ladies and be inspired by Mrs Claredrops? Come on, out of the woodwork everyone. Lets watch this space.
Clare how do you do it? Your social calender is something to be rivalled! Keep it up girl. Enjoy the film
Twinky, good luck with the Chemo, I can’t imagine having any more just yet, my last course ended early December. As far as I can gather there’s no way of knowing when more chemo may be needed - just wait for more symptoms I suppose. Hmmmm
Been lovely weather here today (Warrington) so enjoyed the sunshine with mum.
Laurie, big dog has the right idea, I’m with him, the best way to spend a sunny sunday.
Libby, hope you are feeling better now you’re home and good luck with the results.
Well off to bed now, goodnight all
Donna
Good to hear you had the energy for another day out, it seems last night with your chums was a massive pick me up. Your day sounds to have been really enjoyable, shopping, lunch, pleasant surroundings, sunny weather and Claredrops - what more can a girl ask for!
I went shopping with my dau, I bought a post operation bra (boring!) which was a bargain from Asda reduced to £6.00, it’s very comfortable. Friday a stye appeared on my eye, I guess I caught an infection as I’ve no lashes, well you can imagine how attractive I feel (not!) no brows or lashes, fat ugly ankles, no head hair and now a stye on my eye, it’s flipping painful too.
Twinky, you must let me know if Ozzy’s autobiography is good, I enjoy autobiographies … maybe 'cos I’m nosy! I’m reading Alan Carr’s at the moment, mind you it’s taking forever as my chemo brain doesn’t absorb what I’m reading, it’s two pages forward and one back.
Oh poor hubby, he’s had a couple of shocks this week hasn’t he? This bl**dy cancer is difficult to get your head around when it’s all new to you, I’m sure he’ll be a tower of strength once he’s accepted all it entails - how you’ll feel and the affects of chemo, give him time and he’ll be your support mechanism.
Have a good day tomorrow Clare, and enjoy your trip to the cinema. Sleep well.
Great nights sleep…maybe you can tell and woke up feeling great but then reality checked as I couldn’t move LOL but the bed just sat me up and I was away :o)
I feel remarkably good, I put it down to taking steroids every other day and shaking off that awful cold. Good company helps too.
I really didn’t think I would be gadding about quite so much LOL, Mum asks me what I have planned for the week, I say nothing much and then all the days are full up!! now how does that happen…
Pictures today, my lovely man in london, I play poker with every night and have done for 4 yrs, is coming up for his birday lunch on Tuesday, wednesday hopefully Diane can come in, poor luv, she keeps on deciding to come and then see’s either cars on the drive or my car gone. Then I am braving the Hospice on Thursday, I have had a kinda fear or mental block where the hopice is concerned, mayb I have visions of them grabbing me and saying, thats it…we got you now !!! Well i’m off for a nose with Mum to see what they have to offer. I may comeout the pampered queen :o)
Mum is then going to stay over and I thought I would treat her for a change and am looking in to booking a proper afternoon Tea at a hotel that does the whole works, very poshly, she so deserves something to please her and I love to see her happy instead of the constant frown she has when she see’s me.
I end this post again, saying ‘what a lucky lady’ and gunuinely mean it…
Luv to all be thinking of you all with your various results and recovery, do let us know how you got on laurie, Chin up for Twinkys hubby :o) and lots of sofa rest for Libby and a lovely day, I wis for Donna.
Clare, your post this morning had really cheered me up. You sound on top of the world (relatively speaking of course) and that’s lovely to see. Taking your mum out to tea sounds like a perfect treat that you can both enjoy. Brilliant idea.
I’m sure you’ll be very pleasantly surprised on Thursday at the hospce. Anyone I’ve ever spoken to about hospices says how very caring and uplifting they are, where the most important thing is the person, not the disease. A welcome change from most medical facilities.
Hugs to you and all the rest of the Claredrops Support Thread.
Hi. Pls dont be anxious about the Hospice. I have first hand experience of their support and my Son and Best Friend spent their last moment with hospice support - they were wonderful (the hospice and the moments!!)
I have only ever heard good things about hospice care and as Sadie and CM have said, they really are about the person and not the disease. And remember, it is a two way door and people come out as well as go in (and I don’t mean in a box
Hi Clare, what a wonderful weekend you have had, you go girl ;-). I hope this week continues in the same way but also allows you plenty of ‘me’ time. As to hospices I have only heard good things about them. I do have some experience of our local one as, once I’d finished my chemo, I was told that all secondary BC patients could have 6 sessions of complementary therapy at our one, for a donation. I jumped at the chance and enjoyed some aromatherapy shoulder massages which helped me so much with the tension that was there. Maybe you can get something similar as a day patient at yours?
Nicky dx
Hi Clare - just wanted to reinforce what the others have said about the Hospice - it’s the person not the illness they focus on. My inherited Claredrops are looking lovely and those I planted are gradually coming up one at a time. May I ask for your advice as to how, when or if I should plant them into the garden- they are in a plant pot at present. Glad to hear your are sleeping reasonably well and that you have found the bed a great help. Good luck to your son with his driving lessons and passing his test. Your social life life sounds great-enjoy it!
Twinky so sorry to read about Snowy I too know just how hard it is to make that decision regarding a loved pet. She will live on in your heart.
Love Diana x
Sounds like you’ve had a good couple of days and more to come. Good luck at the hospice today.
Yesterday I had a lovely lunch with some Shropshire ladies I’ve met through this site. We were right by Attingham Park and I was very tempted to do and do their Claredrop walk, but in the end my own garden was too much of a pull. It’s only tiny, but I enjoy pottering and it was in need of a tidy up.
Have a lovely week all - the temperatures are meant to be rising again.
Will you all stop talking about gorgeous weather please! My day off and it is driecht in Glasgow… so reduced to doing housework how bad/sad is that?
Clare, as the others have said, you will almost certainly find the hospice visit a broadly positive experience. I have to visit them now and then in a ‘work’ capacity but am always struck by the sense of calm and the patient-centred approach. Many have single rooms, ensuite bathrooms, lovely grounds, access to complimentary therapies, chaplaincy support, and so on. If having visited you think it is not for you, many also offer what they call ‘hopsice at home’ where Marie Curie or other pallaitive care nurses can come out to you when the time comes. In my experience, they are never sad places, rather people are enabled to live (rather than exist) for what time they do have. Also just knowing that a planned respite stay may be possible at some stage or that a massage or gentle exercise class is there might be helpful. Remember… you are in control here, no-one can make you go anywhere you don’t feel Ok with. Sorry, this sounds like a lecture… drifting off into profesisonal mode.
Enjoy your sunlight… I’ll keep swallowing the vitamin D supplements!
Afternoon Clare. Katherine House or Michael Sobell? Don’t expect them to grab you in, their beds are too precious for an old gad about like you. It might be good to get a couple of nights symptom control and pampering respite. The food will be lovely jubbly and they will love you to bits just as we do. It is always good to get a foot in the door though,!! That as you know is a realistic view from a retired Macmillan Nurse. Anyway I can visit you at either!!!
I have been to the Lymphoedema clinic got taped up and then had to go for an ECG unexpectedly pre trial. . So literally one hour after it was put on the tape came off … Grrrrr!!! I so wanted it on because it has helped in the past, and due to Radiotherapy I couldn’t have it. I didn’t dare go back to the Lymphoedema nurse as she had taken such care over it, and was running late.
Never mind I will try patching it back when my husband gets home.
Hugs
Cackles
Time to 'fess up - I am a lurker! Have been lurking since this thread started, and have nothing but awe and respect for your strength, courage and dignity Clare, and for all the lovely ladies who regularly post their support for you, and each other. I have mets to liver and spine and the buggers on my liver started to grow again before Christmas, so I am now half way through my second lot of chemo. I have found it tough this time round, not physically but emotionally, and there have been lots of days when I have had to sit down and have a word with myself! Those words have often involved reminding myself about you and the emotions you must be going through, so I just wanted to say ‘thank you’, for inspiring us in ways you probably hadn’t realsied. (And thanks to Donna for encouraging the ‘lurkers’ out!!)
Hope the hospice visit goes well Clare, that Cackles gets her tape sorted, the sun comes out for RevCat and, as someone who absolutely adores their dog - a hug to Twinky and OH for the loss of Snowy bunny.
Gel XXX
What a wonderful weekend you had Clare - and you brought the sunshine as well. I’ve even got daffs open in my garden now, along with the Claredrops. Spring is just round the corner and will be upon us before we know it!
I hope the hospice can do something for you - I know other people have been for massages, aromatherapy sessions etc. I wish I’d investigate our local one while I was having active treatment as I know they often welcome people with primaries along to these sessions.
I have an apology to make… I’m afraid I found some rasberries lurking at the bottom of the freezer and was forced (entirely against my will you understand) to make some raspberry and white chocolate chip muffins with a sugar crust. I’ve just eaten one still warm from the oven. Well, it would have been rude not to…
