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1021

Vercors! I live about 20 mins walk or 10 min train ride from there! How fab it would be to meet up… I will PM you my mobile number and you can text me. How excting. And the sun is positively glowing today to welcome you.

Twinky, I had my chemo from Sept-December (2010) so heading into the cold season and I perfected the most amazing scowl for people who sneezed or coughed without covering their mouths! My medical team had laid the law down very firmly on eating out - only places I knew, only food I had eaten before, no experimenting - by sticking to that I felt safer. That said, so long as I had my anti-bac gel, some strepsils and some clean tissues I sallied forth quite merrily all the way through. My downfall wa sa ride on the Glasgow subway just after the final chemo where I picked up an infection… aargh! Bad me. Should have known better.

Clare, get off the naughty bench now, and back to enjoying life. Glad the (sh) ironing is done, so is all mine… ah the bliss of frehsly ironed sheets, mm mmm mmm. Have a great day and hope you and the other east anglia (or thereabouts) Claredrops have a lovely lunch this week.

1022

Hi all,

Just getting dressed but noticed you post Rev. Glad you are a fellow ‘ironing’ sinner…

It would be lovely for you and Vercors to meet up, it will be a way of joining the group up, meeting one of the down south ladies, then she can give us all the gossip on Thursday :o) I am so nosy…but you knew that anyway. It will also give vercors a friendly face to see to let her escape from work for a while.

I used to get a little paranoid Twinky about infection as in 4 chemos I was in hospital 4 times but I think it was the effect on my blood rather than outside infection to be honest.

Safe trip Vercors, hope the sun still shines on you the whole week.

Love to all

Clare xxx

1023

You pair, what ARE you like! Ironing? IRONING!!! Huh!

Twinks, I went out when I felt up to it, went to crowded places (poolside filled with lots of snotty kids!) and had takeaways and meals out when I felt like it. Managed to get through 6 FEC with only a simple cold in the middle, which didn’t delay my chemo or put me in hospital. There are plenty of people who get through chemo without any infections setting in, so it’s not a complete guarantee that you’ll end up catching something. But the frequent use of anti-bac gel (I kept some in my bag or pocket all the time) and not arranging to spend time with people who are definitely sick, where possible, are sensible precautions. My onc told me I’d be more likely to catch something from myself rather than from other people.

Thursday should be fun. Might have to dash off promptly, possible doc’s appointment for my daughter that I might be needed for. Haven’t heard yet.

1024

Managed some sleep. Was still awake when hubby got up just before 6 this morning. Hate him going but I’ll get myself lots of rest & hopefully enjoy a better weekend with him next time. Looks like a beautiful day. Need to take a slow walk to the Post Office later as there’s another contract that needs to wing it’s way to America ( still chasing my music dreams although been on the CBA bench rather a lot lately due to SEs). Must hang some washing out too & take advantage of this sun. Did do some ironing last night ( hubby’s trousers & 2.5 shirts until he took over) do I reckon that’s enough of that for a while ha ha.

Next door has four children & the level of noise that even just one of them can create has me raising my thinning eyebrows… Still it let’s me know there’s someone nearby if I need any urgent assistance!

Feeling very naked now I’ve had a wet shave on the head…missing my fuzz & stubble but it’ll probably start reappearing any day soon. Got to say I’m feeling pretty unattractive at the moment but hubby is still being fab about everything bless him. Might have taken me many years to find one but he’s definitely the right one.

Ahhh…a soppy moment to start my day ( but later than the rest of you but I was up all night).

Twinky x

1025

Twinks, you just make the best of this week. I hate to mention it, but next week is Easter hols from school so you can expect the volume to increase significantly from next door…

Just back in OH’s house, though we had set off into town for a bit of shopping. Silly woman turning right into the supermarket just didn’t see an estate car (us) coming the other way, and drove straight into us. I’m going to have some pretty bruises on my face where I hit the side window, and have to get a new pair of specs, but apart from that, no injuries sustained. One nice outcome is that the policeman sitting at the table as I type, filling in paperwork with OH, is very “restful on the eyes”… OH isn’t too happy as his car will almost certainly be written off as uneconomical to repair, but it could have been a lot worse.

1026

CM…!!! Good heavens you just can’t have a quiet non-eventful day! Going to tie you to the padded do nothing bench & leave you there for a bit in the hope you’ll stay out of trouble for a while! Massive hugs…and accidently take a picture of aforementioned officer so we can all check him out :wink:

Twinky x

1027

Off to meet Vercors in the next few mins… can’t wait! Will be good to connect with the lovely Claredrops in Real Life.

Thank you for lending us the sunshine.

1028

In sunny Norfolk. Nausea has been a problem for me as well Twinky. Feeling a bit better now but mouth is very sensitive. I know what you mean about germs. I have my trusted gel and when we stopped a the little chef was careful to give my hands a good going over before I got back into the car. Not everyone washes their hands…
My onc reckons I am more likely to infect myself,although I think you are right about salads. It’s a bit like when people go abroad and only drink bottled water then pick up some lurgy from the buffet because it’s been washed in unbottled water…

Hope you are feeling ok CM. My goodness, you need lots of time on the padded do nothing bench!

Have a lovely time with vercors rev cat

Clare, hope you are managing to enjoy the sun

X Sarah

1029

In sunny Norfolk. Nausea has been a problem for me as well Twinky. Feeling a bit better now but mouth is very sensitive. I know what you mean about germs. I have my trusted gel and when we stopped a the little chef was careful to give my hands a good going over before I got back into the car. Not everyone washes their hands…
My onc reckons I am more likely to infect myself,although I think you are right about salads. It’s a bit like when people go abroad and only drink bottled water then pick up some lurgy from the buffet because it’s been washed in unbottled water…

Hope you are feeling ok CM. My goodness, you need lots of time on the padded do nothing bench!

Have a lovely time with vercors rev cat

Clare, hope you are managing to enjoy the sun

X Sarah

1030

Just in from supping tea with Vercors - what a lovely lady she is, not that I was surprised, everyone on this thread is I am sure. She can tell you all the goss (like what a fruit cake I am) when she sees you Thursday.

1031

So pleased to hear tea n’ natter went well for you both Revcat and Vercors - I knew it would. BTW Revcat, I’m attracted to fruit cakes they’re never boring or dull. x

1032

Hi Clare
Thanks for the advice re Azaleas and Camellias. Yes I knew about the soil as I had both those plants in Sydney, I’ve put them in separately, ie not in the raised beds but against a fence where they won’t get the morning sun. I found an everlasting Sweetpea which I am not familiar with so any advice there would be welcome. Spent today sorting out the soaker hoses, my organisational abilities have been greatly decreased by the chemo - well that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it - so it took me ages.
Re Thursday, I won’t be able to make it I’m afraid. I have lots of “odd jobs” that need doing which, though I am capable of many things these I am not. My lovely son-in-law has organised a handyman to come and sort things out for me at his expense - he is coming on Thursday unfortunately - don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth. My SiL says it is to make up for all the baby-sitting I do. I’ll be thinking of you all on Thursday though, many thanks for the offer of a lift CM. Hope your bruises resolve quickly and you don’t develop any other problems such as whiplash. I don’t think you should be allowed out in anything less than a padded suit, ironed of course!!
Spoons and legs up to you Clare - enjoy your lunch out - I’ll come to the next one. Diana x

1033

No whiplash, we were hit in the side so I bashed my head on the side window. Specs ordered, bruises are ok, headache dealt with by paracetamol, so nothing to worry about.

Ragamuffin, shame you can’t make Thursday but I would do the same - and when you’ve finished with him can you send him in my direction? I have so many little (and big!) jobs that need doing around here, and I’m rather incompetent at quite a few things, and too disorganised to do the others.

Got to go, roast dinner nearly ready. Yum!

CM
x

Edit: It was delicious.

1034

HMMMMMMMMMMMM…

Roast dinner and fruit cake, Yummy!!!

Glad you are feeling ok CM, do you have a big red light on you’re head that we haven’t noticed with a sign saying,‘whatever crap you have today, throw it my way’??? I feel for you, with everything else you have to cope with. I bet you’re other half is not amused having to go and find another car. I know the insurance pay up, but its never nearly enough to replace the old one.

Happy you both met up for coffee, vercors and Rev. I had already worked out the fruit cake bit, so I do hope vercors brings us some more gossip LOL.

Sorry if I sounded a bit patronising about the plants Diane, I hope you didn’t take it like that, its an easy mistake to make, sometimes. I never knew raspberries liked lime free soil as well till a few months ago. The everlasting sweetpea is pretty, unfortunately has not sent or perfume, grows vigorously and if it survives the first winter it will live for ever…dies down to nothing for the winter then suddenly takes over, so keep it tied in. An evergreen climber is almandi clematis. Its one of my favourites, it flowers about now, very pretty sented blooms and shiney, quite large leaves, all year round, another vigerous one if you have a long fence or wall to cover, would be ok in a raised bed if it eas quite deep, just remember, like other clematis to plant a little lower in the ground than the depth of the original pot so if you get clematis wilt it will regrow back. I hope again I am not being too much… Sorry you can’t make it on Thursday but it would be really ungrateful to turn down having a man in the house for a whole day, doing you’re chores… :o)

We are all ganging up on you CM…confessing to being Ironers… Hope you don’t feel to left out LOL

Hope you don’t have to work too hard Vercors :o)

Sleep well

Clare xxx

1035

It was lovely meeting Revcat, can’t wait to share something with you.
Actually where are we meeting?
Glagow is sunny as always :slight_smile:
Just back from dinner with colleagues, don’t feel sorry for me, I drank motre than Inshould have but then again I don’t drink too often.
Tomorrow is dinner with customers, I need to behave, (famous last word)
Clare, stock up those spoons.
Enjoy the weather everyone.

1036

Clare I’ll bring you a picture of my magnolia tree which is now in full bloom and it’s beautiful. Lucky for the tree I don’t have to do anything to it as I have brown thumbs.

I reckon someone already has pinned a notice on my back, a bit like kids did at school. I’m just waiting for the next thing. If I believed in curses I’d be a prime candidate. Can’t sleep. Hope everyone else is snoringn

CM
x

1037

Roast dinner —oooh Choccie how lovely.

Yes, Vercors brought some amazing weather with her, and it was just so lovely supping tea looking out over the Clyde.

Back to work today… getting very busy now in easter run-up but I love it.

All thse gardening tips are amazing - but as I live in a third floor flat I won’t be putting them to use! I am very proud of my one 12 year old houseplant that I bouhgt for £1.50 when I lived in Manchester… just about everything else I kill off. Not sure what it’s called, it’s one of those things with tiny red flowers they sell in little pots for kids to buy! Seems to thrive on neglect.

Have a good day all, and Clare make sure you save plenty of spoons for Thursday’s exciting adventure.

1038

Gooooooooood Morning :o)

Bright and shineny here this morning, would put a skip in your step if I could only do the 2 together LOL Very cold though, got a shock when I opened the door to let the doggie out. She is patiently waiting for David on the doorstep, well not very patiently, she’s jigging around like she has ants in her pants!!!

Mum is over today :o) I may have a bit of retail therapy and then a bit of jigsaw, I can’t imagine she will resist temptation… She’s going to buy a mat like mine as she has the ‘bug’! Then tomorrow, I have, finally…my Lymphodema lady and my full length sexy think compression stockings to look forward too. I am pinning all my hopes on her and the scan to be water free or seriously reduced in water so I can move around easier.

I wondered about going to my favourite pub, in Adderbury, The Red Lion. Its on the main road, about 4 miles from me, just after Deddington. Or if anyone else has any ideas???

I guess Rev, easter is you’re busiest time, apart from Christmas, lots of special dates to prepare for, it will keep you o you’re toes for a while and out of mischief… :o)

Hoe did you know another spring favourite of mine is the Magnolia, I am guessing its the little while one stellata. My favorite one comes on a bit later in the season and is called Susan, its a deep two tonned pink, lovely. I left one growing in my old garden as it would have been difficult to move, only to find out it had been chopped down 2 weeks later, I wish I had attempted to dig it up now :o(

Glad you are having nice evenings out in Glasgow Vercors and letting you’re hair down a bit LOL

I have just put all the bedding into wash, apart from my lazy lad who’s still sleeping in his… so I’m afraid before the end of the day it will be either me or mum who gets the iron out LoL, brace yourself CM :o)

I feel very good this morning, apart from the water retantion, I would feel normal, or as normal as is possible with me. I just look a bit scary :o)

I hope you all have a fantastic day…Twinky is obviously having a lay in…go girl…

Lots of luv

Clare xxx

1039

I have just realised…by the end of this month, it will be 3 months since they told me I had a few weeks to live… What a fraud :o) :o) :o)

My Dad says its the miracle he and hundreds others have been praying for, maybe he is right… although I would never tell my dad he was right, he’s a man, isn’t he :o)

Clare xxx SURREAL :O)

1040

Happy almost-3-months-iversary and if you’re a fraud, it’s the kind of fraud we all like very much indeed! Miracle, mystery, or just plain marvellous, the label is less important than the reality that you are living life in its fulness and bringing hope and happiness to others.

Keeping you and yours in my prayers, as indeed all who post here… prayers can be translated as good vibes or whatever works for those who don’t ‘do’ prayer or God or relgious stuff. :0)