Just checked in for a quick peep before going to bed. Thank you for your kind words. Flipping heck, think we’re all crying today! Janey, your mum didn’t give you anything, nor you your daughter, it all goes back hundreds and hundreds of years. Tomorrow is another day and we’re all going to be fine, remember gorgeous girls, we are willow trees, we bend but we don’t break. Love you all. Night night xx
Oh Mary I’m so sorry your going through such a tough time too. I’m sure we’ll get our mojo for work.back at some point.
Fingers crossed that your colonoscopy goes ok. Sending you.much love Clair xxx
Well, Clair, it’s not surprising you feel the way you do when working with highly vulnerable children with those staffing problems. That would be a challenge to manage anyway, let alone returning to work after bc treatment, so don’t be hard on yourself, it’s only because you care. Good luck with your boss tomorrow & ditch that guilt! you are allowed to feel the way you do & prioritise your recovery needs.
Beth, I think you’re right about the pressure we put on ourselves at times & to feel ok about reducing those expectations down a notch or two.
Also, do take care, Marydan.
Lesley, I love your quote about willow trees - so true!
Janey, our hotel is the middle of ‘The Rocks,’ & we’ve already had a wander around. V. nice indeed.
There’s a great view of the harbour from the hotel roof…
anyway, it’s 4.30pm here & a bit jet lagged, so I think I will have a little snooze…
love to everybody
ann xxx
Good morning willows. Today is another day xx
Wish you could send us some sun Ann, think it would cheer us all up. Himself has just phoned me, saw doc on time, referral being sent to hosp for his gullet/oesophagus stretching procedure to be done, good start to the day. Off to get nails done, always cheers me up then lunch with the knitting ladies at the local museum. Painkillers taken as headache didn’t come on time last night but arrived this morning instead, maybe that’s progress? Not sure but my new positive self is going to take it as so. Snowdrops in garden almost open, daffy all poking through, feel Spring is just around the corner. Enjoy your day all, and really hoping work is better today xx
Morning - I have been prompted to go searching for Joan Armatrafing’s song Willow! A quick hello hug from me in between gym and heading off to try and sort more IT problems!! I hope your nails look fabulous Lesley xx
Lesley, I love the willow image, and it’s so true, we will all get there in the end, just our lives might have a different shape, along with our bodies! Hope the headache goes and you enjoy your day.
Ann, I’m jealous of your summer weather, and would even settle for a bit of jetlag to get it. The rain and the wind seem endless at the moment, though at least it’s not as foggy as yesterday, I was driving all day with foglights on.
Helena, how is the serenity coming along? As opposed to rushing I mean! Walking quickly is supposed to be a sign of good health, but not when you’re meant to be taking things easy…
Hiya just popping in to say hi and I’m having a much better day today, I spoke to the head and sorted a few things out and I’m back on light duties again he also said I shouldnt feel guilty xxx
Clair, I’m glad that you’ve got the head onside, and why should you feel guilty? Except that we always do… But you’re entitled to take time over this, it’s a big thing to recover from and it takes far longer than outsiders think.
Helena, this weather is horrible isn’t it? My poor dog didn’t get taken for a walk yesterday because I was at my mother’s all day, and it isn’t looking like we’ll be going out today either. I have a dog flap, so she can hop in and out whenever she wants, but she generally wants to stay tucked up in the warm when the weather is like this. Like the rest of us! Have a good afternoon with your tapestry, I shall think of you sitting there like the Lady of Shalott.
Hello Willows, that’s what I’ll be calling you all now. Janey, Joan Armatrading is one of my favourite all time singer songwriters. A few years ago she was appearing at our local theatre. Was so excited, her first song was Willow, she got halfway through and there was a power cut, then the emergency lights went out, total darkness. Two stagehand stood on the stage with head torches and she sang Willow along with the audience (couldn’t actually hear her) then we all had to get our mobile phones out and use them for lights and were led a few at a time through tunnels to the outside. Thankfully she came back a few weeks later so was able to see her, she was brilliant.
Glad you’re having a better day Clair xx
Nails done, coffee and banooffee cake eaten at the museum cafe, treated myself to a very expensive top in Primark (£3), and now home. Phone call just now, physio for cording week tomorrow arranged by the lovely nurse from the BC support group as promised, so just the aromatherapy massage to come, what a star she’s turned out to be!
Apparently the weather is going to be horrendous tomorrow so will try and do some jobs, especially as I now have 5 appointments next week, 1 Monday, 2 Tuesday, 1 Thursday, 1 Friday, things are really moving xx
Evening all
what a pigging day. Weather has been horrendous here all day. I had a dentist appointment this morning and got soaked on the walk over from the offIce. After a long conversation with my dentist, it looks like radiotherapy has somehow impacted on my gums. She thinks it’s probably down to the my immune system taking a knock and the stress of everything. She then wanted a good feel around my glands and down my neck and I assume everything was ok as she didn’t say anything different!! Anyway, I have to go back for a filling but they can’t fit me back in till the end of March! Then I get to soaked on the walk back to work.
Dried out but of course I had to head out again and got soaked again on the walk across town to the car park. Grrrr
my business partner somehow without saying a word is making me feel I’m exaggerating how tired I am and how much effort everything seems to take. He’s not even asked me how I’m doing since I’ve gone back. Ho hum. It’s not me specifically, he just can’t handle it so ignoring it makes it go away of course. NOT. It’s not helping these feelings of wanting an easier, less stressful work life. I will preserve though.
Taking Mac to the vet in a bit. His new medication doesn’t seem to be suiting him so time for a chat with the vet.
Mum is finding out today whether they are going to resume her chemo again. Fingers crossed.
Life is so damn complicated heh?
catch u all laters xxxx
Beth, typical man! They are idiots, except our own special ones of course, and that’s only because we have trained them.
Dizzy, poor Daisy dog, no walk, mind you, most dogs don’t like the rain either so she was probably relieved that you didn’t drag her out in it…
Helena, funny that your nails have improved, mine used to be great until I hit menopause then they started splitting and breaking. Now I have a coat of acrylic on them, makes them hard as rock, then I have shellac nail varnish, only need them doing every 3.5 weeks, one of my few luxuries and so many people comment on them, worth every penny, make me feel better xx
Dellywellydarling
Dont know if you are sitting on the outside looking in but wanted to make sure you are ok as not heard from you for a good few days. Just let us know you are ok, missing your lovely posts
Helena xxx
Hello lovely willow friends,
It’s absolutely blowing a storm here my cat has been running around the house like a mad thing!
Dizzy and Beth sorry to hear your pooches are poorly 
Beth I’m thinking of printing off the info Sue put here for me and showing the people I work with just so they understand a bit more. Maybe you could do the same and leave it on his desk. We’ve just got to hold on.on there I’m sure we’ll get there in the end <3. Xxxx
Lesley sounds like you’ve had a lovely pamper day xx
Helena thank you for all your lovely words and hugs I’m sure we’ll all get together for the real thing xx
Janey, Lily, Sue, Ann, Mary Delly, and everyone else who’s reading sending you tons of love xxxx
Oh 1 thing I got advised to do by the counsellor was to wear an elastic band around my wrist and when I feel it’s all to much to snap it and remember just to focus on that minute, just thought I’d share incase anyone else wanted to try it <3. Xxxx
Welcome home Charys, you’ve been missed, was beginning to think you and Delly had run away to join the circus, just Delly on the missing list now. The willow things started because yesterday lots of us were grizzling cry babies, so I reminded everyone that that had really pooey days yesterday that we were Willow trees, we bend but don’t break. It’s something I read in a book years ago and it stuck with me. So from now on, your all my willows, cos your strong ladies even though we don’t always feel it. Well done on finishing the decorating xx
Ps, Paul McKenna uses the rubber band thing when he teaches people to get over addictions and/or relieve stress.
Was really peed off today, tried on a pair of trousers and couldn’t do them up! Usually I have the reverse problem. Was hoping it was just a fluke and maybe they were badly made, so just tried on a couple of pairs of my skinny jeans I haven’t worn for a while and had to lay on the bed to go them up and then had blubber hanging over the waistband when I stood up. Think I going to be going on a diet for the first time in years ?
Charys
i think the dentist was feeling for lumps and bumps where we have lymph nodes around our neck. My gums are not as good as they were before rads and during rads my finger nails all snapped or split which may have been a coincidence but they’re good again now.
Dentist says my gums will improve once I regain my strength fully and thinks they’ll be back to normal by the time I see her for a filling. She also said stress can play a huge part.
Happy days!! Xxx
Charys, she was either looking for secondaries or new primaries, but the lecture about not ignoring any mouth ulcers or other sore that hangs around was definitely about oral cancer. She more or less said once you’ve had one cancer you’re at raised risk for others. And dentists are always meant to check for signs of oral cancer on every checkup. She seemed a bit rattled by it all to be honest.
Lily, I will keep my fingers crossed for the weather for your flight on Saturday, and I hope you have a brilliant time. Do I remember you’re going to Venice? I hear that this is a good time of year to visit the places which get really packed the rest of the time.
It’s already starting to blow a hooley here, and the storm warning doesn’t start till 11am tomorrow.
Well the weather is mental!
police reports online showing numerous roads closed around here with fallen trees, power lines and BT cables. Going to be a rough night!!! Good job I don’t sleep much these days. ?