Anyone due to start chemo April 14??

[rosie14]

Good morning everyone I had 2 glasses of wine last night and fell asleep in the chair. DH woke me by saying,"are you alright?"💤
We went to a DIY in Pahpos to treat ourselves to a hand held steam cleaner, which I had great hopes for, and I was nearly asleep in the car. I am still so exhausted. I did manage to walk the dog yesterday morning and I shall probably take her again today.
DH helped me use the second half of the hair colouring which has been successful. I think next time it will be just over 6 months since finishing chemo I will go back to my hairdresser. I think by then I will have to bite the bullet and get it trimmed it's sticking out rather. I have started to use hair gel again. Thought I may return to my shampoo, conditioner and shower gel after using the Johnsons wash all over. It's been 3 weeks now since end of rads and burns have more or less gone.
Wildpurl hope you have making good progress with the blanket.
Lovewine hope you noticed further improvement in your dad.
Joan, Jackie, Lisa, Cassie, Tlj and Kirstie hope you are all well and up to date with your preparartions.
It doesn't feel a lot like Christmas here the day time temps are still low 20's. DH and I agreed it was very cold outside last night . I asked him what he thought the temp was, we have a gauge outside the back door, he guessed 12 it was I fact 15. We will be bringing our warm clothes. Only just started wearing my thick jacket in the evenings! There aren't many people about in the evening a lot of the hotels and restaurants close for 2 months over the winter.
I used to enjoy landing in UK 2 or 3 days before Christmas and joining in the last minute shopping and trolley filling! This year is every different flying on Christmas Eve so most of the shops will be closed when we land!!!✈️
DS and fiancée land from France 3 hours before us so will already be at the Premier inn. We travel from Manchester to Newcastle on Christmas morning.bits about 2.5 hours not too bad! Santa will be out of the way before we get there!!!🎅😉
Have a good Sunday everyone!

[Wildpurl]

Our current plan is champagne and orange juice with breakfast rosie!

[rosie14]

Wow Lovewine you got married on Christmas Eve! DH and I got engaged on Christmas Eve many years ago! Yes Lovewine it was either son and fiancée or us in Travelodge I chose us thought I would need then peace!
Wildpurl it sounds like you had a lovely day in London when so many people must have been shopping!
Wildpurl we will probably be having smoked salmon with champagne as aperitif!

[Wildpurl]

Afternoon all,

today OH and I went up to London to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, along with DD, DS and Ds's girlfriend. I really enjoyed it and then afterwards we had lunch at a Byron's, which is a burger place, and was very nice indeed. London was heaving though as you would expect on the last Saturday before Christmas.

Got home early afternoon and I have been crocheting like a mad thing and will continue to do so for the next few days. Good progress so far but need to keep up speed!

Glad to hear you Dad is a little better Lovewine.

How annoying about your two appointments jackie, especially if you are in pain from your arm. 

It sounds like a tiring day for you and DH yesterday rosie.

We also will be having a traditional Christmas dinner of roast turkey and trimmings, a starter of smoked salmon and avocado salad and a dessert of cranachan for a change, as we usually have Christmas pudding.

[Lovewine]

Thanks rosie, our wedding anniversary (26th) is on christmas eve!! Dont know what possessed us to get married then as it always gets 'lost' amongst christmas! My O/H is cooking christmas lunch and have 2 sons and DIL here which will be lovely😄. Maybe you will be glad to have the peace of the travelodge at the end of a very excitable day!

[rosie14]

SIL is cooking lunch Lovewine I think it will be traditional as DD likes her Christmas lunch! Eldest son and Fiancée are staying in the house and we are staying at the nearby Travelodge!
I can't believe they were going to administer your Herceptin on Christmas Day thank good ness they have put it back! Our Grandson was born on Christmas Eve 4 years ago and we had the midwife visit on Christmas Day!
Hope you find your Dad improved!😏

[Lovewine]

Morning ladies, yes i smiled at jackies typo error and licking wigs!! And bra lets off course!!, hope jackie your shopping trip hasnt been too bad? How annoying your counselling appt was a waste of time, hope you get it sorted soon.
Rosie, you certainly will need a woolly hat on your visit here, its a cold , north wind again today, are you all having turkey lunch at your lovely daughters? Do you stay there or in a nearby hotel? You must be looking forward to seeing them again.
My next herceptin is due on christmas day and the nurses were thinking of coming out and doing it as usual!! Thankfully they have put it back 4 days, apparently protocol dictates you can have it up to 7 days after but not even 1 day before due date! Didnt fancy eating christmas dinner with family and chemo nurse too!!! Nice as they are of course.

Off to take mum to visit dad again this afternoon, red cabbage to cook, painting an old wooden chair cream too!! Will collapse later with a large glass of red 🍷and watch strictly come dancing final!💃

[rosie14]

Lovewine well done for going wig less! I have a little wooly hat that I shall wear in UK to keep the draught out!💨

[rosie14]

Good morning ladies I was in the middle of a post last night as DD skyped me she really is a treasure!👧 by the time I had finished it was nearly midnight here!💤
DH was exhausted and didn't make it to the bed until after 3, so I have crept out of the bedroom! Something I have got used to doing this year at silly oclocks!
Cassie great news that you have finished work do have a wonderful time with you family! I am sorry you have a cold and hope it will be short lived one!
Glad you enjoyed Paddington Bear I didn't know a film had been made.
Jackie so glad you have heat there's nothing worse than being cold!'I had to laugh at your" bra lets "in your post to Lovewine! Hope it made her smile too!😃
Predictive text can be very amusing. Hope you didn't lick your wig!!!!
I guess Oliver has finished school now for the holiday and I expect he is getting excited!
Lovewine I am glad your dad was in a better emotional state I am sure this will improve again once he gets home. It will be a great help to your mum to have the care package.
Hope you all have a good day ladies and get those last minute chores done!
Tlj welcome home hope you had a great holiday!
Joan did you get the tractor together?
Kirstie hope you have finished work now!
Wildpurl it must be a relief to put interviews behind you for a few days hope you are making progress with the blanket.

[rosie14]

I got the fire going 1/3 of a box of firefighters later Lovewine! DH and I had a good meal out and I had a couple of good drinks! Hope you get your chores done!

[Lovewine]

Hi jackie and cassie, cassie, have a lovely time in norfolk and a well earned rest, hope the cold clears up soon too! Some bracing norfolk air will probarly help!
Jackie, good luck with braving meadowhall!! Rather you than me! I completed some shopping, not all though.
Visited dad today and he seemed a little brighter emotionally and slightly improved physically, nurse weighed him, he was 9 stone 3 pounds, which is very underweight , he will need a lot of building up, doctor said he can hopefully come home in a few days once a package of care is put in place, i think thats district nurse, carers etc. we know every day we have him is a bonus, so hoping he can make it home.

Nothing to watch on t.v so resorting to michael portillo and his continental railway journey!

P.s- braved the day today without my wig!! Felt very vulnerable and think i see it now as a bit if a security blanket, it was also quite cold!!!

[Jackie09]

Hi Cassie and Lovewine - our posts crossed!

Cassie - I saw the trailer for Paddington Bear - nothing like the series I remember. Oliver went with some friends to see it and loved it. I wished I'd kept my teddy bear of him now - wellies and all! Oliver has had coughs and sniffles for weeks now and was worried I'd catch it - but touch wood, I have managed to avoid it. I hope you are soon over yours. Have a lovely Christmas week in Norfolk. We visited several a summers ago (near Croamar) and enjoyed it.
Lovewine - I never get as much done as I plan - although today I have got the dumping cupboard cleaned out and made a place for the inning board which was permanently set up in Oliver's play room! Just waiting for the take away to arrive and no doubt trawl the tv for something decent to watch!

[Jackie09]

Good evening ladies,

Rosie - I'm glad you had some distractions today and marvel at your organisational skills from overseas. That is a comfort to know your dad is somewhere appropriate. Did you manage the fire? We have an open fire, and, as yet, have not lit it. Last week, I thought we had run out of oil. The boiler is very old, and keeps cutting out. The button which usually re-sets it didn't. So I thought we must have run out of oil. We were surviving on electric heaters and kettles until the engineer could come on Monday. On Sunday, OH decided to have a look himself. Well, I'd pressed too many buttons and knocked it all off! So we had oil after all. Frustratingly, the boiler man has now been out 3 times, each time replacing a part and charging a call out fee, and we still,have the same problem! But at least we have heat!
Lovewine - how is your dad today? Are they any closer to stabilising him? I hope his spirits have improved at the least. Your bra lets sound like a lovely idea. I've started adding 'forever' when I tell Oliver I love him and he replies 'I love you more than forever'. I hope he remembers these little things! Has your son heard about his job? OH never can quite believe in teaching we get to hear the outcome on the same day. Did you get all of your shopping done? I went into town yesterday but didn't get all I wanted, so will have to brave meadowhall on Sunday. I got another wig today - the same as the last one - I was embarrassed how scruffy the new one made the old one look!
Wildpurl - I hope your interview went well today. You've done very well having one interview after another! And I hope you get offered your favourite prospect! How did your mamagram go today?

My morning was a total waste of time. I got the time wrong for my counselling assessment session as arrived too late. So now have to have a telephone assessment then they will see what they can offer me. I then had a physio appointment. When I told her my arm was no better - worse infact, she said she wasn't the right person to treat me and is going to refer me to outpatients. So I travelled to the same place, two times and was out the door within minutes! I then drove to,lick my wig up and encountered traffic jams and couldn't find a parking space!!!! I was so tired when I eventually got home - I thought I'd have time to have a lie down before Oliver came home - but I arrived back just in time to pick him up! Oliver is now attempting to teach Spencer to lie down which is comedy in itself! He's given up after 3 minutes!
Whatever you're doing ladies, have good evenings x x

[Cassie86]

Hello Ladies,

No more work for a week phew.... I have a lovely cold though and hope I don't give it to everyone in Norfolk when I go on Sunday, thats all we need. Its always so busy on Fridays in the surgery and this one was no different with last minute prescription requests and audits on documents being recieved by docman or paper to compare, I know it does not sound to bad but its the shear amount of documents and requests that is the problem. The audit will have to halt while I am off anyway as there is nobody to hand it over to.

On a lighter note I went to see Paddington Bear at the cinima with my younger daughter (who is 25) it was really good, we had a meal before hand so all in all a nice evening. I am really looking forward to seeing my older daughter and grandson.

Sorry things are looking bleak for some of you lovely ladies, I am thinking of you all Rosie, Lovewine, Wildpurl, Lisa, Joan, Jackie and anyone else I may have missed X

Merry Christmas to you all  

[Lovewine]

Evening ladies, rosie, good your meet up was helpful, its so nice to compare notes and see how things are moving on, hope you and O/H enjoy your supper out, nice for you to spend a bit of time together before you fly over next week! It must be comforting to know your dad is in chapel of rest, i know what you mean about thinking of him still at the hospital.hope you lit your fire🔥, i always have a real temper when i cant get mine going!! Do find it easy though with firelighters, goes first time!

Wildpurl, hows the blanket coming on! You must post a pic when finished, your last one was lovely, hope you enjoyed your first day off and managed some relaxation!

Got most of my chores done, but still way behind with lots of things!! A busy weekend i think.

[rosie14]

Yes Lovewine it was good to meet up and see how we had moved on in just 3 weeks. The weather was glorius we sat outside drinking coffee and had to move into the shade! Now in the house I am trying to light the fire second attempt about to fail!
I am sure your sons will treasure their bracelets Lovewine it certainly makes you think carefully about what a good gift is. DH and I purchased an electric razor for dad while were in UK as he asked for one as he could no longer manage to shave. He only used it a few times but thank goodness we didn't keep it until Christmas!
Wildpurl happy holidays! Hope your appointment goes well today enjoy your swim and sauna.
The benefit of skype has been a life line to me this year and I was able to skype call to make initial arrangements. My sister says the funeral director is lovely and very helpful. He has now for dad at the chapel of rest so we are happier about this I had images of him being stuck in the mortuary all over Christmas! We will,be eating out tonight and possibly tomorrow nothing elaborate!
Good luck with that blanket you will probably be able to get it finished now you have finished work!

[Wildpurl]

Morning everyone, today is the first day of my Christmas break, so going to try and relax and enjoy the feeling. Yesterday at work seemed very stressful and I felt as if I did not really achieve anything, but I did have the first interview for the job I would really like, and I think that went well. The first interview is the technical interview so is the hardest. Anyway, I can try to put all that aside for now and focus on home and family over the festive season.
Today I have the usual bits and bobs to do, plan to go swimming and have a sauna later, then this afternoon I have an appointment for a mammogram. This is a precursor to my second mastectomy which is planned next year. Other than that I think we will have a quiet afternoon and evening. OH finishes work for the Christmas break today and he is very tired and stressed so it will be good for us to have some time off together.

Lovewine, I am sorry there is no improvement yet in your Dad, but it may be very slow, I hope the right meds can be found soon to help him. Christmas is so hard when one is going through difficulties, there is so much pressure to have a "perfect Christmas", and if you are not very keen on Christmas anyway that doesn't help! I don't know if it would help to focus on the aspects you do like. For me that would be the peaceful time at home, time with family, Christmas dinner, and because I am very shallow LOL, getting presents.

Rosie, you did very well organising a suitable funeral date from Cyprus! Will you and DH have some wind-down time before flying to the UK? Do you have plans for some pampering or treats for you both? I think you deserve some!

I am two thirds of the way through my daughter's Christmas present blanket, it is touch and go whether it will be finished in time! I have to keep crocheting whenever I have spare time...

[Lovewine]

Morning rosie, it will be so nice for you to spend christmas with your grandchildren and yes they will keep you busy!! Might be of some help to meet up with the 2 ladies, as i found out when forced myself to the cinema last week, a small distraction helps slightly! At least your arrangements for funeral etc are in place, your poor sister will feel very much at a loose end without your dad to keep a check on, my mum is the same- she is at her best when fussing/looking after people!

Enjoy last day at work everyone, i am working monday and tuesday, but i dont mind really. Have a very busy day today - need to pick up some seat pads i ordered for kitchen chairs, buy O/H a present, stocking fillers for sons and DIL, a black tablecloth to match pads! And most importantly go and have my sons bracelets engraved!!- i dont want to be over sentimental but would like a personal thing from me, so think i am going to have" from mum 25/12/2014 put discreetly on the inside of bracelet!

[rosie14]

Good morning ladies my sister had a busy day sorting things out yesterday. We have more or less sorted out the funeral arrangements. She is going to be so lost afterwards as she has been there for Dad over the last 10'years when he moved to Church Stretton at age 83! We thought that was old. Also her only daughter works abroad she is home for a week from Monday.
Joan you seem to be doing well on your fitness regime well done. Good luck with the tractor! It's amazing how they sell everything in pieces these days!!!
I am sorry to hear your nails are still not good I was hoping they had improved. I have a thumb nail that is brown and hanging on by a thread have to put a plaster on to stop it catching! My little finger nail on the other hand has a small brown patch but it seems to be fading.
Lovewine I am sorry that you aren't seeing any improvemnt in your dad and do hope that he will recover enough to get home. It's going to be a difficult Christmas for you and I. Thank goodness we are at my daughters over Christmas and we are moving down to Plymouth after the funeral for new year.
At least I will be distracted by the grandchildren! We fly on Christmas Eve which is quite late but when I booked it I hadn't started radiotherapy and wasn't sure when that would end!
I am forcing myself to meet 2 ladies I met on the hospital transport today as we said we would keep in touch. Yesterday I watched quite a few French and Saunders clips on you tube!
Have a good last day all of you who are finishing today!

[Lovewine]

Dad pretty much the same unfortunately😟, it is very hard to see no improvement each day.
Joan, well done for your 16 lengths! You sound very active now with different activities, good for you trying new things, my nails are also s..t, they break off and are very brittle. I can remember my eldest son having a sit on tractor for his second christmas and it took myself and O/H and my in laws all christmas eve to assemble it!!
I also am struggling to find any enthuiasm for the festivities, would like to fast forward 2 weeks to january 2nd!! Sorry am a kill joy!! I never really like christmas any year, but this one i particularly dont like- i have always found the commercialism too much- moan over!

[joan47]

Rosie, very well done for persisting and getting the funeral fixed for the day you wanted. I am a bit shocked though that you had t he hassle and that the first undertaker wasn't able to do it. ITs understandable that you feel helpless but I'm sure your sister appreciates your emotional support. I think in a way feeling numb is good, if the full impact of a loved ones death hit us full on it would be pretty much unbearable. But don't underestimate how you may feel once the funeral is over.

Lovewine, I'm sorry the news about your dad is no better. But great that the stair lift is being fitted. Let's hope it's not too long before he can make use of it. Go easy on those coffees.

Had my last free reflexology today. Under the scheme I can have 6 half price ones so have booked another session after Xmas. Also had my second shiatsu session on Wednesday. That is so gorgeous, came away feeling really energised although I still struggle when he asks me how my body is feeling after he has done something. But we had a good laugh about it. After Xmas I have booked onto a Qi Gong course, which seems to be a mixture of tai chi type exercise and meditation. Not sure how I will get on with that. Went swimming again this morning and managed 16 lengths. But by 11am had to have a lie down. Aargh. Nails still s...t!

Hope everyone's xmas preparations are well underway. I have now managed to wrap all the presents which I have (apart from grandsons sit on tractor which is awaiting assembly by my older daughter and her partner when they arrive this weekend. They are far more practical than we are. Also still awaiting delivery of a few. But feel more organis d than a few days ago though struggling to raise much enthusiasm.

[rosie14]

Our youngest son was just 3 months old Lovewine!!!
How is your dad today?

[Lovewine]

Oh rosie, you were young when your mum died, how sad for you.

[rosie14]

It's 27 years since mum died I had forgotten what it felt like!

[Lovewine]

Yes i think you will feel numb for a while, a friend of mines mum died in october and its only just hitting her now, you have sorted out funeral date and undertakers, thats a big help to your sister, i am sure she understands how helpless you feel.

[rosie14]

Still rather numb! Will be speaking to my sister later she has been dealing with some things today I feel so helpless that I am not there to help!

[Lovewine]

Yes rosie, cadburys chocolate one hidden at bottom!! How are you feeling today?

[rosie14]

Much tidier Lovewine and I think I spy the chocolate ones at the bottom!

[Lovewine]

Sad i know- but posted a pic in my photos of pod holder!

[Lovewine]

Thanks kirstie, not long to go now before your christmas break!!
Rosie, my tassimos were rammed in my cupboard and all fell out on to your head each time cupboard door opened!! Now neatly stacked in my pod holder!!

[rosie14]

Thanks Kirstie! Glad you are ok been thinking about you. Enjoy your holiday!

[Kirstie77]

I have just popped on to catch up with everyone, work is busy and im looking forward to finishing work today until the 5th - Rosie Im so sorry to read about your dad.

Will try to do a proper post over the next few days sending love to all, but massive big hugs Rosie and lovewine xx

Speak soon x

[rosie14]

Lovewine I hope one of us will be getting a pod holder put it on the Amazon wish list! At present our are on the top of the fridge and look a complete mess. Just had mine for today I try to stick to one Tassimo! ☕️

[Lovewine]

Talking of coffees, i bought a great tassimo pod holder from argos this week for £6.00!😄 my DIL is a tassimo convert too so bought as a little something for christmas for her pods too!☕️☕️☕️🎅

[rosie14]

Thanks Lisa hope you have many coffees too! 1 more day!!! ☕️☕️☕️☕️

[rolicarpit]

Morning all, well done rosie for persevering and getting a funeral date that is appropriate for you all to be at. Wishing you a good day with many coffees of different varieties ☕️☕️☕️☕️

[rosie14]

Good morning Lovewine yes it is a comfort to know he managed as well as he could until the last few weeks. He was very week and fragile. I am thinking of you and you family and hoping that your dad will soon be home using that stair lift!

[Lovewine]

Morning Rosie, I was awake last night as we do!- thinking of you and what would happen regarding the funeral, that's good you managed to get a slot whilst you are all there,
I echo what the ladies have said- you managed to see him under very difficult circumstances in November, that must have meant such a lot to both of you, you have said before he liked to be in his own home so try and take comfort in until recently he did just that- x
My dad is still battling on with a very damaged , weak heart- doctors are adjusting his medication every day in the hope of stabilising the dizziness and upset tummy. The chair lift people are fitting it in today- I am hoping he will come home to use it!
At least your sorting out funeral arrangements was a big help to your sister, there always seems such a lot of paperwork to be dealt with. Thinking of you.

[rosie14]

Thank you ladies for all your messages of sympathy and support yesterday it meant so much to me. I am indeed very glad that I got on that plane when I did I am so thankful that I could spend some time with dad. My sister phoned a funeral,director in Ludlow and was told there was nothing at the crematorium until well,into the new year! I decided to ring the crem direct and explained that we really needed a slot on Dec 29th when 3 close family members that live overseas would be in the UK. They told me I would have to go through an undertaker. They wouldn't recommend one but told me to google undertakers in Shrewsbury which I did. I quickly scanned them and found a family business. He was most helpful and within half an hour had secured a slot on Dec 29th! Result! Unfortunately that's all I can really do,do help my sister is having to deal with all the paperwork. Her husband is taking the day off work today to help.
Wildpurl,well,done for going wigless you wont look back now it's so,lovely to feel your own hair.
Lovewine hope all is ok your end. Thinking of you and hoping you get your dad home soon.
1 more day after this ladies to close the week.

[joan47]

Lovewine, I hope the news about your dad is better and that he does manage to get home for Xmas.

[joan47]

Rosie, I am so sorry to hear about your dad. Even though I know you thought it was only a matter of time nonetheless when it happens it is still devastating. It may be of some comfort to you that it happened very quickly and that you were able to see him recently. Take care of yourself.

[rolicarpit]

Hi Wildpurl ... Well done you, I can't believe your hair is so long, must be extra good at growing.

Thanks to all for the comments re my hair story, glad you found it interesting.

Rosie, hope you have been looked after this evening x

[Wildpurl]

Oh rosie I am sorry to hear about your Dad. It is so good you went to see him when your rads finished, and I am sure he was glad to see you again then. What a sad time for you and your family. I agree you will feel better when you are with them all.

Encouraged by everyone's feedback, I decided not to wear my wig any more to work and went in today with just my real hair. People were quite complimentary, and I felt far more comfortable. So that's another step in the direction of normality!

[rosie14]

Thanks Lisa and Cassie! I hated seeing him in that very sad state. My sister is in quite a state as she wasn't with him. The hospital called her this morning to ask her if she could go in as they weren't too happy but he was stable. When she got there the curtains were round the bed!
Lovewine I do hope that your dad has had a better day today and that he will be well enough to go home for Christmas!

[Cassie86]

Rosie, I send my sincere condolences along with a big hug XOX please take some comfort in that your father did not linger on too long in a very poor state. I expect you are numb at the moment but you will feel better when you are with all your family soon. X Cassie

[rolicarpit]

Rosie, so sorry to hear about your dad, sending you some hugs ... thinking about you x

[Jackie09]

Oh, I'm glad you are not on your own now. We are all here for you x x

[rosie14]

Thanks Jackie no my friend went back on Saturday. DH home now and cooking tea, I have spent most of the day on skype to my sister.

[Jackie09]

Oh Rosie - I'm so very sorry to hear your news. My deepest sympathies. I wish I could be there for you to give you a hug. Is your friend still around who could visit you? What typical bad timing DH has an event on at school. X x

[rosie14]

Thank you Tlj and Lovewine for your messages I feel very numb. You are right Lovewine it doesn't make it any less of a shock. DH came home and made me a cup of tea and then I sent him back as it is the Christmas Fair today.