stop feeling guilty, small rant (BENCHLAND)

[foxyferret]

So glad that you are NORMAL Katy, although I have my doubts!

Oo-er JCJ, hope THAT medication is not necessary but have a bucket of cold water on stand-by!

The trip to London was a great success.  We managed not to lose any of the children!  The poppies at the Tower, all I can say is..... WOW!!!.  Photographs and TV do not do it justice.  Definitly a sight worth going to see.  I was so pleased that the children were impressed and asked relevant questions.  We went into the Tower and did all the touristy things.  Saw the Crown Jewels which I was quite disappointed with......somehow they don't look real.  Strange......

My faith in human nature was restored however as every time we were met with a flight of steps someone always offered to carry the pram up/down. Seats were given up for us on trains.  The age of chivalry is not dead!

This week has been bliss, not having the lunchtime job.  I seem to have been twice as busy though.

I intend to do nothing much this weekend.  Watching the tennis is as energetic as I shall get.  Hope you all have a good weekend.

[JCJ]

Perhaps you may need to fill the bucket with cold water and throw it over HIM?? 😄

[katytc]

Oh noooooooooooo JCJ, does that mean that OH will be popping in and out of Benchland searching for you, when the urge is upon him???? 

Where's that invisible ink? 

Will throw a bucket over you..................

Spluttered my muggatea all over my laptop, guffawing with laughter!

Seriously, glad OH is doing fine.

Went and had my hair chopped it's a bit flat but will try and fluff it up a bit tomorrow, also did some shopping soooooooooooooo am on the "oh so tired" bench, trying to get up to make tea, not working!! xx

[JCJ]

And yes we did have a yummy fish supper in the pub, AND creamy veg soup starter, but shh! Don't tell anyone! 🙂

[JCJ]

YAY!! Katy's NORMAL! YIPEE! (Though I'm not convinced there hasn't been some mistake :p...... katy? Normal? Since when?! :D)

PD clinic was fine. Dr is lovely. She asked how everything was going and agreed that OH just needs to carry on taking current meds and to contact the team if he notices any deterioration in his condition. She explained the choices available if/when new meds are required. Some truly scary "quite common" side effects mentioned. (One of which is a seriously elevated sex drive....oh lordy, lordy! Not good when I've got none at all thanks to Ta'poxy'fen?? 😞 ) Next appointment in 9 months.

Just picked up automatic repeat prescription (still got 40 yabs left!!) Wockhart again this time so the shortage crisis must be over?!

[katytc]

Hope all went well with OH and you did end up having a fish supper!

Saw THE GAME and also came home a little later sooooooooooooooo just had to have a fs too yum, yum!

Any excuse to avoid cooking...........

Well letter arrived confirming that I am NORMAL, told you all hahaha!

Not going out today, pouring with rain anyway but tomorrow am having my hair chopped. It's sitting like a helmet on my head at the moment, not a pretty sight.

Reserved 4 books from library this morning one has a huuuuuuuuge waiting list and others have only me waiting, have not read a really good book for ages xx

[JCJ]

Good news about toe and lido, Katy!! 

Yes, there is still a birdie in the box every night.  We've called him Bob the blue tit. 🙂

I'm currently at the hospital with OH waiting for appointment with PD consultant. We were here 10 mins early and it's now 25mins past appointment time. 😞 Think we may be "forced" to go to the pub on the way home for fish night! 🙂

[katytc]

Sounds like a jolly, oh my golly gosh party grumpy! Well done for finishing the glitterberry juice................

Such a dark dismal day here today, am hoping rain goes away before I have to leave. At some point today am seeing GD who is soooooooooooooo excited over a new game soooooooooooooo I have to go and see what it's all about. ED is not getting car until tomorrow, her choice so all ok.

Is there still a birdie in your box JCJ? 

Toe is def on the mend still tender to touch but can move easier AND lido seems to be working, touching wood as I write this haha! xx

[grumpy]

Meg and Joey have had lovely day, cards,chews, play date with Baroness Bramble (the other corgi in the village), tea with beef gravy, cake with candles and glitterberry juice. It made Joey sneeze and Meg bare her teeth, so I suppose I shall have to drink it. Now spark out in front of the stove.

Grumpy 

[grumpy]

No it's me, what with the play and the marketing do at the museum I've almost lost my marbles....

It's probably age-related!!

grumpy

[JCJ]

Tomorrow? Didn't you say their birthdays were on 9th? I said "tomorrow" but that was yesterday..... Arrgh! I'm going mad??!

[grumpy]

Just printed off the cards ready for tomorrow - they will be sooooooooooo pleased!!! THANK YOU.

Memo to self - make doggy birthday cake before Downton, or there will be trouble at t'mill.

Second memo to self - perhaps I could cheat and buy one.......

grumpy

[katytc]

haha you are funny JCJ!

Love the cards!!

Soooooooooooooooooooo Happy Birthday grumpy's doggies!!

Special treats in the shed, woo hoo!

Went out car shopping with ED yesterday, managed fine but was BORED to tears by one of the salemans chats.........................we left and went elsewhere and she will have delivery of new car on Tues, hurrah!!

Also when I had my "lido" there was a person there who when others were talking she had had the same or oh so much worse than everyone else...............................oh dear.......................kept nodding off..............or pretending to hee hee.........................xx

[JCJ]

Glad the lido wasn't *quite* so onerous, Katy! Hope the head ache is better now and that the lido continues to make an improvement. Are you sure you didn't break the blood pressure machine?  Pounding head, gushing bloods = high blood pressure?? Was it so high the machine gave up???

[JCJ]

OOh thanks for reminding me! The ASBO and the The Dame might be interested in the following links: (But don't open them until tomorrow! Putting them on today, because I'm bound to forget!) 🙂

Happy Birthday Joey

Happy Birthday Meg

It'll be a miracle if that works! 🙂

[katytc]

FF think it would be wonderful to see, oh so emotional.

Had my "lido" yesterday, 4 1/2 hours!!!!!! Yippee, not without a couple of issues, a gusher blood squirting everywhere (was in my own horror film), bubble in drip, blood pressure machine not working, thumping headache BUT returned home early so still a woo hoo moment.

Pssst is it someones birthday tomorrow? xx

[JCJ]

Hope you didn't get too cold and wet in London, FF, and that you had a good time?! FOUL day, weatherwise, here, but at least it's Friday at long ****** last!! 🙂

Have a good weekend, everyone! Celebrate your release from lunchtime child-induced purgatory, FF! 🙂

[foxyferret]

I'm up, dressed and ready.  And it's still dark!!!

[foxyferret]

At last, been trying to get here all night.  Computer playing up again!  Normal method of travel to Benchland just did not work but I've made it through a back door. 

It was my last day at the lunch-time job today. YAY!!  Whatever made me think I was cut out for a job involving children I shall never know.  A term and a half of madness.  Thank heavens I don't need to do it again.  

Head teacher let me leave today instead of tomorrow as I am going to take two of my grandchildren to the Tower of London to see the poppies. Catching the 7.23am train!  Made some sandwiches, got crisps,snacks etc. just need to have an early night now.  I really don't DO getting up at 6am.  Both children excited at the thought of a day off school and a trip out so I told them " it's not a day out it's a history lesson!".

Will report back over the weekend.

[JCJ]

Oh dear. On the fat *****rd bench. Got back from swimming and whilst waiting for the kettle to boil for a cuppa, I seem to have eaten 2 mini pork pies, a banana and one of those afore mentioned choc bars. What a piggy!

Can't believe it's still not Friday. This week seems to have gone on FOREVER!! Surely it wasn't only last week we were in Norwich??? 😞

[katytc]

Met up with RevCat, donned our knee highs, tiaras and munched lunch, unfortunately our synchronising is totally out of synch now hee hee!

Told her about our time at MMU2 and if we have a date (early) she will def do a MMU3!

Beautiful day here but oh so cold..............

Toe is still being bad but is def easing, about time too.

Next "lido" Fri, have noticed a slight difference so am optimistic, just not looking forward to the eight hour drip, perhaps this time I will be able to tolerate a faster rate.

No news of mammo results so as they say "no news is good news" ! xx

[katytc]

Such good news JCJ, hope everything works and your sister recovers quickly, lovely xmas present for her. xx

[JCJ]

The chocolate (not the ones Pppppeter might ppppick up, but the supermarket equivalents!) is sitting on top of the fridge beckoning to me whenever I go in the kitchen! 😄

Someone at work said a lovely thing today. She had BC 10 years ago and has been very supportive to me since she heard about my dx. There were chocs in the staff room and we were talking about the fact that we couldn't resist having another one on our way past. She said "We're still here! Why shouldn't we enjoy a chocolate?!" Brilliant. I'll remember that one and stay off the guilty bench!!

Good news from my sister. It's looking like our brother might be a match. 🙂 Perhaps he's not too old after all?! A last round of tests to do, but if they're OK and "his schedule allows it", she may have the bone marrow transplant over Christmas! She's so desperate to get it over with, she doesn't care about missing Christmas! Fingers, eyes, toes crossed. Breath held etc.

[katytc]

Did you eat all the choc yourself??

Blinkin' freezing here soooooooooooo am thinking of ordering a curry, yummy yum!

Have had to put heating on cause teeth were chattering, winter's a coming.

Have only 2 xmas presents to buy now so off to sit on the "smug" bench...................xx

[JCJ]

Oooh that reminds me: must stock up on cheap choc bars when I go to Sainsbury's (other......) today (when/if I get off the CBA bench!!) for when the trick-or-treaters (don't) come later - (then I'll have to eat them myself - waste not want not???!)

Car got straight through it's Service & MOT again yesterday. Phew! When garage rang to tell me to collect it, I thought they were ringing to tell me something REALLY expensive needed doing! Relief!

They did advise that the cambelt needs doing (100,000 miles or 8 years). Car is 8 years old but only done 70,000 miles so I've put it on the calendar to replace cambelt at next service Oct 2015. I'll start saving now!!

Where's the week gone? Half term nearly over already! 😞

[katytc]

Glad your play is going well, grumpy, what no Duchess or ASBO boy doing their "luvvie" bits??? What's going on?

JCJ good you are having fun albeit having ouchy blisters!

Am reading the most boring of books at the moment, will have a look for a new one today cause this is hard going!

GD and YD dressing up tonight, one has a party and the other is clubbing it, costumes looking good, with no help from me, hahaha!!!  xx

[grumpy]

Their birthdays are Nov 9th.....

Been to Morecambe today to show visitors Eric's statue - there's not even a foot now!!! Just a hole in the ground surrounded by fencing, and notices to say that the new Eric should be in place before Christmas. So I had to do the pose for the photos....... not a pretty sight.

Play going well, we are all exhausted and there's 3 more nights to go. So tomorrow after visitors have gone home I shall retire to bed to gather myself before another evening of burgers and vol au vents for props. Lilla the dog (playing herself) has become rather luvvie in the green room, demanding treats from all the cast, which is not good as she is already somewhat portly.

Another glitterberry juice and off to bed.......

Grumpy

[JCJ]

They told my OH it would be 8 months for the swelling to go down when he broke his leg, but it was much better long before that. 3 months until you will forget you even broke it?? (But hopefully not so forgetful that you do it again??!)

Had a lovely time in Norwich. Weather has been glorious. Spent the day at the coast yesterday: 2 3/4 mile walk along coast path into Sheringham,  sandwich in tea room, 2 3/4 mile walk back to car. Walk from YD's flat into city for dinner and then walk to hotel.  Heading home today, possibly stopping to have a look at Ely on the way. I have put a plaster on blistered toe in readiness for MORE walking! Greatly looking forward to spending time on CBA bench when I get home!  🙂

[katytc]

Where are they???? (not that I would like a visit or anything)

Toe checked yesterday 3 MONTHS to heal minimum...............................so off to the "SL" bench for me, it's close to the "p***** off" bench..........................

Been sooooooooo busy making doggie cards have forgotten birthdays? xx

[Ali_H]

Hmmm, Hump did mention something about visiting family...I thought it was quiet...

[katytc]

Welcome back JO1, so sorry about your Mum xx 

Kay, nobody knows if they are married, if they've had a baby, what happened with Eric or where they are now..................................so glad you had a fabuuuuuuuuuuuuulous holiday!!

Enjoy your trip JCJ, you weren't GRUMPY at all this year!!!

Still on the "moany" bench how long does this swollen toe last???? It's really getting on my nerves now! Have had to cancel different days out, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Had no broadband yesterday, at least 11 hours oh how you miss it!

Still pouring with rain here and I have to hobble into town, the joy, hee hee xx

[JCJ]

Welcome back JO1 and Kay! Glad you had a good holiday, Kay. That does look like the Humperdinkle. I wonder what Dink's been up to??!

So sorry to hear about your mum, JO1. It must have been a tough time, but it's good to see you back in Benchland.

I'm off to Norwich, on the train, tomorrow for a couple of days, to visit YD and her OH. We can't get into our usual hotel, just around the corner from their flat, so we're in one the other side of the city, very close to the railway station - so a mixed blessing! The other downside is that we'll have to get up and be sociable for breakfast, something MMU people know is not my strong point!  (Usual hotel has a-maz-ing breakfast buffet IN THE ROOM, obviously to be eaten in bed in one's nightie?! :))

Meant to go for a walk today, but I miss-timed it and by the time I finished faffing about it was nearly dark. Never can get the hang of this clocks back malarkey! 😞

[Kayteeb53]

Hello all, back from happy holidays in Egypt! Tan fading quickly though.
Now, I don't like to gossip....but...did Hump and Dink ever get married? Only whilst I was there I saw a camel, who looked remarkably like Dink with a gorgeous baby camel...just saying!
https://forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/media/gallerypage/user-id/54277/image-id/1741i5F6684B3E3461...
Will read all posts and catch up 🙂

[Ali_H]

Hello J01, I'm sorry to hear about your mum xx
one of the things I love about this thread is that you can come back to it when you need to (or have chance to!) and no-one gets all uppity at you for being away for a bit 🙂
I'm on the 'I've had a lie in AND got up reasonably early ' bench today, it'll confuse me all day. I've got my light box all ready for the dark nights, I can feel SAD lurking and it can bloomin well bu**er off. (that's butter of course... 😉 ) Does anyone know what supplements might help with the winter blues that are safe with good ol Tam, or shall I just man up and go see my GP..?

[J01]

Hello All
It has been some time since I commented on the site. I hope you are all well.... I can't believe this thread, which if I trawl back over 400 pages I was one of the original commenters......well I'm still cancer free at present😀however I have not been free of cancer my mum was diagnosed with secondaries and i nursed her till she passed away early this year😢whilst I was undergoing my own horrendous bc treatment this site and this thread in particular kept me sane... Thank you ill check in again soon regards to all xxxcccccc

[katytc]

How wonderful JCJ gloat as much as you like! Did your own little chameleon give him the inspiration? Well done JCJs son!! Are you off on your break soon? Our schools are back on Mon.

Still on the "moaning Minnie" bench...........................it's near the "fed up" bench!

ED left a HUGE bag of popcorn that I'm away to munch, help yourselves xx

[JCJ]

I'm on the proud parent bench! 🙂

http://www.core-marketing.co.uk/2014/10/park-central-named-best-development-in-the-uk/

The "unique chameleon effect cladding" was designed by ES - or at least the fitting technique was. It's a new technique and he had to get it passed by building regs. No mention of his (small) company (subcontractors of the one that WAS mentioned) who fitted the cladding though!!

I'll just sit here with this cuppa and gloat for a bit if that's OK with everyone? 😄

[JCJ]

Last get up done (up, but not necessarily awake!) for this half term. SO tired, SO ready for a holiday! Woe betide any child who tries my patience today!!

[katytc]

Forgot to say am on the" moaning minnie" bench today..............xx

[katytc]

Sooooooooooo it's now "skinny" JCJ, Baldy and Bossy and Ali Rocky Balboa..................

Have been back on the "childhood" bench this week have realised my GD never stops talking, she hardly takes a breath. We have been playing the wii and I forgot to put my sleeve on so now have a very lumpy looking arm, stupid me!

It's ED's birthday today so GD has decorated cards drawn pictures and wrapped presents, busy, busy.

And finally my toe STILL hurts am so fed up.....................xx

[Ali_H]

*sings to self* 'float like a boulder, sting like a slap on the wrist with a damp lettuce'
Well, I've got to work up to the whole feather and bee analogy, I've only had 1 half hour lesson 😉

[grumpy]

On 9th Nov, Meg is 10 and Joey is 9 - please could they have virtual twinkly birthday cards????? They would be thrilled to bits.......

Meg likes pink and frilly, and Joey THINKS he likes purple but he's not sure.

Thank you.

Grumpy

[katytc]

Well that's what I get for being a "smart a**" joined you on the "bug" bench ALL day yesterday.................serves me right, re diet comments?

Hope you are now on the mend JCJ and you ate your roast not pork though hee hee!

FF good for you especially if your back is not behaving, you can enjoy your crafting and reading etc guilt free!

Ali, good grief BOXING!!!! Nooooooooooooooooo too much "movement" pour moi!

Am off the jittery bench now cause would have heard if I wasn't normal by now!!

Mmmmmmmmmmmm JCJ is he 6?? xx

[JCJ]

Thought you might like to know, Katy, that some of those rhinestones you gave me at MMU2 have been put to good use on my great nephew's birthday card. Guess how old he is! 🙂

https://forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/media/gallerypage/user-id/54477/image-id/1707iB6545BED2EEB4...

[JCJ]

Glad it was a pudding party, FF, and not the pudding club!! 😛

I don't blame you at all for giving up the mealtime assistant job. I was a dinner lady once myself, so I know it's not all fun and games! Children en masse don't always bring out the best in each other!!

I've just been for a little walk, as it's a gorgeous sunny, windy autumn day here. Kicked up a few leaves in the wood! I was disappointed to realise how little energy I have though. Ta'poxy'fen and two stomach "upheavals" in 3 weeks have left me about as energetic as a 10 day old lettuce! It reminded me of doing that walk during Rads! 😞

Flopped on the CBA bench with a cuppa to recuperate enough energy to cook the Sunday roast.....not that I feel much like eating it! 😞

[foxyferret]

I went to a pudding party last night.  It was at my daughter's and in aid of BCC.  Only a small affair, just eleven of us altogether but a very good evening and we raised more money than I expected.  Newest grandaughter raised the most as she was selling cuddles!  Only downside was the thousands of calories I consumed  Will have to start the sensible eating (not calling it a diet) on Monday.......... need to eat the Turkish Delight I won in the raffle first!

After a lot of thought and mind changing I resigned from the mealtime assistant post yesterday.  Gave four weeks notice so thought I'd be leaving on the 14th Nov. but someone apparently is waiting for a job (must be mad!) so HT said I may be able to leave earlier. Yay!  

I have also sat on the CBA bench today interspersed with times on the reading bench.  Re-reading all my John Connolly books.  Anyone else read them?  I shall probably do the same tomorrow as well.

[JCJ]

I wish! (Skinny) I don't recommend the dodgy pork/bugs diet! As I spent the night with my head down the toilet, it crossed my mind that some diet fanatics and eating disordered people did that to themselves DELIBERATELY!! Bleurghhh! WHY???! Hurts to laugh or cough because I have strained all my stomach and chest muscles! 😞

Slept for 7 uninterrupted hours on Thursday night, for the first time since starting Tapoxyfen! Wow! Didn't really compensate for spending all previous night vomiting though.....or having to leap out of bed, literally every hour, last night with cramp in one or both of my legs AND feet. OUCHY!! 😞

On CBA bench today, knitting a santa mug cosy. As you do?!

[Ali_H]

Lol, blue tits and strange diets and doggies with a more active social calendar than me, fabulous! I've discovered something new this week, boxercise at my gym. Basically you put a pair of bright pink boxing gloves on and bash hell out of aggression, anxiety, stress, worry, guilt.... Bloomin fabulous I can tell you 🙂 🙂

[katytc]

Aaaaaaaaah how lovely JCJ!

Or do we just call you "skinny" JCJ now?

What a girl will do to lose weight! Putting all those bugs into yourself and eating mouldy pork? Is it better than a diet? Am sooooooooooooo impressed by your ingenuity, well done! xx

[JCJ]

Oooh! Exciting news! (Well I think it is! It's cheered me up! :)) we have a blue tit (I think. Camera on infra red so it's a black and white image!) roosting in our camera box again! Found myself tiptoeing around the kitchen (box is on outside wall of kitchen) to avoid waking him up! 🙂