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We are both keen to get things done! Neither of us is very speedy in our respective jobs however, and so the toil continues.

John has carried on with his car. However, he is very tired at the moment and struggling to drag himself up the stairs for anything other than bed. Although he did make it as far as the shower today, after he’d been working in the garage.

He still has the residue of the pseudomonas infection lingering, so I suggested that he might like to get a sample down to the doctors so that more antibiotics could be prescribed if necessary. It may be the chest infection that’s causing him to be tired. We don’t really know. Fingers crossed that’s what it is and it can be sorted quickly.

Of course, his tiredness was nothing to do with entertaining grandchildren yesterday afternoon, was it? We popped over to Michael and Danielle’s for a couple of hours to offer a little bit of relief from the non-stop childcare of 3 children under the age of 5.

What is delightful is that the children are all live wires, with enquiring minds and increasing levels of independence. Makes for great fun when you’re trying to look after them all and attend to their differing needs – honest!!! It’s a bit like herding cats – especially as Oliver has now decided he’d like to roll over. From his back to his tummy. The trouble is, he can’t do the reverse – roll from his tummy to his back, so he constantly needs rescuing. It’d be funny if it wasn’t so exhausting – he’s a bit like a beached baby whale and makes everyone aware, very loudly, that he is stuck!!

But John and I did find a lovely few moments with him in the garden when he wasn’t rolling around though. Smashing. You can tell we’re all smiling – even baby Oliver.

We had planned to call in to see Paul and Harriet too, yesterday, but when it came to it, John was absolutely shattered and it was ‘Home, Jeeves!!’ instead. We treated ourselves to fish and chips for our evening meal. We nearly needed a mortgage to buy one portion of fish and chips, a curry sauce and a pot of mushy peas. £13.10!!! Crikey!! We’re not going to be doing that again in a hurry!

My focus for today was to clean and tidy the main guest bedroom after the carpet fitter had been yesterday. I did get it finished, but it took me all day. This is what I mean about toiling. Nothing is speedy any more!!

John, meanwhile, was focussed on working on the Lotus again. Well, after he’d spent the morning inspecting the back of his eyelids, that is. And then inspecting them some more after lunch. About 3.30 he roused himself and said he’d get out and do a bit, which he did. I think it was a fairly successful session but the poor man was shattered by his exertions and had to fairly haul himself upstairs for a shower and to set up Quiz Night this evening.

I had left him in the garage and had gone off for my open water swim, so I wasn’t there to help. He did manage, but the minute the quiz was finished he was off to bed.

For the record and for those who might be interested, I thought I ought to let you know that my swim was successful. I went on my own (mind you, there were 199 other ladies in the lake at the same time!) and without the support of my dear friends. They were both doing something else this week. I managed to get into the water without too much difficulty and swam 400 metres. Regrettably, I didn’t do the open circuit – just stayed in the lanes. I didn’t quite have the confidence to tackle it today, despite the fact that I’d promised myself that I would. Next time, maybe?

Take care everyone. God bless.

And anyone so inclined, please send positive vibes and prayers for John. We see the oncologist tomorrow.

It was Pete’s 70th birthday last Thursday, so as a celebration, he and Dawn invited us and Carol and John round for Sunday lunch. “Can I come and help do the prep?” I asked. Well, naturally, that would be very nice, thank you, they said. “Shall I bring the puds?” offered Carol. Agreement all round. Brilliant. So we were set.

Apparently, Pete and Dawn have a very special way of cooking chicken which I didn’t know about. Also apparently, Dawn was panicking by nine o’clock as I hadn’t arrived to put the chicken in the oven yet……oops. Anyway, all was well in the end. I did arrive and put the chicken in the oven in time. Between us, Jack and I managed to get that cooked along with roast potatoes and parsnips, plus ‘all the trimmings’ and a pile of veg. And pretty much on time, too.

For once, Pete didn’t have to cook. He was able to sit back and enjoy his glass of champagne before lunch and then tuck into whatever was on offer. Judging by the food piled high on everyone’s plates it was definitely a ‘winner, winner, chicken dinner’!!!

Dessert was on the winner list, too. I mean, an exotic fruit salad? Yes, please!! And a second pudding? With cream? Don’t mind if we do!!!

What a fabulous time we had. So very lovely to eat with friends and spend the afternoon together. In fact, we were so enjoying ourselves that we couldn’t drag ourselves away and it was well into the evening before we said our goodbyes. “Hang on!” I said as we were halfway out of the door. “We haven’t had a team photo!!”

Of course, by then, we were giggling so much that I couldn’t take a decent selfie at all. Poor John is very blurred…..

After the day’s shenanigans we were tired so we were straight to bed once we were home to be ready for an early-ish start this morning. John was to be at Heartlands for 10 o’clock to be injected with a radioactive substance in preparation for a bone scan later on in the day.

It all worked out quite smoothly, in fact, but John has felt pretty tired all day. In between the journeys there and back, John rested while I fiddled about with more painting. This time, it was the skirting boards in our old bedroom that were the target. We’re having a new carpet in there tomorrow…… that’ll be nice. Might have the house looking decent soon.

Take care everyone. God bless.

The weekend starts on a Friday, right? Well, at least, for some reason this week I thought it did! I thought yesterday was a Saturday and today I’ve been thinking it’s Sunday, so I’m very confused!

Never mind, I’ll get the hang of it soon. Although, to be fair, John had a similar impression….. he wasn’t quite sure whether today was Sunday, either.

Despite my confusion, yesterday was a good day in that: a) I put the wallpaper up in the dining room; b) we saw two of the grandchildren, Lily and Freddie, which always gladdens my heart; and c) John got his windscreen fitted on the car.

Once we were up and about yesterday morning, I girded my loins to start on the wallpapering in the dining room and John girded his to get the windscreen ready to fit on the Lotus.

For the wallpaper, it was only one wall, so not difficult really, and the paper turned out to be good quality so easy to hang. It was easy enough, too, to interrupt the job so that I could help John lift the windscreen onto the car – which was a success. Woohoo!! (Does a little dance)

The grandchildren arrived after lunch. I’d invited Lily round. “Do you want to earn a few bob?” I’d asked her. Daft question really. “Yes, please,” she’d said. And I knew she’d be up for the job I had in mind: sorting out my kitchen cupboards. She loves organising things.

Anyway, it transpired that Harriet had a Zoom meeting and Freddie had asked if he could stay at our house too, so we had extra child slave labour on offer. He helped with the cupboard-clearing, not so much the cleaning and tidying mind you, as he found all sorts of exciting things to play with (and eat).

“Can I have this Boost we found, please?” he pleaded. Yes, of course. “Can I make a mixture?” he wondered. Yes, of course. “Use anything you like,” I said blithely, dispensing all responsibility while I finished the wallpapering. Ha! That’s a fine mess you’ve made there, Freddie!! “You’ll have to clean up after yourself, Freddie,” I warned. He was good boy and did wipe up the mess, but left us with his ‘mixture’ as a treat……. mmmm, lovely!

After the job was done and Harriet returned, I squeezed a little more slave labour out of the children. “Can I do some shredding?” Freddie wanted to know. I ummed and aahed a bit, because shredding requires supervision, doesn’t it? Anyway, in the end, I got the shredder downstairs and the boy worked wonders with a pile of papers that I’d had hanging around for the last few months.

They’d both earned their wages very successfully by the time they’d finished.

Today, we were up and about relatively early getting ourselves ready to go down to Pete and Fran’s for the afternoon. We had a good, albeit slow, journey down the M1 where there were lots of roadworks and 40/50/60 mile an hour restrictions. However, we weren’t held up in any traffic jams, so we arrived more or less at the time we said we would. Crikey! That’s a first.

We had a really lovely afternoon together. Fran, as always, cooked a great lunch for us, which we thoroughly enjoyed. As we sat there at the dining table, stuffed full of food, she said, “Cheese, anyone? Or perhaps later?” Yes, later, please!! Couldn’t have eaten another morsel just then. I mean, we had two puddings to choose from and we had to sample both, didn’t we?

We sat out in the sunshine with our teas and coffees and nattered away to our hearts’ content before the cheese and port came out. Regrettably, as I was driving I had to forego the port, but by all accounts, it tasted like nectar.

Not only did the cheese come out but cake as well. Once again, we had to sample it, didn’t we? I don’t think we’ll need to eat for another week!!! We waddled home…..

Take care everyone. God bless.

After the thunderstorms and downpours overnight on Tuesday I am delighted to report that John’s handiwork with the water butt proved to be perfect! It was FULL yesterday morning! Ooh, I can’t tell you how excited I was by the sight of water almost lapping the edges when we lifted the lid!! What a sight for sore eyes, eh?

Wednesday was quite a busy day for us one way and another. We were up early and out of the front door by 8.30, zooming off to Heartlands for John’s regular immunoglobulin treatment.

Bless him, he’d had a rotten night’s sleep and he was looking forward to a snooze in his comfy chair at the hospital. No such luck apparently. With new nurses on the ward, he was charged with calling the nurse back every thirty minutes so that they could check the flow of the infusion – to either speed it up or slow it down. That kept him awake. Not only that, he was waiting for a telephone consultation from Paneesha mid-morning, so that kept him on his toes and awake, too. By the time I collected John at mid-day, he was longing for his comfy chair and some shut-eye at home….

While John had been enjoying his morning at the hospital, I kept busy with a spot of painting, a bit of washing and hanging it out to dry (in a drizzle), tidying round, stripping beds and so on. Having spent much of my spare time titivating in the dining room recently, the rest of the house has gone to rack and ruin, so it was calling……. ah, it’s still calling, dagnammit!

After lunch I put a casserole in the oven, so that I could have an early meal before my open water swim later on at 6.30, and then I set on to peel, slice and freeze the pounds of apples that I’d picked from Paul and Harriet’s tree the other day. Great fun. There’s something very satisfying about ‘grow your own’, isn’t there?

I left John watching TV while I shot off for my swim. Just the two of us this time – Anita and me – as Linda is on her ‘olidays in Somerset. We enjoyed it again, and I thought I did a lot better at getting into the water. However, when I suggested such a thing, Anita said, “No, you didn’t,” making us both laugh. Oh…. alright then. Next time maybe?

We swam in the lanes again and did non-stop swimming to prepare us for the moment when we actually strike out of the lanes and get into the open lake. Yes, we agreed, nodding to each other, we can probably do the 250-metre circuit without a worry. Hmmm, hope so – planning to have a go at that next week.

After a significant lapse of time since Anita and I agreed we’d meet up in Solihull for a visit to the Apple shop and a spot of lunch, we finally made it today. And what a lovely day it was. We had such a lovely time together.

Anita planned to buy a phone. We browsed and fiddled with the display models; we chatted to the young man who was serving us. I thought I might buy a phone too. “Do you do deals?” I asked cheekily, “Buy one, get one free?” No, they didn’t – but they did price match. Boom! That’ll do. So we both bought ourselves a phone each. “There’s clearly no cost of living crisis in the Apple shop,” Anita observed, as she looked round the crowded shop. No, there certainly wasn’t. Ouch! I did feel a bit guilty about getting a new phone then. But I’d already paid, so………

Once the purchasing was over, we took ourselves off for a bite to eat. “We can try the Italian?” I suggested, thinking of Carluccio’s. Anita would have preferred an independently-run Italian restaurant. Maybe Cotes, which was next door? I baulked a bit at that one, it seemed to be very busy. We spied a Japanese restaurant across the road. “How about that?” I offered. We were a bit doubtful, never having eaten in a Japanese restaurant before. It wasn’t busy, so we braved it. And loved it.

John was busy on his car when I got back from town. “How’s your day been?” I wondered. “I’ve been asleep most of the day,” John replied, sheepishly. “Dunno why I am so tired.” Hmmmm, me neither?

“I’m just going to nip up to Pete’s,” I told him, “to give him his birthday present.” Right. John was just in the middle of gluing up his windscreen: “I can’t stop now,” he said. Well, I was only going to drop the present in, wish Peter a happy 70th birthday and not stop, so no worries. Hahaha. “John not with you?” they said; “Come in, come in.” they said; “Have a drink!” they said. Honestly, I really didn’t stop long.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Oh, by the way, Susie Dent’s Word of the Day is a reminder of ‘ipsedixitism’ (18th century): the assertion that something is ‘fact’ based on one person’s opinion. Once again, I have no idea to what or whom she is referring……chuckle, chuckle.

What excitement to have eldest son come over and help us put things back in our dining room cupboards this morning! What a blessing, too!

It wasn’t exactly like the Stacy Solomon ‘Sort-Your-Life-Out’ show, although Paul did suggest that we cut our belongings by 50%. I couldn’t quite do that, but he was able to persuade me to part with some of the stuff and take a bootful away to the charity shop. I mean, how many liqueur glasses do we really need? “But those were Nanans!” I pleaded, to no avail. Sentiment? Pah!

So, we’re nearly there on the dining room front. I won’t be boring you with it for much longer – just an additional coat of paint on the cornice, then the wallpaper to hang – and boom! It’ll be done!

Mind you, we’re also waiting for the electrician to come and finalise the plugs for us and hang the light-fitting……. wonder when that will be? ‘I’ll phone you tomorrow,’ he texted yesterday. Still awaiting the phone call, of course.

So that was my day – fiffing and faffing about in the dining room while John pottered on with some technical jobs. For example, he began to mend the wheel/tyre on the tricycle Paul had brought over. Thwarted on that though, as the pump has lost its end bit – he’s waiting for a new one to arrive in the post now.

He then set up the water butt that we’ve had for ages in anticipation of rain….. and we’ve actually had some this evening. I don’t know about John, but I am quite excited to go and have a look in the water butt tomorrow morning to see how much it’s collected!

Disappointingly, as he was doing the job, John moved one of the bistro chairs out of the way and one of the legs promptly dropped off! I wasn’t actually surprised. It had felt wobbly to me this morning as I sat on it. Ah well, another hunt will be on for a replacement, no doubt.

I think John also had a tinker on his car this morning, too, so he’s had quite a busy day!

We both collapsed at tea-time, having worked hard all day, and we settled to watch a bit of TV. I like to watch the athletics and swimming at the European Championships – John not so much, but he allowed it – and we had a comfortable hour or two just sitting in front of the box.

That is, until John reminded me that he’d mislaid his hearing aid. He was sure he’d lost it in his chair when he fell asleep yesterday. Could we find the darned thing? No….. we spent a good while hunting all around for it until, in the end, I said I’d do a methodical search tomorrow morning while he’s at the hospital for treatment.

One last push to find it? “Help me lift the chair forward,” John said. I helped, not expecting any result at all. “No,” I shook my head, “it’s not under there.” But eagle-eyed, John exclaimed, “There it is!” And sure enough, it was nestling at the very base of the chair just inside a fold of leather. Phew!

That’s what we call a success story these days……. finding something that is lost!

Take care everyone. God bless.

Another scorcher today, wasn’t it? So much so that I decided to get up at a reasonable time and do a little bit of painting before the paint clagged together again. Frustrated that I am so slow but determined to get the ruddy thing finished. Ha! Just got second coats, plus one more wall to paint and one to wallpaper……oh, Lordy! Finished? Ha! Maybe next week?

Anyhow, I finished the spot of painting by 9.15 and thought I’d ‘go to church’. Haven’t done a streamed service for ages. It was really good, with a great sermon from Moira; some rousing hymns; and some quiet time for prayer and reflection. Felt refreshed afterwards.

The service done, I suggested to John that we go over to the Kenilworth Originals. They are back from their holiday and we’ve missed them. Paul said ‘yes, come on over’ so we hopped in the car, whizzed the roof of the EOS down, put our hats and shades on, and set off in the sunshine as if we were twenty-somethings.

It was so lovely to see Paul, Harriet and Freddie that we quite outstayed our welcome and Paul had to offer us lunch…… then he offered us a paddle in the hot tub. Well, it was a cool tub. I mean, who wants it hot on a day like today? Apart from Harriet, that is! Hehehe. We even got the old man to dip his toes…… smashing.

I mean, in the end, we stayed pretty much all day until we had to leave to get John to Solihull Hospital for his CT scan. It was so lovely to spend some family time together. And Harriet and I picked loads of apples from their tree, which I have brought home to freeze. They are early, of course, just like every other crop right now. Looking forward to some tasty apple crumbles, apple pies, and apple turnovers in the winter. Yum!

John was quiet as we drove over to Solihull Hospital and, although I am not a mind-reader, I could feel his mood. ‘Here we go again’ runs through both our minds and we wish we didn’t have to. But the scan went reasonably well – although John thought, given his past experiences, that only two passes of the machine may be pushing it to get a good image. Fingers crossed we don’t get to the appointment with the Oncologist in a couple of weeks’ time for him/her to say ‘do it all over again’……. (grits teeth and adopts the prayer position).

Despite it all, John is an amazing patient. Although he rails at fate and the ongoing nature of procedures, pills, hospital appointments and invasive investigations, he mostly gets on with it all very philosophically and has to remind me to be patient.

But really, although we do try to keep our chins up, it’s hard for us both just now as we watch others swanning off on their hols seemingly relatively care-free, fit enough to run into the sea, leap on a quad bike or brave the swell of the sea on a fishing trip. Only a little bit jealous.

Never mind, we have loads to be thankful for and plenty of wonderful friends and family who keep our spirits up repeatedly, for which I thank the Lord.

Take care everyone. God bless

Personally, I like the heat. Mind you, I only like it when I am swanning about on holiday and dipping myself into the sea…. or perhaps, as we did à la trip to OZ, in a lake on Fraser Island, maybe……. Regrettably, we aren’t doing that just now. But I am doing the second best thing, and I had another go at open water swimming today. It’s getting a bit better each time I go, but I am still a wuss at getting into the water. Never mind, once I get in I am fine.

Anita and I took a tutored session today which was very enjoyable. However, the poor instructor had a dicky fit when she saw me! She exclaimed that I looked just like her Mum. Not only that, I had the same Christian name, too….. spooky eh?

I was longer at the swimming session than I planned, but it didn’t matter, John was ensconced in front of the TV when I got home. As it happens, he had been in the garage and done some tinkering, so he was just having a rest, so I let him off.

After lunch, we went about our separate ways again. John into the garage and me to the dining room with the painting pot. Now then, John’s decision was OK, but mine was a mistake. It was too hot, wasn’t it, for painting? Eeeh, the paint clagged up like nobodies’ business…….. so now I’m rethinking my approach…..maybe get up at five in the morning? Or maybe leave it until Monday? What say you?

In the meantime, John has been pondering his life, as you do, and the other day came out with the observation that his luck isn’t great: “If I fell in a barrel of bosoms, I’d come out sucking my thumb!” he declared, mirroring his Dad’s little saying, which caused us much amusement many years ago. Not so sure John is feeling amused by it just now though. He thinks it’s true…..

Life, of course, has its ups and downs and John has been also reminded of the Irish song, ‘The Sick Note’ or ‘Why Paddy’s not at work today’**, in which he identifies himself as Paddy half way up, meeting the barrel coming down! Oh dear!

Mind you, he wasn’t saying that when he looked very chipper having a very nice McDonalds on Tuesday!

We had a nice meal out on the patio this evening in the warmth of the evening though, until we we thought we were so tired we perhaps ought to go to bed early. Ah… OK. So that’s what we’re doing.

Night, night everyone God bless.

**If you don’t know the song, I’ve copied it here for your delectation and recommend the Dubliners Lego version of it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/66cxc9emQgY – it made me smile anyway!

Dear Sir, I write this note to tell you of my plight
And at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight
Me body is all black and blue, me face a deathly gray
And I write this note to tell why Paddy’s not at work today

While working on the fourteenth floor, some bricks I had to clear
Now to throw them down from off the top seemed quite a good idea
But the gaffer wasn’t very pleased, he was an awful sod
He said I had to take them down the ladder in me hod.

Well clearing all those bricks by hand, it seemed so very slow
So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below
But in me haste to do the job, I was too blind to see
That a barrel full of building bricks is heavier than me.

So when I had untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead
And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead
Well, I shot up like a rocket and to my dismay I found
That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down.

Well the barrel broke my shoulder as on to the ground it sped
And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with me head
Well I clung on tight, though numb with shock from this almighty blow
And the barrel spilled out half the bricks fourteen floors below

Now, when those building bricks fell from the barrel to the floor
I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more
Still clinging tightly to the rope I sped towards the ground
And I landed on those broken bricks that were scattered all
around.

I lay there groaning on the ground I thought I’d passed the worst
But when the barrel hit the pulley wheel, that’s when the bottom burst
A shower of bricks came down on me, I knew I had no hope
In all of this confusion, I let go the bloody rope.

The barrel then being heavier, it started down once more
And landed right across me as I lay upon the floor
It broke three ribs and my left arm, and I can only say
That I hope you’ll understand why Paddy’s not at work today.

By heck, but it’s warm, isn’t it? We came back home this afternoon from a wonderful afternoon out visiting Richard and Jill in Malvern, in which we ate and drank well and nattered to our hearts content, when I realised my swimming costume from the open water swim on Wednesday was dry, but not washed. Oh…. and I need it for a 9a.m swim tomorrow!! Even though it was seven o’clock, I quickly popped the items from the washing machine onto the line and bunged the cozzie in the machine on a quick wash. By the time it was finished, an hour later, the previous load on the line was dry and ready to put away. Howzat, eh? A dry cozzie’ll be along any minute now!

We had a good journey down to the Malverns this morning, no-hold ups and great scenery on the way, of course. It is ages since we’ve been down to Richard and Jill’s and I was looking forward to it. Jill has master-minded a wonderful garden over the years and I was keen to see it. It didn’t disappoint. A fabulous wetland area in the front garden and lush vegetation in the back garden, including lots of fruit and veg. Wasn’t half jealous of her green fingers!

She also cooked up a lovely picnic-style lunch, while Richard found just the right drinks, and we tucked in with gusto. Lovely afternoon with old friends. That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

I had had a lovely time last night with another old friend, too. I met up with Sue Wakeford at The Folly at Napton. She was down in the Midlands for a few days, catching up with friends (including me, yay!). We sat outside in the balmy evening air and were treated to the Mikron Theatre Group (specialists in presenting to canal users, apparently) performing their play in the gardens of the pub. Not that we concentrated on the performance, mind you. We were too busy gassing….. very, very nice to see Sue, I must say.

Winding backwards to Wednesday, it was another exciting day with an open water swim for me with Linda and Anita and then, for us both, Quiz Night. Once again, lots of lovely laughter among dear friends.

Meanwhile, in between times, we have had some lovely chats to the Sleaths-who-are-holidaying and been envious of their time at the seaside. It looks like they are having a whale of a time one way and another! Splashing in the sea and the man-made splash pools, mackerel fishing and cream teas – can’t be bad, eh?

Freddie on the fishing trip all smiles and very hopeful at the beginning of the trip, and looking very dapper……. but apparently they didn’t catch anything. Shame!

In other news, it has taken a trip across to Jersey to see Granny and Grandad over there to get a photo of the Kenilworth Newby boys together all smiling! Wonderful!

Back at the ranch, John has continued his quest on the car and, despite some setbacks, he is making progress. Oooooo…. I hear you say! About time, too, I say! Hehehe. He is especially enjoying his new piece of equipment he bought last week, which he says is worth its weight in gold.

And John’s new motto is to greet each new day as a mayfly does. Taking it one day; and one day; and one day; and one day at a time. I’ll drink to that! Mind you, I’ll drink to anything! Where’s that Prosecco?

Take care everyone. God bless.

Susie Dent’s Word of the day yesterday was ‘mafting’ (18th century): overpowered by stifling heat and an oppressive lack of air. Phew!

A day or two since I wrote a few words in the Blog. We have naturally been busy, but we have also been preoccupied with our visit to the oncologist on Tuesday, 9 August – a date that’s now prominent in our minds. What were they going to tell us?

Yes, the biopsy confirms it’s cancer. Yes, there’s an enlarged prostate. Yes, more treatment is necessary. Probably radiotherapy. But before we do that, lets have another look at it under a microscope to see what’s happened since the last CT scan nearly six months ago….. oh, and we’ll do another bone scan, too.

The young man we saw was very nice. He was thorough and explained everything very well. But we can’t get away from the fact that earlier in the year, John’s PSA reading was 42, and now? It’s 92. Can’t get away from the fact that the Gleeson score is 9; and it’s a T3 cancer.

As always, we hope for the best. We’re both frustrated at the delay, but relieved the oncology team are at last involved and seeing John face-to-face, eye-to-eye.

The young man consulted ‘the boss’ after our discussions and came back with a plan of action: “We’ll make an urgent request for a CT scan and bone scan,” he said, “and, in the meantime, take this pill. It might make you feel a bit tired. Carry on with the hormone therapy.” Righty-ho. So, we await more tests and more results before anyone will actually do anything……

Home again and what are the choices? Sit in a chair and wring our hands while we wait? Or carry on with the life we’ve whittled out for ourselves? We chose the latter of course, and John was back at it, working on the Lotus, while I picked up a paintbrush.

A letter arrived on the mat yesterday for a CT scan on Sunday at ten past five in the afternoon. Well, that’s quite a quick turn round! Good. We hope that the rest of the plan is as quick and the appropriate treatment can be agreed and started. Otherwise, we might be doing a little bit of agitating……

I am not sure what our current mood is. Exhausted, mostly.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Ah, yes! It’s so good to take some time out, isn’t it?

Of course, we continue to potter along with our projects – John beavering away on his car most days, and me, labouring on the decorating of the dining room. Not much to report on either project, other than we work at them but nothing much to show for our efforts just at the moment – but in between times, we have taken a little bit of time out.

On Friday, we spent a lovely afternoon round at Pete and Dawn’s to wish Dawn a very happy birthday. Such a lovely afternoon – not only with dear friends including Alison and Peter as well, but also with Lizzie and baby Arthur, and Lucy – the recently married ‘Mrs Henshaw’. We oohed and aahed over Arthur who determinedly held fast to any finger on offer to take him for a walk throughout the house; and over his speech. Boy, that boy can talk!! Marvellous.

More time out yesterday, too. After a hiatus in visiting, it was time to go and see Mum. Bless her, she is much the same and was absolutely delighted to see me.

She had a nasty bruise on her arm though – and she had no idea from whence it came. She shrugged. “No, it doesn’t hurt,” she said, “it just looks unsightly.” And it did – but I was relieved she wasn’t suffering. When I left at tea-time, the staff were on their drugs rounds, so I didn’t get chance to speak to them about it. Might give them a ring tomorrow and ask about it. Although I doubt they’ll know where it came from either!

We spent our time together singing ‘Que sera, sera’ (quite a lot), looking at photos, and a bit of light chat. Mum also spent some time folding, unfolding, refolding, pleating and un-pleating a tissue that I’d given her. By the time she’d twizzled it round and round to her satisfaction and popped it in her pocket, she was exhausted….. then she started on another one. Oh, the concentration……

Of course she didn’t want me to leave, looking anxiously at me lest I fail to return at some future date. In the end, it reminded me of when I was handing the children over to the childminder/nursery staff/infant school when they were little. I had to peel her from me and ask one of the carers to take her for her tea. Heart-wrenching really.

After the visit to Mum on Saturday, we gathered ourselves together to go over to Michael and Danielle’s for a barbecue. What a relief to have something other than jobs to do. And to have someone else cook. Lovely. Food was delicious (just as I like it) and the company great. We enjoyed it and came home just after the boys had gone to bed. We were as tired as the boys, I think!!

This morning was another bash at those projects. John was excited on his – he has bought himself a new toy – a drill press, so that he can punch holes into pieces of steel. The drill, and his unsteady hand, had failed to provide the finish he was after, so off to Machine Mart we went. Apparently, it’s a wonderful piece of equipment and works just as he’d like it to.

He tells me that ‘he who dies with the most toys wins’……. I think he’s definitely winning…….

This afternoon was another time out. We went over to Dave and Chris’s to see how they were doing after Chris’s knee op. Oh, it was lovely to see them. And Chris is doing very well and making good progress. Lots of exercises and rest and she’ll soon be as good as new!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, chattering about this and that. In fact, I was so relaxed that I just closed my eyes for a moment to concentrate on the conversation….. apparently, I didn’t snore.

Replete with coffee and walnut cake we stayed on until just gone six o’clock. Wow! How time had flown! I had been anxious not to outstay our welcome and tire Chris out, but not a bit of it. “No need to rush off, ” Dave grinned. So we didn’t. Smashing.

Had a lovely phone call from Paul in Port Isaac this evening where he and the family are enjoying some rather good weather and some R & R. So glad for them all. It’s been a stressful time one way and another – not only in recent months, but over the last few years. They all deserve some respite. Fingers crossed they all come back refreshed.

Take care everyone. God bless.