HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Sorry I haven't been blogging for a while, but most of you know that we have had a worrying week, and I haven't really felt like posting or commenting much.

To those of you who haven't heard, I'd better let you know that Arthur had the results of his biopsy today, and unfortunately it was positive. We are now embarking on a journey that we pray will have a happy and positive ending. May I take this opportunity to thank all of you, family, friends and people that I don't even know, for your prayers and good wishes. Please keep your prayers going, we really need and appreciate them.

The other upset that we had was Willum our cat going missing. Again thank you all for your concern. When he finally returned home he didn't look happy, so we took him to see Andy his friendly neighbourhood vet. Willum being Willum let Andy roll him around, poke things up his nether regions, prise open his jaws and peer down into mouth and throat. He put him on his back, on his front, hung him up by his tail (only joking Tina) took his temperature and said he couldn't find anything wrong. I knew better, he wasn't eating and didn't look good. As Andy turned his back to enter it all on the computer, Willum made a little noise and started to furiously lick his thigh. Aha! said Andy. Look! slug slime trails up his tail and back! The upshot was that he'd had a bundle with another cat who had bitten his thigh. In an exhausted state willum had zonked out under a bush all night, too tired and aching to come home. Snails and slugs had walked all over him while he was asleep. He gave him a healthy shot of antibiotics (£49 worth!) and now he is as right as rain!

We are busy also emptying cupboards and sorting out the contents into piles. One to keep, one to offer to people who want, and one to give to the charity shop. This is in preparation to the builder coming next Tuesday to start building me a downstairs loo in my utility room. I'm having to lose at least three double wall cupboards to make room, hence to clear out. Expect some hair raising tales when they start. I'm sure I'll have some!

Nice to be back in the circle again. Till next time Adios!

LITTLE FLY UPON THE WALL AND SUMMER PUDDING

Little fly upon the wall

Ain't you got no shirt at all?

Ain't you got no shimmy shirt?

Brrrrr Ain't it cold!

Mum used to say this on chilly day, anyone remember? Well today I'M saying it because I feel bloomin' cold. We've put the heating on for an hour to warm us up a bit as my fingers are really cold!

Not a lot to report today. Arthur is doing really well, no problems with anxiety and the bleeding that they told him to expect to last for fourteen days, stopped last night! Not sure if that is good or not and might ring the hospital to find out.

We were a bit naughty last night. Because of the trauma of the day, (Isn't it easy to justify things?) we treated ourselves to fish and chips for tea. It was delicious, freshly cooked and delivered to out door. All I had to do was heat the plates and get the sliced gherkins out! We did enjoy it. I spent the evening doing a bit of decoupage and watching TV. We watched 'Young Elvis in Colour' did anyone else? Then I watched the drama 'Forgiven' which gave a very interesting insight into child abuse. Can't say I enjoyed it (who could) but it was compelling viewing and didn't actually show any child abuse.

We have a DVD to watch tonight called white noise, This is the synopsis:

What would you do if you could tell who was about to die? Would you try to intercede, to stop something horrible happening? Would you tempt fate? Would you play God? Nathan Fillion (Slither, Serenity) stars as Abe Dale, a man faced with that terrifying choice. After his family is brutally murdered and surviving his own near death experience, Abe undergoes a transformation that allows him to “see” those among the living who are about to die. But when he tries to save people from their fate, he discovers there is an ultimate price to be paid for interfering with the natural order of life and death

It sounds a bit nasty, and I'm not sure if I want to see it, Has anyone else seen it. What do you all think?

Today I'm going to make a summer pudding for dinner. I haven't made one for years, but bought a white loaf specially for it. If I sweeten the fruit a little with Splender, I can have some too. I'm also going to make a bread and butter pudding (which I can't share in) for Arthur, poor little love. That will perk him up no end!

By the way Babs. Because the cat flap magnetic system isn't working, the cats don't need to walk around with big magnets hanging from their collars. So, I've removed the old ones and fitted Boomer and Willum with those diamonte ones that you and Mo bought for them - very smart!

Do you all know about Sandiue's abcess on her tooth? What a thing to get when she has visitors for the next week and a half! Poor thing. But she said it didn't hurt and that is very strange, as I remember Babs with a face like the Elephant Man and in agony when she last had one. I just pray that it wasn't the calm before the storm! I shall ring her later and find out if she is still pain free. I do hope so.

Well that's all for now. I'll let you know how the summer pud comes out.

Bye for now XXX

LONG TIME - NO WRITE

It seems like ages since I last entered anything in my blog. Things, as most of you know, have been a bit hectic here since Sunday. My son John, and his two stepsons were supposed to be repairing our roof on Sunday. They came, one man short, because one of the lads was 'hung 0ver' thus leaving them shorthanded. My John had to be 'roofers mate' and so he didn't get the time to do the things that he'd said he would. ie de-spider my shed, and fix me with a solar powered shed light. He's promised to return soon and finish the job.

Monday afternoon was spent at the hospital having an assessment and making arrangements for Arthur to have more 'memory tests' I have to let them know when it's convenient, and they will set up a series of weekly tests which, when completed, will be compared to the ones that were done about ten months ago.

Yesterday, Tuesday, was spent getting ready for, and recovering from, a visit to yet another hospital where Arthur suffered yet more invasive examinations. The outcome to that, is that they are admitting him tomorrow morning to do a biopsy, but we will have to wait about ten days before we get any results of their findings. We have to leave the house at 7.45am, so will probably get up about 5.30!



I must tell you all, that Sandie's husband (and our brother-in-law) has been an absolute knight in shining armour for us this week. Not only did he take us to the hospital yesterday, but he has now offered to call for us tomorrow at quarter to eight, take us to the hospital, wait with me while Arthur in in theatre, and then bring us home again. He is doing all this on a day when Sandie and Len are preparing for, and expecting visitors for a nine day stay! They must be so busy, and yet they have time to spare for us. We are so grateful. Thank you both very much, God bless you.XX



I probably won't 'blog' tomorrow, but will let you know the next day how things are going

XX

A FEW TIRESOME DAYS

I'm just letting you know that you won't be hearing a lot from me for the next three days. At least not on blogs. We are going to have a few unsettling and worrisome days, so may be a bit quiet. Tomorrow (Sunday) John is bringing his two stepsons (who are roofers) to come and do some repairs to our roof. That will be a bit wild as it always is when family get together. John is also going to de-spider my shed and fill a few holes for me. The next day, Monday, Arthur is going to the hospital to see the specialist that gave him all the memory tests nearly a year ago. They want to go over them again, to see how things have gone since the last visit. They haven't gone well, so I am a bit worried about what they will find when they do the next lot of tests. The next day Tuesday is the real humdinger. I've managed to get a private appointment with the specialist who did Arthur's prostate operation years ago. The NHS hospital has done tests and they are not happy and want him to go in and have a scan and biopsy. I'm trying to get it done privately, but my insurance will only let me if I have to wait more than six weeks. I thought that this would be a doddle the way the NHS is at the moment. When I rang our local hospital they said that it was urgent, and the latest they could leave it would be 30th Aug, so I booked that. I didn't tell Arthur, but that worried me. Now I'm worried to leave it as long as six weeks, and worried for him to go into a NHS hospital. The other problem is that the Specialist, Mr Parys, can't see us till 5 o/c Tuesday. Most of you are aware that our silly taxi service goes home at 4.45! I don't mind going extra early and just sitting around till we can see Mr Parys, which is what we will do, but it's the coming home again. The whole thing is a big headache and a big worry that I have to bear alone, because I daren't talk it over with Arthur! I don't know what the Specialist will find on Tuesday, or what his prognosis will be, or how I am supposed to deal with it! Any way that's why you won't be hearing much from me for a few days. Have a lovely week-end tomorrow. Let's hope the sun shines a little !

THINGS THAT GO "OH NO! IN THE NIGHT"

I was woken up at 4.15 last night/ this morning by Emma walking all over my legs and feet. I leapt out of bed grabbed her up and took her into the garden. (Her bowel movements are very unpredictable these days) I stood in bare feet and waited for her to 'do her duty'. I carried her back into the bedroom and put her on the foot of the bed. It was then that my nose told me that I had not woken up in time! I did three trips to the bathroom holding hands full of yukky toilet roll . All this by the light of a torch, so as not to wake Arthur up! I trundled back downstairs to get a cloth and my salvation, the OxiAction carpet spray. When I opened the kitchen door again, there was Willum and Boomer cornering a poor little field mouse! By now it was gone quarter to five! I caught the cats and locked them out in the utility room, and then proceeded to catch the mouse. I was so tired I was working on auto pilot as I'd only has three hours sleep. I tried every thing to catch the poor creature who looked terrified. I used my trusty empty wall poster tube, a fluffy duster and a long woody flower stem from my vase. He wedged himself in a corner behind some pipes and I couln't budge him. I decided to leave him to calm down while I cleaned the bedroom carpet. So, by the light of my trusty torch, I sprayed the offending stain and sat on the edge of the bed to wait the required 5 minutes. Arthur was still fast asleep and quite unaware of my sufferings! I duly rubbed and scrubbed at the stain and got rid of about threequarters of it. It was difficult to see by torchlight, but it wasn't quite gone. I put the cloth in the sink in water to soak while I went downstairs to remove the mouse. I searched all over the kitchen, but he had disappeared. I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open. I'm afraid I said (under my breath) Alright you silly creature, I've done all I can to help you, now you'll have to take your chances. I let Boomer back into the kitchen. Willum had gone out into the night, presumably to look for a replacement mouse! I dragged my poor aching bones up the stairs yet again, calling in at the loo one last time, and went back to bed. It was 5.30 and daylight was coming through the bedroom curtains! Please God, let me have an unbroken night tonight!

I meant to leave this earlier today, but have been doing all sorts and didn't have the time. This afternoon was spent with a trip to the doctors, and then on to the CoOp to stock up on a couple ot items that I'd run out of. By the time we'd eaten and I'd messed around with the computer, and watched a bit of TV, I felt really tired. I sat in my recliner and settled down to see a programme about Anne Robinson. I couldn't keep awake, so didn't see a great deal of it! Now I feel wide awake! Arthur is watching a film and I just can't face any more TV, so have decided to catch up on the computer that has been sitting here lonely all night! I had one solitary email waiting for me from Sandie, complaining that I hadn'tcommented on anyone's blogs and when was I going to write one - so here I am, all up to date!

I decided to go through my pile of LPs and brutally set aside all those albums that I would never play again. I must have discarded about thirty that are all in pristine condition but I can't be bothered to put on the turntable. Mind you I have saved about twice that amount that I can't bear to part with, and also won't be bothered to put on the turn table! I was about to send them all to the charity shop, when my daughter Lynne said that LPs are much sought after these days, because they don't make them any more, and there are still die hards who won't play any other sort of music! So now I have this pile of vinyl on the floor in the lounge that a few days ago was neatly filed away . Not much progress there then! Anybody fancy a boot fair?

Willum and his wound are doing very nicely. He's being so good and hasn't once nibbled or scratched at his stitches. One of the perks of having a laid back cat! We go to have the stitches out on Friday. Poor little Emma is failing a little more each day, and is being sick etc. She actually sort of jumped to catch a moth yesterday though. So there's still a little spark in there!

Weather permitting, My son John and his two step sons are coming to repair our roof. I'm praying it won't be wet and windy because I don't know when they will be able to come again.

I have found a rather nasty black monster in my garden shed, so I'm not too keen on going in there at the moment, which is another reason I'm hoping John will come. He knows how terrified I am of them, so will make certain that it, and any others, are carefully and safely removed.

Have planted five bean plants in a grow bag down by the shed and they are doing very well. I'm quite excited. The gardener tells me that the slugs will eat them, but I've bought a slug pub, and I'm hoping they prefer Stella Artoire to bean shoots!

That's all folk!!!!!!

GRIMBLES VIEWS ON COLLECTING

I think that there's a smidgen of OCD in our family somewhere! We are all into collecting or arranging things, some of us into both! Mind you a lot of it is governed by great sentimentality too.I have collections (not the same thing as collecting) of things that children and family members have given me or made for me. I didn't choose to 'collect' them, but how can I discard a gift of love? On more than one occasion I have shown one of my children something that they made for me 35 years or more ago' I carefully lift it down, blow the dust off and say. 'Would you like this now?' Expecting them with a tear in their eye, to gently take it from my hands, kiss me gently and say 'Thank you Mother, I shall continue to treasure it' But NO! All I get is 'What do you want this junk for, I'd bin it if I were you' With a tear in my eye, it goes back from whence it came!

I must own up to a measure of collecting though. Sindie was quite right, her and I do have a lot in common. Boxes are beautiful objects whether empty or full. I have lots in my craft room. My most recent 'good buy' was a quantity of semi-opaque plastic boxes to hold peel-offs. They are the same size as say, a sheet of peel off butterflies. By the way, not only do I collect peel off butterflies, which go in the semi-opaque plastic box, which is labelled with the help of a Brothers labelling machine...But they are sorted into silver, gold, coloured, glazed, 3D etc butterflies!!! Oh what fun. I digress. All these lovely boxes are labelled with the name of whichever type of peel-off is inside. If I want a letter, or a leaf, or a frog, or some choice words. I know exactly where to go for them. I call that being organised !

Sandie mentioned her unmentionable handbag. We once compared them and weight for weight (and they were weighty) they were about the same. A family member once played the " I bet you haven't got a ... in your bag" game. They gave up in the end in hysterics! I won every call of, a screwdriver, scissors, tool kit, extendable tape measure, stain remover, elastoplast, loo seat cover, toilet wipes, antibacterial hand liquid, spare tablets, comb, brush, toothpicks, magnifying glass, sewing kit. I could go on forever. I know if I haven't used any of these things for a year I should remove them, thus easing the pain in my arthritic knees when I carry my bag around! But having carried these things for years, it must be time soon for them to be needed.

Don't laugh at poor Livvie. She is held in the grip of genes from her mad OCD family members. Even Mo, who is not genetically connected to our mad mob, used to collect (and probably still yearns for) dozens of plastic plants and flowers. It took great courage on her part to break this hideous habit, but she succeeded, and is now a very repectable non-collector. I was thinking we should all try to be like Mo, but I have recently discovered she has replaced platic plants for audio cassettes of her own voice! I rest my case.