Family Hugs.........

 
Saturday afternoon Hubby and I set off for a two and a half hour drive. W is my brother-in-lawK 's sister so part of our extended family and she had invited us to her 70th birthday party. The journey was really good traffic wise and so worth it for hugs with my sisterS, my niece and nephew, their spouses and their children. 

SisterS had offered us a sleepover but Hubby said he was happy to drive home. So a fun evening and our own bed yaay!

Waking up Sunday we both wished each other a happy 51st wedding anniversary.

First on the agenda was watching the Strictly we'd missed, enjoyed with breakfast. Sadly received a message from Son that fiancé was in hospital having some tests as she had been unwell Saturday afternoon. Updated much later that she was feeling a lot better, had had a CT Scan and would be monitored and having an MRI Scan on Monday. Son said she didn't want any visitors. Such a worry. 

We did two machine loads of washing, and after they were all hung upstairs we went out for a restaurant lunch. We hadn't booked but thought we'd try our local farmhouse carvery, but that unfortunately was full. Plenty of room at the Beefeater and their Sunday roast was enjoyed by us both. We both left there really full up. Hubby went out in the evening for the Pool League (he's captain this week). I was very grateful to be staying in as the weather was wild, wet and windy. 

Fiancé was fine to come home Tuesday. They will no doubt keep monitoring her to make sure she stays fine. 

Our main doctor's surgery often has students in and I was invited in to talk to this week's students as they are onto urology. I had been told there would be three half hour sessions each time with three students. They were quite late getting started and as I'd had multiple kidney and bladder cancers the first group and I chatted for well over an hour. They had lots of questions and said my extensive knowledge of how it was all dealt with and how it all impacted on me physically and mentally was really useful to them. With just ten minutes left until Hubby was picking me up I had to decline talking to the next group. Just a tiny bit of paying back for all the NHS has done for me. 

Had to get home on time as we were dog sitting for Daughter. M collected her from a distance as he now has covid. 

Daughter and O went to London to see Ungodly, the play that R is in. 

Production photo Bernie Totton 

Daughter said it was brilliant and their press night reviews echoed that sentiment. 

Friday we went to Son and fiancé's to visit, with 'get well soon' flowers for fiancé and some shopping Son had asked for. We didn't stay too long as she's still quite tired but she is recovering and told us all the hospital care she's been getting even now she's home, is really helping.

Hubby's pool practice night was brief as so few turned up it wasn't worth him staying more than two games. Shame he had to drive just over 25 minutes each way but only be out about 80 minutes in total.

Don't forget the clocks go back an hour this weekend...... wonder if I will benefit from having more time, or just stay confused all day Sunday as usual.

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Chatting and Chomping........

 
Our regular sparrowhawk visitor has been seen waiting on our fence a few times this week. 

Everyone made it Saturday evening and seven of us enjoyed a Chinese takeaway feast. There was so much food that I made up a full meal for Daughter to take home for R who was working and usually comes home hungry. Son took a few boxes home in a bag too. I made up two mixed meals to put in my freezer and Hubby and I had Sunday's lunch too! Mmmmmm

Busy Monday with coffee morning, think there were 11 of us. 

And after our lunch we both went out to have Flu and Covid booster jabs. By bedtime I've just got a very achy arm but Hubby has the cold symptoms he usually gets. On Tuesday Hubby gradually improved, meanwhile I had trouble feeling warm and staying awake. Wednesday and we are both nearly back to normal (whatever normal is).

Friday was a really lovely late lunch catchup with friendsL&K. We met in the middle about 45mins to an hour's drive each. K has an art group he goes to in the morning and Hubby plays pool in the evening so eating about 4pm worked well. 

I seem to be late posting this, probably because we were later getting up than usual which seems to happen when the heating comes on. So I'd better say TTFN and see you next week.

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PuzzlesTo Solve........

With the heating out of action Hubby lit the lounge gas fire. This is used so rarely and often just switched on for its annual test. So cosy looking and warmed the room very quickly, although we had to put up with the smell of burning dust at first.

Son arrived early Saturday morning to help fix the cooker hood. With his first cuppa they discussed the heating problem, with Hubby explaining it's the Hive receiver that's the problem. Son then remembered he had given Daughter his unused Hive which also contains a receiver in the box. She can't use it so brought it over. Daughter did stay for a cuppa but wouldn't come in any further than the back door as living with R and O who have horrid colds at the moment she didn't want to pass on any germs. After swapping our old receiver with the new one it all worked again. Hubby then cancelled the Monday repair saving the call out charge at least. 

Son and Hubby also fixed the cooker hood, needing Son lying on the bedroom floor with his head under the floorboards reaching down, while Hubby lay along the kitchen island reaching up. Fixed and two very happy chappies! 

Son had planned Chinese takeaway here with us all Saturday evening to celebrate his midweek birthday, however we postponed it a week hoping they will all be over their colds. 

Apologies I need a little medical rant. When I've had side effects to the cancer meds the specialist Oncology Nurse always suggests having a break or halving the dose by taking them on alternate days. These pills increase my risk of picking up an infection and I now have a skin infection that needs antibiotics. As the cancer pills inhibit healing I was told by the nurse I must stop them until the antibiotics course has finished. However, when the consultant rang he kept repeating that this treatment will only be effective if there are no breaks! I had to promise that as soon as the antibiotics finish I will go straight back to taking the cancer pill every day. Conflicting advice and attitude from the only two people in my care team!!!

Definitely less gardening weather now so the jigsaws have started. We've discovered a few of our neighbours have jigsaw collections so we are passing them around. This one is from neighbourT.

I wish you warmth, good health and may all your puzzles be solvable.

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No Heating Brrrr.......

Definitely feeling autumnal now and of course this week introduced October. NeighbourA has organised our December Christmas lunch for the coffee morning attendees. Isn't it good we have a strong community with our neighbours. I've also rounded up the xBT team and booked our December festive lunch. 

I've had another blood test and call from the Oncology Nurse so hopefully I'll get my next lot of pills delivered soon. 

There has been progress on the box painting but still a long way to go before they are finished. 

I'm a very proud Grandma as not only did Red Rose Theatre bring back their very successful play Ungodly

but after two weeks in Ipswich they are taking it to London's Southwark Theatre plus early next year it's going to New York! R's first time performing away from home. 

R has a really bad head cold this week and when I messaged her to say someone in the first night audience told me she was amazing she replied "I'll be honest, I can't really remember it but I'm told it went well".

Back to the fixing subject, and hopefully the cooker hood will be repaired this weekend now Hubby has received the replacement parts and Son is coming to help. However..... Friday morning our heating and water packed up! British Gas will send someone Monday, which would have taken a lot longer until Hubby told them I was vulnerable health wise. We do have a couple of portable heaters and an emersion switch for hot water so will be fine. 

Enjoy your weekend if you have plans, or stay home and cosy if you don't. See you next week.

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