Another Spin Around the Sun.........

 
I hope you read my last post as then all I need to say is Saturday morning breakfast for six of us lasted till noon, then they all moved around the house gathering all their stuff together. Lots more hugs and we waved them off. Very special friends that had bought me a very special and thoughtful birthday present (related to my health issues).

Not much later on Saturday another early birthday present was delivered. 

These had been sent by our friendGC, an old school friend of Hubby's so my friend too for all the time Hubby and I have been together. He's never done birthday presents before so this feels very special too. 

Sunday my favourite visit from Son and fiancé. They bought me this beautiful Celosia plant, also known as cock's comb. What a stunning colour!  

This is a multi purpose scarf/shawl/blanket and is part of the same design set as the jewelry box they bought me for Mother's day. So soft. 

And I was presented with an illuminated cake.

Monday was my actual birthday and of course we started with coffee morning. Hubby bought these for us to share with our lovely neighbour-friends

I'm amazed at this large collection of cards and enough gifts of flowers that needed six vases! 

I spent a lot of the day replying to all the wonderful online messages. 

Five different pubs that want to treat me to birthday food or drink (along with buying of course).

And even a message from my Google account. 

Tuesday was much calmer as we had Daughter's dog here..... After Hubby had picked her up from home and also taken R to work. 

We had our usual Wednesday group gathering at the pub that evening, although we have missed three Wednesdays while friendM had been in Spain so plenty to catch up with and this time friendHM joined us. 

Thursday and Friday were both Doggy Day Care days and she really is no bother. 

My birthday celebrations are going into the coming Sunday and Monday but I'll write about them in next week's.

Enjoy your weekend too.

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Tragedy and Comedy.......

 
O aka Charlie Blackwood has released his third album of all original tracks. Always available on all the places that stream music. So very proud he's achieving what he's passionate about and loving it. 

A quick medical update on us both (never my favourite stuff to report on as it's rarely fun) however, Hubby's back is improving and he's managing to stay sensible and not do too much. Hubby also had a dental appointment where he was told it would need an extraction but a more senior dentist saw him and offered another solution as the tooth looked healthy to him and it was the receding gum that was exposing the nerve so he used a resin to fill the gap and they will monitor in a couple of months. Fingers crossed. 

For me it's been an uncomfortable week with the medication side effects. Up to now they've recommended stopping for a few days when needed to let things recover but as the consultant has just increased my dose that seemed like undoing any good so I rang the care team for advice. They confirmed I should briefly stop and also referred me to the Palliative Care Team (surprised I'd never been told about them before) as they can offer expert medical help for my whole wellbeing and not just my cancer care. Happy to accept all the support available. 

Friday evening Hubby and I together with friendsL&K and friendsL&M were out for an early dinner at as pub near Sutton Hoo. Then we all went to see Hamlet at the Theatre in the Forest. My second time of course! 

It was brilliant as I knew it would be and my whole group thoroughly enjoyed it with one saying it was better than when they'd seen it in the West End.  

Then all back here for a sleepover (there's been quite a bit of housework done in preparation so friends don't see how we normally live like slobs).

Now our friends are all getting up so I'm off to make them breakfast. 

I'll leave you with a thoughtful Hamlet quote "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so".

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End of July.......

 
With the garden looking almost all green at the moment Hubby couldn't bear to pull up the big weed by the wall because it has bright yellow flowers! 

R gets Sundays and Mondays as free days during the Hamlet run and Monday afternoon she came over with Daughter to get this huge crop of plums picked and prepped. 

I open freeze on trays

Then bag up. Now there's a drawer full which I need to weigh as Daughter wants to make chutney so we will need to do the maths and buy the ingredients for my favourite recipe.

Shame this freezer is quite a bit smaller than my old one as now it's quite a squeeze.

One of our neighbours brought Hubby up a jigsaw she'd done because she knows he loves them and humorous snooker which is the subject of this one. 

He has started it but while the weather is good it could take a very long time as he prefers to be outside. 

As I've said many times Hubby is a very active person and gets frustrated when he can't do stuff, especially while having a painful back. 

As I've also said before we have very low water pressure which has annoyed Hubby for years and he's desperate to find a way to improve it even though many plumbers, British Gas and Anglian Water people have looked at it and failed to come up with ideas. 

Another idea came to Hubby about the pipework he had changed around when he rebuilt the bathroom twice. So still recovering but declaring his back is worse when he's resting, he had to lift carpet, underlay and floorboards in the bathroom. 

He checked it all and explained to me what pipe did what job and decided there really was nothing wrong with what he'd done. So floorboards and carpet went back. 

I'm so hoping now he can manage to live with what we have. 

Had a call from the oncology consultant with the scan results. There has been some growth that he said was not enough for me to worry about but enough for him to suggest I increase the dose again or try a different drug that does the same job but my body 'may' tolerate it better. For now I've agreed to stay on this drug and the side effects I'm learning how to deal with, I'll take 1x40mg and 6x20mg each week so a minor increase, and hope it doesn't change how I feel too much. He will review again after the next scan in about four months time. 

Another week gone and also another month! Time just whizzes by! 

See you again in no time at all.

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To Be Or Not To Be.......

 
They were not wrong with the wet weather forecast, Saturday was wet most of the day, both light showers and heavy storms. 

Sunday Daughter and Son had planned one of their early morning walks, depending on the weather, and invited us to join them for brunch. It was a little showery but they walked anyway and we met up on the Waterfront to try a new restaurant. 

Good service and nice food so I'd happily recommend it. Hubby and I assumed we'd be giving them a lift home but they decided to walk back too.

And sent me a photo. 

M had taken O and D on holiday to Berlin for four day as Daughter was taking that opportunity to make an improvement to O's bedroom. He has the very small box room with limited space and almost no storage. There is a large cupboard over the stairs in his room but it held the water tank that hadn't been used since long before Daughter moved in more than 20 years ago. So with Hubby's help they managed to remove it along with a lot of old pipework. 

The next day Hubby left Daughter painting, cleaning the room and moving furniture back while he made a floor and shelves to exact measurements. 

⁰

O was thrilled when he got home and now it's left to decide what doors, if any, he wants and how best to use the space. 

The plums are now ripe and I've made a start with de-stoning and freezing

Hubby picked more and Daughter did lots of de-stoning too.

You may notice on the left are the first ripe figs and they are sooooo sweet. 

This week there was a boiler service and dog sitting on the same day but thankfully they didn't overlap as strangers in the house can sometimes stress the dog which in turn stresses me. 

Poor Hubby now has a very painful back, probably as a result of tank and pipe removals. He's a quiet patient but gets frustrated when anything stops him being his normal active self. I hope it improves very soon. 

I've been for my first visit to the Red Rose Chain, Theatre in the Forest which this year is Hamlet. Daughter, M and O took me in my car and there we met up with Son and fiancé and my friendKK. It was press night. R had told me she only had a small part this year although she didn't quite explain she had so many small parts, with lots of lines, lots of costume changes and on stage lots of the time. She was brilliant as always and so were the rest of the cast. 

We were there 

I'll be going again with friends on the 8th.

And it stayed dry and warm all evening! 

More praise for R for writing this book which Red Rose is using as a big fund raiser. Thanks to Son for buying his along with one for me and one for friendKK. 

I'll end this here as I've got this book and last night's program to read through. 

Bye for now.

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Bragging Rights.......

 
O, aka Charlie Blackwood was part of an outdoor gig on Sunday. 

Hubby and I couldn't go but Son and fiancé went and said he was really good. They enjoyed the other performers too. 

There weren't so many of us this coffee morning. We are all basically creatures of habit so coming each week people automatically seem to arrive and sit themselves down in the same places, however, if some people can't come we can find we are sitting next to someone else and having different conversations which is fun. 

Tuesday was the gathering of the old BT team and partners for lunch at The Maybush pub, a beautiful pub alongside the river Deben. 

They always wait for me to herd them together but always so eager to come when I suggest it. So pleased JE thought to take a photo just as we were all about to leave. This time I had warned them all of the major repair work on the Orwell Bridge which is causing traffic chaos. For us it wasn't too bad arriving but going home was very slow jams even though we had avoided the main road, seems like everyone else had the same idea! 

Wednesday Hubby again got caught with a different traffic problem as he had arranged to visit some friends in Kent. He did explain all the problems but I won't bore you with meaningless details so briefly by the time he'd crawled as far as Lakeside two hours after leaving home (should take half that), and seeing how much worse it was going to get he decided to phone his friends and come home. 

Thursday friendM and I ad been invited to friendHB's house for lunch and cream tea. She lives in Felixstowe so again up the A14 and over the bridge and again all moving OK going there and dreadful coming home. So glad Hubby does all the driving now and he had enjoyed his time in Felixstowe as the guys had met in the snooker club. Us three girls sat in the garden eating and chatting away and it was a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon. 

Thursday evening O performed live (as Charlie of course) for BBC radio Suffolk where they introduce new artists' music and he was this week's featured artist. Proud Grandma! 

Daughter was so proud when his image came up on her TV.

Haircut and (clear) specs the look for this event. 

We listened in and along with a lovely comfortable chat with the host the three tracks he performed sounded really good. 

Bought three more little roses which need planting. No blooms or buds on the others at the moment so I'm hoping these blooms last a while. Forecast is for a rainy weekend which will help, and hopefully help the grass look a bit greener again too. 

Enjoy your weekend, umbrella if you need it eh? 

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A People Week.........

 
Surprise start to the week when I got a call to have a CT Scan Saturday morning, the call came last Friday afternoon and obviously follows on from one of the Oncology team doing a catchup call last Thursday and my asking when my next scan will be. It's recommended I have them every four months and this is exactly four months, however, it's the first time I've witnessed any of that team taking action on anything that quickly. Nicely quiet at the hospital and easy to park. As usual getting the cannula in for the dye was very difficult for the radiographer but he succeeded and the scan itself is no problem at all. Results come through in about two weeks. 

A lovely chatty phlebotomists on Tuesday when I went for a blood test, who was very patient but persistent with my reluctant veins. 

Three years ago friendM asked me to have a chat with someone she went to school with who was then at the start of a very similar health story to mine regarding kidney cancer. I happily became a fb-friend to JC and we private messaged most days for about a year. We had hoped to actually meet face to face but as usual life gets in the way. 

This week friendM, fb-friendJC and myself had a lunch together and we chatted for about three hours. 

Our usual group of six Wednesday evening, two others joined us this week as The Grosvenor had a live singer. He's rock and roll and not bad but far too loud so you can't talk at all plus it was hot in there, so friendsH&H ate then left. We all moved into the other bar area where we could talk easier but friendT (she has dementia) was suffering so T&F finished eating and went home. Just the four of us and the guys went to play pool leaving me and friendM beside a giant fan. 

Another reunion lunch this week was with the art teacher we had for evening classes 30 years ago. This class was intended to take us through the "O level" exam as it was then, but instead of putting us in for that teacherSB suggested we all just head straight for the "A level" which none of us failed. 

At the earlier social gatherings there were quite a few of us but mostly it has been just three of us and with my health issues we have only met once since covid. Just the day before friendSH had to cancel for a hospital appointment so lunch was just the two of us. 

We chatted for a couple of hours (and I ate a little too much) during which time my lovely cousinBB phoned so as soon as I got home I phoned her back and had a long catchup chat, then soon after Daughter arrived for tea and more catching up to do as she hasn't been over for a while because she's been unwell and now she's nursing a very bruised and swollen knee having had a nasty trip when out running. 

Busy week but nearly all chatting which I could cope with as it's been far too hot for me to manage anything physical (well that's my excuse eh?).

How are you coping or do you love these heatwaves?

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My New Sport........

 
It had been forecast Monday would be even hotter than the weekend had been, so wanting to keep our coffee morning neighbours safe from sunstroke we pulled out the gazebo Son had left here years ago. 

There were no instructions just a few little numbers on the poles, so the puzzle began. 

Gradually we pieced it together

And eventually had it erected, however it needs to be on the patio so can't peg the legs into the ground which this lightweight thing needs if the wind picks up at all, so we tied it to the brick post, the door handle and the garden umbrella stand. 

That extra shade was very much appreciated by our guests. 

The whole time Hubby was struggling to keep his favourite gardening shoes on his feet as they have completely split on almost every seam. 

I suggested he put them in the bin which he did along with his second best pair that were in a worse state than these hahaha! 

It must have been a little windy Wednesday evening/night as the gazebo looked like this Thursday morning despite us thinking all four legs were well secured. At least three poles were bent beyond repair. 

Shopping trip for a replacement off the shelf at The Range. As a pop-up style it should be quicker to erect and we can put it away each time so it's not left out overnight. 

Meanwhile the TV in the office had decided to stop working. Hubby had fiddled with it for a couple of days without success. So our shopping trip moved onto Curry's and we eventually left with a new TV.

I said eventually as they complained of being really short staffed and tried to place customers in some sort of queue but it still took 35 minutes before someone came to serve us and after Hubby had decided which one to buy it took the chap another 20 minutes or so getting one from the warehouse. Hubby had brought the broken one in the boot which did mean we got a recycling discount of £10.

Hubby is enjoying TV time as it's nearly all sport at the moment, I don't particularly enjoy watching any sport, so I'm calmly participating in tactical avoidance hahaha. 

Keep cool if you can.

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On The Right Path.........

 
Our builder-friendP came early Saturday to help Hubby get the path done. His normal starting work time is 8am, it felt very early for us but so much better to try and get heavy manual work done before the main heat of the hottest day of the year so far. 

As with most builders starting with a mug of tea is essential. 

FriendP took the lead but they do work well together. 

Another mid way tea break then finished soon after so we could all enjoy an early lunch.

Hopefully some rain soon so the grass looks green again, otherwise so much better than it was. 

When our grapevines died and this trellis was bare we were thinking what to plant next and something grew that we didn't plant, obviously a gifted seed dropped by a bird or squirrel. Hubby left it and it grew into a strong little tree. 

The last few years it has blossomed in the spring and the app on Hubby's phone told us it's a plum. This year it fruited, the sweetest little plums that are no bigger than cherry tomatoes. 

Hubby successfully revived friendKW's laptop that he left here a few weeks ago. We returned it over a late pub lunch and a good catch up chat. Yummy. 

It's just over an hours drive each way to this pub (half way between us and friendsL&K) and we are so grateful for air-con as it was 29°C outside! The forecast for this weekend including next Monday could reach a high of about 34°C PHEW! Please take care, drink plenty and while you do that enjoy yourself.

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No Flies On Me......

 
It had to be on the Saturday not Sunday but Daughter and Son managed to get partners and our grandchildren all together for a pub lunch with Hubby and me for Father's Day. Everyone left there full apart from O who had been disappointed with his choice of pizza. Then all back here afterwards for cups of tea (although Daughter had swapped M for the dog).  

I haven't made fish pie for a while but I found a supermarket fish mix in my freezer and two boxes of ready made mash (always freeze leftovers) so a nice easy dinner once it all thawed, just made the white sauce with onions and constructed individual dishes for the oven. Mmmmmm

A few slabs were delivered. 

The next day was the cement and paving blocks. 

And Hubby has been working on it daily. Heavy lifting when he's not on his knees and this has been such a hot week, so I've insisted on plenty of long breaks. 

I've followed this lady on Instagram for a while now, she won bakeoff in 2014 (gosh didn't realise it was that long ago, so surprised when I just looked it up). She does some great bakes and also gives hints and ideas for a chemical free environment. 

Her response to annoying flies at home now doors and windows are open more is not to kill them with sprays or zappers or give them a slow death on sticky fly paper etc, Nancy prefers to deter them from coming in at all. Flies hate the smell of cloves apparently although when they are stuck into lemon it makes the room smell nice for humans. 

I've a 24 foot lounge with French doors open at the back and the window open at the front to get a through breeze while this week has been at its hottest. With these dishes either end we were amazed, no flies! Further proof was on the day we were dog sitting as the cloves are toxic to dogs so the dishes were removed and the flies returned! WOW

Any time I've tested another of Nancy's good ideas I promise to share it. 

  

It's going to be another scorching weekend, so drink lots, wear sunscreen and hats and stay safe.

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