8th August 2012

Yesterday, I felt reasonably well, well enough to tell friends and family who phoned, that I felt so much better than yesterday.............
I had a really restful day.
Well, that was until 20.45.
21.00 hrs,
Well hello purple bucket!
I was a sick as sick can be.....yuk, I felt awful.

No reason that I can see.....................

I am just wondering if I am cocking up my meds, there are so many to take, so I have asked the chemist if he will put them in a blister pack for me. He is happy to do so, but I have to ask my Doctor first, so that is next on the agenda.....
If that doesn't help, I have no idea...........

Just need to see how I am going on the rest of the day today.

Today, Carmel, from work, is coming to see me, and you guessed, I thought that lunch at the Wing Wah would be good! Lol!
(Hope my tummy stands for it....I feel reasonably well now..........)

At 14.00 hrs, Harvey, my drum instructor will be here to teach me more.
The track that I am expected to play on 15th September is:-
The Proclaimers and 500 Hundred Miles.

So this morning, I have listened to it over and over and over again....whizzing around my brain now.
I still haven't sussed when the drum beat changes from one beat to the next....I have worked out when to come in though.....(I think).
I must get this right as I will be playing this track live for a group called,
'Kick up the 80's'.
I would hate to let them down as they have agreed to this, and I would hate to let Harvey, my instructor down.

Because I am unable to sleep in bed at the moment, and I need to sleep in a reclining chair, it is limiting my activities......staying over at friends and family is difficult if not impossible.

All packed and nowhere to go! Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!

Claire is keeping her eye open for a 'foam shop', where they will cut a piece into a wedge for me......you know......sort of, 'have wedge, will travel', lol.

I ordered one of things that look like the top half of a deckchair to see how that goes, it arrived today, so I will try it out tonight.

6th August

OK.....Here we are on Monday 6th August.

I had a pj day most of the day, certainly rested most of it.
Claire came to visit about noon, and we spent a couple of hours just chatting and having a giggle.......
Tilda and Dougal were acting oddly......Hmmmmmmm, something is afoot!

Took some awesome pics of both the dogs climbing all over Claire!

The right side of my body sometimes feels too small to accommodate all the bits and pieces that need to be in there, so I need to stretch the side out to make the space bigger.......(probably doesn't work, but it makes me feel better).
What I do, is remain seated and put my right arm straight up and bend it over the top of my head, and at the same time bend the left side of my body over the arm of the chair.................

Claire said......
'Don't expect me to be able to have a decent conversation with you whilst you are sitting there like that!'
Then we both laughed and giggled....it was great fun, laughing at nothing, talking rubbish and just mucking around!!!!!!!!

Today, I have my drum lesson at 2.00pm........Must, Must, Must keep these up twice a week if I am to meet the challenge on 15th September!!!!!!

Don't read on if you don't want to know...................

Today my purple bucket has had to make an appearance. I am vomiting for no apparent reason.
I have had a head ache and jaw ache for a couple of days, but nothing really worth mentioning, there may be a connection....who knows?

Yesterday I had loose and liquid stools, they came as a surprise.
The colour of English mustard, with little, what appeared to be water melon seeds....these seeds were just little 'blood pellets'.
Only happened once.
Now, today, as I said, I am very sick. Hey Ho, could be worse.
I really am grateful for still being able to do as much as I can with pain that is manageable. There are so many people out there who aren't as lucky as me.........

Read on, your safe now.............

Isn't it fabulous? I have met 4 FB friends in the course of a couple of weeks!!!!!
Troy and Catherine, from Australia, Grace from Ireland, and Carolyn from Peterborough.

The above is Catherine, Troy and Dougal getting me all 'Skyped up'. Thanks Cat.

I am honoured to have met all of you, and want you to know that you have each touched my life....Thank you.

And the biggest news is:-
Happy Anniversary to Roxanne and Tom!!!!!!!!!!

And
Happy Birthday to Stephen!!!!!!!

Sat 4th August 2012

Another pj day today, although, I have been messing around with my sewing machine on and off too.

I decided to make the canvas apron for Keith that I promised him. Only the ties to do now.

I said that I would publish a pic as soon as Troy put them on Face book. Still waiting for the one with Catherine in it.

Below is Me, Troy and Richard, outside of the Wing Wah.

I have still not managed to find the pics with Grace O'shea, so if you're reading Grace, can you send them please...............

Didn't take any with Carolyn, but I do have a picture of one of her home made cakes, so if you need one for any occasion, I am sure that she would be delighted to give you a quote..........

Most of today, I have been resting as I feel really tired....tomorrow, Claire is coming with Tilda, so I am looking forward to that.

Pain wise.............

Nothing really new, I do have a really nagging pain, lower back, both sides, you know what it is like, it doesn't matter how you sit or stand, the bloody thing still hurts and carries on nagging.....................
My mouth is dry and sticky, the large lump in my groin and small one on my head hurt, the rest of the pains, no real change.
I have had no sickness, but I am only using the Oramorph if the pain is unbearable, but I am taking the Zomorph twice daily, that seems to have got rid of the sickness along with the Domperidone and Haloperidol.

I wanted to go to the Paganfest in Dudley today, but, I am soooooo damned tired!
What a disappointment.

A picture that I found from 2008......

I WILL BE BACK ON FORM SOON!

Friday 3rd August 2012

Good Evening.

Tuesday, I slept most of the day, I was so tired.
Wednesday, I thought,
'Carol! Get a grip and bloody do something!'.
So..................
I did.

I slept until noon, had a shower, and went into town. I parked up at 14.30.
I walked a little, and sat a little, walked a little and sat a little.........I was exhausted! I went back to the car after achieving nothing and came home. I was home for 15.45.
Got into my pj's and went back to sleep.

Thursday, I went to Compton Hospice.
Some very nice photography students came to see us, and showed how to use these camera's....all singing, all dancing ones. We took some pics, and they took some pics, so that was interesting.

Back into my pj's and more sleep.

Today, Troy Simpson and Catherine Pitt came to visit. They have come from Australia to see the Olympics and took a day out to visit me and Arthur Blackpudding....AKA Richard.

It was great to see them and give and receive hugs!
I meet Troy and Catherine at the Station, we came home because they both wanted to see Dougal! Lol!
The we 'skyped' Gordon Watson in Australia. Richard came about then.
When we had finished, we all went to the Wing Wah for lunch.

Troy and Cat took loads of pics, so I imagine that they will be around to publish very soon.

Sadly, by the time we had finished lunch, I was very tired again, and had to say my good byes......Grrrrrrr, so damned annoying because I had been looking forward to this for weeks!

Richard took Troy and Catherine to Birmingham, so I hope that they all really enjoyed that.

I am back in my pj's now, after having had a nap.

Tuesday 31st July 2012

Went on the canal trip.
It was great, the weather was good when we needed it to be.
The 'crew' were great, and we all had a lazy day and a fab meal.

Dougal was very excited and enjoyed it all too.

Jean, Ann, Dave, Nikki, Dean, Mum, Roxanne Keith, Little Finley, me, Derek and Dougal enjoyed the trip.
Claire and Richard met us as the pub. Sadly Dot and Pete couldn't come due to work commitments. 'I missed you both!'
Claire had been to the hairdressers, and it looked really good......(don't tell her that I told you that though, it will go straight to her head).

No, really, Claire looked beautiful!

I was a bit worried because, like a plonker, I left the satnav in the front of the car, because I was so excited. I had visions of having a window smashed and the satnav stolen.......But, No, all was well....how lucky am I!?
(Can't find my way out of a card board box without it).

After having such an exciting and active week and week end, I was so tired that I think that I spent most of Monday asleep!
I woke in time to help Jean get ready for giving her demonstration of 'spinning' for the 'Young Farmers'. It was a good evening and all were suitably impressed........
I find it interesting to.........did you you know, that any fibre, animal or vegetable can be spun it it is 1.5 inches or more long.....I saw some wonderful jumpers made from peoples pet hairs, both cat's and dog's, rabbit's can be done to.
Nettles, apparently are the 'poor man's linen',,,,,,,facinating.

I have some good and exciting news, although it is very scarey!
You know that I am trying to play the drums? My tutor, Harvey, is very good and patient with me,.............well, my ambition was to play one live number with a band...............
Well, on the 15th September, I have been invited to play one tune with a band called 'Kick up the 80's'. (In front of an audience of 300 people, I need to tell Harvey!
I am so excited!!!!!!!
Harvey, you are going to have to make me do it, increase the lessons, and DON'T LET ME GET AWAY WITH ANY POSTPONEMENTS!!!!!!!

I am sooooooo scared and excited and nervous, I can't explain.........

Yes! Play! Play the Drums!!!!!!!!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!

Sunday 29th July,at silly O'clock!

Well, I decided on Wednesday that I would like to have a BBQ....Never had one before.
Did I have a BBQ to cook on? No.
So, off I went to get one.

Other than that, I did little..............

Dot and Pete got all the drinks, Derek and Richard went out and got the food.
Guests brought more food and drink, the weather held...............
Great!

Thank you all so much for doing all the work and allowing me to believe that I actually did some thing!

I did go out and get a gazebo, in case it rained, but the bloody thing had a tear in it and poles missing, so I have to take it back....thankfully, I didn't need it any way.

I have discovered so many more lumps and bumps, the older ones being bigger etc.....
I did yell you that the 'tight elastic feeling' was due to the lymph nodes expanding with cancer, well, I have the same sensation in my neck and throat....so need to keep my eye on that.

Today, a group of us are going on a canal trip, stopping for lunch and then coming back.....Mum particularly wanted to do this.
This is a whole day thing......sadly, Claire, Dot and Pete, can't join us on the canal, but they will meet us for lunch, hopefully, the weather will do me one last favour.
If not, it doesn't really matter the trip, and the company are the most important things.

Dougal will enjoy the walk along the canal.

Bit worried about Roxanne though, she has broken her little toe, and it is a bit 'precious' now, so..........
NO ONE STEP ON IT...PLEASE!

Friday 27th July 2012

Well, here we are again...............
Yesterday, I went to Compton Hospice and had a great time.
The 'pod cast' took place, that was easier than I expected, some one asked me questions, I answered, job done!

Didn't have much of an appetite, but the food was good, as always. 'Specially the puds! Slurp yum.

Can't remember exactly what I said yesterday, but here goes....
The lump in my groin is almost certainly the lymph node's tumour,and the lump to the back left of my heard is probably related.....ie,,,,further lymph node tumour.

(I did suggest to my friend Claire, that it was my brain oozing out of a crack in my skull, she said,
'Don't be ridiculous, your brain is nowhere that big!'

I really don't know why I let her be my friend sometimes....I really don't......good job she's Tilda's person!

I went to dinner with my friend and X boss, Mike Smith last evening, that was very pleasant, and we did a bit of catching up, but alas, I had to cry off after about 1 1/2 hours because I could feel myself melting with tiredness all over the floor in the Wing Wah. Had a farewell hug and I was home for 20.00hrs.

Into bed, and slept like a baby 'till 03.00, (comfort stop and meds), back to bed 'till 10.00.
I did have a bad moment when I needed to get the bucket, but thankfully, it was a false alarm..............

I went into the shower to get ready for a Facebook friend, Carolyn Childs, and low and behold, Dot and Pete turned up with goodies for the BBQ!

Any way, half ready, I came downstairs, Dot had started washing up and had the kettle on, bless her.....(I didn't like to say that I was leaving it for DereK! LOL!)

At the same time, Carolyn came, so we all had coffee and a chat, it was quite good, I didn't feel under any obligation to rush around and didn't feel uncomfortable that I wasn't quite ready, in fact, it was like me and Carolyn had been chatting over the garden fence for years........

Dot and Pete left, so Me and Carolyn walked to the Wing Wah and had lunch and a great chat, came back home, had a coffee, I was tired but it didn't seem to matter because I was at home already.

Anyway, after a while, Carolyn went home, with a promise that she would come again soon.....good news!

I am tired now, so I will talk about the BBQ later tomorro evening, but for now, I need rest......

Today, I have 'interesting' info to share, but if you are squeemish, I would leave this bit out.
1. My sickness is reducing, although, I still feel a bit nauseous.

2. You know I was having 'tight knicker elastic sensations? Well, I have a huge lump in my left groin, and a smaller on in my right, this probably explains that. In fact the lump is so big it is affecting the way I walk and mount stairs.

3. I have a smaller, yet fast growing lump to the top right of my head, I thought initially that it was a blind spot, but no, it is getting bigger, not a problem though until I try to brush my very short hair.............

4. Pain? Nothing that you don't already know about, apart form maybe, the constant throbbing to my lower right abdomen, I can actually pin point the exact spot....can't feel any lumps though.

Had a great time out yesterday after noon.
We went to Bistro Jaques again, in Shrewsbury, and then to Nero's Coffee house. The weather was great.
Travelling in Jeans convertible 'Smart' car was fantastic!

I was very tired when I came home, and slept like a brick!

Today, I am at Comton Hospice, and I am doing this podcast thingy.
This evening, I am going to dinner with an 'old boss', or should I say, a previous boss. (Lol).Sorry Mike!

Another picture of potentially some ones old boss!!

Tomorrow, I get to meet another Facebook friend....Carolyn Childs, so looking forward to that too.

24th July 2012

Had a great sleep last night, and slept 'till 10 ish.
Went back to bed and slept 'till 11.
(And......I didn't require the purple bucket!)

Shower and change to meet Grace O'shea at the station.
What a lovely woman.
Grace took photo's so when I get them from her, I will post....

This will have to do for the moment.......
Me on a horse, on my horse riding day.............

I had a great time time Grace, great to meet you after loads of 'on line communications'. Take care and best wishes to you and yours.

We went to the Wing Wah for lunch, chatted non stop.................
I became tired, Grace wanted to look around Wolverhampton and see the great architecture, for which Wolverhampton is known, if it isn't, then it should be!

Above, the old Royal Hospital.......................

Below, the Wolverhampton Magistrates Court.

Grace carried on with out me and I came home to sleep.
When I awoke, I wanted to go for a stroll, Derek came to make sure that I would be OK.
Me, Derek and Dougal off along the canal.
Sadly, I didn't make it to the end of the street.....(it is a relatively long street), so we had to come back. Next time I will drive to the canal, should manage it then.