shortbread

Hello there.  Morning walk in rain again.  With a sore ankle I wore trainers, and took a puddle free route.  It was a much shorter route, but drier to the feet.  

At home my ankle deteriorated - it was painful to walk, and slightly swollen.  Ibuprofen and Ice and Once Upon A Time DVD and it started to recover.  I can't remember who gave me the video, sorry, but I am enjoying it.

Later, and more mobile, I try to make Millionaire Shortbread.  Here is my first attempt at shortbread!

An old church friend came round to visit.  We had a good catch up.

Martha was too tired to go swimming.  Katy went and came back pleasantly tired.

Love to you all
Sarah xxx

Homework done (sort of!)

This picture sums up Katy's day.  Annoyed when came home from a school trip to a tudor house; angry because one of her other girl-friends got to dress as a knight, while Katy and Polly had to wear a dress each.

My day has followed the usual pattern - a squidgy walk in the meadow mud, followed by catching up on benefit admin and other things, sleep, shopping for a few ingredients for Millionaire Shortbread, collect girls from school.

Amongst all this, I measured a puddle all day for Katy's numeracy homework.  She tried to do it on Sunday, but after three half hour measures, it rained.  Katy has drawn a graph to show the change in size over time.  At the end of the evening, we went out for a final measure, to discover tyre marks!  A car had driven through it - no water left!  Martha has finished a report about Orangutans, but has not finished her spelling research.  Both have a note of apology in their link books.  I am not worried about it because they really have done all that they can.

I have set up this laptop to be able to print.  My laptop has been sent away, and we had no other laptops set up to print.  I found the CD, and have then followed the long instructions through to having a link between laptop and printer.  It took me a couple of hours.  Relief, when I am finally able to print the orangutan report for Martha to hand in.  Hooray!

So, I am a mixture of satisfied and drowsy.  I think I can hope for a more restful day, tomorrow.

Have a good day :)
loads of love
Sarah xxx

Birthday weekend

Martha's birthday holds the centre of the weekend.  On Saturday, we prepared for the party.  Martha and Katy made a sticky toffee pudding, as Martha's birthday cake.  Martha's idea was to have two candles - spelling "11", and to blow one out, and snuff the other with her fingers.  You won't be surprised to know that she ended up blowing them both out:).

The party was a premier of a film that Martha, Katy and friends have made together.  When they arrived, every guest was offered a glass of "champagne" and canapes.  No-one liked the canapes, but it didn't matter, because it looked good.  A premier is a good theme for a party.  They played charades and musical statues, and ate everything.  The sticky toffee pudding was delicious.

Sasha made everyone popcorn for the film premier.  Each of them had a bag of popcorn to eat, while they watched the film.  They were all watching the film, and tucking into their bag.  

Here is a photo of the girls at the end of the party.

Izzy J and Polly stayed for a sleepover.  I have to say that when everyone was leaving, I was wondering why I had agreed to have a sleepover.  However, the two pairs of children settled down well.  Martha and Izzy were watching The Voice, and Polly and Katy watched the Bridge to Terabithia.   This morning all the girls helped to tidy up, and Katy and Polly went to the shop for bread and milk.  Martha and Katy are both exhausted!  Homework has had to take a back seat.

Louise came round this afternoon.  We had a cracking game of Perudo until Dave took Martha and Katy swimming.

Health-wise, I am feeling pretty well.  I still have to sleep in the middle of the day, but on the whole I feel a lot brighter.  I nearly have a full head of hair.  I have a stripe around the top of my head that, Martha tells me, looks like a headband; this is my scar, which is hairless.  My hairstyle looks like I am wearing a head band, with high hair behind it.  The high hair is my hair that did not fall out, and although short, it is longer than the new hair that has crawled in decreasing circles, across my scalp, until it has finally met in the middle.  I will have a full head of hair very soon.  It just has to grow across my scar.

Have a good week next week.
lots of love to you
Sarah xxx

Goggles in the bath

Last night there was a thunder storm with a thick shower of hailstones.  The roads were white, like snow.  Katy and I got caught in it and got home laden with ice - guitar and trumpet, were both covered in ice.

My walk this morning was one of my shorter routes, because I was going to pilates at 10 am.  I was amazed that the grass alongside the paths was full of hail.  The hail had survived the night.  The mud was soggy and I had to take makeshift routes through huge puddles, stepping on bits of brick and hand made bridges.

Martha is eleven years old at 1.30 am tonight.  She took her chocolate chip cookies to school.  Katy went vigorboarding at 8am.

After school, Katy made a giant meringue.  It looked amazing.  Martha went to the park with her pals.  We then got ready for the party - the bunting is up!  We still have a few things to do tomorrow, but basically Martha's party is ready to go.

Bath time (three nit checks today).  I painted Martha's nails while Katy got out the bath and got herself dressed, or so I thought!  When I bob back into the bathroom, Katy was lying on her back under luke warm water, wearing her swimming goggles.  She was happy!

Have a good weekend everyone
loads of love
Sarah xxxx

More cookies

Well, it rained hard this morning.  We all walked to school together, hooded and zipped up (except Katy!).  My need to exercise was greater than the weather, so I was dressed in wellies and waterproof and ready to get absolutely soaked.  However, the weather changed with the school bell, and I enjoyed my walk accompanied by the songs of birds, who sounded like they had not been allowed to sing for months on end.  It was beautiful: blue skies and pretty birdsong.  The mud was pretty special too!  At one point, I was thinking how easy it would be to slip and fall into the brook, and I slipped!  Fortunately, I was able to coordinate and retain my balance. It did make me laugh.

Anna took me to PC World, so my lap top has been posted to someone who should be able to repair it. I took my external memory, but it turned out to be full.  I had to buy a 32MB USB pen, to have photos and documents saved.  Return anticipated in ten days.

Sleep and odd jobs, and the day has passed.

Martha has continued making cookies, to take to school tomorrow.  She now has one each for the whole class and a lolly for a boy who is allergic to milk.  Katy has homework to complete on a lap top and none of us can work out how to copy and paste a picture from the web.  It is amazing how a change in computer can throw you.  Dave had to show me how to open more than one web page at a time.  I also have to find my disk for the printer, because we do not have a computer that is set up to print.

I have had headaches again today.  They have been quite sharp and high pitched, but never for very long.

Hooray! It is Friday tomorrow
Have a good day
love you all
Sarah xx

Cookies (edible ones)

I don't really have anything to report, today.  I feel tired and low in mood.  I enjoyed watching Sherlock, slept and collected girls from school.

Martha has made her class chocolate chip cookies.  She has some more to make tomorrow.  They have both been practicing the piano, and had a good lesson tonight.

I missed my walk this morning, and I feel sure this is affecting my mood.  I will have a good long walk tomorrow!

Have a good day tomorrow
lots of love
Sarah xxx

Broken computer

PC World will help me mend my computer.  It fell off my bed, nudged by my leg, and landed on the charging connection.  It is all bent.  Mistakenly, I thought the computer was not damaged by the accident; I only discovered it a moment before the battery expired.  I cannot switch it on to save any of the material on it.  PC World will have to do this.

I went for a good walk with Anna, this morning.  The meadows are really thick with mud.  My wellies are thick with it, even after walking home, on the roads from the meadow.

My Macmillan nurse came today.  Good conversation again.   He returns during next chemo spell.

After my sleep, I go shopping for Martha's birthday.  We have a "premier" on Saturday.  Plastic champagne glasses at the ready for "champagne", and canapes.  Martha is getting very excited.  She did a party budget earlier.

Sleep time, already.

Have a good day tomorrow
lots of love
Sarah xxx

Muddle today

My day is thrown topsy-turvy by a lack of planning!  I went for my morning walk - the meadows were beautiful and misty - and cut it short because I was expecting my Macmillan Nurse.  I slept when I got back, got up for our meeting, and he didn't arrive.  When I finally check, I realise that I have the wrong day.

Gotta go, because I dropped my computer last night, and it is not charging.  I will continue on another computer, tomorrow.

love you all
Sarah xxx

Housework and homework

Early morning we all looked at Cook menu and order meals for next chemo spell.

I ordered a pair of walking shoes from Blacks (Christmas present from Dave and girls).  If they don't fit, I can get tram to Deansgate and return them.  There are at least three outdoor shops near Blacks, so I think I would be able to replace them in same trip.

Homework has hung in the air around us.  Agreed start time was eleven in the morning.  Katy got on with it.  Martha argued against it for 45 minutes.  She could have started and finished one piece, in that time.  In the end, they have both completed their homework.  Katy continued with her literacy homework, this evening - she is really into Macbeth.  She has analysed the feelings of the key characters using internet and her own knowledge of the play.

I have spent all the rest of the day either cooking, or cleaning after cooking (and cleaning after Martha and Katy had an art project in the kitchen).  It sounds grim, but I only had a 30 minute "sleep", which was a light doze.  It was enjoying to be able to absorb myself in something.  I feel reasonably well.

Sorry, I have just been diverted into family phone calls to plan my Mum's 70th birthday.
Sleep time is overdue
loads of love
Sarah xxx

No Blog - but all OK here.

Enjoy your weekend.  :))) 
Thanks for looking.
S x

Pilates

This is my big news of the day.  I make it to my first pilates lesson for a few years.  Jo Murphy (mum from school) is the tutor and about twenty of us pack into a large room that began to feel small.  It is the perfect exercise for me right now - every movement is based on full and correct breathing. Analysis of the lesson would say we did nothing but lie down for an hour, but those of us who were there know otherwise!

The window men came and started mending my kitchen window.  New hinges have been added; next phase is change the insulation strips.  These have been ordered.

Louise came over this evening.  My next chemo session clashes with her birthday, and I have been given permission to start the tablets the day after her birthday weekend (delaying by 4 days).  This gives me the opportunity to go away for the weekend to North Wales.  Lots of details to work out...

We played PERUDO, which is a dice game that Louise gave Martha and Katy for Christmas.  It is a good game.  Basically you guess (or bluff) how many there are of the number on dice.  You have 5 dice each at the start.  Winner is the last one with any dice.  Martha understood it straight away and got knobbled by Louise.  Katy couldn't believe she was winning at one point, and was simply astounded to be correct in what she said.  It was hilarious.

Gotta sleep now
Feeling reasonably well :)
love you all
Sarah xxxx

New Coffee Shop :(

Beautiful sunshine for morning walk today.  Here is the river Mersey, at the rapids.

My favourite part of the picture, is that there is daylight between my legs!  Earlier, when I approached the river, the torrent was like a herd of bison all squeezing through a gully and wrestling with eachother - it rolled up and down, oozing power.  It really was exciting to see.  A wide river, packed with the fever of angry, aggressive animals.  So powerful!

 

At home, I fell asleep in front TV, and went to bed until 12.45 pm.  My afternoon was just a kind of blundering, that yielded a couple of big wins. 

 

I phoned my double glazing company and asked them to come and look at my kitchen window (it is no longer sealed).  They came immediately, have ordered the parts and are coming to fix it tomorrow. 

 

Dentist's secretary, on the phone, changing our appointment:  I have known her for years and told her about tumour.  She asked me why was I telling her; was it because she had had a tumour.  Amazing - she had a brain tumour, had it removed and treatment and is now free from it.  

 

I had a real laugh with Joan (Dave's mum) - I was telling her that Roger Lloydpac (spelling?) had died, but could not remember his name.  My TV is on silent, but I see "Roger" (only) displayed on the screen, and tell her.  We are swapping funny scenes that he has played in Vicar of Dibley and Only Fools and Horses, and neither of us can remember his surname.  I then say Lurpac as a joke and our conversation descends into hysterical laughter.

 

On the way to collect Martha and Katy I go to Quality Save for a shop.  I cannot believe it - the corner of the shopping precinct is now labelled up as Costa Coffee.  Three shops have been bought and combined, and are in the process of being made into a coffee bar.  I really worry about the impact on the local independent coffee bars.  Who knows?  Maybe it will be a good thing, if it brings more people into Chorlton.  My gut reaction is that I wish it wasn't coming at all.

 

At Comedy Club, I have a good chat with Ali the group leader.  She thinks Katy and Martha are both amazing. 

 

At home Martha is skyping her friend, but electronic goods are all put away at 7 pm.  Katy has gone to bed early, to prepare for vigorboarding club at 8 am tomorrow.  My mum has told me about the funeral - all went well.

 

Have a good day tomorrow

love

Sarah xxx

On the mend :)

I make it to school this morning, and catch up with a few people.

Ewa, cleaner came today, for the first time in four weeks.  It was heaven!  She has cleaned everywhere.  My biggest achievement of the day was to mend my broken blind; it shuts properly now. Sleeping for an hour, I miss her at the end of her shift.

I arranged for a mum pal to come round for a cuppa, and basically have done nothing except sit and chat.   My nausea is coming and going, but diminishing in power with every wave.  I feel relatively ok right now.  Hoping to go for a walk tomorrow morning and get back into routine again.

Martha and Katy are currently over-energised by their electronic gizmos: Katy's iPOD and Martha's kindle.  Emailing and facetiming/skyping their friend has become a fashion.  I am trying to work out what the boundaries are.  I think we will start with times when they can use it and times when they cannot.  Katy already knows that she cannot check her messages after 7pm, or I will confiscate her iPOD for a week!!  She lost her iPOD for the night last night.  We already have a rule that they can only use them downstairs for games, that is generally followed well.  Any tips are always welcomed!

I am thinking about participating in the London 10k, in July 2014, but very aware that I will probably only be able to walk the route.  This makes the London marathon seem incredibly close...  Martha and Katy want to do the Great Manchester Run, so I will enter them.  I think, this year, we will make it to watch the main event (we missed it last year).

Wishing you all a good day tomorrow
lots of love
Sarah xxx

Tuesday

I spent all morning today dozing in front of the TV. 

This afternoon, I got myself together enough to go to a Look Good Feel Better make up session.  I have been advised that I should go, because you get a really good goody bag.  It is true!  Remarkably, I met Anna there too.  I have been taught how to use all the products, from cleanser, to my third eye brow pencil!  I have had a make-up session with Martha tonight (while Katy was at swimming), I showed her what we had been taught (except the foundation and powder) and she looked delightful.  She then helped me cleanse it (and herself).  My main point of learning, was seeing in a magnification mirror how dry my skin has become.  I need to moisturize. Helen gave me a bag of make-up products for Christmas, and there is plenty in there that will help me improve the condition of my skin.  Martha helped me look through it.  I have agreed that she can try the shower gel.  We had a lovely hour together.

My mum has gone home for my Great Auntie Betty's funeral.  She was late eighties and died in her sleep on New Year's Eve.  My mum is very upset to lose her.

Have a good day tomorrow
lots of love
Sarah xxx
(I am still very nauseas, but managing it OK)  May it be gone tomorrow!)

Chemo 5

Hi there,
Sorry - I had no internet yesterday, nor the energy to get it going.  Mostly, I have been in bed, nauseas or worse.

My Macmillan nurse came, and we had a good talk about lots of things.  Swimming is off my agenda until the chemo is finished (warm moist atmosphere, potentially full of germs).  Polates, would be a good start for me; I have just got to get organised. 

I am still upset about my treatment by my ex-GP.  However, I have said what I want to say.

I continue to think about the second Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) A&E doctor, as well.  I had returned to the MRI (two days after a visit scheduled by Dr Sabeti) with newly developed double vision.  I do not think I was checked over properly.  I recall thinking it was odd that I was sent home to rest when all the manuals say you must get seen by a doctor.  I realise that part of the problem was that I was not functioning properly; I barely speak.  The first A & E doctor checked me thoroughly, and sadly, I passed all the tests and they rejected the request for a scan.  I am disturbed that the development of double vision did not spark the need for a scan. If and when I feel like following this up, I know how to do it.

Other stuff - I showed him photos of me pre-diagnosis:  one with Martha and Katy in Berlin (where I was struggling with headaches), and one with Jackie and Louise at hockey.  He read the poem that Jackie has written for me, and I have seized it as my goal - all the features she describes are accurate observations - I want to get myself back in action again.  Two more bouts of chemo to go.

Good news, of course, that the scan showed that my tumour is responding to treatment.  I am grieving that I still have a tumour, but if it is not growing, nor troubling me, then I can live with it.  I have to come to terms with this. 

continued ...

Chemo day 4

I have several breaks to my sleep, but on the whole, I sleep well.  I wake to my 6am alarm and take Ondansatron.  I wake to 7.30 alarm at take my chemo tablets.  I get up shortly after. 

On the whole, I have had a good day.  I have had flashes of nausea, but nothing has reached the levels of the day before.  No vomit day, hooray! Hoping for a similar day tomorrow, however, I will accept whatever comes my way. 

I haven't really done anything all day.  Martha and Katy have played well (mostly!), and Polly came over to play after arranging it on facetime (ipod touch to ipod touch).

Truman Show then bed.

Good night all
Have a good week
lots of love
Sarah xxxx

chemo day 3

Nausea through the night, I took all the pills that I could (spaced out)(the pills not me!!) and still ended up vomiting.  In the end, I managed to sleep and awoke late.  Totally confused, I phoned Christie hotline for help.  They are always amazing.  I follow what they say, exactly and start to feel a little more settled.  On and off all day, I have been struggling with nausea and vomiting.
I couldn't go to the theatre tonight, but mum friends have been brilliant help, and taken Martha and Katy to see Robin Hood.
I watched the film Senna (on loan from Helen).   The salmon byriani is all gone. My only experience of it was yesterday, Martha and Katy have enjoyed it today, thank you, Sally and Alan.
Have a good day tomorrow
Sarah xxx

chemo day 2

Woken by Cook delivery
Seven thirty in the morning and I am woken by my front door.  My Cook order has arrived very early!  Prior to this, I have been awake at 6am to take anti-sickness pills, and now it is chemo time.  We are all in bed, sound asleep.

Parcel collection
The three of us walk to school together.  Martha is ready to present her "new skill", which is knitting, to her class, and to year 5.  My morning walk is to a newsagents, to collect a parcel.  To cut a long story short, I did not take any formal identification, so I was denied the package.  In the afternoon, I returned with a gas bill.  The funny thing was, that when I received it, it was a ten inch box, about five inches deep.  Having a laugh with the shop keeper, I open it, to find a key ring in the middle of it.

Benefits admin completed
The library offers a service of copying original documents for the education service.  I have my final set of "evidence" copied.  I am delighted to announce that I have finished all my admin. 

Martha is a buddy
Martha comes home from school, bouncing and showing me her buddy badge.  She has been made a buddy.  Excited and delighted!

Katy came home and made flapjacks.

Usual amount of day time sleeps...  Nausea is manageable.

Enjoy your weekend
love you all
Sarah xxx