Thursday 30th October

I have managed to wrestle the Laptop away from the 'Man of the House' so I can scribe a short blog post tonight instead of the usual long winded affair that you are all becoming accustomed to!

The sun shining today makes everything seem better, so Im glad in a way I didn't have Chemo and was able to enjoy the good weather.

I had a lovely early morning walk on Grouville beach with a neighbour JR, and her two 'boys', loads of seaweed down there that would look excellent on our vegetable patch. Another job I can add to hubby's list for the weekend, although I don't fancy lugging vraic into the trailer if its pouring with rain, as forecast is suggesting.

I'm feeling much fitter and stronger today, although i've been busy and so another early night is on the cards. Enjoyed a Pilates class at the Merton, but didnt dare go swimming even though it looked gorgeous, as I was told to keep my hand dry. It has very nearly healed, which is an excellent sign and hopefully means that my clotting platelets and haemoglobin levels are rising. Still got the unsightly rash though, but it doesn't itch so ignoring it!

Dan has decided that as he goes on holiday for 3 weeks on Saturday he had better do some washing, and find clothes/money etc... After missing his doctors appointment earlier this morning ( and me ringing up to apologise profusely on his behalf) he was too busy stuffing a homemade bacon and egg baguette to remember to go. I re booked another one two hours later for him, ( we felt it wise to have antibiotics 'in case', as well as asking for a referral letter to the hospital to sort out his 'varicose vein' ( something else he blames me for- sigh). I suggested he took a box of chocolates as a peace offering ( hoping they wouldn't charge him for the missed appointment). Little monkey took TWO tins of chocolates, one for the receptionist and one for the doctor, apparently they were made up..... the little charmer!!

Wednesday 29th.....

Thomas' bonfire extravaganza scheduled for this Friday has been postponed....it's because the forecast is not good, and not (as one might suspect) because he has had a call from the Home Affairs Minister questioning his desire to cause large fires and explosions. The new date will be decided probably in conjunction with our local representative of the Fire Service, or the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service as they are properly known.

Todays' "highlight" has been the connection of our fibreoptic cable to the interweb thingy....two very pleasant men arrived promptly this morning and proceeded to get to work. Very few hiccups at all...they discovered that one of the (already) installed cables had been squashed (and we all know what happens when you squash glass) but this was quickly rectified. We are now "cooking on gas" and Bex's most recent speed test has indicated that she has a download speed of just a spit less than 100 meg....for those who don't do internet, that's pretty darn fast....so fast that I think that we might now be able to see things on our computers/laptops/ipads before they actually happen. Certainly "the one that makes his living from the internet" will be impressed....although probably less impressed when he discovers that his own personal connection to the loft doesn't appear to be working now.....but no doubt he will solve the problem on his return home this evening.

The only other "issue" that we have discovered is that the new cable can only "do" two individual households....and as we now have three units to think about that will mean the installation of a second fibreoptic cable from the road..... we can only hope that this second cable can be installed very soon....our new tenant arrives on November 15th. and apparently she can't survive without broadband....do we infringe her human rights if we don't have it connected before she moves in?

We don't always have pudding in this household....but this evening we certainly did.... a blackberry and apple crumble.... (windfall apples from the orchard yesterday, blackberries from the freezer picked by Thomas a couple of months back, crumble made by Bex, and a rather excellent custard made by yours truly). We were all "properly stuffed" as Bex said after we had finished....day 1 of my diet starts (yet again) tomorrow.


Jilly has indicated that she will contribute this evening....which is good. She had a very tired "moment" for a couple of hours just after lunch .... but I'll let her tell you the detail. I think the moral of the story is NOT to do two dog walks, work in the garden AND play netball when you should really be resting all day.

lecture over, point taken, thank you very much......

I realised today that the minor rash I have had over the last two days , has actually spread, looks like red freckles over most of my body. Informed hospital, who said provided not itchy, and no temperature, should be ok. I'm guessing its either clotting platelets or possible chemo side effects... either way its not too bothersome at the minute.

I had cricked my neck earlier on this week, and not slept very well on Monday night, so with busy day yesterday, (yes, yes, alright) i began to feel very tired at lunchtime today. So  after a sleep I felt much better and was able to enjoy having some good friends over for cup of tea/cake at 4pm. (Hubby walked the dog), and still with 'sensible hat' on stayed in tonight instead of attempting a badminton session...

Walked along La mare this morning for a change before tackling 'double divi' at the supermarket....

Nice walk out west yesterday with SW....

Little JV's new 'workbench' with half made bird box in progress!

Tuesday ...nearly November

There's news in the paper this evening that we are taking precautions against the possible spread of the ebola outbreak...and quite rightly too....it's mystery to me that we haven't had more comprehensive restrictions for people entering the UK from West Africa before the last week or so.....it's uncanny that, on this day in 1831 "the States decided to take special precautions to combat cholera. A health office was to be opened and hospitals prepared in each parish."  It's not clear if the preparations were ever needed.

Our reader will have guessed by now that it's the man of the household on the blog tonight....adding more genuine Jersey news from ages past. It's only Tom and I here at the moment...Jack and Dan out "somewhere"...probably over the rainbow....Bex peeling apples for the Young Farmers Black Butter effort that is happening this weekend.....and Jill out west at Les Ormes doing something with a netball. I have to be honest and say that I have no idea if she's playing or watching...but I suspect the former. She was gone when I got home from town meetings, and that usually means an early kickoff, or whatever you do when you start a game of netball.

Today's been a bit of a day out for me.....so I can't report on news with any great authority. I know that Jilly walked the dog first thing, and had a visit to the Merton just before lunch.....but other than that I'm at a bit of a loss. It was a d i y supper this evening.....so, in true farmer fashion, I managed to fit half a dozen sausages (cooked, if you're wondering) into three slices of bread, with some excellent confit d'onions (very many thanks to the Le Chem's for returning from La Belle France with some for me recently) and a liberal "sprinkling" of tommy K......excellent......followed by some M&S caramel bites and a big mug of coffee.....and I wonder why I can't get down below sixteen and a half stone.  I wonder if it would sound better, or I would feel better, if I weighed myself in metric kilos? Maybe I might try that tomorrow.

We have the "return of the fibremen" tomorrow....sounds like an episode from Doctor Who doesn't it....but all we want, all we really really want, is to have our fibreoptic connected. Do JT not realise that I have a house full of children that all want to stream things off the internet at exactly the same time... for everyone's sanity we need this so badly. I'm hopeful that we can finally get fixed in the morning...but I have seen on the internet that there's talk of a strike by some JT "fibre upgrade"staff....wouldn't it be typical that we are the first property affected by NOT being connected by striking staff.

Thomas has just come out with a comment that's typical of a standard Luce evening conversation...as in..."does anyone have a private helipad over here?" .... why are you asking Tom?....let's not go there, but I would think that our reader can take an educated guess. There has been a quick discussion about how the Luce family wealth might compare to that of the Barclay brothers ..... it hasn't been a long conversation.

I think that's it's early to bed for me this evening. Last night I made the mistake of having a "quick lie down on the sofa" at about eight o'clock to watch a bit of TV. Jill assures me that I was snoring soundly for at least an hour before she woke me up on her way to bed.......not satisfied with sleeping all evening, I then made a large cup of coffee before heading upstairs.....and then wondered why I couldn't sleep!

Chelsea on the telly again this evening..... a top quality game in the Capital One Cup.....when I tell our reader that the match is being played in Shrewsbury then there's a chance that said reader will appreciate that it's not exactly the European Champion's League. Shrewsbury is quite close to Wales.....and it rains a lot there.

Jill has just returned....I'll ask if she wants to tell of her evening of sporting excellence in St. Brelade....apparently not, as she's cuddling the dog instead. She managed two sessions of 6 minutes...but got a little dizzy....standard evening then. More tomorrow.

Monday....the start of another week.

Fireworks are available to purchase....the excitement builds....and this year, wait for it, you can also buy silent fireworks....yes, silent....a little like nicotine free cigarettes, alcohol free lager, caffeine free coffee....I mean, what's the point ... I suppose you can just do the "ooos" and "aaahhhhsss", but what about the barking dogs, screeching cats and crying children....aren't all those noises all part of fireworks night as well? Steve here tonight.....starting off with another epistle from the Luce household....and before we go any further, can I apologise to our reader for the "underwear" reference last night...all very unnecessary....although, to be honest, Jill will always welcome any suggestion that cuts down on washing.

We've has another scrummy supper this evening....and as I type we're "chilled" doing apres eating activities. Bex is earning a little extra money by doing some computer work at the table, Jack out in St Saviour, Tom and Dan are watching a rerun of a Top Gear episode, and Jill and I are consequently discussing the "benefits" (or otherwise) of Jeremy Clarkson....now, there's a subject for a discussion.

Today hasn't been a good day for blood test results.....Jill went back to the hospital for another blood sample to be taken, all in the hope that things might have improved. Alas not I'm afraid...blood clotting platelet count still pants.....no chemo this week...but I'll let Jill explain a little more in a minute. On a brighter note, tomorrow Jill has two dog walks planned (one out west...so that will be an adventure) and a netball game in the evening.....oh, and  did I mention a yoga class in the morning as well? No shortage of positive thoughts at Seaford. To help with the clotting count, it was suggested that we might give up the dairy free diet for a day and try a mega portion of clotted cream....amusing, but not THAT amusing.

I think that we've all been affected a little by SAD today.....the jolly old Seasonally Affective Disorder ...even though it was a pretty good afternoon it was still very dark very early... we all felt quite hungry at around 5:30 (yes, I know that Dan feels quite hungry at all times).... and so, by 7:30 we're all done, eaten, cleared up etc....and starting to think about writing blogs.

Before I hand over, can I just say how good a day we had yesterday...there was really a fantastic crowd (yes, it was a real crowd) of people to watch the breezing down in Grouville....good weather, good ploughing, good food and really good company.....a proper "Jersey" day.

......and, just before I go, here's a little bit of history from the past (well, where else would it come from?)...in 1899 the following advert was regularly seen in the Jersey Evening Post. It read, "Old false teeth bought for cash". Vendors merely sent their teeth through the post to England where they were valued and money returned.     ...It occurs to me that the JEP doesn't say how people managed to eat their food once they had sold their teeth!!

I really don't need to add too much more to the post tonight, except the clotting platelets have dropped from 61 down to 47 ( need to be 100+) the neutrophils dipped slightly at 1.75 , and the haemoglobin stayed the same... doctor H is away for next four weeks so discussions about me will be ongoing amongst the rest of the Oncology team. I have now been given a new blood test date for next Monday and provisional appointment for Chemo on the 6th November. Good news is I FEEL OK !!!

I did read in the tonights paper that dog owners spend 3.7 hours a week chatting to their pets, and walk on average 548 miles a year.....


Photos from breezing comp...

Fifth place, pretty good going.....

The winner!

Plough Sunday

Technically today wasn't actually plough Sunday as it happens some time in January, but it was Sunday, and there was ploughing.

If you can't tell by the writing style, its me, Tom.

It was the Jersey Young Farmers Club breezing competition (shallow ploughing for those of you who aren't aware).  This involved lots of old tractors with lots of old ploughs driving slowly around a field whilst people (probably almost bored half to death by the ~1mph speed) watched on, silently judging everyone taking part.  I think I might have judged the most, but because it was silent, I can't be sure.

I could go into technical detail about quality of finish, straightness of first furrow and how its difficult to achieve a nice plot without a depth wheel and a set of discs, but then the number of readers of this blog would almost certainly dwindle to a point where my mother (and father) would be quite upset.  This wouldn't be the first time I have ruined something of theirs - I apparently put the TV remote in the bin back in 1989.

There were 9 entrants, Jack came 1st and Becky came 5th, which was even more impressive considering she had only learnt to drive a tractor yesterday and therefore hadn't ever ploughed before.

We were still discussing ploughing round the dinner table at 6pm. Mum was 'thrilled' by this, and after 15 minutes of bottling up her feelings (I assume) she blurted out that she wasn't in attendance at todays events because she had had enough of breezing for one lifetime.  Puzzled looks around the table...what was she talking about?  How could anyone have such a hatred towards ploughing?

It turns out that she was forced to return early from her honeymoon because dad needed to practice his breezing.  He obviously had his priorities right as he won the competition.  This decision gave him something that cherished memories could never provide - his name engraved on a trophy.

Whenever you've got a choice, you should usually do the thing that gives you a better story to tell.  That's why I never wear underwear.  (That last bit is a joke by the way, although thinking about it, it would save on washing and purchasing of clothes...)

Saturday....the BIG recount

It was just another normal day in the Luce household. The Cat was watching intently a small spider slowly cross the tiles......a woodpecker was climbing up the birdfeeder, pecking (when it got to the top) the backside of one of a pair of collared doves that were sat on the post quietly eating away.....Tom and Dan were counting how many tank films they knew (tanks...as in Tiger-Panzer tanks) ..... I was trying to explain to Bex how to plough a field (ploughing as in match ploughing....or in our case, breezing)....and finally the dog was curled up in her bed, adding to the ozone layer (we suspect she's eaten "something"). Tom was giving an impression of me dunking a digestive biscuit in his coffee..."I don't do that any more...it's fattening" was my response...the only problem was that I was eating a chocolate chip muffin at that moment..... much laughter from those others around the table.

We were a little out of sorts this morning.....Daniel took the dog out west very early (well, early for him) and all of a sudden there were no dog walks that needed doing. It was a little like a child that's gone back to university ..... we were all looking for something to do. But fear not......the garden beckoned after I returned from a spot of ploughing practice with Bex. Jill and I had "words" again...and the problem? ... Monty Don, he of Gardener's World fame. Last night the highlight of our evening had been to watch another riveting episode of that programme (my, how exciting are our Friday's?)...and, anyway, Monty was clearing up his garden ready for winter.....consequently Jill was on a "mission" this afternoon....ripping out all sorts of quite well established shrubs...including roses...much to my annoyance. There were a number of "conversations" about the benefits, or otherwise, of some of the plants that have been in our front garden for some decades......a few deals were struck (I'll take that one there out if this one here can stay) but no sooner had I turned my back that BOTH had gone. Gravel racked, and borders weeded...we felt a little bit better as we collapsed into the kitchen to prepare supper.

This evening we had ray wings.....a local delicacy that we have discovered recently...and vegetables from the garden. Lovely. I was even forced to take a photo (much to the disgust of the children .."what are you doing taking photos of food?") and with luck someone will find a way to insert it here.

Jill's been quite a bit brighter today....and with luck she'll be up to going out this evening...we've been invited for drinks at Hougue Bie....but at the moment it's Strictly Come Dancing that's monopolising her attention......much talk (jokes) about how she and I could have done a foxtrot down at Les Arches back in "the days"....I don't think so.

As I type Dan is asking what time we're going out....he wants to invite "some of his crowd" around when we've gone....Jill is giving Dan the benefit of her opinion....Dan not really interested...to be honest, Dan's friends spend so much time here they are almost family anyway.

Apparently I am using this blog to avoid doing the washing up..... thanks Tom....just be quiet and pass me that last Kit Kat that's looking lonely in the biscuits drawer. ...

Tom has just decided that now he wants to "modify" the dishwasher...he's just come to the conclusion that those "sticky up prongs" waste too much space....some talk of taking a grinder to them....not unless you want to buy us a new dishwasher Tom.

Breezing tomorrow....Jack VERY keen to hold on to his Champion status (I think he's won for the last few years) and Bex trying her hand for the first time. I suspect I will be more nervous attempting to "coach" her from the sidelines ( or "headland" to you Jersey farming folk) than when I ploughed myself. At least she can drive the tractor (we practiced earlier) and she also has a good plough. With luck we'll have positive news and photos tomorrow. It all starts at 10:00 tomorrow morning at Francheville (just down from Hougue Bie towards Le Boulivot). Be there or.....be tucked up in bed!

....and remember, clocks go back tonight. One whole extra hour in bed.  

Friday 24th October

I've been tired today, not sure how much of that comes from the poor blood test results yesterday, or how much of it is I am genuinely tired!
The weather didn't help, forecast rain all day, so tennis cancelled, I thought I'd better do jobs around the house. First a dog walk ( lucky I took a large umbrella) as it poured with rain, although Jess didn't mind. I started cleaning the ' silver' ( mostly the children's christening gifts and a few sporting medals) , but it sounds posh! However, as I have an attention span of a gnat I got bored of that and headed off to the Merton for some circuit training ( that explains the first part of the blog!!) my reasoning was I needed to pick up a few things from the supermarket and if I was going to be in the area , I may as well do a fitness class as well.... Makes sense surely??

Of course after lunch I had to finish the polishing, and do a few jobs, fortunately Steve arrived back and came on dog walk with me, and miraculously we managed to chose the one hour of the day it wasn't raining !

I am sure with better weather due this weekend and an early night tonight I will be feeling much better- it's just disheartening when you find out your red blood cell count is 10.3 ( should be 11.5 and above) so that explains the tiredness, my neutrophils are just on the border being 1.8 ( 1.5 and above to have chemo ). Although that's a pretty low reading to have at the beginning of chemotherapy . It's my platelets that are 61, they really should be at the very least 150...
This also explains the 'accident' I had with the dishwasher.... I really should be excused all kitchen duties! Last week I was emptying the cutlery draw and stabbed my hand with a ( clean) fork, normally no problem. The back of my right hand now has a fairly large sore (bigger than a fifty pence piece that is refusing to heal. I've tired EVERYTHING, a hydrocortisone cream, coconut oil, zambuk, Aloe Vera.... Anyway I asked at the pharmacy today, and was given a ' special' plaster and got told to go to the doctor ! It's alright I have an appointment at the hospital on Monday , if it really hasn't healed I will have to have antibiotics ( which funnily enough, I DONT want ) . I did bump into FH in the supermarket today, who kindly dropped in some different cream to try and a very large bottle of apple cider vinegar ( very good for alkalising the body) something which I have been trying to do for weeks. Cancer thrives in acid conditions, and my body is very acidic at the moment.

Changing the subject, a lot of my UK family are meeting today in Center Parks for a long weekend - I hope the weather is kind to them, but even if it isn't most of the attractions are inside, and I know they will all have a brilliant time, wish I was there!






Despite a bespoke umbrella , Jess would rather be out in the rain.....

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Thursday....23rd

Another day another dollar...as one of our retiring States Members used to say to me EvERY time I met him....We're on a bit of a very shortish blog this evening as it appears that we're all busy doing general stuff....Tom is teaching his coding at the Hub...Bex at her book keeping course at Highlands...Jack only just back from another hard day fighting fires...and Daniel in charge of cooking supper....Jack has walked in and demented pizza...just as well That's what Dan is producing. Even if I say it myself, Daniel does know how to make a mean pizza...and all from scratch including the base.. I can recommend it if you get the chance.

Jilly didn't the best blood test today...platelets not behaving and red cells dropping as well...but it's a while until the next scheduled chemo...so we've got fingers crossed that the next few days sees an improvement...more blood tests on Monday...not ideal, but we are staying positive.

The dog isn't on top form either this evening....she was out with Dan in the woods this afternoon, and quite often recently she seems off colour after running around in woodland....maybe there's something at this time of the year that doesn't agree with her....and now the cat is stood at the back door meowing to go out...what is it with the animals this evening?

Jack has received his bill for repairing the back axle of his Land Rover....judging by the reaction when he opened the envelope I doubt that he not be going anywhere near the sea with it ever again....words were spoken about boats and slipways...I suspect that when it comes to next year and we want to put boats back in the water that we will be looking for alternative trailer towing vehicles...

I think that's about it for now...N and P dropped in this afternoon which was nice...apart from that I think it's been an average day...I got on the radio this morning talking about the women's refuge and also on the TV this evening in the background at the opening of the field of remembrance...so, Poppy Week has started...let's get wearing them....100 years since the start of the Great War....5000 Jerseymen and another 2000 French nationals left the island to fight .... What a contribution from such a small place.

Well that's it for tonight...did you know that the end of next week is November? And not long until Christmas....wonderful isn't it.




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Wednesday 22nd October

A brief blog post tonight, it's been a lovely day, but I need an early night!
Bex took her winning entry into work this morning where I'm told it was appreciated by all who partook of a slice or two.
Various men of the household seem to have been at work, although numbers 1&3 met in town for a late lunch at a well known sushi bar.... And still managed to come home three hours later and eat my ham and sweet corn pie!

I delegated my dog walking today to Dan and Steve, I needed to focus all my energies on the sporty day ahead of me, which started of with an hour of racquetball at the club - that was brilliant!
A small shopping expedition for fruit and veg and then lunch followed by tennis with three lovely ladies AH, AB and MZ, also brilliant!

Back home, prepared supper and then went off to badminton, only for hour or so, but equally brilliant!
I know that this week is probably my ' best' week for feeling well so determined to make the best of it!

I have another blood test at the hospital tomorrow afternoon, but that's ok as i have time to walk Jess, attend a Pilates class, and then hopefully fit in another game of racquetball... But we'll see....!!

Photos of Becky's partially demolished Pear Tart tatin... And the carved out pumpkins!










- thanks for the varied and amusing comments posted on the last few blogs, I really should check the spelling before he publishes!!!


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Tuesday...the Great Young Farmers Bake Off

Steve here tonight...just returned from the wilds of St. Brelade...to a (fairly) empty house...Jack prostate in front of the TV watching ploughing videos (on his phone) and the dog snoring in her bed. Tom...I have no idea.....Dan? upstairs in the outside shed I think on the computer with one of his friends. Jill watching netball and Bex at the Young Farmers annual cooking competition. Jack has just gone to bed (he's back at work tomorrow) but he messaged Bex to see how she had got on....."Won it like a boss" was the reply, and we assume from the response that she was the winner. We've done well out of this competition.....on each of the last two nights we've had tasting sessions as Bex practiced her Tarte Tartin....and last nights was a real blinder....it's been demolished completely, and as I type, the empty plate is sitting on the worksurface waiting for the washing up (the plate is too big for the dishwasher).

Right down to details of today..... I have to say that I had meetings all morning so, after taking Bex to work, I have no real idea what went on. Jill walked the dog....that much I do know....mainly because, as I left, I instructed her in no uncertain terms that she was to avoid cliff paths and woodland areas....the wind was pretty strong, and I didn't want her either getting blown off a cliff or getting squashed by a falling tree. Strange that, when I went with Jilly for a "quick" dog walk this afternoon, she chose to go to Jardin d'Olivet.....and that means both cliff paths and woodland....but at least the windspeed had decreased a little by then.

Dan spent a lot of time today in the loft at Holmchase....spurred on no doubt by the thought that he might discover something valuable "buried"in some dark corner. As the afternoon progressed we all received numerous photos of the various "finds"on our mobiles....a rather good picture that I personally painted while at school...3 violins....a very old "from the Ark" bible....a harmonica....some pictures of my Great Grandfather (apparently even my Dad wasn't sure who they were)....lots of old Christmas trees..an "average" painting of a boat....some LPs (remember them)...some 1950's diarys..... and finally a selection of tents! I'm sure our reader will get the picture..... a typical selection of the random "stuff" that every family has in it's loft. Did Daniel find enough to do a "Cash in the Attic" programme? ...the fact that he didn't come home with a new car, or new clothes...or a ticket to some exotic destination leads one to suspect otherwise.

Bex popped in to Social Security today to try to find out her "status" now she is officially working....it sounds like I will have to go back in with her tomorrow as it's not clear exactly what her options are....

Jill? ...well, as I have already mentioned, she's managed two dog walks...and a visit to the Merton around lunchtime....but don't ask whether that was for a swim, a keep fit session or something else....either way, exercise was taken....so we're happy on that front.

Bex and Jill have just walked in the door.....congratulations all round here...Bex was indeed victorious....and first out of 10...so not easy. The remainder of her winning dish is off to work tomorrow apparently....lucky them...practice makes perfect, and this latest offering looks very good indeed.

Reading this back to Jill I have been told that I have "covered all the bases" and that this blog is acceptable to post....aren't I the lucky one. Bedtime I think....more tomorrow.

Oh, forgot....Chelsea won 6-0 this evening while I was out. Why do they always play well on TV when I'm not at home? Roll on the Champions League Final next June.

    

Monday 20th October

Bex and I caught the bus into town this morning, she went off to work and I had a few bits to do before my aqua aerobics class at 10am.
The cow (with the twisted nose) came to say hello, while we waited at the bus stop... warranted a quick photo.

 Got a lift back home before lunch and then met my 'chemo' tennis player for an inaugural game of singles... neither of us particularly fit at the present time, so fairly evenly matched, and of course both still competitive!

 Another trip to the Supermarket before calling on a dear friend who has had some pretty devastating news this week, but as someone once told me "Cancer is a diagnosis, not a death sentence". A small crumb of comfort when I know she is feeling like she is in a living nightmare, or repeated car crash.

A big thank you to LT for another amazing supper tonight, it is SO kind......and one the whole family appreciate...

A few folks have asked for a reinstatement of Tom's blog posts as he is so' funny'... we all need a good 'Belly' laugh from time to time...

Dont panic everybody, im here.

I had a bad day today and then when i got home I was labelled immediately as 'grumpy' by mum, which is exactly what you want when you're grumpy.  I got her back by repeatedly asking her 'mum whats this?' whilst holding a new frying pan; an act which drove her crazy to the point where she almost swore.  Needless to say I had the last laugh but no one else seemed to find it funny.  How she can't tell when i'm winding her up is something that i would have thought she would have learnt by now.

On to more important matters - bonfire night is approaching.  The night where you can essentially commit arson and go and buy as many explosives as you want from a shop (probably against your fathers wishes);  it's almost like it was designed for me.  As there is no bonfire at St Martins this year I have decided to hold my own exclusive bonfire night party (no St Ouennais).  The good news is that this year I have license to create an 'out of control inferno' of a bonfire because I have a fireman on hand, which means whatever happens it's technically 'safe'.

Entertainment for the evening will involve a few things.  I have asked attendees to bring objects that they want to burn so that we can conduct a 'will it burn?' experiment.  I can guarantee that whatever it is, the answer is yes, it will burn.  Objects will have to be restricted to anything that isn't pressurised or made of lithium.  These definitely will burn, but will probably do so unexpectedly and 'Captain Safety' (Jack Luce) might get upset.  I'm going to get him a yellow reflective jacket and write that name on it so that everyone knows who's responsible if any accidents happen.

Secondly there's the fireworks.  I'm super responsible so I will be informing the neighbours of this event.  The dog is a gun dog so apparently will be fine, but the horses in the nearby field may enjoy them quite so much.  The display purports to be a large one equal or exceeding the size of the usual (pathetic) one put on by Starburst fireworks.  I'm going to be dictating the firing arrangements, and therefore it will be at least 10 times more fun for everyone involved.  No more boring fireworks, just enormous rockets so large that whenever one explodes I will be able to actually feel my wallet get a little lighter.

Its a good job this only comes round once a year.

Sunanniversaryday

You know when your wife says to you "we won't bother about buying each other presents for our anniversary"....yes...you know where this is going, don't you. Right....muggins here did was he was told and just went for the card...spent time picking the right words etc....not too corny...just right. BUT, didn't do the pressie....BIG mistake, monumental mistake....especially when Jill turned up at the breakfast table with a jumper for me...albeit oversized....but still a pressie. It's fair to say that I haven't been allowed to forget about it all day. Everyone that has been within 100 yards of the house has been told...I must be the baddest meanest husband around.....even this afternoon when I suggested the two of us take the dog for a walk I was sent to the garden...to be fair we were both there....doing our bit to keep the passing public impressed with our horticultural skills.  


Our anniversary evening has been literally "put on hold". We decided earlier in the week that we would have a family meal this evening.....everyone on a three line whip to attend...so we were all at the dinner table at 630....or for our nautical friends, 18:30. Not long after starting to eat, someone (not me...I wouldn't have dared after my day today) put the TV on to see what was on Countryfile. There was an article about ploughing, and so there was immediate interest from the male fraternity around the table. Jill was NOT impressed...words were spoken...so, in order to keep the peace we put the programme to record and carried on eating in relative quiet. Once we had finished, cleared the table, washed up and put away (phew!) it was back to see what we had missed. The "box" was switched on, "play" pressed, Countryfile finished and then we carried on with the recording...this time Strictly results.....consequently we are now halfway through the programme, the time should be 19:15 or so...but actually in real life it's 20:55.....what are those who are actually watching this to do?.....Homeland (another of Jill's favorites) is about to start.....the problems we have to cope with.....it's so unfair.

"What have you all been doing today?"...I can hear you ask. Well, you already know that I was in the dog house, but the others? Bex got up and made drop scone mixture for her breakfast (I had to come through to make sure that the first three or four were edible.....a public service really) Jack had been out last night and wasn't around...Dan was similarly "stuck" at TN's in town.....and Tom was a late riser (no change there then). I thought, at 08:10, when my mobile rang (and it was Daniel) that he was phoning to wish Jill and I a Happy Anniversary. There were two questions....1) can you switch the handheld (we keep a marine band handheld radio on the kitchen table at all times) on and tell me what the wind speed is? (Our reader also needs to know that there is an automated broadcast from the pier heads on Channel 18 every minute that gives wind direction and wind speed)...so, direction 297 degrees, that's west northwest to normal people...and wind speed 7 knots, gusting 11 knots.....again that means it's fine to go to sea. Question 2) was...can you have a look out of your bedroom and tell me what the sea looks like? (again, one needs to know that I have a great view of the Ecrehous from upstairs...and a powerful pair of binoculars)...it's really easy to read what the water is doing between here and France. So it was all systems go for Dan...not that he really fancied it much....the last day of commercial charters out to the Ecrehous reef....two trips later and Dan was back, the boat back in St. Helier...and the countdown to his Thailand trip well and truly started.

Jack, Bex Pops and I went to pick up a chest of drawers to go to Holmchase just before lunch.....Jill had, of course, by lunchtime done a long dog walk with SC (over from Cornwall for 48 hours)

 and then a class of keep fit....or "keep fat" as I affectionately call it. Dan had gone boating, and Tom had emerged saying "I'm going to build a bonfire". This afternoon Bex made a Tarte Tatin for supper, Jack went to the Cider Festival, Dan was still boating, Tom still cutting (he had disappeared into the meadow with a tractor/trailer and chainsaw) ...and Jill and I were gardening. AA arrived to wish us well, and immediately got roped into weeding the path.....to her credit she stuck at it for over half an hour, after which she very sensibly made her excuses and went home. Jilly and I continued ... chatting to passing neighbours made a very pleasant distraction every so often. Jack and Bex prepared the veggies...all from the garden....carrots, leeks, parsley, spuds (Amal Grow...variety Charlotte...very nice) and Gammon from Gorey butcher. Excellent.

Tom has built an enormous bonfire.....but I do have to say that I'm worried....not about the fire, but where he has found the wood from. He was gone a long time this afternoon...with the chainsaw.....I hate to think what he's cut down....no doubt all will be revealed the next time I "go down to the woods".

Dinner table discussion this evening was dominated by the correct pronunciation of Phuket. Dan (who's off there in two weeks) was convinced he had it right. He was telling us how, when he gets there, he's going to hire a fishing boat and "go exploring". Bex went on her phone and asked Wikipedia for the correct way to say the word.....Dan turned out to be correct....but then Bex saw that the latest headlines from that area were this..."fishing boat collides with tourist cruise....30 injured and 3 still missing".....Dan is rethinking his itinerary.....

Many thanks for the cards/gifts and well wishes for our Anniversary- we've had a good day!

Saturday 18th October

What fantastic weather today, I hope most people actually got outside and enjoyed themselves. We had a dog walk on St Aubin beach at 9am for an hour, followed by coffee and (for me a bacon sandwich) teacake in a local cafe.

Arriving back in St Martin we had a flurry of visitors, young and old(er), requiring refreshments that took us right up to lunchtime.
My afternoon was spent doing some serious gardening... whilst the men of the house swanned off to St Catherines to 'help a friend take their boat out of the water'... wish I'd gone down there now for a swim!

Pleased I still seem to be feeling alright, no sign of nausea over the last few days,  my appetite has increased, and I'm wearing my 'normal clothes' not just the 'fat' ones anymore! I have another blood test next Thursday, and then I am presuming Chemo the week after, but I am just enjoying the 'here and now' and not looking too much into the future.

This time twenty nine years ago I was nervously preparing for our big wedding day.... looks like we are going to have similar weather tomorrow, although I don't think the 'Carriage ride' is booked...?

Ahhhhhhhh.......

Friday 17th.....Octoberfest

There's a whole evening devoted to "standing up to cancer" on Channel 4 tonight....some very funny stuff...and some very serious stuff....the quicker we can find a way to stop this terrible disease taking over so many lives the better. All ages are now affected...and there's some heartbreaking stories being recounted on the TV as I type....some of the statistics being given out are really terrible, and getting worse...this bl**dy disease is becoming more and more common....every year that goes by sees more of us enveloped in coping with cancer. But there is hope....every year we also get closer to finding the many various cures that we need, and stopping cancer (rather than dealing with it) MUST be the ultimate answer. Let's all "Stand Up To Cancer" at every opportunity....and, as our reader already knows, we Luces stay positive.

One thing that I have already decided to push for in the next political term is a "cancer drugs fund"...pretty much everywhere else has one, why not us? I've already put down a marker with the person who is (almost certainly) going to be the next Health Minister...and they have responded positively...so that's a great start. Being away with Jilly has shown me how many of the drugs they use in London are not available here in Jersey...but only by choice....the Jersey Health Department's choice.  How crazy is it that Jilly gets sent by Jersey to the best hospital for her treatment, but then can't get all the very specific chemo drugs they (the UK) would prefer to use....even the blood thinning (anti-clot) injections are different.....but our reader will know that already. We can, and MUST, do better....rant over (but only for now).

The only other political story I'm going to relate this evening is about the Waterfront. My father's daughter was here earlier...and started telling me about all the wildlife that inhabit the existing car park at the Waterfront...yea, it's amazing that rabbits have found their way down there and, yes, I don't know where they've come from BUT, we're talking rabbits here, not giant pandas or African elephants.....I decided that, in the interests of ongoing family unity, it was probably best if I went away and made a 'phone call.

Right, back to the Luce household....and the BIG news today is that the youngest one has been offered some work that actually pays real Jersey money...okay, it's only until Christmas (at this stage....hopefully), but it's a real big step and we're all very proud of her. That's twice to be proud in a month....but it's a habit I don't mind getting used to. Jilly has put the news on facebook....and in only a couple of hours there's over 80 "likes"...so plenty of others are proud as well. Go get 'em Bex......although I did mention the "Rent" word......maybe it's best to just leave that subject out.. for now.

Jack is back on "nights" this evening, but happy today as his young lady has returned from holiday....Dan's been doing "jobs" around the house (and outside), including the fitting of a new battery in my car and the purchase of a new post box for the Cottage (my, how we tell you some exciting news on this blog)...but while we're talking about the Cottage, we think we may have found a tenant today....still to sign the lease, but looking promising. That will focus our attention....if the lease does get signed then we'll have a  month to finish everything off .... but not much to do really...they have started the repointing yesterday, and the nice man came this morning to talk about a new gate...again, we should have that installed before the middle of November.

Thomas hasn't been seen at all today..... word has it that he had to "take a call from San Francisco" at 6 this evening......all sounds very posh and professional.....my, how these internet "people" live a global existence.

As for Jilly and I....well, I went to town for lunch....a lunch meeting actually....all good and progress made. Jilly's day was.... dog walk (Fliquet and woods) - gardening (vegetable patch) - circuit training (at the Merton...weights, sit ups etc.) - swimming (in the pool at the Merton) - lunch - dog walk (Grouville beach...quite windy apparently) - supper preparation.

The TV programme is still on....I'll finish with some positive news....50% of us now survive cancer.....a generation ago the statistics wouldn't have been anywhere like as good as that....let's all stay positive, whatever we're doing.

More tomorrow peeps.

Thursday 16th October

It's weird, I can't seem to get a grip with the date- I was talking to TF at Jersey Hospice today, and I said It feels like I've been in a coma for much of September and just woken up! A little extreme, but is does seem like somewhere along the line i've 'lost' a month!

Anyway, not a lot to report today, I took myself to hospital for a blood test ( and swab tests....!) Then she said you need to wait for the results. I put on my best 'crestfallen, appealing' face and replied 'but I've got Pilates at 11am!' So I was allowed to leave and they would call me if I needed a GCSF injection, and guess what THEY DID NOT RING! Ha ha, I can only assume that for once my white cells are behaving themselves and are recovering from the Chemo blast last week, either that or they were so busy they forgot to call.....

Captain Pugwash returned from his Lifeboat call out  last night at about 2:30am.... apparently they had received a distress call ( traced back) from a 'care home' in the south of England!!!!! No comment.


Everybody is a little jaded today after the long election fever of yesterday... I'll leave the man in the know to fill you in with all the details, suffice to say his legs and back are sore from standing outside the Public hall for twelve hours, but he is as pleased (are politicians ever pleased?) with the general outcome.

Thanks tonight go to the two lovely little red squirrels that live down the road for my beautiful red rose bush that they dropped off on the doorstep this week, plus our neighbour Jdlh deposited an armful of dahlias.

Right....my turn now. I've just given Jilly her jab, and have been told that I am finishing the blog off....so, a quick summary for our reader of today's events....and what we're doing at the moment. Bex and I have just made drop scones for "pudding"...and very nice they were too. Bex is now screaming ... she's attempting to brush some tangles out of her hair. Tom has just walked in the door from mentoring his pupils at "the Hub"...Dan is crashed out in the snug, getting over his (nearly) all night lifeboat search last night...and Jack has gone to work being a firefighter tonight. On the TV at the moment we have Mary and Paul (from Bake Off) giving a puff pastry demonstration......we're all shouting at the telly "Just go and buy some from Waitrose!!!!".....I mean, why spend (waste) a whole afternoon making the pastry when you could be doing something else more exciting....

Today has been otherwise fairly unexciting I'm afraid...Jilly has described her own efforts....and the only other event worthy of mention was the visit of the "fibreoptic men". We had been warned that it would be impossible for them to complete our job in one visit...but we were sure that the uncomplicated arrangements in my office wouldn't take long......how wrong we were. After about ten minutes we were told that "it won't be possible to get it all done in what's left of the afternoon, so we think we had better make another appointment and come back another day when we can start first thing in the morning"....I very rarely ever use this phrase, but I did find myself saying (in a somewhat apathetic voice) "whatever".... it's been years now, and I've just about had enough of being told it will be fixed soon.....I don't really care any more.... it's not a good attitude to have, but we've been promised that this fibre connection would be done SO often now that I'm just no longer interested.

Tomorrow I have a man coming to look at a gate.....I can barely hold back the excitement.....and our reader will have to wait 24 hours to find out how we get on....bet you can't wait either.

Election day!!!

The title is going to be the only political thing on this blog post......

I'd organised Daniel to walk the dog this morning , so i would have energy to go off and play a bit of racquetball, (get priorities right!). It was lovely to see the girls and their smiling faces as well as receive plenty of hugs. I do believe they had a bit of a conspiracy going on, as I seemed to be on a bit of a winning streak , and it wasn't my brilliant play- but I had a FANTASTIC morning, and pleased i was able to play for nearly an hour, thanks everyone.

I wandered around the supermarket before coming home for lunch, and then walking Jess in the rain on the beach. I didn't mind, and she loved it!

A bit of a rest, some supper and then thought I'd try a bit of badminton tonight, better than last week as feeling a little fitter, and fortunately today not so nauseous!

Realised whilst on court that hadn't had my INJECTION!! So when I arrived home I asked Jack if he fancied 'doing me a favour' . As he is fully qualified in HAZMAT training, I thought he would be more than able to cope with a small innocuous needle....
After a slightly worrying start when I explained he would have to grab a good inch of stomach fat and hold it whilst he did the injection, he then proceeded to hum 'The Shining' film music (when somebody gets stabbed to death....)...charming! Anyway, he was very proud of himself and wanted a rating compared to his dad...

Discovered that Dan has gone on a lifeboat shout, somewhere North of the Island, seems to be a bit of a wild goose chase, but we will know soon enough.

Blood test tomorrow morning at the hospital, guessing I won't get the results until next week, think they just want to monitor me a week after Chemo...

Latest on lifeboat monitoring, they seem to be heading towards Sark....!!!!

Tuesday....14th.....(last day of summer?)

It could be the last decent day we have this summer (yes, I know, summer strictly finished weeks ago...but you know what I mean)....the forecast doesn't look so good...and we have an election tomorrow....it will certainly keep some people at home if it's raining...we hope very much that our reader will be a voter tomorrow....it's so important to have one's say (as the Queen was saying to me last week), don't you just hate name droppers?

The big household event today was that we had the cleaners in...not the usual 07:20 on a Thursday morning cleaner,...you know, the one that causes panic when we oversleep...."oh my goodness, is that the time? must get up and tidy the house for the cleaner"......do you have conversations like that? I mean, what's the point of having a cleaner if we all have to run around getting everything spic (?) and span before she comes....isn't that the whole point of having a cleaner?...anyway....we had the "proper" cleaners here....with their big, noisy machine outside on the gravel...blowing and sucking at the same time down some very long pipes (clever machine)....and it was the turn of the sofas, rug and kitchen chairs. A very impressive setup, if I say it myself...

...and then, at supper this evening, Daniel managed to "miss his mouth" (his words not mine) and leave rice and "stuff" on his chair. The fact that no words were spoken at all shows how angry one person was....and I won't mention her name (but it wasn't Bex)!

As I mentioned yesterday, Dan was at the Ecrehous today....bloomin' lucky him I say....it may well be the last day he gets out boating for a while....but a good day to be at sea.
 
I also said that Jack was "back in" this morning...and he spent the day doing a hazmat exercise. For those who don't talk "firemanspeak", hazmat stands for hazardous materials....and I'm hoping that our resident computer expert Bex will be able to copy in a photo of Jack in his best hazmat suit under this sentence.

As our reader will see, Jack's outfit was quite extensive. There were questions asked about the coincidence of the Ebola outbreak and the timing of this exercise....but we are assured that there's no direct connection. I might also add that he didn't have to wear this all day....it wouldn't have been too comfortable....but it did get me thinking that if I wore it all day that it might be a good way to lose some weight.

I know our reader will be keen to know what "she that must be obeyed" has been doing today. Well, in man talk it was as follows.... dog walk - yoga - dog walk - pedicure. I asked if she was out this evening, and the answer was " I probably should stay in"...and I should think so too. So, no "out", no "out out", not even "just popping out"..... an evening in...and we still have all the cushions from the sofas drying....lucky we have alternatives places to sit....although we have "boys" scattered around, taking up valuable space....oh, the joys of having all your children at home.

As for medicinal details, there are probably two worthy of comment (although worthy is not really the best word)....the first is that I am slowly getting the hang of the new "Jersey" syringes...I'm not happy about it (come to mention it, neither is Jilly) but my technique is improving....a slightly different angle than the one in the diagram seems to be the answer. The second is that Jill still has some work to do on the best timing for her anti-sickness tablets. The drug is called Domperidone....our reader won't be surprised to hear that it is more commonly known to us as Dom Perignon...if only it was as nice to take.....anyway, it is a tricky one, but Jill certainly feels better after taking the pills. Although Jill is trying to wean herself off these additional medications, I think that the anti-sickness ones are probably worth the trouble. Feeling "off colour" isn't the greatest...not bad enough to feel properly ill, but not good enough to function 100%. As I said, more tweeking of timing required.

Dan has just entered the kitchen singing "Welcome to my world, won't you come on in"...who sang that? Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Al Martino? I can't remember, but I'm 100% sure that Dan is too young to know the song....where did he learn that from? Crazy or what?

I think that's about it for tonight....out reader can sleep easy in the knowledge that it won't be me on here tomorrow evening.....I have an 8-8 at the Public Hall, followed by a quick change and drive out to St. Peter where the YES campaign HQ will be based. The next time I am left in charge of the blog, the results (as they say on Strictly) will "be in"....and the fun will only have just started......bet you can't wait (NOT)!

Monday Funday

Funday? ...well, not really....I mean, did you see the weather this morning? P tells me, on the phone this evening, that it wasn't anywhere near as bad in St. Clement....well, great, thanks for that...it makes us feel better...especially as we were running around (okay, so not quite running) putting old newspapers under the doors that face north west....the wind was driving the rain under the doors...it really was quite tropical for a few minutes. All better by 11...indeed, almost sunny as I went off to town for a lesson with some sixth formers at VCJ. I had a whole class to talk to about politics....you can imagine the enthusiasm...let's just say that they weren't completely engaged at the start. I brightened things up a bit by suggesting (after fifteen minutes) that we discuss gay marriage and the decriminalisation of cannabis....that got their attention (surprisingly!) and after that it was plain sailing. I was surprised, however, that none of them had even been on the (very good) vote.je website. That meant they therefore hadn't seen any of the (not so very good) hustings videos...the filming is fine, it's just the people on the video aren't so great (after all, they're politicians....)

Jill....took Bex into work and then went shopping in the rain....well, it wasn't raining in the shop (obviously)...but the shop was only an excuse to waste a few minutes until the pool was open at the Merton. Not many people there apparently....but then, who goes swimming first thing Monday morning....or should I say, who in their right mind goes swimming on a Monday morning. We met back up at home at lunchtime....I had our resident stonemason coming around to look at some pointing that needs doing, and Jill had also booked a landscape gardener to come and "have a look" at one large border in our front garden. My half of the meetings went very well, all done in fifteen minutes...but Jill's half did get a little complicated. The border became the border AND the possible hedge. The border and the hedge became the border, hedge AND the row of ornamental trees....and then became border, hedge, trees AND the cobbled driveway.....it was all turning out a little like one of those Boy Scouts songs where every verse is just a slightly longer version of the verse before. The "gardener" said he would go away and come back with some ideas....I hope he has a better memory than me...I can't remember half the things we were talking about, and I live here. Jill had reeled off a veritable list of "nice to haves" while just walking around outside of the house. It probably serves me right for mentioning that we have finally finished paying for education....  

This evening we managed 4 for tea...Jack eating out and Tom late home from work. Some of us had the very healthy and fresh bass (that Tom had caught at the festival) and some steamed vegetables....some of us had a not quite so fresh and healthy M&S Chinese stir fry (well it needed eating.....at least that's what I told myself). I rushed back into town to do a half hour "on the door" at the St. Helier hustings and Jill went off to play badminton. All afternoon Jill had been reminding me not to forget to give her the injection.....and so when we both got back at 830ish the first thing we did was berate each other for not remembering. Jill said on her blog last night that she's getting to a point when she will have to do the injection herself....but I have to tell our reader that, when it comes to DIY injections, Jill hasn't even got the proverbial rocket on the launchpad, let alone started the countdown. It may be a while before she "copes alone", and it probably needs me to "be away"...something that isn't likely to happen anytime in the near future.....all plans for "political awaydays"have been put on hold for the foreseeable future.

Bex has just walked across the kitchen with a plate full of hot buttered toast...and all she can say to me is "and don't be getting any ideas"...that's gratitude for you!

Dan is supposed to be at the Ecrehous with Seafaris tomorrow...the weather looks reasonable..he should have a good day.

Jack back on "days" tomorrow...and an exam in the offing. He was on the sofa most of the afternoon (after cutting down trees in the rain all morning...not here, I might add) studying a whole pile of papers about toxic materials. He does have exams and tests at regular intervals...always making sure that he's up to speed on a vast list of subjects....and I guess that's the best way to be.

Tom working late tonight....I think he's slowly recovering from his one whole night of absolutely no sleep over the week end......but it does take time to get back in the swing.

Before I finish, can I propose a very inadequate vote of thanks to LT for tomorrow's supper....and also TJ for the gift of some honey....we know how scarce honey is this year (especially T's) so we feel very grateful, and honoured. It's so difficult for us all to say in words how blessed we are to have such friends that "take the pressure off" in so many different ways....everyone helps us to keep positive. I know that everyone says how good we are about staying positive, but it's all our very many friends that keep us on the "straight and narrow"....how lucky we are to be surrounded by so many wonderful people who help us in such a variety of fashions.

Well, as the bunny used to say at the end of the cartoon...."That's All Folks"....someone will see you all tomorrow for another exciting (hardly) edition of life in the Luce household.

Sunday...12th October

Wish I could get my 'slideshow' back, it's not much of a blog really, I need an IT person to give it a bit of an overhaul I think, about time it had an update!

Im getting used to being brought a hot drink in the mornings... I just wonder when the novelty will wear off? I was equally grateful for the offer of taking the dog for a walk this morning, as I was on a bit of a go-slow, and wanted to save my energy for KEEP FIT!! Jessie was doubly lucky as later in the morning her boyfriends came round and took her down to Le Saie, which she loved (thanks R family!)

It really has been a pretty miserable day weather wise, but caught up on few tv programmes and managed another wet dog road walk with Bex this afternoon, so not all bad.

I have become braver, and decided that it will be totally unfair to ask hubby to keep giving me these Clexthane injections for the next three months, and I have to learn to do them myself. So, my first step is to actually look at the needle ( don't laugh, that is progress for me!) The thing is it's a kind of slow jab, and you have to push the plunger all the way in before the needle will retract itself.I'm worried that my main issue is a reflex reaction, its painful so you pull away.....not good! Anyway, I have a few days to go before I can reach that stage, and not entirely sure if my poor stomach can take weeks of injections... there is an oral alternative which I could well inquire about in the near future.

Thanks must go to my many local 'chefs' who have been dropping off freshly cooked meals, and any surplus has been frozen, this has been beneficial tonight when we as a family  aim for Sunday supper 'family catch up' , and if i'm not up to cooking loads we delve into the freezer!
Conversation tonight was as usual varied, Tom did catch a bass from last nights fishing trip, not competition size sadly, but a good size, he'd been up all night, so spent a lot of today sleeping, or 'resting'! Jack has been helping a friend build a ferret run....okkkk. Dan seems to have been seeing friends and eating... no change there then!

A few ridiculous pics of the 'weather girls'!!

Saturday.....and Sanofi Syringes

I mentioned yesterday that the Hospital lorry had delivered the injections....well, this evening was the first of the.....I don't even want to think about how many there will be....it's just lots and lots. Anyway, after supper it was time for the "jab"...and new type of syringe to the ones I've become used to....seemed pretty simple...pull cap off, put needle into skin, push plunger, take needle out. There is an issue though....number 7 on the idiot's list of instructions for giving your wife an injection says, and I quote, "press down the plunger with your finger. This will send the medication into the fatty tissue of the stomach"....have they seen my wife? where am I going to find "fatty tissue"? For goodness sake, I know that 99% of the population are overweight and/or obese, but we're dealing here with the other 1%.....I can see that these injections are going to become an event that we are all going to try to avoid....but we know they have to be done, and even more so after yesterday's discovery of the "dreaded clot"...and I'm not talking about any of my fellow politicians here.

It's been a very reasonable day really.....after a good night's sleep. Jill was still in bed when I woke up, so I knew we were starting Saturday from a much better place. I duly delivered her hot water and lemon (why? just why?) and she appeared downstairs soon after. The dog got her walk (not with me as I was campaigning at Trinity Community Centre) but with Jill at Les Platons....Jill bumped into many people today included a "strange youth smoking a roll up"....we needed a better description....but Tom is sure that 10:30am is too early in the morning for smoking illegal drugs....so it must have been something else. After a visit to see me (and vote at the pre-poll....make sure you vote YES for your Constables) Jill and Jessie managed some light shopping before we all returned at lunchtime. The "St Ouen's gang" (LASN, JV, BV and WV) arrived in their van...more of a bus really...indeed I hear that Libertybus are negotiating to hire it next week. Great times were had by all, including a walk in the meadow where Tom and I were continuing our quest for a "bramble free" property....we might get there in a year or two.

Just to keep our reader up to date with the other varied escapades of the family, I would add at this stage that Bex has done an extra book keeping lesson this morning (to make up for the missed lesson when graduating)....Dan took the Seafaris RIB and a party of people from the Societe to do some wildlife survey at Les Minquiers....and Jack took his Land Rover and trailer to fetch a mangle...yes, a mangle (haven't ask yet.....goodness knows why). Finally, Tom had just left to (at the VERY last minute) take part in the annual Jersey bass fishing contest. Tom and NB try to take part every year, but this evening has been even more "last minute" than normal...complicated further by the fact that my survival suit was still wet from being washed a week ago....into the tumble dryer it went.... full power...with Bex given the task of monitoring it every 30 seconds....it was a very close thing between drying and melting!    

N and P also arrived this afternoon...P driving his car down the track to see Tom and I chainsawing/bonfiring etc. N and P have never really had a "proper" tour of our meadow.....The opportunity seemed too good to miss, so I went and dug out my Range Rover, and P and I helped N into it. So there we were, me and Tom, N and P....and off we went...seat belts tightened....hill descent engaged...antilock brakes activating all round...down the slippery slopes into the meadow and beyond into the depths of the woods (Brazilian rainforests have nothing on our woods!) ..... we looked like something out of Top Gear, (but much, much older) through the streams....over the rock strewn tracks....into the swamp...deep in the jungle..... the fact that I am typing this is a clue that we survived to tell the tale. N and P were suitably impressed I think....although I'm sure that if N had really known how steep the slopes were she might have had something to say!

Weather tomorrow looks dodgy...especially after mid-morning.... best get up early and be finished my "jobs" before the Grand Prix. Jill has just realised that she has photos to add.....nice of her to make an effort to contribute! I'll hand over now....

Funfair Friday.....

It seems that we've been on a bit of a roller coaster today...and at times you had to wonder if we could take on Alton Towers or Oulton Park.....I'd better explain...but fear not dear reader...as I type Jilly is sitting on the sofa regaling the events of the day to AA who has just arrived for a "catch up"....and that doesn't mean that Jill is on the phone to the other AA, the alcoholic one that is....this AA is my father's daughter.

The day started pretty well...for me that is. I woke up at 5ish to find that I was on my own in bed....and experience told me that this wasn't the start to the day that I would have chosen.....mainly because I know enough now to realise that if Jill isn't in bed at 5 in the morning then she's probably not well. Only having had the first round of chemo yesterday I got up quickly to see what was going on....to find her asleep on one of the sofas in the kitchen. It transpired that it had been stomach pain that had got her up during the night...but that the pain had gone (4 hours later) the moment she had "burped" (do ladies burp?). I assured her (in my best doctor's voice) that this pain wasn't caused by the chemo, and was probably far more likely to be brought on by one of the medicines/pills that she's taking to help fight the side effects of the chemo.....great isn't it.....you have chemo and then have to take drugs to avoid side-effects....and then some more drugs to avoid the side-effects of those drugs you take to avoid the original side-effects...ad infinitum....and so it goes on. Anyway...she was feeling much better by 8ish, and we both set off with the dog (I wasn't about to start letting her out on her own today...we all know what she's like). Across the fields and down the woods to the Lifeboat Station....along the coast to the Breakwater (for Breakwater read Cafe...for cafe read drinking coffee and peppermint tea)...and then back up through Fliquet. Lovely.

Before I forget, can I thank our reader for the reaction to the "purple chocolates"story from the other day... it seems that I have started a trend...and should really have bought some shares in Cadbury's before blogging...lots of people talking about buying Roses now. This blog may end up a little like Delia Smith's TV programme.... she has to warn Marks and Spencer that she is going to mention certain products on her programme, mainly so M&S have time to "stock up" their stores before the rush. Anyway....I digress.  

During the walk Jill had put a list together in her head (nothing wrong with her brain) and when we returned home she transposed said thoughts onto paper ...it was a list of jobs for me, obviously...I got stuck in immediately, and even managed to complete one or two before becoming distracted enough to go off and do something else....lunch arrived very quickly and soon after Jill set off for the hospital (CT scan this afternoon) and I set off for the woods (3 sons cutting down trees and lighting bonfires) ... I'm not sure which of us was a greater risk, but the boys seemed reasonably under control and I only had to shout once or twice to avoid another statistic for the Health and Safety Executive. I felt comfortable enough at 4 o'clock (that there wasn't anything else left  that they could destroy) to go off to "see a parishioner"...all was well. Then Jill called....

Let's just say she "wasn't happy".... half and hour after the scan, and as she was about to get in the car to come home, the hospital had called her....blood clot identified by the CT scan...please come back in straight away "for a chat". The long and short is that (and I know our reader won't need or want any drawn out technical details) there's a large clot in her stomach area (there should be a scientific definition at this point, but I can't say it, let alone spell it) anyway.... more drugs.... but no worries (well, not for them)... and the drugs to be administered by....wait for it...injection!!! Lots more injections.....in fact, so many that they had to send a hospital lorry to deliver them all. Starting tomorrow I have 6 months of daily injections to look forward to...oh joy.

So there you are .... the ups and downs and ups again of life in the medical practice that is Seaford...maybe we should employ a screenplay writer and turn our daily "adventures" into a Jerseybean version of Casualty...suggestions on a piece of paper please to.....

I'll stop now....and leave our reader with today's look back in Jersey history...

On the 10th October 1591, Symon Vauldin was found guilty (by a jury) of sorcery. He was sentenced to be strangled, his body burnt until it was reduced to ashes, and his goods and property confiscated. Vauldin had confessed to communicating with the devil.....

...they certainly didn't mess about in those days. Sleep well!

  

Chemo Day...

Or is that Groundhog day?

Groundhog Day is a 1993 American fantasy comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott. It was written by Ramis and Danny Rubin, based on a story by Rubin.

Murray plays Phil Connors, an arrogant and egocentric Pittsburgh TV weatherman who, during an assignment covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, finds himself in a time loop, repeating the same day again and again. After indulging in hedonism and numerous suicide attempts, he begins to re-examine his life and priorities.

In this case though, we are a little short of the hedonism, and I certainly don't plan on any suicide attempts! 

Thank you for all the good luck messages this morning, Im afraid i didn't reply, I've had a bit of an 'ostrich head in the sand' approach to this Chemo, and was determined to enjoy a lovely long dog walk and leave it until the last minute before the appointment! Only five minutes late.... but still a very gentle ticking off that all future appointments need to be on time for the well oiled wheels of Oncology to run smoothly. Point taken, ( I did say I'd blog but not name drop, she's far too sweet a nurse!)

As regards the administration so far so good, but early days, the anti-sickness and the Carboplatin ( slightly less strength than normally given) went ok. Obviously on anti- sickness and steroid tablets for next few days, and given an information sheet on all the possible side effects.... no doubt I'll be 'sharing' those with you at a later date...

Mention must go to SC the 'ironing/silver cleaning fairy'! ( Listen, would you turn down an offer to do either, no, I thought not!) And to AH who kindly prepared a very traditonal and tasty bean crock, with french bread to dip in.... plus baked apples- real comfort food tonight, and lots left over for tomorrow! 

looking for dolphins in rough seas this morning....

baked apples......delicious! 

Hope this isn't me ....I'll finish now....! (Anyway, I don't actually wear underpants!)