Sunday 30th November

Generally feeling a little better than at this time yesterday afternoon, but nowhere near the energy levels that i have been enjoying of late. PM has gone into 'protective' mode and insisted on accompanying me on the morning dog walk along the beach. To be fair it did him the world of good to get out and enjoy some exercise too, he has been inside meeting rooms all week... Yes, I know it goes with the job!

I did also manage my Keep Fit class this morning with the 'Girls' though for me it was more like Keep Slow... I tried to be sensible and walked instead of running (very low energy levels ) but still enjoyed the stretching exercises, and of course came out feeling better for it. I did receive a few 'I'm keeping an eye on you' looks from JP who, I know only has my best interest at heart! Of course, the class was hugely entertained by CR and his antics. Whether its the tales he has to tell, or his total lack of coordination in the class... actually thats not fair, he did very well today, and I think he just has diversionary tactics so he doesn't have to work so hard!


Not that I have heard directly but through his brothers, Tom has had some terrible storms and high winds over  in Spain in the last 24 hours... not ideal 'holiday' weather then. Hope it improves for them over this next week, worse in the Canary Islands apparently.

Jack had to 'stand in' for somebody last night, and by all accounts had a fairly busy Saturday night, all of them 'false alarms', which of course in his line of business is a good thing.

Dan admitted to me today that yesterday when he went off with his mate taking Jessie with them, and they ended up in the having a coffee, he kinda forgot the dog..... It wasn't until he was walking down the slip at St Catherines, he realised he'd left her in the cafe... where she was contentedly mooching about under the tables!!!!

One hour it took Bex to whizz up this lovely Christmas Stocking... not quite finished but pretty good all the same.... she follows in the footsteps of her Nanna, her Aunt and Great Aunt ... I have trouble sewing a button on!!

Saturday Slump.....

This was the beautiful weather this morning across St Catherines and Archirondel... video doesn't do it justice.

I started the day well, and the walk was lovely, felt I could have walked forever, it was so still and calm, with Oyster Catchers, Herons and cormorants ( or were they shags?) drying their wings out.

It was good to get out in the garden and pick the last few carrots and leeks, plant a few more sweet peas and trial some salad leaves in the greenhouse ( as my mum would say two chances!)

We did go to the St Martins Public hall for the Christmas Market although I failed to make and take a cake for it, ( it appears I won a prize and was the closest guess with 'sweets in the jar too!").
I knew I was starting to flag though and back home had a brief rest after lunch.... managed to see Pops and wish him happy birthday at St Ouens parish hall. Lots of people at AA's Cake and Concert fundraising event.

A brief update on last Thursday's blog post....

Chemo went well, took about hour and half, NI was my nurse and so we did a joint selfie....

She did mention I may need another blood transfusion and to let them know if I begin to get breathless... I  dont think that applies on the tennis court....

I've got a date for CT scan 11th December, really, really hoping blood clot will have dissipated by then, the injections are becoming very tiresome.. Other than 10 day break I've been on them since August the 23rd. Last night I had to do two (GCSF), yet more toxic chemicals in the body, plus the steroids and anti-sickness pills... I know its all for the greater good, and I have to think positively that I am now halfway through the treatment.

The best news? My CA125 level now sits at 24.... within the 'safe' range... so feel like those cancer cells are truly being zapped.

Sure there's more to add but all the men out this evening and us girls are chilling out watching TV... so lets hope for higher energy levels tomorrow....

Thanks Emma for the comment re injections... I'm not the only one who feels like crying!!!

Radio/Tv star????

It's the star of TV and radio here (again) tonight.....I wish. My day did start, however, with an early interview on the radio...and did finish with a late TV appearance on the news.....so the only thing that's missing is the "star" bit. Both were BBC (not sure if that's good or bad) and both went well I thought...no uuummms or eerrs...I do try really hard not to do that....and it was a subject that I should know about....farming. If I can't answer questions about growing potatoes specifically, and agriculture generally, then there's no hope for me. However, it was all good.....and I got in some good plugs for the industry while hinting at the tough times we have ahead.

The conference that I attended all day went off really well. Lots of good addresses, and my speech for the opening of the afternoon session went okay as well. The headline speaker was Robin Page...he has a weekly column in the Saturday Telegraph...and he didn't disappoint....he's usually fairly controversial in print, and he very controversial in person. It wasn't difficult to tell that he doesn't hold politicians in very high regard, but I tried my best to convince him that I had actually been a farmer all my life...I think (hope) he understood that I'm not all bad.

Got home this evening to a pretty empty household.....Jack out at the pictures with girlfriend....Daniel out for a meal with friends (we think...can't be sure) and Jill out playing tennis!!!! I thought she had chemo yesterday....what's she doing? All I can say is that she must be not feeling too bad. I have no idea if she's done any dog walking...but having said that, the dog does look very posh. Jessie is sporting a new hair cut....and jolly smart she looks too....far too smart to be a working dog....her mother would be very disappointed....anyway, it's only Jill that usually takes her for a haircut, so that's one place I know that they've been together today. (with luck Jill may have enough energy to post a picture of the posh dog when she returns). Bex was here though...waiting for Dad to return before eating supper together. As a dessert we did an exercise from her book keeping class (!)...trying to work out arrears and accruals is really what I needed (not)...are they the same or not?....I thought so....but when you do accounts for a social enterprise they use all sorts of different names for things.....talk about confusing...and, at the level of book keeping that Bex is at now, I get confused VERY easily. Uncle P and Uncle A...where are you when we need you!!



News from the yard outside is that, over the last month, we have got rid of 4 cars (don't panic reader...none of them worked properly or legally...so we're very happy about them going) ....but as usual, the space never remains empty for long......the emptiness has been replaced very quickly with 4 boats on trailers....one of which was dragged up outside the shed last night. This evening that boat has returned back to what I suppose will become it's winter parking place...while jack's boat has been covered with a tarpaulin. Doesn't he want it to get wet in the rain?....I thought that's what boats did....got wet? My boys are becoming far too soft in their old age.....covering boats? whatever next.....washing cars?

Walk at les Platons pre 'haircut'....

 More photos and info tomorrow from "selfie double injection luce".....:-)

extended Thursday blog

Just Steve here again....to say that Jilly has gone to bed in disgust. She had "blogged" on and off all day, including while she was at chemo this afternoon, and had added photos, upcoming dates that needed publicity and various other important things....only to lose the whole edition. IT girl has attempted for some time to see if she can retrieve the lost blog...but to no avail....it has disappeared into the ethernet.

   Despite "saving" at regular intervals it seems that the culprit is probably the blogpress app that Jill was using on her iPad....so the moral of the story is "don't use apps if it's really important". In the future we're suggesting that Jill just sends herself an email...then cuts and pastes... it's easy to be wise after the event....and we've all been there and "lost" documents before.....it doesn't make it any less frustrating.

In very brief summary ....

Bex has two pictures in the paper tonight....one of the cat and one of the dog.
It's AA's choir having a concert at St. Ouen's Parish Hall on Saturday afternoon 2 - 4:30.
It's Pops' birthday on Saturday....we won't ask how old.
Greve de Lecq Barracks 10-4 on Saturday to buy some of KD's lovely home made food.
St Martin's Christmas Fayre at the Public Hall on Saturday as well ....11-3.
Numberplate sale at Highlands....Jack may attend.

So, with all the usual Saturday stuff to get through as well it looks like the week end will get off to a really busy start.

More tomorrow when hopefully anything that is "saved" stays saved.

Thursday 27th November

The post was written and posted.... however during the "publish" it got lost.... I am remaining calm, despite there being absolutely no sign of any posting or writing.... I shall wait until the IT girl comes back from her book keeping course, hopefully in a reasonable mood. Particularly as eldest son has gone to Barcelona to see an old school friend for ten days and is therefore no use at all.....

is it Wednesday?

Our reader is going to be disappointed this evening...it's Steve here....and very little activity in the house as I type....Jill out at choir and then badminton. Bex watching something on her lap top.....Dan in his room still complaining of jetlag type events.....Tom asleep on sofa (Arsenal have bored him into a coma) ...Jack on his second night shift.....and me typing the blog.

At least I am home this evening.....not that anyone wants to talk to me. The last two evenings have been taken up with political stuff....Monday evening at a reception dinner for the Nigerian High Commissioner and last night at a meal to launch the United Nations International Year of Family Farming. Top table at both events....so best behaviour....Monday alongside a very colourful Nigerian lady and last night sitting between a Channel 4 celebrity chef (Tom Herbert....he's a baker actually...The Fabulous Baker Boys???? ) and the Chairman of Tearfund (ex President of Shell Canada). Some interesting conversations on both evenings....  I was particularly impressed that the Nigerian lady knew that Chelsea star John Obi Mikel was a) a footballer and b) a Nigerian....which was more than I did!!

Dan has some work lined up with Seafaris....getting prepared for next season.....and a promise of a job selling fresh fish at Christmas if he wants it. Bex has had her second day at her "second" job (all seems good).

Thomas has just woken up and decided that (as he's off on holiday tomorrow) he might go and pack a bag!! He's off to Barcelona for 10 days to see a very good friend. Tom likes to be organised, and is very loyal, so he's apparently booked both flights with BA. I asked him if his bags are checked all the way through. Apparently not.....as he isn't taking a suitcase!!!! he seems to think he can survive on hand luggage for 10 days....really?.....I'm told that as long as you have enough pants and "T"s, and a spare pair of jeans, that everything is cool. That's youngsters for you I suppose.....can't say that I think I could survive that long without a proper clothing collection. Having said that, how much stuff did I take to London every time we went over during the summer and never wore half of it. Maybe Tom has a point.

Dog has been asleep in the snug all evening...keeping well clear of humans....it could be because she's worried that if she puts in an appearance she might end up being taken out in the rain yet again....and hasn't the weather been pants once more today. Promises of brighter and windier climes tomorrow....it will make a nice change to see the sun.

I'm going to take a break now....her ladyship may want to add a little bit extra when she returns....Tom has just wandered back in.... "have you packed?"...."well, I've thought about it".... well, I suppose that's something.  He's now reappeared with a clothes horse covered in pants and "T"s...dragged them alongside the Aga and disappeared again. Never a dull moment in the Luce household.....although there's nothing very exciting about a clothes horse full of damp underwear....even less exciting of course if you happen to be wearing said damp undergarments.

Dog has appeared now....big drink of water and back to the bean bag for more sleep.....maybe she has a hangover? ...certainly that would be the diagnosis if it was one of the boys on the bean bag.

Just been and moved the clothes horse....it's going to take a miracle for those clothes to be dry before tomorrow..... I can already hear the tumble dryer going all night....and my electricity bill going through the roof....rent increases in the New Year I think.

Wife just returned....can hear her cuddling the dog on the bean bag....badminton must have gone okay then. Maybe she'll pen a few lines.


My day ....
Dog walk
Racquetball
Coffee
Friends
Lunch
Cleaning
Dog walk
Supper
Choir
Badminton

And I'm afraid a 'Name and Shame' photo of AB, who kindly smashed the shuttle in my face giving me a fat lip and blood blister.....

Needless to say they won the game.... and she's still a friend!

Chemo is not until tomorrow afternoon so plenty of time to get some exercise in the morning....and thanks for last nights comment SW, i did the injection AGAIN myself this evening.... Oh Yeah, check me out.....;-) ;-)

Tuesday 25th November

I have started this post early this evening in the vain hope it will make more sense to those reading it, as opposed to trying to write something half decent at 10:30pm...and failing.

Yesterday was a good day, well for me at least I can't really talk about the rest of the family, I know I only saw P&E for an hour, when he came home to change in the evening before his next 'appointment'. I shall have to ask him for a 'meeting' once a week so we can catch up...

Youngest son only been home for 48 hours and his dietary requirements have already impacted on the family  shopping budget. He still has a bit of a sore leg, but i've told him exercise is good and to walk the dog... its worked so far...

This morning i had yet another wet dog walk, (its getting boring now)before hurrying off to the hospital for my blood test and doctor appointment. I nearly lost my cool in the hospital car park ( good job they didn't take my blood pressure) why do people insist on trying to drive down to the lower level when it's obviously full and so hampering cars leaving??) Bloods taken, and saw both Dr A and Dr H.. ( I am of course a special case....) anyway blood results as follows;

Hb 9.3 ( a little low)
White cells 2.9 (good)
Neutrophils 2.05 ( ok)
Platelets 155 (good)

So, based on those results I can go ahead with Chemo Thursday, but still on 75 % dose, I'd had 100% on first cycle and that wiped me out and i needed blood transfusion etc, so maybe just maybe by giving me a lesser dosage, we can scrape through the next three cycles. Thats the plan as it stands at the moment.  I am also getting at appointment in a couple of weeks for a CT scan, standard mid treatment. I hope it may show that my blood clot has dissipated, although it does seem as if I may be able to take tablets instead of the injections next month, I think I may have to carry on all the way through Chemo.

I also had a look at my CA125.... the week of the first chemo 9th October it was 1,820, staggeringly high, remember the 'level' is below 35. On the 27th October three weeks later it was 276, and i should know results on Thursday of todays test.

Leaving the hospital I just made it to my yoga class, I love it, although I can't do half the 'moves', it makes me feel good. Picked Bex up from town at 1pm as she had caught the bus in, she now does another job as an office administrator, three afternoons a week, so a busy bee.

Went off to the hairdressers this afternoon, pleased there is still hair to cut, and so far it doesn't seem to be 'thinning' either, a real bonus. Having organised Dan the Dog walker to do his job , i went to the supermarket to stock up mostly for his benefit, he has missed a good cup of tea ( how old is he? 23 or 73??) sausages, and cheese!

Back home the fireman was just leaving for a night shift, and said he'd do 'my' injection as P&E is not due home until 10:30/11pm. It was about five minutes after he left that I realised we'd forgotten ( despite me writing on a piece of paper INJECTION in big black writing on the fridge door). Hmmmm, bit of a problem then... I'd tried to rope Dan into the 'injection giving' game yesterday but he was having none of it. There was only one thing for it I had to do it myself.

At this point my daughter told me not to be ridiculous and I would go into anaphylactic shock, I said didn't she mean vasovagal ( I have fainted before it is true...), and annoyed she said she wasn't watching  or helping and stomped off. Dan said, did i even know what I was doing? But he did stand and watch me, saying afterwards "its probably better doing it myself anyway'! So, I feel very proud of myself tonight, but fear I lose out ultimately, as that was my only way of getting any attention in this house!!!!!!!


Look what my clever girl has just made tonight....

A little Christmas deco....

Monday !!!

I can't possibly type anything tonight that will make any sense, having just got back in the house from playing NETBALL.... yes, REAL netball.... It was BRILLIANT!!!!!

Thanks  to the girls for letting me play , and especially for JN that put me in for 15 minutes as WA.... bliss!!!

And to finish up a little video of the dog.... although not 

entirely sure if it will 'play'.....

I shall go into hospital for my blood test tomorrow reasonably happy, after my 'good' day today!!!

Son(ishome)day

Daniel is home....dishwasher is full.....doctor has been phoned (for Daniel that is....Jill fine)....standard day really.....more later.

You'll be aware that certain important places have an "artist in residence"....well, this evening, we have a photographer in residence. JBV from silly St. Ouens was here earlier, and (for the first time) he was allowed to take photos with an iPad....Jill's iPad to be precise. As I type Jill has spent the last half an hour deleting the photos that we don't want.....there seems to be at least fifty to sort through.....so, we'll have the pick of the bunch later on. Sorry, did I mention that JBV is 6 years old?

It's just been announced that Barry Manilow is the live guest on Strictly this evening.....the dog has run to her bed and stuck her head under a blanket....I know how it feels.

Last night I was asked to give the standard injection at dinner time. As I had been outside I decided (very kindly) that I would warm my hand so Jill didn't jump off the sofa when I gave her the injection....remember that I have to grab a good pinch of (nonexistent) fat into which to inject the medicine. Anyway....I stuck relevant hand under hot tap in kitchen...warmed up nicely...took out injection.....went over to sofa....knelt down and got 'into position".....grabbed as much of Jill's stomach as I could and......Jill nearly jumped out of her skin......I had only warmed up the wrong hand!!! To be honest I think it was a genuine mistake to makea....which hand would you have warmed up? Being right handed I had done the right hand....but, of course, you use your strong hand to hold the needle don't you....  as it was pointed out, the Planning Minister didn't plan that very well. Point taken.

Dan has just gone off to bed....to be fair, his body is telling him that it's sometime after 2 in the morning....so we can't blame him really. He's also very confused about meals....he can't actually work out how many times he's eaten today...what with a small meal just after leaving...two more meals in the air....a quick nosh in Dubai....breakfast in gatwick....and now a full roast beef supper on return here. He's already told us plenty of stories of his trip to "ladyboy land". Apparently an expensive hotel for the three of them was £80 for the night (not each...in total!)....and a decent Thai meal only £3...Dan apparently ordered two main dishes at the same time....so no change there then. They hired motorbikes for two days...£3 each..... Went to the island where they filmed the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun ....and also went to the beach where they filmed "The Beach" (Leonardo diCaprio film)....went on some really dodgy boats...and did some other exciting stuff. Dan's well chuffed with his holiday I think.....good for him.....and a happy Mummy now that he's back home.

I forgot to mention the doctor.....Dan has had leg pain since getting home.....he had already known he needed to be careful about DVT....it seems that he didn't do enough exercise while flying home.....the diagnosis is something I can't spell. It's also given him a good excuse to lie on the sofa with his leg elevated, being waited on hand and foot.

 Chilled out, taking up all the sofa..

 serious selfie?

 New socks needed for Christmas please.....!!

 funny face selfie

 Very scared Jessie.....hiding in her bed!

Searching for the dog.....

 BB doing constructive 'work'.....

Getting the hang of selfies now....

Saturday 22nd November

As promised dog blog update.... From being her usual happy go lucky self she was very miserable Friday morning. Tail tucked between her legs and looking sorrowful. It quickly came apparent that she was/ couldn't / didn't want to go to the toilet, or even walk for that matter. Despite my best efforts to cheer her up and attempt to walk around Creepy Valley nothing was working so I took her into the vet at Quennvais (I was on way to airport) . £48:50 later and after a very uncomfortable physical examination using surgical gloves, ( on her, not me I hasten to add, I've had more than my fair share .....) the vet discovered what could only be sharp rabbit bones..... So he then kindly supplied me with a pair of gloves in case I needed to .....use them... On her later in the day. Thank goodness for her ( and me) I didn't, but she was certainly extremely subdued for the rest of Friday. She's not getting away with it though, I'm planning a haircut and wash and blow dry for her next week, rabbit bones or no rabbit bones!

Did not manage to get up early today! Walked jess in the drizzle, and then made a batch of rock cakes for the JNA Fayre. Arrived there much later than planned, but we did see friends and spend money so all good. I even persuaded P&E Minister to go to supermarket on the way home home, almost wished I hadn't though .... " look at the price of those cauliflowers....outrageous" " you are buying Jersey tomatoes aren't you?"

Not heard anything from son no 3.... So hoping that all flight plans have gone smoothly and he is winging his way back to Jersey tomorrow morning, once more the left overs in the fridge will be demolished and his little ' troop ' of friends will be filling up our sitting room.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

TGI Friday !!

It's late, it's been a busy day and so this blog will be short and maybe sweet..or just short. A trip out west early this morning involved an emergency vet visit ( dog, explain tomorrow- she's fine) and a pick up at the airport (AT), over for the weekend.

As the dog wasn't up to much I had to cancel her 'spa' trip, I actually think she didn't want to go so tried to pull a sickie.... we've had words.

Enjoyed my circuit training class at the Merton and picked up Bex from town on way home. She had bought two tickets for the cinema so with both of us feeling a bit 'naughty' we sneaked off to Cineworld and saw The Hunger Games!!

Feeling somewhat 'underexercised' ( liking that made up word), and with supper simmering in the oven for the men, I shot off to Les Ormes for a cheeky couple of games of tennis .....Game On !!!

And so...as its the Jersey Netball Fayre tomorrow at Grouville parish Church between 10am-4pm, and I said I'd bring a cake...I'd better get off to bed as I'll need an early start!

Looks like Winnie the Pooh is giving the cat tickles!

No words needed.....

Wednesday....no, Thursday (apparently)

You know when you hear about small children that get their heads stuck in saucepans....well, last night Tom (nearly) got his hand stuck in the back of the engine in his Mini. He apparently almost had to call for assistance...mainly so someone could pass him a spanner so that he could take some parts off his engine in order to enable escape. That's how the story was related to us at the dinner table this evening. We all had the image in our minds...car in workshop...bonnet up....Thomas with head under bonnet....arm down the back of the engine....total paralysis.....Thomas "cuddling" engine....immobile. Eventually after a minute or so he released himself...and all because he was replacing the slave cylinder for his clutch. Job completed and Mini ready to roll (yet again).....one of these days it will be finished. Last night he also managed to bolt down the passenger seat.....so that's fortunate if you happen to be travelling with him. It's "full harnesses" in this particular vehicle, so maybe you'll feel very safe with the "special" seatbelt on.....or maybe you'll be feeling very unsafe as to why you might need racing style seatbelts in the first place.....I suspect the latter.

Jill has had another good day.....Jack still "off" (back to work on Sunday)...Tom at the Hub tonight....Bex at her evening class (and with a new additional part time job starting Monday!!!)....Dan on the last couple of days of his Thai holiday....and me still running from meeting to meeting trying to get round all the various departments that are part of Planning and Environment. I'm out on my very first "site visit" tomorrow....St. Peter's Valley, and I've been told to bring my wellies.....so that should feel pretty normal for me then. I'm looking forward it.....let's just hope the weather is not too wet and my day gets spoilt.

Jack might be "off", but he is in pain.....he went and played a couple of hours of five-a-side yesterday with some other Firefighters...none of them can move today.....muscles in great pain....and they're supposed to be fit....I think not.....what would happen if they had to run around for a couple of hours at work putting out fires?

It's Friday all day tomorrow....and by then it's nearly the weekend...yippee!

Wednesday 19th November

Still feeling 'energised' this week, not sure what was actually in the last chemo drip, but maybe some type of  'speed'?! I have been buzzing around these last few days thats for sure.

Marched the dog through muddy fields this morning, before dropping off a casserole at the in-laws and then onto the squash club. Once again a cracking hour spent hitting a small ball as hard as i could, whilst trying to win a few games!

Raced around the supermarket throwing random items of food in the trolley, hopefully some of them edible. I always use the scanner, it is much faster (i think), except the self service tills have been giving me a bit of trouble lately, telling me 'its not the card i used to check in" while I know it jolly well was! Am I the only one who talks to the machine? The first time i did call the assistant, but now i just keep swiping the card until the said 'Till' stops sulking and accepts it. (A definite case of boggledom......)

15 minute lunch break, ( I had to make a lemon cake as well )and with Jess in the car it was off to Hospice for  a 25 minute complimentary massage. I stopped off en route to deliver another small casserole to a St Martin parishioner who as he is widowed and cooks for himself, will, I hope appreciate it. As I was in the middle of the Island I thought we would try a different walk in Fern valley, which we did, but it only took 20 minutes! So, we had to stop at Jardin D'Olivet for another short walk on the way home.

Just had time to make another cake, whilst taking the first one to PE, (that is not Planning and Environment !) who was hosting a small tea party with friends in Trinity.

Oil light in the car came on this afternoon driving back home, not a man in sight to help me out, and so plans for choir and/or badminton scuppered tonight. Instead i've spent the evening doing ironing and housework!!!!

Fern Valley...

Tuesday...

Bracing walk along Grouville beach this morning with PdlH and Jessie, a good start to the day. We covered a lot of ground both verbally and physically!

Followed that with an excellent yoga class at the Merton, felt quite chilled out afterwards, which I believe is one of the main aims?

Just had time to pop into St Martin's Church and see some of my old school children on a visit there learning all about the parish Church. Lovely to see them, and of course the staff!

Met up with some 'old' ex Zumba ladies at Queens Valley for a circuit and a half  walk before afternoon tea at Ransoms (twice in one week?!) I thought we might spot a few species of birds, but they ended up being ridiculously giggly when I asked them if they knew the difference between a shag and a cormorant....

The motley crew.....

 Nearly all of us.......

In anticipation of tea and cakes!!!

Ended the day with a trip out to St John where I gave SW an induction on how to play Racquetball, in return she gave me a carrot cake... fair swap i thought. I think she enjoyed it..... we all loved the cake!!

Monday....

Tonight's not-so-famous household member is me. A whole page in the JEP and the leader to boot....

Right, that's enough about politics...let's talk about the weather. Hasn't it rained an awful lot today? I have a feeling that the dog (collapsed on the bean bag as I type) weighs a few kilos more than she did this morning.....having absorbed pouring rain through her coat on at least two mega dog walks today.

Dan has moved again....he's now in Breeze of Pai...what that means is anyones guess. Yesterday he sent us a photo of him and TN riding an elephant. Pretty impressive....and the countryside was even more breathtaking.....it won't be long 'til he's back.....been gone over two weeks already. The dishwasher isn't missing him.... or the washing machine....indeed, electricity consumption across the Island has reduced since his departure. He's like a mobile global warming machine....if Thailand starts experiencing power cuts we'll know why.

Other family members worthy of mention are Bex....at St. Ouen's this evening doing a book keeping exercise with LVSN....Jack watching Game of Thrones at Anne Port...Tom in loft "working" on his computers and Jill watching something called "I have no idea"...or that's what she said when I asked her what it was...so that's worthwhile then.

Tom had a real success yesterday...after months of work he has his white Mini back on the road. I have to say that I am impressed....it wasn't long ago that we had the engine out, the differential off the gearbox and gearwheels and crown and pinions scattered all over the workbench. There was definitely a time when I feared that things were not going to end up in a good place.....but how wrong I was. Thomas is nothing if not a (now) very experienced Mini mechanic. The car has been back on the road for an hour at least....nothing has broken....no wheels have fallen off (unlike the last time)...the engine sounds "sweet"...and all's good with the world. Well done Tom. Three cars, and they all sort of go....a real first. He even managed to put a number plate on the front grill.....so it's all legal...well, not tomorrow when the tax disc runs out. I have to admit that, in my urgency to make sure the details were correct, I forgot to pay the insurance cover until yesterday....let's hope those WIDs arrive in the post tomorrow, or we'll all be asking for lifts from friends.

Talking of friends....tonight's supper was supplied by the LT takeaway service....and how welcome it was after a very long day of meetings (without lunch)....Jill and I both returned home at  much the same time around six...her from a catch up with "Gynae friends"at Ransoms, and me from the Howard Davis Farm....how good it was not to have to think about preparing food. Thanks L.

Tomorrow's highlights will include picking up my shirts from the dry cleaner....what an exciting life we politicians lead!

Finally, Jill has insisted on putting up this photo of a chrysanthemum that she has outside on the front patio. Apparently it has done two amazing things today. The first is that, for no apparent or explicable reason, it has burst into bloom ....and the second is that the said blooms are three (3) different colours...all on the same plant. Looks good to me.

Isn't nature wonderful.

Sunday 16th November

Some things I love in no particular order....

• Hot showers
• smiling babies
• friends
• tennis 
• good food
• freshly made bed
• bird song 
• sunrise 

I've enjoyed some of these 'likes' today, it has been a really good day, well, for me anyway!
As I've been out for most of the day not entirely sure what the rest of the family have been up to, but we did catch up with each other for a family (+1) supper tonight.
We have seen visual evidence of our youngest son riding an elephant in Thailand , having moved up into a nature reserve, as he is now into his third week of holiday, obviously having a great time.

Congratulations this week must go to AA for her outstanding performances at the Eisteddfod, winning a cup as well as certificates... solo number (sung in German) as well as with the Holmchase choir.

I have been informed this week that we will be receiving a visitor over the `christmas period, none other than AB, or as we affectionately call her BBS... Just to set the record straight she is not coming over for a 'holiday', far from it. I have begun her list of chores beginning with scrubbing out the wheelie bin ( I know thats her personal favourite) to general housework chores. I have already decided that by Christmas day I shall be feeling a little wan, and shall only be fit to dictate what needs to be done so I can enjoy the festivities. I may just allow her the odd card game, ( she professes to dabble in Bridge and Canasta) which will be fine providing she attends to her jobs beforehand. Please dont think me harsh, it's payback time for many years when she bossed me around when I was little.

Photographic evidence of my sweet peas, especially for my sister, who thinks she's ahead of the game...not that we're a competitive family of course.....

No dog in site, but a lovely pic of the reservoir in St Catherines woods this morning.

Bonfire Saturday

Well, you can guess by the title that today's P&E is Pyrotechnics and Explosions...yes, Thomas has lit his bonfire. We've had a steady stream of "children's friends" arriving since around 5....I think about 20+ is the final number.... and as I type they have started returning in "dribs and drabs" (as Jill would say) from the meadow after the fire and other entertainment. There's been no bambulances, or beebar fire engines....no rushing off to hospital....no "knock knock" at the door from friendly Honorary Policemen...no telephone calls from irate neighbours....no crying children....all in all, it's been rather civilised. All over by 20:30 and back inside (the shed NOT the house fortunately) for soup (potato and leek from the garden), rock cakes fresh out of the Aga and some "bongo beer" (with wine for the more civilised). It all seems to have gone off with a bang....

Jilly and I went to St. Brelade this morning. Me for the unveiling of the new granite sculptures at St. Aubin, and Jill for a dog walk with SW along the golden sands that are St. Ouen's Bay. Both events went off well, with over 100 attending the unveiling....a really good crowd. We came back just after 13:00, just in time for a quick bite to eat before setting off for the sporting highlight of the weekend..... yes, it was time for the inter-parish boules tournament betweens the Luces and the H's from Grouville. In true form, the excuses were flying even before the said boules had been removed from their containers...you would have thought that none of us had ever played before....and after we started it was obvious that one couple were indeed playing as if they had never heard of petanque....the unfortunate thing was that it was "us" and not "them". We didn't disgrace ourselves entirely.....but it was a close thing. We ended up with a coffee/tea/coke in Stanley's (did I mention that was where we were playing) and all was well with the world. It was great to catch up and share talk of children, and sporting events yet to come (it's the 50th anniversary of the Sark to Jersey in 2016 if you didn't know).... but only just warm enough to be outside throwing solid metal balls around a gravel yard. Jilly was certainly in need of a warm drink afterwards....and of course, we never play so well in the cold....roll on next year....we will return.

We've had a TV disaster in the last 10 minutes. The machine was set to record the first in a new series of Atlantis while we watched an hour long programme about "walking through history" in the nazi occupied Channel Islands. I think we were disappointed by the C.I. programme....good "touristy type" photo shots, but an awful lot of green weed on the beaches...anyway, we got to the end and  switched back....only to find that the wonderful computer thingy box hadn't recorded anything while we were on the "other side". To make matters worse, Atlantis has finished and we now have Casualty "live".... much unhappiness is ensuing....

Tomorrow is another day.....Sunday all day apparently.....keep fit with a smattering of tennis for Jill (if she's feeling good enough) and paperwork for me (groan groan)... but after lunch we should both be fit and ready for another stunning afternoon of walking the dog....let's hope that the rain that is hammering down outside as I type is heading off elsewhere. Stay tuned.



    

Cracker Jack.....its Friday

Today has been a good day, topped off with a lovely evening out with 'old' friends....
due to my advancing years I have copped out early, but left half of them in town to carry on celebrating the start of the weekend.

So, working backwards...

I have no idea why they felt they had to crouch down for the photo... except to try and NOT be in the photo (KB)!

I've cut the grass this afternoon as it was perfect weather, dry and sunny, and I didn't feel as tired today.

This morning Jess and I enjoyed the sunshine on Grouville beach, and met up with NS who was walking Mojo ( jess's friend).

Suffering slightly from the exercise class yesterday, thought it best to go back this morning and do more of the same... this time circuits, only 45 minute class, but sure it helped loosen those muscles!

Ps... Jack's girlfriend got 'bullied' into giving me my injection tonight.... and it was amazing, didn't hurt or even sting afterwards. Steve and Jack are now furious, and say they are just not bothering with me anymore! ( I hope she teaches them her technique, I think working with children all day she was very practiced with being very gentle, and very quick!!)

Thursday the somethingth of November

It's the man of the house tonight.....you may have guessed from the title...mainly as I generally have no idea what the date is, in fact if it wasn't for fireworks night I wouldn't have much idea about the month either. Anyway, I thought I should try to find two minutes to blog this evening as I am aware that my character is being assassinated on a regular daily basis at the moment. The latest version of P & E has been "invented" by daughter...and relates to the fact that I usually take the dog out for her early morning constitutional.....I'll let you work it out, but it's not particularly complimentary.

The main reason for the lack of grown up and boring blogs is because I am spending just a little time learning my new "job"....I have about 120+ people in my Planning and Environment Department spread over four different sites....and it's all taking a little time to get to know everyone. I have given up all hope of actually meeting everyone before the weekend, so will be sending an email around to introduce myself tomorrow, and apologise for not meeting everyone yet. There's little more to say about political stuff, other than the fact that we have finally elected everyone to all the various jobs of Government and Scrutiny.....so we can eventually get down to doing what were elected to next week.

Jill seems to have had another reasonable day... dog walk with FB and then attended a "legs, tums and bums class"....sounds horrendous, but that's what she said it was.....maybe I should send someone around to have a few of them arrested. She's a bit fed up because that's all she managed today...that and sitting on the sofa for an hour (which she calls not pulling her weight)...but she MUST stop sometime during the day. If she doesn't take it easy she won't be fit for a petanque match that we have lined up for Saturday against the deadly duo that are C&K H.....some friendly inter-Parish banter will ensue before Jill and I take a right royal bashing at the hands of the semi professionals from Grouville. Let's just hope the weather holds up...it's hardly been petanque weather recently.

Jilly and I are rattling around in our house tonight....Tom at the Hub, Jack out for supper, Dan still losing pool games to dubious Thai people and Bex at her book-keeping class at Highlands. Even the dog is very unresponsive.....she's been out with Jack all afternoon and has probably eaten "something"....which is something she does occasionally.....eating "something", not going out with Jack.

Tom has just returned from Digital Hubbing, as his Mother has just described it.....he's not eating enough according to Jill...one croissant all day....the theory being that eating food is a good waste of time that could be spent doing computer "stuff".

Dan is flying somewhere today....I can't say, pronounce or spell the destination...he did text us to say where it was. Jill says he's going to fly to Buciang ...but we know better...Dan can't type on his phone...what he's trying to say is that he's going to   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai   apprently it's the culutral centre of the area....so goodness knows why Dan's heading there....culture? Mind you, we live in hope.

The parish cake for Children in Need that Bex and her team from St Martin have been working has won!! It's being auctioned off tomorrow.

Well done, its superb :-)

Wednesday 12th November

10pm.... no sign of an eldest son to help the sloth out of trouble. Husband just walked in from Parish Assembly meeting, tired again from another long day 'doing stuff'. Busy day for daughter who has been helping create a "Children In Need" cake at the Public Hall, think every parish is involved.

I meanwhile have had quite a tiring day myself..... no sympathy brought it upon myself! Dog walking down Le Saie and around the fields. Scooted off to Racquetball in St Clement, not played in weeks, so long overdue a game or two. Really good to get on court, but lost every game! Tried to do a speedy shop around Waitrose, bumped into three people I knew, and took two phone calls whilst shopping (multitasking).

I had an appointment at Hospice at 1:15pm for some complementary therapy, which was lovely, and then a meeting with TF. I made her sit outside as it was sunny, the view from there is amazing, but then it clouded over and started to rain ! Good advice given on a few questions I had, the main one being about blood clots..... I need to know if I can fly ....or not. GP apparently would be a good port of call for information.

Back home AA popped in for cup of tea, and a chat, which did make me sit down for a rest, and this evening I went along to Rising Voices choir in Trinity. First time back since July, good to see lots of familiar faces ( and some new ones!)

And so that brings me to here and now...lets hope tomorrows blog post is more exciting.... (not including different variations on what P & E could stand for?)

The view across the bay from Clarkson House

Just in case you'd forgotten what Jess looks like....

Armistice Tuesday

I've started writing but I haven't got anything funny to say.  Lets see how this goes.

First off I have decided that now Dad is the P&E minister, he should be made exempt from planning decisions around the home. Why you ask?  I mean he looks to be in the perfect position given his new found knowledge of planning and the environment right?  Wrong. I think this is where we can all agree that there is some 'conflict of interest' and as such, all decisions regarding fences, hedges, mini-digger created swimming pools and the change of use of sheds into large accommodating (and heated) workshops should fall to me as first born son.  Its a burden that I will just have to bear, but i'm willing because I love my family #toocaring #firstbornsondeservesallthelandandcash.

In other news Daniel messaged today to say that he had lost 4 out of 5 games of pool against a Thai Ladyboy.  I warned him to stay away from them, but he obviously doesn't listen to me because i'm his brother.  Soon there will be tales of 'mistaken identity' and 'unexpected surprises'.  I think he should keep those stories to himself though so as to save Dad any political embarrassment.

I've run out of material as regards making fun of family members so I better start on myself.

As many of you are probably aware I own many cars but none of them work, although I am close to having one of them operational!  I can hear the gasps from here.  In fact I think someone gasped so hard that they might have to go to hospital.  I told a friend last night that my white mini had all the mod cons such as a radio that I could connect my phone to via bluetooth, and keyless start.  He replied with 'but does it go yet?' to which the response was 'whoa, lets not go that far'.  I like to think of my car like a hungry man burger - you wait for ages until you can enjoy it, then its great for about 5 minutes, then its gone....except you don't eat my car, the wheel just falls off then it has to go back in the shed for repairs.

Enough of me, here's a woman with the typing speed of a 2 toed sloth.  She's hoping to up her speed to that of a 3 toed sloth, but that might be a long way off.  Its a good job i've provided her this opener otherwise she might be going to bed later than midnight.

Thank you Tom.....

Two incidents before 8am... Bex trying to take a glass out of the cupboard and it smashing all over the floor, and the "Smoothie" lady CM arriving with two homemade drinks! A good and bad start to the
day! Also in today's calendar of events...

1. BIG congratulations to NS of Grouville for his MBE....(although needs some work on his interview techniques ...)
2. My sister's birthday 
3. SleC birthday
4. Armistice 

An amazing Oak tree that we call 'Big tree' is still standing even though it's almost full of holes in the roots, hope it lasts this winter, and many more to come.

Very little nausea today, which is good, and Jack took Jess out for a walk this afternoon which was a blessing as the weather was horrible.

Lastly, a thank you to JR/JP for the surprise roses, sneakily placed on the doorstep!

The sloth is off to bed.....

Monday 10th November

I had a bit more energy today, and had a good walk around les platons with FB and the dogs, all before 9:30am!

In readiness for our new tenant in the cottage I needed to move a double bed from our house. Fortunately Jack had just finished his night shift, and didn't protest too much when I asked for help ( ultimately he did it, I was very much the lackey !! ) he did complain about how feeble I was , and how badly I followed his simple instructions...... But I know he was joking.....
That done I spent a short while in the garden, I've planted sweet peas in the greenhouse, after my late start this year, I'm getting super early for next year. ( probably too early !!) no doubt my sister 'up north' will be sighing at my inadequacies on the growing front.

Lovely neighbour LT popped around at lunchtime with a homemade ratatouille, one of my favourite vegetables dishes, and enjoyed by me tonight ! I would have liked to have a rest after lunch but now with the clocks changed and the evenings dark early on, I took Jess out early to the beach for her second walk. it was not pleasant, really strong head wind. I was glad to get back in the house by 3:45 and had a chance to put my feet up then... I needed to rest as I was planning a small aerobic work out at St Mary's with the red haired 'squirrels'!

PM walked in the door at 6pm, looking very tired and needing a quick turn around as he was due out to a supper engagement at 7:15. Amazingly I remembered to ask him to do my injection before he left...



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Remembrance Sunday

So pleased I was able to walk Jessie this morning in the sunshine, it was such a lovely morning.

A very moving Remembrance service at St Martins Church this morning, particularly poignant was the reading out of the names of all those young men who had lived in the parish and lost their lives.

A packed Church and good to see the Scouts, some of whom I recognised from School. Also lovely to see everyone at the Public Hall afterwards. 

Saw this in yesterdays paper, never mind the children I think adults would benefit too!!

Having said that we have enough 'clowns' with our immediate family.....

Might not have sounded like a busy morning, but i was really tired this afternoon, guess the Chemo blast has caught up with me, and I could do nothing but lie on the sofa and rest ( and watch Andy Murray get beaten at the O2)... so you see i DO rest!

Saturday 8th November

Just read last night's blog post...I didn't understand the first cartoon strip, im not sure i do now even though its been explained to me by the PM ( Planning Minister as opposed to Prime Minister!) I didn't know that a Delorean was a car...

Backtracking.... Friday afternoon we had a small tea party for a friends birthday, involving cake and sandwiches and not sausage rolls ( I didn't have my glasses on in the supermarket, so bought cheese and onion rolls instead, well, its really tricky because i can't wear the glasses to walk around in as everything is blurry. So they are either left in the handbag, propped on my head or end up scrunched in the trolley with the veg)

So far I seem to be coping with the Chemo I had on Thursday, however still on strong anti sickness tablets, which is just as well as have a general underlying feeling of nausea. A little achy, down to the extra GCSF injection I had to have last night. Fair play to Jack who had to administer both doses, that and my Clexane, at least it gives Steve a break. As you can tell I am no nearer to doing it myself.

Jessie and I had a lovely walk in Greve de Lecq woods this morning, I was expecting lots of mud and rain, and it ended up being sunny...

Three of us went off to the Lifestyle show at Fort Regent this afternoon, with the intention of 'looking'. It didn't start well as getting out of the lift from the carpark, the daughter noticed that PM just had the 'stalk' of his poppy proudly on display. I had to lend him mine. It took us a while to get around, as every few minutes he had to stop and chat to someone, I took the brief moments that he was distracted to make a few purchases, a clever plan I thought. We obviously did need a special bag that you put your dog in to dry her, and I was looking to buy a new frying pan anyway....

This evening our neighbours HG and TG were hosting a bonfire/fireworks night, food included, bean crock and hot dogs. An amazing evening with lots of friends and neighbours and children invited. They had buckets for Macmillan donations, and I've just heard they raised over £1,000 !!!!!!

They even let this lot in !!!

Its Friday, Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday

I assume very few people got the song reference from the title.  It was a viral music video from 2011.  Heres a link: Truly terrible/hilarious video with moderate production values that you should all watch in order to improve your internet education.  

I'm digressing from the real news of today; a man from St Martins was chosen for the lead role in a new film.  The film is a remake of the 1974 classic 'Death Wish' starring Charles Bronson, except the man from St Martins is Steve Luce and the film is actually real life and involves being Planning & Environment minister.  Perhaps thats a bit harsh; I am fully supportive of him in his new role. I don't really think he has a death wish, but he was actually stopped in the street the other day by someone who seemed to think he did!  

We all know P&E is somewhat of a poison chalice as you can't please everyone all the time, especially when some people are hippies, and others are raging capitalists. If you're wondering where I fit in that spectrum, I consider myself a liberal conservative with a hatred of wind turbines. The only thing wind is good for is taking away smells, and even then its job could be done by brownian motion (random motion of particles suspended in a fluid).  Don't worry hippies, your Ramsar sites are safe with me whispering into the ear of the environment minister!

In preparation for all the people who will be grumbling about various planning decisions I'm going to record a new answerphone message.  It will be something along the lines of 'Hello disgruntled member of society.  I know you are unhappy with the various planning 'atrocities' committed by this man, but please spare a thought for me, the person who has to live with him.  He won't even let me turn the shed into a second workshop!  He says I have to file an application with his department and then when I ask exactly where to file it he points to the bin.'  There would then be 3 minutes of Greensleeves before the tape cuts in, just because. 

I find it amusing that the man who cannot plan the manufacture of a sandwich involving more than two ingredients is allowed to be the planning and environment minister - lets hope he's good at 'environment', whatever that means.  He says he gets his own space with P&E written on it.  I've decided that this should stand for 'Propellants and Explosives', something that would make his job a lot more interesting, but it would perhaps reduce the amount of hair he has, and he can't afford to lose any more.

I shouldn't have made all these jokes at the expense of the man who has spent a large amount of his time and effort raising me, but sometimes in life you are presented with an opportunity to be hilarious and creative and you can't turn it down.  Again, its his own fault - he paid for my education.    

Not done with the comedy, here's some more cartoons.  Credit for the discovery of this comic strip goes to MJ.

This is what I expect Dad and Ian Gorst's conversation to be like in 3.5 years:

And what I think we should do about taxes