Friday 22nd June 2018

I thought I'd start today's post with some cheerful pictures, surprisingly I'm really fed up of listing my ailments, as I'm sure most of you lot are reading them.

Men at work?

 Resting point on the wood walk.

 Our neighbours beautiful wild flowers

 La Crete Fort, Jersey Heritage site on the North Coast.

 A truly beautiful sunset.

Wednesday (post chemo) I wasn't feeling too bad, helped out by the extra boost of steroids no doubt.

The dogs got taken to the groomers, they now looked trimmed, clean and sleek, sure that won't last long.
The husband was initiated in the art of supermarket shopping, he said he's been before, but I think that was 2017 and he needed updating. ( still managed to sneak two bottles of wine in the trolley mind you).

Got a new wing mirror fitted on my car,  (smashed during the the Uk trip) and then toddled off to see the Racquet ball girls.

Lovely to see them, difficult to watch them play, but heartfelt hugs all round, especially large hug to ST, a very very special lady who is off to Boston to teach those Americans how to play racquetball properly, because despite what a few people may say she is THE BEST COACH (and friend) IN THE WORLD!!!!

This was followed by a long visit to Hospice, firstly to try and alleviate the lymph fluid issues, and secondly to try and give me some tips on how to 'breathe' when coughing. The shortness of breath is wearing, and at times frightening, so there are things you can do to help yourself. 

The leaking legs ( cue disgusted face) are equally worrying, due to possible infection, and so multiple dressings were applied and some rather fetching dark brown stockings stretched up and pulled onto the tree-trunk thighs. Got that visual?

My carer arrived to take me home, and I needed to rest. Later that day the Hospice community councillor visited. Heavy weight questions needed asking and answering, did I have a DNR form in the house? (that's Do Not Resuscitate for those of you who hate acronyms....and DNR for those who don't want to know!!) Had I thought about where I would like to die? (Can't believe I actually held myself together for that one, although it was touch and go).

A locked box was put in the cupboard with future drugs that I might/will? need, so if a nurse comes in the middle of the night, its all to hand.

More waking than sleeping on Wednesday night left me tired and struggling, I did however have a lovely, sunny beach walk with Steve and the girls. I was tired and a little emotional all day.

We did manage to see friends briefly at lunchtime, but I wasn't on very good form. More resting, and then visitors, and a HUGE bouquet of flowers, and beautiful messages, and emails and kind texts and its all so very, very humbling.

THANK YOU just seems a bit inadequate.

I am sure my friends will forgive me for telling you this story, but I have been laughing (silently) all week and its definitely worth a share.

It was their daughter's birthday, and her boyfriend wanting to impress, baked lots of cupcakes, and then decorated them with iced letters spelling out "Happy 19th Birthday Emily". By all accounts they looked very professional.

Some time later, the husband goes into the kitchen to make a cup of tea, only to be greeted by two dogs, licking smears of cream and crumbs off their slobbery chops.

The birthday girl was then presented with a tray of cakes spelling out "app 9th irday ile" !!!!!!