Thursday 28 January 2016

Wild Weather Takes its Toll

Slight setback healthwise this week as I caught the cold that's been going round the house. No surprise there, but as my immune system has been affected by the cancer drugs, it hit me rather harder and I've spent a lot of time sleeping.

I did get out one day though and there was a dramatic change in the sea within the harbour. One day it was like a millpond and the next day it was like this and right over the promenade. The wind was enough to take our breath away at times.




Monday 25 January 2016

Puppy Love

I want that lap.

No, I want that lap.

Oh well, I suppose we can share.

Friday 22 January 2016

The Missing Spectacles

Big panic today. I couldn't find my spectacles when it was time to take the dogs out to Hamworthy Park, and I have to drive to get there. In the end I went without them - it's ok, I can see well enough to drive. Then I went to the singing group and was unable to read the words of new songs which were displayed on  a screen. I just had to hum. Here's a pic of us all from last week, which includes me plus glasses. We were presenting a cheque to our charity of the year, having collected the grand sum of £400 donated at our sing-outs. I'll tell you more about the charity in another post.


My specs have just turned up. No wonder I couldn't find them. When I made my bed this morning I left them under the duvet. Not sure why I looked there. My subconscious mind must have remembered. Glad I didn't sit on them by accident.



Wednesday 20 January 2016

Back to Work

I do love Constant Content. They emailed me yesterday asking if I would write for them again. It galvanised me, so I picked an article to claim and write for a client. It took me a couple of hours - a bit longer than it should to make it worthwhile, but I haven't lost my touch. The editors accepted it immediately. I just hope the client does too.

Apart from blog posts, letters and emails, this is my first piece of writing for about a year. I could do with a bit of pin money as we've had lots of expenses that have been eating into my savings, so I'll probably make it a habit again now.

And we have just booked a week in lovelyTorquay at Easter time.

pic by Derek Harper

Monday 18 January 2016

Cliffs of Colour

On Saturday we all took the chain ferry so we could walk the dogs on Studland's South Beach, and we saw these beautiful multi-coloured cliffs again. These colours of nature contrast beautifully with the lush green of the vegetation, even at this normally drab time of year. We were all spellbound.

We had hoped to have lunch at the nearby Bankes Arms inn, but we'd spent so much time on our walk that we were too late, and it was packed to the gills. Instead we drove home via Corfe Castle and Wareham, had a warming toastie snack and then opted for a Chinese takeaway in the evening. That's a real treat for Eryn as she loves it.

It was the start of a really pleasant weekend that continued as we were joined by friends for a very convivial Sunday roast and a few bevvies the next day.

Wednesday 13 January 2016

Enjoying the Winter Sun

After the funeral we attended yesterday, a walk on the beach in the winter sun was just what the doctor ordered. The dogs thought so too and were frolicking around like puppies. We parked at Branksome Chine and walked almost to Canford Cliffs before turning around. The beach was mostly populate by other dogs taking their owners for a frolic. And one lone swimmer in a wetsuit was keeping pace with us in the water as we moved along the sand.

Jules took a video that you can see on my Facebook page.

Friday 8 January 2016

The Wind Beneath my Wings

Today I went to my singing group for the first time for several weeks and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. Today we started to learn a beautiful new song. Here is the Bette Midler version.



Wednesday 6 January 2016

A Sunny Surprise

Jules went on the dog walk without me yesterday as I had to get ready to go to the hospital. On her return I was green with envy when I saw the photos she took. It was such a lovely day and every time I've been to Hamworthy Park recently it has been wet or windy with no sign of sun.



Monday 4 January 2016

Getting my Exercise



pic by Rufino Uribe "Competition swimming pool block"
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/rufino_uribe/178577542/. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Competition_swimming_pool_block.jpg#/media/File:Competition_swimming_pool_block.jpg

Before we got Jade, I used to swim regularly at the full size pool in town. That activity was replaced by good, long dog walks. The walks have got shorter and slower and I need more exercise, but not anything too strenuous. Swimming at my own pace is the obvious answer. I managed just ten lengths this afternoon, and discovered that there is still free swimming for seniors for an hour each Thursday morning. All being well, I hope to build on my ten lengths in the coming weeks.

Tomorrow I see my oncology consultant to decide on the medication to go forward. At the moment I am on a quarter dose of the drug and not having any ill effects, which has been great for the holidays. But we probably need to bump it up again for it to do its job properly, so fingers will be crossed.


Saturday 2 January 2016

Good News and Bad


The holidays have been bitter sweet. The good news is that it kicked off early on December 12th with a visit from my other granddaughter and family. Nearly a year since I’ve seen them and the great grandies are growing away. This is my son with two of his grandchildren.
 Here is the middle one with her Aunt and me. And can you see Jade trying to be left out?



Christmas Day was blissful with the immediate family.

In the week that followed we met up with some new friends for  a perfect dog walk.
On New Year’s Eve we drove to Sussex to see my a former sister-in-law  and were treated to a great home made meal by her good friend.

The bitter element almost overshadowed all that. At the end of Christmas Day I learnt that a good friend’s lovely husband, who had been rather unwell for a couple of weeks, had been rushed into hospital in the early hours of the morning and diagnosed with severe, aggressive leukaemia. He only lingered a week – the chemo didn’t work – and he died at about 6 pm on New Year’s Eve. A couple of hours later we brought home his distraught bride of five months who was also exhausted after her bedside vigil. She stayed with us all through New Year’s Day and that night, and was collected by family this morning.

She and I became friends at college nearly forty years ago and have kept in touch ever since, becoming closer now that we live only a few miles apart. She lost another husband 10 years ago when living overseas. I was delighted when she met this new man and married him a year later, just last August. They were perfect for each other, and now she will be alone again after such a terrible shock. It is so cruel and sad.

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