Still ...

... working on the Norfolk photos, although I had a break from them yesterday.  In the meantime ....

I had a busy week of appointments this week.  Makes a change from them being for the OH.  I've run nearly the whole gamut - feet, teeth and tits - ROFL!  Breast screening.  I'm fast becoming of an age where I won't be automatically invited for one.   I shall soon be classed as being out of the age range to warrant them - unless there's a reason presents itself - or I ask for one.  Possibly 2 more to go but may only be 1.  We'll see.  Whether I continue with them once the automatic invites stop I'm not sure.  Mum never had one in her whole life and neither did she ever have a cervical smear.  Strange on the breast screening though 'cos her mum, my nan, actually had breast cancer.  She had a breast removed but the day she was being discharged from hospital she had a heart attack and never survived - or that was the reason I was given for her death.  I've never seen a death certificate to deny or confirm that.  Perhaps I should get one for my records .....

Moving on.  The breast screening unit is near Preston Rock Gardens, aka The Rookery or the Rockery, on Preston Road, Brighton.  I'd not visited for a long time so, knowing I was going to be close I took my camera and so glad I did.  The autumn colours were stunning.

All photos were taken from the lower path.  I should have walked up through the gardens to take photos from different perspectives but my lungs weren't being very good to me and the slopes I'd have had to climb did not look very appealing at the time.  I wish I'd been feeling a tad better and I'd have done them but anything's better than nothing, as they say, so this is the anything.  Beautiful late October morning and pretty warm considering how late in the year it is.

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Where has ...

... the time gone?  Hubby comes home and it seems to have disappeared.  Can't say as I've not had time but what time I've had has been 'down time' - or at least, that's what the body has told me.  We seem to have had a lot of appointments, some of which, if he was driving, he could have taken himself to but, because he's not I'm chauffeur!  Will be so glad when he's driving again, even if it means me losing the 'big' car!  That's not a problem in itself, unless I've people, luggage and 'stuff' to ferry.

He's doing well.  Weight is dropping off nicely and he's not taking supplementary pain meds as he was while in the hospice.  He's managing without the sedatives/anti-depressants which just proves he doesn't need them - and because of the meds he's stopped, his tremors have reduced dramatically.  The fluid retention is nearly gone.  All in all a good result for such a short time home and he's surprised a good few when they've seen him, especially the nurse we bumped into while shopping in the local Asda *rofl!*  Don't think she expected to see him out and about doing normal stuff.  Just got to get him driving again now, which I think will involve him getting the confidence to actually give it a go after so long of not driving rather than anything else!  The new oral chemo treatment he's having has reduced his PSA levels a lot so it seems that's working.  Nothing but good news really except I've lost spare time *LOL*

My annual health MOT has gone well.  No decline in lung function from last year, which is good even if the lung function still isn't.  At least it's not progressing and the longer I can hold that downward progression off for, the better.  Our oven has decided to play silly b's when we try using it *sad*  Hubby has been saying for some while that it switches off for no reason.  I'd never had that experience.  Then, a few weeks ago, youngest had the same thing happen.  Just after, it started happening to me and now it does it regularly.  I think it's the thermostat and the higher the temperature it's set to the sooner it switches off.  Decision made to buy a new oven which is now installed in our shed, awaiting the tumble dryer to be sorted out and then we need an electrician to install oven, swap some 'burnt out' power points for new ones and generally give our electrics an overhaul.  Time is in short supply to sort these things out at the mo.

On the crafty front Clair had her birthday workshop day on Saturday.  The Christmas one later in the year is being hosted by John Bloodworth (Gentleman Crafter) as part of his All Counties Challenge so Clair decided we'd have a Christmas in July day this year.  A great day, good company, lovely food and 10 cards ......

Ready ....

Project table ...

On your marks ...

Hard at it ....

I prepped all the cards, made a couple and finished them at home on Sunday.  All now photographed ready to show - when I get time to do another post *ROFL!*

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The month of ...

... May hasn't started well *sad*  Hubby's pain came back with a vengeance.  So much so, and with memories rising, we ended up in A&E for an xray on his hip with a suspected hip fracture.  Pretty much the last thing that could be causing the pain other than one we'd rather not think about.  As it turned out there was no hip fracture but, because of his pain, and a chat they'd had with somebody else, the medics decided to admit him for further investigation.  That investigation has found the cause of the pain, at last.  Unfortunately it's the only thing left it could be.  The cancer has spread.  It's now in his spine and pressing on the nerves coming out of the base ... hence his pain.  He's been in hospital a week.  They've managed to make him more comfortable and he's to have a session of radiotherapy.  They're hoping that will help the pain but he can only have one session.  He's already had 5 sessions over the years.  If this doesn't work, with assistance from pain relief I don't know the next step.  We've been told there are other ways of dealing and we know that chemo could come into the mix at some point but we've always kept that as a last resort. Not a good start to the month, to be honest but another 'blip' we've to overcome - and overcome it we will. 

Last Friday I took a bus ride to the hospital as he wanted me there early and parking's a nightmare during the day.  When I left I strolled ('cos that's all I can do) back via the seafront and decided to take a ride on the Brighton Wheel for the last time.  I went on it soon after it opened, at sunset, on the day I went to register Dad's death.  This time it was just 2 days until it closed and disappeared forever but it was day time and a flight I've been meaning to do since the sunset one.  It was a beautiful day for the stroll and the flight.

View east on the stroll ...

... and west from the same spot.  Palace Pier, West Pier ruins (just visible), the Wheel and the pole of the i360 - opening this summer

From the 'flight' viewed west.

Domed roof of the Royal Pavilion - amongst many others

Looking at this photo I realised that I started my working life, and ended it, with jobs within one street of one another.
The 'last job' building, Amex European HQ, is due to be demolished very soon.
All staff have moved into the brand, spanking new building behind it

Nothing really changes. Views west.

View east

Long distance views east past Rottingdean onwards to Saltdean, Telscombe & Peacehaven.

Westwards along the coast towards Worthing

BBQ time on the beach in front of the Palace Pier.

... and home.  A view from the bus, approaching the area I live, just outside of the town.
Peace and quiet *grin*

Missed exercise class last week - that time was spent in A&E. Shouldn't have been able to make it this week because of a timing clash with Vickie's monthly workshop. Unfortunately Vickie's had to cancel all workshops until further notice *sad* but it meant I could go to exercise class this week. It was good. Inbetween everything else I'm trying to make sure everything is up to date at home and get hubby sorted and things in place as I'm off on holiday next week.  I've had to make a list.  With so much going on I'm bound to forget something if it's not listed.  Mind you, I'm not sure it's all listed but at least I'm trying *LOL*

Not sure if I'll have anything to record for the next few days.  There may be a break now for a few weeks. 

There may just be a few vlogs posted on Clair's site and/or YouTube channel that could be worth looking at during that time .....

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I'm tired ....

.... and weary.  I've not been getting much sleep of late but I really don't have much to complain about when I consider what OH is going through.  He's the reason I've not been getting much sleep.  His 'miracle' is turning into more of a curse, definitely a nightmare.  Initially it was exciting, thinking that life wouldn't be quite as restricted and we'd even talked about making a very long haul flight for him to meet family he's never met and only discovered existed about 3 years ago.  Think that may be back on the very unlikely to happen list ... sadly, very sadly.  The released nerves that gave him a bit of feeling back in his legs late summer 2015 so he had some, albeit very limited, use of them, started giving him major problems with pain around Christmas time.  Well, we think it's those nerves, the sciatic one particularly.  It may be the cancer.  Whatever, that pain has got progressively worse in time and intensity.  He's never free of it and can't bear the affected area being touched so pressure of any sort has him through the ceiling.    He's now residing in the local hospice while they try to get him some relief.  I hope it works but he's gone back 30 years or so with his symptoms.  It was pain such as he's having now which resulted in surgery and subseqently, the wheelchair.  I'm keeping everything crossed that they can help him as I dread to think what will happen if they can't.

Last year he had a problem with fluid build up and put on 5 stone of fluid in a matter of weeks.  He spent 3 months in the hospice then but they managed to sort it out and he lost all that fluid.   Since then he's lost another 2 stone in - as I call it - his 'fat' weight and it's still going down.  He's the healthiest and fittest he's been in a long while and now he's hit with this.  It doesn't seem fair.  Just when we think he's going to get some sort of normal life back he's dragged down again.  He doesn't deserve it.

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Following on ....

OH's health is improving beyond any hope we could have had after a terrible start to 2015 and mine has seen an improvement as well.  Back in April 2014 my besties decided to form a weightloss group.  Each chose to follow one diet plan or other but would report in once a week following their weigh in.  As every one of the group of friends was doing it I decided to join them but not with any real expectations.  I'd never dieted in my life and was convinced I'd not shift any weight.  I was just over the 30 BMI so technically obese.  I decided I wasn't spending out on joining any weight loss club and would just be more careful what I ate, both in the type of food and the quantity, and try to increase my activity level.  Increasing my activity levels hasn't been too hard ... with decluttering, reorganising and running around while OH was in the hospice I didn't really have time to sit down much.  Anyway, much to my amazement I started to lose weight and, to date, I've lost just under 3 stone.  It's slow and steady and sometimes it plateaus but I'm now back into the 'healthy' BMI range.  I'm not quite where I'd like to be but if I don't go any lower I'm happy.

This year's annual medical MOT has shown that I am no longer borderline diabetic (after 5 years of being so) and my lung function is the best it's been since I was diagnosed with COPD back in 2007.  It's still not good but any improvement is better than none.  Considering it's a progressive disease, improving that function can only be everything good as it will delay the progression for a while longer.  I feel better, healthier and fitter than I've done for a good while. I'm hoping that by mid 2016 I will have reached where I'd like to be with my weight and, hopefully see a further improvement in my overall health.  Keeping everything crossed *wink*

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It's about time ...

... I showed the blog I've not forgotten it - oops!  November 2014, the last post.  That's over a year ago.  The longest I've ever gone without posting.  It's been a bit of an eventful time, starting not long after my last post.  It went from bad, to worse to even worser (???) and has ended up pretty good .... following what was, some would say, a miracle.

OH's health took a major turn for the worse before Christmas last year with fluid retention, requiring hospitalisation over the Christmas period.  Unfortunately it didn't resolve anything and his health just got worse.  He was on the fast train outta here!   In April a District Nurse called who finally listened to us, our concerns and what we thought the problem was.  Within a week, after she'd listened, OH was taken into the local hospice where he stayed for 3 months.  In all honesty, there was nobody who thought he'd be coming out alive when he went in.  He was that ill.  Over time he ballooned, literally, and put on 5 stone in weight. It was all fluid.  It affected his whole body - arms, face, legs, stomach.  Nowhere was immune from it.  The medics at the Hospice were like dogs with bones.  They weren't letting him out of there without getting to the bottom of the problem, one way or another.  Eventually one doctor asked more in depth questions of the results from tests done over the Christmas period and discovered what the problem was.  Targetted treatment started and results were soon obvious.  In July OH came home.  His weight was dropping rapidly as the fluid disappeared and he's now 2 stone lighter than he was before the fluid came in ... and gradually losing more ... so his 'fat' weight is going now.  The fluid has all gone :)  Since June, when he was at his heaviest, he's lost 7 stone in weight - fluid and fat.

If that's not enough 'pretty good' .... rewind to July, when OH came out of the hospice.  He found it difficult to settle at night.   Third night home and he spent it in the living room.  In the morning he said he had something to show me and wiggled his toes.  For around 25 years OH has had no voluntary movement in his legs.  He's had muscle spasms but he's had no movement he's been able to control. He'd had a massive pain overnight that he thinks 'knocked him out'. When he came to he had some sensation in his legs and he could wiggle his toes.  By the end of the week he could do leg raises and this .......

He still can't walk unaided, and is never likely to.  He still relies on his wheelchair except for the very shortest of distances, but even this small improvement is massive.  On top of all this the oncologist is satisfied that his cancer is controlled and no longer needs to see him unless OH wants to.  He's had a cataract op within the last 2 weeks so is in the process of getting his sight back clear enough to drive again (he stopped driving sometime last year) and we can finally see him getting his life back come the spring of 2016.  It's been a long time coming.  

As I said at the start of this post ...an eventful year, from bad to worse and a rapid improvement - and the improvement is not just OH's domain *grin*

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Headache ...

... do one!  I've had it all day and I'm fed up.  Went to my exercise class this morning not expecting to be able to get through it.  I did but only just however, came home and felt rough.  Cough is not getting any better and, although I live with one, this one is different to my norm. I feel sort of coldified (new word) it feels different and chest is very tight.  Thought I might be going down with a chest infection so phoned doc who's prescribed antibiotics and a course of steroids.  I've collected them but going to hold off of taking them for a day or 2 as I don't want to take them if I don't have to.  I'll see how things go.  Back when I had my last spirometry in the summer I was asked if I wanted a rescue pack.  Haven't had, or needed one, before so I declined.  I'm thinking it might not be such a bad idea for the winter.  I'm getting older and this COPD isn't going to go away but I do want to do what I can to delay it progressing - which is what the exercise is all about, to be honest.  Early night I think and see how things are in the morning.  Got a busy weekend so need to feel a bit more alive - lol!

Last card I've got made from the Christmas workshop.  I lied when I said I'd made all but 2 of them.  I've 3 still to make, or at least, in process of being made.  I've done bits of all 3 but not one is finished.  Not sure when they will be either.  Anyways, here's the last of the Christmas ones ... for now.

Papermania designer paper
Lilli of the Valley image & sentiment stamps
- Wink of Stella clear brush tip on the cuffs/hem of jacket , bobble and trim of hat.
Gems

Can't go and leave this post without making comment on the loss of an amazing, inspirational man and probably the most influential person of the 20th Century.  Nelson Mandela died yesterday evening, aged 95.  So many people owe their lives, as they are today, to this man.  He opened people's eyes and made them more aware that there is more to the human race than the colour of their skin.  The man done GOOD!

RIP 

Nelson Mandela

1918-2013

The world was a better place for having you in it and would be a whole lot better if there were more like you.

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No excuse ...

... just not blogged, mind you have been busy-ish.  Been on another holibobs since last posted.  Mexico!

What a wonderful place it is too.  The history that oozes from the place is amazing!  Had a few problems with mobility in Mexico City - or rather, breathing, which made it difficult to move around.  I knew it was at altitude and knew I might find it more difficult than at sea level but it was harder than expected.  Came home and then discovered that I hadn't fully recovered from that virus I had early February (last post) for which I'd had the 2 courses of antibiotics and steroids.  I ended up on a 3rd course and having a chest x-ray.  Fortunately that didn't show anything different to what was already known but the fact I was still carrying a bit of the bug while away certainly wouldn't have helped me in Mexico City.  Not only was it at altitude, there was a fair amount of pollution as well.  Not obvious until you were at top of hotel and saw the fug at low level - or until you drove back into the city from outside and saw it from a distance.  Having said all that - I wouldn't have missed it for the world.  Would I go back?  Like yesterday I would!  Loved the place and would now like to see more of the country and/or revisit the sites we saw before but in my own time and at my own pace.  Beautiful country and beautiful people in the main - including the different nationalities we met on the tour - American, other Brits, Argentinians, Spanish and so on.

Cancun?  Nice and the hotel was luxurious but it could have been anywhere in the world that had sun, sea and sand.  Nothing to suggest it was even Mexico, especially as the main accent heard was American.

Mérida?  Our middle stay of the holiday.  Lovely city and easy to get around.  Central to travel out from as well.  Excellent!

Photos - all checked, edited and book is in process of being printed .....

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I'm impressed ...

...  with myself.  I seem to be on track :0)  I made sure I got up early this morning and I had all the 'h' word work done in the lounge before Paul got out of the pit.  Don't yer love a plan coming together?  I've sorted all the clothes for packing and half is packed, the other half need to see an iron before they're packed.  Tomorrow should see the packing done with just last minute bits to throw in Friday night/Saturday morning :0)  Think I'll aim for early up tomorrow as well so the ironing is done before it gets too hot.  Check list is nearly all checked now, including the MP3 loading and testing.  It's working well *grin*

I'm liking this more organised way of life.  I'm hoping I keep it going when I'm back from the holiday.  I always used to be organised, in years past, but the needs of Mum & Dad seemed to overtake. My own home took a back seat and I let things slide.  It's taken a while - a very long while - but I seem to be getting back to the way things used to be.  Not as easily now, admittedly, as I find it really hard to do the most basic of tasks but if I can keep on top of things through the week then I should be able to find more time for my crafting .... hopefully! I used to run a tidy ship when I was working - can't really understand why it's not been since I 'retired'.  Anyhow, I shall be doing the best I can to keep it up - *LOL*

I'm also impressed with ... Blogger spam filter.  I'm loving it's effectiveness.  I reckon it stops 99.9% of spam which means less comment moderating needed.  People, if you moderate your comments - don't!  Take a chance and see what happens.  OK, I've got some moderation ... checking any anonymous comments on posts over a couple of weeks old, although I'm considering even dropping that.  I've taken off word verification (not that I had it for long anyway) and I certainly don't like having to approve comments before they can be seen and I don't like commenting on blogs where you can't see your comment until it's approved (not that I'm a good commenter - ooops!).  So much work for the blog owner and completely unnecessary now.  People, get your life back and take off all moderation.  You can always put it back again if you're not as impressed as me :0)

I'm not so impressed with the new Design feature.  Well, that's not quite true.  I am impressed with it although I can't get it to do what it's supposed to in some instances but what I'm not impressed with is an aesthetic thing.  Way, way back in times of yore, as part of my Business Studies course, I had to learn basic typing/secretarial skills.  I was taught that there should always be a double space following a full stop at the end of a sentence.  Since taking up computers and picking up the typing skills learnt way back when, it is automatic for me to 'double space' after a full stop.  Until the new Design feature came in that wasn't an issue.  Now it is and for why?  If the end of a sentence comes at the end of a line then the double spacing can cause an indent at the beginning of the next line.  Never used to happen so why does it now?  Using 'justify' sorts out raggedy right hand margins but it doesn't sort out raggedy left hand margins.  I don't like raggedy and use 'justify' all the time.  I've tried remembering to not double space.  It don't happen *grin*  It's too automatic for me after all these years.  I've tried to ignore the indents that shouldn't be there but it winds me up - I will persevere on that one.  I've edited to take out all the double spacing but that wastes time ... and shouldn't be necessary.  Please Mr Blogger - let us have that bit as it used to be so those of us 'old school' can use our double spacing and still keep the good look of our posts :0)

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Getting excited ...

... now!  This time next week we should be landing, or near to landing, in Doha at the end of the first flight on our journey to Bali. 

It's been another busy day today -

Kitchen cleaned ü

Hallway cleaned ü

Washing done ü

All of the above, the bathroom and lounge (when it's done) are now down to Paul to keep on top of until I'm back  :0)

Bill payments up to date ü

Mail prepared to send at end of week ü

Notebook and pen ready for recording happenings *wink, wink, grin* ü

MP3 player loaded and checked ... nearly. May add more but it's not checked yet!

To do list is drastically shorter than it was but it's not as short as I'd hoped it would be by this time.  Think I need to get up early and do the more strenuous stuff while it's reasonably cool.  It's been so hot here of late and it's uncomfortable trying to do anything in the afternoon that needs a bit of energy.  The weather isn't helping my lung problem much either but I'm probably better off here by the coast than in the city/town centres right now, although I've had to rely on my 'emergency' inhalers today and that is quite unusual.

Tomorrow I'm planning on doing the lounge then it's all systems go on the packing ...

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Here's one project ...

... from our crafty day at Greta's last Thursday but which one will I show first?  I think I'll start with Greta's contribution.  She decided we'd make a memory wire bracelet.  We had a choice of colour-ways and I chose green and bronze, thinking it would go with one of the tops I bought for my up and coming holiday only to remember, when nearly done, that the top isn't green and bronze at all but hey, I've a dress it will probably go with.  I loved making this and I can see me making more.  Just need to find somewhere to buy the beads but I've not gone searching yet :0)

Had my massage today and back is a wee bit easier.  The masseuse stretched the base of my back instead of pummelling it and it does seem to have had some effect.  This massage turned out to be a really good deal.  It was a full back massage (legs, feet and all the way up), a full head massage and a facial.  I bought it on a Groupon deal and, before I left the salon, I bought a voucher to repeat the experience at the price I bought the Groupon voucher for.  This time I've 6 months to take it up in instead of the 3 via Groupon.  When I'm back from holiday hubby and I will be using another voucher we bought for a 2 course dinner at quite an expensive (normally) Italian restaurant at the Marina.  We've eaten there before but paid full price.  Food was delicious so we're looking forward to that, especially if it's a nice evening and we can sit outside and eat alfresco.  I'd certainly recommend people sign up for the daily emails.  You never know what deals are going to come up that could be of interest.

I've been loading up my Kindle with books. Had a fair few anyway but Amazon have a Spring Spectacular with selected titles up to 75% off. Couldn't have come at a better time 'cos now I've got loads of choice, if I get time to read while away. If not while away, on the long, long flights - *LOL* Need to load the MP3 with some toons now.

Weather is still amazing!  I'm so hoping that this isn't our summer come early.  We're having higher than average temperatures for this time of the year and mainly into the low 20s (centigrade).  It's beautiful.  The only thing spoiling it is the smell of BBQs wafting around but that's only 'cos we've not got ours out yet - *lol*  By the time we get ours out the weather is likely to have turned :0(

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