Another weekend gone

Hee hee just love this dancing granny!!!

Monday morning again, how quickly the weekend goes past.

Very quiet and uneventful - not.

Daughter's friend is suffering with terminal cancer, such a lovely girl and so young. She has 4 little boys the eldest only 12 and the baby is 2. She fought and won her first battle with the dreaded disease but it's back with a vengeance. She has had numerous operations and is back on chemo when her health permits, anyway she had a setback on Saturday and was rushed in critical condition to hospital. Daughter went with her and stayed until she was admitted to HDU. Much to everyone's relief she rallied and by yesterday was much better and sitting up, more coherent and lively.

We had arranged to meet up for lunch but put it on the back burner until we knew what was happening. Daughter eventually arrived at Silverburn and we had a lovely lunch at one of the Italian restaurants.

I bought another couple of things to go with my outfit for the wedding on Friday. Just a purse to go with my handbag and shoes. Got another pair of shoes as well, mock crock in black, red and orange, really nice. Had a bit of a stuchie with hubby though about a shirt. He had bought a new suit in grey and tried to say that he shirt he had at home would be fine, well yes it would if it had fitted. Shock, horror had to buy a bigger suit - 44in chest. He denies putting on any weight, yeh right. Anyway he decided a new shirt was in order. The one he wanted was quite expensive and no matter how I tried to dissuade him from buying it - it's only for the one day, we never go anywhere you would need to wear a shirt etc. I finally conceded and thought that would be the end of it but no he then started looking at ties which cost as much as the shirt .......... but they're silk. Yes and your point is???? Anyway daughter went and bought a lovely tie for Father's Day. Perfect match for the colour of shirt. So peace reigned once more.

Did I mention I've started at the gym in work? Well been once so far and found it really enjoyable. Been trying hard to be healthy. The only problem I have is the food at work. Don't get me wrong it is lovely, fantastic choices as well but why oh why do they have to ruin everything with the world's most horrible, disgusting vegetables - mushrooms, celery and asparagus. Yeuck, yeuck, yeuck. I love salads but hate the 3 mentioned veggies. The should be banned from the light of day, yeh I know mushrooms are to begin with but they should be kept in the dark and never ever let out. Celery is the bain of my life, it's in everything, does it know I hate it so much it's haunting me!!!! Oh well back to the bean salad, lettuce, beetroot and boiled eggs again.

Enough ranting, time for some serious work, till tomorrow, Cheeri x

Excitement for a Friday

Wow what a start to the morning. Only in the office about 10 minutes when the fire alarm went off. As a designated fire marshal I had to quickly pick up my 'now you see me jacket' and shepherd all colleagues to the nearest fire exit. Being on the 5th floor it's quite a trek. Had been to a meeting yesterday regarding the previous test and was informed that too many people were leaving the building carrying cups of coffee etc. Only 1 of my section did that today and when I spoke to her she replied that there was nowhere to leave her coffee. Duh there are loads of desks and filing cabinets within the ares. Never mind the e-mail telling people it's not allowed hasn't been sent yet.

This wasn't what I expected to write today. I was feeling rather nostalgic yesterday and started to remember things from bye gone years, at my age there are plenty of those. Anyway one song sprang to mind, an old Foster and Allen - If I had my life to live over. Would I change things, probably if I could. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I wouldn't change everything but I possibly would tell people how I felt about them, but too late now. Missed chances and some regrets but that's life ----- oh another song by Frank Sinatra.

My sister is doing the Race for Life on Sunday, so proud of her that's about the 4th year she's done it. Have sponsored her as always. She wanted to meet up on Saturday but I've got lots to do, getting hair cut, waiting around for the gas man to come and check the boiler. It's her daughter's wedding on Friday and she's not the least bit organised.

Hey ho better get on with some work.

Blog again soon.

Take care, cheeri

I'm back

Decided to start blogging again.

This picture has nothing whatsoever to do with my blog just decided to use it. 'Went to Turkey to buy a Heat Magazine'. The sun is getting to me.

New job is absolutely wonderful. Lots to do but not the same pressure. Working in a team with two other people so the work is divided.

We have moved round in the office and I now have a brilliant view over the motorway and buildings looking towards the airport. The windows are huge and the sunlight makes everything so fresh and clean looking.

Just finished my OU course so waiting with baited breath for the results. Only need to get 30% to pass the course but not sure if I will make it. The question was so hard, mind you things might have been different if I had actually studied properly. Next time I promise I will do more studying.

Miss speaking to my very dear friend. He makes my heart jump but then again he always did. Going to a wedding next week. My niece is tying the knot. Hope the weather stays fine for her. Wearing a dress, which nowadays is unheard of. Too big and not a dress person. Anyway I'll be a cross between a lemon and a meringue. No the dress isn't one of these humungous things but flowing and chiffon and OMG do I really want to wear it. Hubby says it looks fine but not too sure. Will update you as and when and may even get a picture taken.

Had a slight problem with the outfit because I bought the dress first then the little lemon bolero type cardie. Needed shoes and a handbag to match, so bought a lovely handbag in lemon but couldn't get shoes. Went to the cobblers to see if they had dye, they didn't have the colour I wanted but said they would order it for me. All excited went back a week later to get the dye but oops they had sent vanilla ---- now I feel nauseaus at the very mention of the word. All to do with a stomach complaint but that's another story. Anyway I decided against the colour and the sales assistant very kindly (not) suggested another dye. It duly came and yippee was the right one. The shoes are now dyed and ready for the off. I'm sure the saga will continue as I've still got a week to go. Was thinking about a flower or feathery thing for my hair but then again.......................

Bye for now watch this space.

Bye

Have decided this is the last blog I'm going to write. Mainly for personal and selfish reasons.

I had a good week, my step son, daughter-in-law and grandaughter were here from Colchester for a couple of days. Son is in the army and going to be deployed to Afghanistan some time soon.



We went for dinner on Wednesday but because I had training for my new post, which I start on 4 May, I wasn't able to take any time off on Thursday. They went to Edinburgh on Friday. I met up with them again on Saturday before they went back home.

Had a lovely time buying gifts for my grandaughter who I hadn't seen for 3 years. She is so grown up looking but when she talks you can hear she is still just a little girl, she's nearly a teenager. 12 coming on 17. Love her to bits. Lasting memory will always be when we visited Colchester a few years ago, we slept on a blow up bed in her room. She shared with her mum and dad. About 7.30 in the morning this little six year olds' voice said, 'Grandma are you awake, can you help me?' there she was standing with her hands full of the tiniest dollies I had ever seen - Bratz - and she wanted me to dress them. Still half asleep and no glasses, still I managed and she was happy.

She wants a hamster for her birthday so if that's what she wants that's what she'll get. Will just send the money though wouldn't want to be done for cruelty sending it through the post, lol.



Daughter gave me a fright again by having another seizure. Been a while since the last one. She's fine and was out of hospital within 5 hours this time. Brought on by an infection but she's going to be referred yet again to a neurologist.



Well that's it my very last ever blog.

So goodbye and thanks.

I'm back

Wow what a time I've had in the last couple of weeks.

In my last blog I mentioned that my mother-in-law had passed away. It was a really sad time for my husband. His dad died about 25 years ago and he had no siblings. There was an older brother who died before hubby was born. It was a shame cos he and his mum didn't get on.

I don't know how I will cope without my mum. I know what it was like when dad went nearly 5 years ago. I think about him every day. Don't they make a lovely couple, this was taken over 30 years ago.

M-in-L had the presence of mind a few years ago to organise her own funeral. All we had to do apart from register her passing was to finalise the details. She wasn't really religious so didn't want any hymns. Hubby had spoken to her about it. We sat down together to pick some music and decided on Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy as the mourners came into the crematorium, Ripple by Grateful Dead as the coffin was borne in and Time to Say Goodbye by Katherine Jenkins as the curtains came round.

It was a lovely service although not everyone agreed. The minister had paid attention to the smallest of details and gave a really good account of a long hard life from being a firewatcher in London during the blitz to service in a large house and eventually as a recorder in the court. M-in-L had a varied life.

There was a sharp intake of breath as the minister regailed the congregation with tit bits of her long and varied life. There was a sharp intake of breath however when he happened to say that "Chrissie and Bill's life was made complete when Sydney came along", not strictly true but brought a rye grin to hubby's face. You had to be there.

Anyway there were the usual grumblings about the funeral being rubbish etc. Three of my step sons attended - the fourth being in Cyprus. Talk about the Dingles. Apart from the fact that one of the unmentionable ones slashed one of the tyres on the car everything went without a hitch. We couldn't prove it but we knew who it was.

All over and done with now, no time for regrets or what might have been.

Have not been too well for a few weeks now, winter/spring cold, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, headache the lot but not as bad as my friend who has been diagnosed with pneumonia. She carried on at work until she was sent home on Tuesday. So much for my weeks holiday I spent most of it in bed.

Fifth TMA was e-mailed to Uni - I passed, things are tough but I'm getting there. So much so that I have already registered for another year - Crime, Welfare and Society. What a fool, eh!!

I'm also waiting for a start date for my new job. I'll miss my colleagues but need a new challenge.

Well that's it for just now, can't blog from work anymore so will just have to make time at night after work.

Sadness abounds

Not really much to say this week. Sadly mother in law passed away on Monday night at the grand old age of 90.

She had been in a nursing home for a number of years. After a series of mini strokes and on medical advice she was admitted to a nursing home for 24/7 care. She never returned home, her health deteriorated and vascular dementia was diagnosed. It was heart breaking to visit and for her not to recognise who we were.

We were called to the home at the beginning of the year and told it was imperative that we visit as she had had a really bad infection and wasn't expected to survive the week. We drove down through all the snow and blizzards to be at her side. Initially there was some recognition but as the morning wore on she constantly asked who we were. She told us she was waiting for her sister Muriel and husband, Bill to visit, both sadly both had long gone. Muriel, 13 months ago but her husband more than 30 years ago.

She was afraid to lie down, she had severe congestion on the lungs, as she wasn't able to breathe properly and due to chronic heart failure there was very little could be done. Unbelievably she rallied round, her appetite came back and she wanted to join her fellow 'in-mates' in the day room. Staff said she was a marvel and had regained a lot of her fighting spirit. Her last few weeks she remained in a chair surrounded by a myriad of pillows.

She looked like a little shrivelled walnut, and no I'm not being disrespectful that's just what she reminded me of. She was a very little old lady only 4ft 9in so you can imagine how she appeared being in such a large chair.

The end came quite quickly, she had been fine at tea time, and had a cuppa at 9ish but when the night staff did a bed check at 10.30 she had slipped away. She had had the thoughtfulness to organise her own funeral 7 years ago so all we have had to do is finalise and tie up loose ends. Still very sad and upsetting.

Only a few more days before it is over and done with. We've picked 3 songs/hymns for the crematorium. 'Ripple' by Grateful Dead - which she quite enjoyed, the favourite 'Abide with me' - which as my husband pointed out is also the Rugby League anthem (he's a fanatic) and Katherine Jenkins - 'Time to say goodbye'. Hopefully it won't be too sad a day.

My husband is now an orphan and has no siblings so it will be up to me to make sure he is okay. Will let you know how it goes.

St David's Day

Daughter did get out of hospital on Saturday. Mixup with her meds but went shopping then back to hospital to pick them up. Still not right but manageable.

Younger sister's birthday today. Shame on me I had her convinced when she was little that she was a leprechaun and of mixed heritage. Well she was born on St David's Day, in Ireland with Scottish parents. How more mixed up could she be? We still laugh about it now after all these years. I took this picture 2 years ago when we were having a girlie holiday in Turkey.

Was at hospital myself today. Left work at 9 am for appointment at 10am. Seen at 10.20, thought that was good going, after initial consultation doctor decided I had better go for x-rays. Went back to waiting room to find the clinics were running 45 mins late. Saw doctor who then decided I should see the consultant. Had to wait for consultant to finish with another patient. Boredom started to set in, listening to Magic radio, getting fed up with old songs. Eventually saw consultant who decided on course of treatment. Now have to wait for 3 more appointments and have to wear a removeable spint on hand. Oh the joys, anyway never got back out till 12.55 and had to travl back to work. Arrived back at 13.33 what a waste of a day.

Ho hum just finished lunch so back to work again.

Blog more tomorrow.