Isn't it funny how one day can change your life?

This week I've spent a lot of time here...... Clatterbridge Hospital.

I was called back after a routine mammogram.

 I wasn't remotely concerned, but my husband insisted on coming along too, and at my appointment on Tuesday morning, it was obvious that the medical team were also taking this very seriously .....

and after an ultrasound and biopsy we had the results within 3 hours. 

Positive.

Breast Cancer.

Just like that.

Isn't it funny how one day can change your life?

On the plus side, this has been caught very early, (thank God for mammograms) and the team are talking about total cure .... a lumpectomy and radiotherapy treatment over the summer should do the trick.

I met my consultant yesterday, a real 'character' as my husband said.

He says its a Stage One cancer, which apparently, if you're going to have to have  a cancer, is the best one to have!!!! So now you know!

My op is scheduled for Friday June 11th.

The hardest part has been telling people ....

My lovely boy doesn't speak to us at the best of times, being 17 and in that 'zone' .... so I just don't know what he's thinking. The poor boy is in the middle of his A levels!

We knew about this on Tuesday, and all week I've been chatting brightly on the phone with my lovely girl who works away from home. How can you break news like this on the phone?

We waited until she came home last night so I could tell her face to face. At least I had a reaction from her, as you can imagine.

My parents don't know yet .... we're going to see them today.

My friends at work have been amazing and we have all cried together. I've never been hugged so much!

They have promised to look after my husband.

They know him very well, because he's the headteacher of the school I work in.

 I know he'll be in good hands. 

They took my class away from me, so I could clear my desk ..... and .... if truth be told .....

do a MAJOR TIDY in my classroom.

I couldn't bear the thought of some supply teacher seeing my mess ....

I left on Thursday knowing everything was sorted.

I don't know when I'll be going back.

As soon as possible, I hope, because that will mean I'm fit and well again.

Now it's half term and our plans for a trip to Scotland have been cancelled, but we think we will try to get away in the caravan for a few days at least, to try and fill some time while we wait for my treatment to begin.

I also have a small matter of 25 reports to write before the op, so that will take my mind off things a bit, too!

My First Swap ....

Recently I took a big step into the world of blogging and I put my name forward to take part in my first ever swap:

organised by Em from Em's Shabby Shack and Claire from Are We Nearly There Yet?

We needed to add:

 a handmade item which looked good enough to eat

a green/ fairtrade item

a delicious cake recipe

and a few other pretties

This morning I received a lovely parcel from Debbie from Country Heart and Home

This is what I found inside! A whole pile of lovely treats!!!

That Kitkat won't last long ...

This is a gorgeous handmade mini book....

There's some fab recipes to try in here.....

Notecards good enough to eat ....

Some delicious smellies ....

and a cupcake which is not what it seems!

Thank you Debbie!

And this is what I sent to Debbie ...

I found strawberry lip balm, a strawberry sponge and bath scrub, some cupcake socks, card embellishments and a cupcake tea towel. The brown thing is meant to resemble a swiss roll and is made from

facecloths. I included a recipe for my favourite ginger cake.

Not being one of those blog ladies who sews and knits, I made a set of notecards instead.

Finally, as Debbie has just had a gorgeous baby girl, Evie, 

after 4 handsome boys, I couldn't resist this little T-shirt.

I couldn't find anything fairtrade or green to fit the theme of the swap so I resorted to some fairtrade chocolate.

As an after thought, I put in some real 'Postcards from the P.P.' - a few postcards showing the lovely Wirral, or the Paradise Peninsular as we call it.

Lots of love to Debbie, and a big thank you to Em and Claire for organising the Swap!

xxx

A Postcard from Ness ...

At Ness Gardens today we saw flowers in every colour of the rainbow ....

 and more besides ....

Fifteen minutes from our home, Ness Botanic Gardens lies on the banks of the River Dee with the Welsh Hills in the distance. It was originally created 100 years ago by Arthur Kilpin Bulley, a Liverpool cotton broker with a passion for plants. In 1948, his daughter bequeathed the 64 acres to the University of Liverpool to honour her father's wish to share the gardens with the public.

                                          

                                         

                                          

Today the azaleas and rhododendrons were stunning, but there is something lovely to see in every season..... as well as a gift shop, cafe and a wonderful plant shop.

            

This was the hottest day of the year so far here on the Wirral  .... so shady spots were very welcome!

Long may this glorious weather continue!

Last Day ...

My lovely boy has spent his last official day at school .... he only needs to go in to take his A level exams now.... On his behalf , I could say never has a day come soon enough .... school has not been enjoyed at all.... it has merely been tolerated.

He has been fortunate enough to attend our local all boys grammar school which has excellent teachers .... and an excellent reputation, but the excitement he felt as a little boy of eleven was never really sustained for very long. Unless you are on the first eleven for rugby or hockey, or represent the school in cross-country running then you really don't count for much. Sport rules! Too much testosterone I think!

I think they need some female influences to bring more balance to the environment!!!

Anyway, my boy is now on what is officially known as "study leave" ...

I don't see much studying going on!

Alnwick.... part two

The gardens at Alnwick are stunning .... and even more amazing because they are new.
They weren't designed by Capability Brown and his like .... they are very much of the 21st Century!

We were blown away by the fields of tulips on a massive scale - I've never seen so many massed together.

 a winding path snakes its way up a hill clothed in these beautiful pink tulips .... there are thousands and thousands and thousands of them!

These gates led into a walled garden ... filled with herbaceous plants

laid out in geometrical beds ... this area will be at its best in the summer months ...

but the symmetry was wonderful, even with just the few plants that were in bloom 

The sound of splashing led us to an area filled with water sculptures - great fun for the children there who were unable to resist getting soaked ....

If you closely you will see that actually I did go along to Alnwick - but as usual I spent the day behind the camera!

Just before we left we had to see the wonderful tree house - on  a monumental scale - which is home to a lovely restaurant.

So that's Alnwick - my photographs don't show its beauty! 

We had a lovely day!

A Postcard from the North East ....

I spent this weekend in the North East with my lovely girl who, at last, had some free days after a hectic time at work over the last few weeks. I travelled up on Friday evening, and was in time to see the sunset at Whitley Bay ...

We walked around St. Mary's Lighthouse, and watched the sun go down ....

... it was spectacular!

Next morning we drove up to Alwnick to see the castle and gardens.....

but first we found a little market in the centre of the town ....

the little cobbled square was filled with stalls and we were tempted to purchase a lovely scarf each, even though summer is approaching and we both have far too many scarves anyway!!!

After coffee, we set off to the castle ...

Recognise the place? Scenes from Harry Potter were filmed here ....

We loved this lantern!

This dark brooding area is where the Quidditch matches are filmed!

My lovely girl was very taken with Hedwig in the courtyard shop ... in fact I loved the shop too, and bought some goodies for school .... that's what teachers do wherever they go!

The children's area - Knight's Quest was fantastic ... little ones were wandering around dressed up in costumes trying out all sorts of wonderful activities.

We felt a bit bereft, having no tinies with us, but we ventured boldly into the Dragon's Quest anyway.....

... where we were plunged into darkness, had to negotiate a maze of mirrors and met some monstrous things on the way. Some little ones were really scared in there and had to be carried out!

What a fantastic way to bring history alive and excite the youngest visitors!

We had a picnic lunch, using my new picnic basket ....

a C.K. look alike from a high street store (at a fraction of the price) ....

and then we were were ready to visit the wonderful gardens ....

but I'll have to show you tomorrow!