Great News!

As this is a milestone post ... my one hundredth .... I thought I would use it to share some wonderful news.

I've had my results from my operation .... and they show that the tumour was 1cm (Stage 1) as predicted.

It was successfully removed and the margins around the area are clear and ..... 

best of all ...

 .....it hasn't spread to my lymph nodes!

We are all absolutely delighted with the news!!!!

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I've still got a course of radiotherapy ahead of me and possibly some drug treatment too, but I'll know more when we've been to the next hospital appointment on Thursday.

Meanwhile my scars are healing slowly and I'm feeling really, really good at the moment

I've started driving again and I'm enjoying my regained independence.

I managed to meet up with my good friend Julie while she was on a residential course for new deputy heads at a location quite close to my home.

 I haven't seen her for a month and it was great to catch up with all the gossip!

As an ordinary teacher, I've never been on a course in a place as gorgeous as this one ...

Inglewood Manor is a fabulous venue .... in the very heart of the Wirral. It is popular for weddings and conferences and has the most elegant driveway sweeping up to the manor house.

Shades of Miss Austen, I think.

You can just imagine the carriages arriving for a ball!

A Weekend away ...

We had booked a weekend in the Lakes months ago, and decided to wait and see how I was feeling instead of cancelling ...... well I was feeling that I would very much like to have a change of scene, so we packed up our caravan on Friday and headed north to stay on the site at Kendal. The weather was incredible and as it's midsummer it was light until almost ten o'clock...... these photos were taken at 9.45 p.m.!!!!

On Friday evening we chanced upon a walk following the course of  a long forgotten canal .... it was very strange seeing this bridge standing alone in the middle of fields with no road or even footpath leading up to it!

On Saturday we drove across the Kirkstone Pass to Ullswater, which is the second largest lake in the area. It's usually much quieter than the 'honeypots', but not this weekend! We planned to take a ride on the lake as I don't think I'm ready yet to do any serious walking. We couldn't have chosen a better way to spend our day.

Once we were on the boat, and we'd settled Inca down, I found to my horror that I'd left my camera in the car! I was devastated .... all day I kept seeing wonderful shots that I couldn't take!!!!

So these photos are courtesy of Mr Google!

Our boat was the lovely Lady of the Lake - and we took a half hour trip across to Howtown where we ate our picnic and Inca had a swim in the Lake. She had great fun with a huge dalmation called Dexter who, incidentally, had the strangest swimming style we've ever seen.

He caused great hilarity all round .... but I've got no photos to share with you! Grrrr!

We boarded the boat again ... this time to Pooley Bridge where we had one of these ....

.... mmm .... delicious!

Eventually we headed back to the boat for an hour's trip back to Glenridding where we started.

The whole day was just perfect. Inca was completely unphased by the boat and just slept all the way back, exhausted by her exciting afternoon with Dexter!

Sunset over the Lakeland fells.

Later we found out that while we were  having such a lovely day, there had been a tragedy on the lake.

A young man had capsized his canoe and had not resurfaced. His body was found the next morning.

We had seen the rescue vehicles racing through Pooley Bridge and thought there must have been a crash, but were shocked when we found out what had happened. Our son is the same age as the victim.

Life can be so cruel.

Overwhelmed ......

Every night my husband comes home from the school where we work together laden with more gifts and good wishes. We have so many flowers now we are running out of vases ... and my husband says this is what Elton John's house must be like!

This little box opens to reveal something very nice ....

What a lovely thought ... we're definately looking forward to taking afternoon tea over the summer. Our nearest hotel on the list is in Chester ... not very far away ... but there's a lovely hotel in Southport or some further afield in Yorkshire and Derbyshire ... so we can choose our destination later on.

Thank you so much Alex!

This beautiful charm bracelet is from the staff .... the charm they chose represents Faith, Hope and Love.
How very apt for my circumstances! They know me very well, because I love bracelets and have a huge collection ... but I don't have a blue one.

There were gift vouchers ...... one also from the staff  ..... and the other from our lovely kitchen staff.

Both are sizeable amounts of money ... so I will enjoy choosing what to buy later when I'm ready to hit the High Street. My first thoughts are for a decent leather handbag.

I think my own personal style consultant will make a trip home from the North East to advise me .... it is very useful having an elegant grown-up daughter!!!

We also have a massive amount of fruit to eat .... no excuse for not getting my 5 a day!

All these gifts have been accompanied with many, many cards ....

....which are filled with love!

I have been truly overwhelmed with kindness!

Ouch!

We were back at the hospital this morning to get my stitches removed .....
all I can say is OUCH!!!
It didn't help that I had a student nurse doing the deed ... being closely supervised ....
she was lovely but I was more than a little nervous when she was struggling to get her sterile gloves on.
I actually had staples rather than stitches and they were removed with what can only be described as a staple remover!

Anyway, it's done now and it feels so much better already. The staples were really beginning to bother me over the weekend.
I've invested in some Bio-Oil to rub into the scar ... it was recommended by the pharmacy ... but if anyone out there knows something better I'm willing to give it a try.

Meanwhile, on a lighter note this was seen on my lawn this morning......

Inca has taken to storing her favourite toy in one of the holes she has specially dug just for that purpose.

Other people's blogs show beautiful gardens, with lush green lawns ... or hens scratching around ... I don't think I 've seen a pig on a lawn recently! It's a good job we've got a sense of humour!

An outing ...

My husband suggested I should have an outing to stretch my legs .... and to get me out of the house.

I don't think my legs have ever been 'unstretched' for this long before now!

We headed off to Chester to take a slow stroll down by the river.

I love this traditional bandstand ....

The famous bridge spanning the River Dee ...

The view from the steps of the park ...

We bought an ice cream at this little kiosk and then slowly strolled back to the car.

It was a lovely warm, sunny day and I really enjoyed being out and about again.....

even if it was only for about half an hour!

I'm on the mend!

Kindness!

I have been overwhelmed by the kindness around me ... it's at times like this you realise that the world is full of lovely, lovely people....

This stunning bouquet was sent by the staff at school ....

our room is filled with the most amazing scent from the roses and lilies.

My closest friends bought me this lovely Liz Earle set so I can pamper myself ....

it really does make your skin feel good.

I caught Mr B holding the special muslin cleansing cloth in his hands the other day ... he was just about to wipe round the sink!!!! Aaaargh! You can tell we're not used to using such lovely things in our house!

My lovely girl spent a week with us and came armed with girly DVD's to watch together!

More gorgeous flowers from neighbours .... our house is looking like a florists these days.

 Gifts from friends .... lots of lovely potions and lotions for bathtime.

Every surface in our living room is filled with cards from well-wishers,

full of kind thoughts and uplifting messages.

I can't begin to express my gratitude!

My next task is to make a set of thank you cards to show my appreciation!

A Blue Sky Day ....

Today the weather on the Paradise Peninsular was just glorious .... and I spent some time in my garden checking out the flowers that are blooming in the warm sunshine

            

.... they certainly helped to lift my spirits.

Also enjoying the sunshine ..... a certain young black labrador.

Inca spends her nap times outdoors now these days.

To be honest, most of her days are spent napping ...

interspersed with bouts of chasing birds off her lawn

...it's a dog's life!

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Home again!

Just a very quick post ... I had the operation on Friday, and I think everything went according to plan.
I don't think it was as bad as we'd been expecting and I actually feel quite well surprisingly ... just a bit sore and very tired.
I had the most wonderful care in Clatterbridge Hospital and met two lovely ladies in the same predicament as me ... so we just chatted and chatted and chatted ... I think that's what we women do at times like this, don't you! I find it really helps!
I came home on Saturday, and I've just slept ever since really ... unfortunately one of the lovely ladies I met was a snorer and I had no sleep whatsoever for two nights!!!!  It wasn't the pain that kept me awake ... just constant snoring!  I was so glad to get back into my own bed!
Thank you again for all the kind wishes and messages of support .... I really do appreciate them all!

Afternoon Tea

Today I went for afternoon tea with five girl friends .... it was a good way to spend my last day before the treatment starts.
We went to the St Thomas Hotel, which was recently converted from an old bank.... it's very stylishly done.
We were spoiled with an array of tasty treats ....

We each had our own cake stand filled with finger sandwiches, mini cakes and topped with a scone with lashings of jam and cream. Tea flowed all afternoon ... as we spent hours gossiping, laughing and  .... yes ... there were a few tears shed as well. There were hugs all round and lots of good wishes for tomorrow ....

.... and how do I feel?

At the moment,  I'm feeling strangely calm ..... I've been through every emotion these last two weeks .... but I know I'm surrounded by family and friends who will be there for me every step of the way ... and with my husband by my side I know we'll get through this. My bag is packed with lots of pretty things to take in with me ... I've been told that this is a good time to be pampered ... so that's how it's going to be. I don't really go in for pampering and self-indulgence... so hey-ho - that'll be a nice change!I might find I get used to it!!!!

I'm going in at 9 a.m. tomorrow and my operation will be on Friday, all being well .... so I'll be away from blogland for a little while. ..... but not too long I hope!

Frustration!

I've just come back from the hairdressers and I feel like this .....

No matter which salon I go to or what I ask for  ...... I never, ever feel that they are listening!!!!

I thought I would ask for something easy that I could cope with after coming out of hospital .... something I can just dry quickly and leave .... something that would still be presentable with a minimum of fuss  ... something I won't have to spend ages on in case I can't use my right arm much ..... I spent a long time describing what I wanted and she nodded wisely!!!!

Did she listen?  I've ended up with the exact opposite to what I wanted ....a very short version of my own bob ... (which needs serious blow drying and straightening every morning) .... I look like Milly Molly Mandy!
Maybe it's me .... maybe I don't explain myself very well ... maybe they're just programmed to do the one style for the over 50's like me

I've just cut some chunks off the sides myself .... after paying goodness knows how much ..... and blowdried it again .... I think it looks better now .... but I could weep with frustration!!!!!

On a brighter note, it's my husbands birthday today and we're going out for a meal tonight .... here ....

We're really looking forward to our date!!!