Hi Dita and all

[vannin]

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Andere, I am sorry to hear about your husband's cellulitis, which I know is a very worrying thing. My daughter's brother-in-law was admitted to hospital with it on Christmas Eve 2010 and had to stay in over Christmas. As the extended family always have a Boxing Day get-together, he was much missed.

Dita, sorry to hear you haven't been well, and Penny, good luck for the G.P. appointment.

A double-wham tragedy has happened to friends of ours. Both the man and wife have been frail for several years, he with a heart condition, diabetes, and he also had Prostate cancer. His wife has had severe arthritis affecting her mobility yet she was Ray's carer. Ray was my husband's oldest friend since they were little boys and they had personalities that were quite alike. They have given unfailing support to us through thick and thin.

Pat phoned me last week to say Ray had died and said she was all right but said (twice) 'I can't face the funeral and don't know how I'll get through Thursday'. His funeral was today and on arrival a few people gave the shocking news that Pat is in hospital fighting for her life. Their son and daughter are in bits but made the decision for it to go ahead.

They had taken Pat to the chapel of rest to say goodbye to Ray on Tuesday evening, and she collapsed with a massive stroke, the brain haemorrhage sort. She has not regained consciousness. I can hardly believe all this has happened to the family, and spent some time with the son and daughter who are facing a huge unknown and must be absolutely shellshocked.

Viv

[Andere Richtingen]

Oh,Viv, what a dreadful thing to happen. I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend and for that to happen to his wife is just too cruel. Their children must be completely bewildered and distraught and I hope they have lots of caring friends to help see them through all this. I don't even know them and I want to hug them.

Dita, I do hope you feel better soon, so horrible to be facing the start of winter feeling already run down and unwell thanks to some miserable virus. And - good luck with the doc, Penny!

My resident patient is sitting up and taking nourishment - says he doesn't feel hungry then rapidly clears every plate I put in front of him. After spending most of the day experimenting with different footrests, footstools, cushions and pillows, I think I've finally found a combination that means he can sit fairly comfortably with his leg higher than his hip. Now I have to keep reminding him to get up and hobble about a little every hour or so or else he will get a bliddy DVT. I left him engrossed in a Tess Gerritson novel and decided I'd have 10 minutes' me-time with my PC before I go to bed.

Best wishes for fine-weather walkies to Doggie and purrs to all from Lucy K.

[Penny]

Morning all, lovely and sunny, very cold. What a week of sad news. I am so sorry to hear all this andit is sad news for your hubby vannin. I hope their children can cope, can't imagine the suffering. Our old friend at the club died this week. As I say, no matter what words you use, nothing eases the pain of those left behind. I hope all will be well from now on. Thought I was going to join them today, hubby and I have been preparing a load of apples for the freezer after bagging them up. I was carrying a load on a tray stepped down from the kitchen into the garage ( for the big freezer ) and slipped on a bit I must have dropped. Went wallop. Sore bottom resulting. Good thing I was in between doors so that I could grab something or I would have bashed my head in. Hubby said, why didn't you ask me to carry them, so I got a moan either way. Hope Dita manages to get in today, poor soul, must be dreadful having to stay indoors, at least her hubby will take doggie walkies so big hugs on the way and kisses for cosy puss. Do take care all and keep warm. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hello Penny, Vannin, Andere, just had a long read and what a sad read it is too. Vannin such news is really beyond words, what a terrible situation to have to face. Andere, your hubby sounds like he's making good progress, and spoilt by the sound of it. Purrs to Lucy Katt. Penny, got fingers and toes crossed for you next week, only short doggie walks today, but big long hugs for you Big hugs from me too, for all the kind words you have said, thanks very much I think I'm on the mend but it taking its time. Another week goes by, hope you all have a good weekend. Penny, take care of yourself and keep smiling and take care anyone popping in.xx

[Andere Richtingen]

Hi, everyone - what a lovely, sunny day it's been. I do hope you've all had sunshine,too, 'cos I'd feel bad saying that if everyone else was being rained upon. The sun is setting now and it's getting noticeably colder but just walking around the town centre earlier was a delight. Yes, I abandoned my invalid to go and get essential supplies! His leg still hurts, still very inflamed but he does seem very much more cheerful which is encouraging.

Thanks, everyone for your thoughts and wishes and, Penny, I hope your sore rump doesn't last too long and you haven't done anything really foul and long-lasting like fracturing your tailbone. You were lucky, being able to grab at the doorframe to break your fall a bit but ooooh, I can imagine your pain .... Keep warm, Dita and carry on getting well. The traditional remedy for these things is garlic, I believe, raw and in considerable quantity. Even if your nearest and dearest won't come near you after a quart of garlic juice, at least you'll keep the vampires at bay

Hugs and purrs to all.

[dita]

OH! Penny, Meant to mention your fall, so sorry came back specially and Andere pipped me to the post.
Do hope you are not too sore, and very lucky not to bump your head.
How many times do I have to tell you about taking more water with it. Take care xx

[Penny]

Thanks all,, am fine, fingers crossed. Clumsy me, must take more water with it as Dita says. Water with water, yuk. Bit late, been watching children in need. Very touching, our woes are very small compared with some. Great you managed to get back in Dita, please do take care. Garlic, is, I forgot, great thing to take. Catch you all tomorrow. Hope your hubby continues to improve Andere. Big hugs and kisses to doggy and puss. Will hopefully, catch you all in the morning. cheers Penny

[Penny]

Hi Dita and all, hope everyone is well and keeping warm. So cold today. Hope you are not going out with doggie yet Dita, too cold to be out with chest problems. Do take care. Had a nice hot lunch today and have heating on early. Don't forget Come Dancing tonight at Blackpool. We had alaugh, listening to the broadcast I said to hubby, gosh it's a good many years since I danced alone in the ballroom at Blackpool. He did manage a smile later when I explained. I must have been about two when mom and dad took me to Blackpool. It seems I danced like a little ballerina on the ballroom floor. Mom always said a lady, who was a doctor, came and asked her if she could be adopt me True or not I have no idea but the dancing bit was. Have only been there twice since. Still the same beautiful place. Thought it might give you a giggle on this cold day.
Hope doggie and pussy are keeping warm and cosy. Bug hugs and kisses. Hope hubby is feeling better Andere. Make sure you don't overdo things by looking after him. Take care all and please, do keep warm. cheers Penny

Forgot to add, ignore any mail supposedly from Banks. A big con is going the rounds now. Have just heard from our Police headquarters. cheers Penny

[Andere Richtingen]

Hi, all! Another lovely - but cool - day here. Lucy K spent much of it sunbathing on the outside windowsills. Okay out there for little critters with a fur coat but definitely not for Dita, not yet. The sun's gone down now and the heating has gone on.

I'm hugely delighted to tell you that OH is much improved today. A long way from cured but the inflammation is going down and he was feeling so much better he decided to walk around the corner to the mobile library at lunchtime. Only 50m and leaning heavily on a stick but he couldn't have attempted it even yesterday so that's real progress. After a rest, he announced that he was going to the pharmacy for some more ibuprofin in case it starts to hurt badly again tonight. I offered to go but he said he'd like the little outing. I think he's got cabin fever so best to let him get on with it. I expect someone will pick him up if he collapses! He has to go back to the hospital tomorrow to get the cannula in his arm changed and for them to assess progress. All in all, they should be quite pleased with him

Not much else to report at present. Oh, our local radio has been reporting on that 'Ransom' computer scam. I think the vital thing is to make sure you regularly back up everything to an external drive or to the cloud so that, if you do absent mindedly open the blasted thing and seize up your PC, you can just trash your hard-drive and reinstall everything without losing data, treasured pictures, etc. A hassle but much better than paying out money to scammers who'll most likely just make off with the fee.

[dita]

Hello Penny, Andere, I am so late today, not the sites fault either for a change. Found myself feeling so washed out, could be all the coughing I've been doing all week, plus a horrid depression set in which is unusual for me. Guess it passing now cos here I am hoping to keep you cheerful, cos you think of me
Hubby was late taking doggie for walkies it was only a push from me that she got it, of course from then on it was sulks for the rest of the day which didn't help me . Rant over. Lots of hugs from doggie and me Penny, our heating is on too, it is much colder which will not worry Lucy Katt much. Pleased your hubby feeling better Andere, its all that spoiling thats done its job I loved your little story about the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, I have been a few times, hubby comes from there and some of the family work for the council. I'm looking forward to Strictly in a short while and like you watched Children In Need, had me in tears over a couple of little lads on there. Keep your chin up Penny (like me) and take care Andere and all xx

[Penny]

Hi Dita and all, Such a miserable dull day here thought about going back to bed for the day. Do hope you are taking care Dita, so many people down with coughs and colds now. Just had lovely lunch of roast pork. Ate more than normal today, must be the cold weather. Big hugs for doggie and hopes that she gets a nice walkies with him indoors. Big kisses for puss if about and enjoying a lazy day. Take care all and do keep warm. cheers Penny

[vannin]

Penny, I am very sorry to hear about your fall. If there is bruising around your tailbone or other parts of spine, best to get it checked out. Sorry, I might have misled you by saying 'friends of ours'. This meant very dear friends of my daughter and myself, and of course, formerly for almost 70 years, Ray was my late husband's best friend.

Ray was a cardiac post-operative convalescent at the time of my husband's funeral in May 2008, but he got himself out with his wife and was at the funeral. This was a most touching unforgettable moment. I am waiting by the phone for news of Pat - but half-dreading it too.

Viv

Viv

[Penny]

What a sorry time for you Viv, so sorry. It is dreadful to lose ones friends, even worse when the have been so close. Keeping fingers crossed re your news of Pat. Do take care of yourself now. As I say to Dita, not many of us left. My bottom is fine thank you. cheers Penny

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, hope everyone is keeping warm, such a cold day. Our tree man has just arrived, trimming all ready for winter. Been busy putting a loaf in for him. Hope doggie gets a nice walkies today in spite of weather, big hugs from me, and big kisses for puss if daring out. Any news of Pat. Keeping fingers crossed. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hello Penny, Viv, hope you got your thermals ready. Nasty drizzly day, managed a walkies but doggie was far too keen to get home and send you big hugs Penny. I bet your trees all trimmed and neat for the winter now, and loaf already eaten:) Hope some good news soon about Pat, Viv. Very sad. Are you at Docs tomorrow Penny, if so Good Luck and be cool to keep the old BP down and chin up Take care Penny, Viv and all.