Dear Tom
The lantern is a lovely idea[b] but big bu[/b]t make sure it does not have a metal ring on it as they are lethal to animals in the countryside.
It was an item on Countryfile on the BBC that cows for instance have died as a result of the metal frame on lanterns.
There are some available with fine wood of some kind that are far kinder…[Read more]

Hi Keith I am sorry your feeling so wretched with your cough.
When I was very much younger and up to a few years go I used to get very bad bronchitis ( my dad was a heavy smoker as indeed I was prior to peter getting ill)
The coughing was a nightmare and it went on for weeks and weeks particularly when I was warm or well wrapped up.
Someone…[Read more]

AH DAVID AND DAI
Fear not, its old age.
I have not had a single drug of the type you two must of had, I have not had any of the proceedures you have had to endure.(Thank God)
But I do have a terrible memory of late ( But I can remember I will be an official old age pensioner next month)
I used to call all of my moment of forgetfulness senior…[Read more]

Dear Roz
I would urge you to take that invite up, and dont put it off for another day , it just gets harder, dont worry if you end up in tears, it is absolutely allowed.
Furthermore its a wonderful escape valve, I cry and laugh and scream and shout and cry some more and then tell Peter off for getting me in this state.
Who else can I blame?…[Read more]

Hi Eve,
Its true I don't want to but I never refuse an invitation. I know all too well how I could turn inwards and never speak to another soul but feeling sorry for myself is not going to move me forward.
I know I am in pain?. both mentally and physically but feeling sorry for myself will not make it better. Although I think I am allowed, the…[Read more]

Hi Min and Sarah the woman who described grieving so well must be an amazing person to be able to put it so well Although I havent lost a partner through death about six years ago Jeff had a mid-life crisis and left for a floozy with false everything and a sports car I can honestly say my heart broke and I was grieving for my life as it had…[Read more]

Hi Jean I know exactly what you mean when you say Frank would go ballistic if he thought you were dicussing him because Jeff is just the same!! There have been a few occasions when I have spoken to a friend who then innocently repeated something very trivial boy was I in the doghouse ! Still thats the way they are and we love them anyway I hope…[Read more]

Dear Jean.
The important thing here is Frank has recognised that things are not right and has rung the hospital.
Those two things are the correct things to do and he knows it. What he does not know is how his not telling you is affecting you? or perhaps he knows you better than you think and knows you will worry worry worry. and rightly so.…[Read more]

Dear Roz,
mushrooms does not have an E in it Im afraid. But I do understand ?.. my head is similar to that of a pregnant woman if its at all possible to make that analagy..
I am learning that grief is painful experience, not just psychological, but genuinly painful and the memory plays non stop tricks but its recognised as being real. So??..…[Read more]

Ball in a Jar

One day I saw a notice for a talk on helping people through bereavement by Barbara Monroe, the Chief Executive of St Christopher's Hospice in London. When I arrived, what I saw resembled a physics lesson. On the table before her was a very large glass jar. Beside were three balls: one large, one medium-sized, one small. Without a…[Read more]

Hi Jean when will Frank realise he is not sparing you the worry by keeping things from you At least he did phone the hospital though It sounds as if it could be his ribs so getting checked out is very wise One thing I have learnt in the last 5 years is mever to ignore significant pain always tell someone. I hope itt is nothing too serious and he…[Read more]

Hi Gary and welcome to our very exclusive club.
i can identify with all you are feeling and how your sister is responding.
Its just a thought but?. I can remember the time my husband was on Thalidomide and all the other drugs to go with it.
If you sister has previously been a well person the quantity of drugs can be overwhelming, and if in…[Read more]

Hi Craig poor Etta really is having a rought time no wonder she feels depressed The depression could be caused in part by all the medication combined with all the info she is trying to take on board VHave you spoken to her specialist nurse? They are there for you as well as Etta but could I suggest you have a chat with them about her depression,…[Read more]

Hi,
I know exactly where you are. I cried while I put up the tree and looked to the cards for a long time, not wanting to sign just my name:-(
My grandchildren are a long way away and they will never see my tree! so dont know why I bothered. I just wanted to prove to myself that i could do it.
But I feel right now I am going backwards not…[Read more]

Hi

Just wanted to say a big thank you for all your kind replys. We are both seeing things diffrently today, Michael looks and feels so well at the moment, so we have decided to look forward to a drug free Christmas, the first in 4 years. We wont be seeing his old consultant again until January so were going to have some family time.

Thank…[Read more]

Hi Glynj I have not had radiotherapy to reduce the myeloma cells as such but I have had it twice for pain relief and to shrink tumours. It was painless very quick , the first session takes about an hour to set it all up but each session afterwards was about 15mins In my case it was completely successful , especially the last time when I had…[Read more]

Hi Eve
Please make sure you get a referral for that tooth out for slim. Regular dentists are not up to the job in as much as you need to go to a dental hospital or similar as Peter had the same problem and there is a very high risk of osteocronosis following tooth extractions when on all of the meds slim is on especialy the bone stuff?. Forgot…[Read more]

Hi Susanah and Michael.
OMG you must have both been devastated at this news, but perhaps by now you have had time to digest it and got over the shock and realised that this is not the end.
If Michael is up to it you must enquire about whatever else is available. On the plus side the fact that the numbers have not gone up. Is a good thing…[Read more]

Hi Sue and Michael so sorry your platelets couldnt get back to safe levels . I hope your doctors can come up with another treatment plan very soon It goes against the grain to be told there is no futher treatment when you have gone along with all the treatment so far If your doctor cant see any other way perhaps it would be a good time to ask for…[Read more]