I hope your Christmas Day went well.
We were invited to Col's sister house where we enjoyed a lovely day with their family and Col's Dad and brother. Then our son, new daughter in law and daughter-in-law's sister joined us for tea and evening.
I took my camera but didn't take a single photo....Duh!
The highlights of the day were the very strange present H had received from her other sister in law which kept us entertained and puzzling for ages and the Very Weird Game son brought with him...... Which involved trying to make your team guess what you were saying while you had a plastic mouth piece thing in your mouth. Nephew said he'd seen it advertised on TV and wondered who on earth would be daft enough to buy it ....obviously our son! It was a bit too reminiscent of going to the dentist but literally had tears rolling down everyone's faces.........Laughter or Horror ?............we weren't sure!
We then had a more sensible session of the LOGO game but decided we must have used the same cards last time we played as we kept getting all the answers right.
Col's sister and OH are off away for a few days so as there seemed to be enough food left for an army, she sent us home with today's dinner! I'd contributed savouries and the trifle for tea so the remains of those also came home......that's the rest of our days eating sorted.
Today? Books to enjoy and a ready made lunch and dinner.........what could be better.
Back in a trice
Sue
Showing posts with label FAMILY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FAMILY. Show all posts
Monday, 26 December 2016
Saturday, 24 December 2016
Christmas Eve
Sausage Rolls today (cheating with ready made puff pastry)
and the base of the trifle, ready to finish tomorrow.
Our son and new wife, recently back from the mini-honeymoon called in yesterday with some wedding photos on a memory stick.
There was actually a photo of me that didn't make me cringe!
and look what Col did on his facebook page after a bit of photo-editing (NOT airbrushing!)
Oldest daughter commented "Soppy!!"
Anyway, here I am, a 61 year old Mum of 3, Grandmother of 2, wishing you all a
Happy Christmas
Back Soon
Sue
and the base of the trifle, ready to finish tomorrow.
Our son and new wife, recently back from the mini-honeymoon called in yesterday with some wedding photos on a memory stick.
There was actually a photo of me that didn't make me cringe!
and look what Col did on his facebook page after a bit of photo-editing (NOT airbrushing!)
A privilege to be married to this lady. Happy Christmas
Oldest daughter commented "Soppy!!"
Anyway, here I am, a 61 year old Mum of 3, Grandmother of 2, wishing you all a
Happy Christmas
Back Soon
Sue
Friday, 23 December 2016
Thursday and Friday
On Thursday we delivered one hamper of goodies to my sister. I said they needed to keep it somewhere cool but as their boiler had just gone wrong this may well be anywhere in the house! Hope they get it fixed soon but they've got in a stock of coal for the fire just in case.
We called in at the Gift Shop on the way home, so many pretty things - I managed to avoid buying anything except a photo frame for the picture of a one-day-old Florence that our youngest gave us when we were there on Monday.
Then a tour of the charity shops in Stowmarket but I didn't see anything I wanted or needed so we had lunch out - a rare treat - instead.
This morning the cheese straws have been made. They always look awful but taste good. I do wish I could roll out to an even thickness and cut to an even length, but It's never going to happen.
I'll add the recipe to separate recipe page.
Sausage rolls will be made tomorrow.
I'd better go and get some cream as a traditional trifle has been requested - with multi-coloured sugar strand sprinkles of course.
Back Soon
Sue
We called in at the Gift Shop on the way home, so many pretty things - I managed to avoid buying anything except a photo frame for the picture of a one-day-old Florence that our youngest gave us when we were there on Monday.
Then a tour of the charity shops in Stowmarket but I didn't see anything I wanted or needed so we had lunch out - a rare treat - instead.
This morning the cheese straws have been made. They always look awful but taste good. I do wish I could roll out to an even thickness and cut to an even length, but It's never going to happen.
I'll add the recipe to separate recipe page.
Sausage rolls will be made tomorrow.
I'd better go and get some cream as a traditional trifle has been requested - with multi-coloured sugar strand sprinkles of course.
Back Soon
Sue
Friday, 16 December 2016
That hat (definitely not an advent photo!)
Some more wedding photos have popped up on various Facebook pages including me and That Hat
I can't wear a fascinator - hair to short! So it has to be a hat. The hat came off eBay (£5) it was navy and cream- the colours I wanted and looked OK but had a HUGE papery flowery thing on the side which was silly. I took that off, then the hat was too boring, so I fished about in my ribbons and bow box and stuck this bow thing on. I thought it looked much too daft to wear but went with it. Everyone assured me it looked very suitable for a wedding but I think they were just being kind!
Jacob demolishing Col's buttonhole rose
And our son looking super-douper slim - he lost 2 stone for the wedding!
I think that's all for wedding photos.
I'm running out of ideas for Advent photos and there are still 8 days to go so I may be back tomorrow or not.
Sue
Jacob demolishing Col's buttonhole rose
I'm running out of ideas for Advent photos and there are still 8 days to go so I may be back tomorrow or not.
Sue
Sunday, 11 December 2016
Winter Wedding
Weddings may be much more complicated to organise than "back in our day" but they are much more fun!
Here are some pictures from the winter wedding (although the weather was unseasonably warm)
| Caught this photo of Col and our son, just before we went into church. The Best man W - who has been son's best friend since they were 9 - is behind and between M and Col and over on the left is Col's brother A - if he had noticed he was being photographed he would probably have taken a step backwards out of shot! |
| Bride and Groom |
| Our Eldest, her husband and Jacob |
| Our wonderful family ( minus Florence who had finally fallen asleep after being so grumpy all through the service that B had to take her out into the vestry) |
| A choir entertained everyone with Christmas carols on arrival at the reception venue while M & R went off to Leiston Abbey Ruins for special photos |
| Extremely yummy Wedding cake which became the desert for the meal, thereby saving M & R the cost of an extra course! |
| The Proudest Grandad in the world with Jacob and Florence |
| The two little cousins get to know each other! |
| Son photobombing photo of his niece and nephew |
| Jacob enjoying his meal! |
| The newly weds first dance, wonder if anyone anywhere has danced their first dance to "All I want for Christmas is you"! |
A Good Time was had by all.
Thank you for comments over the last few days, I must get round to replying properly.
Back Soon
Sue
Wednesday, 28 September 2016
Latest news from number 9
I've got a cold, I HATE having a cold, I went for years without getting one so it's now a shock to wake up sniffling and sneezing. Don't know where it came from but if it was caught from Grandson who was a bit snuffly when he was here - he is forgiven!
My plan was to go to the Wednesday morning car boot and I got up thinking shall I or shan't I but the sun was shining and I was sure to feel better out in the fresh air so off to Needham Market ( This is despite going about 3 weeks ago and saying I wouldn't bother again......... must be withdrawal symptoms!) Anyway it was a bright morning and there were several boots there,although not much of any use.
This was my mornings haul
I thought I might as well get the child safety set for £2 as one or the other of the children will need it or we will ourselves. A huge bag full of craft papers and card cost me £3 and he threw in the book - D.E Stevenson's "Summerhills" for nothing. ( Did you see the haul of hardback DE Stevenson books that Scott at Furrowed Middlebrow blog got at a Booksale in San Francisco the other day? I knew everything in The States was bigger than here but that booksale is HUGE!)
When I got back I found Colin was feeling well enough to have got himself breakfast AND he did all the washing up too which is a huge leap forward, although his legs ached from standing and he had to sit down for quite a while afterwards.
Late morning I headed up to hospital to meet our youngest and keep her company as they were going to try and turn Dot-The-Bump who is a real fidget and after her 37 week scan yesterday now seems to be laying sideways. It was quite a faff, involving ultrasound scan, monitoring heartbeat, injection to loosen womb muscles, waiting, then 2 doctors trying to manoeuvre baby to turn her/him round - extremely painful for poor A and it didn't work anyway! Then another hour of monitoring before she was able to leave and has to decide to either wait and see if baby turns, or they book a C section ...........or both or risk a breech birth or emergency C section........ Heck! . They brought her a sandwich afterwards as she had missed lunch but I had to wait until I got home at quarter to 3!
Now I have a table covered with paper to sort." Bewildering Cares" by Winifred Peck has arrived from Dean Street Press for me to review and I MUST get started on more hamper makes.
Back Eventually
Sue
My plan was to go to the Wednesday morning car boot and I got up thinking shall I or shan't I but the sun was shining and I was sure to feel better out in the fresh air so off to Needham Market ( This is despite going about 3 weeks ago and saying I wouldn't bother again......... must be withdrawal symptoms!) Anyway it was a bright morning and there were several boots there,although not much of any use.
This was my mornings haul
I thought I might as well get the child safety set for £2 as one or the other of the children will need it or we will ourselves. A huge bag full of craft papers and card cost me £3 and he threw in the book - D.E Stevenson's "Summerhills" for nothing. ( Did you see the haul of hardback DE Stevenson books that Scott at Furrowed Middlebrow blog got at a Booksale in San Francisco the other day? I knew everything in The States was bigger than here but that booksale is HUGE!)
When I got back I found Colin was feeling well enough to have got himself breakfast AND he did all the washing up too which is a huge leap forward, although his legs ached from standing and he had to sit down for quite a while afterwards.
Late morning I headed up to hospital to meet our youngest and keep her company as they were going to try and turn Dot-The-Bump who is a real fidget and after her 37 week scan yesterday now seems to be laying sideways. It was quite a faff, involving ultrasound scan, monitoring heartbeat, injection to loosen womb muscles, waiting, then 2 doctors trying to manoeuvre baby to turn her/him round - extremely painful for poor A and it didn't work anyway! Then another hour of monitoring before she was able to leave and has to decide to either wait and see if baby turns, or they book a C section ...........or both or risk a breech birth or emergency C section........ Heck! . They brought her a sandwich afterwards as she had missed lunch but I had to wait until I got home at quarter to 3!
Now I have a table covered with paper to sort." Bewildering Cares" by Winifred Peck has arrived from Dean Street Press for me to review and I MUST get started on more hamper makes.
Back Eventually
Sue
Monday, 5 September 2016
Black and White
Meeting up with cousins on Saturday brought back lots of memories of their visits to our house when we were all much younger. Our Dad was a builder so we had a builders yard for a back garden, heaps of sand, piles of bricks, sheds full of bits and pieces but if we played there we were always in the way. Luckily our Dad built us a play-shed. It was about 8 feet square with a proper sized door and window, kitted out with a table with cut down legs and some stools and a large dolls cot. The kitchen was a plank of wood balanced across an old wooden clothes horse. We spent hours playing in it, I wonder if my cousins remember. I hoped to find a photo of the shed but only found this one of me and my sister with the corner of our play-shed behind us. Funny that it was never a play-house always a shed.
Matching dresses.......good grief! What was our mum thinking of. It's 1964 and I'm 9 and my sister 5 years old in this photo. I can quite clearly remember wearing these dresses on holiday and a small child shouting "Look Mummy.....Twins!" Oh the embarrassment we suffered in our youth!
Lacking pictures of us and our cousins playing at home, I only have these...... All 4 of us on holiday at Scratby on the Norfolk coast in 1961. I'm back left with my sister in front and our cousins A back right with S in front.
( I'm not even sure if Scratby still exists, it may well have been washed into the sea sometime in the last 55 years................55 Years!, where did they go for goodness sake?)
Here we are again visiting our Dad's and their Mother's Aunts house in Nacton on the outskirts of Ipswich in 1968. (I'm back right aged 13 and wearing my trendy mock suede jacket). Visiting Great Aunts and Uncles was a regular Sunday afternoon thing back then. Always extremely Boring...........put me off visiting for life!
Happy days lived in black and white.
Back in a trice.
Sue
Lacking pictures of us and our cousins playing at home, I only have these...... All 4 of us on holiday at Scratby on the Norfolk coast in 1961. I'm back left with my sister in front and our cousins A back right with S in front.
( I'm not even sure if Scratby still exists, it may well have been washed into the sea sometime in the last 55 years................55 Years!, where did they go for goodness sake?)
Happy days lived in black and white.
Back in a trice.
Sue
Saturday, 3 September 2016
A bit of a do
Just back from my cousin's 60th birthday tea party held in a very smart hotel near Colchester in Essex (I put on my brave knickers and drove there all by myself - go me!!)
Look at those scones and macaroons, and little jars with lemon posset,and some strange things made with choux pastry, which no-one could quite decide what the filling was.
So nice to see my 2 cousins A and S and their families. Both cousins may be heading back to live in Suffolk sometime in the near future, they lived in Stowmarket when we were all small before my uncle's job took them to Dovercourt and then my cousin's husband's job took A even further afield. We had 4 cousins on my mums side of the family but we didn't see as much of them as we did these two cousins on Dad's side, who are close in age to me and my sister. As we all get older it seems only funerals bring families together so it's nice to meet up on a happy occasion.
Colin was sad to miss it but I brought home a scone and a mini jar of Tiptree strawberry jam for him.
Speaking of home, he Might and I stress Might be home one day in the week ahead, although nothing is ever 100% certain. It will be nice not to navigate 9 roundabouts and 8 sets of traffic lights there and back every day twixt here and hospital........
Thank you for all the towel comments, who knew scratchy towels could be so interesting!
Back in a flash
Sue
So nice to see my 2 cousins A and S and their families. Both cousins may be heading back to live in Suffolk sometime in the near future, they lived in Stowmarket when we were all small before my uncle's job took them to Dovercourt and then my cousin's husband's job took A even further afield. We had 4 cousins on my mums side of the family but we didn't see as much of them as we did these two cousins on Dad's side, who are close in age to me and my sister. As we all get older it seems only funerals bring families together so it's nice to meet up on a happy occasion.
Colin was sad to miss it but I brought home a scone and a mini jar of Tiptree strawberry jam for him.
Speaking of home, he Might and I stress Might be home one day in the week ahead, although nothing is ever 100% certain. It will be nice not to navigate 9 roundabouts and 8 sets of traffic lights there and back every day twixt here and hospital........
Thank you for all the towel comments, who knew scratchy towels could be so interesting!
Back in a flash
Sue
Saturday, 20 August 2016
Getting Better + Library Book Photo and Book warning!
What a difference a day makes :-)
All your positive vibes, kind wishes and prayers have worked and our little fella was able to go home, he is now feeding well and not being sick. Col is still feeling exhausted but is drinking more and eating again so that's the first step on the road to recovery.
My Penny Pincher pen-friend S said she really misses the library book photos, when I would bike home from the library van once a month with a lovely bag of books I'd ordered and take a photo for the blog.
So specially for S I waited a few days before going to the library so I could pick up several of my requested books rather than just one or two at a time.
Here they are
From the top down - Mrs Miniver to re-read after reading the other Jan Struther last week.
The Lanimer Bride by Pat McIntosh, the 11th in the crime series set in 15th Century Glasgow.
Ruth Goodman - she of odd clothes on TV! - How to be a Tudor - A Day to Dusk guide to everyday life in Tudor Britain. I Think I borrowed How to be a Victorian, also written by Ruth a couple of years ago but can't remember reading it so maybe I didn't.
Josh Spero - Second hand stories. Not sure how I heard about this, it's about a man who tracks down previous owners of his second-hand books.
Signal For Vengeance by Edward Marston, the umpteenth book in his railway detective series. They are becoming a bit same-y so I might read it or not.
Sandlands by Rosy Thornton. These are short stories inspired by the "sandlings" - Suffolk's coast and heaths Area of Outstanding Natural beauty, which we lived on the edge of for 23 years.
The New Homesteader by Bella and Nick Ivins...............see below.............
I soon looked through this book and here is the Book Warning! -
Only read this if you are a wishing for a smallholding/ homestead and have pots of money!
Lovely new book, Gorgeous pictures, but Oh My Goodness, this Self Sufficient family are not short of a penny or two.
Here's the description from the library website -
Ten years ago, Bella and Nick Ivins left the city behind and relocated to Walnuts Farm, high on the Sussex Weald. Inspired by the Modern Homesteading movement, they decided to embrace self-sufficient way of life. 'The New Homesteader' tells the story of their family life on their home farm and provides all the knowledge necessary for anyone thinking of embracing self-sustaining lifestyle and starting their own homestead or urban farm - or even just tending their own little plot to provide a supply of fresh ingredients throughout the year.
Reading this could leave you green with envy.
We had the smallholding but never had the spare cash, now we have the spare cash and no energy for a smallholding!
Such is life :-)
You need a £20 note to buy this book but if you are hard up borrow it from the library and spend your £20 on something edible, like an apple tree for instance, for the smallholding or garden!
Back Soon
Sue
PS welcome to 2 new followers - Elizabeth and Kitkat
Extra PS Our youngest has started a blog HERE, Wonder if she'll have time once Dot-the-bump arrives! :-)
All your positive vibes, kind wishes and prayers have worked and our little fella was able to go home, he is now feeding well and not being sick. Col is still feeling exhausted but is drinking more and eating again so that's the first step on the road to recovery.
My Penny Pincher pen-friend S said she really misses the library book photos, when I would bike home from the library van once a month with a lovely bag of books I'd ordered and take a photo for the blog.
So specially for S I waited a few days before going to the library so I could pick up several of my requested books rather than just one or two at a time.
Here they are
The Lanimer Bride by Pat McIntosh, the 11th in the crime series set in 15th Century Glasgow.
Ruth Goodman - she of odd clothes on TV! - How to be a Tudor - A Day to Dusk guide to everyday life in Tudor Britain. I Think I borrowed How to be a Victorian, also written by Ruth a couple of years ago but can't remember reading it so maybe I didn't.
Josh Spero - Second hand stories. Not sure how I heard about this, it's about a man who tracks down previous owners of his second-hand books.
Signal For Vengeance by Edward Marston, the umpteenth book in his railway detective series. They are becoming a bit same-y so I might read it or not.
Sandlands by Rosy Thornton. These are short stories inspired by the "sandlings" - Suffolk's coast and heaths Area of Outstanding Natural beauty, which we lived on the edge of for 23 years.
The New Homesteader by Bella and Nick Ivins...............see below.............
I soon looked through this book and here is the Book Warning! -
Only read this if you are a wishing for a smallholding/ homestead and have pots of money!
Here's the description from the library website -
Ten years ago, Bella and Nick Ivins left the city behind and relocated to Walnuts Farm, high on the Sussex Weald. Inspired by the Modern Homesteading movement, they decided to embrace self-sufficient way of life. 'The New Homesteader' tells the story of their family life on their home farm and provides all the knowledge necessary for anyone thinking of embracing self-sustaining lifestyle and starting their own homestead or urban farm - or even just tending their own little plot to provide a supply of fresh ingredients throughout the year.
Reading this could leave you green with envy.
We had the smallholding but never had the spare cash, now we have the spare cash and no energy for a smallholding!
Such is life :-)
You need a £20 note to buy this book but if you are hard up borrow it from the library and spend your £20 on something edible, like an apple tree for instance, for the smallholding or garden!
Back Soon
Sue
PS welcome to 2 new followers - Elizabeth and Kitkat
Extra PS Our youngest has started a blog HERE, Wonder if she'll have time once Dot-the-bump arrives! :-)
Monday, 20 June 2016
Baby cuddles - no apologies for cuteness overload!
Nanna Sue meets baby Jacob and has lots of cuddles!
Although he's 3 weeks old he should only really be one week old so is still so tiny.
Grandad Col had so many cuddles - even when baby Jacob was fast asleep!
Col's sister kindly fetched their Dad to bring him over for a 4 generation photo shoot. 85 years meets 3 weeks with the new mum and proud grandad.
Our pregnant youngest caught train and bus to visit us to see her new nephew
Our son squeezed in a visit very early Sunday morning as he's been working all weekend
And we all spent the weekend watching the small wonder that is our first Grandson.
I think our daughter and son-in-law were very brave bringing our teeny grandson to see us because of us not being able to go there but everything went well.
No doubt he will have grown a bit next time we see him.
Back Soon
Sue
Friday, 17 June 2016
A short post with news of visitors
Thought I ought to change the header, because the map of Suffolk that I was using came from google and I was reminded on someones blog that people do get fined for using copyrighted images. This rose will do for now until I find something more interesting. My problem is that every time I change the header it takes me an hour to remember how to do it. I always think "must make a note of what I did" but then I don't remember how I got there!
Just finished this book - very enjoyable. It's another one gleaned from the archives of the Mass Observation organisation. What I like about diaries is the immediateness of the writing. This is how people actually thought about things at the time, not what a historian thought several years later.
Small shopkeepers had to work hard during WWII; ration books, coupons and points, information constantly changing, lack of supplies and moaning customers. Most of whom didn't grin and bear it just because the country was at war.
Nothing is known about this lady before the diary and all that's known about her later years is what was written on her death certificate. She was unmarried and had no nieces or nephews, but this little bit of her life has been recorded forever.
Col had his second blood test of the week today and we were both pleased to hear that all the important things (platelets, nutrophils, red blood cells) were all creeping up nicely. This means that the stem cell treatment will be sooner rather than later. We go to Addenbrookes hospital near Cambridge one day next week for the pre-treatment check and chat and for him to sign consent forms. There is light at the end of the tunnel!
Very exciting weekend ahead with eldest daughter, son in law and baby Jacob coming from Surrey to stay - just for one night, I doubt they will be arriving very early as H say's it takes her a couple of hours to get organised and out of the house- and that's just to go to the shops!
Welcome to Barbara - a new follower
Back after the weekend
Sue
Just finished this book - very enjoyable. It's another one gleaned from the archives of the Mass Observation organisation. What I like about diaries is the immediateness of the writing. This is how people actually thought about things at the time, not what a historian thought several years later.
Small shopkeepers had to work hard during WWII; ration books, coupons and points, information constantly changing, lack of supplies and moaning customers. Most of whom didn't grin and bear it just because the country was at war.
Nothing is known about this lady before the diary and all that's known about her later years is what was written on her death certificate. She was unmarried and had no nieces or nephews, but this little bit of her life has been recorded forever.
Col had his second blood test of the week today and we were both pleased to hear that all the important things (platelets, nutrophils, red blood cells) were all creeping up nicely. This means that the stem cell treatment will be sooner rather than later. We go to Addenbrookes hospital near Cambridge one day next week for the pre-treatment check and chat and for him to sign consent forms. There is light at the end of the tunnel!
Very exciting weekend ahead with eldest daughter, son in law and baby Jacob coming from Surrey to stay - just for one night, I doubt they will be arriving very early as H say's it takes her a couple of hours to get organised and out of the house- and that's just to go to the shops!
☺
Back after the weekend
Sue
Friday, 27 May 2016
Here is the Good News From a Small Suffolk Bungalow
We are Grandparents! Whoop whoop!
Our eldest had a little boy at 11.30 this morning. Mum, Dad and baby are all well. No name yet. He is a tiny baby 6lb 2 oz and 3 weeks early because they were a bit worried about H's health. Very exciting, hope we get some photos soon. We will get down to Surrey to see them as soon as Col is well enough.
Col was called in Monday night to grab a bed ready for the 6th chemo cycle to start on Tuesday morning, but it didn't because his platelet level was too low. The doctor decided that while they were waiting to see if the next blood test was better they would do a bone marrow sample to see how things are progressing. Col asked for gas and air as pain relief because it's a very painful procedure. The results of the bone marrow are good, there is no sign of Lymphoma now. His next blood test was OK and they finally got going with the chemo on Thursday morning. All being well he will be home on Saturday evening. We had a chat with the cancer nurse specialist who has explained the next stages of treatment (stem cell therapy and a different chemo) to consolidate everything that's been done and put the NHL into remission for as long as possible. We knew right from the start that it would be probably be a year until he was well again - and that still seems to be the time scale. The biggest risk with everything isn't the treatment but the chances of serious infection while he has no immune system. So it will be limited visiting for the weeks he has to spend in hospital during the summer.
Our son has been offered a permanent job as a Project Officer with Suffolk Archaeology CIC (once Suffolk County Council Archaeology Dept). He has been working for 8thEast for 2 and a half years but their funding runs out in the Autumn. 8thEast and Suffolk Archaeology have consulted and negotiated and found a way for him to work part time for both so he can see out the Airfields project. Such good news. He has managed to work in his chosen profession since finishing uni in 2004 - something very few archaeology graduates do.
Our youngest had her 20 week scan today and all is well with her bump.
And finally we got a letter from Department Work and Pensions giving him more benefit money per week back dated to April (from £73 to £109 - handy, no idea why).
So good news all round. I am a happy Nanna Sue!
Back soon
Sue
Our eldest had a little boy at 11.30 this morning. Mum, Dad and baby are all well. No name yet. He is a tiny baby 6lb 2 oz and 3 weeks early because they were a bit worried about H's health. Very exciting, hope we get some photos soon. We will get down to Surrey to see them as soon as Col is well enough.
Col was called in Monday night to grab a bed ready for the 6th chemo cycle to start on Tuesday morning, but it didn't because his platelet level was too low. The doctor decided that while they were waiting to see if the next blood test was better they would do a bone marrow sample to see how things are progressing. Col asked for gas and air as pain relief because it's a very painful procedure. The results of the bone marrow are good, there is no sign of Lymphoma now. His next blood test was OK and they finally got going with the chemo on Thursday morning. All being well he will be home on Saturday evening. We had a chat with the cancer nurse specialist who has explained the next stages of treatment (stem cell therapy and a different chemo) to consolidate everything that's been done and put the NHL into remission for as long as possible. We knew right from the start that it would be probably be a year until he was well again - and that still seems to be the time scale. The biggest risk with everything isn't the treatment but the chances of serious infection while he has no immune system. So it will be limited visiting for the weeks he has to spend in hospital during the summer.
Our son has been offered a permanent job as a Project Officer with Suffolk Archaeology CIC (once Suffolk County Council Archaeology Dept). He has been working for 8thEast for 2 and a half years but their funding runs out in the Autumn. 8thEast and Suffolk Archaeology have consulted and negotiated and found a way for him to work part time for both so he can see out the Airfields project. Such good news. He has managed to work in his chosen profession since finishing uni in 2004 - something very few archaeology graduates do.
Our youngest had her 20 week scan today and all is well with her bump.
And finally we got a letter from Department Work and Pensions giving him more benefit money per week back dated to April (from £73 to £109 - handy, no idea why).
So good news all round. I am a happy Nanna Sue!
Back soon
Sue
Tuesday, 3 May 2016
The May Bank Holiday Weekend in Sentences
Our electric went off late Saturday night, so much easier to see where it's affecting now we are in town as one glance out of the window told us it was half the road and nice not to have worry/responsibility of the people on the campsite managing without electric.
It was back on before we were up on Sunday morning but I searched boxes to find the wind-up torch and the wind-up radio - just in case.
Sunday lunchtime on our way to a family meal out we spied a man in a lay-by on the edge of Ipswich playing bagpipes!
Don't bother to go to The Beagle at Sproughton - it was nothing special.
If the menu said
What is this shrub? it's all round the area, every 3rd garden seems to have one, not something I've grown anywhere we've lived previously.
Monday afternoon and I'm out in the road taking this photo WITHOUT A COAT! and I didn't feel cold.
Surprising how high we are, the water tower in the centre distance is 2¼ miles away as the crow flies, in between the town goes down to river level and back up again.
Very frustrating to live somewhere and hear the jingling of an ice cream van but have no idea which roads he visits.
Monday night inspiration - watching the athletes training for the Invictus Games. They start on TV on May 9th.
2 weeks of snooker watching and went to bed before the end..........again.
Back in a jiffy or 2
Sue
It was back on before we were up on Sunday morning but I searched boxes to find the wind-up torch and the wind-up radio - just in case.
Sunday lunchtime on our way to a family meal out we spied a man in a lay-by on the edge of Ipswich playing bagpipes!
Don't bother to go to The Beagle at Sproughton - it was nothing special.
If the menu said
Ricotta, spinach and red pepper tart
with a tomato, olive and herb sauce
Would you expect a gooey cheesy mess in a deep pastry case covered over with a very thick (as in deep) strong sauce that drowned out any other flavours? No sign of red pepper or spinach.
We didn't get to the beach hut as Col wasn't feeling up to it (and is still coughing like someone who smokes 60 a day!).
We completely forgot to take any photos of our family get together - how dim are we?
Our eldest loved the baby things I had collected for her and the little jumpers my sister had knitted for 'bump'.
Early Monday morning and the milkman who goes down the road at 3.45 had a different noisy milk float -I think it needs fixing - soon please.
How quiet the hospital is on a Bank holiday morning when I went with Col for a blood test (all OK- despite him still feeling pretty grim)
Our eldest loved the baby things I had collected for her and the little jumpers my sister had knitted for 'bump'.
Early Monday morning and the milkman who goes down the road at 3.45 had a different noisy milk float -I think it needs fixing - soon please.
How quiet the hospital is on a Bank holiday morning when I went with Col for a blood test (all OK- despite him still feeling pretty grim)
This unusual pale pink double tulip has opened up in the garden.
What is this shrub? it's all round the area, every 3rd garden seems to have one, not something I've grown anywhere we've lived previously.
Monday afternoon and I'm out in the road taking this photo WITHOUT A COAT! and I didn't feel cold.
Very frustrating to live somewhere and hear the jingling of an ice cream van but have no idea which roads he visits.
Monday night inspiration - watching the athletes training for the Invictus Games. They start on TV on May 9th.
2 weeks of snooker watching and went to bed before the end..........again.
Back in a jiffy or 2
Sue
Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Bits and Bobs, Birds and Books.
Thank you all for so many interesting and helpful comments yesterday, food for thought.
We listened to Radio Suffolk yesterday to hear our son talk about the work he is doing recording the details of what's left of the Air Force base at Martlesham on the edge of Ipswich. He is teaching volunteers from the General Public how to record historic buildings. Each week for the next couple of months he'll be doing the same thing at all the airfields that were used by the USAF 8th in East Anglia. He then came over here for dinner and to bring a couple of loads of washing because their washing machine packed up. Mums are still good for doing the washing even when their children have been moved away for more than 10 years! He brought a beautiful bunch of flowers as a thank you, there were enough for two jugs absolutely gorgeous!
While here he helped Col move a few heavy things onto the trailer ready for moving to the bungalow and other stuff into the horse box trailer for storage.
I fancied a trip out so went to Woodbridge this morning, stocked up on more prunes from The Grape Tree and did a tour of most of the charity shops. A few years ago I would have relished a morning wandering round the shops but the chances of finding anything exciting in charity shops has diminished so much that's it's hardly worth the effort. All I picked up was a hardback copy of Agatha Christies "And Then There Were None' from the Oxfam Bookshop for £1.99.
This was on TV over Christmas but we didn't watch it and I'd not read it. I hadn't realised this was originally called " Ten Little Niggers" and when that was a word that wasn't polite to use it was changed to "Ten Little Indians" which then again had to be changed. The TV film must have renewed interest in the book as there is a new paperback edition coming out next month.
Ipswich hospital join with MacMillan Cancer Care and Suffolk County Council to provide help and information for people with cancer and after a call from Col's link nurse, she sent forms and a phone number and Col rang it yesterday and it looks as if we are entitled to a bit of money - Good news indeedy! We thought that because we have savings we wouldn't qualify but maybe we do. Lots more phone calls, forms and information to sort and a meeting with someone next week, but anything that helps the savings stretch will be good.
The weather has been really rough here today and the birds have been backwards and forwards to the feeders non stop.
Just wish they'd keep still long enough to get a decent photo.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
We listened to Radio Suffolk yesterday to hear our son talk about the work he is doing recording the details of what's left of the Air Force base at Martlesham on the edge of Ipswich. He is teaching volunteers from the General Public how to record historic buildings. Each week for the next couple of months he'll be doing the same thing at all the airfields that were used by the USAF 8th in East Anglia. He then came over here for dinner and to bring a couple of loads of washing because their washing machine packed up. Mums are still good for doing the washing even when their children have been moved away for more than 10 years! He brought a beautiful bunch of flowers as a thank you, there were enough for two jugs absolutely gorgeous!
I fancied a trip out so went to Woodbridge this morning, stocked up on more prunes from The Grape Tree and did a tour of most of the charity shops. A few years ago I would have relished a morning wandering round the shops but the chances of finding anything exciting in charity shops has diminished so much that's it's hardly worth the effort. All I picked up was a hardback copy of Agatha Christies "And Then There Were None' from the Oxfam Bookshop for £1.99.
Ipswich hospital join with MacMillan Cancer Care and Suffolk County Council to provide help and information for people with cancer and after a call from Col's link nurse, she sent forms and a phone number and Col rang it yesterday and it looks as if we are entitled to a bit of money - Good news indeedy! We thought that because we have savings we wouldn't qualify but maybe we do. Lots more phone calls, forms and information to sort and a meeting with someone next week, but anything that helps the savings stretch will be good.
The weather has been really rough here today and the birds have been backwards and forwards to the feeders non stop.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Monday, 25 January 2016
Monday Memories
I don't really do Facebook - though I am on there somewhere but Col uses his page more often and he said everyone is posting photos of themselves when very young. You can guess where our photo albums are - In- A- Box - and I refuse to open a box just to find a picture of Col aged 4!
But this is the photo our eldest put on her Facebook page. H and her brother M aged about 3 and 1½, we're not sure which beach, but I think Southwold. Cardi's knitted by Col's mum, a much missed Nana who made so many of their cardigans, jumpers, hats and mittens. Sadly Nana Sue won't be a knitting Nana, maybe I'll be the book Nana!- a wonderful excuse to search out lovely children's books from charity shops!
Son M - the now 6 foot plus archaeologist will be on Radio Suffolk tomorrow afternoon talking with Leslie Dolphin about the Eighth in the East project.
Out to Leiston this morning. Col went to the doctors to pick up a couple of things to help with the side effects of chemo, I went in the Co-op and Building Society which put me into temptation because they are fund raising for a charity by selling second-hand books for £1 each, and I found this, a hardback from the 1970's
a few years ago I wouldn't have looked twice at this but Persephone have re-printed 3 of her books recently which I enjoyed so I thought I would bring this home and add it to the boxes. I looked on Amazon to see what they were selling for and some of her books are crazy prices. Not this one though - it's only worth a fiver!
I've finished the first of my library books - Silent Nights, Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards. One of the British Library Crime Classic reprints. It is short mystery stories dating from the 1890s (Conan Doyle) to the 1950s. Some were by well known authors such as Edgar Wallace and Dorothy L Sayers and others long forgotten. A good read.
It's so interesting how the National newspapers have picked up Mean-Queen-Ilona's story from her local paper. I looked at the Daily Mail on line article where there were 100s of comments - some quite nasty and then Col said Radio Suffolk were talking about it this morning and her story had also been featured in The Sun on line. They seem to think she must be miserable living how she does but those of us who read her blog know she's certainly never miserable - a little odd sometimes maybe, but a kind, thoughtful and independent lady. I normally avoid anything to do with national daily papers but decided to register on line to have my tuppence worth and speak up for Ilona's thrifty-ness.
Many years ago we were featured in the local paper as being The Self-sufficient family and a few days later someone from the Daily Mirror turned up on the doorstep ( this was before the age of internet) and wanted an interview. I'm so glad I refused.
Many Thanks for comments yesterday
Back Tomorrow
Sue
But this is the photo our eldest put on her Facebook page. H and her brother M aged about 3 and 1½, we're not sure which beach, but I think Southwold. Cardi's knitted by Col's mum, a much missed Nana who made so many of their cardigans, jumpers, hats and mittens. Sadly Nana Sue won't be a knitting Nana, maybe I'll be the book Nana!- a wonderful excuse to search out lovely children's books from charity shops!
Son M - the now 6 foot plus archaeologist will be on Radio Suffolk tomorrow afternoon talking with Leslie Dolphin about the Eighth in the East project.
Out to Leiston this morning. Col went to the doctors to pick up a couple of things to help with the side effects of chemo, I went in the Co-op and Building Society which put me into temptation because they are fund raising for a charity by selling second-hand books for £1 each, and I found this, a hardback from the 1970's
I've finished the first of my library books - Silent Nights, Christmas Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards. One of the British Library Crime Classic reprints. It is short mystery stories dating from the 1890s (Conan Doyle) to the 1950s. Some were by well known authors such as Edgar Wallace and Dorothy L Sayers and others long forgotten. A good read.
It's so interesting how the National newspapers have picked up Mean-Queen-Ilona's story from her local paper. I looked at the Daily Mail on line article where there were 100s of comments - some quite nasty and then Col said Radio Suffolk were talking about it this morning and her story had also been featured in The Sun on line. They seem to think she must be miserable living how she does but those of us who read her blog know she's certainly never miserable - a little odd sometimes maybe, but a kind, thoughtful and independent lady. I normally avoid anything to do with national daily papers but decided to register on line to have my tuppence worth and speak up for Ilona's thrifty-ness.
Many years ago we were featured in the local paper as being The Self-sufficient family and a few days later someone from the Daily Mirror turned up on the doorstep ( this was before the age of internet) and wanted an interview. I'm so glad I refused.
Many Thanks for comments yesterday
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Monday, 14 December 2015
Advent Photos 14 - Christmas family get together
Thank you to everyone for the good wishes yesterday. It is a shame our first grandchild will be all the way down in Surrey but without campsite and smallholding ties we will be able to go and stay close by in our caravan. Poor H and J have had a worrying two weeks as there could have been a problem with baby and lots of tests were done, we are hoping and praying that everything will be OK. Our eldest H is 35, already 10 years older than I was was when we had her ( I had all three by age 32) but I guess lots of couples have to wait so much longer to get themselves established with job and house before thinking about a family nowadays.
Apologies to Sandy ex-pat who asked for photos of our meal, we completely forgot but here are a few from later when we had collapsed in front of the TV. Sorry about the quality, every photo editing site I've tried uses Adobe Flash player and what ever I do Adobe Flash Player just will not stay connected on my computer and crashes. It's so annoying.
Thank you again for all the congrats yesterday, just need to find out what Col's health problem is now. 2 more hospital visits this week. We know the way there blindfolded!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Apologies to Sandy ex-pat who asked for photos of our meal, we completely forgot but here are a few from later when we had collapsed in front of the TV. Sorry about the quality, every photo editing site I've tried uses Adobe Flash player and what ever I do Adobe Flash Player just will not stay connected on my computer and crashes. It's so annoying.
| Our son in law dad to be and our eldest the mum to be ( chopped off Daughter in law to be) |
| A thorn between 2 roses - Col between our girls, H had already slipped into PJs due to the bump! |
| Our 6 foot something archaeologist son, who was experimenting with something our youngest ( who works at the opticians) was saying about eyesight being better when viewed through a tiny pinhole. Our youngest has the worst eyesight of all of us so it's a jolly good job she does work at the opticians and gets almost all her glasses for free! |
| Daughter in law to be avoiding looking at camera! |
| Our youngest daughters partner - future son in law also trying to avoid the camera |
Thank you again for all the congrats yesterday, just need to find out what Col's health problem is now. 2 more hospital visits this week. We know the way there blindfolded!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Sunday, 13 December 2015
Advent 13 Red House Christmas Barn
This farm is also a duck fattening farm the rest of the year, with huge sheds, noise and lights we can see through the hedge at the top of our field, even though it's half a mile away.
We had a good time yesterday with our Christmas gathering of all 3 children and partners. The table cloth remained clean so I didn't need to strangle anyone! Our eldest and her husband are off back to Surrey later and then away in Devon for Christmas leaving us with the news that, God willing, I will be Nana Sue from June next year! Yippee do!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Wednesday, 4 November 2015
4th November
On 4th November 1987 our youngest arrived in the world. 6 years younger than her brother and 7½ years younger than her big sister. The oldest two were at school, I was older and somehow caring for a baby seemed much easier than it was before. I had more time to enjoy having a little one in the house and consequently she was a very easy baby and toddler to look after.
She hardly remembers living anywhere before we came here - she was 4½- unlike the older two children who had lived in 3 or 4 different homes before this. Although she's made up for it since - renting 4 different places in Leiston since she moved out 9 years ago. She says it will be odd knowing someone else is living here.
Happy Birthday A. Our "baby" is 28. Blimey we're old!
We have pouring rain here this morning but the weather was a bit brighter yesterday and no fog. Col went down to our farmer friends to get our grass topper but it was wedged in behind other machinery and he couldn't get it out of the shed. So he did some weeding instead and picked off all the green tomatoes to bring them in to ripen.
Our tomatoes plants have virtually finished and we'll be clearing them all out of the poly-tunnel soon.
I had a frustrating time trying to do the main monthly shop at Tescos in Saxmundham. NO milk powder - empty space,NO value range soft cheese, NO Kenco de-caf coffee refill packs and NO own brand de-caf - they've stopped selling all those here in Saxmundham. No value range mackerel fillets ( Have to go to Sainsburys). I just end up cross and with a quarter of the shopping list not bought.
Tip number 4 re-hashed from 2013 is Re-read the instructions for your washing machine and see if you can use a shorter cycle.
Because we dry stuff outside, I've turned down the spin speed, hope that saves a bit of energy. I do all washing on 40℃, our machine is quite old and there is no lower wash temperature and unlike machines in the States no way of doing a cold water wash as the machine is hot and cold intake.
November No/ Low Spend Challenge - spent yesterday - Milk £2 , Veg £2.68, Food that goes in Fridge and freezer £20.13, Store Cupboard food £8.26, Meat 80p, Laundry(Washing Soda) £1, Kitchen roll ( for tissues and other odd jobs) £1. Cats £24 (enough for one and a half months).
Pharmacy 50p.
Then very annoyingly had to pay 74p to post 2 small bung bits for the water storage things that Col hadn't included when he delivered the tanks in September BUT that was cheaper than driving 25 miles!
£1.40 off at Tesco with vouchers and price match.
Total spend so far this month Food £32.47 Everything else £27.24
I avoided spending on some yellow ticket RTC chocolate eclairs and a Christmas magazine!
I'm not sure about this posting everyday - seems to take up more time than I remember from the spring, may have to slow down again.
Back Tomorrow - probably
Sue
She hardly remembers living anywhere before we came here - she was 4½- unlike the older two children who had lived in 3 or 4 different homes before this. Although she's made up for it since - renting 4 different places in Leiston since she moved out 9 years ago. She says it will be odd knowing someone else is living here.
Happy Birthday A. Our "baby" is 28. Blimey we're old!
We have pouring rain here this morning but the weather was a bit brighter yesterday and no fog. Col went down to our farmer friends to get our grass topper but it was wedged in behind other machinery and he couldn't get it out of the shed. So he did some weeding instead and picked off all the green tomatoes to bring them in to ripen.
Our tomatoes plants have virtually finished and we'll be clearing them all out of the poly-tunnel soon.
I had a frustrating time trying to do the main monthly shop at Tescos in Saxmundham. NO milk powder - empty space,NO value range soft cheese, NO Kenco de-caf coffee refill packs and NO own brand de-caf - they've stopped selling all those here in Saxmundham. No value range mackerel fillets ( Have to go to Sainsburys). I just end up cross and with a quarter of the shopping list not bought.
Tip number 4 re-hashed from 2013 is Re-read the instructions for your washing machine and see if you can use a shorter cycle.
Because we dry stuff outside, I've turned down the spin speed, hope that saves a bit of energy. I do all washing on 40℃, our machine is quite old and there is no lower wash temperature and unlike machines in the States no way of doing a cold water wash as the machine is hot and cold intake.
November No/ Low Spend Challenge - spent yesterday - Milk £2 , Veg £2.68, Food that goes in Fridge and freezer £20.13, Store Cupboard food £8.26, Meat 80p, Laundry(Washing Soda) £1, Kitchen roll ( for tissues and other odd jobs) £1. Cats £24 (enough for one and a half months).
Pharmacy 50p.
Then very annoyingly had to pay 74p to post 2 small bung bits for the water storage things that Col hadn't included when he delivered the tanks in September BUT that was cheaper than driving 25 miles!
£1.40 off at Tesco with vouchers and price match.
Total spend so far this month Food £32.47 Everything else £27.24
I avoided spending on some yellow ticket RTC chocolate eclairs and a Christmas magazine!
I'm not sure about this posting everyday - seems to take up more time than I remember from the spring, may have to slow down again.
Back Tomorrow - probably
Sue
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