Eternal Refuge

I had a great day in the end, yesterday.

I jad walked to the shops earlier (and caught the bus home) .... In fact I had door-to-door service, as my nearest bus-stop is on a corner, and not nice for the buses to stop at.  The driver asked me whether I wanted to stop before or after, the stop.  I asked for before, and he pulled in literally in front of my house ... door to door!!

I had just packed the shopping away when my door rang ... it was a local counciller canvassing for the elections in May.  He gave me a leaflet which he asked me to read (as his first question was would I be voting for this candidate, to which I had said no) ... so I said I would.  The leaflet ended up just having the name and addresses of the candidate and the secretarial team ... I had expected a promotional flier as to how amazing both Exeter & England would be if I voted that way.  So in the end, it was just a waste of paper!

I then tried logging onto my computer, to get a phone call from Claire asking me to meet her for champagne, to celebrate her 10th anniversary of returning home from her mastectomy ... we met at The Ivy (so it was an expensive afternoon) ... but very nice ... here I am, and you just have to see the loos ...




When we left it was to then walk to a pub to meet Tim from work, so we could have a meal, before walking home.  I had suggested it, even though I had dinner at their's yesterday after our day trip, but Tim has had a super tough week, so said it would be nice to start his weekend off on a positive note.

Now it's today ... I have had a short walk as I needed to post a letter, and want to do some exercise (even though it was only about a mile), but still spotted some more signs of Spring -







Now I am here sorting things out, and will try and catch up with you all in a moment.  So, before I post this let me catch up ... it will be 3 days, as on Monday I meeting up with Christine to celebrate her birthday -




18. National Battery Day. In England, we are not permitted to dispose of spent batteries in the general waste collection. Do you have the facility to dispose of your spent batteries safely where you live?
Local supermarket does a collection ... or I take them into work.

19. National Lash Day - have you ever worn false eyelashes or are yours long enough already?
Don't wear make-up, other than an occasional eye-liner. My eyelashes are very wispy, but I have eczema on my eyelids ... have done sine I was 14. But as I don't wear make-up it's not really a problem

20. International Mother Language Day: What is the mother language of your home?
English





Right let's get this posted

10 years ago, about now, Claire was having a mastectomy.

Fortunately she didn't need any chemo or radiotherapy ... so we always focus on the fact that she is now 10 years cancer free ... and that is something to celebrate.

I am trying to get caught up with things today ... have already done some housework and had a walk ... now here for a short time, before lunch, then back again this afternoon.

Lets get the photos caught up -

Yesterday I didn't really do much, although Tim & Claire popped in on their way home from their walk.  However when I went to my freezer in my shed, I saw that a couple of my small rose bushes are already well and truly in "Spring" mode -


Today I had a lovely 2 mile walk.

The hospital I work at, is actually on "Barrack Rd", and yes the barracks still exist -




As I walked up the road I spotted this little-one "working" very hard -


And Spring is certainly around ... including in this frist picture a bee






And, this is the other end of the park that I shared photos of last week -





I also spotted this tree ... the prompt for last week on photo_scavenger was "bother" ... I think the kids who kicked those footballs up into the tree will have a bother if they want to retrieve them



Right, that's me up to date ... so let's do todays question -




Today Charles Darwin was born in 1809 and across the world his birth is celebrated. Have you a Natural History Museum nearby you can visit?
I have been to the Natural History Museum in London ... and the building itself is stunning.
Our local museum has a couple of Natural History sections ... one of which I can't really go in as I am really arachnaphobic!!!!




Right, I will try and catch up with you all, after lunch x

Well life is busy, so I am not popping in as much this week as I would normally. However as much of that is through work it does mean I can pay the bills easier at the moment.

This weekend I did pop in briefly at Tim & Claire's although only saw Tim (who was busy baking). Claire had at long last had her implant replaced. When she had her mastectomy some years ago her implant had gone well, well about 18 months ago the "sling" it was attached to had twisted very slightly. Then with her age, going through menopause, her shape is changing slightly, so all in all surgery was needed a bit before it's 10 year replacement date. She did well, and was back home the same day, so all in all good news for her.

I have some more icons to make this month - and yes, I still haven't posted any photos from Istanbul, so will do that at some point, but don't know if I will manage it this week.

So although busy, no real news from me, so will catch up -


14. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
I ahve always liked my jobs ... but maybe being a travel guide on a changing tour (so getting paid to sight-see!)

15. What was your excuse the last time you arrived late to something?
That is so rare ... but was almost late for a trip to Bristol with Claire ... and genuinely forgot how long it would take to walk to the station ... add that to a cold head wind, and there are great & real excuses.

16. In what way is your life lately imbalanced?
More work, less play, now I am feeling better

17. Do you put your socks on before or after putting on trousers?
Either

18. Now that self/indie publishing has become easier, have books gotten better or worse?
A bit of both.
There's more junk than ever out there ... but maybe there are a few items out there that would not have been published, but are worth a read.


Right - I must get on

Will try & catch up with you later x

Today I was meeting Claire (& Tim) for lunch - to celebrate her being cancer-free for another year. This coming Saturday it will be 8 years ago that Claire had her mastectomy, and was told 2 weeks later that she wouldn't need chemo/radio-therapy. So I have always made it a point of now calling it a day of celebration that she is cancer free for another year.

I was going to do some housework this mon=rning then changed my mind and walked into the city early ... there is an exhibition at Exeter Cathedral I wanted to see (photos later), and when I had seen that I walked first to The Guildhall, who told me that Tuckers Hall was open (it's only open once or twice a week), and on my way up to meet T& C I went into a Church that I hadn't been into bfore ... So much fun, and, yes, photos to share.

History is that os -
The Cathedral - finished 1400
Guildhall - rebuilt 1470
Tuckers Hall - built 1470
St Olaves Church - Rebuilt 1370's

So, what a fun morning.

Then lunch with Tim & Claire before heading back here, to look at the photos ... and to share.  But, before I do that



10. What do you think is the bes sitcom (current or past)?
Dad's Army takes some beating - The Home Guard durinng WWII, for those who don't know it


Photos soon

Hopefully that will be me done for another 3 years.

I may moan, some of the time, about being a larger size, but at least the squishing is not too bad this way.

With breast cancer on both sides of my family (and in my sister-in-law), this is certainly one apt I would not want to miss.

Mum had another breast cancer check up today .... and was told that the lump is continuing to reduce in both size and texture.

So great news.

Also, last month Claire had a mammogram on her remaining breast, and all is OK. She is now a year cancer free.

So, good news, all round.

Further to Claire's great news of yesterday, I spoke to her today.  She was sounding so happy and positive that it really cheered me up.

She is thinking of speaking to the breast care nurses to offer her services as a help in supporting other breast cancer patients .... which also shows how much she has really changed in the last 9 months.  She is positive about life, and wanting to be there for others who are ill.  She always was pretty upbeat, but like many didn't want to face serious illness ... now she has faced it and come through she wants to show others that it can be done.

Her happiness made me happy.

I was sent this email today - and I have just done it ... It did take less than one minute!

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/