Eternal Refuge

Well I decided to split the post into 2 ... so this set are the chapel (which you get to from the 1st floor), and the gardens -





( The Chapel )


( The Gradens )

Yes, she is now 11 years cancer free. Her mastectomy was literally happening now, and as all the surrounding tissue was clear, she got the all-clear after the op.

I suppose I can be incredibly positive and say that, as far as I know, I have also been cancer free in that time!

So, lots to be thankful for.

I think we need to be reminded of that from time to time. Sometimes, when the days are cold and dark, and there are assorted tensions around, I forget to be thankful.

I did take the A to Z photo, but as it wasn't good quality I need to re-take it. I shall probably wait now till next Monday and post the 2 weeks on the same day. But I promise I will take the same image, so I am fulfilling the meme (honest!).

Just had my blood test, so hopefully that will also give good news. My asthma is still not great, but I think the rest of me is OK now. Still, let's see what the bloods show. I walked home a slightly longer way, so not a very long walk, but at least something.

Right - my kitchen floor needs a clean ... icons need to be made ... what a difficult choice to make!!!!!!!!!! (I bet you can guess which one gets my vote!). Until then -







12. Have you ever crossed the equator?
The furthest south I have been is Abu Simbel Temples, which I have checked, and it's 22.3372° N
So, no ... not yet!







Right, let's get on x

As I said, Claire and I enjoyed our trip to Killerton to see it celebrating Christmas ... so I share the celebrations -
















As I said we had lovely weather, so nice to walk round some of the grounds ans see some of the Christmas games set up for the children.

This tree came down in the storms ... but to me it looked like some giant animal that was on the move







One of the Victorian Christmas cards -

Sorry I didn't get the photos posted on Monday. Claire had been working at a different location and so she popped in to see me on her way home after lunch ... and sat & chatted ... and didn't leave until she realised Tim would have been home before her! She is lucky that she does have sone flexi-time.

So, sorry ... but it was nice to catch up with her.

Work went well Tuesday & Wednesday. Everyone was in a good mood, which makes like so much easier.

On Tuesday I had a check-up with the fracture clinic. And after multiple x-rays, and a long chat with the consultant I have the all-clear. He was more than happy to see me, due to the type of fracture it was. When he examined me he said that I still have some inflammation in the surrounding ligaments, but as I now know it is safe to not wear the splint it does mean I can begin to get full mobility back.

So as I said on Monday I was going to post the photos of my visit to Lytes Cary with Brenda ....










( And the tour continues )

And here we are ... friends, as well as sisters-in-law.




Right now I must get on.

I haven't wprked today but been out shopping as I am meeting Toni tomorrow and it's Pete's birthday.  I also have washing on the line, and am hoping to get one of the cupboards of my bedroom sorted as well.

A day off .... but not a lazy day.

Before I do all that  ...





International Day of Light - promoting how light is used in science, art, education, and sustainable development and the benefits of light. Do you have good natural light in your home - which rooms get the best sunlight?
My rooms aren't too bad ... although Spring & Autumn I spend a lot of my spare time in my conservatory, so that is lovely.
Sadly my lounge, which ha a large window, faces north ... so come winter it is darker & cooler!




Right. let's get this posted.

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

I was due to spend time this afternoon catching up and posting photos of my great day out yesterday.

However at lunch I had a call from Claire to say that it would be nice if we met this afternoon for a glass of champagne to celebrate that today is the 10 year anniversay of the day she rerurned home after her mastectomy ... and who am I to turn down champagne!

Anyway lets' briefly catch up ...

This is where I went yesterday - (more to follow tomorrow)


This morning they put up scaffolding opposite -





Right, proper post tomorrow, but until then -



Tomorrow is the third Saturday in February and it's National Red Socks Day - will you be wearing red socks?
Ironically the answer is no … for the simple reason I only have one pair that are plain red, and I had them on earlier today!!




Right, see you tomorrow x

Here are the catch-up daily photos

Tuesday 23rd, I met up with Toni to wish her a Happy Birthday ... spotted this amazing mural on the side of the house near where we met-


Wednesday 24th ... when I got home from work, I did a  bit of my ongoing jigsaw -


Thursday 25th, before I drove to Clacton, I went to my doctors to have a couple of innoculations pre my upcoming holiday -


Friday 26th ... Auntie Joyce


Saturday 27th January - spotted on my walk this morning






And, as I said I took a few photos on our walk along the sea front at Clacton ... lovely















The wreath from the family -

Well, as I said I would be meeting up with Claire on Thursday. We had a lovely couple of hours sipping a cocktail, and chatting.






I had never been to The Ivy before, as I tend to get annoyed with paying extra for something I can get elsewhere.  Yes, the snack and drink was dear, but as you can see the atmosphere was amazing.  So, even though it cost more than elsewhere, I have said I would meet her there again at some point as it was a lovely place.

Then we walked to meet up with Tim for a meal. Another great time ... finishing with a cocktail (that Tim bought us)





We went to a Weatherspoons, and this had been a Methodist Chapel, and as you can see they have left everything there.

Yesterday I worked all day on the reception in the area I normally work in clinic.  I shall be doing M, T, & W there as well.  All in all it is good to do that because it is a different job (one I did years ago), but also a different boss.  The job I have been doing on the Welcome Desk is coming to an end, as the boss has got a fill time member of staff.  She did offer the job to me a few times, but I have always been self-employed so did not want a contract.

This job had come out of nowhere so I truly believe that something else will come ... and if not, well I am 62 and a few years ago I would have been retiired by now.  I don't want that, but have faith that everything will be OK for me.  After all Julie Andrews says it well in The Sound of Music -

"When God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window."

Right, I must get on and walk to the shops to re-stock stuff.  It looks like it is brightening up, but after the heavy rain overnight, providing it stays dry, I won't be upset.

As I have siad I am working for the 1st 3 days ... so will return on Thursday ... so ...



19 – Break the Monotony Day: There’s a certain security in a steady schedule, but too much of the same thing gets you stuck in a rut and the monotony can just plain kill you. When was the last time you took a day to do something spontaneous?
I am really bad at doing that – I hear Mum’s voice in my head! My consultant used to nag me about it. It has also been hard as I have been busy at work, but as that is due to change, I will try to do some spontaneous things … promise

20 – Radio Day: Do you still listen to the radio? Do you have an actual radio, or do you listen to satellite or streaming radio? What about talk radio -- are you a fan?
Always have the radio on in the morning while getting up. And often listen to it as I’m falling asleep. No, it’s a light-weight music station, never a talky one

21 – Poet's Day: Do you write poetry? Do you even like poetry? Do you have a favourite poet or poem?
I had to study poetry at school, but always find it hard to “read between the lines”. So descriptive and comedy poems I still like, but anything that you have to “think about” is not for me.

22 – World Plant Milk Day: Almond milk, oat milk, soy milk... Do you use plant-based milk rather than dairy milk? If yes, do you use it instead of dairy in everything (tea/coffee, baking, cereal, etc.) or only in specific instances? Have you tried various types of plant milk? Do you have a favourite?
No – sorry but that’s wrong.
Milk comes from a female mammal … the rest are crushed plants.

23 – Ride the Wind Day: Have you ever been sky-diving? What about hang-gliding? If not, would you ever try either (both) of those activities? What about something tamer, such as kite-flying or sailing?
Sorry, I don’t do heights



Right I must get on - I am going to catch up with you all later x

I didn't take many anyway - but sadlymy camera had been knocked to the wrong centre so they aren't great qualit.

Brenda and I saw these on the way in ...





The girls -





A Chinese Bible, 1888

Gerald (and the piano!)

One of the dogs that travelled on Capt Scott's travels, but not to the South Pole

2000+ years old -

2 goddesses carved on a grain of wheet, 1600

I was supervising someone at work - they will be doing a lot of the shifts that I had been picking up, but as I don't want a contract I can't complain.  Sue is nice, but I do wonder how she will cope.  This morning it was incredibly quiet, and there were volunteers, so she had an easy time.  She is nice - but maybe "too nice" (so what does that say about me!).  Oh well, let's see how she goes.  She has worked nights for 18 years in health records, so a complete change as she is now working with the general public, which is something not everyone copes with.

I know I said last week I saw Tim & Claire ... well when I went to the shops on Saturday I bumped into them going for a walk.  I made the mistake of telling them I had been baking, so they came back from their walk via me ... and took home some chocolate cake.

Yesterday was a family celebration - 9 years since Claire's mastectomy ... well we celebrate by saying she has been 9 years cancer free.  Great news.

Right, I want to try and get some spring-cleaning done ... I am slowly working around my bedroom cupboards/drawers ... so let's see if I can at least do mu undies drawer.  And, before I go -



13 – Clean Out Your Computer Day: When was the last time you cleaned out your fans and dusted off your motherboard? Have you looked at your graphics card to see if its cooling fan and fins are clean? For that matter, when did you last clean out or even opened the case? Or have you ever cleaned out your computer or had someone clean it out for you?
Ummm - never have done that ... maybe that's a job for when I spring-clean my study.



Right, will catch up with you later x