Fish and chips and Stag beetles

Today I woke and felt much better, still a bit tired though. I managed to clear up the house a little, and pulled out a few weeds in the garden while Mas had to go off to a meeting.

Later we decided to have a change of scene, and went off for a fish lunch and collected some shopping. I cannot believe I feel so well today, and did not take the special anti nausea medication.

Diane called as she had been concerned at how strange I had sounded yesterday when we spoke, and was reassured that I am back to 'normal' again. She mentioned that she had found a large stag beetle in her garden which had cheered her up.

I remember when I was a child my father had some stag beetles in an old aquarium as he was doing illustrations of them for a book, and we kept them as pets for a long time. In the end there were so many of them that we decided to release them on Hampstead Heath which we sadly did, emptying them out into a patch of the woods on a dismal afternoon. Each time we passed the spot on walks we looked for them, but never saw them again.

Lucanus Servus

Nausea and narcolepsy

Thursday, Friday and Saturday passed in an increasing blur of nausea and exhaustion. Pete phoned from Guernsey telling me where he had been, who he had seen, and what he had been doing while he was there, and made me feel I was there too.

On Saturday I phoned the hospital about the nausea which had become intolerable by now, and they asked me to come in on Sunday morning and they would give me a prescription and pills to help me. Mex phoned telling her news and initiating me into some of the mysteries of Twitter.com. Tobe sent an email saying they were about to leave for their holiday in Argentina.

On Sunday morning all the tube lines were disrupted, so Mas drove me to the hospital. Luckily the roads were fairly clear of traffic. The doctor was very sympathetic and I soon left with the new medication. As advised I took ¼ of one of the pills; immediately I felt as if I had been poleaxed! I had to go straight to bed and spent most of the day asleep, and if I tried to watch television it was the same; I just slept through it! The nausea however disappeared.

Mas cut the lawns, and he said as he was emptying out the cut grass found a little mouse hidden in the dry grass at the bottom which startled him. It immediately ran under the hedge and away.

We went early to bed, and I slept as if anaesthetised all night, and woke with a sore throat so think I must have been snoring too!

Hospital foot massage and French Market in St. Albans

Yesterday I went off to hospital bright and early and had another chemo. session. As usual everyone was helpful and pleasant, and I also had a complimentary foot massage while I was having my treatment and the lady who was doing it was very interesting to talk to as well.

At the end of the afternoon I went home and Mas collected me from the station. I felt tired and was having lots of weird sensations, and after dinner and watching a Frasier I took myself off to bed early, and Mas soon came up to bed too.

Today I woke feeling much better and we decided to go off to St. Albans as usual and get shopping and to meet Tania and Robert in Sazio's for lunch. Mas bought a really comfortable pair of shoes. As it will be Robert's birthday soon he bought a bottle of wine for us to celebrate the occasion with. Afterwards we walked through a French Market which visits St. Albans now and then and looked at the different soaps and dried and preserved fruits.

Pete phoned from Guernsey; he had been doing all the usual familiar things in St. Martin's, and while he phoned was waiting for the bus to take him to Town to meet up with Poppy and Ben.

Mas went off to get a little more shopping and we had a relaxed evening.

Curry and chats, tea in the garden without gnomes

On Thursday I walked to Edgware, got a little shopping and posted letters. After lunch I did a bit more gardening and then we went off to meet Tania and Robert for a meal in Stanmore where we chatted and had a curry meal. It was a nice change of scene and company and made a welcome break.

On Friday I went back to Oxford Street and cut through Cavendish Square to the dentists for a final session, before returning home again. We had a quiet weekend; I talked to Pete for a while and for a break Mas and I watched Monk. I usually colour my hair a kind of warm mahogany brown, but decided I would use a more natural product, so in preparation I cut my hair,(as it happened rather short,) and then put the mixture on. I think I left it on too long, as it is now very dark brown, and what with the short hair it looks as if I have bought myself a smart but rather severe wig.

It became very windy on Sunday but I managed to get in some more gardening, and talked to Diane too, and Mas made a really nice dinner.

Our neighbour's garden: he has cut down the painted dead tree and put in a small group of garden gnomes and solar lights of stars and butterflies, around the edges, which rapidly change colours all the time when it is dark.

Today I thought I had better tidy things up as I will spend tomorrow in hospital again.

By chance I was in the garden putting clean water out for the birds and a big bird landed in the garden and began dragging its wing; I thought for a moment it was damaged, but after looking at me for a while it flew off, so it must have been a distraction strategy. It was carrying a mouse or small bird. I had not seen such a bird before, and looked it up in our bird book; I think it was a Kestrel.

The weather today is sunny and 20 degrees in the shade, a perfect summer's day. Margaret and John phoned and invited us to tea, so Mas and I spent several peaceful hours sitting in their lovely garden. They have turned over the major part of their back garden to growing fruit and vegetables of which they have a huge variety, and have lots of bird feeders too so we were watching them come and go while we chatted and had tea, cheese, biscuits and fruit. We left with two lettuces, some rocket and lots of fragrant parsley.

Jana's shocking exploits in Spain and visit from Monika and Oktay

This morning I showed Mas the pictures Jana had sent of her 'walking' holiday in Spain with her brother and friends. The photographs seemed of the quality that The National Geographic magazine would use, and some were absolutely stunning. Some of the pictures showed them climbing up bare rock faces, or walking along non existent ledges with precipitous views; after each of these, Mas who does not like heights, uttered an involuntary, four letter word, expletive in horror.

A well deserved meal!

I spoke to Monika briefly this morning, and then I had to go off for another treatment at the dental clinic; it is such a friendly place. I notice on the tube that there is an advertisement for a free concert in Leicester Square on June the 30th as it is Canada day here; the musicians are Canadian.

Monika, Oktay and the children called in to see Mas as they were in the neighbourhood, and he said they all looked cheerful and happy; Monika will be off to Czech for a month's holiday with the children soon.

I had a rest when I got home, and Diane called and chatted for a while. Mas made me a lovely fish dinner before we relaxed for the evening.

More dental treatment and home again.

Mas and I got up early, had breakfast quickly and he drove me off to the station. I arrived at the dentists in good time, and after four injections and my nose and chin were numb, he worked on my implant, and this was completely painless. When he finished I thanked him, and picked up his spectacles to leave with, luckily he retrieved them as soon as he saw me do it. I walked back
through Cavendish Square, and caught the tube home at Oxford Street.























Cavendish Square


















When I got home, after resting , I did a little cleaning up and Mas made dinner.

The evening light looked so nice that I had to take this picture from the kitchen window, which happens to overlook the road at the front of our house.
We watched an episode of Pie in the Sky and a Frasier. Pete phoned a bit later, and then we went to bed fairly early.

Preparing for perodontics

Saturday and Sunday were fairly uneventful. The weather was very nice and we spent some time gardening, sitting in the garden, doing housework and generally catching up. I made some emergency rock cakes to take to the dentists as I have to eat at a special time so I can take the chemo pills.

Diane phoned to sadly cancel her visit on Sunday as she felt tired, and had a hectic week. I spoke to Pete and caught up a bit with Toby which was nice. I got an email from Jana with wonderful pictures of her holiday in Spain, some of it was mountain climbing, not just walking! We watched a bit of TV, filling in with Frasiers.

Today we got up horribly early, and I got to the station at 7.30am and I bought some water to wash my pills down with later. I got to Oxford Circus in good time, despite it being rush hour on the tube, and had time to eat the cakes and take my pills sitting in the sun in Cavendish Square where others were drinking coffee.

I reached the periodontic specialists in plenty of time. The people were very nice, and I had more x-rays ( I must glow in the dark by now), and a very precise examination. I was told I must come back for treatment tomorrow, Wednesday and Friday, but the implant could be saved. :-)

I looked at the food in John Lewis' and after seeing the prices of the different breads decided when I am better I will make my own again as I used to when Pete and Toby were young. I went home the scenic way, on the bus, and then relaxed most of the day.

Taking care on Friday the 13th!

I woke in the night feeling shivery, took my temperature which was raised at 5.00am, but next morning it was normal again; I thought it was the new antibiotics. I phoned the hospital, and they told me to come to the Accident and Emergency department which I did.

I saw the same nice doctor I had seen on Tuesday, who did lots more tests and examined me again, and took more blood samples ( I began to feel like Tony Hancock in 'The Blood Donor, and imagined that lately I must have used up one armful of blood on tests ). The doctor told me that I could not have any surgery until he had confirmed my white blood cell count was not too low. As all my blood counts were good, he spoke to my caring dentist to tell him the position, and called the specialist as well, and that the dental care must be done straight away. This took a long time, but I left the hospital feeling very confident that I was really being looked after.

Got home again, and found the dental specialist had already called and made me an appointment for 9.00am Monday morning. We then relaxed and caught up with a few emails before having dinner and watching TV for a while.

Playing Carcasson and impersonator beetles

We got up and had a cheerful breakfast together, and Pete and I played a game of Carcassonne which was fun, and Pete won. We were not quite sure what to do with 'the farmers', but somehow it was a relief to find that they are placed lying down in fields. We will improve with practice.

Mas took me to the dentist again; he gave me more antibiotics and advised I see a specialist which he would arrange. I am so impressed with the care that they are showing me.

Impressive male duck with a brood patch on his chest.

Baby Moorhen

We returned home, after collecting the new medication, to find Pete had vacuumed and tidied up, which was nice. We went to Letchmore Heath to the Three Horseshoes for a pub lunch and had a cheerful meal together. I became fascinated by a strange insect which I took for a beetle as it had no visible wings, but looked like a wasp, I had never seen one of these before. It was going up the inside of the window as we left, and I tried to catch it to release it outside, but it was too high for me to reach without standing on a chair. Pete got it and we took it outside and I tried to photograph it on his hand, but he kept saying it was biting him, so the picture was out of focus, but it was funny.

Medicals, meditation and mellow moods

Yesterday I had to go for a blood test at the Royal Free, on mentioning that I was a bit breathless after walking a mile a very thorough doctor did a battery of different tests on me, an ECG, chest x-ray, blood tests and the most thorough medical that I have ever had. All the tests showed that I am really very healthy which was very reassuring. It did take all day though.

Mas for his part had his teeth polished by the hygienist, and was very impressed by her. Both of us felt a bit tired and we went to bed early.

Today we went to St. Albans, the drive was really lovely as the countryside is particularly beautiful at this time and it was a sunny day. We bought fresh fruit and vegetables and then met Tania and Robert for lunch as usual in the Thai restaurant. Robert and Tania were both a bit under the weather, but we had a really nice meal and some laughs. The owner took me aside and suggested I use meditation to help me get better, and advised singing inside without a head as a good method. This presented various pictures to my mind and I resolved to think about it later.

We drove home and had a quick rest, and I discovered that the dentist had left a message to contact him. I did, and it was arranged that I call in tomorrow and he would review my tooth.

Pete arrived as planned, we had a really nice dinner which Mas prepared and we spent a nice evening together listening to Toby's jazz compilations and talking. All of us felt tired so we went off to bed fairly early.

Cheerful meal with friends

Today was hot and sunny so we thought we would push on with the gardening while it was nice.
Diane phoned which was nice and we arranged that she would come to us for Sunday lunch.

Christiane called in the morning and we arranged to all meet up at The man in the Moon for a meal. We met as planned with Christiane, Eddie, John and Margaret. A different manager was on duty, so everything was as nice as usual. Eddie had bought a huge pile of coupons which were offering various meals at reduced rates, so confusion reigned while everyone decided what to eat. Eventually we settled down and enjoyed our meal and the conversation. Sadly I had to break it up so I could return home and take my pills at the specified time, but it had been a fun evening.

I took my pills, and we sat in the garden for a while as it had been so nice yesterday. Later we watched a couple of Frasiers; we are stretching them out by only watching two episodes a night.

Domesticity and danger

Another hot and sunny day. Mas began to clean all the stonework in the garden, and I took delight in the kitchen, and managed a gentle vacuuming with a small headed brush and very little suck which at least sucked up grass and leaves which had been walked indoors. I did a bit more pruning in the garden

Ben and Poppy called; they have moved house and are happy in their new place. Poor Ben recently fell off a ladder narrowly missing removing an eye in the process, and really frightening Poppy. He is now sporting a real shiner.

We had a peaceful day, and in my new domestic capacity I cooked dinner for a change. Later we sat in the garden admiring the flowers while sunset came, and small clouds were stained pink across an azure sky, swifts were feeding on the wing, and a large group of pigeons circled and turned above us; the sound of their flying was very attractive. It got darker, and leaves were silhouetted against the sky in a very tropical way. Gradually the west filled with a bright golden orange and we decided to go indoors. A perfect and memorable evening and we were content.

Obsessive compulsive kitchen cleaning

We had breakfast as usual, and as usual I washed the dishes and generally tidied up. I do not know if the chemo is having a strange side effect on me; I now take enormous pleasure from washing up, and each cup and dish gets polished and put away with loving care in exactly the right place, and I have to force myself to stop cleaning and polishing. This is rather strange from someone who used to agree with Scarlet O'Hara's motto of "I will worry about that tomorrow." I am wondering how far this will go, will I creep down in the night to polish up a few more cups before long?

Eventually I tore myself from the kitchen and walked down to Edgware, taking a letter to the surgery en route. It was sunny and hot, and I went to the Broadwalk to get a Radio Times as well before coming home on the bus.

Later, managing to steer clear of the kitchen I did a bit of pruning in the garden, and Mas did some gardening too. We watched a couple of Frasiers before turning into bed.

Fear and loathing of Carnations

Today after breakfast a neighbour called in to see how I was, and bought a large bunch of Carnations for me. People have been so kind to me, and have given me so many flowers but sadly now I find I associate cream carnations with being ill, and find I do not like them at all as a result. It is a shame because they are lovely flowers and when grown out doors have a lovely warm clove smell that I like. It is odd that I have this antipathy towards Carnations now because my Mother did not like them either; it was not till I was grown up that she told me my father uses to give them to her when feeling guilty about a new indiscretion, and she loathed them. Poor flowers!

The postman bought a treat for Mas: Clare had a school project and when completed was posted to Mas .She had written an 'Ode to My Grandfather' for which she got marked by the teacher 25 points out of 30. It was a lovely touching poem, and it was illustrated too. I am going to frame this for him, it is so nice he is being appreciated!

My tooth seems a lot better, and later I walked down to Edgware to collect yet another prescription, but feeling a bit tired took the bus home and had another nap. Pete called again in the afternoon and we talked. Diane sent me a cheerful e-card, and I spoke to her as well.

In the evening we watched Wycliffe, a detective story set in Cornwall and a Touch of Frost (more detectives), and then to bed.

Harmony with Classic FM and hopeful dental result

This morning Mas went downstairs to make the breakfast coffee as usual while I finished dressing. As soon as he goes downstairs he turns on the radio and listens to Classic FM to keep him company; if he does not care for a piece of music he tunes it out and just does not hear it, and it does not matter how loud or big the orchestra is that is playing the music.

I came downstairs feeling rather chipper as I had not had any drastic effects from the pills I had been taking, and proceeded to pour out the coffees. I handed Mas his coffee, and whistled a couple of bars from the music that was playing so loudly. The effect was immediate, he looked as shocked as if a cobra had risen up and bit him, and gave a visible shudder. I believe he has strange bat like hearing and some frequencies seem to shred his nerves as he claims that I whistle shrilly, and off key, which is obviously unjust. As he complains about me whistling I usually do it from a distance, but I forgot today; the look on his face made me laugh so much that he had to laugh as well.

We went off to the dentist again and I saw the hygienist who is a beautiful young girl. I realised as I had this strange phenomena of pins and needles in my mouth, and that my throat would close if she used cold water, so she scaled and polished my teeth by hand. She also said that if we were careful she thought we could save my tooth, and she proceeded to carefully inject antibiotics into the gum, and told me to use salt and special mouth rinses. She could not have taken more care, and I am very grateful for her help. I was especially thankful as I had begun to visualise myself with no hair, a front tooth missing and all I would need would be an eye patch to complete the picture!

When we got home and after lunch, Mas cut the lawns and the hedge which is a lot in one day, and I was sorry I was not able to share it as usual. I do find that I have to take a rest during the day now which is something I do not usually do.

Mas then went off to get some shopping and Pete and I talked on the phone for a long time and I caught up with some e-mails.

We watched a little TV in the evening, but we were both tired and went to bed early.

Visit to dentist and delicate gardening

After breakfast, and lots of pills we got ready and Mas took me to the dentist who took x-rays of my implanted tooth and said it had an infection and prescribed antibiotics; he thought it likely that I would loose the tooth. He was very kind and said I could phone him anytime I was worried, and I made an appointment to see the hygienist the following day.

We went off to get the antibiotics from the chemist, and Mas collected a little shopping, and we returned home. After lunch I rested for a while, before going into the garden to do some gardening; the easiest kind, removing dead heads of flowers. These roses round the window are highly scented and their perfume fills the bedroom above.

In the evening we watched The Bill, some Frasier, and I, Claudius, and by mistake we found we had stayed up very late, so went off to bed.

Kind nurses and weird sensations

Today I went back to the hospital, had a blood test, saw the specialist and began the chemotherapy.

The nurses in this section of the hospital could not be better. They explained the procedures with full eye contact and went through the list of possible side effects, were attentive and helpful in every way; the whole atmosphere was very relaxing. I mentioned that my gum had become inflamed and was advised to go to the dentist immediately before my immunity decreased.

I was connected to a drip and the process began. Thankfully it was fairly uneventful except that my arm began to feel strange so a nurse bought a mini hot bottle which relieved the sensations a bit. With this particular drug you must keep warm, and in particular not drink anything cold. I forgot and took a sip of cool water and my mouth instantly felt as if it was full of pins and needles, this was relieved instantly by a sip of hot tea. After being given lots of instructions and follow up pills to take at home, and contact numbers to call I left and met Mas who was waiting for me downstairs. I felt a bit shaky but otherwise not too bad. On the way back Mas drove to the dentists and they gave me an appointment for the next day which was a relief.

We got home, and Mas made dinner and I found myself really hungry. My arm felt as if it had been rubbed all over with stinging nettles, but I had a hot water bottle to relieve it. I cannot touch anything cool or I get pins and needles in my hands, and I have to clean my teeth using hot water which is odd.

We watched some Frasiers and went to bed a bit early. I was glad to have made a beginning as it brings the finish of the treatment closer.

Nice evening listening to relaxed jazz, disappointing pub interlude

On Thursday I had to return to the hospital to talk with the specialist nurse as planned, and this was very useful and I came away feeling cheerful. The weather was warm, and people were sitting outside at the pavement cafes in Belsize Park.

Pete came over in the evening and we had a nice time sitting around and talking while listening to the good jazz compilations that Tobe made for me. Pete also bought lots of CDs to watch and we saw a couple of Frasiers before going off to bed.

The next day we had a relaxed breakfast, and a surprise package was delivered which came from Romy and Tobe and was filled with all manner of intriguing things including some birch knitting needles (as I had lost my other ones in hospital), Japanese wool and some hand dyed wool which it turns out is partly made from seaweed. Also a game called Carcasonne which is being played in Ontario and looks very intriguing.

We went to lunch at our pub in Stanmore, but were disappointed as the food was not good and the place seemed to be full of unpleasant people which was unusual, but I expect it will be a long time before we try it again.

Pete volunteered to do the vacuuming, and we all had a quick rest before having tea and I walked with Pete down to the station as he was off to meet a pal in Hampstead.

In the evening Mas and I watched some more I Claudius and some Frasiers as there was nothing of interest on TV.

St. Albans lunch and I Claudius

Today we went to St. Albans to have lunch with Tania and Robert and get fruit and vegetables from the market. The drive was lovely as all the trees are in leaf now and everything looked fresh and green; it seems a long time since we last did this customary drive.

Despite the gloomy overcast weather the market was busy and we got most of the shopping before going to Buai Thai restaurant.

We had a lot to catch up on as we had not seen each other for a while, and both Robert and I had been in hospital and we had a lot to talk about. We had a lovely lunch and as usual the friendly owner came to talk with us, she almost wants us to eat there for nothing, and we have to insist on leaving a tip as she tries to give it back to us, and kisses us when we leave.













This is part of a wall panel in the restaurant, the inlaid fish are all mother of pearl.

This evening we are planning to start watching reruns of 'I Claudius' which was an excellent historical production, even though it is now so old. There is so little of any interest shown on TV lately.

Man in the Moon lunch and illegal smoking

Mas and I did our usual chores and decided to go to The Man in the Moon pub for lunch just for a change of scene.

Pete phoned, and I told him we were going out for lunch and he said "I can't believe that Mas keeps making you go to the pub" which was really funny because Mas used to hate pubs and thought they were smelly dirty places, and the people who used them were the same, and would never go into one. And then there was the smoking ban and everything changed!

Some pubs have a bedraggled coterie of people who lurk in front of the door while they have a smoke, but this pub takes a firm position on this.



















After lunch I managed to do some gardening before it began to rain again, and did a little pruning. Everything is growong really fast because there has been so much rain.

During the night there were two enormous claps of thunder which caused me to unplug the phone and computers, having had a hi-fi system killed by lightening last year.

Blind Date and dusty fox

Last night we watched Blind Date which we have seen umpteen times, but it still makes us laugh; Blake Edwards films just have such good timing.

After breakfast Mas and I went for a shortish walk around the neighbourhhod as part of our getting healthy plan. As we came through the door the phone was ringing and it was Pete, who is planning to come to see us next week.

I managed to plant the hanging baskets and stuff more pansies into the window boxes. It felt really nice to be doing gardening again. There was no sign of the field mouse, but Mas thinks it has moved into the shed as someone had been eating the birds' fat balls.

A few days ago a big dusty looking fox came into the garden and was sniffing around under the bird feeder when he spotted a cat passing through the garden and gave chase. The cat however was much faster and got clear away.

Advice and garden flowers

Today I received a handmade card made by Milan from Monika, Oktay, Milan and Radovan. It was very sweet and funny. More emailing, and getting useful advice from Chris and Carol, and more phone calls.

I am feeling uncreative at the moment which always makes me feel bored, I hope it will pass soon. It does give me a lot of pleasure looking at plants in the garden. Mas has bought some flowers that need to be put into the window boxes and hanging baskets, I will try to get it done tomorrow.

Communications and shopping till you drop.

Since my last entry Pete returned home, and I have had two more hospital visits, and have had long conversations with Toby and Pete. I have caught up on most of my emails, and had lots of visits from friends and neighbours; the house rapidly filled with carnations and good wishes cards.

On Wednesday I went on the bus with Margaret to Watford's Harlequin shopping center with the idea of buying some new underwear. This bus ride is very scenic, passing through an area of very large expensive historic homes, woodland, Bushey and Old Bushey before arriving at Watford. I prefer taking the bus to driving along the motor way. Unfortunately I did not remember what a rough ride it was, the road surfaces are so uneven it feels like riding a horse and I felt exhausted by the jolting by the time we arrived. We had a fruit drink and Margaret had hot chocolate and I recovered somewhat and managed to get my new underwear, then we returned home, this time not sitting upstairs so it was not so jolting. I did think I had rather overdone it, so rested for a while.

Living in 'interesting times'

I am out of hospital now, and on the road to complete recovery, I hope, and feeling very happy to be alive and at home.

I believe the Chinese have a curse which says "may you live in interesting times." My time in hospital was very 'interesting' in several ways, but the strangest was my reaction to a pain drug that I was given. The effects of the drug built up and up until it became obvious that I had an allergy to it.

When I was a child I liked the stories of Sax Rhomer, one of them was called The Breath of Allah which was about the making of a very special perfume, and to protect the secret recipe drugs were burnt so that anyone spying could not read what was written in the book. My hallucinations began in a similar way:
If I tried to read anything the words moved around the page rather like insects, but at least they did not leave the paper and fly around. I thought that this effect was because of relaxed eye muscles. I noticed that the curtains around the bed were flowing upwards, like a river. If I looked into my cup of water it boiled and frothed as if an alka seltzer had been dropped into it, but tasted normal. My sense of perspective altered and I could not tell if things were as close as my nose or across the ward.

Then I began to have hallucinations which were peopled, and thought that crowds of hospital employees were sleeping between the beds on the floor at night because they could not afford to pay rent.

Things went from bad to worse and I woke in the night believing that we had all undergone rendition, and were not in a real hospital but being tortured, and we would all be dead before the morning. I pulled out all my drips, catheters,oxygen and tubes and began shouting to the other patients to escape. A very kind nurse tried to reassure me, so I thought she was doomed as well. None of the other patients had taken any notice, and as I could not move from my bed, so thought there was nothing more I could do.

The next morning I was put on morphine and things quickly returned to 'normal'. Mas visited me in hospital every day, and Pete came often as well, but I was so happy when I was discharged and could go home again. I noticed on the drive home how it seemed to have become summer while I was in hospital. The gardens were full of laburnum in flower and hanging bunches of wisteria, the air was full of light and it seemed as if I had entered heaven. Then home and peace and quiet!

Lonesome dove with fieldmouse and flowers

We spent most of the week feeling a great lack of energy and doing things that had to be done. I finished the final touches to the prints and prepared to post them off.

We had intended to go to the Chelsea Art Fair as usual, but could not muster up the energy to do it, but hopefully we will next year.

While having breakfast we discovered that a field mouse had moved into our window box and had made a small hole behind the geraniums. We watched it running about very fast for a while, and were pleased to see it.

As we have been feeling at a bit of a low ebb we have been watching old cowboy films, and one that we both really enjoy called Lonesome Dove which was serialised on TV. There is one amazing scene where steers are being driven through a storm, and the lightening travels through them, running along all their horns and lighting them up in the darkness.

Joan sent me these lovely pictures from Ontario woods; spring has come at last!

Biding my time with butterflies

On Saturday I received a parcel of prints from my printers which I did not have time to look at until later. We went off shopping, had a quick lunch.

On returning to the house I found I had received a piece of mail from the hospital which contained two letters; one said I had been placed on a waiting list, and I could be waiting for 20 weeks, and the other letter said I was to be admitted to hospital on the 29th, but would have to check on the day to see if there was an available bed. Feeling somewhat dispirited we spent the rest of the day moping about doing things to pass the time as well as possible till I could check with the hospital on Monday.

On Sunday I looked at the prints of my pictures as there were several that I needed to hand finish, adding gold and silver where appropriate. I also caught up with correspondence and household chores. Toby phoned and we had a long chat about things which was cheering.

On Monday the weather seemed very sunny. I confirmed with the hospital that I had received their letter offering an appointment for the 29th; I did not mention the other letter as I thought it would confuse them further. I spent more time finishing the prints. Mas finished making a support for the roses and clematis in the garden.

The Common Blue Butterfly

Later I went into the garden and saw one of our small trees which is in flower covered with a myriad of flies of various kinds feeding on the nectar. One type of fly I had not seen before; it looked rather like a wasp, but had a black shiny body. I also saw a Common Blue butterfly; the first this year.

On Tuesday we went shopping in the morning and had a quick pub lunch. Diane came over in the evening for dinner as planned, bringing a bottle of very nice French wine which complemented the chicken Mas had roasted, perfectly. Diane had a new hairstyle and was looking glamorous and healthy, but all of us were feeling rather tired and we made an early night of it.

An enjoyable evening out.

I received all the prints I had ordered from my printers which was a minor miracle as it had been so difficult to sen

On Friday Monika drove over with the children and Oktay's neice in law. Monika told me the children were asleep, so as she didn't want to wake them she would sit in the car with them till they woke up. Our next door neighbours found this rather odd and kept a careful eye on them.

After a while Oktay arrived, and the children woke up and we soon went off to a Turkish restaurant for dinner. This was a real treat, and we really enjoyed the meal and the conversations and we had some soft fruity Turkish wine that complemented the meal perfectly. We were taken home later, and were sad to see them all leave, but it had been great fun.

Thai lunch and walking with Pete

I spent a few days seeing a few friends and neighbours, but felt that I could not settle down and concentrate as I seem to be in waiting mode all the time.

On Tuesday for want of anything better to do I took a bus ride through Mill Hill and off to North Finchley and back again. Later I caught up with my emails and watched something on TV with Mas.














On wednesday we went as usual to St. Albans; the countryside is coming back to life and looking very fresh. We met Tania and Robert for lunch at the Thai restaurant, and caught up with all the news, our friendly restaurant owner gave us a huge dish of complimentary banana fritters on scoops of icecream. We were so full afterwards that we did not feel like buying much fruit and vegetables from the market.

Thursday morning I was lucky enough to be able to see a doctor as I had got an eye infection, and got some antibiotic drops. Before too long Pete arrived and we had lunch together before leaving Mas to do his tax returns.

We went off for a walk from Elstree across fields, round the golf course and eventually came out in Butterfly Lane. There was a cold wind, but the air was scented as lots of the trees were in blossom. We saw a stately Heron standing beside a small pool, but before I could photograph him he flew off into another field. We did not walk for too long as Pete had to go off to London for dinner.



















There are new paths on the golf couse which are made of sea shells instead of gravel. Bluebells are begining to flower too.

Resting , recharging and relaxing

Yesterday we were still feeling really tired. Mas went off and bought things to make an arch in the garden for our roses to hold onto. I spent time receiving phone calls, emails, cards, Woody Allan films, and will soon have a good book to read! In the evening we watched a new sitcom called Pushing Daisies, bur neither of us cared for this much.

Stand Alone socks.











Today Mas set about chaining back some other climbing roses, but was interrupted by heavy April showers which also contained hail and claps of thunder. I made some rock cakes, and finished another pair of 'stand alone' socks.

Royal Free hospital visit and relief

Mas and I went to the hospital in the morning, waited a short time, then saw the consultant. The news was good, however I will still need an operation soon.

We left the hospital, and went across the road to a cafe bar called Icons where we had a light lunch. This place has only been opened for two weeks. The first time Mas invited me out to dinner, this is the place we came to. It was called Bunny's at that time, and the restaurant was in the cellar; a candlelit place with classical music. Their speciality was a dessert called Refrigerator Cake, and I always wanted the recipe for this. Mas asked about the cook, thinking as he was so good he must be French, but in fact he came from Liverpool.

After lunch I returned to the hospital for pre admittance procedures, with blood tests, heart assessment and various health history questionnaires to go through. Everyone was very helpful and kind.

When finished with this I went back to Icons where Mas had been waiting for me, and we had a glass of wine to celebrate before going home.

Once home we had a quick nap, then Jana called from Czech, and Monika, then I set about telling people the good news. Afterwards Mas and I had an early night as we both felt exhausted by relief.