*TAMOXIFEN* the 5th

[MaryAnnSingleton]

in case we forget and find ourselves at 1000 - here's a fresh new thread !

How did the show go, RWU? Any prizes won? Any great foodi experiences? if you are anything like me you'll be knackered now!

am back, still shattered after a really long day (was up at 5, got home sometime around 8 i think!) Had a great time, food hall was divine, nephew won his class [proud aunty]!

Bit of a suprise as well, my boys and dd finally met their eldest brother (who i might add is 28!)- tis a long and involved story but my dh lost contact with his eldest sons after they moved abroad, twas a very bad divorce and the ex-wife is a bit of a cow. He sees them now and again, but they had never met our kids (situations where they have met me were not suitable for kids ie, mil's death bed/ funeral etc etc etc!) but yesterday my step-son [arggghhhhh] was at the show with SIL and spent the afternoon with us. He was great with the kids, i think he really appreciated meeting them- he held dd's hand and walked her round the goats and kept patting the boys on the head (sounds so trivial but really made me smile). It's a bit sad really as he is also terminally ill although he could have years to live yet (bit like me really!), he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2007, lots of ops and we thought he had beaten it, but it is back, and this time in-operable. I don't know much of the detail but we do have a lot in common treatment-wise. He re-starts chemo next friday, so we'll be bald together lol!

hopefully when we move he will see the kids more frequently (atm he is not close enough to dh to come round purely to see us, but when we move he will naturally run into us as it's a small place)

it may seem like a really small step, but i am so glad, it feels to us like a massive leap!

That's lovely RWU. Nice for him too.

Eyebrows went off the priority list last 2 days as on Monday I found a big hard lump in armpit. Saw onc yesterday who said prob lymph node and needs needle stuck in it asap to see what it was. Have been panicking +++ at thought of new diseased nodes in middle of chemo, but biopsied this morning and it is 'just' an extension of the inflammation / seroma that never settled down, in fact is worsening. Saw surgeon again who is most unhappy with ugliness despite my happiness that it is only ugly, and she stuck more needles and scalpels in me (ow, but didn't care) and 2 wicks and a stoma bag on top. That will really look good sticking out of godmother frock on Saturday! Again don't care.

Tho now back on the eyebrow hunt. Found another woman who works in Brentwood, friend of friend had amazing eyebrow job done there, so if Smee has no luck tracking down Harrod's woman, I may give her a go. Let u all know!

Glad you had a good day RWU - it sounds like you achieved a lot as a family in many ways. I saw some photos of the show on the BBS web-site when I was browsing around to see if anything would be going on in Borth/Aber next week!

My energy rather low today so not doing much, but am OK. Hope you are too, despite exhausting day at the Show.

Wqas just browsing on M'net and came across the thread about how many uniforms do DCs have (under Education). I'm gob-snakced - you'll see my comments if you're interested, but as I'm more friendly with you I'd be interested to know your views! (I suppose they should be on the other thread really but I don't care, being a slummy character obviously)

I didn't dare say how often the balzer gets washed....like once a term if they're lucky.

Hello Ladies - I got back late last night. I see we have moved onto a 5th thread - well done MAS .

I am gradually catching up on all your news and reading through all your posts. I hope everyone is in good spirits and coping well with treatment. Sorry to hear of your setback CC, but very glad it was nothing too nasty. (you know what I mean, obviously it is pretty unpleasant for you!!!)

Sounds like you have had an eventful few days RWU, and big but good things happening in your family, and house moving! - good luck with it all.

Am just doing a big general hello wave to everyone, excuse me if I muddle events up a bit over the next few days as I catch up.

MAS - I read Deaf Sentence as my holiday book , and loved it, very funny and a lot of things that I personally identified with. I'd definitely recommend it if anyone wants a good read.

It was lovely to see my parents, and we had gorgeous weather. But bittersweet in many ways. My dear Dad is pretty poorly now, and it is heartbreaking to see him that way. I'm going to spend as much time as I possibly can going up and down to help mum out, and keep her company. She was very emotional at seeing me.

On the good side we had fun walking my sister's two enormous dogs, and our little terrier girl had fun putting two boisterous big boy dogs in their place

I have to report that DH was too lazy to shave has grown a beard. I think this new addition needs a name

Welcome back KK and I'm sorry about your father. Your mum must have been very grateful for your support, even tho it was emotional.

RWU, sounds like you had a brilliant time. Very sad about your step son's illness though. Must feel like a real advance to have the kids meet him and them get on. Total result, so I can see why you're so up about it. Hope it continues and you get to see a lot more of him.

Cupcaked, finding that lump must have been heart stopping. So pleased to hear it's that pesky seroma, though on your behalf that it's still playing up.
I realised it wasn't my BCN who recommended Harrods woman, but the woman who sorted my wig. Have left her a message, so she should call me back tomorrow. If not I'll chase her.

SR, haven't got to that thread yet. Am curious, so will try to get to it later. We don't have uniform to worry about, so I won't be able to add anything sensible.

Waving a hello to Kurri - good to have you back, though sorry to hear about your Dad. Must be heartbreaking to see him like that, though I'd bet it helps your mum a lot to have you there and help her come to terms with it. Facial hair beyond stubble is banned in this house. I think you are most brave..

Cupcaked - really sorry I missed your post somehow. How horrible to find that lump - I'm very relieved its nothing sinister.

My DD has just ring from Germany - she's 21 today!

Happy 21st to SR's dd
Cupcaked - how scary for you, but so glad it wasn't anything sinister -still, not at all pleasant for you.
RWU - that is lovely that your nephew won his class and that your children got to meet their half brother -very sad to hear that he is also ill though.
KK- glad you found us -lovely to have you back- must be very upsetting to see your dad so poorly.

forgot to say- haven't read the uniform thread but if it's any help ds has 3 polo tops for summer,3 pairs of trousers and 3 proper school shirts and two ties..(they are clip on so one spare in case of loss) I wash his blazer every school holiday,dabbing off paint and other muck in between.

Thanks, all, for support. But oh I am just so happy that it isn't a malignant lump, that would have been v scarey to appear during chemo. Heart-stopping was just the word, Smee, I was beside myself with anxiety, and cried my head off when they said it was not malignant. So yeah, little bit irritating I suppose that he seroma is still rumbling on but hey, will settle for that!

KK, so sorry about your dad. Cherish every precious minute you can with him now. Lost my dad 10 yrs ago, don't think will ever get over it, and regret that my kids were so small and we lived so far away that most of our chats were on the phone. Ur poor mum.

Smee, thnx for investigating Harrod's woman, can't wait to get eyebrows now! You and SR both finish chemo in Sept, I am just before you, last one Aug 24 (GCSE result day...)

Cupcake, the under-arm attire sounds a bit if a pain, but such good news that it's not anything too nasty! Have a lively weekend and good luck with the christening, you deserve some pampering after a shock like that!

Uniform, mine are all still in primary so no blazers, but they each have 5 polo's, 2 trousers and 2 sweatshirts, we have some odds and sods of spares that they all share as well. I am too lazy to do too much washing!

SR, you up our way next week? I have Chemo on Monday so will be laid low for a while, but might manage coffee later in the week if you'd like!

Hi all

RWU - fab developments on the family front: and imagine a step son who is older than you. Yikes! Sorry that he is also going through it. but it'll be nice to have him around when you move. Lovely for the kids, my dd's cousins are all quite a bit older and they spoil her rotten.

Cupcaked - oh crikey poor you. I am so pleased it is the seroma and nothing worse, but I can imagine that you had a horrible few days. Treats must be in order, surely.

KK - what a shame about your Dad. Spend as much time with him and your Mum as you can manage. My brother has big regrets not seeing mor of my Dad before he died: I saw lots of him and had time to make up over all our teenage fights (this was a long time ag0) so when he died, though very much missed, I knew that we hadn't left anything undone, or unsaid. And that helped a lot.

School uniform _ I usually manage with three or four summer dresses, and in winter, five polo shirts, three skirts and four cardies. DD is a yoghurt spiller or it would be less. No blazers here, but coats washed once a term if fortunate, more often if football and falling over demand it.

Well I'm relieved to find you are not zealous over-washers like a few on the other thread Couldn't believe it really - I beleive its good for our DCs to get fairly mucky as I think it builds their resistance to nasty stuff! My DD told me several years ago that everyone's PE looked like her's ie creased, so I didn't want her to lookm different! I have washed my DS's PE kit regularly as he played rugby till recently.

I am fed up with this rain.

RWU - that's very nice of you to offer to have a coffee. WE'll have to leave on Wed unfortnuately but if you by any chance you feel perky enough on Tuesday send me a text and I'll come over to Aber. (Do you still have my no. from last time?)

I think we 'll be back again later in the summer so fret not if we can't manage it this time. I hope your chemo is not too bad.

Hope weather picks up for DS's camping weekend in Abersoch with friends.....its been planned for months....

I seem to be constantly hungry on this CMF and even wake in the night feeling peckish. Must limit eating today as I'm out tomorrow for lunch and dinner! The rain and low energy have reduced my walking this week. Am going to resemble an elephant soon.

Chemo and GCSE results on same day CC - I hope you get good results! If its the last chemo you'll have that to celebrate as well.

I couldn't find the other thread, but have seen similar before, they just blow your mind. I wouldn't have the time!

I think the weather is meant to be OK at the weekend, hope so anyway as we are going to a Festival of Street Theatre. Since I was diagnosed i just can;t sit still. The BCN said it was the steroids they give you for the chemo, but that finished last October for me, and I'm still like a blue-arsed fly.

Yoga finished last week for summer, so this week I tried a new tack - 45 minutes of aqua aerobics (hilarious for the uncoordinated like me) followed immediately by an hour of combined pilates/tai chi/yoga type stretches.
Totally worn out, but definitely worth pursuing!!!

phew -sounds exhausting Cakes -well done
School hols are here - ds finished at lunch time...he got his singing exam results - a merit,which is fab- he is a bit cross with himself for getting 4 marks less than his last exam..I pointed out that this one was a bit harder etc.

Merit! And still not pleased! Yikes! Is he a bit of an overachiever by any chance, MAS?

Bloody well done to him anyway!

School hols already. Ours start tomorrow. Sigh.

Do I seem like a bad Mum if I say I really struggle with the summer holidays? Even if I do - it's true.

you aren't a bad mum Cakes - it's a long haul,the summer hols...
Ds is a bit self critical I think - he feels he should have done better but i'm very pleased with him and will now go and buy him an eclair or a doughnut !! It was tamoxifen thread ladies good vibes that assisted !

Well done to DS, MAS - he did very well, a merit is excellent.

The aquarobics/exercise class sounds fun Cakes, I urgently need to get going with the exercise again. I did plenty of long walks at Mum's but also had far too many one or two cakes

I forgot to tell you my return from holiday disaster. As we left the house DH had called to DD 'switch everything off'. She followed these intructions and accidentally turned off the freezer !! When we got home, I opened the freezer (chest variety)and was nearly knocked across the kitchen with the smell. It was about 6 inches deep in water with rotting food floating in it. Rancid doesn't come close! Luckily it wasn't an enormous quantity of food, so no great financial loss. But we had to clean it all out at about 10p.m. after a 6 hour car journey. Fun, fun, fun.

Oh KK! Yuck, not what you needed! At least it wasn't to much in monetary terms, we have a meat freezer ( farming connections means we fill it in spring and it usually lasts to Christmas!) I dread that having any 'issues'!!

SR, I wasn't planning on emerging until Friday, have chemo on Mon and Tues so I'll leave it until you are next down.

Well done to Ds MAS, he is a little hard on himself isn't he! Does he get the perfectionist gene from you?

We've found THE house!! Private sale as well- so no estate agents, going to haggle discuss things tomorrow

RWU - that's great about finding a house - best of luck with the discussions! I completely understand about you not emerging till Friday next week!

WEll done also to MAS's son - lovely to have a merit.

KK - commiserations on the freezer- yuk! We have an attack of bluebottles for some reason so am in full battle. (Perhaps its becuase I don't keep a clean enough house . Irony is thjat it is far cleaner than usual at the mo- due to me being at home and being zealous with disinfectant so that I don't get any bugs etc while on chemo!

Cakes - well done on the aerobics. I did these for a few weeks a cople of years ago and qwuite liked it, except I had to avoid the high kicking as that did my back in once. Oh I do wish I could get back in a pool. Only 2 more months though. I'll paddle at Borth - with sea shoes on as my SIL got a ghastly sting from a weaver fish there once! That would really be the pits!

I summoned up the energy to go into manchester today - big effort. Went to see Leaving - a French film. Bit far fetched to say the least but gripping and it took my mind off everything else.

Have I mentioned Helen Dunmore on here? I've discovered her recently and really like her books. Will take one to Wales in case of rain...

Hope evryone is OK, including lurkers.

Good luck with the house RWU - sounds exciting

SR - I think bluebottle season is in full swing at the moment - they are horrible aren't they. Thanks for the book tip - I will seek her out at the library I'm always looking for new reads.

eeew about the freezer - I did once switch MIL's off - fortunately realised before everything defrosted -was being over zealous in my checking of electrical items.
Brilliant news about the house RWU - fingers crossed for successful discussions

My friend (we worked together and she moved to my old road) has just emailed to say that her sister died this morning - bc - she is devastated -she was her best friend.Also her only son has recently moved to Australia with his fiancee and she is missing him terribly.
I emailed back which seems horribly inadequate and i will call her tomorrow (do you think that's a good idea ~?) and write her a card - should i send her some flowers too ?
She is a very private person,very independent. She sent a cheque for my strawberry tea - am really sad for her.

Mas that's awful, but I'm sure the email in the short term and then a follow up will let her know that you are thinking of her. It's so terribly sad x

On the house front we have been really lucky, we've found a few we like, and that are suitable, we've just got to get the right price on one of them! We're using my trust fund and dh's inheritance so we are limited in how far we can push it without needing a trip to the bank manager! Our house is easy, we bought it off a housing trust as dh is ex-forces and they will buy it back so that saves any hastle on our part- contacted them yesterday and they are arranging a valuation etc! It's really happening.... We're moving!!!!!

And finally SR, you're going to bring a book 'incase' it rains! Lol! It always rains up here