**TAMOXIFEN**the 6th

[MaryAnnSingleton]

here we go !

Your poor Mum (and you and your Dad). Doddery oldsters are a worry. I am glad it is no worse, but she'll be shaken for a bit. Hope the GP can reassure.

Fingers crossed for good outcome at the bank KK. Did the mattress dry? You made me extra careful with Dd's water bottle last night - although as it is brand new it probably has a few years in it yet.

SR - yay! for your hair (facial and otherwise). it is such a joy when you start to look normal again. I really can recommend Rimmel as a way to try out lippy as it is so cheap. I adore lipstick and have lots of quite costly ones because they feel like a treat buy (to me, anyway) but Rimmel outperforms most of them really. Except maybe Guerlain.

Joy on the weight front! Someone asked me today if I have lost weight!! Yay and double yay!! I am not sure, to be honest as I rarely weigh myself (though I did for our pre Xmas challenge - but I doubt if she has noticed the mere pound I lost there) but I have had a slight feeling that things may be a bit less baggy. If so, it is down o the exercise I think, so I am spurred on to swim later.

Oh that's great Cakes - always a huge lift when someone notices something like that -well done
Hope my dad asks the GP[ for an assessment of mum's needs (and his really as it certainly impacts on his life)
Hope bank trip has been fruitful KK and bed was dry.

How did it go with the GP? I hope they are getting the support they need

It must be hard living so near - good when things turn bad, of course, but hard not to be in each others' pockets at other times. DH's Mum is always trying to get to live nearer to one or other of the kids: it's something that I and all the kids-in-law dread, because she is a drama queen and pretty interfering. But that's just her - I'm sure it isn't the same with yours

I have just received a lovely MN Secret Santa gift for dd: I'm sure the person who nominated must have been one of you lot, so thank you very, very much. I've also put a note on the main thread, of course.

Gosh - your poor mum MAS I hope she is OK, - a fall really shakes you up. She will be feeling very sore I expect - it sometimes takes a couple of days for bruises to appear. I hope the GP assessment goes well - elderly parents are a worry aren't they?

Cakes - well done I am sure all your exercise is making you look more trim (and muscle weighs more so you may not necessarily lose weight, but still look thinner.) How lovely that DD has a SS gift!

Great news on the hair front SR - its nice to start feeling like your old self again

I can also recommend Rimmel lipstick, it's very good (I have to admit to being a Heather Shimmer girl for years - but I have branched out a bit in my old age!). In fact all this lipstick talk has made me think I will get a lippy for DD's stocking (yes my grown up children still get stockings)

We managed to sort things at the bank - sigh of relief, although how long it will last before they cock up again I don't know. They claim they will no longer interfere with our DDs, and have returned the charges we incurred. So a result - but it just depresses me having to deal with them at all at the moment.

Bed is dry, and I have bought a new hot water bottle, but it is a warning to ditch them before they get old.

Hope everyone is feeling OK today, and that the poorly DC are better now. And also that Smee and Sparkles are feeling some improvement with their ABs.

My mum didn't win the lottery - she will have been shouting 'why do I waste my money on this every week' at the telly!

Poor old Mum. We've all had that really strong feeling that our ship is a bout to come in, I guess. It feels so real

I don't do the lottery but my Mum does - she always says 'I wouldn't want to win the big prize, but a few thousand would be nice' eh?

MAS, hope your mum's okay. Must be a worry, but sounds like things could have been far worse.

Kurri, glad bank is done. At least you got your point across. I really like the idea of stockings for grown ups. Might simper a bit and see if someone'll do me one..

I'm just back from seeing Nice Nurse at hospital, as a pose to Completely Useless Nurse, who I saw last week. Have finally been given the proper dressings and shown how to dress the wounds, so am feeling lots better. Off to see DS's Christmas show in a bit. Not at all sure what he is in it, so should be intriguing...

Sparkle, hope things are on the up for you today. It will get better (repeat like a mantra..).

No developments or improvesments with the abs yet, I did have to take the dressing off yesterday a bit early as I started developing an allergic skin reaction to the dressing. Have got rash and blisters over my boob....life is great

Ds became hysterical in school this morning, we don't know why, but he had to be removed to a quiet room, he was hyperventilating (sp?), bad pain day for him. I was in school at the time, watching dd1 being a donkey in the nativity play....good donkey she was too . I had to leave him before he was over it as I was making it worse. His class teacher has taken it upon herself to do some relaxing physio with him at lunchtime, so maybe that will help, some people there are amazing, it is just a shame that there is a core of completely insensitive idiots, one of whom I will punch if I see her before I have a chance to calm down. Sorry rant over.

MAS how is your mum? I hope she is doing ok today, and your dad, terrible shock for him too. I am glad the bank is sorted for now, no comfort in the certain knowledge they will mess something else up again in the near future.

KK sorry that she didn't win, I was routing for your mum. Any consolation but we didn't win anything either!

Cakes - well done you on people noticing you look trimmer. Huge confidence boost I hope, and extra determination to pass the FBS over to me!

Smee how are you doing? Is your skin any calmer now?

I am going to spend the next hour tidying and "lick 'n promising" the house in a vainm effort to make it look nicer. I have decided I am breaking with German tradition this year, and tomorrow I am going out to buy as many xmas decs as I can find, to make the house truely festive for the dc. Feel constantly frightened that it might be my ds's last one, so want it to be super special and magical for them all.

Glad you got the dressings and some proper support smee - enjoy the Xmas play. Ours is next week - i always love them.....

sparkles, how lucky that you were at school, even if you had to leave he will have known that you were there and caring. And i hope you got a chance to enjoy the play. Some people can be SOOO insensitive, it is hard - but at least some of them are only incompetent and don't know what to do or say, they aren't necessarily meaning to be t*s. I hope the school manage to settle him down a bit. Bet you can't wait to pick him up and give him a hug - add in one from me too. Poor little chap.

poor little ds Sparkle and sorry to hear about allergic reaction to dressing Hope the antibiotics kick in soon.
Am feeling mightily stressed -i need to try to be Mindful but am eating some giant chocolate buttons.
Mum is resting and has seen GP who is arranging for the assessments,which is excellent news,and a stairlift man is coming on Monday- the 'good' thing about this is that it's triggered dad into action- he was burying his head in the sand a bit. I manage to keep out of their pockets and them mine which is great - we usually have drinks on a weekend night at theirs and ds trots over most days,but they don't just appear at the back door !
Have to take Celeste to the vets at 5 as we think there may be blood in her poo again- though it might be food colouring from her Go cat kitten food - I hope I'm not going to look like a complete idiot.
No cleaning done as planned today- i did buy some food for the old ones and posted a picture at post office. Am a bit frantic as one I sent recorded delivery last friday still hasn't arrived

oh and glad to hear about proper dressings smee -enjoy the Christmas show !

Poor DS Sparkle, ignore the insensitive idiots if you can, - they aren't worth getting upset over. I hope he's feeling better soon, and that the relaxation is nice for him. Hugs from me too

MAS - sorry Celeste is poorly, - the vet won't think you're foolish if its food colouring always best to get these things checked, is she poorly in herself?

Good that GP is organizing things, and a stairlift will be very useful. My mother is trying to get a wheelchair for my dad a the moment, he really needs one as his walking is fairly ropey. But it's been like getting blood out of a stone to get one from the NHS.
But hopefully your Mum will get all the things she needs soon. (other things for my dad have been sorted pretty quickly on the whole)

Post has been very slow here the last ten days or so, the last 3 things I've posted have taken ages (first class - a week on each occasion) - because of the snow I presume, so I wouldn't panic yet.

Great you have some proper dressings at last Smee, and I hope DS's show was fun

Hi all - just here for my nightly check-in!

Glad things are working out for you all on the mattress, bank clots, mum's assessments, and so on. Sorry about your son's insensitive companions Sparkle.

For anyone having probelms with dressings, I am also allergic to dressings. I had to have IV3000 dressings which were great. Anything else brought my skin out in scabs within 24 hours. I recommend IV3000 if anyone still has problems.

It took me 3 hours to get to work today instead of 50 mins - appalling ice everywhere. It had rained onto freezing roads and it was lethal - there were a lot of accidents. Left me shaking for most of the day! I couldn't turn back as the roads were grid-locked -- yuk. Then had to rush back for Teacher's interviews with parents - lovely to hear so many people praising my DS as such a star!

Haven't weighed myself again yet. Will wait for w/e. Cakes - how great to get that nice comment!

Virtual hugs to you and DS from me too, Sparkle. Sounds horribly upsetting and stressful. Was relieved when you mentioned his lovely teacher doing yoga with him. I hope you're all spruced ready for decorating tomorrow. At the very least it sounds an excellent distraction.

MAS, it's interesting your dad's a bit more proactive. Sounds like a positive out of a negative, so at least that's something. Was Celeste given a purr of good health by the vet? I do hope so. Post slow here too - something which I posted to my mother two weeks ago, apparently turned up today..

DS's show was top entertainment. Their year did 'A Christmas Carol', replete with a Scrooge who couldn't stop himself beaming and newly made up songs which were enthusiastically if not altogether tunefully sung. We think DS was a Christmas tree, but didn't like to ask in case we are wrong.

hooray for SR's ds and smee's possible christmas tree ds ! The ice sounds very scary SR - take care.
Thanks for reassurance about the post- I just worry about these things.
Celeste has antibiotics and probiotics -think her insides are a bit sensitive,though she seems remarkably well in herself- she certainly lapped up the probiotics mixed with cat milk !

something to make you smile
www.guardian.co.uk/books/video/2010/dec/09/simons-cat-christmas

I love Simon's cat MAS - very funny - have sent it on to DD as she is a fan too.

Must show dd

Try not to be stressed MAS. I am feeling the same myself, not sure why: maybe it's too much to do and too little time. But really, at the moment I feel only a few steps away from tears, for no apparent reason: and in circumstances like this, sometimes only giant chocolate buttons will do.

Glad ds made a good tree, smee. It is usually best not to assume you understand too much, I find. If I get over confident about these things it always goes pear shaped.

Seeing Diversity tomorrow, and going to the panto on Sunday. Then Jools Holland next weekend. Not sure why I book everything in one great lump - madness.

Hark at Cakes with her outings. Am feeling dowdy and you're not helping. I'm taking DS and one of his friends to the panto on the 22nd. Expect they'll be ridiculously excited by then.

On the tears Cakes, me too! I had to fight to stop myself sobbing at the Christmas show yesterday - it wasn't even at DS's class, it was a Yr 5 gaggle doing a funny Christmas rap. I am very aware of hiding from feelings at the moment - it's almost a conscious decision, though am not sure if it's the right one. More of a coping mechanism really. Treatment felt such a slog that I couldn't let emotion in too. Have decided to try and pause and find time to reflect in the New Year. Can't do it now, as I need my skin to heal and to make Christmas work. Chocolate buttons then to see me through. Sounds like a top tip.

Love the Simon's Cat video, MAS. Will forward it to my niece and nephew, though am not letting my cat watch in case he gets any ideas..

Ice sounds terrifying SR, but bravo for your boy. How lovely to be told such good things. Are you staying in today? We're so lucky in London as all ice went last weekend. Just the protests to navigate then. One of the mum's dashed back to work yesterday after the school show and got kettled en route..! She managed to talk her way out of it, but said the police were being outrageous.

Sparkle, how you today? Hope the DC are all alright and you're out there buying baubles a plenty.

Smee - when I had just finished treatment all I wanted to do was go away by myself and think. I didn't do it (it's not the way I usually behave and i felt it would worry the family: the result is a lot of undealt with stuff, I think.) But I think it just sits there if you don't deal with it. I may have to address it in the new year before it becomes a permanent fixture.

Perhaps we should have a thread awayday where we all emote. No, actually, that would be ghastly. The emoting, not the meeting up, obv. Let's stick to Buttons.

Don't let me make you feel dowdy, I look about 103 today. I think I have a bug - not many symptoms, just a cough that doesn't hurt my throat, but bone-crushing tiredness and a very palid complexion. I look a wreck and am frankly a bit grumpy with poor old dd (she never, ever shuts up).

Hope everyone's dcs are feeling a bit better. And hooray for SR's ds being such a star.

The other day, our head teacher told me that dd has been 'beautifully brought up' - how on earth did that happen, then? and a bit

Cakes, we sound very similar in terms of how we handle things. Must be the Birmingham way.

I'm not sure how to handle how I feel, or even if I want to know really. I crave a week in the sun - just me and a warm sea to swim in, a few books to read and long walks with some time to think. All about as feasible as telling DS we're going to cancel Christmas. Having said that, nearly bursting into tears at random moments tells me probably I need to do something. Buttons for now then. That I can manage.

• I bet I look worse than you today. I have werewolf eyebrows, randomly sprouting hair, bulging eyes (not sure why) and yellow skin. mmm, top look...

Lovely comment about your DD, though am not surprised at all.

Am liking your style on the warm holiday option. But oddly I also have the yellowish skin - and with my bullet holes still not completely healed, my look is a couple of notches lower than I'd like.

Let's hope for a healing Christmas break.

MAS - have been meaning to ask: are you going to be strapped in to watch the lovely Margaret M return to destroy the Apprentice doofuses next week?

Margaret is on next week ??? yay !
Am hoping to look a bit decent this evening as it's bookgroup's Christmas beano- in the sumptuous home of one of our group-everyone is bringing a different course and a secret santa thing. I will be wearing sparkly tights.

Oh I like sparkly tights. Just not on me (fat legs). Enjoy it!

Yes, Margaret is indeed on next week. And on the trailer she looked and sounded even more magnificent than before.

can't wait !!!

Well done for all the talented, well brought up, being a fabulous tree, and generally wonderful children - makes it all worth while when you get lovely compliments. Cakes I laughed about your DD being a chatterbox, a teacher once asked me if DD had some sort of illness that made her talk continuously

As for feeling a bit down and tearful, - I will own up to it too. I think it's partly the time of year (sort of brings everything home, and I get a sort of overwhelming 'I must live for the moment' feeling). I also have a continual sense of having to get lots of things done, and being frustrated because I run out of energy. I'm really missing my yoga at the moment - it kept me sane. It's nice to come on here and be able to set some of the emotions down, I'm sure we all put a cheerful face on things lot of the time.

On a happier note, the outings and pantos sound fun. Diversity will be great I'm sure.

Hope the AB's are kicking in Smee and and the dressings are working for you.

Also hope your AB's are helping Sparkles, and you are a bit less sore today, those sticky dressings can be a real pain on your skin. Is DS having a better day today? I hope so

MAS, - sorry about Celeste,I think some animals just do have a sensitive digestive system, hopefully the Ab's and PB's wil sort her out.

How is your Mum today, any improvement?
By the way - remember Strictly is on tonight as well as tomorrow this week

And hooray for Margaret from me. (I like the other woman - forgotten her name - but I miss Margaret)