**TAMOXIFEN TEN***

[MaryAnnSingleton]

brand new shiny thread....our tenth !

Oh I'm glad your eye is OK SR -eye problems are always a bit scary.

I am on day four of my diet (I'm following a book called 'you are what you eat') its basically healthy eating and cutting out all the rubbish snacking I do.
You have been doing very well with yours - you are bound to have a bit of a plataeu when you've been doing it for a while.

How is DD coping now, - has she got many exams left?

Am back from gallivanting -well,back yesterday of course...
oh KK -your poor,poor mum and poor dad of course,but so worrying for your mum-I am just sad to think of your dad like that a-it must break your heart.

SR - that's good news about eyes - what a relief

KK- my friend had the nerve electricity tests last year for something to do with her foot -they were inconclusive-but it didn't hurt.

Have sent a message to topsy on the facebook tamoxifen page -thinking about her right now- she is safely on the ward and first on the list.

Cracking day yesterday- the weather was so perfect,London looked wonderful- I wouldn't want to live back in London now but love it still -I guess all my growing up was done there. We went straight to the South bank and I went in to see the Tracey Emin -the boys wandered about the festival of Britain thing and along the SB - Tracey E was really interesting; sad and funny - the blankets are huge - lots of bits of memorabilia from her life,lots about her parents,especially her dad. We had sandwiches on the roof garden above the Q Elizabeth Hall and then crossed the bridge to Somerset House to see the Ai Wei Wei zodiac sculptures in the courtyard - ds and I told off for standing on the plinth bits underneath -crosspatch jobsworth. Then to Monument by tube so that we could stand on London Bridge and ds could photograph The Shard (he is obsessed by tall buildings) and the skyline.Walked into the city to see the Lloyd's Building ; the Gherkin,Heron Tower and others,then on to Liverpool St station to tube it back to Holborn where we wandered around Neal street and Covent Garden before heading to Wahaca for very delicious Mexican food (and a margarita) - then walked back to Waterloo and train home.
Totally knackered- my whole body ached -my hips hurt ! really not like me.Even ds said he was tired !
Anyway,enough of me- love to all,especially those with treatments

sorry cakes have a fab time in Wells- sounds lovely -hope the sun shines (we got totally drenched there once)

Am jealous Cakes - am envisaging you sand surfing down those dunes on Holkham Beach. Don't let me down now.

• phew for SR - that's a relief then. And it's June, so PG's departure's fast approaching.

Kurri, about your dad. Must be hard for you not to be closer. Your mum does sound wonderful. If it's the EMG (Nerve Conductor) tests, I had one a few weeks ago. You're wired to small electrodes which they pass a low level current through. My foot and leg were twitching uncontrollably, which made me feel like Frankenstein's monster. Not painful, just a teeny bit uncomfortable if they turn the dial a bit too high. Very interesting though. Hope your shoulder's less sore today.

MAS, I wasn't sure if I wanted to see the TE show, but you've inspired me. Not surprised you were tired - you packed in lots.

Amber did the gumption works!? If not, go get something else. Sounds miserable to feel like that.

• how are all the others on treatment? Okay-ish with a bit of luck.

We had a lovely day in Kent yesterday. My friend has a smallholding with goats, chickens, sheep, woods etc, so her boy and mine ran round getting grubby while we sat in the sun and caught up. Perfect. Off to stay at my brother's tonight, then to stay with other friends on Friday so won't be around for a few days. Hope everyone's well and gets some of the lovely sun which is shining here today. + Fingers crossed for Topsy. So hope they don't bump her..

Sending good vibes to Topsy - great that she's first on the list - so she should be given her cancellation. She's probably in surgery by now, fingers and everything else crossed it all goes really well.

Thank you for kind comments about my parents - it's sad, but so common I think as more people are living longer - these illness appear. I think mum is determined to keep him out of a home, that's what she wants so we support her in that although it's probably not the easiest route.

It sounds as if great days were had all round yesterday - boys running about getting grubby and a good old natter sounds wonderful Smee.
And you certainly got around MAS and packed your day full - well done. I always get exhausted plan lots of things and end up only doing a couple. Must have been great for DS, I'm glad he got some good photos

I'm off to have a massage this morning at the cancer support place. Which will be nice, I'm going on a flexi-bus (it goes round all the villages, you have to book the night before and it stops outside your house) - couldn't manage the cycling today legs too achey!

Love to all hope chemo ladies are feeling not too yuk today xx

am dashing about again- but this is a link to my boy's imaginary country -he's made his own website- here

my brains like mush today so will have to catch up properly when i can take in who has been doing what.

so far no sickness or dizzyness on the tax and i can eat and drink but omg bone pains are agony in my lower back,legs and top of feet.poor dog i keep shoving my feet into his fur because hes so warm and comforting lol.

good luck topsy

Crikey! Theo's Country is the 21st century equivalent of that place the Brontes made up. He is seriously imaginative and clearly pretty clever too!

I am glad you had a good day MAS - not surprised you are tired after all that. And smee too - a catch up in the sun to the sound of boys' laughter sounds perfect.

I am glad your eye is OK SR, and not surprised you have stalled a bit weight-wise. I think I have too, and I've only been doing it a month. I am a 12, but so tiny that a 12 is pretty chunky on me. I really should be an 8-10 for my build. Probably a 10 now I am - ahem - older. But a 12 looks big and is overweight according to my birdlike GP. I will try to get an acceptable pic in Wells but it'll be a challenge as I just let it all hang out on holiday. And that's Not Pretty, trust me.

KK - enjoy the massage. I can't say I blame your Mum for wanting your Dad where she can care for him properly, but it's a big burden to shoulder. God bless her.

Pink - thank heavens for the dog. Dog company is always pretty comforting in times of need.

DD did her 100 m swimming badge yesterday. The top of her new swimming costume came undone on length 2: her friend's Mum, the swimming teacher and i were laughing so much we almost had a toilet-related accident. You know by now that I have a very puerile sense of humour. I told her to just keep swimming on topless, and reassured her afterwards that no-one at all had noticed

PS Not ignoring topsy, sent her a message on FB earlier. Hopefully she's all sorted by now, being first up.

love Theo's Country - what a great imagination, - and a lot of work - clever boy

Pink that bone pain is horrible, poor you - but I'm glad you are able to eat now and the sickness has gone (mind you sometimes you feel one thing goes and some other horrid thing takes its place) - you're on the home stretch now though

Cakes bless little DD and her wardrobe malfunction Well done on her 100m though - don't think I could swim that far at her age, I think I was still in armbands!

The massage was fabulous, and a lovely lady doing it (although I was slightly taken aback that it was a naked massage, - but tried to look cool and cosmoplitan as I removed my pants )

But she did my whole body and my muscles feel really relaxed, and she did my face and head too. I smell like a lavender bush but I feel good!

I've booked another one in a couple of weeks, and I going to a yoga session there next week. Its all free and done by volunteers - all qualified but some of them retired from full time work so they volunteer. I took them some strawberries to have for their lunch, - I feel slightly guilty that I'm not paying (massage lady said 'all I ask for is a hug' ) so I thought I'd take in bits and bobs like tea bags etc. for their kitchen.

Cakes you are smaller than me - and I think I am the same height and small framed like you. - Day 5 of the diet here and its not to hard to stick too - the test will come when I weigh myself at the weekend and see if there's any result!

The massage sounds wonderful if alarming. You would think we would all be cool about getting everything out by now, but somehow it's always a shock. Nice to give them some treats, i bet they'll really appreciate it.

I am glad the diet is doable. Mine is too, generally, but the test will come this weekend, when it will be harder to eat the right things when we go to restaurants, service stations etc. But progress is so slow. i long for the days in my 20s when three or four days of careful eating would get me into a tight dress for a party. Stick with it KK. I will too, and we can compare notes. My bum is still like a table attached to my back. No wonder I have backache

As regards swimming - i was still in armbands until I was 24

Great news - topsy is back on the ward, job all done, and is feeling quite well. Hooray!!!!

Oh great news about Topsy - I really will have to organize facebook so I can keep up with your all.

I know what you mean about the weight - I could always shift it quickly in my youth (although I was always tiny anyway) I have practically doubled in size over the years and its so hard to shift, its easy to give up. But I feel more determined this time - I want to look reasonable in DD's graduation day photos.

By the way, meant to say, my hypnotherapy guy has lost 6lbs in 2weeks. He says all he is doing is not eating any treats, not drinking alcohol, but just eating his regular meals (which are being made for him by a French chef as he is working in France for a month at a retreat) He says the meals are quite generous. So all that should be easily doable. I am re-encouraged.

Oh a target should definitely help. When is the graduation?

Six pounds in 2 weeks would be good, graduation is July 18th - so that gives me about 6 weeks, - I don't expect to have shifted all my bulk by then but hopefully some of it will go.

The oncologist I spoke to the other day at the centre said cutting down on sugar intake is good to prevent recurrence. So that's what I'm going for - if we don't buy biscuits etc. I don't crave them, but if they are there I'll scoff the lot.

I feel a French chef would be a very good thing to have - I'll suggest it to DH

That's interesting about the sugar. Depressing, too.

18th July is some way off, so there is every chance.....

oh dear- I am very sugar full - v bad.
I reckon if one did stick to proper meals then one wouldn't eat in between -I know that if I have a proper lunch (ie not my usual crackers and peanut butter or similar ) then I am less tempted- trouble is I like to graze rather than eating larger meals.
We had a nice walk at Hinton Ampner today - beautiful flowers and warm weather,then lunch at a nice cafe -flatbread with tarragon lemon chicken and a huge glass of squeezed orange juice...ds had chilled watercress and cucumber gazpacho which he decided he didn't like -think it is a bit of an acquired taste,but he ate all his artisan bread ! We are doing this week like a holiday away as we aren't going away anywhere this year- it's been great but I am unused to so much happening Dh is now doing a barbecue this evening in my parents garden !
Topsy is doing amazingly well !

She is indeed!

Sounds like a nice week, with very nice food. I hope the weather stays fine for the rest of it. Enjoy!

can someone send my love to Topsy via FB please

yep,will do....

thanks MAS x

good morning - am off to lunch with school friends today- the four of us used to be best friends from 5 years old -all gone different ways,one lives in the US and every so often we manage to get together for our reunion -last time was 2 years ago and we all went to our old primary school (which was closed for INSET day but we were allowed in to wander) Today we're meeting at one of their houses so must find my way to Claygate somehow. I can't quite keep up with all this activity Hope topsy has a good day today-she has done so well so far (passed on your greeting KK) and everyone else too x

mas .. hope you have a lovely day .

cakes.your right.pets are really comforting when you have a off day.

kurri..your mum sounds a amazing lady.

sands..glad you got your eyes sorted.

topsy...wishing you a speedy recovery

woke this morning with a mouth like a swamp monster and a gap in my eyebrow,scarey sight.

still suffering from this bone pain aches and shooting pains,much worse in the morning and night .must be terrible for people who have to put up with this every day i now have an insight on how it feels, my fingers was so bad yesterday i couldnt even open my medication,packet of crisps and ring pulls are a nightmare.

its really great reading what you ladies get up to at this point in time it really feels like my life has just stopped i dont go far these days, your stories and days out cheer me up and remind me one day everything will get back to normal again,at least my gardens looking nice its never looked so well looked after my next job when i can muster the strenght is to paint my shed saffron green.

Ooo saffron green, hope you post a picture when you have done it. Sorry I haven't been around much, still labouring on the patio, my mother came today and announced it is much more of a terrace .....is that an upmarket patio? or is it a north south divde thing?

My beautiful little cat dotty died yesterday, in my arms, I am not really sure why, but I suspect it is because of a congential heart defect, she was a litter runt, and had lots of issues, but she lived ujnitl she was 12, much longer than we thought she would. Funny, she was only the littlest thing, but such a big part of our lifes, and a life well lived, most of it curled up in the sunshine.

Hope everyone enjoying the lovely weather as much as possible, except poor topsy, hope she has a bed near a window at least.

I am sedning lots of love to all, especially those on treatment at the moment!

Those horrible bone pains Pink - rotten for you, do pain killers help at all? or something like ibuprofen gel rubbed in?

Once you finish your chemo your strength will start to return and you will be able to do more and more - it seems such a long haul when you are going through it, but you will get there

A saffron green shed sounds great

Sparkle - I'm so sorry about your cat, you must be heartbroken It sounds as if she had a good long life and was very much loved. How are the children coping? - losing a pet is so hard.

Love to all fro a good weekend, special thoughts for treatment ladies, and of course Topsy xx