**TAMOXIFEN 18**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

oh my,we're starting our 18th !

poor sometimes
and dear sparkle's boy - love him for being so determined- hope you don't get any calls.
DH is thinking of booking holiday cottage in Suffolk soon- it's a teeny one we have stayed in before- v nice and quiet. The one in Ireland sounds wonderful topsy
I've been to Cyprus a couple of times- it was very very hot- some good ruins to look around.

Ooh I like a nice ruin!

On the other hand, my hair goes all frizzy in the heat and I go all red. I will have to stand at the back on the wedding photees, that's for sure. Quiet cottage in Suffolk sounds way more in my line (esp if near Southwold)

Morning all,

Fingers crossed that DS has a good day Sparkle, - he is a determined little guy, and I bet a lot of that comes from his mum

Glad you are feeling a bit better topsy, , spaced out is a good feeling, take it easy - lots of and FBS.

Holiday sounds wonderful - that's my idea of an ideal break as well. We haven't planned anything, - DH is trying to win us one in a competition I was going to go on a yoga weekend to Spain, but can't afford it now as various things have taken priority. But we will definitely go down to mums and Dorset is a beautiful for holidays.

Marmite - from what I remember my drain came out after six days even though it was still producing quite a lot of fluid. I think they have a time limit on how long it stays in (In case you were worried it would still be there in July! )

Sometimes - hope that bug clears soon, it sounds horrible. Have you tried steaming with a few drops of olbas oil to try to shift some of the mucus? (sorry, yuk). it sometimes helps. Luckily Dr Kurri also prescribes chocolate biscuits for this particular bug, so you are doing the right thing

I've got to finish reading Catcher in the Rye by tomorrow for Book group - we had 2 books this time, I've finished The Finkler Question. I'm sure book group isn't supposed to be such a strain - its like homework!

Very frosty here, - the dog was very perplexed and walked on tiptoe when I took her out

Oddly enough I was wondering about sniffing steam, KK - adding Olbas Oil sounds a fab idea, and we have got some, so thanks.

A holiday in Dorset sounds quite lovely. We stayed at Kimmeridge once and it was absolutely gorgeous. How nice to have family in a good holiday location.

Once upon a time, in a pub, we met some people who come to where we live every year, for their holiday . Pretty unattractive city, no sea - clearly they were quite bonkers. We couldn't take our eyes off them, waiting for them to start unravelling before our eyes

That Irish Cottage sound heavenly to me - my perfect sort of a place. I don't think we'll get a family holiday this year, by the time we've worked around Scout Camps, GCSE Results day(!), and my friend's wedding, there is no complete week anywhere in the holidays...... unless anyone knows of any websites where you can search for cottage lets from Tuesday - Tuesday, rather than Saturday to Saturday ?

I don't, Back for good, but if you want to go somewhere out of the way, and ask the local tourist info people for help, they can sometimes get you in touch with people who are prepared to be flexible. We have made all sorts of weird arrangements on assorted Scottish islands, for instance.....

MAS - good to hear the funeral went off well, such a good thing to be able to contribute to, must have been so appreciated.
Topsy - pleased to hear you went to your gp to show off your wounds, It's really comforting to have the reassurance and of course the treatment. I saw my gp after surgery because of the swelling in my armpit, and they were so kind and sympathetic, putting a lot of anxiety to rest, and always ready with the box of tissues!

hello all- I've been bold and booked my next minor op -not until 6th Feb- I feel much more confident about it this time (though might feel a bit wibbly when it comes to it !)
Have gone mad and bought lots of snacks for book group evening (my house this time) - I was going to bake a camembert in it's wooden box to dip corn chips into- has anyone done this? I don't want to set fire to it or anything...
Have bought a nice thing of Cafe Direct hot choc only to discover a big new jar of Green &Blacks hot choc already in cupboard- anyone fancy a cup ?

Blimey! Superior nibbles round your way!

I didn't even know you could do that with a camembert!

But v well done on booking the surgery!

DH's Mum had a hip replacement this morning. 'Ouch' is all I can say

Oh, and that i imagine she will milk it for all it is worth. Yes, I know I am heartless

Is anyone watching Stargazing LIVE? Is it any good? I took dd and her friend to one of the live events last night and that was fab!

Oooo, yes please to the Hot Choc!! Nope, never baked a camembert.

Back from sunny London where I have walked and walked and been very impressed with my level of fitness now. Hurrah!

The suntan on my left from all the radiotherapy is now peeling off. Not a good look

well done amber - sorry to hear about peeling
(hands over hot choc) Found this baked camembert

I remember the peeling skin - not nice. I wouldn't risk exfoiating or anything though....

Take the cheese out of the box mas and soak it (the box not the cheese !) In water for a few minutes . Then pop the cheese back in the box and bake it .
Saves the box going on fire !

Sitting in the dentist waiting room with DD . Booooooored !

MAS, your Dad's speech sounds wonderful. What a lovely thing for him to do. Well done on booking the next op too. Have never baked camembert in the box. Sounds extraordinary.

Topsy, hooray for horse pills and a caring GP. Very good to see you cantering about again, though it's about bloody time they looked after you like that. Holiday sounds fab too.

Waving to Drift! How many have you got to go now?? I think you must be half way?

Marmite, I was still draining at over 100ml when they took my last one. It had been 2 weeks, so was sick to the back teeth of it. You're more likely to have a seroma, but hey those aren't so bad and certainly better than the drains!

Sparkle, hope DS is okay. He is so amazingly stoic about it all. Horrible he has to suffer so.

Sometimes, choc biscuits are medicinal. What happens when you finish the tin?! Has Dr Kurri any suggestions?! Not watching Stargazing, though now you've mentioned it, will go look at the website and see if there's anything near us..

Kurri, two books for book club is a bit of a .

Amber, peeling's yuk. Think you should take MAS up on the hot chocolate.

BackforGood, I haven't a clue on cottages as we usually camp. I am already hating the thought of it though and lusting after a cottage.

Ned, really good luck for tomorrow. I will be thinking of you. Hope it goes as well as it can do. xx

I am hung over!! After a Monday night of eating crisps for tea and drinking wine with a v.old friend. We went to see another friend play (he's in a percussion ensemble). All most excellent, but I can't do things like that any more. Still, was lovely. Better go pick up DS from his after school thing.

MAS - we did a baked camembert the other day - it was very easy, just stick it in the oven - it doesn't take long and is yummy we did ours out of its wrapper in a little pottery ramekin type thing.

Well done on booking your op. - you will soon be all done with them.

Two books is a bit much. - It came about because we have one each month, but last month they wanted to do poetry - everyone was to pick a favourite poem or two and read it to the group. So we are really doing December's book as well this time. As it happened I didn't do the poetry thing, - we had my favourite poem - Yeats' 'Lake Isle of Innisfree' - at my Dad's funeral and there was no way I could talk about it or poems in general so soon. My Dad was a great poetry lover.

Dr Kurri recommends that when you finish the tin of chocolate biscuits, you whine pathetically until someone goes out and buys you another one

Sounds like a good evening with your friend Smee, - I haven't got the stamina I used to have either - I still try occasionally though

DS has got an interview for an assistant theatre manager job on Friday, - so good vibes would be appreciated, - theatre management is what he really wants to get into, and with this job he could continue teaching at the prison a couple of days a week too.

amber -ouch - just moisturize gently I think, - its a pain isn't it? Well done on the walking. - How is your DH getting on since his op?

Dr Kurri, you are most excellent.

That poem is a goodie. Who read it at your dad's funeral? Must have been incredibly moving.

The person conducting the service read it Smee (we had a non-religious service, the chap was a minister but he did a humanist one for us), my DS read The John Donne sermon 'No man is an island'. We also had a remembrance reading which the minister read - I can't remember the details, but it was lovely I'll have to get in touch with the minister when I'm next down south.

For music we had the adagio from Mozart's clarinet concerto, pachelbel's canon which is my mum's favourite, and the Intermezzo from Cavalliera Rusticana - which I'll never be able to hear again without crying it's so beautiful, and Dad loved it.

I chose the Yeats for his funeral because he was a bee keeper and I love to think that he's just gone away somewhere beautiful, and is happy in his bee-loud glade

Bugger - I've made myself cry.

The music you chose are all my favourites and very moving pieces. Two books is certainly a challenge. I have a couple lined up (Christmas presents) but haven't even opened them yet. If there are jobs to be done I feel guilty sitting down to read plus I like a nice long session (an hour or more) rather than 5 or 10 minutes here or there, so I need to plan it into my day. Maybe tomorrow.

Mas, so glad to hear your Dad's speech was well received - shame you were late though. IO bet his friend would have laughed at that.

Topsy, horse pills sound just the ticket. No more soreness methinks. I think mine got better after a week so not long for you now. Your holiday sounds idyllic but of course the weather is so unpredictable. I hope you get plenty of sunshine.

Sparkle, DS is a real star. What determination!!!! I hope he's had a good day today.

Marmite, my drains had to be removed after 5 days regardless of the amount of fluid and I was producing well over 150 ml which meant I had a couple of seromas that had to be drained off. It seems to vary from hospital to hospital.

Smee, hope the hangoverness has gone. I remember that feeling well but stop at 2 glasses of wine nowadays - any more results in awful heartburn and keeping awake all night.

Amber, the peeling is awful isn't it? I think I shed so much skin I used to look at my Dyson dust container after a quick whizz around thinking - "that's my skin in there".

Ned good luck for tomorrow, will be thinking of you.

Just making a chilli for our tea. DH has just taken DS2 to a new club that he'd like to try out. It's quite a long way away but, if he likes it, we will ask his support worker to take him to that one instead of his Friday one, which he doesn't like anymore (apparently they play the same old music every week ). I am collecting DS2 from college tomorrow lunchtime to administer some Emola cream (an anaesthetic) prior to a blood test. Wish us luck. I'm not confident he will be a brave boy. But I am proud of him - he was at his training centre today, text DH to ask for the phone no. of college, then rang his tutor to remind him he was leaving early tomorrow. I remember when he was born wondering if he'd ever have any speech at all and now look at him, organising his life and taking charge of things. Amazing!!

Scar is still troublesome but, in the scheme of things, nothing that I can't cope with so I'm going with the flow and not letting it get me down.

ds loved Lake Isle of Innisfree - it's in a v lovely collection of poems for children we have and he was quite obsessed by it when he was about 9 - how beautiful to have it at your dad's funeral kk (and the music- all lovely)Peter had a bit of Verdi and the Star wars music which made me smile - the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves was very uplifting and moving.
Will be very careful with my wooden box,though it does seem more sensible to put it in a dish or something to bake -then put back in the box-I'm bound to forget it's in the oven anyway.
The peeling is not nice -I remember horrid slivers - ewww
smee sounds as though you had a very jolly evening
Ds has chemistry exam tomorrow,so fingers crossed !

Thank you Figgy .

Well done to DS2, he sounds like a very organized chap, and considerably better at texting than I am! - you must be very proud of him I hope his blood test goes OK tomorrow, hopefully the cream will mean it's not to traumatic for him. Hope he enjoyed his new club this evening.

MAS - Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves is a wonderful piece of music. Love the idea of Star Wars too. Enjoy the camembert, what book are you discussing tonight?

Ooh tissues all round. Made me nearly cry reading that too, Kurri. Perfect choices though. Sounds like a more than fitting way to send him on his way.

I worked in theatre at one point and did a lot of touring round small scale venues too. I wonder if I know the theatre your DS is applying to. Really hope he gets the job.

Figgy, hope DS likes the new club then. He does do amazingly well. You must be very proud of him. Can't believe your scar's still troublesome. Amazing it's gone of for so long. Must be annoying.

Hangover abating. Good job really, as a huge friend of mine (6'5!) is having an extraordinarily loud sword fight with DS. Me and the cat have retreated for safety's sake.

Figgy what time's the blood test? Will keep fingers crossed for him holding up throughout.

MAS, is chemistry something he's confident with? Hope it goes well for him.

BackForGood - this is probably too far away for you but the best place we found for splitting weeks at holiday cottages was California. Was great as it meant we could use the cheap, midweek airfares too.