**TAMOXIFEN 29**

[MaryAnnSingleton]

crikey !

poor gig - I'm guessing the rads tightened everything a bit - hope you getr some relief x

Blimey, Jane. Go slather on the arnica. Hope you aren't too achey tomorrow.

Fab, well done on getting out. Little steps are the hardest, but the bravest too. Hope the school run's okay now. xx

Hi to Oneway. Come sit with us. We get how hugely scary it all is. Waiting for appointments and more info's the worst I reckon. Don't google, just talk here.

MAS, do you have to do all of those things? sounds like a lot if you're not feeling too good.

Waving to all. Got to run and get DS. Exciting after school trip to Sainsbury's.

DH has had to leave work to get the kids from school which means he will have to work tonight. I just can't face it. I feel shaky and so cold too. Have to go out tonight to listen to DS1 play the piano but dh will drive.

Oh MAS - sorry you are feeling rotten today, hope you manage to cope tonight - is there anyway you could delegate the meeting to DH? - although I expect you want to go yourself.
Try using either e-45 or aqueous as a handwash as well as a moisturiser (sorry if I'm just repeating advice you've already had!) e-45 do a handwash for people with eczema etc. soap is very drying. And don't do any washing up!!

The book is called The Accidental by Ali Smith (it is probably someone's favourite book of all time and I've insulted it ), its not unreadable by any means, but it's all very stream of consciousness and a bit too aware of its own cleverness for my liking. I've found it a bit irritating. It won the Whitbread Prize though - so maybe I am just to dense to get it

The next one we read is The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, - which looks more my type of thing.

Fab - hope you get on OK at DS concert - it will be lovely to hear him play. Wrap up warm - school halls (if that's where he is playing) can be notoriously freezing! (I used to take a hot water bottle concealed in my bag when DD was doing concerts at school or in churches {even colder!})

fab that might be nice pick-me-up -hearing ds play ?
I have to do piano run and I should go to the meeting and I should see my cousins-can't really avoid anything (cousins over from abroad v briefly) (plus one has bought clothes from USA for T in exchange for 3 pictures !)
Am going to buy some nice fruit which will perk me up I'm sure- an d if I feel rotten at mum's I can slip away....I have to take my meds after supper anyway.
Have you been v busy today smee ? Feel a bit happier now I've marked out 300 jokes for illustrating (and done 5 of them :-)

I wash up in rubber gloves so no excuses there ! I shall find some gentler hand wash (am currently obsesssed with coal tar liquid soap because the scent reminds me of childhood- my brother's friend used to stay over quite often and had dreadful chestiness so a Wright's coal tar burner was on all night.

I will go to the concert. Thank you for the tip to wrap up. I am already freezing so need to make sure I don't get any colder.

Ali Smith- think I have read one of hers...

Kurri, I'm with you on The Accidental. Read it a long time ago when a friend raved about it. I couldn't get to the end of it.

Fab, I hope DH is giving you huge hugs and letting you know it's okay. You had your op just two days ago. That's no time at all. Rest up. You'll get through soon, just take your time. xx

MAS, I've always found E45 the best, so it might be worth a try. Mind you I'm weird as I had a reaction to Aqueous Cream.. Hope you get through all of the meetings/ meet ups. Does sound like too much though. Yes I'm ridiculously busy. Just starting a big project. Feels impossible. Like climbing Mount Everest in flip flops..

Back from Sainsbury's. DS talked me into Cheese Balls, so will bounce some onto fit when he's not looking.

OneWay, hello! I am indeed the stats queen. My opening gambit is always to say that only 1 in 10 breast lumps is cancer. And if it is cancer, only 1 in 10 is a rudely behaved one that can't be whacked with something. So that's odds of 1 in 100 of it being a bad outcome.
And even if it is a bad outcome where it won't go away, now they have the newer treatment combos, they are still managing to cure 80% of people where it's spread out of the breast and into one other place. Or just turn int into a long term nuisance rather than anything life-limiting.
So, scary stuff, but it's getting better now for treatment....and we're right here.

Montelbano is brilliant fun, but yes, he seems to have some difficulty staying in his trews

all round for those feeling eek, urk or yuk.
I'm feeling totally stressed out and it's entirely my own fault for doing too much. Where is that duct tape??

I'm glad it's not just me Smee - if it hadn't been for bookclub, I'd have given up after a couple of chapters.

Good luck with the new project, ---- ooh cheese balls

We are having one of those 'I haven't got much so I'll bung a bit of everything in the oven' teas - it is frozen cauliflower cheese, baked new potatoes and some left over spicy spinach patties which I made last night (and were very nice but could have been spicier)

My mum has 3 lots of viewers for her house coming at the weekend - so that is quick as it only went online yesterday. And the Estate agent says they are genuine buyers, as opposed to nosey parker neighbours She's seen a place she quite likes in the town and it is ground floor, but I've told her not to feel hurried into buying anything she doesn't like, or that isn't totally suitable for her needs. People will have to wait until she has found what she wants.

waving to amber and yes please to

quite right kk - your mum mustn't be rushed.
Piano done - sat in the teacher's sitting room with their v nice cat. Short break then off to school then over to mum's. I am a bit Amber-like in that I am not good at stopping (though Amber's work much more demanding and stressful) I didn't get to do my walk but am happy I managed some work.
Poor ds went to senior choir at lunchtime and said it was entirely staff, no pupils but him !

Kurri-I'm a book freak but I couldn't read past the first page of the Accidental, I just didn't get it for some reason. I've just finished White Tiger though and really liked it.

MAS-I really like La Roche Posay. Its for v dry sensitive skin and has no nasty parabens. Its also 3 for the price of 2 at Boots.

Amber, your post was v reassuring. I'm still in the 'terrified' camp at the moment- just a couple of months post diagnosis.

Hi to everyone else too

DH and DS1 have gone to the concert.

I am home with DD and DS2 as they were playing up and DD was mean to DS1 so he didn't want her there. DH has said I have to take the kids to school tomorrow. Feel like I need a good shake to sort myself out.

Right, am duct taping Amber to the sofa. She can sit and calm us all with her stats.

Justfab, how far's school? Is it a drive? I think it is. Try and get a good night's sleep. You should feel better from GA day by day. xx

Birdland, have had my eye on White Tiger for a while. Will go get now you've said it's good.

DH away as usual, so I might watch Homeland. Is anyone into that? I think I'm already at least two eps behind.

The school is about 13 minutes drive away. Just thinking about doing it made3 me teary and tense up. Ridiculous and I have to do it as DH says he can't.

Looking forward to White Tiger now you've recommended it Birdland - I'll be able to pick up my copy tomorrow (library supplies them for our bookclub) I managed to finish Accidental, - weird ending (and beginning and middle )

I haven't heard of Homeland - is it worth watching on catch up (or have I missed to much?)

Fab -, you might feel a bit better after a good nights sleep, try not to get too panicky about it, and see how you feel in the morning. Do you have any friends or neighbours who could take the DC to school for you?

I need to not think about it I think. There is no one to take them as no one near here goes to the same school.

thanks for all the +ve vibes, ladies. In nice warm radox bath falling asleep. Will get to bed soon and slather the arnica. Think I was jolly lucky though I'm going to be stiff tomorrow. Ate a whole box of malteesers, oops.

Maltersers v.well known for their healing properties, Jane.

Fab, will be thinking of you during school run time. Hope it's easier than you dread. xx

Going to bed. Told myself I'll have an early night. This is early for me! Night all. Hope we all sleep.

Thank you for the positive and kind words. I'm sure I'll be back...!

Morning all - how are you doing justfab and jchoc?
mas did you manage last night ok?

kurri that's good news about interest in your mums house and totally agree shouldn't be rushed. I must admit that having to read dull books is what puts me off book groups.

Still feeling rough with cold - wasn't easy to sleep so another easy day. Leg seems a bit better though.

Dh and I are contemplating getting a dog but issue I have is what is best age of kids to get one. I don't anticipate kids helping ( at concept of mini gig walking a dog) but from what I remember the hassle of owning a dog plus the stress to dog is not something you mix with small kids if possible.

I survived the drive but could really have done with another day tbh. Loads to do but going to take my time as still cold and shaky.

Hope everyone else is okay.

Kurri/smee-yes White Tiger is v enjoyable although it is a bit slow moving.

I'm currently reading the Hunger Games Triology which a friend recommended-I have to say I'm not usually into post apocalyptic teen novels but they are great. Perfect for long post chemo 'I can't think of what to do with myself' afternoons and not too taxing on my chemo brain!

I think you are right, Gig -DH and I have always had dogs, but the stress of having one with a young dd (4 at the time) was pretty high. Admittedly we got a dog with serious behaviour problems, for our sins, but the whole experience was awful, and we gave up after a year and rehomed her. She wasn't in any way aggressive with dd - more protective, bless her - but it was all work and no fun, that's for sure .

Good news today from the Sometimes household - just won a tender for a small project for a government department. Yay, yay and thrice yay!!!!! It's all got to be done in under a month and it's small beer I guess, but it's a new client, and an absolutely top name to have on the client list. I may have to burst into song, you have been warned.

Flings champagne cava on the FBS trolley