*tamoxifen* 31- in the bus shelter with the cheap booze

[Gigondas]

Shiny new thread

Not sure what can be done,maybe reducing dosage further ? Ity's a bit tricky as hands should be kept cool but then my fingers go numb- can't win !
Never mind though, found Babycham in Iceland,as well as cheeese footballs - yay !
I need to buy proper wine for dh from T - he loves Gewurtztraminer (not T) -then that should be it (though no doubt will still panic)
Had nice coffee with friends and am seeing a friend from London who is coming out to lunch tomorrow.
T still at carol concert rehearsal -he's certainly not at home anyway.

gigs It can be hard even with a dictionary to match up characters, especially if they are not simplified, as there are 10,000 of them and some are difficult to distinguish and a single stroke can make it into something else entirely. You can get apps but I would worry about Google translate syndrome (Friends and I were once having a conversation about Mad Men in google translate Italian - when Betty went to Rome- and we got suspended because we had said something really rude ) My Chinese lecturer enjoyed reading what people had had tattooed on themselves, clearly no one intends to be tattooed with "brush". Also if the word has no character, like Christmas, it will be assembled with a bunch of homophones. I'd always check with a Chinese friend, no substitute for years of learning . I would pop down to the Jun Ming, they are Hong Kong Cantonese but the characters are the same, and the owner lives in Copthall, daughter at you know where. I keep meaning to check up what it says on my Christmas tree decorations, there is definitely a man character on there, so not Happy Christmas .

smee Worst thing about the bone density scan is getting from the changing room to the machine in the horrid gown, otherwise it's just a narrow circular band that whizzes around your hips and spine, doesn't take long. You get a score that compares you to the average for your age.

I am now half way through Christmas cards I'd let myself get intimidated by all the custom made family portraits and round robin letters, one American friend had posted all her daughters' accomplishments entirely in Greek "inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. What an accomplishment! That's our girl!" "By the end of the Quarter we had a Kappa Alpha Theta in our family..Who would have guessed???" Seems a bit sad to send back a picture of a Polar Bear and "Lovely to hear your news, We are all fine" ...

Must go, to finish cards before we go to Theatre tonight. Alan Bennetts people at the National. We saw the Hobbit last night, we all loved it so must be a family of sad geeks if the reviews are to be believed. Also for the purposes of visualisation humongous numbers of orcs/ goblins / Cancer cells were slain whilst Richard Armitage can now be added to the band of handsome immune system defenders I therefore felt it safe to eat Agadashe tofu at the Japanese restaurant after

to everyone MAS Babycham in proper glasses? in the bus shelter?

copt am terribly excited about the usual round robin from my dad's cousin- it's always a cracker...

Gig I've messaged you the recipe at last! - It looks like a huge essay, buut it's simple really.

MAS -sorry to hear about your friend - how awful for her

Ned - glad the wedding went well, I'd love to see DS in his pageboy outfit if you can get a picture on your profile
Doing the happy public face is exhausting when you are down, but it sounds as if you coped well

Don't overdo the cleaning Smee.

waving to Copt, Lola, Amber and SR and everyone - sorry my posting is sporadic - I'm very disorganized atm, and have had a dodgy tummy over the weekend - involving dashes to the loo - TMI.

Cheese footballs in Iceland - I must go there tomorrow and get some.

DD has made some amazing marzipan shortbread biscuits, they are delicious.
She has been offered position of church organist for local church, and local primary school has asked her to be the accompanist for their choir after starting next term, - so she is much in demand.

MAS To be honest that is one we look forward to every year. It gives DD1 a chance to point out that she beat both girls in the swimming gala when she was 10 and they accused her of cheating, and then went off in strop accusing the gala organisers of being amateurs compared to American galas.....

Anyway just popped on to say I found our Bus Shelter! It was in an exhibition of photos in the National Theatre and I like the idea we are all staring out to sea, always good for the spirits (not just alcoholic) and MASs babycham glasses won't look out of place www.flickr.com/photos/ianbramham/6596909039/

Impressive bus shelter copt !
Dd v clever and obviously talented kk - well done to her.
T's carol concert v lovely - great singing- he seemed to be the only pupil in the senior choir - all the rest staff - there is a yr 10 person too but wasn't there . He isn't singing in the school concert on Thurs though - was given the option but chose to give it a miss

MAS It wasn't that great an accomplishment. She didn't swim after we left Hong Kong, many even more scary athletes in her UK school, and too cold!

Oh! misread that

and sure your dd is hugely talented too !
uh- the round robin I mentioned on facebook- just realised that others rellies connected to dad's cousin are on facebook...I got an email round robin from their father (my dad's cousin) today too- they are hugely impressively athletic playing hockey ,doing dressage etc at high levels out in NZ (really,not an exaggeration -they take after their grandparent's family who were all very sportily gifted - what hap[pened to me ?)

You are very talented but modest mas- we no longer get round robin fom dh cousin as dh took the piss one year and sent a spoof one back .

Thanks for recipe kurri - it looks fab (and not too late).

copthall at wrong Xmas decoration- I may take your advice and ask at jun Ming. Or just risk that cuff links say something like dumb gweilo.... Love the bus shelter- however surely you could lend some of your spare Xmas decorations to festive it up.

Need to get up as taking the mini gigs in to visit Xmas London and see dad in the office but need as mini gig paid us a nocturnal visit (and dh too soft to put her back in her cot).

I have decided not to got to work this week. Is it normal to cry every time you talk about it ?

I don't want people to know about it as I don't want to talk about it. Is that normal ?

I am enjoying being at home for a change as I usually work full time. It has made me realise how hectic my life is usually and how much I would love to work part time.

Only 2 days to go now.

Tis thread is really helping me thanks.

Yes absolutely normal on both counts- I am 10 months on and even now am still a bit reluctant to talk about it. What are you up to today to help pass the time penis?

Also talking of rants, have had a 1 year development check letter about mini gig. Given I had less than fuck all contact with hv for big gig, I am sure this is cos of my dx. I had hv visit and ring me and she gave me such rage (mainly cos couldn't hide her look of astonishment that I could walk and talk even though I had cancer ) that I can't trust myself not to be rude.

I know you can tell hv to butt out but I am cconcerned that I am some sort of "watch list" thanks to my idiotic helpful Gp who was one who set up extra hv call.

I may of course be paranoid .

Just for you kurri - have put a picture of DS being a pageboy on my profile. . . At least, I hope I have! Let me know if its not there

I am actually working at home today and after I am up to date with paperwork I will go sick tomorrow.

I work with people with long term disabilities and illnesses a lot of them terminal and I think it makes it all much worse to cope with. I may have a change of career direction after this.

Gigo would the hv just be offering support ? Try not to be paranoid. Some people in your situation would need extra help but you obviously do not ! Think of her as a safety net.

Gigs if HV does the "head tilt , how are you" thing , then you have our permission to beat her to death with a Christmas ornament !

Love the bus shelter Cop .
Looks too classy for us though ...

Morning Penis
Perfectly normal .
Just do what you need to do to get through the next couple of days !

It's cold here this morning .
So I am staying wrapped up in my sofa blanky .
Who's in charge of breakfast today ?

Morning Pen. Sounds like you're still working, just from home, so don't add guilt to your burdens. Only two days to go, so fill them with things that you enjoy and try not to think about it too much. I can well imagine your work setting might make matters worse. In my case one of my junior colleagues was DX a few months ago and I had to be the strong one for her (she's all recovered as far as I know, post Mx). Now I fear every time I'll see her it will remind me of my own situation. .

I'm sitting here looking at two gorgeous bouquets that arrived yesterday: one from my work colleagues and one from DH's. I don't know which is the more touching. Actually, in a way I do: DH's haven't even met me - how's that for sweet sympathy?

Yet isn't it weird that I totally understand Gigs' annoyance at HV being overly sympathetic. I don't want to be defined by my illness and despite the wonder of the flowers from my colleagues, I'm hoping to goodness that whilst they ask me how I am when I return next month/year, that they then carry on as normal.

.

Oh crumbs Jingle I have no experience in this area, but I'm sure someone will come along soon enough to give you some sound advice.

smee will be able to help jingle -she has had a mastectomyu for cancer plus a preventative mastectomy.
pen lots of hugs- be gentle and kind to yourself -I can see that your work situation would be difficult when you are in this waiting position.Waves to gig -and loma and topsy
gig think pen is right about hv just checking in in case you aren't coping- she'll see how well you are getting on with stuff and hopefully back off
Have a fab day in that London- how lovely- I remember taking T up for the day and dropping in on dh's office

I've had one Jingle. What do you want to know?? Am guessing you have a family history? With me, I had a mastectomy due to BC in 2010. It was pretty aggressive, so though they told me I didn't need to, I talked them into removing the other breast last year. I now have silicon implants and no need of a bra. Sorry to trivialise as it is such a huge thing to do, but it's not all doom and gloom. Ask me anything you want.

Looma, flowers sound lovely, but I do so get what you mean.Has reminded me of some of the cards I received on diagnosis. A lot were like ones you send for funerals, so lilies and similar. I threw them straight in the bin.

Gig, the head tilt thing is most definitely justifiable grounds for bauble bashing someone over the head. You'd have thought a HV would know better, but sometimes they're the worst I think.

Ned, that pic's adorable. Was he the only Page boy, or were there more? How are you? Hopefully not too overwhelmed by Christmas. I seem to remember looking forward to it mightily when I finished treatment, but feeling exhausted by the thought of it too.

penis, took me an age before I could say cancer without crying, so I'd say it's normal too.

MAS, how are the hands and feet today? Any improvement? We have a round robin from DH's uncle. It rhymes (v.badly) and is always a high spot.

Waving to all others. How are you all?? I'm still feeling festive though have done bugger all about getting organised.

smee did you hear the round robin spoof reply by Lynne Truss on Today (BBC Radio 4) today? It was hilarious. You can listen again to it (and yesterday's) at news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9779000/9779537.stm

Thanks Looma, will go and have a listen. I love her.