Just a Little Cracked!

Cracked is the word of last week! Our move day grows ever closer and we are still not packed at my house, well apart from a few boxes of my living room ornaments! 

The house we are to move to is still nowhere near clean enough from the build work to move any furniture in, two beds are there but not up as the ceiling that cracked needed to come down and new one put up. Shovelling lath and plaster has to be the worst job we have done so far, soul destroying, hot, dirty and claustrophobic are the words that describe it. Emotionally it was upsetting as Paige needs to be sleeping in this room in a week. Its now had the ceiling put up, but the room is a splodgy brown decor.

So beds and other remaining furniture that was already there are in what's to be our room.

We have no removal transport and Chris unable to get much time off to help pack and come to that move.

Each day I'm at the house brings the date to go nearer, but lessens the time I have to move.

We have to be in in six days and I am starting to worry, I am exhausted physically and mentally and after the move... 

well it will be unpacking us and at the same time unpacking and caring for my Granny, a family and working.

This will be the start of the real hard graft and new adventures!

Positive thoughts and calmness is most needed!!

Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week, 10 – 16 September 2012

Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week, 10 – 16 September 2012

Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week takes place from 10 to 16 September, and aims to raise awareness of lymphoma, the UK’s fifth most common cancer.

The Lymphoma Association, the UK’s only specialist charity which provides information and support to anyone affected by lymphoma, is using the week as an opportunity to raise awareness of the disease and its most common symptoms.

Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s immune system. There are many different types of lymphoma, although they are broadly categorised as Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Lymphatic cancer can occur in both men and women at any age, but is most common in people over 55. It is also the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the under-30s.

More than 75,000 people in the UK are living with lymphoma and over 14,000 people are newly diagnosed every year.

The most common symptom of lymphoma is a painless lump or swelling, often in the neck, armpit or groin. Other common symptoms include excessive sweating (especially at night), fevers, unexplained weight loss, unusual tiredness, persistent itching, a cough or breathlessness and abdominal pain or diarrhoea.

Sally Penrose, Chief Executive of the Lymphoma Association, said: ‘Although lymphoma is the UK’s fifth most common cancer, many people haven’t heard of it until they or a loved one are diagnosed. We are trying to change this, so that people will go to their GP straight away if they experience any lymphoma symptoms over a period of time.

As well as raising awareness of lymphoma, the Lymphoma Association has a freephone helpline, free patient information sheets and booklets, a website with an online chat room and forums, support groups across the country, a buddy scheme  which puts anyone touched by lymphoma in telephone or email contact with volunteers who have had similar experiences and conferences for patients and health professionals.

If you have been affected by lymphoma and want more information, visit www.lymphomas.org.uk or call the Lymphoma Association on 0808 808 5555.

This week I have mostly been filthy!!

Its been a thought provoking week. I have been working like a navvy, clearing the house, clearing a shed with many a creepy crawly having lived undisturbed for 4 years, I have seen many species of spider and become immune to them.

The presence of a rat visitor who lost his way and ran in the kitchen last week, kept Sue (my Aunty) at the shed door with sack, gloves and a stance of Usain Bolt ready to take off if any rodent relative appeared. I was thrown in with hoe to make lots of noise and gingerly remove old bags and boxes!

The only mammal we found was a dead mouse poor thing had got into a filing cabinet made a bed and then unable to escape had perished literally it was like a papier mache model.

The hard work which before the beginning of August consisted of mere housework has been at times so physically tiring I have fallen asleep slumped over my laptop! The day I think of  a day of groans saw Sue and I shovelling rubble and tarmac into a skip, we filled it in two hours and it was a biggie! It was hilarious as we started realising a heavy wheelbarrow just does not go over a skip ledge if you are not musclebound, we nearly ended feet up in the mud and muck!

This all done after we had just cleared the shed and been shopping for bedding, I never thought I would walk upright again. When I arrived home absolutely black and needing a bath, the thermostat had packed up, so no hot water. I just sat on a chair feeling like a dead thing from a horror movie! My friend rescued me with a hot bath and Chris supplied fish and chips and sanity was restored.

At the beginning this task seemed impossible, now we can see a garden shaped green space, due to lots of chopping which sadly had to be done, the trees had all crowded in pushing shrubs into gnarled stumps.  We discovered the lost greenhouse so overgrown we thought it had been stolen. It needs new panes and a tidy up, but I already dreaming of home grown veggies and Granny giving me advice, she had a vine in there at one stage. Cucumbers, courgettes, all manner of produce she grew with amazing expertise!

We had taken lots of wood to the tip, but decided to have a bonfire each day to make faster progress!

Although I did love the beauty of the wilderness that had taken over, the undisturbed haven for birds has to make room for people again, bird tables being added from mine as I spotted a Thrush, not seen one for years.

The house has a wet room taking shape, cracked sewage pipe fixed, the builder Mick Vernall if you live in Peterborough an amazing craftsman who has worked into late evenings to help, and fixed so many things. He put a new bay window the one above will be recycled to pane the shed and other bits it was finished on Friday, even down to releading the bay roof and painting the sill.

He has gone above and beyond a normal builders day, fixed little problems and even stopped moaning about my rubbish tea making. I like mine like a builder  strong and little milk and he likes his with soya milk and it  resembles the liquid from a gnat!!

Now begins the joy of of putting the room together and adding back lots of wonderful ornaments and pictures that Granny holds dear! The wallpaper is on, nw curtains and carpets and I did then have a few tears as I see the love and hard work given by family and friends!

The old 60's gas fire condemned and gone to reveal an amazing tiled fireplace and its been cleaned up and the greens in it will be in touches of decor in the room that is the new bed sitting room. 

Will be bringing you more news of this next weeks happenings soon.

Silent Sunday

Now for Something Completely Different

Well my life has, shall we say been turned on its head in the last 3 weeks. I was minding my own  business, family, blog and I received a call that in seconds changed everything.

It was my Mum, with the news she is very ill. I will be taking over the care role for my Granny, who I have missed so much when she went off to live with my Mum.

Its a huge change, the whole family, my Uncle and Aunt ( who have been fantastic)  are all up for this, we are moving into my Granny's house, she will love being back, but it needs a heap of work. 

A wet room is being built, her room decorated, a new cosy fire,the hard work to transform  the old room, overseen and designed by my lovely Aunt in law, who is not like a Aunt in age, she and I are a few years apart. She  has amazed me with her continued physical help and now emotional support. She has organised a chimney sweep to unblock chimney. We are spending every day together shopping, going to the local tip, that is eye raising!

This time two weeks ago, I had the odd meet with her and my Uncle, now we are joined together in a quest to make it alright for their Mum, my Granny.

A lot of people are helping (over and above normal working hours) to get a wet room built and house livable for us. A rat ran in the back door and  around the kitchen on Wednesday, think we are going to be battling his family for the garden!

Cannot get through anymore!

My Uncle disappearing, not sure if he is out yet! There is a greenhouse and shed way down the bottom, I still have not seen the greenhouse, this is the top third where I am taking the shot.

 The garden is like the Secret garden, nature has claimed it in under three years.see my Silent Sunday for another view of the garden.

I am going to try to capture my days spent getting it ready, then I have to pack my whole life up and move there too, date for this is September 1st!

Mind blowing if I stop to think!