London

Had a lovely day in London yesterday.  I met up with Susie and we had lunch at Laurence's restaurant.  I had chicory, pear and Rochfort cheese to start with which was absolutely delicious.  This was followed by rare steak and a salad - again delicious beyond measure!  Susie had salad with herbs to start with followed by bream which she loved.  Its so nice to eat beautifully made food.  We had a white wine from Alsace that was.... yes you're guess it!  Delicious too!!! They said we didn't need to pay but we felt bad about that and left a big tip instead.

The gates of Kensington Palace where the flower tributes were laid when Princess Diana died on 31st August 1997.

Went by bus to Kensington Palace that has just recently opened to the public.  It was very interesting - a very good exhibition about Queen Victoria as well as many other monarchs who have lived there.  I have decided I need to do some reading up on William and Mary and her sister Anne.  Seems like an interesting era but I know so little about it.  Many of the exhibits were very well put together (something a bit different) by a London theatre company.  Susie is going to look into it as a possibility for Katy.

Look at the birds flying from the ceiling!

We met Ian afterwards in the tea room.  He had been for his check up at Guys Hospital.  We then walked across the park to Hyde Park to see Diana's memorial waterfall.

Then we caught the tube from Knightsbridge - Susie catching the No. 9 bus back to Victoria Station and home.  What a lovely day - the sun shone brightly all day.
Not so today.  We are confined to indoors even though we wanted to plant all the seeds that have now arrived.  But its too cold to be out - i can feel pins and needles starting in my body.  Oh well - it might brighten up later.

Senior Screen

Went to Morning Prayer at church then to Chelmsford to Senior Screen.  It was Mission Impossible on today - quite good film but a bit tense in places!  Came home to find a couple of garden deliveries.  Then sat in the garden taking in the rays!  Very relaxing day.

Productive day in the garden

Keep thinking we ought to go out somewhere but everyday with the weather so great we just gravitate back to the garden.  Have achieved quite a lot today.  Ian has dug  out two raised beds ready for vegetables.  I have sown a number of seeds - sweet pea, corn on the cob, tomatoes.  Still need to get carrots sorted out.  Will also need courgettes and beans but still too  early to sew them - sorry, sow them!!  They obviously don't need needle and thread!

Plants ready to go into a shady spot in the garden.

Finished the day soaking up the last of the sun rays, with a glass of wine and some nibbles.  That was nice!
Tomorrow we are off to Senior Screen to watch Mission Impossible.  But I will go to Morning Prayer first up at the church at 9.00am.  Let's hope we have another nice day tomorrow.

Sunny days

This morning we went into Witham.  Ian had to see the doctor about his bladder infection - the third lot in only a few weeks!  He now has another set of antibiotics.  On Friday he has his four-monthly visit to Guys Hospital which is quite fortuitous because hopefully they can sort out the problem with the infections. 
We have moved the caravan in the garden so that it is now pointing towards the house and not diagonally along the fence.  This leaves more room for the raised beds we want to put in in the vegetable area.  Ian spent an entertaining hour or so giggerling the caravan backwards and forwards on the automatic caravan mover.  Reminds me of that film with Wallace and Grommit with the electric trousers!  Did quite a lot of stuff in the garden today.  Only thought about lunch at about 3.00pm! 

View of the back garden from our bedroom window.

Our next door neighbour Sue came  round to invite us to dinner next Wednesday.  How kind - we look forward to it.
Charlotte and Scott came round  yesterday and it was lovely to see them and catch up with their news.  We had tea in the garden until it got a bit a chilly.  They had been shopping in Chelmsford which is only about 20 minutes from us.
Look at our magnolia tree!  Looks fabulous against a blue sky.

Saturday

We are both feeling a bit out of sorts today.  Ian thinks he has another bladder infection which is a bit of a pain.  He will no doubt have to get some more antibiotics on Monday.   Yesterday I felt a bit down - not sure why although I am feeling a bit better today.  Its just a pity that the weather looks so nice and sunny but neither of feeling like going outside.  Tomorrow I am preaching in church. 

Lazy days

Well, we had some good intentions of doing some more gardening with the weather so lovely BUT ....... in the end just did a bit then sat in the garden in the sun reading our books.  What a lovely leisurely day we had. 
This afternoon I made a curry chicken in the slow cooker for tonight.
Last night we went to the Lent Course at church.  It would be good if the group carried on meeting after Lent as we have bonded quite well with quite a different mix of people.
Had a phone call from Barry from our old church in Chatham and we have arranged to meet them at Bluewater for lunch after Easter and catch up with their news.  What lovely friends they are!  Looking forward to it.
Haven't got anything planned for tomorrow.  Maybe we might go out for the day.  I think National Trust and English Heritage properties are opening soon.  Will have to have a look in their handbooks.

Juicy Thursday!

Well everything has been going really well since I had my IV.  I have hardly had any side effects, except my arm is a bit pins and needles from where they put the IV in.  Ian and I have been out in the garden yesterday and today, planting, weeding and mowing the lawn.  This would have been unheard of when the weather was cold but now it is nice and warm I am free to garden - all good exercise.
Anna has been staying with us for the last couple of nights which has been nice to have her here and catch up with her news.  She is now back to London rushing around like a mad thing with all her projects going on at the moment - never a dull moment!

IV Chemo today

My appointment at the hospital was 11.45am.  I was eventually seen at 1.15pm and finally got my chemo plugged in at 2.30pm.  Nothing happens quickly here!  My IV takes three hours to go in, so was finally able to go home at 5.30pm.  Anna came to pick me up and we spent the last hour chatting and doing Sudoko (as you do!)
We have had supper and now taking it easy in front of the telly.  I feel a lot better than last time as I told them that it went in too quickly last time.  The oncologist has reduced the dose with strict instructions for it to be put in over 3 hours.
I asked about the results of my CT Scan.  Unfortunately this takes a week to come through.  I will probably hear the results at my next chemo appointment on 12 April.  This will be my last one too - which is good!

Three in a row!

On Saturday I met up with Anna and Charlotte and went to the Nags Head in Brentwood for a delicious and enjoyable lunch.  On Sunday we celebrated Mothers Day with mother at Monkhams Hall and had Sunday lunch with roast lamb - very yummy.  And today a friend of mine from Chatham came over and we had lunch at Prezzo in Maldon.  I must be a lady who lunches!!
This afternoon we went to Broomfield Hospital for the CT Scan.  I am back to the hospital tomorrow for my intravenous chemo so maybe I can talk to someone there to see if there are any results from the scan.

Friday

The raspberries have arrived so first thing was to go out in the garden to start the digging and planting.  Not so warm as it was yesterday!  Worked in the garden until about 1.30pm then went in for something to eat.  Ian took the lawnmower to be serviced.  I went into Maldon to buy cheese for Sunday - Mothering Sunday at Lindy's.  I also had my hair cut.  Just went into a hairdressers and asked if they could cut my hair.  Its a relief to get that fringe out of my eyes!!  Came home and went to lay on the bed for a bit but ended up making up a file to keep all the information about the garden in.  Now feel very organised.
Looking forward to tomorrow.  Ian is going on the walk with Peter and Sue and I am going to meet my lovely daughters in Brentwood for lunch and a surprise visit to an animal sanctuary.  Hope it doesn't rain too much!

Lovely weather again.

Went for a walk to Beacon Hill this morning.  What a glorious day -  with the May blossom out, the birds singing and the sun shining.  We had a look at some of the buildings and houses that we were going to hear about in the afternoon.  Walked up to the Barn Church to listen to Clive Potter giving a talk on Bygone Great Totham with old photos on slides. We could compare yester-year with what it looks like now.  It was very interesting and was followed by a tea and cakes.  Had our tea with Ruth and George from church.  I told Ruth that I had been asked to be PCC Secretary and I knew she had compiled a manual on how to be a PCC Secretary for which I would be very grateful.  She promised to look it out and bring it to church on Sunday.
Delivery of  raspberry plants, and strawberries.  Will get those planted up tomorrow morning.  Its all go in the garden at the moment.

Chelmsford to become a City!

Chelmsford has been awarded city status as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Chelmsford's MP Simon Burns said he was delighted the town would become the first city in Essex.
The leader of the Conservative-run council, Roy Whitehead, said it was a tremendous honour for the town.
"The 'city of Chelmsford' sounds a lot better than the 'town of Chelmsford', so if we're going to get investment we'll be better off as a city," he said.
"It is a tremendous honour for the town and will bring considerable joy to the local community.
"I would like to congratulate everyone at Chelmsford Borough Council and elsewhere who worked so hard and put such a compelling bid together, which has led to this honour for our community."
Chelmsford's Mayor Robert Shepherd said: "This is very welcome news for Chelmsford and everybody who lives and works within the city.
"We are delighted that Chelmsford has been honoured in this most important of years and also that Essex has at last been recognised as the vibrant and successful county that it has become.
"On behalf of everyone in Chelmsford we would like to thank Her Majesty for this great honour in her Diamond Jubilee year."

CHELMSFORD FACTS

• The Norman town of Chelmsford was founded in 1199
• Marconi established the first wireless factory in the town's Hall Street in 1899
• It is the joint home to the V Festival, along with Staffordshire
• In 2011 Chelmsford Cathedral became Grade I listed
• The town has a population of nearly 160,000

Feeling better

Feeling a lot better with my cold.  Nose not running any more and coughing less.  Still can't smell or taste anything much.  Went to the Senior Screen this morning to see "New Year's Eve" which was quite good.  Not many people there but next week might be busier with "My Week with Marilyn".
Potted up a consignment of geraniums - 60 in total which arrived this afternoon!  Think we are going to be overrun with geraniums this year!  Never mind they are great flowers.  Ian has dug out another raised bed in preparation for the veggies!  We are now in 'library-mode' on our laptops!

Gardening

Had a productive afternoon in the garden.  I potted up 36 plug geraniums (bright red) and also planted two packets of leek seeds.  Ian shredded a pile of woody bits which went on the compost.  We then had room to put the two small raised beds which we bought last year.  We think we will put the broad beans there once they are grown.  We then put the third small raised bed at the back of the vegetable garden area where we think we will put the leeks.  Its a bit shady there but we think leeks won't mind it too much.  I weeded the area where the gooseberries are growing and put some manure on them.  They are just beginning to green up.  That area is quite dry in the summer so must remember to mulch and keep watering.
Went to Witham this morning.  Ian had to go to doctors to have INR tested for his Warfarin intake, also put in a new prescription.  Been a bit of a cloudy day today but not too cold... which is good!  I am feeling better with my cold a bit more energy but still can't taste or smell anything!

Wisdom of the Saints

Paul Aurelian was a 6th century Welsh saint, who became one of the seven founder saints in Brittany, France.  Paul was the son of a Welsh chieftain named Perphirius/Porphyrius ("clad in purple"), from Penychen in Glamorgan.  He was the brother of three saintly sisters, Juthwara, Sidwell and Wulvela.  Paul became a pupil of Saint Illtud at Llantwit Major and on Caldey Island, like the Saints Samson of Dol, Gildas and David.
He later visited King Mark of Cornwall and founded the church at Paul, before moving on to Brittany to establish monasteries at Lampaul on the island of Ushant, on the island of Batz (where he later died) and at Ocsimor, now the city of Saint-Pol-de-Léon in Finistère. He was consecrated bishop there under the authority of Childebert, King of the Franks. Paul was a vegetarian.
He was first buried at Saint-Pol-de-Léon but his relics were later transferred to Fleury near Orléans.  His bell is still kept at Saint-Pol however Gilbert Hunter Doble thought he might be the same man as Saint Paulinus of Wales. His feast day is 12 March.

Intravenous chemo

Went to the hospital today.  Spoke to the oncologist and we have decided not to go ahead with the intravenous chemo today as I am suffering with this horrible cold and cough.  The first thing he said was that I look very washed-out, which I was hoping he would say as I really didn't want the IV.  I think it would have totally knocked me out.  He has given me a prescription for antibiotics to help get rid of the cold, cough.  I think I will just go to bed this afternoon and take things easy.  If I stay downstairs I will be distracted by so many things....
So I will have my CT scan next Monday and the deferred intravenous chemo will be next Tuesday.  Hopefully I will feel a lot better by then.  They said it was perfectly OK to defer IV if necessary.  So no problem there.
I am so pleased I didn't have the IV today.  It gives me a week of freedom, once I have got rid of the cold.  Hurray.... things are looking up!

Review of the week

Having not put anything on my blog since Tuesday,  I have decided to do a 'review of the week'.  This is what I can remember of it........
Wednesday we went to Senior Screen at the Odeon Cinema in Chelmsford.  Its quite good because they now do it at Chelmsford which is a lot closer than Colchester - so we are happy about that.  The car parking is also cheaper which Ian is particularly happy about!  We saw "The Help" which is about the relationship between the middle class white Americans in the 1950s and their black maids.  It was quite emotional but quite good.
Anna came over on Thursday and I met up with her in Chelmsford for a chat and catch up.  In the evening we went to the Rectory for the start of our Lent Group course.  It was all about being rooted and what that meant.  Is it about living in the same area for many years?  That definitely does not apply to Ian and me.  Perhaps it is about being rooted in tradition, or for Christians it might mean being rooted in our faith and belief.  Many people said that it was about being in a fellowship and support, especially when you are going through hard times.  I can concur with that!
Friday - woke up feeling like I was getting a bit of a cold and cough.  Hope this does not mean  that I cannot have my IV on Monday??  Anyway, we were invited to our neighbours for coffee which was very pleasant with lots of chat.  In the afternoon I went to Chelmsford and bought some clothes as Wendy had sent me a 20% off coupon for M&S.  Seemed like a good opportunity to buy some clothes.  Then onto Broomfield Hospital to have my blood test ready for Monday morning.
Saturday - and off to Charlotte a nd Scott's to help get their garden in order.  Lots of plants needed cutting back and weeds dug up.  After two car loads of greenery to the tip, it is now beginning to look a bit more respectable!

Colchester

Had a mooch around Colchester today and spent a couple of hours going round Colchester Castle.  Learnt a lot about the Roman occupation and Roman life.  Very interesting exhibition with masses of Roman finds from around the area. Also learnt about Bodica leading the Iceni tribe in revolt against Roman rule and practically destroying the whole of Colchester - but that was a long time ago - 60AD!  It says in the guide book, "Leaving Colchester a smouldering ruin, Boudica led her army to destroy the Roman settlements at London and St Albans before being finally defeated.  Boudica escaped but later committed suicide and was buried in a secret location by her people."  Apparently a film has been made about her.   Had our picnic lunch on a bench in the park.  Weather overcast but no rain.  I am sure I have been to the park before but it must have been a very long time ago.  There's a lot to see and do in Colchester.  Will have to go back again sometime.

Tonight there is a talk about the history of Great Totham at the Friends Meeting House in Maldon - we thought we might go along and find out more.....

Sunday

A quiet day today.  Ian not feeling well again.  We think the bladder infection has returned again.  It may be that he was not on the right antibiotic.  Anyway, we will be phoning the surgery first thing Monday morning to make an appointment.  It seems to be very debilitating.  We went to church and stayed for coffee.  I did the intercessions this morning.
Weather has deteriorated somewhat.  Some snow and the temperature has fallen to 3 degrees!    Oh well, lets hope for something better next week.
Have just discovered that they now do Senior Screen at Chelmsford on a Wednesday.  This will be much better for us as it is  lot nearer than Colchester.  So hopefully Ian might be well enough to go on Wednesday.  Its "The Help" that is showing which I believe comes with very good reviews.
Went to staff meeting at the Rectory to catch up on what's happening at church.  

Time to update the blog

Yesterday we went for a walk along the River Chelmer starting at Paper Mill Lock.  There is a little cafe there so we walked one way for a  while and on our return stopped for a coffee, then walked a bit further along the river the other way.  It was positively delightful with the sun gradually burning off the morning mist, the birds singing and otherwise lovely and quiet, except for a couple of moorhens.  It really pepped me up.
Came home for some lunch and then out in the garden to do some planting.  The border that runs down the left hand side of the garden looks better.  We have made it wider and planted a few more shrubs, although still could do with more.  Ian has been weeding the bit beyond the pond so that we can plant raspberries and the rhubarb we brought from Chatham - still in pots.  It feels like Spring.

Today we are going to see Wendy and Gary and going to have lunch at The Bell in Hordon-on-the-Hill, the village where they live.  We have been threatening this for some time - possibly since we first met them! - so its finally happening.  Should be good.