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!