Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71

Evenin' all, Good to read Rick's news. Many thanks to all for the supportive nature of this thread....our biggest priority at the moment is to be as normal as possible and for us that includes relating our experiences as they unfold. The advantage of typing this into a website is that it is a step back from stating it verbally and it is also to a more anonymous audience.....this cushions/prepares one for the emotional impact of telling family/close friends. Best regards Dave

Aft'noon all, We're just entering the 'mostly confined to disinfected barracks' stage....Is has been to have a No1 clipper cut and returned wearing a bandana which caused a wobble as she has always had a well kept head of hair. I've distracted her a little with the new two tone pale paint scheme on what was previously a dark front door. Being able to relate losing my own hair in clumps following a train crash in 1986 (at the age of 19) helped a little too. Even as a bloke it was disconcerting that the chemical treatment to encourage re-growth failed and a shaved head/No1 clipper cut became the clear sensible route...at a time when collar length hair was the norm and skinhead cuts still carried lifestyle statement undertones. First chemo tomorrow Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

.....I'm aware of how much support I've been shown on this caring thread recently BoD and simply took the opportunity to check the other side of the coin. Most situations can be be viewed in more than one way. Dave

Mornin' all, I agree with Smiffy/Ashcombe too: a lovely wife...needing a little TLC just now smashing constitutionals through and around the Peak District National Park....overcast, mild and dry for this mornings 1hr blast around the short anticlockwise lovely home in a quiet neighbourhood no debts no responsibilities monthly holidays plenty of family and friends to share/enjoy life with....we ate at 'The Boot' in Repton last night with friends and very nice too our glass is always half full, not half empty Now music by Boots Randolph.....Yakety sax Jock....if you're still around Orford and fancy some superb riverside dining then the Ramsholt Arms at Ramsholt on the Deben is the place and not far from you but book first Commiserations to anyone in any kind of difficulties just now Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

Mornin' all, Colorful start today with greenfinch, goldfinch, redpoll and siskin occupying the feeders at the same time....just needed the bullfinch to complete the set. Dave

....if you haven't found it already Jock, the smokery in Orford does some smashing smoked bacon and sausages. Dave

Aft'noon all, Dramatic start to the cycling outing this morning.....as I drove to Macclesfield to join the others I passed near (half a mile away) the timber mill at Bosley which had just started to explode and burn (will be on the news at 6pm). Debris was raining down in Bosley village, over a mile away and there was a considerable plume of smoke. Condolences to the family & friends of those missing. Excellent 30 mile ride around the Cheshire lanes with a lovely meal at The Davenport Arms, Marton mid way. Enjoy what you do Dave

Mornin' all, Sorry to hear your news Mick No constitutional today as I've been invited to cycle 30 miles around pretty Cheshire lanes with a couple of friends later this morning. The ladies are joining us around lunchtime at a countryside pub for a meal....we then complete the cycling whilst they have a little retail therapy. Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

...I run a VW Polo 1.2 diesel turbo blue motion...top line mpg of 88 and regularly attain mid 70s mpg. Great car once you've mastered its strengths and yes I'd buy the same again. Dave

....thanks Jock. Getting together with a 22 year age gap meant that we left nothing for 10 or 20 years hence and instead just got stuck into some serious holidaying....Is has already had 7 this year and me 6. We have around 200 DVD's full of clips such as the one above and whilst not wanting her to go through what she is just about to start, we do now have some time to reflect on 15 years of traveling. More trips out will be grabbed when she feels well enough and we have a good number of friends/family just waiting to keep her upbeat with calls and visits when possible. Yes there will be grim days and we'll have to do the best we can. Dave

Mornin' all, Good to be alive blue sky & warm start to the day in The Moorlands. A few of yesterdays canal cruise calories burned on the short anticlockwise.....some scenes from what was a smashing day out here.... We joined Janet & Colin nr Acton Bridge for a cruise along the Trent & Mersey and Bridgewater canals to Lymm. The stop lock adj. to the tunnel at Preston brook is the end on boundary between the two....a 6 inch approx water height differential prevents water being lost from the Bridgewater canal into the Trent & Mersey (a big issue in the days of independent canal companies). Once through Preston brook tunnel (restricted access times to prevent boats meeting in the tunnel) the canal becomes navigable by wide beam craft and several are soon sighted. Fiddlers Ferry power station can be seen on the far side of the West Coast Main Line nr Moore. Passing through Lymm we near journeys end at The Barn Owl public house where we tie up and I treat everyone to a meal at the pub as a thank you for a superb day out. A car had been left at each end of the journey to make getting home easier....once we'd collected mum & dad from Manchester airport. Sign painting in school later Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

Mornin' all, Double trip to the hospital today (15 miles each way) so no constitutional. Is had her heart scan earlier.....last appointment at the cancer centre prior to chemo later. She has even had to have her fingernails painted with dark nail varnish....her hairdresser is going along later this week to choose a suitable wig with her....she even has special toothpaste. The house is filling with disinfectant and antiseptic wipes to try and ensure that she doesn't pick up infections here. If I become infected then I have to sleep temporarily at a friends house. Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave We now have a further appointment on Thursday for a guided tour of the centre and specific dietary do's/don'ts etc/what to do in the event of. Chemo starts next week. Opportunity for a canal cruise with friends on their narrowboat this week now as a last piece of diversionary therapy.

....are you suggesting that she wasn't easy on the eye?....there are many overweighties storing up future joint problems by running and often running badly....spose running on sand lessens the impact somewhat but the heartrate is going to be high. The advantages of swimming/cycling have been trumpeted many times. Dave

.....I'm guessing that this involves the towel area. Dave

Mornin' all, A belated happy birthday to Jock A 'between the showers' calorie burn around the short anticlockwise to kick off today....too warm for a jacket. Household chores to attend to this week with the bathroom to paint as well as the garden fences and window lintels....although the weather will need to cooperate for the latter. This also applies to a planned sign painting session in school on Thursday. Oh, and hospital with Is tomorrow, collecting mum & dad from the airport on Wednesday and a friend has invited me on a cycling tour of a local hostelry or two on Friday....where did the week go? We're slowly working our way through some smashing honey flavours collected from various parts of the UK during our trips....surprising how the wildflower based ones vary according to the make up of the local flora. Now music by Frankie Valli and the four seasons....Walk like a man Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....living in The Moorlands we're used to changeable Summer weather and have simply got into the habit of doing sunshine activities when the sun shines etc. There has been no significant change over recent years. Dave

....maybe she ordered the reader participation 'now you write the next page' edition. Dave

Mornin' all, A few scenes from our latest 3 night/4 day 'head for the sun' trip....this one based at 'The Kings' nr Sherborne. Minterne Magna....a trip with 'the firestarter' as dubbed by some staff, 'U' class 31806 on the Swanage railway....Corfe castle with Poole hbr backdrop....home for 3 nights 'The Kings' at Charlton Horethorne...Milton Abbey....Kimmeridge....Swanage beach....Border force vessels off Studland....Isle of Wight from Old Harry.....the new Condor catamaran crossing Swanage bay inbound to Poole on a Channel islands sailing Dave

Mornin' all, Happy anniversary Pete Overcast, showery and warm in The Moorlands for resumption of the constitutionals, this time the short clockwise due to lighter weekend traffic levels. A good number of Dorset seaside calories to burn so I'm hoping for a few dry starts over the coming days. Church duties later Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

Evenin' all, Condolences to Alan A few scenes from the hurried 'last dip in the sea' trip of the last 3 days (great bathing from Studland and Swanage beaches with good sea temps).....scenes of Minterne Magna....firefighting on the Swanage Rlwy with 'U' class 31806 dubbed by some staff as 'The firestarter' for causing at least one lineside fire on each trip.....Corfe Castle with Poole hbr behind.....our base for 3 nights 'The Kings' at Charlton Horethorne nr Sherborne (highly recommended)....Milton Abbey....Kimmeridge.....Swanage beach....Border Force vessels off Studland.....The Isle of Wight from Old Harry.....the new Condor catamaran passing Swanage bay on an inbound Channel Islands sailing to Poole Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

Aft'noon all, Condolences to anyone with friends/relatives caught up in the 7/7 bombings....not a nice anniversary. The cancer centre experience could have been much worse....Is is to have 6 lots of medium strength chemo at 3 weekly intervals from next week. Followed by mastectomy and plating/pinning of hip area. Prognosis is for years rather than months. The seaside beckons. Enjoy what you do Dave

Mornin' all, Overcast, warm and just about dry in The Moorlands for the 05.50 kick off. Too warm for a showerproof, just in case, so I risked the wet look and made it around the short anticlockwise having collected only around 3 spots. Enjoyed the tennis yesterday...some of the shots in both the Murray and Djokovic games defied physics. Now music by Pussycat.....Mississippi Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

Mornin' all, Condolences to any and all dealing with ailments/illnesses just now. Sunny, warm high summer start in The Moorlands....head down calorie burns on regular constitutionals just now as Is is doing some comfort eating and I'm trying to at least control the waistline effect of more regular meals out etc. We start at the cancer centre tomorrow....she wants to swim in the sea one more time before the restrictive regime of chemo kicks in, so I'll be trying to make sure that that happens. Adding to the situation was an attempt by hackers with information hacked from our ISP to obtain bank details via a Trojan virus on the laptop...all bank details now changed. A visit to PC World and advice from the manufacturer of the laptop has yielded the necessary protection. Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

.....the summons to the hospital to see the consultant is imminent Jock...Is will be ringing them this morning. In the meantime our motto is straightforward....if in doubt go out, or go on holiday.....this continual distraction ensures that we pass the wait as quickly and in as good a spirits as possible. Is will now go straight to the cancer centre next week to see the oncologist. She has cancer in one breast and several bone areas but not in her major organs. The specialist nurse has several ladies in their 7th and 8th years on the same likely treatment path....therefore we fix on that and take outings and holidays as opportunities arise. A full mastectomy and most likely a hip replacement will feature too. Is's only hint at possible issues on the horizon was a spell of feeling unwell, which she couldn't attribute to anything, last year. No other heralds of this. Dave

Mornin' all, Most glorious start to a day so far this year in The Moorlands....blue sky sunny, hot and clear at 06.00. Also, the first breakfast in the garden opportunity..... The geraniums are as vibrant as I've seen them A great year for valerian The delphiniums are opening now We have various fragrant mock oranges and honeysuckles in the garden Feathered ones provided for....although the sparrowhawk seems intent on dining on some of the diners Enjoy what you do Dave