Monday 9 April 2018

Old Photos and New News

I found the memory stick so I could load on some photos of Jacob and Florence ready to take to print out......hope Asda in Ipswich still have the photo printing machine. There were lots of photos from last year on the stick so then I had to find the photo album to see which ones I'd already printed and it was while I was doing that when I came across this photo from Spring 2002.

Kev at An English Homestead did a post about his ewe who had 4 lambs - quite unusual, and I commented that we'd had one who had 4 once, but she'd broke her leg/ pelvis having them so we had to have her destroyed and we'd bottle fed the lambs with Col's home made bottle feeding device. There are actually 5 lambs in this picture as we were given a tiny orphan lamb as well but she was fed separately by hand. For any sheep connoisseurs out there these were Ryeland.....the 'teddy bear' sheep with a bit of Shetland in their mum, she was a brown Ryeland cross and the lambs were black when they were born gradually getting browner as they got older.
Lambing each Spring was never fun......getting up to check them through the night, and it was always blinkin' cold but once they'd arrived a lot of time was wasted watching them! ( don't read this next bit if you are vegetarian or vegan!) and we made a good income from selling the fattened lambs in half-lamb freezer packs

I also found this from Autumn - 2002, our first ever pumpkin harvest at the smallholding. Later in 2012/13/14 we grew even more to sell and had about 3 times this amount every year.
Happy memories but I'm glad we're not still planting and harvesting on this scale.........it was hard on the back!

The New News is a cancer update and Great Joy (not) .........we now have to go to Addenbrookes 3 times a fortnight instead of just once a week! This is because they are trying a different sort of treatment called Extra Corporeal Photopheresis which in English means exposing the white blood cells to UV light outside the body. This is to treat the Graft versus Host Disease so they can get him off the anti-rejection drugs,so the donor stem cells can take over completely. The cancer has definitely moved to the Lymph glands and he is taking some chemo tablets that he had in 2016 ( they didn't work against the bone marrow lymphoma but should work to treat the enlarged Lymph glands). It's very important to battle on quickly. This new treatment (ECP for short) takes between 1½ and 3 hours on two days a fortnight and goes on for 3 months  before they review it, so lot's more traveling back and forth through most of the summer.

We are resigned, as the definition for that word says, " resigned to an unpleasant  situation or fact, we accept it without complaining because we realize that we cannot change it!"

Sums it up nicely.

I'm debating if I can pluck up courage to sometimes take myself by bus into Cambridge city centre  while Col is having the treatment. There are all sorts of wonderful places to visit but I'm terribly prone to getting completely lost in town centres! No sense of direction at all.

Thank you for comments over the weekend. I sometimes feel we were forced into retirement early but there is no way I could commit to part time work or even volunteering at the moment. So we will soldier on as we are.

Back Tomorrow
Sue

34 comments:

  1. In a way, you are not retired, you're just working in a different way! I'm sorry that it's going to be such a rough time with all that travelling and I hope you do find a way of getting into Cambridge. There must be a good bus route to and from the hospital and there are some good maps of the city centre so fingers crossed.
    J x

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    1. I agree with you, Joy. I am a carer for a family member and it is amazing how often people make comments about me 'not working'! My daughter went to one of the Cambridge Colleges and my tip for finding your way around is to pop into the porters' lodge at any of the colleges and ask. They are a mine of information and, most of them being ex-military, are unlikely to turn down an opportunity to help a lady in distress! Tracy

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  2. Sorry to hear that Col needs more treatment and you are going to be toing and froing more often. When we took Tam to Cambridge for her Uni interview, we used the park and ride, which takes you into the middle of the city, and everything is really well marked. It is SO worthwhile going just to see the wonderful architecture and if you are there on the right day, a good selection of market stalls too (one with a FAB selection of used books, as you would excpect in such a place of learning.)

    I loved your old photos - never heard of a ewe with 4 lambs before! Blimey - well done on raising them too. Great pumpkin harvest too.

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  3. Loved seeing your baby lambs and Col’s fabulous feeding machine! Somethings really are sent to try us and you two certainly are being sent and tried! Medical science is amazing and hopefully Col will sail through this xxx

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  4. Get yourself a street map of Cambridge and practice finding your way about with that.

    I hope the new treatment works for Col.

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  5. My first comment is to encourage you to venture into Cambridge by bus. Take photos looking back as you leave the bus station so that you can work backwards.
    People are amazingly helpful if you ask the way( as long as you can find locals).
    It's not a very big centre so treat it the way you did when you moved house venturing a little further each time.
    I love Cambridge, it feels more like a small town; we often camped there and cycled in from the site. The big attraction to my husband was Duxford airfield. He would cycle there and spend the whole day poking around the planes.
    What can I say about Col's situation that hasn't been said. I'm glad that the treatment is available and that he may be able to come off the anti rejection drugs. In the meantime you two have amazing strength, I just hope the sun shines for your journeys. Sue

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  6. Good luck to Col as he has yet more treatment-he’s a brave soldier as my Gran always told us when we had an injury. I am locationally challenged too but I find myself trying to be brave and explore new places. I use a map , and write myself a little route. Norrie says I can find a fabric shop blindfolded in any town or city as I have a homing device for those. Hope the weather improves both for your travelling and for your wandering.

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  7. Fingers doubly crossed for the new course of treatment.
    (Maybe a walking location App on your phone would help you feel more secure in Cambridge.)

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  8. So sorry to hear that more treatment is needed for Col and there is extra travelling for you both. Hoping all goes well and it is short term pain for long term gain.
    The definition of resignation struck a chord today - I have to face up to a situation with an elderly relative and I have never been good at resignation - I push back hard against things that bind me but I have to find some sort of compromise. I will be thinking of you both and your fortitude as an example to follow.

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  9. What a lovely idea taking a bus into Cambridge and explore a little. Loved your photos. Sending best wishes to you both.

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  10. If you decide to go to town, use your mobile phone as a guide. When you get off the bus mark the spot as home and when you are ready to go back use your phone to guide you home. We do this when we are abroad to find the carpark. I like loads of others will have everything crossed for the next couple of weeks. Loved your photo's, I love looking back to see where we came from.

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  11. Good idea from Marlene. Cambridge is a lovely city. We found it quite straight forward to park and get around and we are real country folk that get lost in cities !:)We treated ourselves to the city bus tour. It was brilliant. Although life isn’t what you planned I admire your determination to keep going and find the positive in everything.

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  12. I hope you'll find a way to enjoy Cambridge (without getting lost) as I'm sure it would be something to look forward to. I hope this new treatment will work and help Col. When I read your posts you seem quite strong and stoic too (along with frugal and practical and wise:) Meg

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  13. If you can do all that driving (I am in awe) then you can definitely take a bus and explore a little. We all tackle things in our own way, but I would do lots of Gloogling, find somewhere I really wanted to visit, print off some easy maps/directions (both ways) and give it a go...making sure you have your specs with you, if you need them! But then I don't use a smartphone, perhaps you do. Whatever works for you.

    Very best wishes to you both.

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  14. Google where you have to go beforehand (you can choose driving, public transport or walking), write it down, ask people for directions if you get lost (remember people are only too happy to help) and just do it!

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  15. I love finding old photos and going down memory lane for a while. Col's homemade bottle feeder is brilliant - even more time to watch the lambs :)

    Not sure I should encourage you re. Cambridge as my sense of direction is terrible as well. The saving grace these days is technology so I'm sure you'd become 'unlost' quite easily, although that flummoxes me as well and I'd have use the old fashioned way of 'asking'.

    If there's even a glimmer of silver lining to the next round of treatment it's that driving should be a lot easier in summer. None of this is easy for either of you though. xx

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  16. I love the lamb picture - what an ingenious feeding contraption!! I am sorry to hear that more hospital trips are in the future. It must be hard not to get down, but as you said, you are resigned to it. I hope you try out a little exploring on your own - who knows what you might discover! -Jenn

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  17. I hope the new treatment works.
    Go for it I say, go out and explore, if you get lost I am sure someone will help you out. Your photos would make nice cards.

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  18. When I get lost, I call it ‘taking the scenic route.’ You meet some lovely people that way!
    Sending hugs and good wishes in this next phase for you and Col. It can’t be easy.

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  19. We have just found out that any treatment that could involve an ambulance/taxi ride to the hospital would also allow reimbursement of 'petrol money' if you use your own car. This is France, I wonder if UK patients could also benefit like this? Best wishes for the new regime.

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  20. So sorry to hear that hospital visits must increase - but I hope the fact that they have new treatments to offer and are working aggressively to fight the cancer gives you hope of a good longterm outcome.
    I think that the work of a caregiver is often the toughest of all jobs and at times may even seem thankless. Please remember to take care of yourself as you and your husband go through this. If an outing to the shops or city centre will help to distract you then please go for it. If you do get a bit lost I'm sure that someone will set you straight - and I think it will make the time pass much quicker and in a more pleasant way than a hospital waiting room. Good luck.

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  21. take the bull by the horns and get that bus, even if you dont venture far from the bust station on your first trip and next time venture a bit further, it will be a great conversation to have with Col, your little adventures out.

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  22. I am so sorry to hear that you will be having to do extra hospital journeys through the summer but I hope the new treatment will work for Col.
    Hope you find the courage to take that trip into Cambridge. Like some have already said....there will always be someone you can ask for help if you get lost.
    Hugs to you both-x-

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  23. There's very good signage in Cambridge. Sorry to hear you're going to need to travel to the hospital even more.
    Arilx

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  24. Hope the new treatment works. You are going through so much the option of retiring or not wasn't really there for you, you had no choice. Go for the bus trip, why not? I think of you both often and pray for a positive outcome.

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  25. I love finding old photos! Lambs and pumpkins! You haven't been forced into early retirement but forced into the life of fighting cancer. Not easy and oft times hard to keep a positive frame of mind and keep up the relentless fight. Sending you a hug today, being a carer is HARD, much harder than any "work".

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  26. Yes fingers crossed...
    ( those photos have a strange 3D quality about them)

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  27. I am sorry to hear that Col needs further treatment, but glad there are treatment options. Everything crossed. Cambridge centre is very compact and well signposted. There are two main areas, the Colleges / Market / Grand Arcade side (posh shops) and the Grafton centre side and Beehive / Newmarket Road (less posh shops and retail park). The tourist info centre is at the Guildhall down the side of the Market Square on Peas Hill (wonderful name). I'd recommend the hop-on-hop-off bus, £16 per day, for sightseeing and getting orientation. I live in central Cambridge and would be happy to meet and walk round?

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    1. meant to sign off:- Ros in Cambridge

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  28. Only a person on the cancer treatment road can know the many curves to be negotiated, it is a tiring route and you are toughing it out in admirable fashion. A little treat for yourself while in Cambridge sounds just the ticket. I am sure you will manage in your common sense way.

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  29. Hi My husband and I travel a lot your first stop should be tourist info for a map and details of the buses. I also use an app mapsme which gives you off line maps therefore not wasting your data. It also shows you where you are. If that is all you do the first day it is a success the first step is the hardest.

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  30. You might be 'resigned' but you are dealing with it very well, and teaching us all a lot too ... patience, compassion, fortitude, optimism and sheer determined-ness.

    Get on that bus and enjoy the ride out. As you get off ask the driver where you get the bus back to the hospital and make a note of exactly where that bus stop is ... and then head for a coffee shop or a charity shop of two and enjoy an hour to yourself.

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  31. Caring for anyone who is unwell is work in itself. I think that you are doing a fantastic job and when I read your posts, wonder what the heck I have to complain about. My grandad built a very similar feeding machine for orphaned lambs. It was impossible for him to hand feed so many lambs at once and you could never tell who had had how much as they would swap from one bottle to another and butt in. I used to stay with my grandparents every Easter holidays to help out with the feeding. Some of the lambs could suckle so strongly that they would pull the teat right out of the bottle!!

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  32. Sorry to hear about Col. Perhaps the first time you go exploring you could have someone come with you. Cambridge is a lovely place to visit. There is a wonderful church (I think it's a Catholic one) that has loads of gargoyles on it. Definitely something to see!

    I love your photos! If Asda doesn't have the photo thing anymore (pretty sure they do) then Boots has one.

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