In Suffolk the mobile breast cancer screening service travels to various locations and as I'm 70 it was my turn for my last screening- unless I request more, which I probably will as there is and has been so much cancer in the family (but how to remember to contact them in 3 years time?)
The unit parks in the car-park of the Co-op on the edge of Stowmarket. It was pouring with rain so I didn't get a photo but it's this one below, which in this photo is parked in Leiston Co-op car-park where I used to visit it every 3 years when we were at the smallholding. They were running late so it was a bit of a wait, but I'd rather wait than have to drive all the way to Ipswich Hospital.
I don't understand women who don't take up the chance to be screened. Now it's just a wait with fingers crossed to get a letter saying all is OK......or not. Although the only time I was called back in the last 20 years was because of static on the screen.
And as I was in town I went to Aldi, Asda and Superdrug so I didn't need to go shopping anywhere for a week. Here we go - a shopping photo for those who love them!
Apples, pears, mini potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, cheese, dried prunes, rice, tortilla wraps, 2 tins sardines, Hovis biscuits for a change, Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers and a tube of pringles. Total £19.95.
Plus 2 packs of paracetamol from Superdrug 78p.
The apples and pears are British and the potatoes are even more local - coming from Wantisden Farms near Woodbridge in Suffolk. Unfortunately the purple sprouting is from Spain - I reckon it's too wet here for harvesting.
There were several empty spaces in Aldi - no decaf ground coffee, no Shropshire Blue cheese and no dried apricots (I've been eating chopped apple/pear and soaked prunes warmed up in the microwave for breakfast and fancied apricots for a change).
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I've been enjoying watching the GB Curling Mixed doubles at the Winter Olympics. It's one of those things that looks quite simple - just sliding the stone down the ice to land closest to the middle of the circle and trying to get more stones closer than the other team - same as bowls. But all that sweeping and sliding up and down the sheet looks exhausting and the teams all seem to be young and I reckon it's quite hard on the knees too.
Today there is more curling and the skiing events start and also two matches in the six-nations rugby. I hope they are less one-sided than the France v Ireland game when France looked unstoppable.
I'm always shocked at the amount of people who fail to attend their screening appointments. They have a list of the figures in the waiting area at the hospital that I go to.
ReplyDeleteI'm fascinated by curling. It's something I'd love to have a go at.
Have a lovely weekemd, Sue. Xx
I'll be leaving curling to those under 25!
DeleteI make a note at the end of my current diary for breast screening and then carry it forward to the next year. So in three years' time you should have a timely reminder to request another screening!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I shall do and keep the card she gave me .
DeleteI too would never miss a screening test, I will have to ask for them now I'm over 70, as a survivor of breast cancer for 15 years, I will still need to see a clear result.
ReplyDeleteI shall be requesting in 3 years - definitely
DeleteIf weather patterns continue to evolve as they seem to be doing, I think we'll either have to change what we grow and where we grow it, and if we want to eat local we'll have to change what we eat based on what we can grow locally.
ReplyDeleteAs long as the only local things aren't just potatoes!
DeleteScottish curlers are doing very well as part of Team GB and every curling stone used comes from granite hewn in Ailsa Craig, a small uninhabited island off west of Scotland. I thought the team uniform was both attractive and sensible and the opening ceremony was very colourful.Catriona
ReplyDeleteAilsa Craig must be getting smaller after all these years of curling stones being made from it
DeleteI'll always go to every screening... I don't LIKE mammograms but that's no reason not to go. Although I imagine women traumatised by assault might find it very, very hard.
ReplyDeleteThey aren't fun but very essential
DeleteI do like to see people’s shopping, and think what meals could be made from their choices. I am trying to buy nothing UPF, nothing which is not food, an ingredient for nourishing meals. I like an Aldi date with a sliced apple from our store and a couple of nuts, a sweet treat. I was fascinated and disgusted to see what happened when a savoury snack was dropped in water, in What Not To Eat.
ReplyDeleteI didn't watch What Not to Eat so will have to investigate what happened
DeleteA few years ago I began to include food in my blogging and was amazed at how interested people are in seeing what I buy and cook. So I'm glad to oblige. And I find I like seeing other people's food, too.
ReplyDeleteMy Canadian sister was a dead keen curler, on a team and going to the bonspiel whatever that is. Apparently it's a lot more skilled than it looks. Like lawn bowls on ice. My dad was a mad keen lawn bowls player. Runs in the family!
It's certainly not as simple as it looks
DeleteI will never forget the time I went, and there were two of us waiting. Another woman came in and looked at us, and said "I cant be bothered to wait" The other lady said"stop! A few years ago I felt fine, and came for my screening.And they discovered my early stage cancer. I would hate for you to miss out on treatment if you need it"
ReplyDeleteI have my calendar on my phone so can book a date 3 years ahead
I'll make a note in my diary
DeleteI know I need to have my next screening in late 2027. I've had to remember twice since I got to 70, I wouldn't want to miss and will go for as long as I'm able. A dear friend of mine has had two bouts of breast cancer so I'm always mindful of getting checked:)
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly worth getting checked - just in case
DeleteYes, there are lots of us that like to see a good shopping photo ... I hate the word haul. We have a curling rink/sheet in our local entertainment venue and it's regularly in use by locals and the teams that come here for tournaments. Lats time we were there Alan suggested we might want to have a go, one look from me and he realised that was not a good idea. Apart from all the bending, slipping and sliding there's the cost, it's very expensive.
ReplyDeleteI've banned the word Haul with regard to shopping on my blog!
DeleteUnder 25 seems to be the age for curling
Glad you are enjoying the curling. According to a Times article, UK Sport has spent £630,000 on each of the curlers.
ReplyDeleteGoodness that seems a lot but I guess that's what it costs.
DeleteWatching the US-GB curling match as I type. The US mixed doubles are from my part of the US in Minnesota so a local perspective in all the news reports. Actually, Minnesota always has a lot of Winter Olympians which makes sense since we are the land of snow and ice. I had .y mammogram yesterday.
ReplyDeleteGB Curling are doing really well - nice to see as we are not a winter sport country .
DeleteStrange coincidence re the mammogram - not fun but very important
As someone else mentioned, you can put a reminder on your phone calendar for 3 years from now. Easy to do. My doctor always puts in a request for me when I visit for my annual check up and I never miss going.
ReplyDeleteI'll be making a note in my diary and keep the card I was given with the phone number and dates
DeleteA side note--isn't dried prunes redundant? Prunes are by definition dried plums.
ReplyDeleteTrue!
DeleteI was so pleased to see Italy beating France. They really deserved it, but the conditions were atrocious.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely pouring! Italy beat Scotland but a closer game than the other two matches.
DeleteTo be honest, I can't remember when I last had a mammogram. I know I had to request one after I reached 70 but now I've lost track of when that was. My GP isn't interested in me keeping track either, despite my mum having had a mastectomy at the age of 60. I have no idea how to book one myself....
ReplyDeleteAngie
A Hospital service completely separate from Doctors - they don't talk to each other!
DeleteIt will be a phone number under your NHS district and then Breast Screening service. Hope you can find a phone number and get a check up.
Curling can be quite mesmerizing to watch, though I confess as a sport it's utterly mysterious. I just watch it for the movement, as I would watch dance. I agree about screenings -- of any kind. Why doesn't everyone do them?
ReplyDeleteAlways good to get checked for everything available I think.
DeleteI'm one of those weirdos (!) who is interested in photos of people's groceries. I see the price - 20 pounds - (in Canadian dollars I think that's closer to $40) and think wow, that's a lot of groceries for 20 bucks but not terribly wild for 40.
ReplyDeleteWe have a mammogram bus too and it comes right to Wadena and parks at the skating rink in the summer for a few days. At my last one, the technician felt the lump in my breast and thought it unlikely to be anything to worry about, since it didn't seem to be attached like a tumour would be. Au contraire! I was phoned two days later and asked to have another mammogram and an ultrasound. I thought Oh Baloney, running to the city I do not need! but went anyway and glad I did because the end result was catching cancer early, being treated for it toute suite, and feeling like a million dollars four months later -- if a bit like a reptile because my boob is peeling after radiation. Anyhow, all this to say -- skipping either of those mammograms would have been foolish so I'm sure glad I didn't. -Kate
What a good thing you went for that check up and a successful outcome.
DeleteHope you keep well from now on
Many years ago, my friend Charlie was on a US (non-pro) curling team. Until I met Charlie, I knew nothing of curling. He had Scottish roots and told me the game originated there. Is that true?
ReplyDeleteMammograms are important and lifesaving. Best be safe than sorry.
The stones are a very hard granite from a Scottish Island so maybe that's where it started.
DeleteHow I wish I could survive on such a frugal outlay for food. The apples would only last me 3 days as I eat two a day! I cannot live without cucumbers either and have two of those a week. You are so strong-willed not to have any Treats in that shopping . . . my downfall!
ReplyDelete