Taking the plunge

[greenpea]

[greenpea]

@Former-Member I have geraniums and hydrangas both of which I also love. I just love my garden! 

[Former-Member]

I just popped back on @greenpea - your pics are beautiful. Put a smile on my dial. Gardening is my passion - I find it not only gives joy to those who nurture gardens but to all who view it. It's a win win. It's a pity not a lot of people have time for gardens anymore. I use to love walking around neighbourhoods and view them. A lot of people walking their dogs would stop and talk to me about mine when I was in the front garden. I loved our chats and my garden use to make them happy. I also have hydrangeas and geraniums. Have you seen the red geraniums. I think they are reasonably new, I just put one in my front garden and they are lovely.  It seems a lot of people are just too busy now to garden.

i use to be a member of a garden club when I lived in the rural southern part of NSW. I had the most happiest times then in this group - we as a group would arrange get together and visited the most beautiful gardens around the place - we had such a good time. For me a beautiful garden is a taste of paradise. I do miss those days and that club. Have you ever been to garden clubs or talks? 

Thanks for sharing the pics - brought back good memories. Hope you enjoy the rest of the day in your garden and I look forward to more pics in the near future 😊💐

[Former-Member]

Hello @Former-Member

I know how draining it feels when waiting on news of any progress with cancer with our friends...

male friend who has melanomas has had some shrinkage so positive news for now...

female friend who has lung cancer hears from her specialist in two days time re any changes for her...

other male friend who had operation in back and lymph nodes under arm waiting for further treatment...

all very draining...remember only too well when sister had lung cancer and she survived only to lose her long term partner with pancreatic cancer about 5 years later..

it is an illness that appears to be rife these days...yes treatment does help some...what they go through along with their families....my thoughts re having treatment are better left to myself...

remember to slow down occasionally as you do find yourself very drained when things catch up with you...especially this time of year for everyone...

[Former-Member]

Thanks @Former-Member, yes it will be nice if the kids come to visit.  Our son lives about 6 hours drive North of us, and our daughter lives about 5 hours drive South.  They are both married and both have children ranging in age from 4 to 18.  So there's always a lovely time to be had with the grandkids.  Actually they arent really my children, I am only the step mother.  My husband was married before and when we married the agreement was that he did not want more kids.  So thats the way it stayed.  It would have been nice to have my own children, but the step kids were teenagers when I came along and I have a good relationship with both of them.  The grandkids consider me to be there proper grandma.  So its nice.

I'm sorry @Former-Member that your friend has lung cancer, it is an awful disease, and he certainly has a battle before him.  If his attitude is right, that may well be half the battle, and he will come through it.  Here's hoping.  My husband has cancer in his lungs too, but its not lung cancer as such.  It is melanoma cancer which spread to the lungs.  I understand what you mean about knowing when to visit sick friends, it is a tricky situation.  I know from experiencing it personally with my husband being so unwell.  He is a sociable person, and likes visitors, but you can tell that sometimes he just isnt up to it. Regardless I do know he appreciates that people care and take the time to visit.  And I feel sure that your friend, his wife, will very much appreciate a chance to have you around as well.  She'd be doing it damned hard right now.

It sounds like your weather is very similar to ours.  Windy, overcast and humid.  Perhaps we are neighbours?    Definitely a good day to indulge in some relaxing cross stitch for you.  I hope @Maggie may be able to do that too, in between your social worker visit. I hope that goes well.

@greenpea - I do love those pics of your gardenias.  Lovely plants and beautifully fragrent.

@Former-Member - You're right about cancer being everywhere these days.  And yes, treatment options can be extremely difficult, but some are being met with success in both curing or slowing some cancers. Pancreatic remains one of the most deadly however, as does melanoma once its metastisised to other organs.  But progress is being made.  And I very much admire those people who undergo trials etc to test options, as it will likely mean that one day a true cure will be found.  Or if not a cure, at least something which will enable sufferers a better quality of life what however long they have. I think I'm getting all morbid with this talk about cancer.  All too close to home unfortunately.  As it no doubt is for others as well.  My apologies.

Sherry 

[Former-Member]

That is great news and a positive sign that your male friend's melanomas had some shrinkage @Former-Member- This is very encouraging and hopeful. Melanoma does seem to be a scourge in this country. I read on some science study that drinking green tea can help prevent melanoma  - so I have started to do this, doesn't taste as bad as I thought lol. 

I do hope your female friend has good news too....please keep me informed.

It is draining....we can go through it with them. My male friend with lung cancer puts on a jovial front but I know he is worried. Who wouldn't be.

Your sister has been through it...cancer is such an insidious disease. I wish they would try rainforest plants for possible cures as I feel that's where the answer could possibly lye. 

I agree with slowing down - I am trying to do that, doesn't always work for me as my days are full but you are so right about it catching up. My doctor said my last episode was triggered by burn out. I am feeling a bit better as I took something to catch up on sleep. That always helps.

I hope you are doing okay @Former-Member as I know this time of year is hard for you. It's not my favourite time either, it can be hard and the real spirit and meaning has been lost in commercialism, so it's just stressful for me. Do you have a family get together for Christmas Day at your house? We are eating out at a restaurant this year which should help the stress - it's just the three of us as I don't have extended family (except for some friends who I think of as family). Hope your day goes easier for you @Former-Member 💕🌹😊xx

[Maggie]

@Former-Member sorry your hubby is unwell today, xstitch and keeping an eye out sounds like a good plan. My social worker rang this morning, she's coming Monday morning to catch up on the past 6 weeks. She had a good break and sent a post card that is still in the mail. She said it's a record for snail mail!!!!

Sorry your friends cancer is aggressive, it's such a scary word cancer. Your prayers will be heard. His wife will be pleased to have you caring. Sometimes it's just being there which means so much, many run when people need them the most. You are a good friend. It's windy and wet here today and I've been x stitching myself, also practicing a few songs. I gave up thinking I was just being stupid and my songs silly, oh well, back up today.

My visitor is dropping off her dog this afternoon. So good company with the two dogs for a few hrs.

@Former-Member It's ok to shed a tear, you have plenty to cry over.

@greenpea I just got into gardening this year and love it. A gardenia, I will look it up, beautiful

@Former-Member hi there

[Former-Member]

hello @Former-Member

twin sister decided to exclude my younger son from christmas lunch at her house...she is taking mum out of nursing home for day...

I tried to tell her that it is very important that I have younger son with me (dont need to use too many brain cells how b....y horrible  it will be like last year not knowing where and how older son is....she has put him out of her mind...her and mother never discuss him now as though he never existed...I realise that is how some people cope with pain...not very compassionate for me who is supposed to be a member of the same family..

so I told her that we are busy on christmas day and boxing day...christmas day spending with most of husband's offspring and family...boxing day just myself...younger son and husband eating lunch out a lovely restaurant in the hills overlooking the river from a balcony...am very much looking forward to that day...

am so badly depressed again though....tears would not come before but are flowing now....

apologies to others about discussion of cancer....I am in a tunnel at the moment and incapable of remembering what others are going through.

hence my previous message re keeping low profile...

I think it is best that I just remove myself from this post altogether...

good luck and well wishes to you all

[greenpea]

@Maggie Yes like @Former-Member said they are very fragrant ... I love them! I also like native flowers like the simple bottle brush Ned Kelly ones that the council's plant by the road are great!

[greenpea]

@Former-Member Thanks -Enigma-.