robin hoods bay and whitby

Oh how wonderful it was to be back up there. 'God's own country' they say, well I won't argue as it was just perfect. Robin Hoods Bay is so so special. It was a fantastic week and the sun had his hat on for most of it. I so love Whitby too (even with the Goths, and there were many of them as it was nearing Halloween). What's the collective noun for a heap of Goths? a gloom of goths, a sulk of goths.......
I discovered the panorama button on my phone and couldn't help myself, so here are a few of the many shots I snapped

A more mature cheese

Thank you everyone for all your birthday wishes yesterday. I loved my little run out with Mr Cheese to Blenheim Palace and all my wonderful gifts from you lovely lovely peeps xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

the water in majorca........

was blummin' freeeeezing! We had such a lovely holiday with Nurse and Brother Cheese. We almost had the hotel to ourselves, apart from our competitive Danish friends (beat them TWICE in the quiz nights), a dutch family and a very odd german couple (he had a nice line in snow-washed denim and a handlebar moustache). Mr Cheese still has the edge when it comes to trivia, think it runs in the family. Brother Cheese slightly put out that he wasn't in our team..... mind you he did have the disadvantage of having large haired eldest and fluffy youngest in his team, they'd never heard of Chuck Berry!!!! The ABBA tribute night will stay with me for a long time, as will the Lion King show we caught the end of. Ah young hotel entertainment reps certainly know how to have a good time. They were exceptional and we laughed and laughed. Dos mas cerveza por favor and 2 euros 50 for a slush puppy, eeeeeee!

ups and downs

I had to go to hospital today for what I thought was a routine consultation with my surgeon as I'm experiencing quite a lot of pain in my affected breast. After the consultation he sent me for mammograms OUCH!!!! (3 on each side) and ultrasounds. This brought back many painful memories (it'll be a year tomorrow since I had the awful tests which led to my diagnosis in December). The radiology sister spoke to me afterwards and hugged me as she remembered how difficult it was for me last time. I couldn't help but cry. I seem to have a large hard area of tissue they're not sure about. The healing hasn't been helped by the radiotherapy so I have to go back in a couple of months by which time the swelling will have subsided and they can decide whether I will need further surgery.
A migraine decided to attack me whilst having my mammogram and I'm grateful to the kind radiologist who plied me with painkillers and sat me quietly on my own until the flashing lights had stopped. I attended my 'Cancer, the next stage' course later on and on entering the room I burst into tears. An emotional day and I thank the lovely ladies for getting me through it. Thanks girls x

hApPy hAlLoWeEn

Majorca and Meyorkshire

Today we go to Majorca for a week of fun, sea and (looking at the weather forecast) chilly holiday. When we get back we go straight up to Robin Hoods Bay (Meyorkshire) for a week of wellies, walking and fish & chips. This holiday has been a long time coming and we're all so looking forward to a break. Bring on the sun, please!

lovely old magazines

more from my stash of nice old magazines 

Google doodle

Google's doodle for what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday, just lovely
www.google.co.uk
click and play

nice old book

Another little gem from the stash

oncology and beyond

Yesterday I had my appointment with my oncologist (he's a wonderfully odd character). After exchanging stories of holidaying in Lllandudno as kids we got down to the business of my cancer treatment. I had a thorough examination and went through all the ups and downs (mostly downs) of chemo and radio. When we sat back at the desk I asked the million dollar question, 'has it worked?'. His answer was honest and blunt, 'we don't know and all we can do is monitor you, I can never tell anyone they are 'cured'. This has left me feeling more in limbo than ever before. I am having genetic testing and have discussed a bi-lateral masectomy and ovary removal once we have the results. I cannot live the rest of my life looking at this nasty thing sitting on my shoulder, I need to be in control and enjoy the life I've got. This has been a tough journey and just to add to my misery, I've got a chest infection...........I must have been a very naughty Cheese in a previous life!

scanarama

Today I get a CT scan at Mount Vernon. So nervous!!!!! Let's hope there's nothing sinister hiding in there and it's all tickety boo! I then have an oncology appointment on Tuesday, where I will be asking hundreds of questions. My sister is having the test for the BRCA 1 gene and the likelihood is that we both carry it (looking at our family history). This will further add to my anxieties as I will have to think long and hard about preventative surgery. Again it's a stressful time (not helped by a hideous cold) but as ever I'm trying to remain positive.
3 days out without headgear now, that's a milestone in itself!

♥

Happy anniversary Mr Cheese ♥
Apparently 14 years is celebrated by the giving of ivory. I couldn't wrap the large grey wrinkly thing with the long trumpety nose as I didn't have enough wrapping paper......soz ♥

scarfless

Saturday marked the first day without my trusted headgear. I've grown so fed up of wearing scarves and decided Berkhamsted was ready to receive my GI Jane skinhead. This was a major occasion for me and I hope I didn't scare everyone at the Bragg's party. I feel very brave for venturing out without my security blanket and today I even went out in daylight without it. I guess I just have to get used to people staring.

pencil sculptures

Amazing pencil sculptures. Just beautiful.

dalton ghetti

some pictures I've been making

I've been making these to take my mind off the limbo-land I'm living in

no pixies

On a dog walk up at 'Doggy' woods (mmmm apparently it gets quite fruity up there when it's dusk) we stumbled upon these beautiful toadstools. I like to call them pixie toadstools but Mrs Bragg being the sciencey one informs me they're Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric. They were just missing a teeny little chap with a pointed hat sitting on them. Just beautiful.

I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down

Mr Cheese has removed most of the horrid green carpet in the sitting room (hooray!) As he was repairing the floorboards around the fireplace he found several empty packs of cigars in the the cavity underneath. That's one wheezy old builder!

beautiful prints

I discovered the work of this talented lady via sweetsweetlife
Her name ellen giggenbach. She's Bavarian born but now lives in Wellington, New Zealand (lucky thing). Her work is just lovely.
ellengiggenbach.blogspot.com