Been A While

How quicky time passes.  I cannot believe it has been so long since I updated my journal.

I have been filling my time with other things, things which had been neglected. The computer does tend to take over your life.  So, I will do a journal entry about every week or so in the future provided I have something to write about.

What have I been up to?  Well, believe it or not I went back to the family tree.  Been quite some time since I did anything with that and new information comes online all the time.

I decided to have another search for my paternal Great-Grandfather.  I only had his year of birth and the place.  However, I struck lucky.  I came up with the right name on two different sites giving the same parents.  I was then able to access the old parish register which records his birth and the date fitted exactly with what we know about him and when I saw the Father's occupation was carpet weaver I knew I had the right person.

I was able to trace the Proclamation of Banns for his parents.  After that I was able to search for the births of any further children to this couple.  It transpired that he had three brothers and two of the names tie in with family names so there is no doubt about it.  Definitely him.

I have not been able to find out anything about his brothers, whether they survived to marry, whether they had families of their own but I shall keep looking.

Sadly, I cannot get any farther back.  Registration of marriage only commenced in Scotland in 1855 and his parents married in 1819 so there would be no marriage certificate and hence no name of a father which would take me another generation back.

I put a message out on one of the boards and was contacted by a distant relative on another branch of the family.  My maternal great-grandfather was his fourth great-grandfather so I was able to gather more information on that line.

Apart from that I have been doing a lot of reading.  I did miss my reading.  Mainly biographies and autobiographies and also I have tried to be a bit more active around the house.  I need to more active if I am to have any hope of keeping my blood sugars under control which is something I am aiming for.  Much as I love journals, long-health is more important.

When I have been online I have been playing Canasta with him indoors and we have both enjoyed it so much.

The family have been away on holiday this last week.  Sadly they only had one sunny day but they made the most of it and Nathan and Daniel managed to do a lot of swimming in the pool which they had mainly to themselves.  It was a break away for them and that is the main thing.

Mike has not used the camera so much recently, he is waiting until the trees are in leaf and there are more flowers about but he was able to get this shot which I like very much.

I mentioned long-term health earlier.  Here we are almost at the end of April and May will see my appointments back at the breast unit.  I say appointments but I have received no notification on my mammogram.  I fear I have been lost in the system.  They did say they would contact me but I have  heard nothing and I feel certain that I am supposed to have it before I see my oncologist again.  So I shall have to ring them on Monday morning and find out the situation. Whether they will fit me in quickly or be able to arrange it on the day I see my oncologist I do not know.  It would be so nice if both appointments could be got out of the way on the same day.  Anyway, it is only just over three weeks to go for the oncologist.

Naturally with each day that passes I am getting a little more nervous about it. Silly really, I know that being worried and nervous will change nothing at all but people who have been there will know what I mean.  Not knowing whether I shall get the all clear.  So, my friends, fingers firmly crossed for me please and those of you who believe, please say a prayer for me.

Someone commented on my journal a while back that my guestbook no longer worked.  I checked it out and no, it did not work.  Nothing I could do would fix it so I had to delete it.  That made me quite sad.  I had lots of lovely messages in there and quite a few from friends who are no longer with us.

Anway, I have started a new one (on sidebar) and it is empty apart from a welcome from the site owners.  So if you would like to leave me a message feel free.

I sat in the garden today, actually it got too hot for me but it was nice whilst it lasted.  Tomorrow they forecast rain yet again so it was nice to be outside for a while.

Anyway, it will soon be time for the evening meal so I had best draw this entry to a close now.  I hope life is being kind to you all and that you do understand why I am cutting down.  I know I shall feel easier and happier in myself when those appointments are out of the way (if they go well).  I shall then be out in the garden taking photos for you all once more.

Have a good weekend dear friends and readers.

Snow On Sunday

It is hard to believe.  On Thursday I spent the afternoon in the garden.  It was the first time I was able to sit out there since last September.

The sun was so warm.  I just sat there, did not do any gardening just sat and took in the warmth, the song of the birds, the blue sky, the blossom on the trees and the sprouting of the new leaves.  Mike did some tidying up and I watched him and we chatted. We had all the doors and windows open and it seemed as if Spring had finally sprung.

This morning we woke to snow.  For a while it was quite heavy.  It did not settle as it did last time because it simply was not cold enough.  However, it is cold enough for us to have the heating on!

We have had snow this late before but never so soon after such a very warm day. That is why I say it is hard to believe, Thursday sitting out in a summer top actually putting sun screen on.  Today back to winter clothes and the heating going.

I was very sad to read of the death of Charlton Heston at the age of 84.   I remember going to the premier of Ben-Hur at the Odeon, Leicester Square and being simply over-awed by the film.  I also remember one of his earlier films that I simply loved - The Greatest Show On Earth.  He brought pleasure to millions with his movies.  May he rest in peace.

I do not have much else to write about, it has all been very quiet here.

I do ask you all to pray for me.  I am having lots of trouble with my blood sugars again.  It is not what I eat, I am sticking to my diet.  I simply do not understand it.  I am on the maximum dosage of my two different tablets and they cannot be increased anymore.  Next month I have my hospital appointments and I simply cannot afford to be like this.

I am also due for my diabetic blood/urine tests.  This is such a worry to myself and my family and to be totally honest with you I have been in tears a few times over the situation.  I am now worrying that an underlying cause is keeping them high. I do not need to tell you what underlying cause would worry me - you took last year's journey with me.

I am praying for a miracle and that they will drop.  I know that worry does not help and tension only makes them higher but it is not a good situation to be in, especially at this time above all others.  I am a believer in the power of prayer and good thoughts, so please take a moment to ask for help for me.  You have helped me so much in the past.  I find myself pretty frightened by the whole thing and am also getting very depressed which is why I have not done my journal until today and have not been commenting on any.

Daniel had his check-up at Gt. Ormond Street and all is well. Thank God.  Now I need for things to be well with me. I can only pray and do my best.

On a lighter note, I had my usual yearly flutter on the Grand National.  I missed it last year due to my treatment.  I managed to pick the first and the third horses.  Did not win a great deal as I was not in a position to spend much on the wagers.  But a win is a win.

Wishing each and every one of you a good and happy week.