The Furry Monkey

04 July 05
RLHH, london

The RLHH has moved homes and is back into it's original building, all refurbished with a new look! I've not been to the original building so can't compare it but it's pretty nice now. Although the waiting room is smaller and there are a LOT of corridors and steps which doesn't make it easy for me.

I was called and went in only for him not to have my records there....aarghhh. The appointment was late (as usual) and now it would be even later. Only once has the appointment been on time. So now I had to wait again.

Meanwhile under a sign saying "No mobile phones" was a lady on her mobile phone, ignoring her child who was causing havoc with everything. Perhaps she couldn't read English. A lot of people have an Interpreter with them, maybe she left hers at home.

So finally I got in and saw him. He asked more questions, I am sleeping a bit better lately - not waking every hour as I have recently. Now it's every couple of hours. I mentioned the lump on the leg which hasn't gone away and the intense bone pain I get a lot of the time.

My feet are worse, I think I've found out what it is by Detective Work. I've asked what they think it is but have had no exact reply from the Docs at the Hospital. How can you try to ease it when it's only a guess as to what it is?

05 july 05
community dental hospital

I am allowed to use this place once and once only as a patient. They are very good and at least it is not so expensive as a Private one. It's another "cost of cancer" they don't think about when you are diagnosed. I'd love to know how people manage to claim everything going and I can't....I just don't know how to work the system as some people do. Like the person at the NCCSHG who claimed for a car, benefits, DLA and told me it was all a con and she knew how to do it!!!

06 july 05
podiatry department, grove medical centre

It is so much easier for someone else to help with Podiatry when you have Lymphoedema. It is also a LOT safer for them to do it as well. Mind you my appointment was 10.45 and we were there at 9.20am and no one else was there but we still had to wait! I think if it was me I'd take that person in and use their appointment time to catch up with other things! Still we're all different.

07 july 05
ashford hospital, dental department

As we all know now, this was an awful day for London. The day of the suicide bombers. How sick some people are. I wil just never understand them and I have no wish to understand their thinking when they can go into a packed train or bus and know that they are going to kill people.

If they don't like us or this country, then get out!!! Why should we suffer?

Back to the hospital appointment. I'm not looking forward to this one. A biopsy in my mouth to find out for certain what it is that causes me so many problems. Ulcers, blisters, cuts, shredding etc. I'm unable to eat anything even remotely spicy, I can taste a grain of pepper at 50 paces! It makes me cry if I don't know it's there as it just burns so much!

So many places put in spices without telling you. I normally ask how spicy things are or ask for it without sauces if possible. It's just not worth the pain.

I had to wait as there was an emergency but I didn't mind. I've been in that position myself so know how bad things can be. I was then called in but told that I might be told to leave again if more come in. So in I went.

The Nurse was calming and put me at my ease. If I can handle a bone biospy and bone marrow biopsy whilst awake I can handle this. He looked inside my mouth and said " well it doesn't seem overly bad" and I replied "look at the other side, that one is a lot worse" so he did. "Oh, I see what you mean, that's nasty".

He numbed it first of course and then came in with the scalpel (or cutters or whatever they call it). He took one bit out and then said "I'm going to take another bit as it's quite nasty". So I ended up having four stitches in there which was unpleasant to say the least!

Specially as tomorrow we are off on holiday! Yes, it was a last minute thing and I found us a farmhouse cottage in Cornwall. We haven't even packed yet as every day I've had one or two appointments to go to.

I was told not to have anything hot for the rest of the day and was given some swabs and also an instruction leaflet on what to do if it started bleeding again.

A letter from the hospital arrived today saying that they couldn't respond in the 20 day rule they have as the person dealing with it has unexpectedly had to take leave. You mean to tell me that in a hospital that size that they can't find someone else to take it over? So now I have to wait until 29th of July to find out what they say. It is going to then be two months (!!!) to respond. Not quite the goverment and Trust standard huh. I have a feeling it will be a standard reply and then saying it won't happen again....let's wait and see if I'm right!

08 july 05
we're all going on a ... summer holiday... !!!

We're off to Cornwall. It's near Boscastle, just outside Launceston. As it's a working dairy farm John said he wouldn't be pleased if he was woken up at 4am for mlking time. I was a bit concerned about that now.

The motorway was kind to us and we made good time, just over four hours. We found the town to go from with our route from the farm lady Heather. We went down all these remote country lanes (only big enough for one car to fit in) and thought....it can't be here....way too remote. it's just fields. When suddenly we came to a field and a road marked "unsuitable for road vehicles". It said to go past the field, so we did and there it was! A lovely farmhouse, the views were amazing! Cows in the next field, sheep too.

Heather appeared and said that the farmhouse wasn't ready as she hadn't finished it due to a problem with a cow in the field. We'd seen it on the way in, they were turning it with a tractor which confused us! Apparently it had problems with it's stomach and they have to turn it and it bursts something. Sounds awful but it works. We asked to just dump the bags and said "don't worry about the cleaning, see to the cow first".

Launceston was the nearest big town and we went off to explore and get some basics (milk, bread, butter etc). The farmhouse cottage was 10 miles from the nearest shop (for shop read small two pump garage with some shelves in!). Even the locals called it "in the countryside"!!!

The car was hungry so we refilled it and it heaved a sigh of relief. Mind you it did very well with the long motorway journey, a lot easier on the old gas than around town journeys.

A cattle market was on and it was very busy for a small place. That was the nearest town, 10 miles away from the cottage. I say town, I mean village....it only had about 10 houses at most and a pub and garage (the small two pump one). I think it only had two pumps, it's hard to remember now!

Back to the cottage we drove, past a farm on the way (there were three in the area, all miles apart of course. We met a lovely old cat who sits on the wall getting warmed by the sun and they had three sheepdogs who we christened (one with a not so polite name as it was a nutcase!). We later found out from Heather that he likes to eat cars, specially bumpers. He couldn't eat ours though as he'd have no teeth left!

The silence was wonderful....the only noises being cows mooing, sheep baaing and the chickens (who lived in the next field). There were Aberdeen Angus cows just over the wall next to the cottage. One night we heard a noise on the wall and though....oh no neighbours from hell have followed us down here when we realised what it was. There were no neighbours and it was the cow knocking his horns on the wall....!!! They made us laugh I can tell you.

I took some photos of the views from outside the windows and am now thinking of enlarging them and putting them outside our windows at home. Although it's a nice area we live in, it's not as nice as waking up to that view every morning I can tell you. I know what I'm going to do with a lottery win....reminds me must get a ticket this weekend!

09 july 05
padstow, home of rick stein

Mum and John wanted to go here so we ambled along the lanes until we found it. There is a main road - the A30 - which goes from one end of Cornwall to the other but we decided to stick to the country routes mainly. A lot more to see and villages to go through.

We managed to get a parking space right near the Harbour. Although the fees are charged to everyone they were really low compared to what we are used to paying here. It was a lovely sunny day again, we had some gorgeous weather - up in the 90's - whilst we were there which was fantastic. Mum and John have got good tans but I covered up more due to the sun. I have got a brownish face, chest and hands though which makes me look healthy according to a friend of mine.

We found the Rick Stein bakery and got some scones - £3.20 for four scones! Very expensive and Heather and Les at the cottage were horrified at the price. Apparently Rick has three restaurants in Padstow but we didn't find them. There was one called R's which was v.expensive so I think it might've been his!

The harbour itself is very pretty with seagulls overhead. You are warned not to feed them as they consider them a vermin like rats. A shame as they are quite lovely birds really and get a raw deal when all they want is some food.

We sat at the harbour for a while and watched the world go by. I thought I'd look at some of the shops by the harbour and had a slow wander. I seem to spend a lot of time waiting for people to go past so I can get in, no one says thank you or anything. A sad way for the world to go but it is going that way. I remember when I was a kid, if I saw someone with a stick we held doors open, we waited for them to go in front of us, we let them have the last chair to sit down in. Nowadays it is totally different. I don't want special treatment but a thank you when I wait for them would be nice occasionally!

Rather than split the bills each time we had dinner, we decided to have a "kitty" which was easier. Although I did say once if John and Mum were having steaks each time I think they should pay the extra! LOL!

10 july 05
tamar otter sanctuary, north petherwin

This was John's idea....he loves otters so we travelled to see them. I do wish they would put the entry prices on their leaflets though - but as John said if they did that people wouldn't go there! It was quite expensive to get in, but the money was to help the Otters so we didn't mind.

We were told that feeding time was coming up so we had a wander around first and a tea/coffee and sandwich. John had cake though which is normal for him - he does love his cake!

Behind the otter pools there was a walk in area which had chickens and peacocks in. After making sure the door closed properly we took a few steps inside and then found ourselves being closely watched by some deer. They were just feet away and were munching on their food. A baby deer was then fed by one of the keepers with a bottle, it was so cute! Long spindly legs which looked like they would break but the deer was quite happy.

We stood amongst them and didn't move. As soon as someone moved they moved so we kept still and just watched.

Did you know there were white peacocks? I'd not seen one before and it was quite beautiful.

It was a lovely sanctuary and as with all this places they get no help apart from donations and legacies. At least although the entry was expensive you know it helps the animals so don't feel so bad.

11 july 05
st agnes pottery

This was quite a way from us but the leaflet looked quite good and there was loads to see according to them. However the reality was different, it was quite small and although there was a fair bit to see it was pricey and most of it is the same as in the tourist shops in the main towns. We got a couple of pressies there for people but we decided quite quickly to move on somewhere else.

They had a restaurant and we had a quick break there. John was VERY disappointed with their cream tea. He is a cream tea connoisseur and knows a good one when he sees it. This was NOT!

Instead we drove on to St Agnes town itself and had a drive around to see what was there. On the way home we stopped at a little cafe and had a wonderful dinner there. I've never seen so much salad on a plate, presented wonderfully with unusual items you don't get elsewhere. Normally it's lettuce, cucumber and tomato if you're lucky. The dinner was a success all round.

The sweet showcase looked fantastic but it was too much after the dinner so we declined that and staggered out to the car!

12 july 05
looe

On the way to Looe we called in at a Farm Shop (I expected a lovely place full of local goodies but was disappointed). A little way along from there we found a Cider Farm - what a goodie that was! We were given tastings of all the ciders (I had to decline of course sadly!). However they also had tastings of apple juice...boy are there some lovely flavours there. Not your normal bland stuff you buy in the shops but this was the real thing! They had some you could try which was a "blow your head off" type and I said I'd give it a go...it was gorgeous....so tasty and refresing.

Although it was quite sharp with my mouth problems, I persevered with it and bought a bottle of that and one that looks and tastes similar to wine. Now I don't have to be the odd one out when everyone else is opening their wine - I can join in!

We then headed off to the small town of Looe. What a gorgeous place! The harbour was wonderful and we watched the boats sailing up and down. It is one of the few places to still have a thriving fishing market and they were just finishing so we watched them from across the Harbour.

As with all the places parking was not easy, we had to ride round a couple of times but eventually found a space. As we all have problems walking we were pleased to see that there are lots of places to sit down and enjoy the view.

I picked up some more leaflets. John said I should make an itinerary of places to go so I spent a pleasant time at the cottage checking which places were close together so we could always have a back up in case one wasn't any good.

It was one of those places which had lots of little shops in small lanes (only just big enough for a car) and it was almost pedestrianised which was good. Lots of seats at the Harbourside which we stopped at and watched people catching crabs with lines. There was a sad bit when a seagull got caught on one of the lines and all they did was laugh at it. I was NOT impressed and made my thoughts known. People are so sick sometimes.

13 july 05
boscastle

As a child we visited here and I remember it quite well. It is so sad to see the damage that the floods of August 2004 did to this lovely town. We were really pleased to see that despite that tragedy the town has picked itself up and is rebuilding the buildings that disappeared.

The pub where we had lunch had only been opened 12 days....it has taken a long time to repair things back to how they used to be. So much damage caused all in one day. There is a programme on tv at the moment (which we watched in the cottage) which shows how the community pulled together and are working hard to get back to "normal".

However I think the floods have also done them some good. I know it sounds off to say that but they now get more tourists who have come to see the damage and how they are recovering from it. It's the old British spirit, you can't knock us down - we just get up again.

14 july 05
st austell and mevagissey

Whilst visiting the St Austell area we went to the Tortoise Garden (John chose this one!). They have an amazing 300 tortoises there ranging from tiny 3 week olds to ones over 100 years old and weighing six stone. Absolutely amazing!

Although they don't like being called a Sanctuary said the owner that is what they put in their leaflets and on the website! They don't charge an entry fee but ask for a donation per car which is a better way of doing things. I know some people will take advantage of that but most will be honest (like us) and given a good donation.

There was also a little gift shop, so John got his own tortoise to bring home with him.

Mevagissey is another lovely harbour area.....we sat outside and had Fish & Chips (you have to do it don't you!). A seagull left a lovely present on Mum - John said there is one who follows us everywhere. Yesterday at Looe he was standing on our roof (the car that is!).

15 july 05
cornish goldsmiths, lizard point and lands end

Whilst on our way to the Goldsmiths (free entrance and interesting place to visit), John decided to go the Lizard Point as it was not far away.

The Silversmiths was also at the Goldsmiths which interested me more as I love silver jewellery. I've never seen so much in one place though and it kept us amused for a while so as John is quicker he went outside and sat in the car deciding on a route to Lizard Point.

They also had a Bear Mill there but they were waiting for new stock so there were only a few bears there.

Lizard Point was a fantastic view and I took quite a few photos there. It has a couple of shops and a cafe but they were closing as we got there quite late'ish. Again the seagulls were there and guess what....yes ours was there again. Perhaps he follows the roof of the car, who knows!?!?

Surprise time next as instead of making our way back John decides to take us somewhere else which turned out to be Lands End. It was closed at that time but you could still get in to see Lands End and sit on the clifftops. I had to have help to get there but managed it. Amazing views, specially as the sun was low in the sky and wonderful colours.

Lands End is now a Theme Park (sort of!) and you have to pay to get in to see them (all individually priced) but as it was closed we just had a short wander, a long sit down and then a short wander back. John has wanted to drive to Lands End for a while. Now he wants to go to John O'Groats!

At least we don't have to ride a bike to do it or something like that as others have done. We'll take the car I think, a LOT easier!

16 july 05
mooching around.....

We had a nice lazy day, we went out late - Heather said we'd been going out later - we said it was John - he's not a morning person given the chance whereas we like to get out and about!

Bude was the destination today, we got there late and had a drive around and went to the cafe on the Beach. A pleasant way to spend some time.

John found some sandals there but the shop was shut so we'd have to go again.

17 july 05
back to bude

John was going to watch the Grand Prix then changed his mind so we went to Bude this afternoon and John got his sandals. This was not a good omen - we'd had lovely weather this past week, sunshine every day.

I saw a lovely cat ornament for the garden but decided against it as I didn't think it'd fit in the car on the way home.

18 july 05
bodmin moor and bodmin town

I didn't expect Bodmin to be a huge place but it was bigger than I thought so we only did part of it. Also the weather had changed - see I knew the sandals weren't a good idea! It was drizzly rain but it didn't stop us.

Mum found a lovely bakers (she loves proper bread as she calls it, not this pudding stuff that shops sell now). I must admit the bread from there was lovely specially with some Cornish butter we'd found! Gorgeous - there's nothing better than fresh bread and butter! Makes a change from all those "low fat" spreads we normally eat. Butter is a lot nicer and actually it's better than the spreads so they say.

19 july 05
tank museum

This is the biggest tank museum apparently - another place John wanted to go to. As you can imagine it's not my sort of things but we went anyway. It was interesting reading about where the tanks had come from and how old they were. The restoration was good on the tanks and there is a lot of hours of work gone into them that's for sure.

Again we stopped for a cuppa and a biscuit. Mum and John had cake - a gorgeous chocolate cake, but it's not my choice so I didn't have any again.

20 july 05
blue reef aquarium, newquay

Although Newquad is quite "tacky" in places there are some nice bits. This is one of them. It is right on the seafront (so it took a while to go down the hill for us! John had to help me quite a bit and it took a long time with several stops along the way. It was the only way down so we had no choice.

It was worth it though as it was amazing inside. It was quite hot which John was not keen on but he loved the fish. I really miss my aquarium but I just couldn't look after it anymore with my problems.

We saw octopus, sharks, rays, crabs, turtles, you name them and they are here.

21 july 05
launceston Show

Here was me thinking this would be a small local show and it got so busy they had to close the gates! It was massive and with loads of places to sit down (bales of hay etc) we managed to get round most of it. We had to miss out some of it, mainly trade stands for farmers.

Heather's daughter was in the Young Farmers Tent selling teas/coffees/cakes and although we saw her, she was so busy and we didn't like to disturb her.

The produce tent was lovely, you could try all sorts of things - jam, wine, apple juice, cakes, sausages, biscuits, cornish water, it was a gastronomic delight and we got a few things to take home for pressies etc. I also got some more apple juice, a different apple farm this time. It was another powerful one I tried and it certainly quenched your thirst put it that way!

22 july 05
sadly we're on our way home today...

It's been a fantastic holiday and I didn't want to leave at all really. The cottage was wonderful and without the neighbours from hell we realised just how bad they are! The only noises we had were cows mooing and sheep baaing int he fields.

We even watched the cows being miled, that was fun. They're quite inquisitve until you say hello to them then they run away! Such lovely faces and gentle animals. They have 120 cows at the farm (and the same number of sheep) and it takes 2.5 hours to milk them in the morning and again 2.5 hours at night. Quite intensive without running the rest of the farm but a gentle way of life that is so refreshing.

Everything is fast fast fast and this is different. I could quite happily live there, they have internet access so I'll be fine! I'm definitely going to move to the country when I win the lottery. I know it'll be a longer journey to the hospitals but it will be worth it to live there.

Wish me luck with the lottery numbers from now on!

w/c 25 July 05
dental appointments

Well it's back to earth with a bump as I have a couple of dental appointments to catch up with now. Nothing major.

I've got to wait for the biopsy results another couple of weeks. As I've not heard anything yet I'm assuming it's what they thought it was.

Have had more foot pain lately, really must remember to find out what it is. I have my suspicions but they need to be confirmed!

I've also had a lot of arm pain, so much so that I can't lift it up or have much of a grip on things. Another thing to get checked out.

Sometimes I do wonder if it will ever end....once ill health has got a hold of you it doesn't like to let go does it?!?!?