Better news this time

Have just been to the second of my two hospital check ups. Today was at the gynaecology oncology outpatients at Greenlane.  So relieved – my CA125 (cancer indicator) levels remain the same as 3 months ago and even though they are still not quite as low as they should be, the good news is that they have not risen any further.

Will have to go and have a scan again, but that’s mainly to give them a new reference point as I haven’t had a scan since my last surgery.

So as long as the scan is clear they don’t need to see me again until February next year – yippee, I can relax and enjoy the holiday season.

But just in case you think “great – she has nothing to complain about at the moment”  … think again!  I’ve somehow done some damage to the pupils of my eyes which according to the optometrist is due to my over-wearing my contact lenses, i.e. keeping them in for too long coupled with the fact that my eyes are drying out (another old-age thing apparently) and I haven’t used the lubricating eye drops as often as I should.  Doesn’t he realise that we gals have to stay up late making cards and scrapbooking, not to mention spending hours on the computer, and haven’t time to think of mere incidentals like this!

The upshot is that I am not allowed to wear my contacts at present, so have to try and manage with my emergency glasses.  My eyes have taken days to re-adjust to these and only now can I walk around without everything looking distorted and my feeling disorientated.  Hence  … no stamping except for this one card my daughter requested.

Not a particularly good photo – I don’t think I should have sat the card on a white table as it has made it look too white when in actual fact the cardstock and background of the patterned paper is Very Vanilla, the same as the ribbon.  You might get a better idea by clicking on the photo.

 

Regardless of my eyes, I really am feeling much happier about things at present.

Hope you all have a great Guy Fawkes, but please be careful.

A nice way to spend an afternoon

Yesterday I enjoyed a leisurely lunch (from 12 – 4 pm!!) with some of my ex-work colleagues from what used to be Reader’s Digest (New Zealand) Limited – but sadly no longer as it is now administered from the Sydney office.  They were such great times when business was booming and our working life seemed to be full of luncheons, dinners and other exciting events and sometimes we even worked (just exaggerating – we actually worked very hard!)

L-R:  Me (looking decidedly fat and contented!!), Gail, Jackson, Sarah, Barrie and Lorraine.

Definitely the best job I have ever had and certainly the best workmates I have ever worked with.  Thanks all for a great afternoon.

 

Those were the days!

Reunion treats

Just finished making these sweet boxes using Jenn Balcer’s 2-5-7-10 box tutorial. So easy to make but when decorated, look gorgeous.

 

Thought these would be nice to take along on Friday to a work reunion with a few former employees (company now relocated to Australia). I will fill them with nuts and chocolates.  Should be a fun luncheon catching up with everyone.

Last week I spent in New Plymouth – well Stratford, actually.  Flew down there to spend a few days with my cousin but it rained and blew constantly, with the result that we spent most of the time by a roaring fire doing crossword puzzles, reading and playing Scrabble!  No, my cousin is not into crafts – so I had an enforced break from all things paper and ink! 

Now, I am not a ‘cat person’ – as you all know I am more partial to dogs, well one dog actually – but the funny thing is that my cousin’s cat ignored that fact and purred and cuddled up to me the whole time I was there.

We did manage during a break in the rain to go for a walk in the local park.  They had some huge rhododendrons out in flower that looked so gorgeous – the colours were really striking, but of course, I had left my camera behind so no photos.  Attempted to take one with my cellphone but must have pushed the wrong buttons or something, as I ended up with a funny little film that is so miniscule in size you can’t see it.  Regardless of the weather it was really nice to spend time with her.

Trial and error!

Have you missed me?  Been a bit naughty and neglectful with my blogging over recent weeks but I have been creating – well actually, experimenting with different ideas.  You should have seen my craft room, bits of cardstock and half finished and rejected projects all over the place. Firstly, here are a few cards I have made recently.

I do so love the gorgeous Forest Friends set from Stampin’ Up.  Saw a similar card on SCS so decided to case it.

 

 

 

This is cased from another card I saw on SCS and thought it makes an ideal ‘man’ card so made this for my son-in-law’s birthday.  Find it quite fun doing the smooshing (think that’s what it is called).

  Another birthday card, and another card using the Forest Friends stamp set.  I teamed this with the Outlaw DSP.  This is for one of my grandson’s birthday later this month – Michael, but know he won’t see this as he would never look at Nan’s blog!!

 

 

 

Another thank-you card.

 

I decided I wasn’t getting enough use out of my dear wee Cuttlebug and of course now I also have my Slice Machine.  Too much choice given that I love my stamping and find it hard enough to decide which stamps to use, then there’s the choice of colours and DSP  …  enough, enough!!  Anyway thought I would do some experimenting as I still haven’t completely decided on what my Christmas card(s) this year will look like.  Here’s some ideas but these have been rejected.  I can’t show you my final choices as these have to be a surprise for everyone at Christmas.

    

Same card as above, slightly different colouring.

Anyway, these are reject cards – oh I might keep them to use as spares, but the upshot of my experimentation is that I have now decided on two different designs for my cards this year.  Now I only have to make them!

I’m flying off to New Plymouth on Tuesday where my cousin will meet me and drive me to her place in Stratford – brrr, it’s right down by the mountain and can be bitterly cold particularly considering the rotten spring weather we have been having.  Never mind, it will be great to spend a few days relaxing with her before coming back to two hospital appointments and the news as to whether or not they feel the cancer has definitely recurred.  They just have to have it wrong.

Anyway, happy creating everyone and I’ll come back with more photos.

Flying visit to Napier

We flew down to Napier last Thursday for a couple of days, picking up a rental car at the airport to get around in.  The main purpose of our visit was to visit an elderly Aunt.  Aunty May is 97 years old!!  And look at the photo – she looks at least 20 years younger.

(L-R: DH Neville, Aunty May and myself)

She lives in a beautiful retirement home in Napier (in the nursing home facility) which is more like an up-market hotel.   We enjoyed taking her out for lunch with her daughter and catching up with all the news.  We also enjoyed dinner with Kay and Ian (her daughter and son-in-law) at their house on the Thursday night and then at a restaurant on the Friday night.  Great to see them all again.

Whilst down there we visited Pauline – a very talented Stampin’ Up demonstrator - who has been so kind and supportive and it was so great to finally meet her face to face. 

Thanks Pauline for the morning tea and tour of your craft room (not long enough!!) and Nev enjoyed meeting Pauline’s husband, Garry who shares the same interests.  A really lovely couple.  Would love to live closer and join in some of her classes – I adored all her creations, they’re just beautiful.

Well, back home now and all inspired to make some more cards.