Today I went for a bone scan at the hospital. My Oncologist ordered it because I have been having hip pains again and he thought we’d better just check. My hip was fine and my old tumour site looked way better. However, there were some worrying hot spots on my chest and mid spine. The technician lady said the spots on my chest might be explained as urine in my kidneys perhaps, but the spot on my spine was somewhat worrying. Someone else suggested it might be the edge of my sternum, but then that didn’t show up in previous scans. My Oncologist won’t get to see the scan for about a week as it goes through the system so I have rather a long wait for the verdict. :0(
The route to the hospital is still being diverted through the lanes because of the floods. As we drove through Lower Bradfield a herd of cows were blocking the road. They were just coming back from milking. It’s fab living in the country and we certainly don’t mind hold ups like this!
When I first got to the hospital I was given a radioactive injection and sent away for a few hours for it to take effect. No contact with pregnant ladies or children and no sitting next to anyone for prolonged periods of time. We used this time to go into Sheffield and look at the new building on The Peace Garden. It’s looking great now, quite cosmopolitan. The Peace Gardens had a face lift a few years ago, probably in 2000. There are streams and fountains and waterfalls where the children play in the summer.
Oh my goodness, I look like a beach ball! When did I ever get SO fat? It's comfort eating, that's what it is.This photo is a little better cos my bottom half is hidden!
Behind this is The Winter Garden which holds galleries, shops and cafes. They have loads of these huge stainless ball water features. If you look carefully you can see me and Gary reflected in the ball! :0) 
Normally we’d take a stroll round The Graves Gallery while we’re there, but we didn’t get the time.
When I got back to the hospital at 1pm I was put through a big machine.
A big box thing comes down so close to your face that you think it’s going to squash your head like a watermelon! That’s all there is to it really. Afterwards I talked the technicians into showing me the scan picture and comparing the old scan to the new scan. They’re very sweet to me whenever I have a scan and always greet me like old friends. They even had my baby needle laid out ready today!
After the scan we had to go and tell mum and dad the news which of course is never a pleasant job. They didn’t even know I was going for a scan so it was a bit of a shock. I never tell anyone anything until there’s something to worry about. If I’d have told mum three weeks ago that I was waiting for a scan she would have spent those three weeks in a right state about it!
So there you are, I’ll let you know as soon as I hear from my Oncologist. He’ll probably order X-rays and an MRI.
It's difficult to know what to do with Livvie to entertain her during the Summer Holidays. Most things involve cooking, wool, beads and sewing. Oh, and painting always goes down well with her too. She particularly enjoyed an outdoor sketch session I did with her last Summer. She was surprised to find how much she enjoyed picking a section of a dry stone wall and discussing it's texture and how the light hit it etc. Then we both sketched what we saw. Birch trees are also good for this type of exercise I find. 
After all my tidying and cleaning, my desk is now in organised chaos. As soon as my new bead box arrives I can 'file' as many small beads as possible and then decide how I'm going to organise the rest. The bigger beads will be OK in the component boxes (pictured front). I can't keep the tiny beads in these boxes as they get mixed too easily. With my new bead box, each section has a lid of it's own.
This next one has a paper mache heart (I made it up all on my own, cool huh?)
Another paper mache card topper:
Lastly, another paper mache topper painted with acrylics:
I'm sure there will be more hobbies that I will remember in time. :0)
Just outside the hospital window is a small swathe of inner city woodland. It's teeming with wild life and when I stay overnight the owls keep waking me up with their hooting. There are loads of squirrels and best of all Jay's. I was thrilled to see the Jay's doing silly courting dances in the Spring. I remember doing a project on Jay's when I was at Primary School, but had never actually seen one until this year. 
Into this:
And this:
Into this:
And finally, this:
Into this. 
There, I have done it and now I can get on with the rest of my life!!! I will be at hospital having Herceptin tomorrow so I won't be able to initiate Phase Three until Friday. Phase Three involves unpacking and organising all my newly acquired art quilt stuff ready for use.
Then Livvie and her friend came in from school and I got them at it too! 
We have absolutely no idea what to do with it all though. Any ideas?
Last night I stayed up til 4am trying to get a pretty background on this blog. I managed to mess with the HTML and get half of what I wanted, but I just couldn't get it right and in the end I had to give up. I will keep trying to make it look pretty for you though. :0)
The silk embroidery threads in the foreground, the silk ribbons in the background and the beads from Penny to the right. 
Some spangly stuff I found at 
More 
I'm sure all the colours will change as it progresses though. 
