A busy weekend

30/9/2013 Went for a short walk around the park with Loz and the dogs - a lovely sunny afternoon.

29/9/2013 Sunday we popped into see Claire FT in the morning.  For lunch we had a meal at the Twelve Bells.  Chris is desperate to keep life normal and do things with me.
In the afternoon we went to Stroud to pick up a road bike for William we bought from Ebay. Chris came with me to try it out - it was lovely as it was something we did together for William.
Christine you are incredibly brave.  Love you always.

28/9/2013 Saturday Toby G came down to stay with Chris for the afternoon while I went for a throat checkup at Glos Royal. 

27/9/2013 On Friday we took a very short walk through the woods near the road up Birdlip Hill (the quarry area). I did a small sketch of the blue sky sparkling through the trees.  Although Chris was in pain and very tired it is still a lovely memory for me as it was the last walk in the woods we took together.  In the morning Chris had had a new type of Chemo and wanted a break from the onslaught of cancer treatment.

Jane and Richard

25/9/2013 We went to Curry's to select a new cooker as the grill on the one at home had stopped working and we do like our toast and bacon - a grill is a must.

24/9/2013 We drove up to the midlands to see mum and drop in to see Jane and Richard for tea.  It was great to see them all.  At mum's Chris talked to Jane about not being around to buy the first shoes for her grandchildren - Chris cried, Jane cried and we huddled together and shed bitter tears.  Crying was something Christine found hard to do, even though she wanted to cry. The disease as Christine said 'has taken so much from me'.  Chris really wanted to see Jane and Richard the trip was very important to her.

23/9/2013 We went to the Wholefood Supermarket and met Loz. We stopped and had a coffee and a cake - Chris had her favourite a Cappuccino.

Harvest Festival

22/9/2013 As we were feeling the need for company we popped down to Shurdington Church for the Harvest Thanksgiving.  Mike gave a lovely talk and gave us a hug afterwards. We followed this up with lunch at the Twelve Bells.  At the church when talking to people I rested my head on Christine's shoulder and cried - Chris lifted her arm and cradled my head and rested her hand on my hair to comfort me.  Something she did many times.

19/9/13 We were given the tragic news that Christine's tumour had come back and we were looking at maybe a couple of years and more Chemotherapy.   We were shocked and didn't know what to do so a Harvest Thanksgiving seemed like a good idea.

Moving

21/9/2013 We loaded the car up with William's stuff and drove to Bath on a lovely late summer afternoon.  After decanting mountains of bags we tidied the house a little. A number of items still need sorting by the landlord. Ross has been living without gas (hot water) for a week - cold showers agh!

20/9/2013 Went to Go Outdoors to get some larger clothes for Chris as she felt her tummy was getting bigger. Not an easy shop as Chris kept looking at the cheapest clothes and I wanted to get more expensive stuff - Chris always kept a track on spending trying to save money for me later.  True love.

19/9/2013 During the day Loz came over to see Chris - a great friend.

In the evening William and Tim had a quick blast over Leckhampton Hill on the bikes.  William over took his old dad and headed for home at speed. The last cycle ride before going back to university.

18/9/2013 Another shopping trip we all went to Dunelm to get final stuff for Williams flat. Mum and Dad picked foot mats and plates etc.

The flat in Bath

Moved some of Will's stuff into his new temporary home in Bath this evening.  Most of the repairs to the house have been done - it's looking good.  Met up with Ross his fellow house mate.

Afternoon at Anita's

15/9/2013 We spent a lovely afternoon yesterday at Anita's for lunch.

12/9/2013 Christine and myself went to Nick and Jane's for afternoon tea. Nick and myself did one our pre portrait sketches while Jane and Chris talked downstairs. This was the first trip out for Chris for a long time.

A visit from the Parkes's

9/9/2013 In the afternoon William, Christine and myself drove to the parking spaces near Witcombe Roman ruins and sat on the sloping bank of a nearby field and looked down on Witcombe reservoir.

7/9/2013 Gillian and Iain came over for tea, it was great to see them all. Callum and Stephanie helped prepare the tea, cutting up the veg and sorting out a fruit salad. A lovely afternoon and evening.

6/9/2013 Loz came over to see Chris in the evening. Loz has been great visting Chris at least once a week during the illness.   Thank you Loz - a real friend to Chris when she needed it.

5/9/2013 We all popped into Next to get William some new clothes before going back to University. Chris was very tired and half way through she went to sit in the car. Chris really wanted to everything she could with her beloved boy.

3/9/2013 William, Christine and Tim went for a meal at the Twelve Bells.  Chris ordered her favourite - Prawn Cocktail, unfortunately it smelt a little strong and Chris left it. On the same day we had the side of the house waterproof in the morning and in the afternoon we went to Primrose Vale Farm shop to get some strawberries for tea.