Solomon's seal in flower
I’m not sure whether I’m winning or losing the war against the caterpillar invasion. There certainly doesn’t seem quite as many appearing now, though much of the stand of Solomon’s seal is now a forest of skeletons. I’ve got around to taking some photos so if anyone knows how to easily get rid of them do let me know.
One grey happy muncher on increasingly holey leaves
 |
| Altogether on just one leaf |
My day has already been disrupted. And saddened.
Just after 9am, just as I was about to go & start scraping the potatoes for dinner, the phone rang. It was my cousin Pat.
She now knows she definitely has pancreatic cancer. She’s had a scan which shows the cancer hasn’t spread beyond the immediate tumour. In theory an op would be possible. However, it sounds like a huge op involving cutting into her stomach, pancreas, bowels & liver. As someone in her early 80s the thought of such a massive op is daunting.
She’s now had tests to check if she is fit enough for the op. The conclusion is no. She should be able to cope with the op but is unlikely to cope with the after-effects. Instead she’s been put on some enzymes to enable her to digest food better. She’s back at the hospital tomorrow to see if there is anything else they can do to help. I can only hope, and pray, all goes well but I’m not holding out too much hope. Both my mother & her mother, my Aunt Janet, died of pancreatic cancer.
This is Pat’s second
battle with cancer. Only about 5 years ago she had to have a breast removed due
to breast cancer. She, like me, seems destined to have multiple episodes of cancer in
differing parts of her anatomy. You can see why I say cancer is rampant in my family.
Overnight the temperature has dropped considerably. The sun has disappeared. Throughout the night I woke to the sound of rain slashing onto the windows. It continues to come down in waves today.
We’ve been busy this week. We’ve had workmen in – the lock on our back door wouldn’t lock. I went with the Fox to do the supermarket shop – the first time since March! And then we went to a party – just half a dozen of us, in the garden, appropriately socially distanced.
I’d forgotten how exhausting socialising can be. It was lovely to see our friends again, but we both returned home tired. We couldn’t even be bothered to make up a salad despite the fact we’d only eaten a few sandwiches, a scone & some birthday cake - the birthday being the reason for the party - all day. We settled on a tin of sardines on toast. It’s taken a couple of days to get back to our more normal selves.
These are the friends we usually join at the golf club. They are all intending to go on the first Sunday after bars, & along with them, the clubhouse re-opens. We think we will leave it a bit longer. I can imagine it will be heaving with people, too many for us. We will wait a little while before going to pubs & clubs, let things settle down a bit first.
