We had a very productive weekend mostly spent at the OB flat. It was better having Phil with me; I prefer it to working alone; we work well together once we get going. I started painting the kitchen with the mould paint while Phil got on with the preparation of the rest of the flat. He filled holes and sanded down the skirting boards and the radiators. I was pleased about this because I am not so keen on the prep and Phil makes a much better job of it than me. It was hard going in the kitchen; the walls needed 4 coats to cover, and lots of cutting in by the windows and the units.
As lunchtime approached Phil suddenly remembered that he hadn’t recorded the Grand Prix qualifying so he nipped home to record it. When he got back I got changed out of my work clothes and we stopped for lunch. We had planned to go the carvery at Peartree Bridge but we’d both seen the sign at the Cricketers advertising steak and chips for £4.99 so we went there as the pub is literally behind the flat. The pub was empty and it was only after we had ordered our steaks that I remembered the last time we’d been in The Cricketers was last year, with Sue & Alan when we went with them to a pub quiz. I had quite forgotten yet it was only a few months back. We think the pub must be under new management as things have changed since we last visited but even so the place was empty. We didn’t mind and our steak and chips tasted great.
It was hard going back to work after lunch and a beer and sitting down but we did it. There is so much work to do in this gloomy flat. We downed tools at 3’ish and then Phil filled up with petrol and we then went to DW for a Jacuzzi and a steam. A Jacuzzi is great for getting paint off your fingers and limbs; there was no chance of a work out though I was cream crackered, especially since I’d been up since 4am. On the way home we stopped off at Paul Simon to buy blinds, venetians for the bathroom and bedrooms and vertical blinds for the kitchen. The OB flat seems exposed and we need to make it more secure and less vulnerable to burglars. Our last trip of the day was a visit to Homebase to buy a colour for a feature wall in the kitchen. I knew I wanted pink and picked up a tin of ‘Bubblegum Pink’ but it wasn’t quite right. Phil found the right paint in the end, ‘Raspberry Diva’ which was just perfect. Well done that boy especially since he is colour blind!
We got home at 4.45m, changed into jim jammies then it was telly and not much else. I forgot to mention that I woke up on Saturday morning with a face just like sandpaper. I was perplexed as to the cause because I don’t suffer from dry skin on my face, quite the reverse in fact, I am a greasy girl. I didn’t have any moisturiser because I don’t usually have the need for it, so I nicked some of Harriet’s E45 and slathered that on. It only occurred to me yesterday that the dry skin which felt like I’d put on a face pack on and left it on overnight was most probably due to an overdose of chemicals from the mould spray. I’d also developed a smoker’s cough, which again was probably due to the chemicals. What a stupid girlie, I’d remembered the plastic gloves but I’d quite forgotten to wear the mask.
Sunday was much the same as Saturday; a quick breakfast and then straight to the flat to carry on. I painted and Phil finished off the Sanding. We think that there may be a chance we will not need to replace the bathroom or have to rebuild the damp wall. Even though it was blowing a gale, Phil opened all the doors and windows to see if the wall will dry out. From taking off the bath panel, he noticed that the waste pipe is leaking so I’ll need to call out a plumber. Lunch was a rather frozen roast dinner, again at The Cricketers. Phil thought it was okay as he had a double portion of Yorkshire pudding plus it was only £3.99 but I won’t be trying it again anytime soon. I guess it filled a hole though, I was starving.
In the afternoon Phil put up vertical blinds in the kitchen which was not an easy job. There was lots of swearing and banging in the kitchen but eventually he got there. We cleaned up and put away and went home just before 4pm. I cooked a roast chicken for Harriet and we watched the Grand Prix which Phil had recorded. The rest of the day we took it easy.
Tomorrow, Phil goes for his radiotherapy planning appointment. Over the last couple of weeks Phil has been thinking about not having radiotherapy treatment. I think by doing research for his book, it has made him even more aware of the very damaging effects of external beam therapy. There has been a few letters exchanged between Phil & the consultant and a telephone conversation on Friday afternoon, and a result Phil has decided to go ahead. He is not happy and obviously not looking forward to having the treatment. I just want to get it over and done with, easy for me to say as I’m not the one being zapped. I can’t lie and say that Phil’s cancer has dominated our lives these last few months because it hasn’t, but nonetheless it has been like a dark shadow and its always on the mind.
This appointment tomorrow is to locate the exact positition of Phil’s prostate so that the radiologist can be accurate when aiming his zapper. Phil will then get a permanent tattoo so they will always know where to aim. I don’t think he will actually get zapped tomorrow as the letter is unclear, although it does say that he needs to attend with a full bladder. I guess we’ll find out more when we get to Northampton General tomorrow.
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