BASKETTCASE

I am very pleased with myself.  Today we went to Hickling to see Ced and Suzie, had a leisurely coffee then set off for a walk.  We walked for over two hours down to the Broad and round the nature reserve.  They have bitterns and cranes resident there, but it was a 'misty murky' day as the weather-men say, and we didn't see them.  Dave and I reckon we walked b etween 4 and 5 miles, which is further than I have walked in the last 18months.  The last time was our holiday at Weybourne in autumn 2009.  I wasn't short of breath and it is hard to believe I have cancer in my lung.

Suzie made us wonderful veggie mulligatawny and salad from the garden, then a cup of tea and chat until after 4 0'clock.  I am very stiff around the hips, even after a hot bath, but feeling good.

I disposed of four big boxes of paper dressmaking patterns this morning before we went.  I put them on freecycle thinking someone might want one or two of them, and got about a dozen replies, all desperate to have them and adamant that they mustn't go on the bonfire.  The lady who was first in the queue is doing some sort of research!  I was just a little reluctant to part with the 1940s dress pattern that I actually made up about 10 years ago.  It was very flattering and I loved wearing it although the material didn't do it justice.  In the end I thought it highly unlikely that I would use it, and suspected that it was of more interest than all the rest put together, so I let it go. I  have made a sizeable space in the cupboard under the stairs.  Another lady is coming all the way from Heacham tomorrow to collect oddments of knitting wool.  A large chest in the living room is full of same, so that will be another clearance and space for something or other that I can't bear to get rid of.  It makes me feel very organised and virtuous.

2 more days until my CT scan and a week until the verdict that will put an end to this happy interlude one way or the other.  It's a great way to live - no pressure, no expectations of me, taking advantage of each opportunity to enjoy outings, theatre, meals, visits.  Ah well, mustn't be too precious.