Its hot hot hot

We are blessed with a south facing garden but when it’s hot our garden is way too hot to sit out in the direct sun; even under the umbrella it’s very warm – but I do enjoy the sunshine and try and make the most of this wonderful weather whilst it lasts.

The thermometer on the back of the house registered 100 degrees just after 1pm today.

 and even at 8pm this evening it's still over 70 or is that 25

 

Do you think in Celsius, Centigrade or Fahrenheit?

MummyHen X

Office with a view

Most of the week I work from home – which I have done for many years.  I changed my job about 2 years ago, same organisation just different role, in February we relocated from central London to Canary Wharf which meant more space and 85% of the team are now in one place. As the crow flies its much nearer home but with no direct trains, driving is an option but those of you who know of the Blackwall tunnel, one of only two tunnels that is open to traffic that cross the Thames, will know that it takes hours to get through during the rush hour.

Sometimes I get the train and the DLR (Dockland Light Railway).

 

This is the view I have – I actually really like it.

 

Thames Clipper ferry 

Thames barrier

The dome, the O2 Arena - not sure of what its officially called

 

It’s not pretty in a flowery sense, it’s not the side of the building that looks west towards central London, north just faces another of the many towers in Canary Wharf, south has partial views, but east, my view, has the dome, Thames barrier, views over south London towards Kent, a little bit of river.

Ferries passing up and down, naval vessels, helicopters, window cleaners – I’ve seen them all from the window.

HMS Richmond arrived this week

Tall ship Tenacious

Thames Sailing Barge

 

What’s the view like from your office window or work place?

 

MummyHen X

 

Found a lump

in my left breast – I had one before back in 2002; I don’t have any history of cancer in my family (no sisters & my mum is healthy) so wasn’t unduly worried but would keep a daily check.  I didn’t tell DaddyHen as he’s the biggest worrier.  The lump was still there 10 days later so decided I should go and get it checked.

I told DaddyHen – he didn’t sleep that night; on the Monday morning I phoned the hospital, the consultant I saw all those years ago had a clinic in the afternoon, and would see me at 1pm.

I saw the consultant and yes I had a lump, she had an ultrasound in the room and said it was just a cyst (which is what I had before) but would send me for a mammogram and a more detailed ultrasound. The cyst was the size of a ping pong ball in the left breast, along with two smaller cysts small pea size; in the right breast, where I hadn’t felt any lumps I had an oblong shaped cyst 2cms long but this one was deep in the tissue that’s why I couldn’t feel it.

After the mammo and the ultrasound, I returned to see the consultant who explained that there were a number of cysts in each breast but there was nothing nasty and shouldn’t worry. She recommended that the larger cyst should be drained; fine needle aspiration under ultrasound (that’s what it says on the invoice) the reality was a massive needle and syringe which was inserted into the lump. The fluid, yellow gunge was drawn off; there was lot of it.  I didn’t feel a thing – honestly it was painless, I didn’t even have a bruise and there was no sign of any mark where the needle had been inserted.  I was back home by just after 4:30. 

I could have phoned my doctor – last time I tried to get an appointment there was a 3 day wait, then if he thought I needed referring that would be another wait and because of my history (no family with a history of cancer) there would be a wait – I just needed to know.

I am fortunate enough to be able to go private – I could have put the cost on a CC, I have sufficient in the emergency fund, I had put aside some money for the redecorating of the dining room – that could wait.  The cost

Consultation	£150
Fine needle aspiration under ultrasound control	£50
Mammography bilateral	£100
Ultrasound of Breast Bilateral	£181

The cost was split £200 to the consultant and £281 to the hospital – to me it was £481 well spent.

If you find a lump ALWAYS seek medical advice. Cysts are very common. 9 out of 10 breast lumps are benign. 

MummyHen X

Thanks

for all the lovely comments from yesterday.
We had a very lazy day - spent at home just pottering, taking photos, sitting, reading - just relaxing.

 

MummyHen X

Wedding Anniversary

Today we have been married 23years.

Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends.

Corinthians 13:7-8

 MummyHen X

It's been a while

But I am still here, albeit tired and battered after working much too much – I shouldn’t complain as I have a good job. Hopefully we can get away for a few days to recharge the batteries.

The winner of my giveaway – I hadn’t forgotten is Gill from Gloucester - new follower.

Mail me your details so I can get your prize in the post thiftymummyhen(at)gmail.com

Lots of things happening – money saving is going well.  Managed to get £293 back from insurance company on SonnyHens van insurance; they had not applied his 4 years no claims discount, it a lot to lose when you are a male driver under 25 and driving a van.  After a few phone calls, a mention of the ombudsman the NCD was applied and the refund was back in my account.  Payments to CCs are still on track.

Finally, after many months our dining room is being decorated –things happen pole pole (very slowly in Swahili) in this house.  We decided to change from a pale creamy/yellow to a pale lilac/grey & deep purple; a bold move which was not universally welcomed at first, but its growing on the dissenters. The walls are painted , the new floor is down, new architrave is in place, and most of the skirting is down – one length on order; will be so happy all the furniture is back in its place; it’s all a bit discombobulated at the moment.

 

Flowers and veg in the garden are coming on a treat.  We have a number of different calistamans  (bottle brush) red, purple, white and yellow.  The yellow is flowering for the first time this year – bees just love it. 

 

Strawberries are looking plump - just waiting for some sun to ripen.

 

Hanging baskets are looking lovely

 

 

 MummyHen X