The iron tablets should make a big difference, and they tend to take effect within a few days. I do hope all goes well with your referral. Do please keep u…[Read more]

I do hope you are able to resolve the outstanding issues swiftly and then make some plans to do something special after all you’ve been through 🙂

I’ve been on blood thinners (apixaban) since I was admitted to hospital. My problem is that the hospital doctors didn’t share any plan for dealing with the existing clots which have blocked two major veins to the liver. I strongly suspect that they were anticipating a worse outcome from the endoscopy and…[Read more]

Now to get the other issues fixed very soon …

I had blood thinners for 6 months as the Lymphoma had caused clots on my lungs, so perhaps your GP might prescribe those?  Just a thought, as every case is different.  Wor…[Read more]

Today I had the endoscopy which I believe some of the doctors in my hospital thought would show cancer. the symptoms were all lined up. There was even consistent evidence from CAT scans and other X-rays. To be fair to them, they never said that, though they always…[Read more]

Stuart’s story

People call me Plug ‘cos they reckon I look like Plug from the Bash Street Kids I ain’t never seen him, so I don’t know. Stuart’s my real name, and I just done three months in nick for something I ain’t done. Possessio…[Read more]

Anyway, I just thought I hadn’t been here for a while and I should look in. This was up front.  Take it steady and get well.

Glad you are seeing progress in several ways.  Long may it continue!

Will be thinking of you on the 11th.  Jill

Oh my goodness, Ath – what a horrendous time you and your wife have been through.  Sending positive vibes and very best wishes for a steady road to recovery.  Be very gentle on yourselves.  Jill

Marie Claire

The sun filtering in through the yellowing net curtains barely lightens the dim, soulless room, mirroring the dullness I feel inside as I watch you staring at me with blank incomprehension.

We have lived…[Read more]

1)  choose  a  significant anniversary in your life:  e.g.  birthday,  wedding, first child: graduation – then,

2 ) Google the UK Top 10 singles chart for that week.

3) select two, three or four  song titles  from that list and,

4) use them (loosely if necessary!) as a basis for  a short story, of…[Read more]

Thank you for the kind comment on my own entry.

Thank you, Terrie for setting this challenge which stretched creativity to meet the four word inclusion criteria.

Thank you, too, for yo…[Read more]

Thank you , Terrie, both for the challenge and your comments on both my entry and Jill’s excellently crafted, sensitive  story. I’ll aim to set something for June by the end of today.

And as it turns out, we nearly didn’t. My God, what a time you’ve had. All my best wishes for your continued recovery, and I do hope that the issue still hanging over you turns out to be not too catastrophic.

Not sure if you know, Ath, but positive feedback for specific nurses ‘Natalie did this, Esme supported me with that’ can be used for their revalidation. Just saying. ☺️

I hope you are taking things easy and making good progress. It’s great to see you back at the Den. Sending very best wishes for a speedy recovery 🙂

Crikey Moses, William, I’m heart-heartedly glad to hear you are home and hopefully on your way to some sort of recovery – what a torrid time you and your family must have gone through, and thank you for updating us so vividly.

Sendng love and the most healingest of good wishes

Sandra

So many people have asked, ‘What’s wrong with you’ and ‘Why are you still in hospital?’, (I’m out now) that I thought a small blog might help. Don’t get me wrong, there are many people, including on this site, who have had worse problems, often for longer. But I’ve never been this ill, so I’ll press on.

In the beginning, at the very tail end…[Read more]

‘Gobsmacked’ the inelegant word that came to mind when I read the letter. What else would you expect , being told your three year-old daughter’s poem had been awarded first prize ?  A prize  which earned her up to three sittings with well-renowned portrait artist Bernard Broom. Especially when I’d not an inkling she’d  written any…[Read more]

Vulnerable, estranged from her family, unexpectedly out of work and living in poverty in Aberdeen, the Granite City, it was easy for her to understand now why she had been taken in by him.  He was extremely charming and persuasive.  She’d moved into his luxury apartment soon after their first chance meeting.

The first time he hi…[Read more]

All the other entries were so imaginative, well written and enjoyable to read.

Congratulations, Terrie – yours was very clever and truly mad!…[Read more]

But judge I must, as promised, so here are my thoughts:

Jill -…[Read more]

Good idea, Libby.  Hope someone might take it on.

Having heard Athelstone indisposed again, it’s unlikely he’ll be be judging  this any time soon

All words taken from Rod Judkins’ The Art of Creative Thinking.

DRIBBLES AND SPATTERS

Inner demons

chisel

creative confidence

Ideas so strange

wither.

Radiate defiance

Salvage mistakes with freedom

and

transform the message

Come alive!