leukaemia sucks - or is that stating the obvious

glad you had a good day out at the tennis. With all the boys away it will give you time to relax before they get back!
Ive just had 3 weeks of builders and I was knackered at the end of it AND my kitchen units are still in Germany! As usual you will be on a higher plane and all will fall gracefully into place with delightful workman who put down the toilet seat and refuse to eat your chocolate digestives. The prices will be reasonable and include VAT and it will all be done when they say..............yes yes I see it now in my cracked crystal ball

OH I forgot you have Russell
Problems solved PDQ What is his hourly rate?
love
Liz

Darling Mo - here we are in sunny (NOT) Florida. Claire and I have just snuck out to the next door hotel to blog for free and check out how you are doing. We miss you lots and can't wait to see you soon and hope for cooler weather. Thinking of you heaps - huge hugs - stay cool -

Jane

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

PS Look forward to those nieces visiting you next week - Katie is so cute now she's on her feet.

Hi Moira,

Wimbledon sounds as though it was a fab experience even if you did watch dodgy matches! Though Federer is always a treat. I think your brillainat to be even contemptlating thing about house moves and bathrooms etc I wish I had your presence of mind!

it will be good to hve the boys and Russ around for the Summer, keep those dodgy bugs at bay and I really hope and pray things that you get some good news.

I am off on holiday to Devon so will still be thinking of you but unable to drop a line for a few days.

Love & Best Wishes

Jane

Hello my lovely back on dial up. Keep peddling...you can keep your clothes on!! Tomorrow you will be the proud owners of a new home and me a "pantry". Russell will be back before you know it, just work at rest and repair and he'll do the easy stuff...Egyptian packers! I shan't mock ours were fantastic and smiled alot more than the Austrian unpackers!!

kisses for you
K xx

Moira,

I actually watched Federer and Ancic or Oncic (sp?) and was looking to see if there was anyone I knew in the crowd.
Guess I missed you. Have not been in the lake as yet this year..............not warm enough, or not been "drunk" enough.

Miss you, love you lots,

Celeste

Hurrah to hear you back on the blog again - Saw you on the telly, but I shan't say where, you little tinker!! (It was actually right by the 'P' of Panasonic, underneath the plastic cut flowers that I keep dusted on top of my set.) The weather has been pretty tropical up here in Aboyne, one minute sultry 'Heat of the Night' stuff and the next minute 'Coronation Street', and that is all in the same day. My horses are in because of the horrendous flies which keep attacking them so I am about to serve breakfast to them and provide them with fly battling sprays. I must go as I can hear them stamping downstairs in the ktchen, obviously the service has not been up to scratch and the y are trying to get in the fridge. A card coming soon, I haven't got one yet, but feel one coming on. Love and kisses, as always, Carry - xxxxxx

I think a day at Wimbledon is quite enough for a tired, hot girl without thinking you've also got to be designer of the year as well.Perhaps you could incorporate some paint charts into your visualisation exercises. God knows what you may come up with!
Thinking of you as ever. Love to all .

Ali Mc xxxxx

Hi Moira

Apologies for not popping in over the last month - had some 'stuff' of my own to deal with.

But I'm back now, and want to let you know that Hubby and I are still thinking of you, and wondered how you are doing.

It's midnight at the moment so over the weekend I'll read back over your blog that I've missed, so I can catch up.

Best wishes

M xxx

Hi Moira,

Russell should be in Cairo now even though his plane was about 5 hours late! Poor him! I shall wake him up at 10 (as instructed) and we shall beaver on and get that house of yours packed up today, removalists in tomorrow...hope they are as good as Karen's!

Glad to see you back on the blog. I was so pleased to find out that you really did make it to Wimbledon! The finals are on today so we shall have to take a break from packing for that!

I'm really hoping for some good news on the hospital front for you and something to boost that tiredness away...although that's the difficult bit!

Will be thinking of you all day today as I go through your food!

Lots of love as always,
Lisa xxx

Hey Mo, hope things are cooling down for you over there and that visitors are not too thin on the ground. Good to know Alastair will be with you for biop tomorrow. Poor Claire left us last night after 3 days of not so good weather and now today is roasting but, of course, it's a stay in day for Wimbledon and World cup finals!!!! Think I'll have to give the footie a miss and head for the beach though. How depressing it is here amongst the size 2's and 4's! and the poolside game of guessing which boobs are real! I have picked up Pottery Barn catalogues for you to help with the new house revamp and have still to do your Apple shopping but will get there - a week to go. I hope you get a chance to see the Special K's this week although not sure whether or not they'll be allowed in whilst you are so low.........? Thinking of you all the time, lots of love - hope you dial up soon - Jane (and Jim) xxxxxxxxxxx

Cairo packing report day 1.........

House packing going well, great packers, fuelled by lots of back sugary tea (thanks Nila), boxes of Siwa water from Massouds (thnaks Abdou) and Pizza's for lunch (thanks Domino's), plus cooler temps (only 31C but still sunny of course), also help from Lisa R and Aine K (thanks you were great), and finally, a very relaxed, me.........ok this IS unusual, but Moira's and the rest of you's years of coaching seems to have finally paid off - am I actually enjoying this, actually yes!(thanks also to Heike for more coaching)!

Boys Ell & Ross are having fun too, seeing all friends, playing in pool with Dad, and being very supportive and helpful too, they are off home to UK tomorrow morning.

It all seems less rushed than I had expected and I am sure all will be done by Thursday pm - including a leaving dinner on Weds Night and a bit of shopping - after which plan is to chill for the day at Four Seasons Nile Plaza or Moon Beach and fly home on Saturday morning.

Russell.

Hi Moira!

Buying houses even when straight forward is aways tricky and stressful!! Still once the contracts are sorted it all becomes worth it and you can start to enjoy the thought of Home Sweet Home with all your lovely pictures and possessions in place - Nearly there!! To Do lists are monsters in my house too and I've no reason not to have the energy to do!! - Great when you can tick off though!!

Jack and Poppy are off school now so its out in the woods we go building dens and bridges over the muddy trickle!!
LOL JUx

Dear Mo, good to speak to you today and glad you're getting plenty of tlc in Russ' absence - boy does he sound in control out there at the moment - well done Russ! Guess the boys will be home now and that Grandma will be keeping them going with some Stuart stew and dumplings and the like - Mum don't forget that anything you give Ross needs to be spiced up! At last we've had some consecutive days of sunshine here with temperatures more like you had in London last week!?!! Tomorrow Sarah arrives from Dallas so I've been saving my shopping time for her - including the ipod for Ell (won't forget, I promise). It seems a very long time now that we've been away and yet still a week to go. Oh well, will call again later in week - and maybe by then someone will have managed to help you with the laptop so you can read all these messages. Sleep well and take all that goodness in this week......... huge hugs and lots of love, Jane xxxxxxxxxxx

Dear Moira
Sorry I've not been in touch for a while - busy couple of weeks with Rachel's graduation, then a trip to Holyrood palace to collect Duncan's Duke of Edinburgh award. All this during the heatwave which has gone now that I'm back home with some time to enjoy it!
Sorry you've not been so great, but you know we are all willing you on and thinking about you.
I hope you, Russ and the boys will be very happy in the new house.
We're off on holiday for a couple of weeks, but will try to log on occasionally to see how you are doing.
Love and hugs
Jill xxxxx

My dearest Mo so much pain despite all my love signals lifes a b!! Love you so much,by now Mum will be close by,and helping with the handsome giants,Linda will also be on her way,to help spread the load,bless her and collin and family for her unstinting help,must to work am on all this week staff shortages and all that.Will think of you constantly,Dad xxxx

Hi Moira,

I bet you're managing to choose everything you desire for the house from where you are. You always managed to get the best materials than all of us!!! You are an expert on all these things.
I bumped into George on Sunday but I didn't say "haven't you grown"!!! but he certainly has. I haven't seen him for a while and he looked great. Football in Megans garden.
School holidays, 10.30 am and the house is quiet. They'll surface when they're hungry I suppose.

Take care, thinking of you, Sue xxxxx

Hi Moira,
Not sure if you will get this hopefully I will have followed Russel's directions. The house is getting there and all you stuff is very well wrapped. The guys have been excellent and very organized. I've popped round just to help Russel drink the wine I think but tomorrow it should all be ready to wing its way to pastures new. Cairo is hot hot yesterday 47 in the car & 40 last night coming home from a night out. I head home to Ireland on Sunday but now I've got the blog address I can keep up with your progress. Keep at it girl you can do it. Was going to put some type of inspirational comment but could'nt get it quoted right. Must be the effects of this afternoon's healthy sip of wino. Thinking and praying for you daily

Love Aine

Hi there.

Most be ready for a holiday - posted this message earlier against day 70 rather than 78!

Big Hugs from Dowally....

Was thinking of you lots today. Clare and I were chatting and going through memories of sunny days (?)in Aberdeenshire you guys, Wood-Garlicks and Ashworths with all those boys and 'tricking' her. Why did none of you produce girls?

Head off to Ireland on Saturday but will plug into internet at some stage. We've had not great news about Dad - started with feeling tired, had some bloods couple of weeks ago and now has started chemo today for one of those other dreaded blood cancers (too long a name for me to remember and if I did then with it I'd be the tempted then to google it!) - we've decided we are not interested in prognosis and statistics - he has always had that wonderful attitude of treasuring every day and not spending too much mental energy looking back or forward.

Be strong - hoping to make a trip down your way in August.

Aine & Co.

Another day of sunshine in Aberbeautifulshire,wish you were here,spoke to George last night sounds as if hes had a great time in Aboyne.Hope the angels of mercy Mum and Lynda are ministering to your every need.So sad to hear Egypts in a box,what exitement opening it in the new house.Love you Hobgoblin Dadxxxx

Dear moira,Russ and boys
we are of to Nova Scotia on Friday and I have my root canal drilled today! While in pain and on Vicodine I thought of you!! Im such a drama queen with one sore tooth. I keep thinking "are you a man or a mouse" all I can say is "give me the cheese!"
Hope that you too are getting enough cheese
The McLaren beach holiday awaits
Kerr and Ross are going shark fishing...catch and release...Im not sure IT will release them I think they are very tasty
Post card will tell all
Liz

One day at a time darling Mo,it must be so hard and scary for you each day brings a new nasty challenge,each day I cry and think how we are to ease your burden,I know with so much love flowing towards you,it should help a little.Your super sisters,and fab brother,are always there for you,in thought and person,your own army of great looking men,willing you through each new crisis and challenge.Your endless portfolio of friends,in every corner of the globe,a thought for you every day.Mum and I Proud parents of valient fighter,not a crap patient as you told me,in the quiet biscuit of the night.Fight on Hobgoblin,Sir Lovealot will be with you soon.Love Dad,and lots in Tarland,xxxxxx

Thank God yesterday is over and how we prayed for you Mo. Prof Mufti sounds to be a veritable hero and gives us all hope for you. We are all there with you now in spirit and body, willing you to have the strength to get through this next bit - I know you're so tired but go for those daydreams of the new house and curtains, flooring, furniture, paint..... aaah - new paint smell, how fine! Thinking of you heaps but will have to go for a prayer refresher soon! Big debates here between Jim and I desperately trying to remember all the words to the Lords Prayer yesterday........ I think we got enought of it but whatever, I think God knew what we meant. Huge hugs, Jane xxxxxxxxxxxx (in sunny (at last) Florida)

Dearest Mo
Fresh back from Colonsay and catching up on the world...
Sounds like you're having a tough time again, old girl....we're all there with you, egging you on, wishing we could help your healing....hang on in there...you're nearly at 100 days! It will get easier and you will get better...
Colonsay is a wonderful place - sunsets on the beach...practicing my meditation...sucking your badness out and replacing it with fresh sea air, sunshine and the occassional downpour....sailing reound the coast, surfing in icy seas, scoffing fab seafood...but sadly only for a week and its back to work!
Hope Russ and the boys (Sir Lovealot and the handsome men) are helping keep your pecker up with lashings of tlc...
Monster love and positive vibes,
R&T

Dear Mo - just a few words before I try and catch the last few rays of sunshine and that dreaded task of getting everything back in the cases (sufficiently to beat the BA baggage limit and keep actual volume of shopping out of Jim's sight!). I will soak up the sunshine and bring it back to give you strength for the next hurdles. So are you Queen Guinevere (?) to your wonderful Sir Lovealot and your knights of the round dining table?! Hope all are well - look forward to seeing you soon - huge hugs -

Jane xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Drearest Moira, it is still sunny here in Aboyne,
we have just had a week with Georgia and Jack up in pony club camp which they loved. The horses were very happy to be home though, after having spent one week being pulled and petted and coaxed over jumps and poles in the searing heat. They are now in their own field signing autographs. Thinking of you an awful lot, big push from the north east for you. Love and kisses Carry. Rory is now 18 and is signing autographs in his boudoir - love and kisses again Carry.

Another beautiful summers day in the highlands,days as I remember them at boarding school in Cambridge,hot grass smells,lupins scent permeating my mothers garden,wasps and over ripe william pears attracting them,the sound of ball on bat at Fenners cricket ground,sore knees scrambling up the wall to catch a glimpse of a famous cricketer without paying a penny,hot half crompled cigarette cards ready in case an autograph was on the cards.Now as the days roll by you can see and remember these things far easier than the shopping list of the moment.Enough to the main thing,how are you coping,are you eating and drinking,even through the pain,you have ti try,cos in the end it will help and could even shorten the treatment.So spake the old quack!!Love to my HOBGOBLIN,will try to come down soon,and get out with Russ as well love Dad xxxxx