Latest News from Kirkstead Old Mill Cottage B&B Woodhall Spa

Bulletin from the bird boxes

I've tried not to get too excited obout the Great Tit that is nesting in our box with the webcam, but my patience has been rewarded - we've two eggs!

Getting into the garden at last

Over the past few weeks it hasn't been easy to enjoy working in the garden because of the pressure to keep on top of how to make the best decisions re Tony'shealth treatment needs, but we did manage to plan and implement the clearing of a large patch of brambles in the wild area so that a Buddleja walk could replace it.  A shrubbery would be easier to maintain, more attractive, and hopefully offer even more sustenance to insects and butterflies in the late summer/autumn.

Stage 1 Survey the sceneThis was something that Tony and I enjoyed doing together, though even such a simple task is now very tiring.  We agreed that everything except a hawthorn and the twisted willow would be removed.  Fortunately, when editing the My Pictures folder on my new computer yesterday (due to much duplication) I came across this year-old photo of the area taken when the Lincoln Conservation Group were here on 20th April 2008.

 

I am hoping we can capture this view again today without the mass of vegetation in the top right-hand corner.

 

The first cuckoo of 2009 and the last of the daffs

 When I took this picture a few minutes ago, I heard my first cuckoo call, love Barbara

AVASTIN

Yesterday Tony's brother Peter kindly forwarded to me copies of his correspondence with his own MP, who basically said that whilst she wanted to be kept informed, it was our own MP, Sir Peter Tapsell, who should be helping us.  Anyway, I rang up this morning to say that we would not be attending the constituents' Surgery in Louth today, because there was still a lot undecided.  i.e. We don't yet know whether or not our new oncologist Dr Z Stokes will recommend that Tony goes back into the NHS.

I got permission this morning from AXA PPP for him to have a CT Scan done a.s.a.p. at Lincoln Hospital, and by co-incidence an appointment arrived in today's post for next Thursday afternoon.

Also co-incidentally, a company made a chance call on Wednesday to see if we were considering selling our Guest House.  Terrible though this would be, it may be our only solution to keeping Tony going, so the house is to be valued next Tuesday afternoon.  I'll keep you all posted - and please can you go on sending us the love and the badly needed energy.

Yet another first!

Tonight, as I fetched in the dry washing, I was almost startled, but thrilled, when a barn owl flew over me shrieking. It seemed to come from the balcony and was gone in a gentle flap to the bottom of the garden.

It has been a beautiful peaceful day here, and in spite of Tony being in hospital, I have experienced great peace. I am sure it is due to all the love and best wishes that you are sending to us. I'm quite sure that there are powers that we no longer know how to harness, but the energy still gets to where it is needed. THANK YOU.

We splash out - not in a pool, but at The Old Bakery Restaurant in Lincoln

This afternoon we went to meet a lovely lady at the private hospital in Lincoln, which is no longer known as The Nuffield, as it has been purchased by BMI, the same company who owns The Park in Nottingham.  It looks as if tomorrow will be Tony's last stay at The Park for I suspect that within a few weeks he will have transferred back to the NHS.  More to follow......

After the consultation we had dinner in the City at a 'restaurant with rooms' that we had heard about at several of the Award ceremonies and conferences that we have attended.  Full report to follow......

What a wonderful Sunday!

Today was the occasion of the annual visit of the Lincoln Conservation Group, and we were blessed to have eleven of them turn up to help us in the Wild and Woodland Gardens.

AVASTIN

Yesterday I was unable to gain access to TypePad, so I will write a fuller report once I have spoken again to Lincoln Hospital.

The latest on AVASTIN

Now that I have got over my disappointments of last week, I am drafting a report as a Word Document, which I will publish later today.  Thank you for your phone calls of support - don't stop ringing us.  Barbara

LET'S CELEBRATE SPRING in WOODHALL SPA

Beryl and Brian took these lovely views of the front of the Cottage.  Thank you so much.