Awake and up all night

If my tolerance to that sort of questioning in a sad, concerned tone of voice is running thin (it's usually from ex-work colleagues), I'm afraid I answer with gallows humour. It shocks them, they recover, then we have a normal conversation on a different subject. People who have not had any close contact with serious illness including cancer are genuinely sympathetic but don't quite know how to approach the matter. If there are several in a gathering it does get a bit wearing if they ask individually.

I'm sure you will play it by ear and respond with tact and diplomacy. I  hope the weekend goes better than you fear.  Ray x 

Thanks Sonia, you're a very funny gal!

Believe me lass, I put more than one bottle away - a case of one's too many, a million's not enough! Oddly though, when cancer hit, I never once thought about reaching for the bottle as I'd made a promise to myself I wouldn't. Unless it can't be helped, I never break a promise and that's one I'm glad I kept as I've got to be on my toes permanently now.

Hey, I bet you're looking forward to getting in your freshly ready bed tonight. Lovely jubbly! xxx

Ray, I'm a big fan of gallows humour and use it myself when I know it won't offend. Gotta be careful though.

My dad was an expert and very funny with it, but as a WW2 veteran he'd seen gruesome things and it was how they coped. I'm defo my father's daughter xxx

Good on you my lovely. I used to like bacardi and coke when I was young. I used to have one too many. Not had a drink in 50 years. I like the occasional guineas I am looking forward to getting in my nice clean bed put my electric blanket on.

Oh, even better Sonia, as it's a bit nippy tonight. You'll be as snug as a bug - just so long as they don't bite!

I think I'll change the bedding this weekend, it's a nice way to spoil yourself. Warm hugs in your warm blanket my lovely xxx

If I don't want to talk about it Ray I am afraid I just tell them. Apart from this group only my family know and my 1 good friend.

Thank you Gill. At our age comfort is everything. Hope you sleep well tonight.xxx

Any tips on changing the duvet cover? I nearly always end up with the duvet fighting back. It twists or goes diagonal. On the odd occasion it goes in correctly, I have to shake the thing to death to get a fold out of the middle. It is exhausting.  xx

I always have trouble with the duvet cover. I have a fight with it every time. Sorry don't have any tips I need a rest when I do mine.

They don't teach useful stuff like this at school. I'm glad it isn't just me .