Monday 9 November - lovely weekend but still sandbagged after Friday's treatment

Boy this stuff packs a punch!  I am still feeling knocked for six by last week's chemo -physically and mentally.  It was a shame not to feel better as we have had some lovely visitors over the weekend.
First my nephew and his 15 year old daughter who had been to an information session in Cambridge came to lunch on Saturday.  It was lovely to see the pair of them without the rest of the family - quieter, definitely.
Then Becky (no 3 daughter) arrived with her boyfriend Matt (very nice) for supper and to stay till Sunday afternoon.  Andrew cooked on Saturday night: mushroom soup, apricot stuffed pork with onion jus accompanied by roast potatoes, carrot & celeriac puree and spinach, followed by creme brulee and cheese.  Matt cooked Sunday lunch: cucumber gazpacho to start followed by a smoked mackerel, horseradish and cream cheese pate served on mini Yorkshire puddings - yum. (sorry, no pictures)
Today Andrew's aunt Lily has been for lunch (butternut squash, apple and stilton soup) with her long-standing friend Jen.  It was lovely to see them both, it has been at least 4 years and probably longer since we last saw them (Jen only lives in Bedford but Lily lives in Scotland).
Since Lily and Jen left we have had a lovely afternoon moving the contents of the living-room since the painter is arriving at 8am tomorrow to paint it.  There were a lot of cobwebs, spiders, dead woodlice and a lot of dust.  I dread to think what it will be like putting everything back later in the week.  I really ought to send the curtains to the dry cleaners but I think that might have to wait for the spring!

The books and CDs and several coffee tables are all piled into what is currently my study (used to be a 2nd sitting room for the girls), those plants that are small enough are on the dining room table and the pictures and curtains are in there too, and the living room looks very bare.  The plants will have to go out on the patio tomorrow (currently standing in front of the French windows) all except for the Monstera Deliciosa in the foreground - when we moved the bookcase it was leaning on it simply lay down on the carpet so we are a bit worried about breaking it if we try to take it outside.
After this afternoon big respect to anyone who has moved recently.  Just clearing one room was definitely enough for me.