Firstly, after my last post, I'd like to thank all those who have passed on their good wishes; it is hugely appreciated. And Don, I'm not sure who you are, but thank you. If I do know you, please let me know.

The patients are continuing to make progress. Andrew is finding it very frustrating, but is managing a surprising amount around the house. Work wise, although he cannot travel, he is doing lots via his laptop and phone, so that's not so bad. This week, he's been out with me a few times with the dogs and really enjoyed it.

One of the things that has also been happening in my life that I haven't talked much about on the blog is my work. Regular readers will recall that back in January, I saw an ad for an agency post in the University library and have been doing regular shifts ever since. The work is at gloriously unsocial hours so suits me perfectly and in April, the University advertised some permanent part time vacancies in the library service, working term time only. After some thought, I decided to apply. In early May, I had an interview, and to my delight I was successful in obtaining a post in Trevithick, my favourite library which serves the Schools of Engineering, Computing and Astronomy. Much to the surprise of the library manager, the HR department seemed to move at record speed and to everyone's delight, I started my permanent job a week ago. However, and this is where it gets complicated, I've also been continuing with my agency work. I felt it would be grossly unfair to the libraries if I left with only a few weeks to the end of term - somehow it seemed like the right thing to do to complete the project. There's a slight overlap on one day of the week when I do a double shift of 12 - 5 in one library and then do 5.30 till 9.30 in the other, starting half an hour later than I would normally. The basic term time hours will be quite manageable, being just three short shifts, but with agency work, lots of extra induction related visits and a scheduled extra shift today on the Bank Holiday that I signed up for months ago I am feeling like I have hardly any time to myself. I've done a complicated table of hours worked and whether these are permanent or agency and this is pinned on the fridge so both Andrew and I know my whereabouts and can plan. All of this will be very busy until the middle of June when term finishes, and then I can breathe as I'll then have the summer off before starting my permanent hours again in the last week of September when the autumn term kicks off.

Backing up are the need for a haircut (am now looking quite shaggy), a visit to the dentist for a checkup and an eyetest for my reading glasses - probably going to be next week or the week after by the looks of things. On Saturday, I was determined to escape into town. Andrew came too even though it was very busy. I stocked up on moisturiser and got some L'Occitane goodies (lovely free gift too, which was a nice bonus). Then off to John Lewis haberdashery department for the joy of fabric. I've bought two lots of Amy Butler prints which are going to be made into bags, along with some bag handles. I haven't yet had time to play with them but all being well, I might get some quality play time tomorrow with my sewing machine. It's one of the things that keeps me sane along with the dogs and the garden, which is also looking wonderful at the moment. The recent rain has done it good and at night it is alive with lovely frogs and toads.

Talking of dogs, I'll update on Andy too. After his adventure in the car, he is none the worse for his experience. It seems a benign Providence is looking after him. This is the dog who regularly steals kitchen implements and can usually be found with his shnozz stuck inside a tin, yet somehow his nose and tongue remain intact. I remember reading when we first had greyhounds that they hate the taste of metal in their mouth - Andy obviously didn't get that memo. We have still never found one particular potato masher that he stole; usually they end up in his lair where he sits there surrounded by his spoils like a dragon guarding his hoard.

Another piece of good news came from Penny. She phoned to check on Andrew's progress, and we discussed a planned meetup in June at one of her local shows, the Gwendraeth Valley Agricultural show. She couldn't now do this date, as she has been invited to judge a Working Hunter Pony class at another show in Llandovery on the same day, but to my delight she invited me to attend, and then asked if I would steward for her. I was thrilled to bits and am now really looking forward to this. I used to enter these classes myself as a teenager and have very happy memories of doing so. The chance of spending a nice day at a show, catching up with Penny and seeing some lovely horses is just perfect.

Finally, in my last post, I mentioned Game of Thrones and how much we are enjoying it, notwithstanding the occasional gory bit, and the very explicit sex, both straight and gay (and incestuous). Andrew was browsing on Amazon (always a fatal move!) and the whole series of books was available at half price, so he's ordered them, and we're going to enjoy reading them. It also seems that HBO are already at work on Series 2 which is good news. If you haven't tried it yet, then I can recommend it. There are some very well known actors in it (Sean Bean, Charles Dance etc..) although Peter Dinklage is completely stealing the show at the moment. Production values are very high, scenery, costumes and props are excellent, and it has a satisfyingly complicated plot, with generous dollops of skullduggery, a bit of magic, plenty of backstabbing, and some truly beautiful wolves. Who could ask for more?

Reading my last post, I'm struck by the feeling that although I was still missing Paula terribly, my life was slowly getting back on track. Shortly after my last post a series of events have occurred that have left me feeling that 2011 is not turning out to be one of our best years.

Firstly, just after my last post, we found out that my father has inoperable and terminal liver cancer. He had had a bile duct problem earlier this year, which was resolved nicely but in the course of sorting that out, there were investigations to find out exactly what was causing the blockage - these discovered the cancer. For complex reasons, we are mostly estranged from my parents, although we maintain some contact (e.g. to pass on news about shared relatives for instance such as my Aunty Floss) and occasionally other similar health news. There's not really very much else I can say at this point - my father has started a course of chemotherapy which is hoping to shrink the tumour - this is taking place in Swansea where he lives.

Shortly after this news, his sister, my auntie Hilary, was coming back in from the garden on a Sunday evening and fell awkwardly as she stepped into the conservatory. She phoned NHS Direct and the triage nurse advised going to A & E. My father took her in and they discovered that she had broken her arm in a particularly nasty way that would need an operation, so she would need to stay in. We went down to see her in hospital on the Tuesday and she had her operation on the Wednesday. The top of the arm had been replaced by a new joint and the break was pinned with a plate - a long and complex operation. Hilary had been fitted with a complicated sling arrangement with various straps, waistbands, harness fittings and lots and lots of Velcro. Dressing normally was completely impossible. On the Friday, armed with lots of heavy duty painkillers, she was allowed to leave hospital and we picked her up, took her home briefly to collect some possessions and then brought her home for a week's intensive R &R. With her dressing on the scar (which is going to be a real beauty) taking a shower was out of the question, so I've been washing her hair, giving her foot baths and helping adjust the harness.

On the Saturday, we had a long standing arrangement to go and see our friend Penny, as it was her birthday and go out for a pub lunch and a long natter. I can't even begin to describe how much I was looking forward to this. We also had some of Paula's quilts to give her. We left Hilary in the house, with a plate of cut sandwiches, and a pile of cushions on the sofa. I was happy to leave all three dogs in the house but Andrew was keen to take Andy with us as he is the most likely to hassle Hil while she is eating. We arrived safely at Penny's farm, and it was lovely to see her and Joe (her business partner). Joe and Penny were showing us some new caps they had got for wearing under the armour, and Penny and I were discussing making some quilted ones. We then slowly drifted back out to the farmyard in the general direction of the farmhouse. Andy was very excited as one of the farm cats was doing that cat thing of sitting just out of reach and being provocative. As he was bouncing around, Andrew turned and somehow tripped and fell, quite heavily. Initially, he got up and dusted himself off, and put Andy back into our car while we went back into the house. Penny opened her birthday presents and had just put the kettle on when we realised that Andrew had gone a very nasty colour (think of cold porridge or a bowl of putty) and said "I've broken something". There was nothing for it but to leave Penny and Joe and head off back to hospital.

Going back out to the car, we then discovered that the cat had re-emerged from the barn and had been sitting by the car, taunting Andy. Andy had literally tried to eat his way out of the car and the entire front passenger door was now shredded and a mass of blood and saliva, he had even taken a chunk out of the dashboard.

I drove Andrew back to the Heath, dropped him off at A & E and took Andy home and also had a sandwich and a coffee with Hil, who was understandably surprised to see me home so early and without my husband. Then it was back to the hospital and time to collect the second patient. Andrew is right handed and had broken his right clavicle so was particularly badly affected. The only good news is that he did not to stay in or an operation.

Until the following Friday I passed an exhusting and stressful week looking after the two patients. Anyone who's nursed an incapacitated relative will know what this is like. Days seemed to pass in a round of washing, ironing, shopping, housework and trying to see to the dogs.

On Friday Hil was ready to go home, and first of all we took her to Marks and Spencer to stock up on some ready meals and other food for her home. Then it was the drive back to Swansea, unpacking her stuff, getting her settled and then returning home. Friday night I was exhausted, and enjoyed a very large gin.

On Saturday, Rita (Andrew's mother) had bought tickets for her, Claire (Andrew's sister) and myself to go to the Hippodrome in Bristol to see Matthew Bourne's Cinderella, with lunch first. I caught the train at around 10.30 and already the city centre was prepared for thousands of rugby fans for the Heineken trophy match between Leinster and Northampton. We all met up at Bristol train station and took the water taxi to the harbourside area, where we had a delightful lunch at the Waterside, an arts centre, cinema and cafe complex on the quay. We then strolled over to the Hippodrome and took our seats (which were excellent) for the ballet which was lovely. It was set in the London Blitz during World War 2 and was beautifully danced. I didn't think the flow of the choreography seemed as smooth as it had for Swan Lake - somehow the narrative seemed more choppy and disjointed but it was an enthralling performance. Sets and costumes were gorgeous. Coming out we took a taxi back to the station, and I was able to step straight on to a train coming back to Cardiff, which made for a smooth journey.

On Sunday, another busy day - lots more housekeeping in the morning, then I shot off to a double shift in the library while Rita and Roger arrived in the afternoon. By the time I returned home, they'd cooked a meal for Andrew and there was some for me too. This morning we all had an early start. Andrew had an appointment at the fracture clinic. No real news except to come back in four weeks time, but they have given him a much better sling, another contraption of Velco, straps and buckles. I'm now feeling that I stand a good chance of a job as a dresser in an S & M dungeon. The car also went for its MOT - unfortunately it failed on a number of minor points so tomorrow it is going in to the garage for some more work before being retested. After all these outings, it was back home for a belated brunch, Rita and Roger took the dogs for a walk while I did some more housework and then they kindly picked up some groceries for us at Tesco, before leaving us around 4. After they left, I just went and had a snooze upstairs, and tonight we've relaxed with a pizza and some TV. We're particularly enjoying the new series on Sky called Game of Thrones - very gory in places, but good.

I hope this post explains the lengthy silence - I'm hoping normal service can be resumed shortly.