Our Phili-Pam

Hi Helen, They are all on Pam's downstairs bed-head. She has more teddies than I have locomotives.

I have a few myself but they're rubbish at weather forecasting. This is one fine chappy who helped me investigate Carlisle Castle. I'm not as bonkers as this looks. It was a present from a friend and I did her a holiday blog with the teddy featuring in every photo rather than send her postcards. Ok, that is bonkers but funny bonkers.

Hi all, I mentioned the fabulous menu served at Grogley Maltings earlier. The sweet & sour chicken was ace. The Morrison's meal which included egg fried rice. Our only addition was mango chutney. The meal was fab, as good as any takeaway or bring-in. I haven't got shares in Morrison's, honest. It's on next Wednesday's delivery. Just waiting for Pam to wake-up from her ninety winks, to have raspberries & ice cream. A chutney that I miss is Pan Yan. The production plant went up in smoke, nearly twenty years ago, so little chance of that returning. I was in conversation with a friend, saying that I might have a go at the Pan Yan recipe, to which she replied that mango chutney is very similar. So I tried some with a bit of cheese, it's guess what! Brill!!! Pan Yan contained madras curry powder in its recipe, which possibly gives it the sweet & sour freshness that I like. Apple also in the recipe. It's not a million miles away from mango chutney that I often add to curry or if I'm enjoying a samosa. Never thought of mango chutney with cheese & biscuits, but with a good hard cheese it's delicious. Good old the little boy who does the advert for Patak's chutney.

Hi all, My Pam is so weak. Not eating enough to keep a mouse alive, but she remains my backbone. It's like writing a diary putting this down, but sharing is such a help to me. I literally count the number of Shreddies that she had for brekky. Ten, plus some milk & honey. She didn't want anything for lunch when I had my salad which I had with a hard boiled egg & Jersey potatoes. A few potatoes left over, so I sliced & fried them for tea time. Pam had a few that she dipped into tomato sauce. I had mine just as they came out of the frying pan. As someone used to say, "Booootiful". As poorly as Pam is, I'm so elevated in my duties of care. I'm enjoying caring for her in duties that I wouldn't have had a clue about three years ago. Yes, enjoying it. Doing what Pam has done for me for fifty years. No wonder she's worn out. All progressive treatment has stopped, just palliative care now, in effect to make her as comfortable as possible. Thank you for letting me share this. Those of you who have gone through terminal illness scenarios, or live on your own, or a devoted wife or hubby holding down an outside job, as well as all of the housework, thank God for you & everything that you accomplish. If I was going to work now, I simply couldn't do it. Best wishes everyone.

Philip, my thoughts are with you and Pam. It's all I can say!!

You're a hero and the sweetest guy and Pam knows it. Caring for the very ill is one of the hardest things we ever have to do. My Mum loved things with gravy. Home made chicken gravy, stew gravy, pork gravy. I blitzed a small amount of meat with gravy then then added mashed veg in a lot of gravy so that the meat didn't kill the gravy. All on top of mash with butter. Flavour was key. Sadly Dad was impossible to tempt. Big hugs for both of you.

Thank you both so much. Thank you all.

So sorry to hear, my thoughts are with you both.

Thinking of you Philip, at least you have Pam at home with you, and it is hard work but she is happy as she can be at this time. xx.

Please tell her that Dougie from Wigan is also thinking of you both.

Thinking of you both and all the little furry friends in the room. Hugs and cuddles. Les and Gilly

Hi all, Something that I can tell you, that in all honesty I didn't expect to see, is my Pam, alive on her birthday, today.

Happy Birthday, Pam. I hope that chef Philip has something tasty organised. Those Morrisons Jersey Royals with lashings of butter? Lots of hugs for you both.

Love and hugs to you both, and Happy Birthday to Pam!

Happy birthday Pam and a big HUG to both.