Apricot Coconut Slice Cheekyricho YouTube Recipe

My dear friend passed away recently after a serious illness. His close family gathered together to support each other. Their sadness was unimaginable and there is nothing anyone can say or do to ease their pain. I knew there would be late nights talking and reminiscing, visitors dropping by to pay their respects, a little toddler confused by all the sadness and another new life on the way.  Life must go on and the humdrum of everyday living would be a burden on my friends. I tried to ease their suffering a little in my own small way, by really the only way I knew how. I made a couple of things to have with a cuppa and a Lasagne that could be either heated there and then or frozen for later use. I will continue to try and offer comfort to my friends in their worst days. 

This man was the Patriarch of his clan and his loss will be felt by many 

forever. He was taken too soon and had so much vitality and wisdom to share, the unfairness of the whole sad situation is beyond words.

Rest in Peace Arthur, your friendship and presence will be missed. You taught me so much and will always be my friend.  I feel lucky and blessed to have known you. You would've really enjoyed this slice  before you fell ill. I am really going to miss making your favourite treats, especially at Christmas. You also taught me to make the best Damper I have ever tasted. There are so many things that remind me if you and your unusual sense of humour.

Cheekyricho Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are the best Chocolate Chip Cookies I have ever tasted. Buttery short with crisp edges and an ever so slightly soft centre. Using the best quality semi sweet dark chocolate chips, every mouthful is a delight. For an extra indulgent treat, try sandwiching 2 together with creamy vanilla Icecream for an easy to eat quick dessert. I have made more than my fair share of Chocolate Chip Cookies from a plethora of recipe sources and this is by far the best recipe I have encountered. We hope you love it too.

Just check out our Cheekyricho YouTube channel for this and so many other delicious teatime treats.

Spider bite or Shingles???

I was walking my dog when I got an itchy bite on my tummy. No sting, no burning pain, just like a mozzie bite. It persisted when I got home so I got Richo to check if it was a tick he said it just looked like an insect bite. Not a tick.

Within 3 days my 'insect bite'had taken a turn for the worse. Swollen red, hot and 2.5 degrees Celsius warmer than other parts of my tummy. I decided to get him to take a picture to see if it got worse.

I joked the Coroner might want to see the progress, at my inquest. Spiders and I are not friends. It has been suggested my fear of spiders is unnatural. 

By the next day I was convinced that my pathological fear of spiders was entirely justified.

This isn't just one bite it's the spider families idea of a joke. The pain is very intense, hot, burning stinging pain that is making me feel sick. I have been counting hours until I can safely take the next dose of painkillers.

Enough is enough, I think I have been quite patient and this is getting worse and more painful. I took myself of to Hospital to see if I should be worried.my mother took one look and had a fit, starting regaling stories of rotting flesh, ulcers that took years to heal, amputated Limbs and digits. I hardly think they could amputate my abdomen but she did instill enough doubt in my complacent mind to force me to get it checked out.

Doctor tells me I have been bitten multiple times by 'God knows what' and the level of toxin decreased with each subsequent bite until the last few bites were almost ineffective. Easy for him to say it's not his stinging, burning , throbbing tummy. Now it's antibiotics and strict instructions if there are any further changes for the worse return immediately to hospital. He did seem appreciative of my photographic evidence and seemed quite surprised that I had been nursing this problem for over a week before deciding to get a second opinion. At this stage I am still alive and making no plans to become friends with spiders. I think this culprit may have been lurking in my washing on the line or maybe a beach towel. Either way I sincerely wish our paths hadn't crossed. If I survive I will keep you posted.🤕🕷🕸👎🏻

Spider Bite Update

Well it has taken 2 trips to the Emergency Room at the local hospital and one trip to my local doctor to confirm not a Spider a Bite at all, it seems a recent encounter with a toddler with Chicken Pox has awaken a dormant bug in my system and thrown a dose of Shingles at me. Bugger, first I had no phone or Internet for weeks and now I'm in excruciating pain despite taking enough drugs to keep a few Drug Addicts satisfied. I tell you, I don't know what they see in it, I feel sick, waking every hour, sweating and then freezing with a fuzzy head feeling half way between a hangover and being tipsy. The most ridiculous dreams haunt my sleep. For instance, I had a dream Richo invented a vacuum cleaner out of a plastic bucket and was sucking up leaves around the pool, I was trying to warn him about the electricity/water danger when I woke up.? Not knowing if his invention electrocuted him. I told him about it and he laughed saying" lucky you woke up of course I would've been electrocuted!"

Balance is a problem, as is standing in one spot. Anything touching my left leg feels like it's cold and wet. I have this large numb area on my side that is itchy and my 'spider bites' feel like constantly being dabbed with a lit cigarette. I tried to have a swim and the 30 degree Celsius water felt icy. I've had chicken pox as a child and apparently that is why I have this now. No cure, no real assistance with pain relief and I feel dreadful. I just have to tough it out. Seriously, with the technology and medical advancement that has taken place in recent years and there is no way of knowing if or when this will get better. The little baby I encountered, so if I'm a bit quiet so if 

So ifwho had Chicken Pox had been immunised but was too young for the final boosters and someone gave her chicken pox. She now has scars for life and I have this. That is a powerful argument for having kids immunised if you ask me. I have come into close contact with two pregnant women in the last fortnight and I would never wish any harm on them or their unborn bubs and here I am unknowingly carrying a bug they are best not exposed to. My Doctor says they have nothing to fear but I have told them anyway so they can inform their doctors.

Adults with Shingles can die, some don't recover and the rest of us just almost wish we were dead, to get away from the suffering. It's really cruel and relentless.