Wednesday 31st October

Wednesday 31^st October

Halloween night and a friend of son No.3 came around with his own version of a carved marrow, very impressive I thought. My daughter will now take umbrage with the fact I haven’t put her carved pumpkin picture on my blog, so will have to remedy that tomorrow.

I started today well enough with a rather blustery game of tennis this morning with SO, AH and AE. Despite the elements to contend with it was a good match and I enjoyed myself. 

It was with some foreboding that I entered the hospital at lunchtime, especially after thinking that this is the first week I have not had an appointment! I’d like to say that my fears were unfounded, but I would be lying.

The Marsden have looked at my whole treatment ‘profile’ and feel that it would be beneficial for me to finish the last two cycles, particularly as I still have two enlarged lymph nodes in my abdomen that  could well have ‘disease’ and appear to be responding to the chemo.

Good news though (!!!!!!!) I will only have Carbo/platinum and not the taxol (taxol makes your hair fall out). 

I was told by the Dr that actually most cases are straightforward, but I seem to be very unusual, having said that I do feel lucky (!!!) that I have him as my doctor, as I know he personally oversees my treatment and always double checks everything. 

I am also on antibiotics as my throat is still bad, and although I had a blood test I won’t pick up the results until tomorrow.

I will not have chemo next week as I have DL’s graduation (whoop) and we will be away, so blood test booked for 12^th- chemo on 13^th………

Lastly a HUGE thank you to AH for a scrumptious, nutritious  supper of fish pie, veg and a cake, truly welcomed, and also THANKS to the mysterious visitor who dropped off the pretty chrysanthemums that were in my kitchen when I got back!

“Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Tuesday 30th October

Tuesday 30^th October

The good news of the day is there was NO mouse in the larder, so that sniffy dog of mine led me up the garden path on that one- at least the result of that is I blitzed the larder!

The bad news (well at least in my eyes) was the phone call from the hospital requesting an appointment tomorrow as they have heard back from the Marsden and want to discuss my ‘treatment’. Now to me that sounds ominous and every time I have a call from them it usually ends in tears- mine!!!!!

RL and I enjoyed a sunny walk on Grouville beach, and ended up with a wet, tired, smelly seaweed dog. We then dropped by the hairdresser (it’s been so long since I’ve visited I was getting withdrawal symptoms!) The banter and jokes were the same, and I did try and ‘warn’ off the other customers, to little or no avail.

More housework this afternoon before TL came with me for a short dog walk around the block, a good time to catch up with each other.

“On TV people look at your hair and then they look at your skin, and then they look at your clothes, and by the time they're listening to what you're saying, you're off the screen.”

Doug Coupland

Friday 29th October

Monday 29^th October

I took the dog for late ‘comfort break’ last night and was met with ‘fisherman’ son TL, about to try and deal with two very large bass- caught for the competition over the weekend, despite the largest being nearly 8Lb it didn’t win. However four of us enjoyed it for supper tonight as the pictures prove….

Jessie had her eye on them!

Actually more than her eye!

I’m prescribing my own medicine, and decided that I need plenty of fresh air, exercise and good food. So I jumped on my bike and pedalled off to town! It took me about 30 minutes to get from St Martin to the Merton; I’ve nearly got the hang of the gears, and I did overtake a few pedestrians, and of course it was downhill!. I forgot my sunglasses which stops my eyes watering  and that coupled with my nose running I was not a pretty sight, plus how was I to know that a small twig had lodged itself in my helmet? No wonder the lads at the bus stop cheeked me.

I did my aqua aerobics class then off on the bike again to Pedal Power (shop near the town hall) I was going to get a new rack and mud guard fitted, which I did, they were so helpful and did it in 30 minutes. (Just enough time for me to grab a roll and cup of tea in the market-that charity coffee shop has good food and value for money too!)

Now I did cheat a bit and got son JL to come and pick me and the bike up, well I was short on time and it would have taken me at least an hour to get home (probably longer!)

Set off from home to les Ormes to play tennis with LW,AE and JW, that was a first and very enjoyable. Didn’t stop for a drink as needed to get home and walk Jessie; fortunately RL had taken her out at lunchtime. We are lead walking her for a few days as she had a bit of a limp on Sunday, possibly from ‘rock climbing’ or when a large dog jumped/attacked her last week. 

I am alerted to the fact that there could very well be a mouse in my larder……so I know what my first job tomorrow will be….

“Anyone's life truly lived consists of work, sunshine, exercise, soap, plenty of fresh air, and a happy contented spirit.”

Lillie Langtry

Sunday 28th October

Sunday 28^th October

A lovely mild sunny morning, such a contrast from yesterday’s weather, and so much nicer for dog walking. I enjoyed the extra hour in bed, before feeling guilty and ending up doing some gardening and ironing before tennis at 10.45am!

After lunch three of us went down to Castle Quay for a coffee at Coopers and Co, (and to see son DL in ‘action’). Shame I don’t see the same enthusiasm for bustling around the kitchen at home!

We did a short dog walk in the woods when we got back, and discovered a massive tree that had come down during Saturday’s high wind, bringing another one down with it, more chain saw work for someone no doubt.

This evening daughter and I went to see ‘Just the right note’ at the Jersey Arts Centre, and it was very good. You could see lots of hard work had gone into rehearsing many different routines. The children were amazing and nearly stole the show!!

As requested more photos from last week’s activities….

Foggy breakwater dog walk

Chocolate brownie and cream at El Tico

Trying out the gadgets on my new phone....

Still trying.....

"I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down'."

 Bob Newhart

Saturday 27th October

Saturday 27^th October

Gosh it was cold this morning, especially at 7.45am down at St Catherine’s; I took my hands out of my gloves just long enough to take a photo of the sunrise!

I discovered a large branch strewn across the road that I couldn’t shift. I had enough to contend with grappling with the dog on the lead, and I had so many layers on it was difficult to move my arms!

Fortunately a phone call to my neighbour Pdlh resulted in her husband coming to the rescue, unlike Mr L, who was snugly ensconced in the café , munching on a bacon roll, while I was struggling in 70mph winds and sub-zero temperatures!! Talk about ‘having a laugh’, returning home I knew that albeit reluctantly I had to go to the supermarket, any willing helpers? Not on your Nellie! So off I trot little Miss Martyr that I am and do a food shop. 

I did manage to persuade hubby to go to the large ‘hardware’ store this afternoon, primarily to buy some compost bins, they didn’t have any, but of course we did buy ‘other stuff’ we needed! Next store we visited- still no bins, by this time I had a ‘Mr Grumpy’ so straight back home to get on with the gardening. Cutting the grass and sweeping served a dual purpose, keeping warm and being productive. 

“My neighbour asked if he could use my lawnmower and I told him of course he could, so long as he didn't take it out of my garden.”

 
Eric Morecambe