Thursday 26th February

Thank you for the comments guys, not entirely sure about your 'football' messages PN, it was met with derisive snorts from the males of the household.

I took Jessie out to Les Platons this morning, bit of drizzle and misty but otherwise ok. Met 'Fenton' on the cliff path, who took such a shine to Jessie (he was a 5 month old black retriever) that the owner had to about turn and walk back with me! For those of you not in the know, just Youtube 'Fenton, dog, deer' and watch!! Apparently this puppy was already named after a Scottish Castle.....

I had an appointment with DM this morning all about phytobiophysics...interesting but incredibly confusing (well, it was for my brain), anyway the upshot being I now have various pills and potions that I need to take on a regular basis. I'm really trying to get my body to start healing itself. I know Dr H really wants me to go onto Avastin which is an inhibitor....." Avastin works by stopping the growth of new blood vessels. Avastin can be useful in treating certain types of colon or rectal carcinomas because it stops the cancer cells from getting a good supply of blood. If cancer cells do not get a good blood supply then they cannot grow and they begin to die off.

When Avastin is given for the first time it may cause a reaction which may be fatal." (Oh, thats reassuring then!)  

Targeted therapy is a newer type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack cancer cells while doing little damage to normal cells. Each type of targeted therapy works differently, but they all attack the cancer cells' inner workings − the programming that makes them different from normal, healthy cells. Bevacizumab(Avastin) is the targeted therapy that has been studied best in ovarian cancer, but other drugs are also being looked at, as well. 

I don't know enough about it, but what puts me off is three weekly injections/cannulas and the like, but hey if its a choice between living or not, I think we know what side of the fence i sit on!!!

Enough talk about Cancer, I'm boring myself now!!

This afternoon I actually sat down and did nothing for 45 minutes, it was a struggle, but I needed to re-charge my batteries. Bex took Jess around the block for a walk so I could go to a new yoga class at Macmillan. It was very good, quite light and easy with lots of breathing exercises (just what I was told I needed this morning strangely enough).

Quick family update...

Most time I've spent with husband today is listening to his voice on an hours radio interview at lunchtime.

Tom is sitting on sofa on his laptop, as I am on mine, we're exchanging the odd word or two.

I heard Jack running today across the yard today so assuming his ankle is better (Dan said its still swollen) 

Jack and Bex are out at Young Farmers concert rehearsal, (don't forget to book your tickets!) 

Dan is off to hospital again tomorrow morning, his neck is still enlarged and a bit sore, and he wants it checked out. 

Jessie is fine.

Billy is ok too....

Wednesday 25th February

Felt like staying in bed this morning... lasted all of 30 minutes, enough time to gain a few sympathy votes and get me out of early dog toileting......RESULT!

Decided not to go to racquetball this morning, but just took Jess through the woods and along cliff path, she didn't mind the mud, still pleased she doesn't have to go on the lead!

Back home and catching up with a flurry of family 'Whatsapp' I found out that Jack was on his way to A & E with a suspected broken ankle. Not work related, boys five-a-side football!!

Over two hours later and x-rayed, it seems to be badly sprained but so much swelling its hard to tell. He spent the afternoon lying down with an ice-pack on it, and would have been eating grapes had I bought some.

Dan the Durrell man has been hard at work all day digging up stuff and moving stuff and just generally doing stuff.

Bex is in her last week with her project team at Bedells but has got another month working with a different team in another area of the company, which is good news.

After being good all day and not participating in any sport over the last few days I had to play tennis late this afternoon,  it was necessary for my mental health, as much as for my physical well being.

Consequently no choir/badminton this evening, I can't sing at the best of times, so with a blocked nose and croaky throat it would be impossible, and thought I wouldn't push it and go to badminton either.

Jess and I had lovely presents given today, tulips for me and gravy bones/brush for her...Thanks Squirrels!

Showing off her shaved tummy and scars this evening....

Love this advert re Jersey heritage....

Early night for me, still busy trying to grow more blood cells....

Tuesday....

Jill had another blood test today....and as usual, there's good and bad. Good as in platelets are up again...bad as in white cells are down to the "neutropenic" level. I'm now being told not to talk about blood as it isn't my "subject".....and Jill wants to tell you herself.....so I'll change the subject.

I've had a pretty big day....not that anyone wants to know....but I've been informed that I have to put it down anyway....so here we go.       07:45 live interview at Radio Jersey    09:30 States sitting  12:00 started the first of 4 propositions that had to bring to the Assembly    12:40 interview for BBC TV in the Royal Square    12:50 gave a presentation to States Members over lunch    14:15 States sitting  17.00 gave a speech and answered questions about the "Future St Helier" project   18:10 go home.

So that's my day.... this evening we have just finished supper...Jack and Bex out at a Young Farmers Concert rehearsal (make sure to get your tickets...they usually sell very quickly)....Dan in Town watching the football somewhere...Jill on sofa catching up on her day (nice to see her relaxing) ...and Tom and I at the dinner table discussing "stuff".....like the fact that the new shoes he has just bought are 1 European size too small (why buy them then?)....is he trying to blame the Europeans? ...he has a wedding in Cumbria this week end (hence shoes)....that sounds warm and snug (not)....but hey ho....he'll have a good time I'm sure. Jill and Tom now discussing price of said shoes...."and have you got a suit?".... I'm sure it's all under control.

I'm off away this weekend as well. I've been asked to go with a very old friend to London to watch a football game.....would be rude to refuse... happens to be at Wembley....happens to be a final.....happens to be "my team" (Chelsea obviously)....should be good....haven't seen them play "live" for a few years.

Jilly and I have also booked the boat for a trip to France at the end of September....only a week....wouldn't want to spoil her....Dordogne....and I've decided that we'll "borrow" Tom's new car....well, it's on my insurance policy so that must entitle me to drive it sometime. Anyway, that's a way off yet...and the whole summer to get through.

Tom now walking up and down the kitchen...new shoes on....complaining about the "newness"...looks like he needs to wear them to work for couple of days...

Dog went to vet to have stitches out this morning....she's fine....but I suspect that might be another subject for Jill to tell you about....maybe I'll stop now and hand over....here she is...

I'm writing in blue, cos that's how i feel... actually feeling a bit sorry for myself. I have got a cold (but so far not too bad). I was however very pleased with Jessie at the vets, she was a model patient, I wasn't so pleased to receive the bill though! We did have a lovely walk along the golf course/beach afterwards, which she loved.

Went off to the hospital to be told that although platelets had gone up to 111, my neutrophils had dropped right down to .75 (very low) and my red cells dipped to 9.4. Think the nurse would have liked to transfuse me, but Dr H and I said 'No"! He also feels that he would like to see if my body can 'lift' up the cell count before diving in with the chemical GC-SF injection.

Had netball at school with the girls at 3pm, they are so keen to play and work really hard in the matches, but sadly we lost to Janvrin. Popped in to see my friend whose birthday was today and had a quick chat. Fortunately Dan had taken Jess in the meadow and down Le Saie for a run so I didn't have to do that this afternoon.


So, I'm back at the hospital Monday at 1pm for another blood test, gives me a little time to get rid of this cold and give my bone marrow a severe talking to......

Sunday 22nd February

It's always difficult to start writing a post, I nearly always feel there should be some sort of 'theme' to the days activities, although trying to make any sense of the comings and goings of the Luce family is difficult at the best of times!

I've been trying to take it a bit easier these last few days (!) and giving my body the chance to grow some good blood cells, blood test due on Tuesday with Chemo booked in Thursday. They really must groan in the Pharmacy department...
Found this information whilst looking at Chemo....

Why does making a dose of chemotherapy take longer than making a milkshake?

First, a mistake in making a milkshake is not harmful. But your chemotherapy is not a milkshake.
In making a milkshake, using vanilla ice cream instead of chocolate ice cream might not be what you want, but it will not harm you. With chemotherapy, there is no room for error. The pharmacist must be 100% correct, and accuracy takes time.

Second, your milkshake must be clean, but it does not have to be germ-free. But your chemotherapy is not a milkshake.
Your chemotherapy must be germ free. It must be prepared in the biological safety cabinet using sterile supplies and using a special technique to keep it sterile.

Third, if milkshake ingredients spill on the clerk, it is messy and uncomfortable, but not harmful. But your chemotherapy is not a milkshake. 
Most experts believe that it is unhealthy for health care personnel to be in regular contact with even small amounts of chemotherapy. The same chemotherapy that may prolong or save your life can harm someone without cancer.

What is that all about! Milkshake?

 I don't even like milkshake!!

We are a very caring family, that like to share things..... especially colds and sore throats. Jack has been stricken this week with a nasty cold virus and so far Daniel and i seem to be suffering from sore throats...I'm trying to ignore mine in the vain hope it will just disappear, but not working so far. Thought I might try some Echinacea tablets, until I read the back of the packet. There is a whole raft of DO NOT TAKE, one of them being 'If you have a problem with your white blood cells", (do I qualify do you think??) and another "if you are having any treatment for Cancer" (I'm trying to!!!)

Anyway, a few photos to tide you over until tomorrow night!

High tide at Flicquet

Me stuffing Moules at lunchtime today.. and oysters this evening!

Thursday 19th February

My big brothers birthday today.......(How old???)

As you can tell, he is much older than me....and even older than my little brother...and I'm so glad I have lost most of the 'post op, lymph fluid belly!'

You'll be pleased to know that my 'fitbit; tells me I have completed 736 miles ( give or take a few) the length of Italy apparently. I don't know exactly when I started, but there you go.

Dan took Jessie to the vet today for her post surgery check up. She was quite happy to bounce up to the door and sit in the waiting room, but when the time came to enter the consulting room.... By all accounts she looked like a 'comedy' dog with splayed legs and body trembling!!

Actually the enforced lead walks have been reasonably successful ( just as well as they have to continue until next Tuesday!). She has all the anticipation and excitement of a small child being told they are going to the park and there maybe the possibility of an ice-cream, to find out that really they are off to the dentist and need a filling......imagine a 'face' and Jess is wearing it!!

We went out west yesterday, met up with the Three Musketeers from St Ouen, and had a lovely walk around the lanes.

 Very Cheeky...

Played three good sets of tennis in the lovely sunshine yesterday morning, and then was presented with three enormous boxes of food! Homemade fish cakes, medley of vegetables to roast and choc cake. The luce clan were very appreciative of our supper last night-thanks AH!!

Didnt get to write the blog last night as played badminton in the evening (had some good games too) and not back home until 10 pm. The night sky was so clear, and the stars were amazing.

The first of the Lent Lunches starts tomorrow at St Martins Public Hall 12-2 pm and I said I'm happy to waitress for the next few Fridays, so please come along and have soup thrown down your front....

Tuesday 17th February

A brief update this evening concerning dog and owner....

Jessie is doing well in the physically healing side of things, vets appointment booked for Thursday, but certainly very sad on her 'confined' walks. She does keep asking what she's done wrong to be constantly leashed- 'leashed'? (It's like 50 Shades of Grey.... and yes I have read the book although that was a struggle as it was BORING , and No I'm not going to see the film!)

Jessie has five stitches and a deep scratch, neither seem to be bothering her though....
I put a coat on her, as she gets cold just mooching along the lanes.
Looking out to flicquet and the beach this morning..

 Stitches 

A totally different tact now, i went out yesterday with "ladies who lunch", and very nice it was too!!

I don't think I need to tell you as you've probably guessed already, "bloods behaving badly" although as the smiley nurse said, with sarcastic humour "well, your platelets have gone up by 6!'

New plan hatched... another blood test next Tuesday booked for Chemo Thursday.. I've lost track of when I last had Chemo, must have been at least 5 weeks ago!!

So, as my mate Winston Churchill always said KBO....

Let your trouble be,
Light will follow dark:
Though the heaven falls,
You may hear the lark.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Monday...

P&E here...writing in the knowledge that there hasn't been a blog for 48 hours....all due to injured dog....but all better(ish) now....more later.

Yesterday was dominated by great weather, and discussions on how best to win at "who wants to be a millionaire". For some inexplicable reason there was a rerun of an old wwtbam programme on TV, and as the questions and answers progressed a heated debate started between Tom and Jack about how best to play when it came to 50/50, phone a friend, or ask the audience. Jack wanted to go with "gut feeling", but Tom started telling us all how to use the odds to be successful....."equity in the game" was Thomas' take, go for 50/50 and then guess...apparently by far the best chance. Not that I could see it.....take the money would always be my answer.

The good weather yesterday meant much walking.....Grouville beach with the dog in the morning for Jill and I, and then she went to her aerobic class and then tennis, while I did some paperwork and popped down to Holmchase. We were both back at 3ish, and another walk beckoned with the family H's...we decided on a nice circuit around the Parish, and set off. The dog was so unimpressed that at first she refused to leave the farm, mainly because we were going up the road, and not over the fields. Eventually we took her, but not on the lead as it appeared that she wasn't going anywhere that involved leads. To be fair, she is now pretty good on the road, and is used to being told to "WAIT" every time a car appears. Our route was welled mixed up with Green Lanes as well as main roads, and at every opportunity she was off in the fields, chasing her beloved pheasants...and boy did she find some. At one stage she discovered a complete family of Mummy, Daddy and about 10 little ones....all going in different directions. Anyway, after half an hour or so we ran out of fields, put her on the lead for a short walk to the woods, and then proceeded home via the woodland path. Jessie seemed a little subdued in the woods, but we just put it down to chasing too many pheasants. On our return home she had another shortish walk with Jack, but didn't want to go much further than the bottom of our meadow...when she got back she perked up a bit and went off with Tom and the mower...but after coming back in she once again seemed out of sorts. There was much discussion about why she was off colour.....but when, at about 7 o'clock, she rolled over on to her back in the kitchen, all became apparent......she had a quite a large gash in her chest. It was obviously still an open wound, the size of a plum in 2 dimension, a soup spoon, (we're trying to think of something of a comparable size), I'm sure you'll get the picture. A call to the vet followed, emergency of course, and then before long she was off in the car with Jill and Bex. I'll leave a gap here in case Jill wants to add some words on her return from tonight's netball game....

My poor dog, she really is hardcore, it's quite an impressive scar, in fact.... we really do match 'belly scars' now, or is that too much information?!! The vet said as it was a clean triangular flap of skin it probably was barbed wire, but Jessie didn't yelp or give any indication she was injured. The vet was lovely and within 15 minutes of my call we were both at the practice. She said she needed heavy sedation and lots of flushing to clean it up. Antibiotics and anti inflammatories and £375 please!!!  Good job we have pet insurance I say... back on Wednesday for check up and again next week. 


Morning walk, digging at the beach....

Home, drugged with spotty hot water bottle and 'collar of shame'.....

Jessie returned at about half past ten (Tom and Bex went down to bring her home) but she was obviously still as high as a kite. There was discussion about whether we needed to put on the "collar of shame" (you know, the one that stops them licking themselves)....the vet had said that the last thing we needed was for Jessie to lick out the sutures....so we left her with the collar on, not wanting to have to return to the vet early in the morning. Jill went down at 02:00 to check on her (not that I knew anything about it) and met Daniel, who had also decided to get up to see how Jessie was. She was still very slow this morning.... but on my return this evening was very much back to normal, with the standard waggy tail on my return through the door. So, that was Sunday afternoon/evening gone....and hence no blog. On reflection, we all decided that we probably knew when she did it....as she jumped out of the last field, just before the woods, she had bounded over a barbed wire fence and i remember thinking that she had got quite close to it. Obviously she had got closer than any of us knew...but she hadn't yelped or whined after doing it....maybe it was all the excitement, and she hadn't realised....anyway, all better now....and she seems very much on the road to recovery.....and "on the road" is where she'll be for a few days....vet says "short lead walks for a few days", so that'll go down well with the dog (not)....I can see her being very grumpy about that.

Other news includes Dan's poor knowledge base on Saturday evening...he took a young lady out for a Valentine's meal at St. Aubin. He wondered why the restaurant he was in had filled up quickly at 07:45....it turns out that there had been a fireworks display from the beach at 7:30...and everyone except Dan had known about it. He was a little disappointed that he hadn't known, otherwise he could have pretended that it was of his own organisation. Now that would have been impressive!!

Some other "good and bad" news ...... the (very) bad news is that someone has found a Thornton's White chocolate snowman (complete with white chocolate snow dog)...the good news is that it hasn't been put in the fridge yet, and I can't bring myself to open it....well, not yet anyway. I may have to be unable to resist the temptation later....

Jill has her next blood test tomorrow....I may see if I can get to be there at the same time....but we'll have to see what happens. I feel that we're almost at the point where they'll start thinking about transfusions or something....injections perhaps....I just know that they'll be getting keen to have her in a position for chemo quite soon. Each session just seems to take twice as long as it should...six weeks between cycles instead of three. Let's hope we can make some progress this week....if you can call having chemo "progress".


Netball was FAB this evening, just putting my kit on and driving out to a match was exciting! ( sad admittedly ) played the whole game and felt good about the match, a trifle sorry for the other team who could only field 5 players, but who played a wicked game despite their shortage of players. 

Lastly once again supper was provided for the family this evening by LT, double helpings from the boys and our eternal thanks!

  

Valentines day!!!

I had a good day yesterday, and met up with a friend and her dog for a walk around Crabbe. Her dog likes to roll ( mostly in water or muddy puddles) and we thought we had every angle covered, ready to grab him before he immersed himself. He however outwitted us and decided to sneak off into the field that had just recently had slurry spread on it. Here are the pictures , you have to imagine the smell.

I also saw these lovely sheep and thought of my little brother....

Anyway, back to business, I went to hospital yesterday, and fortunately didn't have long to  wait before the nurse called me for the blood test. 

Results were slightly improved from Monday (platelets up to 90) but neutrophils dropped a bit, either way still not good enough for chemo. They said for me to come back Monday but I said 'No"! Told them it wont pick up in two days, and I'll see them Tuesday lunchtime (after yoga and before tennis...) Stop tutting, I AM resting in-between!! 

Teeth story.. 

I have a friend (who shall remain nameless) who used to play hockey (dangerous game)!! During one particular match playing against a strong Isle of Wight team my friend went in for a tackle and the ball flew up with such force it knocked both her front teeth out. (This was before mouthguards came the norm).The pain must have been awful, and obviously she needed to get to a dentist as soon as possible to see what could be done for her. The dentist did manage to patch her up although her mouth was still very swollen. She had tried repeatedly to make contact with her husband but to no avail.

Upon arriving home she went into the house and although she knew he was in because the car was there, she couldn't find him. Searching the house she finally found him in the bathroom, having a hot bath. Entering the bathroom, she said (you'll have to imagine her talking incoherently with no teeth and swollen mouth) "Ive guf sum bad newvs" and proceeded to walk towards the mirror to take a look at herself. To which her husband who was probably half asleep, and fearing someone had died, jumped up and out of the bath. 

She turned around just in time to see him staggering around as he had become lightheaded and dizzy after getting up so quickly. Realising that he wasn't actually messing about she attempted to 'catch' him. In doing so (he is quite a bit bigger and heavier than her) she swung him from side to side, cracking his head upon the bath and then the toilet.

It's fair to say that if the ambulance had had to be called they would have been met with a very sorry sight.

Today has been busy but good fun, actually i didn't enjoy the wet dog walk much this morning, but the day got better after that! Steve and I went off to the village tea rooms and had our 'romantic' Valentine breakfast- got away with just the two of us, despite all the children milling around the house! Bex and I  drove to dog agility but because of all the rain the field had become waterlogged and so they had cancelled it. 

Had badminton this afternoon, they were training folk for umpires and so needed players, good practice and I enjoyed it. ( They all passed too!) Met up with friends for tennis late afternoon and managed to play until 5:45, so pleased daylight lengthening.

This evening? A quiet night in!!

Thursday 12th February

I'm brain dead tonight, ( Ok, I know I am most of the time) .

I do have a rather funny story to tell about teeth but I am saving that for tomorrow... I't will give me something to do when I'm waiting for blood test/results .

Wednesday 11th .....

Arrived home at 9:45 this evening to general in-house apathy. Two sofas have house residents crashed out, the eldest and youngest. Tom back from the UK, and despite having five days 'holiday' looks like he could do with a few days 'rest'.

Jack has the start of yet another cold (there is a lot of it about), and has wisely gone to bed early as has Dan, who bless him, came home this afternoon and helped me out.

I got in the mini today and instead of the engine bursting into life, it just went 'click'... Oh dear, second car I seem to have broken. Dan took the battery out, went to garage bought a new one and then came back and fitted it. (guess its good practice for his Mongol Rally that he keeps harping on about!!) Anyway, fortunately Bex had a lift in with Steve this morning so I 'borrowed' her car for the day.

Perfect weather today lovely and sunny, thought I'd cut the grass this afternoon, not entirely sure the lawn mower is working very well ( I don't think I've broken it!)

A few pictures....

 Views from Le saie..

 Our lovely Jersey cows

Cut grass and Billy!

Tuesday 10th February

Things are bad, no really bad, its taken me three attempts to spell the date correctly, and I'm not talking Tuesday either....

It has been SO cold today, I resorted to wearing two pairs of trousers at the school netball match this afternoon ( we lost, but girls worked really hard and stayed upbeat throughout the match), what more could you ask for?

Dan has very sore wrists.... he has been digging very large holes today at Durrell, and then being told by the (lady) landscape designer, which shrubs to plant in them... I love it!!

Jack has been helping friends do stuff with boats and trucks and is back at 'real' work tomorrow.

The P&E has managed to stay out of the paper, and avoid the radio today, but tells us tonight he is on TV tomorrow!!

Bex has done her 'two job' shifts and tried to stay warm...

Nothing much else to report except I love driving my old mini again, for no other reason than the 'seat warmers'! I have not enquired about my car, but guess I will have to tomorrow as Tom is back, and we will be fighting over vehicles!!

Monday

P&E&TTS here to start off this evening...sat in an armchair watching poppy girl wax lyrical about her ceramic flower. I shouldn't make fun...it's not funny...really quite moving actually...to think that there were 888,246 of these hand made poppies created, and everyone individual and unique. We are thinking about how to display it, and we've decided that one place it IS'NT going is outside...far too valuable. I think I will ask my local metalwork expert to create a simple stand out of stainless steel, and then our poppy can take pride of place around the house.

Plemont Beach Cafe is opening on the 14th....just a little local information there.

Which reminds me....14th...Valentine's.....guess I better start thinking about what to do...it's on Saturday...oh wow...that's very soon. Right. Thinking hat on tomorrow. Maybe we could go for a romantic dog walk on the frozen and windswept beach on Saturday morning? I can't think that Jill would want to go out for a posh meal or anything......and I think there might be some more rugby on as well. Will have to see if I can find a way to be allowed to watch the match without too much upset....more challenges!

Jill went for another blood test late this afternoon. Rubbish again. She can go back for another try on Friday. Not quite sure what the form is if there's no improvement at the end of the week...no doubt she'll tell all when I hand over in a moment.

I've decided to go boating on Thursday. Not on the Duchesses (which I should be doing...she needs a run out sometime) but on the Fisheries vessel. I'm keen to see what work the Department are doing with the whelk trials...and what better a way than to go out to sea for the day. Let's hope for some good weather. It wouldn't do for the Minister to spend all his time at sea with his head over the gunnel....watching for any fish that might come to the surface to say hello.

Right....here's my Saturday Valentine.

Sun shining and best of all no freezing wind... hurrah! Dog walk around Jardin D'Olivet was positively balmy!! Fab game of racquetball with AB, and then coaching netball at St Martin. 

Met SW and SS in town for late lunch and catch up, and then whizzed up to hospital. 

I knew it wasn't particularly good news when I heard DR H exclaim loudly from his office, whilst  I was on my way in to see him!! He said he might have known, given my past history...

HB dropped to 9.4
WBC 2.6 (higher)
Platelets dropped to 72
neutrophils 1.81 (slightly higher)

Dr H does think that as levels of white cells are rising platelets will follow... and I'm due in again on Friday lunchtime for another blood test...

There is some good news though. my CA125 is now 6!!

Our family once again enjoyed a veritable feast tonight, a lovely homemade supper of lamb, ratatouille and couscous, THANK YOU LT!

Sunday 8th February

I'm back! Must tell you how the P&E Minister gave himself a fright on Friday morning. His radio alarm goes off about 6am, and mine about 6:30am. Only on Friday he woke up to the sound of his own voice, very scary! It was a little sound bite from the previous day's interview... AND for those of you who don't live in the Island he has been on the news, in the local paper and on the radio nearly everyday last week.... They cannot be anyone left on this rock who doesn't know who he is by now!

So, whats been happening with the Luce mob this weekend? I took Tom to the airport on Friday night on my way to tennis at Les Ormes. He has gone for a stag weekend in Brighton, followed by a few days in London with the groom-to-be.

Jack has been spending his time between various eating and drinking establishments, ( actually so has Dan), hanging out with friends, and chasing a few ferrets. (Don't ask) I think they have done some more 'tidying' up in the yard too, although we now seem to have the same amount of mess, but just neater piles of it!

I couldn't take any more of my 'broken' car so booked it into the garage on Saturday morning, Steve and i dropped it off and then taking the dog started to walk back home. We managed about an hour but had to 'scab' a lift from Bex,otherwise we would have been late for the all important AGILITY dog training!

At least this week the weather was much better and although cold it was dry. Consequently there were far more 'activities' (what do you call them?) for the dogs to do. I think Jess must have been a flash-in-the-pan last week as she wasn't quite as switched on. She much prefers to be on top of the tunnel rather than in it, and the 'weave' was a real challenge! We have a list of do's and don'ts for homework this week.... i'm mentally exhausted thinking about it.


AA dropped off some very tasty rock cakes on Friday, fair to say there aren't many left....

 Steve and I were out on Saturday with 'one' of his 'Best Men'...TLeS, and his wife.

My Poppy has arrived, in a beautiful presentation box, I am so pleased to have it, and sad i never did get to see the poignant  "Blood swept lands and seas of red" at the Tower.

Today has been quite busy too, lovely walk with P&E and Jess, followed by an hours aerobics and then a couple of sets of tennis. Plus a spent a few hours seeing my good friend SC (UK) another walk and cup of tea at the village tea rooms, all in all a good day. I've just checked my 'fitbit' and it reads 25,582 steps, with 11.69 miles registered. Relatively relaxed then.... ;-)


BIG thank you to CM for providing our family supper tonight, delicious Pork 'n' beans and ....homemade beef pasties... xx

Blood test tomorrow afternoon....Will there be Chemo this week?? Watch this space!!

Friday 6th Feburary

Think it may be a good idea to stop writing a daily blog and maybe update two or three times a week. I can't think that hearing about the trials and tribulations of La Famille Luce can be that exciting to the reader.

Today has been busy for all of us, and as it's now quite late I shall fill you in on more details tomorrow... or maybe Sunday!!!

Thursday 5th February

The 8am dog walk this morning was FREEZING, not that Jessie minded, but I think all the pheasants have definitely left for warmer climes ....

Enjoyed game of racquetball with CM at the Fort, and then she went out west for a 'muscle pump' class and I went onto the Merton for 'stretch and tone' .

Steve flew in the door at 12:30 for our friends dads funeral at 1pm. As far as funerals go it was 'really good', which seems a bit bizarre but it was exactly as he would have wanted it. Just hugely emotional, especially seeing my friends and their children upset.

I needed another good long dog walk this afternoon, and once again met up with SC, this time she was wearing a dead animal on her head... dont worry it wasn't rat like...

Lovely walk from home to Gorey through the woods and green lanes...

 Actually, I'll retract the sentence about 'dead animal'... SC took my ironing, she may not bring it back.......

Jessie and Baxter 

This evening we had the 'Gynae Cancer Support group at the Lido... with a 'colour specialist' to tell us all about how we can make the most of ourselves by wearing the colours that are best suited to each individual. A good idea if you are undergoing any treatment, or finding that post treatment colours you used to wear just don't look good anymore.

Finally Durrell Dan has survived another freezing day outside playing with the Tamarins... ( or pulling out weeds around enclosures more like), but he is back for more of the same tomorrow. 

Jack is at work this evening, and all seems fine with him, and Tom is out negotiating a deal on a car.

P & E has crashed out after another hectic day... I think I heard more from his radio interview at 5pm than I actually have talking to him in person, but good piece in the JEP tonight.

Tuesday plus one....

P&E here again...penning a few lines in case her ladyship is too tired when she gets in. It's been a better day from what I can tell....as usual we passed each other when I got in...Jill off to Rising Voices choir, me to follow once I had eaten. I joined after seven and did my bit for the choral community, although it was mainly what's known in the music trade as "sight reading". That means in reality that I didn't know what I was doing and had to try to read the music as I was singing...not really very good....but the tunes were fairly well known to me, so I guess I got by. It's a while since Jill and I both sang at the same time...I must try harder to get to practices....it's one thing turning up to sing well known songs, but pretty embarrassing turning up and trying to pretend you know songs when you obviously have no idea at all.

I think it sounds like today has been a much better day for Jill. I don't know any details at all, but I sense that things have gone far more smoothly....there's no doubt that yesterday was a challenge, mainly because SportySpice's sporting diary was completely turned upside down by the weather....and anyone who knows Jill well also knows that you don't mess with her sport. Nothing annoys her more than a cancelled fixture.  (Possibly true  but a touch harsh...)

Dan has done his first day at Durrell...and he's still alive....and back tomorrow. He tells us that there's literally loads of people who volunteer on a daily basis....more than visitors today says Dan. It's bit like being back at school really; "what did you do today Dan?" "not a lot really" (wasn't that the standard response from his school days? Anyway, his day was spent clearing and landscaping around the bird enclosures...so that was exciting.

Not much else to report, except that P&E will be extended to P&E+TTS tomorrow night. Both the TTS Minister and his Assistant Minister are away until next Tuesday, and I've asked to stand in. I get all the same responsibility and all that stuff...so if it snows tomorrow night I can instruct the gritters to make sure they do all of St. Martin first....haha...as the song says, Take That Grouville! Seriously though, I could do without any major weather issues over the week end....I've enough issues at P&E to worry about without having to make any difficult decisions about roads, drains, buses, taxis or toilets!  I'll call a halt here and wait for she that must be obeyed to return. (That is true)

Not writing anymore, except had much better day...

Me togged on on Grouville beach dog walk yesterday...latest fashion statement!

Same beach... but found a friend today... it was still freezing...plus we are definitely turning into our mothers!!

Terrible Tuesday

Little Miss Organised me, I like to have 'plans' and know what I'm doing and when, so when the weather messes up all my carefully laid arrangements, you know I'm not going to be happy.

I took Jess for an early morning walk, but when I got back at 8:45 and heard the news on the raido of traffic at a standstill, with accidents and black ice, I realised that it was pointless setting off for my 9:20 am hospital appointment, which in turn would have a knock on effect for my yoga class.

Still it can't be helped, so I did a few house jobs, rang the hospital and then set off at 10 ish.  Nobody's fault but I waited for an hour before my three minute blood test, as this was now 11:40 I said I wouldn't wait for results, and forget clinic appointment! They said they'd ring with results, fair enough.

Picked Bex up as she finishes her morning job at 12, ( bless her, she'd nipped out and bought me a 'tapas box' from Love Bites cafe, as she knows I like it!) we had an early lunch and as sun was shining and  I felt I needed a long walk on the beach off I went ; but with sleet, hail, and a biting wind as the sun had disappeared by the time I arrived.

Just thought I would add, that whilst eating lunch I glanced out of the window and climbing up on the bird table and sticking his head in the bird feeders was an ENORMOUS rat and i do mean ENORMOUS. Dan took a photo through the window before leaping into action. Wasting no time and foregoing his shoes he raced outside calling for his trusty 'rat killing hound' ( or he hoped Jessie was up to the mark). Man and dog sped up to the bird table as blood curdling cries of "Get it Jessie" and "kill the rat" were to be heard by Bex and I watching the spectacle unfold in front of us. For a moment I thought all was lost as Jess was looking down not up, that was until the rat scared by the ensuing communication nearly fell on the dogs head. 
The rat quickly used the split second to race away, but Jess came into her own and grabbed it. However when it squealed she promptly dropped it, and once again the rat tried to make its escape, but foolishly into a corner. Dan "The Rat Catcher" was ready and armed..... lets just say the end was bloodied and brief....
Dan's socks? Straight into the washing machine, Jess had a biscuit, Bex didn't feel like eating any more lunch ...


Back home I tried to find out why the back seat and boot of my car is 'wet', I mean really wet, suggestions have been water coming up from underneath the car as opposed to in through the seals. This appears to be the case, but as yet no solutions offered.

I re-potted a few plants, and had an early tea as I had been asked to play netball up at Les Ormes at at 6:45 Something I have really been looking forward to all day! Thought as it was nearly 5pm, I'd better ring the hospital. After a lengthy call and various people conferring, my blood test is as follows.
Red cells 10.00
White cells 2.2
Platelets 95
neutrophils 1.29
This means I wont be able to have Chemo tomorrow, and now have another blood test due Monday afternoon. I dont need to tell you that emotionally it's RUBBISH ( I have stronger words but I'm not using them here (look what happened to Kim Sears).


Anyway, I set off along the north coast on the way to netball, and it started snowing, REALLY snowing, all of the parishes along the top of the Island were affected. I  had to drive very slowly and carefully ( as was everyone).
Remember that half of the car was wet? Well, there is also a problem with the heater.....it doesn't heat!! I have to have it full blast to even be remotely successful, so it just blows out very cold air.

By the time I arrived my teeth were chattering I was SO cold! I was glad to be able to do the  warm up, and then.... we were cancelled. I'm not surprised, probably a good decision as matches were due after us as well, and conditions would have been far worse.

Needless to say I drove back through town and it wasn't as bad, but i still needed a warm shower when I got home.

I will leave you with this: Dan starts at Durrell tomorrow morning 8am. They are hoping to move the flamingos out of their enclosure, so that means that for most of the day he will be digging in knee deep flamingo poo, rather him than me....

skischool Monday

It's snowing apparently....Bex is VERY excited....but I thought I had instructed the Met Office that we were not to have snow....I will have to call them in the morning and see what went wrong. There is now a heated (!!) discussion about the difference between sleet and snow....I think it's sleet...so does Dan....Jack just doesn't care....Thomas has gone out, and announced that he's taking my Range Rover...in case the snow gets worse. I don't mind, but I told him to make sure he gets home....I need the car for town tomorrow....States....mustn't be late.

Dan announced this evening that he is starting work at the Zoo tomorrow.....WHAT?...where did that come from?....first I've heard of it. Apparently he hasn't got time to have another holiday between now and the end of March (what sort of holiday did he want for goodness sake?) so he's going to do a months voluntary work at Durrell. There's has been some heated discussion about the voluntary work that he could be doing around the house before going elsewhere!! ....

...and now we're into another conversation about the "free" part of "free work". Thomas is frankly outraged....charity begins at home apparently... Jack is a noninterested bystander again. Thomas has now decided that, when he makes his £100m (he's always claimed that one day he will make £100m) he will become a philanthropist.... and spend his whole life doing philanthropic things.....so that's fine...just as long as he can afford a decent old people's home for me to reside in while he's saving the world.

Jill out doing sport again this evening...she's had a good day, or so she told me as we passed each other this evening. She was at St. Martin's School at lunchtime teaching netball....and again it sounds like it went really well. No doubt she'll post a quick update on her return.

My last paragraph this evening is just to say that I have my first "questions without notice" tomorrow in the Assembly. The clue is in the title....15 minutes of questions from backbenchers...and no idea what they are going to ask. I'm reasonably welled prepped up...just a few more notes to read tomorrow morning....and a very short sitting I think....with luck we'll be done by lunchtime.

Right, I'm going to sign off now....and await the return of the sporty one....just hope she doesn't get snowed in where ever she is (we all know what Jersey's like....3 flakes of snow and the Island stops...2 flakes and we close the schools).....I'm switching the phone off in case she calls....far too cold to go out rescuing people tonight!  Stay safe people....and to think that I was mowing lawns yesterday.

I've had a good day today, met up with SW in town where we 'multi-tasked ' with chatting and shopping. Dan took Jessie through the woods to Lifeboat station where he had to do 'stuff'. I got back in just in time to change into a tracksuit, and head off to St Martin's school for netball- I love those girls, they are so keen and a joy to coach. Thanks must go to JP for keeping the club going and sorting out their league matches. 
Drove to a friends house and then we set off on a long walk to Ransoms, through woods and lanes, probably took us about an hour and a half. (There and back) I had to buy cat biscuits as we had run out, seemed a little unfair on the dog, but she enjoyed the walk and sniffing all the bags of food in the shop, at one point I had to pull her off the juicy bones section that she tried to snaffle on the way past!

Another change of clothes, and a quick bite to eat before badminton....not only did i ask MC to re-string my broken racquet but I ended up playing with him in the mixed. ( he is not only the badminton development officer, but also he was a former British singles champion and ranks currently 21 in the mens singles in the world)..... it's fair to say he did most of the work and won most of the points in our three matches, but i REALLY enjoyed it! I then played a ladies doubles with ST but we were up against the keen youngsters who basically played better than we did!! 

Special thanks must go to LT, because without her contribution of a delicious beef bourguignon home-made for supper tonight my family would be starving!

Blood test tomorrow morning..... 

Sunday 1st February

Quietly pleased today, I've had the familiar tightening in my chest when  I get puffed, walking up hills or getting out of breath in aerobics class. It started in the middle of the week and I recognise the symptoms of my bone marrow getting a hammering. Finally this month the chemo is starting to catch up with me...or so I thought, but today I have been fine and that's with a dog walk, aerobics and gardening activity. Maybe it's not so bad after all, anyway I won't know until Tuesday morning when I have my blood test, its been sheer bliss not having to have an injection for last two and half weeks!

Sad day on the sporting front for Andy Murray losing in the Australian Open, and for Team Jets losing their match at Les Ormes. I didn't get to see the Jets play today as match started at 12, and just couldn't make it...

We did some gardening duties instead this afternoon, Steve mowed the two small lawns, (which seems crazy on February 1st, but necessary!) and then dug over one of the large raised beds so I could plant sets of onions...I'm sure it was the time to plant onions, but then i read on the packet, "spring" planting, so I could have made a 'rookie' error there. Oh, well the daffodils are flowering must be nearly spring...ish soon!!!

I've rediscovered my 'fitbit', and fully charged have been wearing it over the last few days, its amazing that I've 'walked' 9.22 miles yesterday, and 8.81 miles today.......If it snows and I can't/don't want to drive I may be walking many more miles this week.....