Monday 30th March

Fourteen more days and sister and bro-in-law are over for a holiday(?) Getting excited, and now I have my eldest niece and her partner visiting on Friday for the Easter weekend!

I've had some feedback from my Lent lunch suggestions, and unlike the feedback  P&E gets  its been on the whole, quite positive...particularly like the idea of having it at Chapel!!!

Whilst on the subject of food, thanks again to LT and family who cooked us a delicious supper this evening. ( I don't know how she does it, it's not like she doesn't have loads of stuff to do in her day!)

We were a 'man down' this evening, Dan has not been well since Saturday night, some serious tummy issues is all we are saying, think you can work out the rest. He keeps thinking he feels a bit better but then is not..... it has to be bad for Dan not to eat! In fact his sister feels so sorry for the shivering crumpled, curly haired heap on the sofa that she has gone to the shop to buy supplies of medicine etc.

Just for a change I thought I'd pop by the hospital for a blood test, funnily enough the results were similar to last weeks, now there's a surprise!
HB 9.1 ( gone down....bad)
White cells 2.8 (gone up....good)
Platelets 65 (gone down...bad)
Neutrophils 1.94 (gone up...good)

Appointment made for next Tuesday....


KBO

Friday 27th March

I'm better now... just took me a few days to get over the disappointment of not being able to have Chemo when I really, really thought that i might. I should have known better, it's not like it's the first time!

Jack said I should 'chill' more and go with the flow... he's right of course. I so want to get to the 'finish' and move on, but I might find the 'move on' involves more treatment.... so lets make the best of here and now.

The article and subsequent news story about that Scottish lady Giil Fyffe who wrote the book Life Blood which is about when she became contaminated by a blood transfusion in 1988, and charts her life since, made me shut up about my 'cancer'.. I've really got absolutely nothing to moan about.

I've enjoyed racquetball, pilates and two yoga classes this week, I have been able to swim outside at the Merton hotel as the pool is now open, and I have had a couple of hours of tennis this evening.

Today I have been 'helping'(?) at lent lunch, actually I have been mostly getting in the way and telling people what to do, most of the folks have been running Lent Lunches for years so heaven knows what right i have to put my two penneth worth in.......(Oldish English saying). 

When someone gives you his thoughts and views or opinion on what you should do about a situation or dilemma. It suggests that the opinion may not be worth much, but might nevertheless help you in your decision making.

Well that's my two-penneth - take it or leave it!

So, as I can't help it I'm going to offer up some suggestions, they have no doubt been thought of before, but...

The thing is I have worked in schools as a Nursery Nurse for many years and there have been some amazing teachers that I have been fortunate enough to learn from, and that's the beauty of moving around different classes. You pick up some really great ideas and tips that you can use yourself and/or pass on. 

Having tried to 'help' out at the lunches these past six Fridays has been great, and all the volunteers , from the soup makers to the 'washer-uppers' enjoy a good camaraderie. No way do I want to upset people, but just a few observations/queries that i thought i may share. 

• Why don't you use the hatch? That would free up the kitchen for the cooks etc. Easier for people washing up?
• Limit choices to four soups (Put a list on the tables!)
• Invest in little Belling two ring, that stove is temperamental, easier to serve with only one person doing two soups each.
• Fix the dishwasher, there's never enough hot water!!
• Use large flasks for hot water, serve coffee/tea through the hatch
• Put the longer table for 'St Martin's school" closer to the front or along the side as they are the ones that need to 'eat and go' but invariably the 'waitresses' get side tracked before they reach the end table ( or is that just me!!!)
• Designate a person to bread baskets/ water jug duty!!

It's not easy to judge how much soup, bread, butter and cheese is needed but everyone seems to have got it about right!

If you have any further thoughts or suggestions you'd like to share with me or just to tell me to 'get lost' and mind my own business. I can be contacted on Twitter  #jillisbossy and also by email Jillyknowsnothing@hotmail.com.

I really don't know why I felt i had to share the above with our readers but there you are, I'm as mad a  box of frogs..... or a damp springer spaniel?

 Pops and Aunty enjoying Tea at Tiffins before watching the The second most exotic marigold hotel at the cinema... a good time had by all!!

Tuesday....24th?

well, it's P&E here this evening...blogging for the first time in three weeks. Not the greatest three weeks, but we move on positively....there's lots to be thankful for...and reflecting on good times is always a way of staying on top of things. There will always be someone worse off ... we need to be grateful for what we have.

Today has been a toughie from a political perspective...it started off well enough with a tour of the La Collette reclamation site...the sun was out...it wasn't raining...and we stood on top of an enormous mound of rubble and viewed the site. All good. That was at 8...and I was in the States by 9:15...we started fine, but a (genuine) fire alarm sent us back out into the Royal Square late morning. It soon became apparent that we wouldn't be using the States Building again today...and after some great work by the technicians...we restarted our sitting in the Assembly Rooms at the Town Hall after lunch. Our subject for debate today was the continued funding of the Jersey Child Abuse Inquiry.... a genuine heavyweight subject that saw us all really struggling with what to do. I won't go on at length, other than to say that we all want to do what's best...but agreeing what that is isn't easy. We ended the day without finishing the debate.....but at least we're back in the Big House tomorrow, and will hopefully be done by lunchtime......I have meetings booked for tomorrow afternoon.

Right...enough politics....family issues now. Jill has had a good day...dog walking to le Saie....went to yoga...friends back from travels that needed chatting to.....(gift of paprika from Budapest??)..vets for dog biscuits....came back from town with Bex....school for the last netball session/match of the season (didn't go well due to girls away with sickness...) cut lawn and pulled weeds...cooked supper. So......she isn't feeling too bad then....and a supermarket shop visit in there as well somewhere.

Bex had some sad (but not totally unexpected) news from work....they don't require her services after this week. It will be six months that she's worked in town after this week...and that means she would be treated as a full time employee....we all suspected that her continued employment was unlikely...such is the frailty of finance sector workers at the moment. She still has two other part time jobs....and can concentrate on those now. Every cloud has a silver lining....let's hope that very soon she's busy fitting all her part time work in.

Jack was at work today....and of course was one of the firemen in the big red fire engine that came to "check out" the States Building when the fire alarm went off. Much amusement among States Members when Jack and I started having conversations in the middle of the Royal Square...mainly because I was telling him to get a move on and check out the building.....we were all freezing stood outside without our coats etc.

Tom had a normal day.....not change there then.....still doing his best to stay just the right side of dismissal...and came home this evening talking about doing a proper brake test in his car. I presume that our reader knows that Tom recently purchased a very high powered BMW? It goes from 40mph to stop in less than the length of our kitchen....WHY does he feel the need to test the brakes. The mind boggles!

Dan isn't going to the UK to get his boat tomorrow... he's disappointed...but it'll be good when they have their new superfast Seafaris boat....probably next week now.

So, that's it from Luceworld today.....I'm exhausted...and, as Zebedee used to say..."time for bed".  

Monday 23rd March

Bloods were not good enough for Chemo this week...... another test next Monday. Felt really well until I was told the news, then I felt RUBBISH!!!

Thanks to LT who kindly made supper tonight, much appreciated as we've had a house full this evening ;-)

Sunday 22nd March

Another week just flown by, its true that when you're busy you never seem to have enough time, and when you're poorly time drags...

I have participated in lots of activities this week, and seen a few friends along the way. Racquet ball, tennis and badminton as far as sports go, not had any netball as the season is just coming to the end, and St Lawrence have done really well in their respective divisions. I really hope that I am fit enough for summer training and get to play in September, I miss it.

 I have done quite a lot of gardening and planted out courgettes, broad beans, sweet peas and more onions. I've also put in some beetroot, mange tout and leeks. In the greenhouse we've got tomatoes, cucumber and some peppers. Although we have noticed that about a week ago in the cotil they have removed the plastic, and after they sprayed this afternoon they put some fleece over the spuds tonight. They probably have fore warning of a frost, and despite my ineptitude with potato planting, there is evidence of sprouting shoots!!

I've just seen the Countryfile long range weather forecast and its continuing really cold ( well, for Jersey, not 'up north'!) and Thursday/Friday heavy rain and wind....

Family update..

P&E is crazy busy, alternatively he is crazy and busy, although today he has been doing 'outside' meadow jobs with the boys. We have taken possession of a small trailer that fits on the lawn mower, and so we had a 'boys and their toys' day. Mini digger to dig up tree stumps and gorse/bramble bushes. Mower and trailer to shift earth around and 'build' new mounds,  Oh what fun they had.....

Dan has been out on Seafaris all day, mostly at the Ecrehous with Kite surfers...perfect day as loads of wind and some amazing footage ( you need to be on instagram to see them...sorry can't post any, unless I find a willing IT youth..)

Bex and Jack have been heavily involved in the Young Farmers Concert, and whilst Steve was judging Miss St Martin (four entrants!)at the public hall I went and saw the performance...again. Definitely funnier and ruder second time round! Well done to all those who took part on and off stage.

And so to the business end of the blog....

I am actually still feeling remarkably well, considering I've had five cycles now of toxic poison. In fact the book that I am currently reading wonders about the 'therapy' part of chemotherapy!

Late Fragments: Everything I Want to Tell You (About This Magnificent Life) by Kate Moss.What are the things we live for? What matters most in life when your time is short? This brave, frank and heartbreaking book shows what it means to die before your time; how to take charge of your life and fill it with wonder, hope and joy even in the face of tragedy.  Strangely it's not all sad, neither is it filled with medical jargon. She also wrote wrote a blog called 'The Nuisance", look it up if you're interested.

I have a blood test booked late tomorrow morning, but this time I shall be very intrigued to know the results. I know in the past I nearly always feel fine but the results read differently. However over the last month i have been on a raft of tablets including :- 

Spirulina,

Milk Thistle.

Bio-Quinone,

Omega 7,

plus some 'flower formulas' 

Lotus,

SF5 Breathe

FF5 Deadly Nightshade (!)

SF10 Injury

SV40....

and I would have been on more 'spiritual lock' had I not dropped the small bottle on the floor yesterday which smashed sending lots of tiny white tablets scattering  across the floor!!

I really don't' know what half of the tablets are except lots are food supplements, and they are all parts of different trees. Who knows if they have made any difference but I do feel well, guess we'll find out.

On the same theme

Chemical found in nettles and ants could improve cancer drug- Read it in this weeks Saturday Telegraph, and found this news article.

Chemical found in nettles and ants could improve cancer drug

Last updated: Sunday 22 March 2015 at 12am PST

69Like26

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Ovarian Cancer

Cancer / Oncology

Medical Innovation

Clinical Trials / Drug Trials

add your opinion

email

MNT featuredAcademic journal

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A study has found that the chemical sodium formate could make a metal-based cancer drug 50 times more effective at shutting down cancer cells.

JS07 shuts down cancer cells by disrupting their energy-generating mechanism. The researchers found that it was particularly effective against ovarian cancer cells.

Researchers from the University of Warwick, UK, combined the chemical with a compound of the metal ruthenium called JS07. Alone, the drug exploits the weaknesses of cancer cells and disrupts their energy generation. In combination with sodium formate (E-237), however, the researchers found it was far more effective.

More commonly used as a preservative in items such as fruit juice and preserved vegetables, E-237 is derived from formic acid, commonly found in organisms such as stinging nettles and ants. In high concentrations, it can act as a diuretic but no side effects have been identified when E-237 is consumed in normal concentrations.

Stinging nettles themselves have a long history of medicinal use. Medieval Europeans used them to rid the body of excess water and to relieve joint pain. Today, people still use them in treatment for urinary problems,urinary tract infections, aches and pains, hay fever and insect bites.

"By itself, JS07 is capable of shutting down cancer cells but when used in combination with sodium formate this ability is significantly increased," says lead researcher Prof. Peter Sadler. "As a result, lower doses would be required to target cancer cells - reducing both the drug's toxicity and potential side effects."

After developing a method with which to bind E-237 with JS07, the researchers discovered that the potent new form of the drug acts as a catalyst when interacting with cancer cells' energy generation mechanism. By disrupting this mechanism, the drug causes the cells' vital processes to cease, resulting in the cancer cells shutting down.

Combination of drug and chemical is 'both potent and efficient'

"Cancer cells require a complex balance of processes to survive," Prof. Sadler explains. "When this balance is disrupted, the cell is unable to function due to a range of process failures and eventually shuts down. The potent form of JS07 has proven to be very successful when tested on ovarian cancer cells."

This novel form of treatment is efficient as well as potent. Prof. Sadler describes how JS07 molecules can be reused with a fresh supply of E-237 once they have interacted with a cancer cell's energy generation mechanism:

"When the potent form of JS07 interacts with a cell's energy generation mechanism, the sodium formate is used up in the process, but the JS07 itself is still viable to be used again. When it comes into contact with a fresh supply of sodium formate, it can again become potent, making this an efficient potential treatment".

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), it is estimated that around 21,290 women in the US will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women in the US.

Ovarian cancer typically develops in older women, with around half of women diagnosed with the disease aged 63 years or older. The development of a form of treatment with reduced risk of side effects and toxicity could be extremely beneficial to this group, which may be more vulnerable to side effects than younger and healthier patients.

"It is clear that a new generation of drugs is necessary to save more lives and our research points to a highly effective way of defeating cancerous cells," concludes co-researcher Dr. Isolda Romero-Canelón. The team's research is published in Nature Communications.

Previously, Medical News Today reported on a study in which a mouse model of an aggressive form of ovarian cancerhelped researchers identify two genes that appear to trigger, then hasten, the development of the cancer.

Written by James McIntosh

This is certainly something that I think I should follow up (when I read it out to the family, Dan told me to rush out and pick some nettles to make tea.... it was 9 pm at night....) but i do have a recipe for nettle soup!

Jessie rushing along the path at le saie today!

Tennis with three 'small' friends......

Monday 16th March

I hope everyone enjoyed their "Mothering Sunday", it was good to have the family around for lunch.

I've had a lovely few days with AB, and I was sad to see her go this morning, I do enjoy being rude to her.....

Good news is my sister and brother-in-law arrive four weeks today! Panic stations, the compost bins are looking decidedly neglected, and heaven knows what she'll make of my vegetable patch! I shall just to make sure she is extra busy doing other 'jobs' she wont notice!

The 'Vets' badminton team went over to Guernsey at the weekend to play in the interinsular, the score did not reflect the close matches, but sadly they get to keep the trophy. Still, seems as if most people enjoyed their games.

P&E has had another busy day of back to back meetings, no time for lunch. We tell him that is not good, and phrases like 'poor time management' get bandied about.

Supper tonight was a double chicken pot roast, and it was scrummy, two children commented on how delicious the gravy was ... ( must have been the mustard LT!!)

I shall leave you with this short clip.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQCwHluBqFc

Saturday 14th March

I know readers will forgive me for not writing any posts this week, it has been a physically and mentally draining week with lots to do.

The funeral on Thursday went really, really well. We all believe it was a fitting ceremony and one that Amy would have loved. Special mention to my sister-in-law who I personally thought was amazing, not only in her conducting of the choir ( who were fantastic) but also in her ability to read the eulogy with Stephen.

A few of us outside Longueville Manor waiting for the cars... we were so lucky with the weather.

AB arrived on Wednesday night, and we have been on quite a few dog walks.. one of them being at Les Platon, and I took a 'selfie' of us. AB proudly told me after I had taken the shot "and I had my eyes open!"

Here is the photo I took..

There is no hope....

I had the pleasure of looking after this little munchkin last week too, she was two today!

I'm sure it was the movement of the buggy and my 'singing' that sent her to sleep, not me boring her....

At home and opening presents!

Last night we went to the `Young Farmers Concert, if you get a chance next week, GO! It was very politically incorrect, and poked fun at just about every sex, colour and ability, so actually if you are easily offended DONT GO!!!!

Lastly a very big thank you to everyone who has sent cards/wishes/emails etc I know that Pops has received nearly 200 cards.

Monday 9th March

A difficult day today, I really don't like it when i wake up and realise I have very little energy. I'm a person who likes zooming around at a hundred miles an hour! I guess that's the price i pay for having a busy day yesterday.

Took Jessie for a short walk early on and then went into 'town', (seems like ages since i went shopping in the big city...) I managed about an hour and a half then decidedly wan made my way back home. A quick change and then up to School for Netball training with the girls, collecting Bex from the bus stop on my way home.

I knew that my afternoon was going to be a write off, and I just slept and read for a good couple of hours. Fortunately Dan was around and seeing me asleep took Jessie out with him to do some jobs and visit Pops. Between them they put up a new 'nesting box' complete with video viewing that we'd bought for him last year.

I finally stirred myself to go outside very late afternoon to do something in the vegetable patch. I've been unable to sleep worrying about how badly I've planted my potatoes (Ok, that's a lie!) But they have been concerning me! Anyway luckily P & E arrived home to 'save the day', and joined in in a 'treasure hunt'. Embarrassingly digging up my spuds, (way too deep!) and fitting more into the rows than i had planted previously. How could I possibly have been so inept, and me a supposed 'Farmers wife?'!

The tale of the drunk man.....

Jack was driving Becky's little Nissan Micra into town a few weeks ago, Bex was in the back and Emily their cousin was in the front. They were driving down a one way street that had bollards down the sides and encountered a man obviously drunk and stood in the middle of the road. Jack stopped and waited...the man didn't move. Jack gesticulated that he should move to the side, to be met with much slurring of words "just run me over". Jack said in a reasonably pleasant voice, "look mate, just move out of the way please".The response was "Mate, just run me over"!
Emily was sitting in the front laughing saying, "I should film this," Becky was in the back panicking and shouting"lock the doors, lock the doors"!!!

Jack now getting fed up, repeated his request but without the niceties... as more than a few minutes had passed cars were sounding their horns, and quite a queue had formed behind them.  Once again the man, still swaying and unmoving said 'Run me over!". Jack was by this time sorely tempted to do just that, and tells us if he had been in his landrover it may have been a different story, but he had to be content with nudging forward the little micra....

Finally as the stand off continued he had had enough and unfastening his seat belt got out of the car... the drunken chap looked at him with blurry eyes, taking in all 6ft 7" and drawled "Oh.....you're a big bloke" before staggering off down the street!!!!

It was such a treat tonight to have supper cooked and ready to eat, thank you once again LT and family, our Monday night 'Angels".

Sunday 8th March

An update from the last few days....

It has been a busy week, lots of things to organise and sort out before next Thursday, but both Papa and Angela make a good team and with Steve doing  his bit I think things are all going to plan.

The children have been busy too, they want to show their love of their Grandmother in their own way.

It was another busy Friday Lent Lunch, but everybody seemed to enjoy their soup/cheese/bread, and I was pleased that Papa, AA , Bex, Emily and Steve managed to come too.

The weather was lovely yesterday and I did manage to walk the dog and then take her to agility training, although I wasn't really feeling very agile myself, less frog more sloth... (for those not residing in Jersey we have the endangered Agile Frog).....

Think I was definitely suffering the effects of Chemo poisoning yesterday, but seem much better today, guess it will be the usual 'roller coaster' ride over the next few weeks...

Today has been fine, TH/SH and Steve took Jessie to the beach this morning for a run while I went to Aerobics, and then onto to play tennis with friends. A very enjoyable three sets in perfect weather.

This afternoon Papa has been 'enjoying' our company, listening to Dan regale his last 24 hours, where he has been out at Seymour tower, learning how to be a 'guide'. All seems to have gone well, and there is video footage and photos to prove he had a good time. The sunset last night was amazing.

Steve and I also scooted off to visit our good friends JP and RP, as a special birthday was being celebrated ....lets just say she doesn't LOOK 60!!

And finally, I know how much my big brother likes to see photos of Jessie.....so here she is...all mended and back to being her usual bouncy self.

You have to love her.....

Thursday 5th March

Our lives are certainly enriched by our friends. The support we have had this week has been incredible, beautiful cards/letters and messages of condolences have been arriving on a daily basis.

Mum really did have such an impact on so many peoples lives, as well as being primarily a wife, mum and nanny. Thank you to everyone for their continuing support, and if anyone feels like visiting Papa he has been given enough food/cakes/biscuits to feed a small army!

I'm sure folks have seen the announcement in the paper, the funeral is at 1:30pm on Thursday 12th March at Georgetown Methodist Church. Afterwards the Wake is at Longueville Manor.

Its been a fairly busy week allround fortunately Mum knew what she wanted as regards the funeral arrangements, which makes it easier, and Papa and Angela  and Stephen have been very busy sorting everything out.

I went to the hospital Monday for a blood test, and lo and behold my bloods were good enough to have Chemo, which I did yesterday. All went well and now I'm on steroids for a few days.

 I've planted some potatoes last week, except I don't think I've done it very well, I had to look it up in a book and if that wasn't bad enough I was THEN was told by my husband that they are way too deep, and you don't plant Royals like that!!However he was quite impressed that I had put fleece on them but in the next few days I shall be removing that and quite a large amount of soil!!

Boys on tour...

Camouflaged dog

Lastly the state of Jack's ankle, supposedly healing but still very swollen and painful.

Monday 2nd March

As many of you know our lovely Amy/Mum/Nanny passed away peacefully in her sleep last night.

Thanks to everyone for the kind words of condolences, she was one very special lady.

There will be more details in the local paper, and later on in this blog.

Sunday 1st March

This will be a very difficult blog post to write.

Last night mum-in-law had a very distressing night, she was unwell during the afternoon, and found breathing hard. This morning we called the ambulance and she was taken to hospital.

She is on morphine and oxygen and is  'comfortable', but not aware of her surroundings.

I'm afraid that's all i can write this evening.