Easter Saturday 26th March

Easter has crept up on me this year, I have failed miserably in my Easter decorations, and that's a pity as I have two large boxes in the loft with Easter paraphernalia, eggs, chicks and rabbits etc. None of which have managed to make an appearance in my kitchen.

I blame the puppy of course, for two reasons, one because she takes up an inordinate amount of my time and two she'd probably 'eat' half the displays I did manage to put out.

I was gone for about four hours the other day, and although Dan was home for some of the time, she obviously got bored and when I did arrive home I found my slipper out in the garden with the heel chewed, (she'd already bitten a hole in the toe end, strangely only the right slipper, the left is as yet untouched.)

My girls on Rozel beach, the plastic has been rolled back from the potatoes on the cotils in the background, can't wait for the first Jersey Royals this year! Jess has the look of "this new 'sister' of mine is STILL here ". Beanie meanwhile nearly always looks full of mischief, and has her eyes firmly glued to the treat in my hand!

Did I tell you AA and I had a lovely afternoon tea at Longueville Manor? A gift from Dan for Mothering Sunday, it really was a treat, and they made sure I had lots of 'dairy free' options .


Visited my friend LT this week, it was good to catch up, albeit briefly, and the same goes for J LeM, ( she said she thought the very slightly underdone Banana cake that I had hurriedly made was just how she liked it- bless her).

Played our last Netball match this week, end of the season now, until Summer training begins the middle of May!

Hope to be playing lots of tennis this year, and on 'rainy' days racquetball and badminton, although trying to get a little syndicate of players interested in Padel tennis, I have played it once but need to properly learn the rules!

The outside pool at the Merton has opened this week, so back to swimming when I can, I know lots of folks are sea swimming, but there is no way I can manage that for at least two months!
There is a story of a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) who went to the beach recently for a swim, but when she came out couldn't find the bag that contained her clothes, ( I think it had washed away!)fortunately she had stuffed her pants in her coat pocket, so there was only one thing for it.  Walk home wearing just pants and a  tightly done up (short) coat!!

While we are on the subject of stories.....

I was out shopping in the supermarket the other day and bumped into a 'friend', we exchanged pleasantries and then I wished her a Happy Easter and to enjoy Good Friday, telling her I hope she wasn't planning to do any 'work' because she knew what happened to Mr Ecobichon.

In order to retell the story you need to put on a Jersey accent.

Apparently, and this story has been handed down through the generations, there was a certain Mr Ecobichon, who foolishly decided to work on Good Friday, and sadly for him he was "struck down by the hand of God" and died, because as everyone knows, you do NOT work on that very special day.

Well, I had only just begun the story and my friend was creased with laughter , probably at my poor attempt at a Jersey accent, anyway, I carried on with the story and just as I reached the conclusion , a lady who was passing said " Actually, my mother's maiden name was Ecobichon "!

Now, after this tale was told at home, Tom had looked up Ecobichon in the phone directory, as we told him it was a good Jersey name, he found four listed.

I quickly explained/apologised to the lady, and regaled the story to her, hoping that I wasn't digging myself a bigger hole!!! I also hoped she wasn't going to tell me it was her grandfather who was the aforementioned Mr Ecobichon!!

We had a cold fish supper with the family on Friday...

Bex coped very well with her 24 hour ECG, and the unit was delivered back to the hospital, fortunately she hasn't really had any more incidents, and now we wait for the ultrasound scan in May. Not sure if we go to the doctors for the results or wait, either way she uses her varying 'strategies ' if she feels her heart is misbehaving.

March 17th 2016

I'm in tonight, I can catch up with a blog post!

My days ( and nights) seem as busy as ever, but that's a good thing. There is always lots going on in the family unit, including a lovely supper on Mothering Sunday, when we had 13 around the table. At one point all the children (nephew and girlfriends )were bustling around in the kitchen, sorting food out and generally making sure everyone had what they needed, it was lovely to see.

I've been feeling a lot more upbeat about things lately, possibly because the daylight hours are getting longer, more sunshine, less rain, certainly the weather has a lot to do with people's moods. It could also be because I have tried to push the thought of rising blood markers as far away as possible.

March the 12th was a fairly significant date for me, it was the day of my first operation four years ago, and at that point I really didn't think I was going to see the year out. Despite a further op and two long cycles of chemo (never straightforward with me) I'm still here.

Thanks to the surgeons skill and the Jersey Oncology department I have a lot to be thankful for, plus the HUGE support from all my family, friends, acquaintances, and sporting fraternities.

The great big 'wow' moment I've had this week was Tuesday night when at the end of a netball match my team had won, I was voted player of the match by the opposition. I didn't recognise any of their players, so don't think it was a 'sympathy' vote, ( or OAP day) , and I had to check twice in case it was a mistake.
To say I was thrilled was an understatement, my team were awesome so I never expected it, and it has kept me on a high all week!

On the subject of netball it has been lovely to help coach the children of St Martin's school, we had a tournament a couple of weeks ago, very exciting. Despite only winning one of their matches they tried hard in all their games and that's all you can ask of them.

On a different subject if you want to read an excellent blog, ( one of Dan's friends) then check out this link...
http://www.augustinwarner.com/
He is cycling solo from France to China, amazing or just mad? Look at his route planning, and even sign up for the emails...

A few photos:-

Wall display

Fabulous 'Jane James' fish at St Martins school.

Jessie, Raffie and Beanie at the back..

My attempt at spring flowers in a pot, although to be fair, Beanie did help to 'unplant' the bulbs....twice!!!!

Bex is at hospital tomorrow getting fitted with her 24 hour ECG, fortunately she has only had a couple of minor episodes over the last couple of weeks. A further ultrasound is booked for May.

Whilst we are on the subject of hospitals, Steve has his appointment on the 31st March to see the consultant as regards his gallstone, we guess an operation of some sort is the only option. He has been very good on his 'low fat' diet, but I made a huge error in leaving him sausage and mash for supper this week, oh dear. A very uncomfortable night with very little sleep followed, so lesson learnt.

It's the last lent lunch at St Martin's public hall tomorrow 12-2pm, watch out for the one of the waitresses (and I don't mean JP) , as you may end up wearing your soup!!!

March 8th 2016..

This is the last couple of weeks in photos!

Girls night out (badminton girls that is....)

Dog walking with JP, in the wilds of St Ouen

 The earrings on the left are the ones I made at the last RISE support group when we had a lovely lady teaching us jewellery making.

 This is the Yoga teacher who does a weekly class at Macmillan on a Thursday afternoon.

 Met 'Super Gill ' on a very windy day on the beach last week.

Jessie, 'waiting' for naughty Beanie to come back from her latest foray into 'pheasant land'..

 The blur that was Beanie.....

 The beautiful sunrise this morning

 Bex and I went for a hospital appointment this afternoon, although the doctor couldn't be there, we did have quite a long chat with the nurse, who explained all that had happened and was happening to Bex and her heart. They have an ECG that shows the irregularity, and a normal ECG, which is good. She has another appointment next Friday to have a 24 hour ECG. It turns out to be....... Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) means that from time to time your heart beats very fast for a reason other than exercise, high fever, or stress. For most people who have SVT, the heart still works normally to pump blood through the body.

Types of SVT include:

• Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT).
• Atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT), including Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

During an episode of SVT, the heart's electrical system doesn't work right, causing the heart to beat very fast. The heart beats at least 100 beats a minute and may reach 300 beats a minute. After treatment or on its own, the heart usually returns to a normal rate of 60 to 100 beats a minute.

SVT may start and end quickly, and you may not have symptoms. SVT becomes a problem when it happens often, lasts a long time, or causes symptoms.

SVT also is called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) or paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT).

What causes SVT?

Most episodes of SVT are caused by faulty electrical connections in the heart .

SVT also can be caused by certain medicines. Examples include very high levels of the heart medicine digoxin or the lung medicine theophylline.

Some types of SVT may run in families, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Other types of SVT may be caused by certain health problems, medicines, or surgery.

What are the symptoms?

Some people with SVT have no symptoms. Others may have:

• Palpitations, a feeling that the heart is racing or pounding.
• A pounding pulse.
• A dizzy feeling or may feel lightheaded.

Other symptoms include near-fainting or fainting (syncope), shortness of breath, chest pain, throat tightness, and sweating.

Bex also has another appointment in May, think that's for the ultrasound.

Thanks to everyone for their concern, but now we have a diagnosis , it's a far less anxious time.

A little bit about me:-

I feel ok, and life with children, exercise classes and dogs is a busy one, just the way I like it really. Mostly I feel grateful that four years down the line (March 12th 2012 I had my first operation )I am here and living with Cancer, but I have been a bit more emotional lately. Losing my lovely friend Caroline, seeing other friends waging their own war with the disease, has knocked the stuffing out of me. That, and trying to push the rising blood test markers out of my mind every day is wearing. 

Still, I am lucky to have friends and family I can moan, rant or just talk to, plus the services of Macmillan/hospice. 

I was pleased I went into Macmillan today ( photo shoot for website!) as I bumped into a lady I knew and she told me where I could get reasonable health/travel insurance. Which I am certainly looking into,especially as we go away the beginning of April for a belated birthday celebration!!

That's all for tonight, there is always lots to write, but it's getting late and  I can't string a sentence together let alone write a comprehensive blog post!!