Unusually I'm in on a Monday night, I'm on nurse duty. ThIs time for my daughter, role reversal. Bex needed an operation today, fortunately not too major but it involved a general anaesthetic, so she's still a little weepy and sleepy this evening.
As she dozes I thought I'd investigate a new site for my blog, and here I am an hour or so later, and no further forward, although my ancient second hand pc is partly to blame. It seems as if most pages I try are now "unresponsive" , bit like I am first thing in the morning.
At least things are moving forward in the smoke damaged cottage, clean up operation has been successful, painting and decorating has started, trying to coordinate carpets, blinds, electricians etc, not easy but we are getting there.
Last day of January tomorrow, and coming around to five years since my Cancer diagnosis, sort of mixed feelings, pleased I'm here and living with the disease , but saddened in a way that I've had so many reoccurrences , and how it's changed me and those close to me.
Now I know that I have the BRCA2 gene this has meant that a seemingly innocuous lump that me daughter had in her breast, has had to be removed to make absolutely sure it's nothing sinister , and with reassurances they are 99% certain it is harmless , they can only be sure by removing and examining.
The genetics team are hopefully over in Jersey in March, and I'm due to meet up and chat some more about the in's and outs of what it means to carry this particular gene.
The patient is stirring and pressing the call buzzer ..... So that's my cue to provide more food/drink/painkillers.
We decided this morning that instead of worrying about the ' what ifs' we would "Ride the wave", and so far it's working!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday 30 January 2017
Wednesday 25 January 2017
Power on power off
We had a power cut on Thursday night, it started with the hot water in the tenants accommodation and by 11:30 pm we'd lost all electricity .
Not sure if it was parish or island wide but realised by the morning it was just us, and the JEC ( Jersey electricity company ) were duly called. The power was restored, but we were told to be careful and not overload system.
We were also told that we needed an electrician ... By 8:45am on Friday the family had gone their separate ways, only for me to receive a text that the power had gone off again.
I managed to get hold of an electrician who came within a few hours ( so lucky) and once again fixed the problem, so checked the tenants accommodation and all seemed fine.
1:45pm I went off to walk the dogs, thankful that the Aga was booting up again, and we had the boilers firing up.
Steve had text the tenant to say the power was back on, as she had gone to work early to shower, and so she decided by about 3:30pm to return home.
As she drove down our road she saw two men peering in her kitchen windows, and realised her smoke alarm was going off. Upon opening the kitchen door she could see the cooker was alight, and the room was full of smoke .
Fortunately the two men had called the fire service who were on their way, and yes you guessed it, Jack was on duty, and not only that he was on BA ( breathing apparatus ) so he went straight in and knew exactly where to turn power off.
The bad news is the smoke damage is extensive, the good news is, no one was hurt and fortunately the inner door was shut so half the property is still liveable in .
Now the fun starts, it seems all the cooker knobs were turned off but adjacent to the hob, which seems to have switched itself on, was a grill which caught fire and caused all the damage.
I am learning very quickly about insurance companies , loss adjusters, cleaners, carpet fitters , painter and decorators , new hob replacement , etc etc. Thankfully Jack has been very helpful and we are co ordinating visits and phone calls.
Everything else has simply paled into insignificance , so all the lovely restful holiday experience has vanished , literally in a puff of smoke!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Not sure if it was parish or island wide but realised by the morning it was just us, and the JEC ( Jersey electricity company ) were duly called. The power was restored, but we were told to be careful and not overload system.
We were also told that we needed an electrician ... By 8:45am on Friday the family had gone their separate ways, only for me to receive a text that the power had gone off again.
I managed to get hold of an electrician who came within a few hours ( so lucky) and once again fixed the problem, so checked the tenants accommodation and all seemed fine.
1:45pm I went off to walk the dogs, thankful that the Aga was booting up again, and we had the boilers firing up.
Steve had text the tenant to say the power was back on, as she had gone to work early to shower, and so she decided by about 3:30pm to return home.
As she drove down our road she saw two men peering in her kitchen windows, and realised her smoke alarm was going off. Upon opening the kitchen door she could see the cooker was alight, and the room was full of smoke .
Fortunately the two men had called the fire service who were on their way, and yes you guessed it, Jack was on duty, and not only that he was on BA ( breathing apparatus ) so he went straight in and knew exactly where to turn power off.
The bad news is the smoke damage is extensive, the good news is, no one was hurt and fortunately the inner door was shut so half the property is still liveable in .
Now the fun starts, it seems all the cooker knobs were turned off but adjacent to the hob, which seems to have switched itself on, was a grill which caught fire and caused all the damage.
I am learning very quickly about insurance companies , loss adjusters, cleaners, carpet fitters , painter and decorators , new hob replacement , etc etc. Thankfully Jack has been very helpful and we are co ordinating visits and phone calls.
Everything else has simply paled into insignificance , so all the lovely restful holiday experience has vanished , literally in a puff of smoke!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday 17 January 2017
Tuesday 17th January
Holiday!
Yes, that's where we've been, soaking up the sun in the Caribbean, and it was brilliant! Just what the doctor ordered, long enough to really relax ( and yes, despite going to fitness classes every day, I did spend a lot of the day lying on a sunbed).
I do feel so much better, and think that the energy levels have been rebooted, so whilst we had a lovely holiday, it is nice to be back home with the children and dogs!Although i didnt think much of the constant rain yesterday, today has been fine, cold and dry.
I have so many photos I want to post, and still don't seem to be able to sort it out, I may have to start another blog, but that needs more research ( wait for another rainy day).
Played netball last night, very good match and we won, so double bonus, it felt good to be back on court and playing with the girls again.
I've got a date for my CT scan on the 10th February, but i have a hospital appointment the 7th, so I'll need to ring up and change that, no point in going before the scan. I will try not to worry about the the outcome, remember, a good friend once told me "worry does not influence outcome" simple words but very true.
My friend who has been very, very poorly is doing really well, she managed to come home on Christmas eve to spend it with her family, which was great news. Her bloods are also very good at the moment, but she has had to go back to the UK for more tests and possibly another operation. I wish her well, and know she is in the best hands.
Whilst I'm on the subject of friends, I have another amazingly kind lady I know who lives in the UK. She and her husband used to spend the summers over here, enjoying the local hospitality and of course our sunshine and warm seas. Now, sadly she too is unwell and has to have chemotherapy. I am sending you all our love Sheena, and hope there are brighter days ahead. I'm not sure what the Macmillan services are like over there, but I highly recommend their services for all sorts of things, holiday insurance I'm told is very good.
More importantly any friendly ear and a cup of tea works wonders, as do friends and family that rally around doing your chores, helping with housework or sometimes just sitting with you so you don't feel quite so alone. I know she likes seeing the photos of the Jersey scenery I used to post, so that's given me an incentive to sort it out!
"God often uses the black notes as well as the white to draw the best music from our lives"
Author unknown
Yes, that's where we've been, soaking up the sun in the Caribbean, and it was brilliant! Just what the doctor ordered, long enough to really relax ( and yes, despite going to fitness classes every day, I did spend a lot of the day lying on a sunbed).
I do feel so much better, and think that the energy levels have been rebooted, so whilst we had a lovely holiday, it is nice to be back home with the children and dogs!Although i didnt think much of the constant rain yesterday, today has been fine, cold and dry.
I have so many photos I want to post, and still don't seem to be able to sort it out, I may have to start another blog, but that needs more research ( wait for another rainy day).
Played netball last night, very good match and we won, so double bonus, it felt good to be back on court and playing with the girls again.
I've got a date for my CT scan on the 10th February, but i have a hospital appointment the 7th, so I'll need to ring up and change that, no point in going before the scan. I will try not to worry about the the outcome, remember, a good friend once told me "worry does not influence outcome" simple words but very true.
My friend who has been very, very poorly is doing really well, she managed to come home on Christmas eve to spend it with her family, which was great news. Her bloods are also very good at the moment, but she has had to go back to the UK for more tests and possibly another operation. I wish her well, and know she is in the best hands.
Whilst I'm on the subject of friends, I have another amazingly kind lady I know who lives in the UK. She and her husband used to spend the summers over here, enjoying the local hospitality and of course our sunshine and warm seas. Now, sadly she too is unwell and has to have chemotherapy. I am sending you all our love Sheena, and hope there are brighter days ahead. I'm not sure what the Macmillan services are like over there, but I highly recommend their services for all sorts of things, holiday insurance I'm told is very good.
More importantly any friendly ear and a cup of tea works wonders, as do friends and family that rally around doing your chores, helping with housework or sometimes just sitting with you so you don't feel quite so alone. I know she likes seeing the photos of the Jersey scenery I used to post, so that's given me an incentive to sort it out!
"God often uses the black notes as well as the white to draw the best music from our lives"
Author unknown
Sunday 1 January 2017
Leaving 2016 behind, looking forward not back.
It has to be said 2016 like every year has had it's highs and lows. It didn't start well with rising blood count markers in January, and I seemed to worry away the first six months with various hospital appointments, scans, tests and endless waiting.
Despite this I also got to have some great times, saw the UK family for long weekend birthday celebrations, twice! Went to Australia for a week, and had a quick thirty six hour stop off in Hong Kong on the way back, mad.
Had an amazing summer with loads of family staying over and my best friend visited too. Played tennis, racquetball, netball, badminton, enjoyed plenty of sea swims and spending days dog walking and seeing good friends.
Pretty upset to get the relapse but not surprised ( because of constantly rising blood markers) and weirdly pleased to find out I could have radiotherapy, which subsequently I managed to go through far better than I had anticipated.
So moving away from 2016 and looking forward to embracing the new year and all it has to offer, good and bad I'll take it, don't fancy the alternative much!
Wishing you all a very healthy, happy and prosperous new year!
xx
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