and I'll sail her up the west coast…. through villages and towns…….. I'll be on my holidays……. they'll be doing their rounds…... they'll ask me how I got her I'll say "I saved my money"…… they'll say isn't she pretty that ship called dignity.........

What a fantastic few days away we just had. I took my laptop away with me so I could blog whilst away !! Fat chance !! No chance !! Far too busy reading trashy beach novel & basking by the pool.... when it got too warm dipping in said pool and then returning to said trashy beach novel to continue reading about the saga of the girl that lost her engagement ring only to fall in love with the guy she met when she found a mobile phone in the rubbish bin.... I know you want to know so much more about the book but that's all I'm going to divulge to you !! I mean, you might stumble across this book one day so I won't give away the ending..... although I'm guessing you may be able to take a wild stab in the dark as to how it all ends up?

Anyway... Broome !! aahhhhh... total relaxing bliss. Five days was not long enough, but we had a fab time all the same. Great company with our friends Ben & Bec. Just perfect people to travel with. No fuss, same interests and easy going. It took us all a couple of days to wind down from Perth life / work life / the last few months etc etc. We arrived in Broome at midday on Friday so went straight to the pool and lay down. I think I fell asleep. The rest of the afternoon is all a daze. I can't remember too much as we were so zonked from the drain of the past few months. Our friends were't arriving until later that evening so we had a bit of time to acclimatise and get a feel for the resort, get our bearings and arrange a table for dinner. They arrived around 7pm so we went straight to the restaurant and caught up over steak and vino. Not a bad start to the holiday. I started to feel a bit tired and achy so took off around 9pm for bed. I woke up the next day with a pretty bad sore throat. Hadn't slept well, and by the morning was feeling ... well, pretty shit really ! So straight to the local Dr's for something to help. He gave me a 3 day course of antibiotics. Brilliant ! I was fixed within 24 hours. Never again will I opt for the 10 day doses. 3 days and it was all gone.

That first full day (Day 2) we all pretty much zombied out by the pool and did a lot of staring around. The days are around 30C. We did head into town briefly and did a quick shop for snacks & drinks for the room. I also had to purchase a jumper as it gets quite cool at night. Down to about 17C which is chilly when you are sitting outside and have only bought light summer tops or singlets to wear - gotta love Best & Less for a bargain !!! But that was about it. Evenings were always at The Sunset Bar & Grill where you could watch the amazing sunset and then the camels coming in from the beach. The hardest decision is whether to order a cocktail, a beer or a glass of wine.

Day 3 we decided to plan our daily tourist duties. 

There were only a couple of things we wanted to do.... a camel ride and a sunset cruise on a yacht (well an old pearl logger) I had decided that I'd rather like to go out to a pearl farm so Dirk & I decided to do that one by ourselves. 

So at 4pm on Sunday we took to the beach and were introduced to the camels... I got Alice ..... Alice? ....who the fuck is Alice? She was a sweet thing, pretty friendly and liked to be scratched. We became firm friends in that hour.... I'm not sure she'll remember me now but I'll never forget her !! Apart from the annoying backpacker in front of me that thought she knew everything about sand crabs and photography it was a really enjoyable ride. ("Get a big black dog up ya" ......Backpacker !!! - that's for you Nags) After the sunset ride we headed back to the hotel, quickly freshened up and we had booked to go to the Thai restaurant at the hotel - very nice - a perfect way to finish off the day. We were well and truly beginning to relax now. The boys had played tennis and crazy golf the previous day and had a date with a table tennis table to decide who was the overall winner..... all bets were off .... Bec & I went to bed !! 

Day 3 was the day Dirk & I had decided to go Pearl shopping .... <cough>.... I mean go and learn about how Pearl farming is done in Broome. We had to be outside the hotel ready to go by 8am !! yikes... which also meant breakfast was at 7:30am !! Double yikes.... that's the earliest I'be been up in ages. But I managed it.... just. We were squeezed onto a bus with a bunch of over 70's. We were the youngest by about 30 years - at least !! It was 1/2 hour bus ride to Willie Creek Pearl Farm - actually just the next beach from Cable Beach which was only approx 5 km's away up the coast, but 38km's by road. Most of the trip was on a dark red, iron rich, dirt track. Straight past the Police lines and the protesters against Woodside's Gas Hub at James Price Point. And up into Willie Creek farm. We were introduced to the "gang" (more backpackers) and then shown to a tin shed where we were taught about the history and how to's of pearl farming. It was actually very interesting. And I also got to stick my fingers into a oyster's scrotum and pull out the growing pearls. There were four of them in there !! Bloody hell - even the backpacker was also amazed !! Said he hadn't see 4 come out of a scrotum before !! Yeah right, I bet he says that to all the girls !! After the lesson, we were treated to morning tea and then were whisked away to a small tinny (boat) and taken out to the creek where they had a "simulated" oyster string out in the ocean. We were shown how they are cleaned and told about the history and procedures of cleaning and checking the shells. The a boat ride through the estuaries... everyone had their eyes peeled for crocs but we didn't see any. After we returned to dry land (and lucky as Dirk was getting queazy from the 20 minute boat ride) we were then taken to the 'pièce de résistance'..... the shop !! However, at this point we were reminded that during morning tea, I had excitedly signed us up for a helicopter ride ...... suckers !!!..... so we were whisked away to the Helipad (dirt gravel clearing) next to the shop and taken up on a 5 minute ride over the bay and estuary - by another backpacker - I have to say though, it was totally amazing. The views and scenery were fantastic and you couldn't have seen it that way any other way. Totally worth being ripped off for. So back to the shop, where we now had only 5 minute left of shopping. I saw something I liked, but there wasn't the exact one that fitted me available. I'm pretty sure the poor bugger that was serving me worked on a commission, as he had just about every pearl in the shop on the counter and was doing the most amazing sell job on me. But I left confused and empty handed..... a little disappointed ..... but I had a plan.......

We were escorted back to our retiree coach and started the trip back down the bumpy red tracks also known as the Broome Highway !! On the way out that morning, just before our hotel, I had spotted a Willie Creek Pearl Showroom. This was my cunning plan..... I got the bus driver to drop us here on the way back (much to Dirk's dismay - I think he thought he had got off lightly... asif !!!) ..... and low and behold.... they had the exact bracelet that wasn't available in the other store. Can you believe it.... I mean... what luck !! I didn't leave empty handed after all !!! hee hee !! Fabulous !!

We (finally) returned to the resort to find our friends, have a dip in the pool and have some lunch at the pool bar. Lots of oohs and ahhs from Bec over the pearl <insert happy grin here> That evening we ventured into town and went for tea at Matso's Brewery - where Dirk decided to share the beer tasting with me and got quite merry very quickly !! Hilarious for us all.
It was now Day 4 of the hols and I was beginning to realise that this was our last day. So I had better make it a good one !! 3 straight hours on the sunbed getting as golden as I could - there was no way I was returning to Perth without some summer glow about me !! And at 1pm we were once again in reception waiting for a bus to take us to our sunset cruise. The demographics this time were much more mixed and relatively younger ( I was pleased to say)
The bus was also full so this was obviously a popular one !! We were driven just a few minutes south of Cable Beach and onto the sand. Then asked to remove our shoes and jump into a tinny where we would be taken out to the boat (yacht?) The Intombi - a beautiful old Pearl Lugger that had been painstakingly restored and was now used for sunset cruises. Once on board the bar was opened and orders were taken. I decided it was a Bacardi & Coke kind of day.... just perfect. We were brought drinks and then told we could jump into the water while the boat slowly cruised up the coast line. There was a long rope to hold onto and also a boom net to sit in. Drinks could be passed down to you too if you liked. About 10 people jumped in (all of us included) and after getting kicked and almost drowned by some fat twat I decided to get back out.... easier said than done. I nearly lost my top and bottoms hanging onto the rope (and I'm sure the skipper of the boat started going faster as he saw I was loosing them) but eventually managed to pull myself up the rope and then steps and back to my B&C.... nibbles were offered around and we cruised on. It was gorgeous. The four of us found a nice little spot at the stern (?) (back) of the boat and settled in for the cruise. Ben & I decided to have one last swim - this time none else did so it was just the two of us - much better. The once back on board the sunset part of the cruise started. More B&C's and the sun started to set..... There was almost no wind, the sea was felt and still and the sun sank into the horizon. The perfect end to a perfect holiday (almost) 

We returned to the resort, quickly showers and changed and met at the Italian restaurant within the resort. This was a nice one !! I ordered a champagne cocktail while we waited for Ben & Bec and we relaxed.... some more.... again......

The food was fantastic.... I had tortellini with soft shell crab and pearl meat (from the menu - prawn & pearl meat tortellini, shaved fennel salad, crispy soft shell crab, lime & herb butter sauce).... bloody gorgeous. Best tasting dish I've had in AGES and would highly recommend it. Still dreaming of it now as I write this (btw it is now 3:27am - I am soooo in trouble tomorrow morning when I have to get up !!..... must finish)

So this was the perfect end to a perfect holiday..... great friends, great location, great weather, great sightseeing.... what more could you want?

We got home around lunch time on Wednesday - I was absolutely knackered !! I think my pills had finally got the better of me. I'd also forgotten to take my dexa's with me so had to take them as soon as I got in - better late than never - we cuddled and cuddled the furries. Decided to bath them and then took them to the park to dry off. Our legend of a house-sitter had once again done a fantastic job. As much as we hate leaving them all, at least we have someone that looks after them so well and they don't have to go into a kennel when we go away..... after that we pretty much collapsed on the couch. Only to catch the weather forecast and be told it was dropping to 5C overnight !! WTF !!! Dirk was very quickly sent into the garage to bring up the gas heater !! Winter is finally here !!

Work today and back into the slog.... Being on Dexa's always helps as it gives me the energy I need. The downside is my loss of taste and then the coming off them..... I have 2 more days then will bomb out !!

Well, I'd better leave it here as it's nearly 4am and I'm in more trouble than the early settlers. I've been busy baking sausage rolls and cupcakes for tomorrow's (todays) Biggest Morning Tea for Cancer Research..... Feel free to donate !!.....

   

 

    

    



       

Footnote: no responsibility is taken for the layout or spelling mistakes found on this entry.... it's too god-damn late to check .... I'll do it tomorrow - if I have the time !!!
Thanks :-)

We've golden soil and wealth for toil....... Our home is girt by sea..........

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie........ Oi, Oi, Oi !!!!
And so... after 8220 days..... 1174 weeks...... or 22 years, 6 months and 3 days I have become an Australian Citizen.....
It was all a bit of a rush, but then the whole week has been like that. Since Sunday I have not had the chance to scratch myself. At work this week we have had a regional managers conference. Manager's from all of our international offices have been in town. (Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, Indonesia, UK, USA, Mongolia, South Africa & the Australian management group) I really struggled Monday & Tuesday - had the shakes and the after effects of all my drugs plus the Zometa infusion on Friday running through my system. In fact when I look back at the early part of the week now, it's all a bit hazy !!
I also picked up my new car on Monday too. Fantastic !! And the more I drive it, the more I like it. I was quite sad to say goodbye to my 3 series - it was such a beautiful car to drive. But having said that I am now suitably impressed with my new one...... the dogs also got their first run in the car on Tuesday - well seeing as the main reason for changing over the vehicle was for their benefit we thought we'd better test run the boot !! - all was (of course) perfect. They jumped in and were contained beautifully. Maverick stood proudly looking out the windows and Charlie lay down under Maverick's feet and "tried to" relax.
As the week wore on the effects of the drugs gradually began to calm down with just the daily effects of the nightly Thalidomide to content with..... a few jitters, mild shakes and a feeling of being whacked out whilst on the equivalent of 10 red bull's. I managed to make it into work pretty much on time every day (by 9am) and stayed the full day each day too.
Thursday morning I got up at 6:30am and took Dirk's car to be detailed, north of the river. Then picked it up at 5pm, rushed home.... as much as you can in peak hour traffic. Quick change before rushing back out to Melville Civic Centre for my citizenship ceremony. When we arrived, the Mayor greeted Dirk immediately - recognising him as one of his former students.... he was Dirk's maths teacher from school !! Nice chap with a big grin and quick wit. I liked him. We spent the next hour watching as four groups of about 15 people each group voiced their pledges to Australia and became Aussies. I was in group two. I'd decided to do the pledge with "God" in it. (You had a choice to either leave Him out or have Him in..... I decided to leave Him in.... no reason really, I just did. And with the way things are at the moment, I think a girl needs all the help she can get, so if God is going to help me, the least I can do is acknowledge Him !!)
We were asked if we wanted to stay for a cup of tea.... however we had a work dinner. I had cheekily asked if Dirk could join too as I really wanted to share a dinner with all the guys from work, but also wanted to celebrate with Dirk after the ceremony. My MD was very happy for Dirk to come along, so we dashed out straight after a quick pic next to the flag with the Mayor. Arrived at The Old Swan Brewery in time for a celebratory glass of NZ SSB - much more appropriate than a cup of tea in my mind !! and once everyone had arrived we sat down. We had a great night. At each course, we all moved round the table four spots so everyone had to talk to new people. I really enjoyed myself. Food was excellent too. Although far too much !! We got home at midnight.... I popped my Thalidomide and crashed out.
Friday we finished off the week with a few discussions and final meetings. Then headed to UWA for a Micromine Soiree. I was tiring BIG time by this point. The week was beginning to take it's toll. I managed to enjoy a glass of vino before deciding enough was enough..... so I bid my farewell's to the international visitors and made a quick exit. It was Friday.... which means only one thing in our house..... Pizza night !! But it was an ordered one this week. We just couldn't face cooking. It arrived in the obligitory 30 minutes. and 30 minutes later I was asleep..... lights out.... stick a fork in me.... I was done !!
Today we managed to get a few jobs done. It was a gorgeous day, sunshine, warm with just a light breeze. We fixed the fence, stained the outdoor table & chairs and Dirk mowed the lawns. Now we're watching the footy. I'm happy because the team I tipped are winning, unfortunately I tipped against Dirk's team, so he's not happy !! I guess you can't win them all.
It's Aussie Mother's Day tomorrow. Dirk's off to his parent's beach house to help with an annual clean up. I'm off for Dim Sum breakfast with a girlfriend .... I think I won on that one !! haha. Not sure what else we'll do. I started Cycle 6 today so I may have to play it by ear..... Blood tests again on Monday in time for a visit to Dr Ben on Wednesday. I'm interested to see what he says about my results. Hopefully he'll be as happy as I am.

Late news .... just in..... I've just found out that my mum is coming out of hospital today !! Yay, yippee... I am so pleased she's headed home. And in time for Mother's Day too !! I'll have to make a call to dad and make sure that he spoils her on our behalf :-) Now the road to recovery starts again for mum. This time it will be successful !!! Happy Mother's Day for tomorrow mum. Love you loads xxxxx
One last thing before I sign off.... I'm having a "Biggest Morning Tea" for cancer fundraising at work on 25th May. It's at work so hopefully a few work colleagues will come and share a cup-cake or two. But if anyone wants to donate you can do it here...

99 dreams I have had……...In every one a red balloon……..

Day 99 of chemo today..... wow how time flies when you're having fun hey !!! 28th January 2012 was Day 1 .... now 98 days later I have results saying things are looking ok.... (I hope)
It's hard to stay positive when there has been let downs in the past. I mean.... I was so positive with the preliminary tests in the beginning. I didn't have cancer, that was impossible. Not me .... so now I'm positive, but hesitant to "jinx" it in case I have to find more energy to fight through another set back..... But... if I do.... I will !! Just don't jinx it.
The past couple of weeks have actually been relatively good. I've been enjoying work, been distracted by the focus of my job. It's the time of the year I get to do planning, budgeting and real strategy stuff.  I'm still not sure what the opinion at work is of my performance. They have been really amazing and patient with me. Allowing me to work around my feelings and appointments. I've tried to be honest and have made sure I've put in the hours etc. But you never really know whether it's enough.....The distraction from my health has been good for me. I've enjoyed it. I felt like I did working before diagnosis.
And then there has been the past 24 hours..... Zometa, Thalidomide, Cycloblastin & Dexamethasone all in 24 hours (as well as the daily antidepressants, aspirin to keep my blood thinner, muti-vitamin, heartburn tablet and calcium supplement)...... and until around 1pm today I wasn't too bad..... and then it hit me - POW!!!
I was out for a beautiful afternoon tea the The Duxton with some girlfriends..... and it started to get worse and worse.... jaw clenching... sweats... shakes (ohhh the shakes)...... loss of focus..... I think I did ok for the first hour but after that, I went downhill as fast as Ingemar Stenmark  !!
I had to make a fairly quick exit - say thanks and goodbyes and head home..... where I crashed !! I was wiped out as quickly as the little afternoon tea scones and finger sandwiches that were devoured only an hour earlier !! Which by the way were absolutely divine !!
And of course.... with a stint on the Dexa's comes that spending issue too.... GULP !!! I'd like to say that it's been under control, but today really made up for all the other little bits that have been creeping into the house via eBay, amazon etc etc..... A New Car !!! OMG - and I am soooo excited. OK so it's not brand new or anything stupid, but I'm still excited. Firstly I test drove an Audi A3 - but it just underwhelmed me.... a little disappointing. It was probably a great car, perfect for what we needed, a good price (yawn), practical, fitted the dogs in the boot, zippy and all that..... but it was just a car. It was boring (and it had scratched on the doors and no bluetooth !! Helloooo what car doesn't have bluetooth these days????)
So we drove up the road to a BMW dealership and had a look at an X3. It's got a few KM's on the clock, but drove beautifully, looks good and has all the extra's I was looking for ..... and it felt GOOD to drive. It had that something special about sitting in it.... that feeling..... it was nice. We got a good trade-in price for my old car so did the deal there and then. Now all I have to do is wait until Monday to go and pick it up !! Wahooo..... Now before you criticise the buying of a new car... we needed it. It was a decision that has been a few months in the making due to the fact that we have a 10 month old puppy that has grown into King Kong! The back seat of a sedan is no place for such bear.... yet alone two of them. So it's a practical decision, based on necessity. OK I'm now convinced... are you?? See it doesn't take long <insert cheeky grin & wink here>
Next week is another full-on work week. It's planning week with all of our Regional Managers in town from the overseas offices. Ordinarily a really good week. A lot of work and discussions followed by a bit of a laugh (assuming there's no bollocks to bust) and some dinners and drinking. I'm pretty sure this week will be no different, but the way I'm feeling may affect how my week pans out. Early start and late finishes are more of a struggle these days.

I'll also officially become an Aussie this week !! I have my citizenship ceremony on Thursday!! Only 23 years in the making...... I'm going to pledge allegiance to the Queen and give up my pommy vote for an Aussie one. I'll be able to vote for the first time in my life (at the age of 42 !!) how exciting ! I can't wait for the next election to actually have an opinion...... ha !!

Mum has also had a full on week - radiation this past week every day..... hopefully it will have helped and made some difference. She is still in hospital. She doesn't want to be released home until we know she's good to go. And there are still a few obstacles to get through before that time. We chatted today and it was nice to talk. I hope she wasn't putting on a positive, cheery voice just to try and convince me.... if she did it probably worked, because I thought she sounded good. We had tried to Skype but the connection was crap so we had to make do with a phone call. No visual !! One of the things you do when you are so far apart is always try to sound cheery so that the other side won't worry !! I've tried to be honest with mum because I think she has some idea of what I'm going through. Albeit different, she know's the feelings and the internal thoughts that run through your head constantly. So mum if you are reading this and really feel like shit, please tell me. I'd rather know. You have my blog to know when things are tough.....

Well, it's now close to 2am and although I still don't feel sleepy, I think I should give the pillow a good try and get some shuteye. I'll leave you with one last pic of a little splurge I made just prior to the car purchase.... Dirk, I hope you don't mind !! Love you baby !! I just couldn't resist and mum really liked them too.....

Ribbon For Bladder Cancer

I've also been on the cancer fundraising website and found some Multiple Myeloma ribbons etc. Just in case anyone is interested - they also have ones specifically for Bladder cancer (which is what mum has) Click here for a look.....

Oh yes and one last another thing !! I'm doing a fundraising morning tea at work for cancer (am I becoming one of those annoying types??) I figured a few cupcakes for morning tea would be a good thing. And if people wanted to donate to a worthy cause then why not..... if you can't make it you can still donate .... yes? click here....

OK that definitely it for the night...... I'm off to sleep now..... night night xxxxx