Canada to India.....Australia to Cornwall.....Singapore to Hong Kong.....From the West to the East.....From the rich .....to the poor.....Victoria loved them all........

What do you do when you find a post that was started.... not finished.... added to and then neglected? ..... I found this entry today, I'd forgotten about it. But here it is anyway as it continues to tell the story of one moment in time - albeit almost 3 months ago now.



I've been feeling very melancholy this week. It's a little tough at work at the moment.... although I'm pretty sure I'm not alone there. It a tough market for all mining services companies .....
I had an appointment with Dr Ben. All good (as usual) .....afterwards  I went for my Zometa infusion. I thought maybe I was almost finished with these, but it appears I will continue with Zometa for quite a while (like the next year or two). Not that it is an issue for me at all. But it can mentally be difficult sometimes to sit in the chemo ward having an infusion. That constant reminder that  you're not "quite" free of it. It's a lonely place on the chemo ward. I've recently changed to a new one at a different hospital. It's very close to work so I can walk there from my office and be back at work straight afterwards. However the vibe is different at this one.  It's just a bit quieter..... and darker. I took work documents with me to pass the time. It's much easier to actually get some work done at hospital than in the office - no interruptions or phone calls !!
The other thing that affected me was the sad news of a very close friend losing her dad suddenly. I'm not going into it here as it's not my place to. But needless to say, it reminds me of how precious life it and how devastating it is when you lose a parent..... it's made me constantly think of mum. I guess when you start thinking about all the fun and frivolity of the Christmassy weeks ahead, you automatically think of family too. (well I do... I'm lucky I guess)
Which does lead me to happier moments.... like Christmas.... pressies...... mistletoe & wine.... I just LOVE Christmas. I love the decorations, the lights, the parties, the gifts, the laughter, the food. Please don't get me wrong. I know there are people less fortunate in the world. There is sickness, war, poverty and all sorts of awful happenings around our globe..... but I am an extremely lucky person and I am going to appreciate that fact by having fun and making the most of it. I am bringing back Advocaat !!!(If I can find it)
                                                 
                                                                  {insert 2 weeks later}

So that was 2 weeks ago..... I forgot to click on "publish" and there it sat, just a little lonely post.
It's been a busy couple o' weeks ! Work has remained the same..... tough. Christmas is well & truly underway. The decorations are all up, three trees and twinkling lights everywhere. We had our annual Christmas party. Entertained a few friends who ate their way through 25Kg's of Meat in Hot Roast Rolls. But some sad news..... I wasn't able to find the Advokaat !! devo.... but Christmas isn't here yet, there is still time to hunt for some.

Tell the bar that we don't want no glass .... Just bottles and i'm buying everybody one each ........ Yes so bring the Veuve Clicquot ....... D about to hit the big 3 0 ..... Party like it's Carnival in Rio ...... Life's too short, Danny Devito ...... Yo, we live, we die, we give, we try, we kiss, we fight ....... All so we can have a good time .......

Hellloooooooo !!
For ten years !!!
It feels like it has been that long since my last post. It's funny how caught up in life I have once again become now that the drama has passed. It's like it never happened. Last year is definitely just a distance memory. I've even stopped saying things like "just think, this time last year ...." It briefly comes to mind, but is just as quickly dismissed as more important things come up.

Vancouver

Life is back in the fast lane. I have started traveling again (for work) Had a quick round-the-world stint to Vancouver - London (incl. a quick weekend at "home") - Dubai - Perth. Although the final legs took their toll on me and I came home with sore throat and head cold. But other than that all good. Not to mention the new suitcase I had to buy so I could fit my purchases in !! Note to self... buy a bigger suitcase for next time and take nothing !!

Dream situation !!

I have to have a rant though.... this morning I was on the way to work and this cyclist was all over the road. Weaving in and out of cars.... when he felt like it, he was on the footpath, when he didn't he was on the road.... and then, because my wheels went over the short starting point of the bike lane (literally a 15M long bike lane) he whacked my car roof and abused me. Needless to say my middle finger went straight up. My gutter mouth shouted abuse at him and I carried on. But it's one of those moments that leaves you fuming. There were so many things I wanted to shout at him. Like "make up your mind if you want to be a car, pedestrian or cyclist ...... you twat" or "you look like you've sharted in those ridiculous bike pants..... loser" but the one thing that cyclists have over us is that they can be off pretty quick and they all look the same so you can't report them.

Rant over.
 It appears I might be aging !! WTF ?? Yes how could that happen? I ask myself the same question every single day..... for the past 7 months I've had a pretty bad case of tennis elbow. Now for those of you that know me, you will understand. I mean, if it wasn't for my passion for school and work I would have been a tennis superstar !!  And my prowess on the tennis court on a regular basis has left me with a poorly elbow. I've been on anti-inflammatory pills every day, tried acupuncture, massage and physio, but nothing has helped. Dr Ben sent me for more blood tests and x-rays but nothing. So he referred me to a rheumatologist. I have now had further blood tests, another set of x-rays and an ultrasound. And guess what?.... it's tennis elbow !!!! I also have a touch of osteoarthritis in my hands, which is basically bought on by age !!! $1000+.... thanks for coming !! I could have looked in the mirror, checked out the crow's feet and given that diagnosis.......
On a brighter note though, my blood tests continue to be amazingly normal. Dr Ben couldn't stop grinning at my last appointment. I think I'm actually his poster child !!

So going backwards in time again, my work trip had some amazing moments. I was able to spend a weekend at "home" with my bro, sil and family. Unfortunately dad was away so we had to have a party at his house without him. I was able to catch up with friends who couldn't make it to our wedding in Jan. People that I grew up with and also helped mum in her last few months. It was also the anniversary of mum's death while I was there. I was soooo nervous about getting to England. I hadn't been back since before "everything". Last time I was there was Dec2011 when I surprised mum with a visit because she was sick. I was scared about the feelings I would have when I got there. I spent the first two hours of the flight from Vancouver to London crying under a blanket because I was petrified. But when I got there it was all good. It was not scary, it wasn't awful, it was nice to be home. It didn't feel strange..... On the Sunday we went to mum's "memorial place" it's not really a grave, and besides I could hear mum in my head saying "Don't know why you're going there, I'm not sitting under the ground waiting for people to visit !!" But I wanted to put some flowers there, and my sis had asked me to take some tulips, so I did. It was a gorgeous sunny day. The kids ran around the church gardens and it was happy.
So after a few sunny tears, we decided to hit the pub for some lunch. Perfect and just what mum would have wanted us to do !! After that it was back down to London for more work.....
.... and after that I flew home... via Dubai !! OMG what a place !! It was amazing. My besty lives there so she picked me up and showed me around. I have never been to a place like it. The shopping... the buildings.... the service !! LOVED it..... needless to say my new suitcase took more of a beating !! If you ever get to go to Dubai, you must go out to "Brunch" on a Friday..... I can't tell you any more...... just do it - you'll thank me.
Next stop is our honeymoon !!! I cannot WAIT !! 2 weeks in Koh Samui..... sun....sand and Thai food - what more could a girl want. Not to mention a wedding too. It's going to be amazing, I just know it. It cannot come soon enough.

 

But in the mean time, it's back to work...... as I type my hands are aching and my tennis arm hurts................................... but that's just old age !!!

Somewhere in my heart there is a star that shines for you ...... Silver splits the blue ..... Love will see it through ....

Whell !! It's been sooo bloody long since my last post..... what can I say. It's been a busy time to say the least.
Happy Australia Day !!! What a year to review ....
This time a year ago, I was still in shock from being told I had cancer, about to throw a party & 2 days away from starting Chemo. On 29th Jan, my blog will be 1 !!
So what's been happening in the past 2 months ? ......not too much really !!!
I'm back at work full time, had my family over for numerous big hugs and lots of tears, met my new niece .... oh yes and I'm now a Mrs !! It's a great feeling. I married my (hash-tag) loveofmylife.
So that's about it. Short blog this month !! Hahha ... Yeah right !!
To expand, maybe just a little.....

<insert 3 week break here>

That was what I started back in Jan !! It's now 19th Feb and I am still struggling to find time to put fingers to keyboard. Life has been probably the most hectic I have ever known.... but not in a bad way, just a busy way.
My mind keeps skipping back to "this time last year". It was such a major time of my life. One of those times that I will never forget. Like the time Diana died, or 9/11 !! For me it was "that" significant. And I can't believe where I am now..... it's been one hell of a ride.
There have been some amazing times in the past 3 months. A lot of healing, a lot of tears, a lot of happiness and a hell of a lot of wine too !! Needless to say my family have been here !!! Not to mention some fabulous Perth summer weather and even more fabulous friends too. It really has been a whirlwind of emotions.

To review some of the happier times... I have to mention "I'M NOW MARRIED" yes.... me..... the spinster that was, is officially off the market !! Oh but you already knew that from my post above written last month !!
It was truly one of the best days of my life. Every time I think back I smile. I wish I could go back and do it all again over and over. Apart from the fact that I was an absolute Bridezilla. OMG .... looking back I thought I was handling things so amazingly well. I can assure you.... I wasn't !! Just ask my (nearly wasn't) husband. I can't believe what a wedding does to you ! It's actually very scary. There were moments when Dirk said he really wasn't sure that it was worth it. But in my world...in my little bald headed, "Miss Organised", "This is a Breeze" little world.... I actually thought I was coping like an angel sent down from heaven. Little did I know.... I wasn't !!! Take advice all you future brides out there..... No matter how great you think you are coping..... you're not !! BUT... having said that, at the end of the day, I wouldn't change a thing (except that one thing that I'm not going to mention in this blog ;-)

One of the most amazing things that I LOVED, was having my family and friends here. Words cannot describe how amazing it was to see people that I don't get to see all that often. My dad was here for a full 2 months. It was absolutely fanTASTic. I wasn't sure how it was all going to be, but it was awesome. In some ways, it was really amazing to get to know my dad for just him. I'm not saying I didn't know him, but I have never had the chance to spend time with my dad, just by himself. I loved it. He is an amazing person with such strength and character.....and dad if you are reading this... I love you more than anything.
Friends also need to be mentioned. The past year has really shown the many, many people in my life that I have met. I am one really lucky girl.
So ... in terms of my health.... what else? Well, I've had to have new geekster's (glasses). After a year of chemo, my eyesight deteriorated pretty fast. I'm putting it down to chemo and not old age !!
On a positive note, I have LOADS of energy, so have started walking daily. I'm really enjoying it (well as much as anyone can "really" enjoy exercise) My "husband" wakes me up at 6ish and we go for a 2-3km walk with the dogs. I'm loving the early morning coolness and once I get up and get going, I do feel better.
Work is beginning to take over pretty much all thoughts and waking moments. It is all consuming, but at the same time, I'm not hating it. At the moment, I'm learning the new aspects of my role. There is a lot of pressure and I'm having to find the best approaches via trial and error (more error's are being tested at the mo) but I'm still enjoying it.
The hardest thing of the past few weeks has been the most excruciating "Tennis Elbow"  I'm having physio for it and it's helping a little but it's now been a good 4-5 weeks. I am thinking that I need to see a doctor though.....
One thing about being diagnosed with a form of cancer, is that nothing will ever be the same again when it comes to ailments. If there is a pain, I instantly assume it could be connected.
And that is where I'm at now.... after everything had settled down and I was in remission (7th Sept 2012 - yay) I started to get very bad tingling in my lower legs and feet. It was so bad that I would wake up at night because the sheets caught my feet and pain would shoot through my lower legs. Eventually I began to lose feeling and my feet now have about 30-40% numbness on the upper part of my foot (both sides) This happened around Oct /Nov last year. It has now begun in my hands.... I have started to get some pretty severe nerve pains in my hands. At first I thought it was due to the Tennis Elbow, but I'm beginning to think they may actually be separate issues. Who knows? So I'm going to make an appointment with my GP. I don't have another appointment with Dr Ben until April. I guess if my GP wants me to see him sooner, he will let me know.
I've been seeing a physio for a few weeks and she has "strongly" advised I book in..... so I will.

So....., in order to try and get this published and "out there" without another 2 month break, I'm going to sign off. People have been extremely gracious, asking me to continue my blog. Thank you. I must admit, I have actually missed it. Hopefully, I can get back into the swing of things and post a little more often again. It is very cathartic.