Tuesday 27 March 2012

I think this would have to be the smallest lobster I have seen, bigger bugs in OZ!

Birthday dinner 51 today!

Olympic Rings 2010

Whistler

27/3/2012

It seems we've been away for ages. Vancouver is a lovely city and we enjoyed going to different areas of it. It was freezing and although I love that crisp cold feeling on my cheeks,I don't mean both of them!
Not used to walking very far as I was only accustomed to moving from the lounge to the kitchen, I was pretty tired, and we found it hard to adjust to their time zone. Unfortunatly we didn't go down to Seattle to shop as I was just to weak to wonder around shops, I can't believe I just wrote that! We have one day there before flying back to Brisbane and I believe there is a lovely park to go and visit in the city.

The trip up to Whistler was lovely the scenery was amazing and the snow kept getting thicker. We are really happy with our studio apartment, David's just preparing a roast as I sit infront of the fire! The first two days were brilliant sunshine and we had a trip up the mountain on one gondola hopped on another and went peak to peak, this is a 4.4km ride 1,860m high.
David skied the next day his birthday, he loved it and was happy he didn't fall over. he rang me at the top of the last mountain so I could go out on the balcony and video the last bit of the run. Dragging myself away from the fire I did as I was told only to discover at the last minute that I had never used the video camera on my iPad before.

I'm sure you guessed it but I recorded none of it!!!He was remarkably not that grumpy about it,and I've promised I will stand down at the bottom of the mountain in a blizzard if I have to when he ski's again!

Today it's been raining and the forecast isn't that great for the rest of the time we are here, I think we will have ago on the tube ride as its looks pretty harmless, and David is keen to drive a snowmobile with me on the back! Why not not a bad way to go if we hit a tree!

So as you can see we have had a great time, we went out to dinner last night for his birthday and although the food was good the portions were tiny, fine for me but not if you've been using all that energy up skiing down mountains all day!

On the emotional front I have been all over the place, alot comes down to just being tired I guess but being out of my home environment I'm more conscious of my patch and am grateful to hide behind the sunnies. I'm sad I don't have the energy to ski as these mountains really are spectacular with about 11 runs to choose from. It's not like I thought I can leave the cancer at home, but seeing new things for the first time it hits you hard that these opportunities will be coming less and less. How can anyone be happy about leaving this beautiful world. I wish the boys were here.

I am and will always be grateful for this time I have, I just would like another 30 years please,although not at this pace the bank balance couldn't take it!

Home on Tuesday .......

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Upgraded!

The Holiday Queen!

21/3/2012

We have just arrived at Auckland airport for a 3hr wait then off to Vancouver! I know you'll be thinking what am I up to now, but like I've said before I seem to have this desire to squeeze in as many experiences as I can before things go 'tit's up'. Poor David who's not one to make a quick decision comes along for the ride,although no complaints when we were upgraded to business class for the first part of the trip!
You see I have been given a month off chemo,my markers are down to 33,and was advised that if I am lucky enough to get another break I would be too weak to travel a long distance ,so hence the urgency. Jack turns 18 two days after we get home so the window of opportunity was slim.
I have to admit that 3hr flight was just great,not sure about the next 14hrs.

We have 3 nights booked in Vancouver then 7 nights at Whistler. I won't be giving skiing ago but they do have those big rubber rings that go down the mountain. I am still pretty weak and some days feel like crap, however I will just do what I can. I am just as happy watching David come down the slopes as long as he's in one piece. Last time I did this he came down with a popped shoulder and hurt pride!

So life again is on the up. I'm scared of going back on chemo ,and I'm trying so hard to just live each day and not what's ahead,as really none of us know what tomorrow will bring. I am so very lucky to have all I do.
Thank you to all of you that inspire me to get up each day and live the best life I can.
Lots of snowy pics to follow........

Saturday 10 March 2012

Another Phase

11/3/2012

Hello.....Well Sydney was fantastic, we didn't have the best weather but still mangaged to have a great time. The 'Mardi Gras' was on and although we didn't stay for the whole procession we saw some interesting sights! I missed a night out with the girls as I just know I'm not up to standing in a bar for a few hours,however I was awake when they all arrived home, and it was very interesting listening to how their evening went! I'm yet to see Joh's umbrella dance , but heard most of the bar enjoyed it!

I believe the chemo has finally caught up with me, as the last few weeks have been pretty awful.I spoke to the oncologist last week about taking a break, and it seems the decision is up to me. On paper he said I look not to bad at all and everything has dropped,however a part of him thinks let's keep going as it's working,but like he said he can often forget what the patient is going through. I know once I stop it will hopefully pick up my good cells ,but of course so will the others pick up.

Anyway I have decided that with weekly blood tests I'm going to stop the chemo.No one is sure of how long I'll get, but I really feel I could be enjoying life alot more if only for a short while. So it's chemo day tomorrow and I will still go in for my bloods to be done and I also have a bone strengthening drug each month but am hoping he's ok for me to stop.


I'm sure just knowing that the chemo has stopped I will pick up ,I'll forget the anti depressants until next round I feel. I had hoped to get to the UK again but realise now that it's just too far for me to travel and too expensive . Plus I really don't want to spend along time away from the boys. What I'm hoping to do is go back to NZ not in holiday time and just find somewhere with a good view ,have a good book or my knitting and slowly recover from all that horrible stuff pumped in me! So I'm not looking for much but if anyone knows of anyone that has a house to rent with a view I'm interested! Visitors welcome.

The boys are at Uni now and it seems full on already for them. Jack turns 18 on the 5th April and there was a time that I was just hoping to hang out till then, so I'm grateful in some ways for the treatment ive had as its definately enabled me to be around for that special day,plus a few more I hope. I joke and say its never going to be the right time to leave this lovely life as it doesn't fit in with events I need to be at throughout the year, but the truth is that each one I'm still here for I'm aware of how much luck I'm still getting!

I'm hoping life is going good for you all, and that with summer on its way out slowly! We can enjoy some lovely cool but sunny days. Keep happy .........