"I Get By With A Little Help From My freinds" - John Lennon

This past week (chemo free) has been a joy! Apart from feeling tired quite easily I've felt GOOD. So I've made the most of it and taken every opportunity to catch up with friends and family.

With the added bonus of the August Bank Holiday it was time to catch up with one of my oldest and dearest friends (oldest not in age!) Lunch at the Jolly Sailor pub on the Avon & Kennett Canal on a sunny Sunday, bliss. Spending time with Sharon  makes me feel, not only happy but extremely positive too.

 She has always had a way of putting the right perspective on things. The glass is always three quarters full when I'm with her.

Oxford dictionary definition of  friend: A person who likes and chooses to spend time with you. A sympathiser, helper.
I've also been so lucky to have found many a new, 'virtual' friend through having cancer. We share a common bond. We catch up regularly and have great affection through written word alone.
With my virtual friends scattered to the four corners of the earth, I am never alone day or night. Someone is always awake and ready to talk! It makes insomnia a little less stressful.  StephanieAnn in USA, Gina in Ireland, Pam in New Zealand, Rebecca in Liverpool (well they do speak another language) and Hannah in London .

So, with a little help from my friends, I'm getting by quite nicely...

Living in LIMBO...

What a week! Tuesday saw the PICC line insertion completed. I have to say it was no where near as scary as I had imagined. All down to the talented nurse Claire and the very lovely nurse Fallon. After an hour we were all done!

 I came home with 'PICC' who would now be a part of me for the next six months.

I did not sleep well that night mainly due to random thoughts about PICC and was he wriggling about whilst I moved about in bed!

The next day I felt very anxious about the first chemo cycle. We arrived and were met by a very lovely chemo nurse called Jonathon, he talked me through the procedure and then hooked me up! The Oncology suite was very nice to be honest, I had a large reclining arm chair for the duration and a bowl of sweets nearby.

Over the next few days whilst my chemo was still being administered by the little pump I had bought home, I experienced the standard side affects. Mainly nausea, fatigue, pings and pangs in nerve endings! I took the medication prescribed which helped.

The practicalities were a challenge. Question -  How to shower with PICC and Pump?

Answer - With the little help of a genius invention called... 'The Limbo' a waterproof protector which can be submerged and used in showers and baths.

 By Friday evening the pump was disconnected and I was chemo free for eleven days! One down eleven more chemo cycles to go...sounds better than one week down twenty three weeks to go!

Sunday was a beautiful August summers day and I was determined to get out there and make the most of it, so with my factor 30 sun cream, large sunnies and long sleeved top on, off we went. Durdham Downs was bustling with joggers, dog walkers and families having picnics.
 I managed a 40 minute walk, with Meg and my family and enjoyed every minute of it...
It was good to know that I could, even though I'm currently living in Chemo Limbo!

A Triumphant Trip...

On my final day of freedom as I now referred to Monday 15th August 2011, I had lots planned. An early morning clear up and total clean. We both made the house and garden spotless! It reminded me of when I was about to have my son and a last minute 'nesting' period grabbed hold and cleaning was all I could think about! Do I really think that I won't be able to clean for the next 6 months during chemo?!?

However the next part of the planned 'final day' was the exciting part. A friend from work was coming to pick me up and take me out to lunch. The sun was shining and I had no idea where we were going. I do love a surprise...

Twelve thirty arrived and a toot of a horn outside. As I looked to see if it was Nicky, I couldn't believe my eyes! There she was parked up, in her 1965 Triumphant Herald, top down! Oh joy a vintage car ride!
With squeels of joy I jumped aboard and off we went. Heading off to Chew Magna for a little lite lunch.
 Driving through the countryside in 'Hettie' was such a treat. I had my Bridget Jones moment with the hair too! I don't think we ever nudged about 30mph though but everyone who saw us stared in admiration.
Those few hours out and about with Nicky and Hettie were fabulous and I can thoroughly recommend it!

A bloody good way to  escape from my ever closer Oncology appointment to start my chemo.
It really was a Triumphant Trip, thanks Nicky...

Our Annual trip to Bristol Zoo Gardens

Finally, the month is up where I have had to inject myself every day with a 'Clexane' syringe to prevent blood clotting after my operation!

So with my new found freedom (just for one more week, we will discuss more in my next blog!) we decide on our annual visit to Bristol Zoo Gardens. My two gorgeous nephews are over for their annual Summer holiday from Dubai (I know...the irony!) and Bristol Zoo is where they want to go every year...and who can blame them?

We arrive at the car park and get our ticket "what a lovely man" says one of the nephews as we head to our allotted space..."and he was very helpful" says the other!

Outside the main entrance stands a beautiful Wow Gorilla Noah, the prettiest Ive photographed so far.

Inside its pretty busy, a lovely sunny day and so many activities for children of all ages to enjoy. Not only the variety of animals but the ginormous inflatable slide, the specialist talks and displays by very knowledgeable and humorous staff...The Kookaburra was brilliant!

As the boys visited the Nocturnal House and Aquarium I went in search of one of my favourites - The Fruit bats. At first you don't quite notice all of them...they hang around just above your head and not just on the netting. Look around and you will see them hanging on the building as well. Covering their little heads with wings that look like they are made of pvc. Fluffy bodies hidden underneath. Oh to just give them a little smooth.

The boys loved the Gorillas, the Prairie dogs, Giant tortoises, Exotic birds and particularly the Otters. Oh and they loved the fact that there were bits of Rat in with them...boys love a bit of gore!

Finally, my ultimate favourite - The Butterfly Forest. For someone who adores butterflies and does what they can to ensure their survival, this was just the perfect end to the day. Large exotic butterflies floating all around. Some stopping to feed on the feeding stations and fresh fruit.

A great experience for adults and children to be amongst these fragile and beautiful creatures. Its also very educational with various stages of the life cycle of a butterfly, clearly visible through the windows of the Conservation rooms.

Lastly, a child hood memory for me rekindled with this old photograph displayed by the now named 'Smarty Plants'. Its how I remember the Monkey Temple. Rhesus monkeys climbing all over this Iconic building!

A Cultural Distraction in August

After my visit to Oncology on Tuesday 2nd August 2011 I needed a little distraction. We had arranged a visit to the RWA art Gallery the week before last. I was really looking forward to going and seeing the new August exhibitions! We were also going to sample the delights at Papadeli's Cafe which is positioned within the building. Handy!

The weather could not have been more perfect, the most glorious Summers day. En route to the RWA we passed the Victoria Rooms which are located opposite. A Wow Gorilla stands guard near to the fountains. Banana Shirt is brightly coloured and luckily he had his sunnies on!

Papadeli's was calling and we decided to eat first and then view the various exhibitions. How wonderful to be able to sit up on the balcony. Not only  a great view overlooking the Victoria Rooms, fountains and statue of Edward V11 but next to Damien Hirst's gigantic art work - A Twenty two foot high painted bronze statue - 'Charity' based on the 1960's/70's Spastic Society collection box. What a truly historical and cultural way to eat a salad, pie or sandwich!
Now to the Gallery and first up was Mary Fedden 'Celebration' Exhibition. Painting of still life, landscape, flowers and a beautiful elephant with inscription to a friend. A few years ago I had the priviledge of seeing David Hockey's exhibition at the Tate Modern in London. I was delighted to read that David Hockey had been one of Mary's pupils!

We moved into the next room where Elizabeth Frink's 'Wild' exhibition was displayed. Bronze sculptures of Baboons, horses and man are beautifully spaced out to give the viewer ample room to view from all angles these extremely detailed and fluid sculptures.


Finally, my particular favourite exhibition of the day - Lisa Milroy's 'Improvisations'. The main theme linking all of the paintings in this exhibition are the Japanese Geisha. Prints on Woodblock and Oil on canvass. The vibrant colours used on paintings such as 'Shipwrecked' are in total contrast to the black and white paintings of the solitary Geisha's. Both beautiful and exquisite in their own way.
I sat and stared, stood and analysed each individual Geisha painting in the multi coloured prints and wondered how long did each one of these large paintings take Lisa?








If you get the chance to visit the RWA I can recommend that you visit these very different but very worthwhile exhibitions. If its early in the morning, lunchtime or afternoon, go and sample the delights at Papadeli's and take in the view from the balcony. You will not be disappointed.