My Great Escape!

So, last week I got outta 'Stalag Luft 111' just like Steve McQueen and headed for the Dorset coast. Having had a scarey reaction to the Oxaliplatin on Wednesday in Oncology,  just before I was due to go home (my Larynx spasmed and prevented me from breathing properly). Then being violently sick during the 3 days of 5 FU, I was relieved to be able to get in the car Saturday and make the journey. I was determined I would and chemo was not going to spoil my plans.

That evening, I managed a short walk with Meg, Mike and my parents and it felt so good looking out over the cliffs to the sea. I was wrapped up from head to toe like it was minus twenty due to the adverse affects of the cold from the Oxaliplatin chemo! This was a daily occurence, whilst others sat on the beach in shorts and T shirts, I looked like Nanook of the north!

We did trips to Abbottsbury sub tropical gardens, located in its own mini micro climate. the trees and plants from around the world were beautiful.

We spent the day in  Lyme Regis (The Pearl of Dorset) walking along the Victorian Promenade, with its unique, Victorian houses and an eclectic mix of contemporary surf shops, Thai Restaurants and Art Galleries made for a perfect photo opportunity.

 Lunch at Largigi Thai Restaurant, sat out on the sea front in the sunshine was a real tonic. All the stress of the last 4 months temporarily drifted out to sea as I finally relaxed and breathed in the sea air. A walk along 'The Cobb' was bracing! It features in the film and novel  'The French Lieutenant's Woman' written by a local writer John Fowles in 1969  and also in Jane Austen's novel 'Persuasion'.

After lunch a mooch around the shops, second hand book shops, art galleries, hat shops! I found a Folio book of short stories by Daphne Du Maurier and of course due to my adverse reaction to the cold, new hats were purchased in preparation for the winter months! Not that I ever need an excuse to buy hats!

Now that we are back and chemo cycle #4 starts tomorrow, Im already planning my next Great Escape!!

Darkness and Light

This week has brought with it a mixture of dark emotion and more tragedy. My amazingly fit and healthy 87 year old grandad was diagnosed with Prostate cancer...to say that this has upset me terribly is putting it mildly. However, courageous as ever my grandad is very positive about the treatment he will receive to halt it progressing. He will continue to row every weekend at the Bristol Aerial Rowing club. He still takes part in competitions as the Cox!! As long as he can row and exercise at the gym he will be fine. We are all staying as positive as we can, what else can we do!?!?

I've also had some really good days this week with some lovely walks along the beautiful River Avon in Bristol. The Avon Trail at Conham is perfect for a Sunday afternoon visit. You can take the woodland trail or the river trail. We took the latter. As we walked along the edge of the river, Mute swans peacefully paddled past and Mallard ducks viewed us from their platforms across on the other side. The wind blew the Weeping Willow trees and the sound of the wind in the trees oozed tranquility.

 We passed The Bristol Aerial Rowing club where my grandad is the Cox for his Veteran crew. The building has been on its present site since it was built in 1904. The Bristol Aerial rowing club was founded in 1876 and was originally based at the Harbour in Bristol.

We left the rivers edge and headed up towards the woodland trail. Here we joined the Bat trail! A large sign which read "Shhhhh sleeping Bats"  led me to a large and very dark cave. I peered through the protective grills but unfortunately without a torch I couldn't see anything inside the Batcave...next time.

With one day left until my third cycle of chemo starting, another trip along the River Avon was on the agenda. A sunny and breezy day and off to Lock Keeper pub and the start of the Bristol to Bath trail.
The River here is so peaceful and teaming with fish! House boats and Barges line the River on the opposite side. Its a very pretty stretch of the Avon.

 Heading out over the fields, dragonflies, Red Admiral butterflies and a Cormorant perched high up on the pinnacle of a dead tree! Later a lone Canada Goose glides past.

The next time we go out walking, we will be in Dorset and I will be walking the Coastal paths and beaches! This is the Lighter side of my week...making the most of each day as you just never know what the day will bring, darkness or light or a mix of both...

Staring at the ceiling...

Having just completed chemo cycle #2 I have to say I now know how it feels to be floored by it! Joanne V Chemo - TKO! However, I am also pleased to tell you that apart from the fatigue, really I've fared quite well...

So, for the last few days I've learned quite a lot about my self. Ive learned to listen to my body, to have no expectation of what I could or couldn't do and mainly I've learned to accept.

Having oodles of time to think, offers a great opportunity to reminisce and also plan. Ive been lucky to have had many fantastic holidays and days out. All of these easily conjured up and ready to brighten the day. Retracing my steps on a Woodland waterfall walk in Wales, walking along the coastal paths with my loved ones in Dorset, watching Meg swim for the first time,  climbing a sand dune in the desert to say hello to the Bedouin...

Then planning for more memory making! In a few weeks our family holiday to Dorset. I cannot begin to tell you how much Im lookin forward to getting away to the coast. A change of scenery is a tonic and in the Victorian era everyone was sent to the coast to recover from illness. Then the big one, visit my darling brother in Dubai, spend time with my beautiful nephews.

Looking forward to getting out and about with fantastic friends in Liverpool. Catching up with my family in London. Going to the 'Lost Gardens of Heligan' (its been on the to do list forever...)

So, you can see, these few days spent staring at the ceiling have been extremely productive and time well spent! Now im feeling brighter Im getting back in the saddle and off I go! Click here to  listen to the song -  'Staring at the ceiling' - Keane