The In-Between Time

Hello,

It's been a while this time hasn't it!?

Well, I've been recovering from the last bout of chemo and just trying to get my life back on track a bit now. I am still feeling very tired at times but my energy is returning gradually and two weeks after the last chemo pill I am already feeling better.

I haven't really been doing much, working for a friend putting LOTS of things on eBay (more tiring than it sounds and dangerous when I browse.....!).

I joined Slimming World on Thursday (I have done it before) in order to lose some weight. Well, it was a shock when I got on the scales I can tell you! It is so wrong to weigh more than your boyfriend!
Anyway, Ash said he'll do it with me as we both need to change our eating habits although he's not too happy that Crunchy Nut Cornflakes aren't a free food.

I have been catching up with people a bit more and it was brilliant to FINALLY catch up with Sarah who I haven't seen since she got back from Oz (6ish weeks ago!).

The allotment has calmed down a bit now. Our big harvesting time was around that last chemo which was a pain but we got HUNDREDS of runner beans (some of you will know, as you've been/bean eating them!)
We have also had quite a good crop of tomatoes. A shame since my mum gave us the plants but she lost all her crop due to blight. We had some potatoes and lots of courgettes too, some spring onions and a few red onions.
We lost our broccoli in the space of about 2 days to pigeons - next time we'll put them under a net. Our carrots and parsnips didn't so well at all although the marigolds that I planted around the carrots as a sacrificial plant have done brilliantly!
We've dug up that bed now and are preparing to clear it all for the winter unless we decide to put in a late crop.
What we'll probably do is just leave it and start again next year with a few different crops and some that we know will do well - runners definitely!

We went blackberrying the other day - something I haven't done in donkey's years - and got a bit scratched but picked some lovely berries to make a pie (non-Slimming World - oh well!)

The other thing I suppose I should mention is that Ashley and I have just passed our 1 year anniversary! It's seems to have gone very quickly but also it seems like we've been together forever. We're seriously considering the possibility of moving to Cornwall next year to live as we can afford to buy a house down there and we love it - it's a much more outdoor lifestyle.

So that's my update, I'll be going in for surgery on the 19th September and there'll be news of a new arrival when I write again. Uncle Ashley is getting excited because he'll have a baby to squodge!

Please take a minute to have a look at the info below about prescription charges. As you all know we have been through a financially difficult year and this doesn't help.....

Lots of love to you all and thank you for your continued support

Lizxxxxxxxx

Help us to show the Government it is wrong for people with cancer to pay prescriptions charges for life saving treatment.

Almost half of cancer patients in England are being forced to cut back on basic needs such as food or fuel, in order to pay for their prescriptions.

Macmillan believes prescription charges are a tax on illness and should be abolished in England.

Here’s how you can help right now if you live in England; Click on the following link http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=70&ea.campaign.id=674 to take action today by writing to your MP and local paper, we’ve made it as easy as possible with a template letter ready to be emailed.

You can also help us by filling in our online survey on prescription charges here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Pi8WQlMFtLtNzKpZKx3oEA_3d_3d

Please forward this onto your friends so that they can join the campaign too.

If you would like to join Macmillan’s network of campaigners and get updates on our campaigns visit http://www.macmillan.org.uk/campaigns and submit your email address.

Your support is invaluable to us and people affected by cancer.

Many thanks

Ronan Haughton
Macmillan Campaigns Officer

LAST CHEMO!!!!!

Well guys, just a quick one to say that it is Friday morning and I am having my last ever dose of IV chemo today! I still have to take the pills for another week but at least no more getting having to sit there while they find a vein and stab me in the hand loads of times.
Nicky should be here in about 40 minutes to pick me up and Ash has a half day today so that we can celebrate but just being at home together! Incidentally, for all those wondering how long we have been together now - our 1 year anniversary is coming up in a couple of weeks - 1 year - already!!!!!
Hope you are all well,

I'll try and write again soon - typing has become something of a challenge these days, my reactions are not as quick!

Lots of love


Liz
xxx

Work, holidays and fatigue

Hello everyone,

It's been ages since I wrote, I know. Mostly it's because nothing much has been happening. I was at work for a bit, had the 7th cycle of chemo and tried to go back to work but was completely fatigued and far too tired to do anything.
I spent a week at Mum & Dad's which was lovely although the temperamental Cornish weather could have been a bit better.
I came home via Sam's party in Bristol which was great, it was brilliant to catch up with some Crisis people and big thanks to Kath for the journey home, I had been dreading traveling on my own.

Ashley and I went ballooning on the 26th July at Leeds Castle. This was the trip paid for by the charity the Willow Foundation who have been FANTASTIC. They also paid for us to go out for dinner that night to Tamasha (probably our favourite restaurant in Bromley). The best bit about THAT was the maitre d' coming up to me as we were having a digestive drink in the bar and saying those lovely words 'Madam, the bill is taken care of'. Brilliant - specially as it cost about £100 for the two of us. I urge any of you that can to go and have the Tamasha coffee - it is worth it just for that! (I wil probably explain this is full one day but I am too tired to do it now)

Then we went to Brussels for a few days including a day trip to Amsterdam. We were blessed with beautiful sunshine every day although it was tiring walking around and expensive - the Euro is NOT at a good rate at the moment!

The very LAST cycle of chemo started on Friday and already I feel pretty rough, I am trying to just stay at home and not do anything. I already have a sore mouth and my guts don't like me much but overall I am OK. Just got to get through this one and things will start to get better.

I admit that I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel now and that is something. There's still the radiotherapy to get through of course but I'm hoping that won't be quite so bad. The fatigue is unlike anything I have ever experienced before. I literally cannot hold a conversation together, I go all vague and forget words and things (yes, OK, some may say I have always been like that :) but imagine me normally but 10 times worse!)

Anyway, thought I'd just check in with you all. I know it's been ages since I wrote when I get emails asking me if I'm OK! I am OK, I'll try and keep you posted a bit more regularly when I'm not quite so knackered.

Love to everyone,


Liz
xxxx
(Pics up soon from ballooning and hols but I'm back to my film camera for now so I have to get the film developed etc - who remembers doing THAT????)