Thursday 28 August 2014

Dear Blank Please Blank



If procrastination was an art I'd be a [unpaid] professional. I was scrolling through my old Facebook timeline to find an article on "how to help someone with Breast cancer". An acquaintance told me her friend was newly diagnosed and she wanted my advice. I was honestly trying to be helpful ...

I didn't find it but I came across a link to this little exchange.

Dear Duck,
 My advice? Do not cross the road, you will never hear the end of it... 
Sincerely, Chicken 

http://dearblankpleaseblank.com/permalink.php?viewid=26074#disqus_thread






Then this
 This
 And this
http://dearblankpleaseblank.com/permalink.php?viewid=753#disqus_thread
Some

Dear Blank .....
Please Blank....
are truly bizarre, random and WT ?


http://dearblankpleaseblank.com/permalink.php?viewid=672928#disqus_thread
The comments attached are hilarious , except for the stupid village idiot and trolls. A few sad ones too.


Me ...

Dear Accountant
It was all Dear Blank Please Blank's fault

 signed - My Tax return is still not finished.
Dear Sons

Please come when I call you or I'm changing your names to Chocolate and Ice-Cream...

Signed Mum - At least then you would hear me! and come when I call you


Ok let's waste a bit more time - tell me your DBPB or pick a favourite from their website.

Dear Blank ...... Please Blank .....



Wednesday 27 August 2014

Wordless Wednesday :There is nothing like Big Boys' Toys

Vintage Truck and Tractor show ...included everything with wheels.











so  

The BIG question is - Do we move our old tractor - the other farm is being sold ?

We dragged it 2kms from middle of the scrub in 2008.


The boys & cousins have been playing on it since 2008.
'Aussie Wordless Wednesday'
Please add your WW link , leave a comment and visit others on the linky love chain or at least in your line.


 

Friday 22 August 2014

Colours of Courage

Daffodil Day  is a day all Australians unite and lend their support to the fight against cancer.It is the largest fundraising event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

One in two Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by 85, there’s every chance your life will be affected. No matter who you are, Daffodil Day is for everyone.

August 26th is 9th Anniversary since I lost my Dad (63) to side effects of Leukemia ...a blood cancer. August 9th was 3yrs since my Aunt Rosie (62) passed away Lung cancer.

The Daffodil Garden



1. Beginnings. . ., 2. Daffodils., 3. daffodils in window, 4. Shine on you crazy diamond, 5. a moment of joy, 6. 03Apr18 Daffs, 7. Daffodils in Skagit Valley, 8. Daffodils, 9. Early Narcissu


This year my family (and hopefully a few more friends will join)  have created a team for the Relay for Life.

Our team is Colours of Courage - to represent all the different colours of cancer. In my immediate and extended family - we have had Leukemia, Brain, Breast, Head , Prostrate, Sarcoma, Ovarian and Lung Cancer.

I have had friends that lost their lives or a loved one to Pancreatic Cancer , Lymphoma, Leimosarcoma, Liver Cancer and Melanoma.

I have friends that have /are been treated with various Sarcoma, Thyroid cancer and Stomach and Bone cancers (secondary to Breast cancer).

The theme this year is Race for the cure .

My hope is for better treatments, hope for more survivors and hope for a cancer-free future. Help us beat cancer.

 Your support will make a difference for cancer patients and their families all over Australia.

$5 can help us give a newly diagnosed cancer patient important support and information resources to help them through their cancer journey.

$10 can help offer free exercise programs to help cancer patients build strength and fitness during and after treatment.

$25 can help transport cancer patients to and from hospital for treatment.

$50 can help the Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20 provide free and confidential information and support on all aspects of cancer.

$100 can help provide free accommodation to cancer patients, their families and carers during treatment.

$500 can help fund ground-breaking research into new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
On Daffodil Day please make a donation *hint* like my team or buy a badge, pen, bear or balls .

 Brighten your day or a friend's by buying some daffodils & wear something yellow  :)

Sponsor us here COLOURS OF COURAGE  $5, $10 everything counts. 

They will send you a tax deductible receipt.
 

Thursday 21 August 2014

Mesothelioma - takes your breath away.

I am often asked to share cancer and medical stories. It's information sharing and part of being in a community. This story about mesothelioma really touched me and the message may be life saving.

Cameron Von St James emailed me this week. 

Heather Von St James.

Three months after welcoming her beautiful daughter Lily into the world, Heather was given 15 months to live. The removal of her left lung and multiple treatments saved her life, and 8 years later, she has beat the odds. Heather is one of the very few survivors of this cancer and her family has dedicated their lives to spreading awareness of it to keep other families safe. 


The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance has dedicated a significant amount of time making http://www.mesothelioma.com/ the best resource for those who want to learn more about or are affected by mesothelioma.

They hope that with a successful campaign they can bring awareness to this completely preventable disease.  Though if you have already been exposed - ensure you seek information from your health professional.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer affecting the membrane lining of the lungs and abdomen. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. The primary cause and risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

I clearly remember about 12 years ago my father's friend writing to him to advise him and other colleagues to go get checked for Mesothelioma , as he had just been diagnosed and had a poor prognosis. They had worked together in an industry that used asbestos.

My husband alleges he had some exposure to asbestos playing in broken 'mounds' of it as a young child near his father's business and probably as a tradesman. Unaware of the dangers. Scary, scary stuff.

Australia was one of the highest users per capita in the world up until the mid-1980s. Approximately one third of all homes built in Australia contain asbestos products. The widespread use of asbestos has left a deadly legacy of asbestos material.

Who hasn't heard of Bernie Banton ?


...takes your breath away!

In Australia ,The Bernie Banton Foundation is about asbestos awareness, education and advocacy. It is an Australian not-for-profit organisation that aims to make a difference by helping to alleviate exposure to asbestos, in the hope of eventual eradication of asbestos related disease!



Additionally , they offer support and comfort to sufferers and their loved ones.  More info on treatment http://www.berniebanton.com.au/mesothelioma-treatments

More info here http://asbestossafety.gov.au/asbestos-information

I'm curious have you heard of Mesothelioma ?


 

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Wordless Wednesday : A stitch in time

A quilt will warm your body and comfort your soul. ~Author Unknown


Dubbo Vintage Machinery and Truck show - Quilt exhibition for the ladies ;)

So much love and talent for their craft.

Dozens of quilts - hours upon hours of stitching, painting and piecing together memories.

An InLinkz Link-up

I wish I could sew a quilt ...one day maybe I'll have the patience.
Are you a quilter ?
 

Tuesday 19 August 2014

Handle with care - domestic violence behind closed doors ?

Would you stop to help someone involved in a domestic on a lonely country road ?

Today, as I drove home from shopping in town, I noticed a well dressed lady walking - clearly not for leisure or exercise - with her hand bag and a car following slowly . I passed them with caution and pulled into the driveway of a nearby farm [gate] up the road.

I thought I saw the lady hurl herself and handbag at the car in the middle of road. The car turned and drove off . After it passed me, I went to check she was ok and offered to drive her somewhere. (It was 17km walk into town along country road and not particularly safe anytime , especially once you got to the highway). I was 3km from home.

She jumped in without hesitation (I must look safe) maybe she was scared ? relieved?. She was a bit teary , said she was in a mess but ok. He had told her to get out of the car , so she did. "To stand up for myself !"

She wanted to go to the local train / bus station and travel 750kms far west (from her partner) to her sister. She had recently lost her Mum (Diagnosed with Cancer and passed away within 6 weeks) , was grieving and had some issues with partner over her Mum's death and being away.  She chatted on the 15min trip back into town, mostly I listened. She told me her name and a bit about what was happening and wanting to stand up for herself and said she probably did /said the wrong thing too - made him angry and frustrated.


By the time we got to town , she had changed her mind. I think she would have lucked out on the bus /train anyway [I checked it is a 2 day trip - and she would have to go to Sydney first.]

She asked that I drop her at the Bank (because she had thrown the credit card at him as he'd demanded it back - what I saw when I thought she was throwing something at the car) and said she might have a bite to eat and think things over.

I did offer her a safe place if needed ; she told me where she lives. She didn't say she was in any danger and she was happy to leave her two children ( < 5yrs) with him (they were at preschool)

Why did I stop - because last night I finished Liane Moriarty's (a review for another day)

big 
little 
lies

One of the themes Liane's book plugs into is domestic violence.

The Lady was literally describing her behaviour like the character in the book.

Mind you , I was so focused on the lady I couldn't tell you the colour or make of the car , only that is was a 4WD. I didn't see the man. I'd make a pathetic witness...

Who knows what goes on behind closed suburban doors or bushy farm gates or right in the middle of country back road ?

In a few days, I am wondering if I should drop a card in her letter box (She lives on a property, not in suburbia) so I doubt I could drive by and see her out and about.

It's still bugging me - what would you do ?

 

Monday 18 August 2014

Carving out a lovely little life


We all live our life on fast forward these days , technology means we wait for nothing - news at our fingertips , 24hr banking and shopping.

Life has been busy , when isn't it ? Days at a time are swallowed up. Hello Spring ! in less than 2 weeks.

I apologise I have had a lot on and haven't had a chance to comment or "gasp" blog. I read a lot of blog posts but time gets the better of me.

Every day I wake up and decide how I wish to live the day. Mostly, I am feeling well and I have no immediate medical issues. Some days I just want to stay in bed , not an option 99% of the time. I have my health and as much as I just want my life back as it was before , it will not happen.

I haven't had too much to say because it all feels like whinging or has already been said; better than I could ever articulate.

The last few weeks I've felt very fatigued, not enough that I can't run or walk for exercise - because that is essential to me as eating and breathing.
Housework - meh.

Running slays me , I ache all over sometimes but I can't stop. I roll and try to stretch out the aches , groaning as my husband laughs watches; perplexed. It' s an addiction that makes my bones stronger and supposedly gives me a 30% reduction in the risk of Breast cancer returning. So I run with it.
I need !

I've got my second half marathon in less than 3 weeks at Dubbo Stampede. Then I will take it easier for a while. Slow down , still I think I enjoy it . I absolutely enjoy our local running community, and my URL ones - running communities are very big on inspiration. Even if you are slow.
Me yesterday - after my dreadmill run.

I accept that if I've done all I could , prepared myself and trained well enough – the result doesn't matter . What I've learned is that being the best isn't what it is about – rather doing my best and being happy with my limitations. Running or parenting.

It's cold ; I am so grateful for Mr Chippy , wood chopper and husband extraordinaire who keeps the fire glowing.

It's wet , today ; I am grateful Mr Mech and his side kick fixed my treadmill. Though truth be told I now rather run outside in the fresh air.

Our house is small and cluttered ; the easy answer to that is a 365 100 day challenge to donate, free-cycle, giveaway or bin a heap of stuff. I bet my husband was grateful I had to take Sam to speech therapy last Tuesday morning , as I passed the waste management truck he beat me to the roadside treasures I was eying off  in the council cleanup.

I managed a little rearranging to fit the Expedit 4 cube into my bedroom to help bring some order to my clutter and bottles of pills and hide contain it better.

My beautiful steam iron is not working *sob*. I've had to resort to my old iron. 'Oh the joy' just isn't there anymore and it's so heavy.

Chemo brain is still giving me grief and I find it so hard to concentrate , or to want to concentrate. Our 2013 Tax is very overdue , it's complicated but slowly I'm getting there. Reminders from the accountant jolt me back into reality; it's not going away.

We have 1000's (no joke) of pieces of paper , in trays and in files (a drawer re removed from the filing cabinet). Stacked in our kitchen /family room. Moved to the table, off the table to the floor and back again. I am so over it.





Over it completely , we sold a property we owned for many years , we had lived in it for 3-4yrs, then rented more recently - hence the capital gains tax complication. Then it's 2014 tax time.

Right now , I long to carve out a lovely little space in the  red dirt garden so when Spring comes I can plant vegies and bright flowers - plus start work on my new Egg plant ...

Tell me what you have been doing or should be doing ?

 

Tuesday 12 August 2014

Wordless Wednesday : Hyde Park to Bondi


A panda , a boat , several tutus , a onsie and lots of  Pink - Team National Breast Cancer Foundation 7:30am early starters. Credit : NBCF Team Manager.



 
Everything is Awesome ! I can't imagine how they ran !!

Yes, people were swimming and it was COLD !

Thank God for the PTL ! So many people.

Now , to hang my Bling - watch this space!
I am so relieved I finished ; a bit slower than last year - with limited training under my soles. I admit I don't always love running but I love that I am still able to run with a purpose. Thank you to my sponsors - together we raised $2055.