Dr Chen says "all good"

Today I've been to see Dr Chen , Chinese herbalist, who tells me he is pleased with my status. He takes my pulse and looks at the colour of my tongue - and from that he can tell how I am and what acupuncture treatment he gives me on that occasion.

I had a discussion with him about my diet and he is still advocating eating lots of kiwi fruit, lots of sweet potato and lots of cooked tomoatoes. This I already do.

Since my last entry I've enjoyed seeing the Royal New Zealand Ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet. It was a very modern interpretation with today's costuming including stiletto heels, short skirts and sun glasses for the girls. The dancers' bodies and arms and legs are so athletic and yet so they are so light and dainty. There were three 20 minute acts, and they seemed to fly by. Marvellous.

Also spent an interesting day at a Professional Development seminar for marriage celebrants. There is controversy here at the moment about some celebrants not including all the legal wording required to make the wedding actually legal. The discussion at the PD day confirmed that my ceremonies have all included the required legal wording - as I knew they did. I can't understand why guilty celebrants don't include them. They are not onerous for either the celebrant or the couple.

In the past week I have also resumed my regular Saturday and Tuesday early morning walks with friends. I can't go the whole distance yet, but it's great to have started back into some of my regular activities. Early morning rises will take some getting used to again. I've got into the habit of late nights and late mornings. it will be a long, slow haul to turn the body clock.

So, it's 9.15pm now. Perhaps I should turn in now :)

No radtiotherpay required

Today I had a call from the radiotherapist. He told me that the two pathologists had spoken and consulted over the samples and are now in agreement that the margins are clear (I think that's the expression). This means that there is no need for radiotherapy treatment at this time. It will be necessary to monitor the situation with regular CT scans, with the first one probably needed in about 2 month's time.

So, that's good news, hey? I still have my appointment with the surgeon to discuss my concern about the (original) differing pathology opinions and the possibility of a third opinion - on 1 September.

My strength is improving and I'm driving again. Meeting with couples for weddings coming up in the spring, as well as conducting funeral services. Life is almost back to normal.

Terrie 12.30am Friday

She Won! She Won! She Won!

Keiraville's Emma Young has tonight (Sunday) won the 2010 Sydney Eisteddfod Operatic Aria Competition. You may remember that I talked about her last month and that I was very excited that she won her way to the final. She has only been singing opera for six months, this is the first time she has entered this competition (obviously) and nobody really expected her to win first time round. In fact I mentioned the gorgeous young man from New Zealand who seemed to be the stand-out favourite. Well, tonight he earned an honourable mention by Richard Bonynge, who announced the winners. And when Angela Brun was announced as the runner-up, our hearts were in our mouths for Emma! And she was announced the winner!!! Amazing

She has won

• $5000 cash
• $35,000 scholarship and return economy airfare to undertake overseas study for the operatic stage including vocal tuition, languages and stagecraft
• opportunity to attend rehearsals at Opera Australia in Melbourne or Sydney and observe an opera throughout the stages of its production

Emma's life has just changed forever. For those of you who might know about operatic arias she sang

1. 'O luce di quest'anima' from Linda di Chamounix by Donizetti
2. 'Je veux vivre' from Romeo and Juliet by Gounod

and she was fabulous - obviously! To celebrate we had to have coffee and cake at a cafe in the Opera House forecourt before driving back to Wollongong.

And now I can't sleep, so that's why this is coming to you so soon after the event.

Terrie 2am Monday :)

What was that I said about a neverending story?

Home from the warm, relaxing environment of Cairns to very-cold Wollongong. And apart from a delightful day out to lunch at The Queens Club in Sydney with my SCEGGS Gleniffer Brae friends



it's back on the medical merry-go-round.

A visit to the Chinese herbalist yesterday, confirmed that my system is OK and that he will support me through the radiotherapy with acupuncture and a change in the herbal regime when the time comes.

Then today I went to see the radiotherapist at Wollongong Hospital, fully expecting to be told that radiotherapy was unavoidable, despite its risks and side effects, as I had been led to believe by the call from the oncologist two weeks ago.

HOWEVER

...the local pathology team has examined the material from the surgery and finds a different outcome from that of the post-surgery pathology team. They are currently consulting with each other and I will be informed about whether it's 'on' or 'off' in a week or so.

If it's on it will be 5 days/week for 28 treatments.

The radiotherapist was very informative, and very tolerant and understanding of my apprehension and my endless questions. He encouraged me to keep asking - and I will.

In the meantime I need to try not to worry :)

Terrie 7pm Thursday

The beauty and terror (mostly beauty)

Helen and I have spent the weekend in the Daintree, Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation. It is just so beautiful. I have to put it on my list of places to return to - and with a 4WD vehicle so that I can go further north.


The terror!

The beauty

The colour

Cape Tribulation beach - but stay out of the water...there are crocs!




Mossman Gorge

The beauty of nature

Train to Kuranda and Girls go Sailing

Girls on the train to Kuranda



Ros and Helen after their day sailing to and from the reef and snorkelling at Green Island

a few pics

Up, up and away
Yorkys Knob Boating Club

Some pics from up here. The top pic is the view from our balcony - I can't get the text to work up there! We had a rough landing in the balloon, but all are safe and sound.

Terrie. Tuesday 10.18pm