Port Douglas

Lots of fun and laughter, plenty of cups of coffee with cake, delicious meals at restaurants, little bit Of shopping, walks along the beach, dips in the warm ocean, sailing with friends, visit to the Daintree, in the jacuzzi every evening. I have discovered that my iPad won't allow me to upload pics. Apparently there is special software required. So until I can work that one out there will not be any pics. Health I have all the tests and scans and seen the relevant medicos for the results My arm is doing well and I'm moving to the next stage of not wearing the brace all the time. Need to keep doing exercises as prescribed. All good. The scans on my abdomen show that the two largest tumors (of 3) are growing. I am having more pain in my leg and pelvic area and have truckloads of drugs to deal with that. The offensive tumours are not on vital organs ( they are attached to the peritoneum) so will not hasten me to my last moment for some time. The leg pain is a problem. The prescribed medication for my pain and all of Dr. Chen's herbal medicine fill a small pull along suitcase, so I am going to have to take two suitcases - one for medication and one for clothes. I have doctor's letters, PET scan disc and written report. These are supposed to get me through customs every time. Phew. I certainly hope so. Both bags are packed now and I'm ready to go. Flying out tomorrow (Sunday) at 3.15pm. Right now it's 1pm on Saturday and I'm getting ready to go to the beauty therapist for wax, manicure and pedicure. Have to look good on the outsideeven if I'm not so good on the inside.

Since I last wrote a lot has happened, but now that I look back at it, it's all pretty insignificant.

I booked return flights to NZ in January 2013, to stay with my friends, Hilary and Pat, and to perform the marriage ceremony of their niece, Sheryl to her fiancee Tom, and to have a little NZ holiday

I have a new brace for my arm, which is healing nicely.  I'm still very diligent about my exercises and massaging the scar and surrounding area of my wrist.

Attended a day of Professional Developments for Marriage Celebrants.  It is a requirement to retain registration with the Attorney general's department.  Very good quality training from AssentTecs.

Attending sessions with a rehabilitation physical therapist to help keep the muscles in my left hip and pelvis in shape to help reduce the pain in my left leg.  I'm back on some of those dreaded pain killing medications, as the pain has returned. I had about 2 months free of pain after the radiotherapy.

Took my friend, Cooki, to the airport so he could fly to the Gold Coast and drive the Hopemobile home.  They arrived back safe and sound on Wednesday. Phew!

On Friday I had a blood test - the usual 6 week test - and saw the oncologist for the results on Tuesday.  Not good news.  The tumour marker is continuing to rise. That means that the chemotherapy tablets that I have been taking are not having any effect.  So, stop taking these and have some scans to take a look to see what the picture is.

Today I had a PET scan and on Monday 25th I will have an MRI.  I see the oncologist for the results of both.

Why the wait?, you might be asking. Well, on Sunday I'm off to Port Douglas with three very close friends for some time in the sun, away from this cold winter. While there we will be celebrating Carole's 70th birthday.

So - this coming week will be full of fun and laughter with the girls, in the sun at Port Douglas.

I have also been working with my travel agent on plans for an overseas holiday spending time in Germany, France, Canada and USA - spending six weeks in Atlanta with Nikki and her family after their move from Durban.

All for now. Hope you're happy, Gayle! :-)

Right now it's 7.30pm on Friday 15th June.

My pic in local rag

Illawarra Mercury (local newspaper) article and photo from Tea by the Sea. TB and Dean McLerie,