Hi, I have my 30th Anniversary in a couple of weeks. We are pretty broke at the moment so doubt that we will be able to do anything special. I guess I am at the point now when I am just glad to have made it! Take care Vinouche. S ... View more

It sounds like a pretty good place to be Harker. I too often find that the time spent alone is one of relief and it gives me that time to allow my self the time to merely feel. A yoga teacher once said that we all need time to be just be - not read or watch tele- just be. A bit tree-huggy perhaps but I find the value in this idea more and more lately. I too am feeling a little more at peace with the world. Maybe it is the anti-ds kicking in or just that I am coming to terms with the changes. What ever the reason, I hope it continues! Some great thoughts from you as always. S ... View more

So wise Sailor and so pragmatic while still being gentle. There are times when I feel that the logical order of things is disrupted is when we feel that we can't cope with death and perhaps it is then that we feel cheated. Your reflection on your son comes to mind. I know when I was disgnosed my parents found it more difficult than anyone to deal with the fact that I may have died before them. My Dad is 84 and he has spoken quietly about his body wearing out and being a scientist, realises that he has as he calls it an "expiry date". I know when he goes there will be much grieving on my part but I know that he will lived an amazing and fulfilling life. Perhaps our experience with cancer allows us to be more open and honest about our feelings perticularly when we lose friends and loved ones. We may have gone past worrying what other people think of us and our expressions of grief. Thank you for the beautiful words. Samex ... View more

I hope that the information is correct and that the relevant people can help. I would stress your Dad's situation to them and the process may be able to happena little faster. If you then have all of the bits and pieces, you can have the celebration at the right time for all of you. As I said, my parents got an enormous thrill from the correspondences and photos that were sent. Good luck with everything. It must be terribly hard for you. Samex ... View more

One of my favourite quotes Sailor. s ... View more

As with the others Amie. Vent away but try to find a place of quiet for yourself for a while. Maybe even put the phone on the answering machine. Those poeple who really care will understand. Take care. Words always seem so ineffective. Samex ... View more

Hi, My parents had their 60th last year and if you contact your local Federal member, they will do all that is required. My parents received a card from various dignataries including the Governor General and my mother was speechless with the card from the Queen! I'm pretty certain that the same applies for 50 years. I merely e-mailed my local member and her secretary contacted me within a couple of days. You will need a copy of the marriage certificate or your birth certificctae which may have their marriage date on it. I don't know how well your Dad`is, but we took them out for lunch - just te immediate family and they had a wonderful day and had flowers delivered on the actual day of the anniversary. We actually had all of the mail sent to us and presented it to them as a surpise at the lunch. As`I said, my mum was speechless.and that is saying something! As I said, first step contact your local memeber and I think you will find them particularly helpful as it is an election year. Good luck with it all. samex ... View more

Hi Harker, Am I having a deja vu moment or have you mentioned this before? I know my husband used to do something similar with a mate and maybe that's what has reminded me. I agree with you about the friends though. I had lost contact for a while with my oldest friend and when she found out that I was in hospital, she literally dropped everything and raced up to see me. While I was on treatment she sent me a silly card every "bad" week and whenever she could she took me on an outing. We became much closer and have kept in much closer contact since. Funny how the cancer thing differentiates people. S ... View more

Hi, Many months ago I was seaching for the metaphor to describe cancer. You found it and so beautifully described all of the aspects that this disease brings to those of us who endure it and those, like yourself, who have to watch on. Like Vinouche, this has really touchedme. Speechless. Take care of yourself and your family. S ... View more

Thanks Harker. Tonight I am ahving sausages on bread with 8, 16 year olds having a camp out in our backyard for my son's birthday. And I thought you were crazy returning to full time work! Hope it was great. S ... View more