Amie I am also sorry for you loss. If i have learnt one thing from having cancer, is that it is "ok" to do what you need to do. Just take time out for you and deal in your own way. The beach is my place of solititude, i just walk along and listen to the waves crashing and zone out. Julie xo ... View more

Now we know! Hey i am having chocolate for dinner, this is not fair Harker! ... View more

Hi valerne I cant comment on bowel cancer but i can say that when i was first diagnosed with cancer it was life changing, mind blowing, devastating and a lot of other things that i cant think of right now. It is a very frightening thing to be told and yet that does get better. Once you get a direction to head in regarding treatment etc... i found that it did lessen all those horrible feelings. Of course not everyone is the same but eventually it does get better. 🙂 I think for me the first bit of this journey was the hardest. The waiting for test results and treatment plans etc... Once there was a plan in place i think i felt more secure and then of course came a different set of things to deal with. Side effects of treatment can be not so great but doable. I think for carers there is an added thing in that they often feel powerless to help and yet just by being there they are helping a huge amount. As for surgery versus treatment, i was offered the reverse of that. treatment and if that worked no surgery, which is where i am currently at. You might find a social worker at your hospital helpful in providing you with other details of what is available for you in this journey. It does help to have someone that you can keep in contact with and as i have stated more than once on this site, i find my nurse coordinator an absolute gem for info and support. Hope that helps you a little bit. Julie ... View more

Hiya Jo Hope i am not too late on this one. I had radiotherapy to my lymph nodes on the neck. I had a small permanent tattooo placed in between my breasts and then one on either side of me under my arms. All not easily detectable. The reason they do this is to avoid any bones copping direct hits, specially the spine. :) Julie ... View more

ok ... "insert accent here" i forgot that bit. :D Rum for the boys and cab sav for me, or a nice chenin all in moderation of course! ... View more

oooray and up she rises ... early (not sure how to spell that one) in the morning!! Thats the only shanty i know ... think i will leave the shantying, heaving and hauling to harker and sailor. ... View more

lol Harker you make me laugh. But am sorry i have to pull rank here. 1. I am a girl (woman) so linen does count and the girls far outway the boys on this site. Feel free to jump on in here girls! and 2. I have 5 sheds and if you really want to borrow one for you and sailor then you will allow 1. to count. :D So, no old dresses but lots of well hoarded linen! Which some became marked linen - for the pig! Well, for when the pig ummmm well am sure you get the drift where the pig was going. Electricity is involved! so we had a bag marked pig linen! Best dressed pig. haha Julie ps if you really are going to sing you can have the sea container - i am sure thats somewhat sound proof. Oh and i might send my son in with you and he can bring his guitar. ... View more

Hi Vera It can be quite overwhelming at times. Just cross hurdles as you come to them. 🙂 I kind of like to refer to them as bridges because they can be crossed alone or with someone. Julie ... View more

Hiya tsey Hopefully your husband will pick up quickly. Keep hanging in there, is sa hrd journey but a doable one. :) Julie ... View more

I cleaned out my linen cupboard and one shed, does that count? Julie ... View more