Well done Kate! Wish I had a modicum of your teacher skills... Mine are very similar ages and well, what a learning curve!  I have used the Cancer Council helpline a few times and I have to say, it was absolutely faultless. So kind, patient, wise, and altogether beautiful. I have told my husband and parents about it, and am hopeful they will use it if they need to. Thank you for providing such a service!  Hope all is going ok for you too,   Sarah x ... View more

Thanks so much for that kJ, and I hope you are going ok too? It is such a weird time hey. Those were very cool words you wrote to me- thank you, and yep time to get serious now with this battle! Big hug to you x ... View more

Thanks Angel1,   That is lovely of you to say. If only we had more control over things!! It sucks, but I have to say that it is kind of good to have time and the presence of mind to be able to do things that are fun, make memories, laugh, and quitting work was pretty liberating too! Although I do love my job as a clinical dietitian, it is so nice to just focus on fun with friends and family, and eating whatever I please! Ha. How are you going? Has your husband’s chemo started yet? I hope you have great support and it all goes smoothly.  Big hug to you and your husband,   Sarah x ... View more

Oh wow Budgie,    That sounds amazing and so creative! It is beyond black humour really when you start thinking about coffins and things- I have already started writing my own eulogy!! Sorry if that sounds confrontation Ng to others... But I want to have a final say! The Egyptian art sounds gorgeous though and you are so right, practicality and planning in this situation  is a privilege I am really grateful for. I’d love to see a picture!!   And yeah, a magic cure would be gratefully received at this point in time. Massive hug to you and hope you’re going ok.   Sarah x ... View more

Good morning Kate and everyone,   Thank you for the the tag Kate- you are lovely! I hope everyone is going ok? Times have certainly gotten weirder hey... Annoyingly I am in a lockdown suburb so things have gotten complicated, but we had already gone on a trip to our family beach house by the time it was announced; just means we will stay here longer which cannot be a bad thing!   We got through the home learning thing with the kids reasonably unscathed, but what an experience- would love to hear how anyone else coped!  Unfortunately my situation has changed pretty dramatically, the immunotherapy I had eliminated the lung tumours, but it has now developed into leptomeningeal disease and I now find myself in a whole new world, involving quitting work, ticking off bucket list things, writing letters and wills and advance care directives and telling friends and family that things are very grim. I have an incredible oncologist who has put me in a new regimen to try including whole brain radiotherapy, and while I am casting a shadow I will be throwing everything I possibly can at this. Gloves are off.   Sending love and thoughts to everyone, keep well and keep strong!   Sarah x ... View more

Right back at you Lindsay,   You sound as though you are one of the really, really good ones. Keep well, and thank you so much for making me feel stronger! Thinking of you.   x ... View more

Oh man @sch, thinking of you both, that is really rough. I hope you've got the support and help you need?   Thinking of you big time. ... View more

Good morning Lampwork,   That is so lovely. Reading is brilliant, and you have reminded me to dig out some of my old books for them- thank you! We have been drawing, crafting, cooking- I am amazed at how stoic they are at the moment, they do miss their friends and teachers, but my eight year old is part of a pen pal system with her friends, and my seven year old twins have a regular Zoom playdate with their friends every couple of days- it's working well so far! They have been pretty good with the cancer stuff too, and I suppose that dealing with cancer AND COVID-19 all at once will give them a unique perspective! I honestly feel like the luckiest person on Earth to have the support team that I do;; my husband and I have done ok, I think. Now    Thank you so much for replying to me. You sound like a wonderful grandparent. I hope you're managing well and keeping safe. Today is a good day to stay in bed for longer with an extra cup of tea I reckon!   Sarah x ... View more

Thanks KJ!,   The kids and my husband are safe to hug, so we're overdosing on them at the moment! Ha. I hope all is going well for you and your health has improved.   Sarah x  ... View more

Lindsay thank you so much,   That was generous of you to share. I am incredibly sad to hear that your wife left in 2016- clearly way too young. I can't imagine how things have been for you. You are absolutely right though, and you have given me a lot to think about! This is precisely what goes through my head, and when you're home constantly instead of at work or out playing with kids or seeing friends, you see more mess and stuff and create your bubble and what needs to be fixed, but this needs to be let go. I have an incredible, capable husband who can do this- you are right. And who gives a stuff if the kids haven't had a bath in three days. Etc.   Thank you again- I cannot tell you how touched I am. Thinking of you!   Sarah x ... View more