Not much change

I am getting really frustrated with this sickness. For a small period I feel like its getting better but as soon as I move it comes back again. Managed to have a shower  and get dressed in the morning but still only managed about 20 minutes downstairs with Mum at lunch time before going back to bed.

Still feeling rubish

Slightly better day, managed to eat a bit of lunch and a bit more tea. But still spent most of the day in bed. I did manage to get downstairs when Mum and Cath visited and spoke to a few people on the phone, but its really frustrating doing nothing and feeling sick all the time, and I really cant face visitors feeling like this. This has to get better soon.

Feeling Really Rubish

Sorry my mum didn't blog yesterday as her chemo has made her feel really sick, (maybe Saturdays bike ride didn't help) We tried to celebrate Mothers Day but it was too much so we had a picnic at home instead of out walking the dog and mum spent the rest of the day resting.
Today has been a repeat and tomorrow will probably be the same but at least this round of Chemo is over now.
Hopefully Mum will be back to blogging in the next day or two

Sophie

Good Bike Ride

Went out for a bike ride with the Triathlon Club this morning. Bradley Stoke to Wotton Under Edge.

Found one of the hills a bit steep but managed 17 miles there. Stopped for cake and a drink and met Sophie for my lift home. John and Phil carried on with them and cycled home as well. It was a really nice morning to be out on the bike.

But maybe it was a bit much felt sick again this afternoon in spite of resting a lot and then more Chemo tablets this evening

Missing Ted and more

I will be honest my mood the last week as not been brilliant, to say I miss Ted is the understatement. Being ill I have spent so much time with him. You see I sit in a chair where the feet come up, with a blanket on, the TV is in the corner and Ted was always in front of it in his bed, Teds mobility was not good, so if he needed anything he would whine for help. I miss watching him sleep, picking him up to go outside, he may not have done much, but he was there, he always has been. Some of the tears I have shed are for Ted, but it has opened up the floodgates and  allowed me to just cry, which I think has been good for me.
Today has been good. Janet gave me a lift to the leisure centre to meet Cathy, it is great going there and seeing people. It was great telling Helen about doing the Brown sea Island swim which Chris has got me on,  I am very very excited about this.  It is 2 miles and I am only doing half of the island but it is something I wanted to do, but never thought possible, but with Chris help I should do it. The old Julie was going to register for the full Island swim, then gave up on the dream when the tumour arrived. Sorry for rambling but  I feel in a chatty mood.
Cathy and I had  a cup of tea before delivering more money to Brain Tumour Support . Then home for a sleep. In the afternoon a dog walk with mum, which was just what I needed...
Chemo now, which I am not looking forward too, my hair is coming out again and my eyebrow are thinning, but I am still smiling...

Penny Bohn

We actually only did one day, why you might ask, while it was just not right for us.We did stay one night and met some wonderful people, but I was ready to come home after Supper last night. Sarah the nurse who was there supporting us in the evening was brilliant and she understood. There was people there from all over England. I  did learn a lot and I learnt a lot about myself and what I really believe in.
Back home today , a walk at Severn Beach with mum and dad, then this afternoon a small cycle ride, then a chat with Janet. A lovely day.
Chemo starts this evening...

hospital yesterday , going to Penny Bohn today

Yesterday was busy, I went to Glebe House in the morning for a visit with Bertie, Megan and Seya.
We stayed there 2 hours chatting to everyone, it was great.
I also had an hospital appointment, we thought chemo nurse, but it was the consultant, any way all is well for now, checking that I am coping with the chemo. I do find it very hard, but life was never meant to be easy!! The appointments ran late and by the time I got home , just felt to tired to walk.  I spent the evening in bed and fell asleep, just very tired....
Today I met Sylvia at the mall for a cup of tea, it was great.
I am now off to Penny Bohn with Sally so no blogging till Thursday!!

Goodbye Teddy

This afternoon we   had to make the hard decision to have Teddy my old dog, put down, he was 15.. He had had another stoke. I am grateful to Julie taking us to the vets and her moral support....
Teddy was the most amazing dog you could have. Anyone that knew Ted knew that he was very laid back and even as puppy was never what you would call lively, he was also a human dustbin and if there was food on the floor he was eat it, he was also good at climbing on chairs and eating food from the table.  He never liked water, but enjoyed going to sailing club and really enjoy Weston Super Mare
So many memories and so much fun. Goodbye Ted...

bloods today

This morning I had to go Thornbury Health centre for the bloods to be taken, to check the platelet levels for the next lot of chemo, hospital appointment on Monday
I  also popped into Brain Tumour Support and handed over the cheque for £925.00 . They  have a weekend this weekend , but as a family I  felt we  were not ready  to go, they run it every 2 years, so  I told them if I am around in 2 years we will go to the next one.!!! They are such a lovely bunch, they were all getting ready for the weekend.
I also met Jenny from the sailing club for a drink and cake , then I caught the bus home. In the afternoon a Bertie and Poppy walk, then shopping with the girls.

A story

When I was a child I went to a C of  E school, then in my youth I went to a Youth group at St Chads church, somewhere along the line I learnt this song.
Would you abide on the other side when someone called for aid
Would you abide o the other side or would you be afraid  ?
then it goes
Cross over the road my friend , ask the lord is strength to lend, his compassion has no end, cross over the road...
You may ask why I have written this, well I have been lucky enough with my illness that people have crossed over the road and when people say I have many friends and been well supported it is because people have crossed the road and not been afraid to talk to me which I appreciate.
Not sure why I am really sharing this, bit I think it is my way of saying thank you for everyone for not turning their back and not walking away !!!!

About today, woke up tired, so did not go into Bristol with dad, instead mum, dad and I went to Severn Beech with the dogs and it was great, felt like we were on holiday!! in the afternoon I went out  with Jane and Marilyn from work and that was brilliant fun, plenty of laugher.
This evening Mike and Lily popped in for a cup of tea and cake, great to see them, then my usual evening with Bertie and Sophie...

Afternoon Tea Party - Final total £925.00

The final total raised was an amazing £925.00.  We were given money after the event.
So   THANK YOU.    I am going to give Brain Tumour Support the money on Friday...

A lovely day

I lovely walk this morning with Emma, followed by pottering in the house, which included topping up the bird feeder. Since being ill I have taken great pleasure from the birds..
This afternoon it was good to see Sue from the sailing club, I love to catch up, it just makes me feel involved which is important to me.. Dad also popped up to give me pointers on the art work from yesterday. I am far from good but I am developing my own style !!!!
I walked with mum this evening , not sure on the times as I forgot to take them off the watch.
All I know is that it was a good walk and I felt good doing it..
This evening, tired again, so in bed.

Feeling Sick this evening

I had a  good morning starting with a swim and being able to swim better. Then cycled to art which was good. Finished the day going to the Mall with Sophie. But now I'm feeling sick. Not sure if I've done too much or eaten something I shouldn't have. -

Feeling Better

Today has been a good day. A great dog walk first thing , followed by going to the Mail with Mo.
This evening I walked 4.5 miles  and I did not feel sick . Hooray . Back home now with the Tv and Bertie.

Trying hard, but struggling

Yesterday I managed a 6.5 mile walk and a lovely afternoon with Celia, plus going to the Indian Restaurant with John, Sophie, Sally and Jack. I was determined to go back there as the place his history, went after diagnosis and before that we went 2 night before I went to A & E. The food is so good there I wanted to go back and we did..

Today John , Sophie and I went to buy John a wetsuit for his open water swim, he is doing the swim part in the tri. I Must say the one he got looked good, we also had a lovely lunch on the waterfront.
Back home we went to a 7 mile bike ride. I really did not want to go, but John's encouragement we went and yes I really did enjoy it, a bit off pace but it was good.  Very  tired now,  really  fed  up with feeling tired.
 I also want to plan ahead, but I do not want to plan my life away, so if asked to do things I am scared to say yes .....

Feelin a little sorry for myself

I did not want to swim as I was feeling sorry for myself, I have never thought why me to have this horrible tumour, why anyone !! but I would lie to say I wish it was not me and this morning and last night was one of those night. There should be a book on how to act and feel but there is not and I go from feeling scared that I will not see my girls do many things to feelings that I have been lucky enough to see them grow up. I do believe that I am strong enough to cope, but it takes every ounce of determination to get though a day at times.
Back to today, Richard picked me up for swimming and  from the moment I walked into the leisure centre and chatted to Helen the receptionist it changed my mood, the leisure centre makes me feel safe, then into the changing rooms and more chatting, I do get to the Pool with the Other Cathy  telling me get in and swim, Cathy was already there  chatting to Richard. I do swim and it is great, I also do some more chatting. So why is swimming there important, it is because I see everyone and it makes me feel good .!!!
Back home for food and I do feel very tired so Richard stays to sort out the champion page, Shaun pops in fro a catch up, with the door open Bertie legs it to Poppy house, luckily they keep him and I have  a sleep.
Julie comes in to take me shopping, not driving is a pain. We look at some charity shops, but I do feel tired, so a short trip to Tesco then home.
A quiet evening in.

counselling

This morning I walked with Judith and slinky, then in the afternoon I had counselling, it was very good although it has left me feeling very tired. I  am not going to see her again for a month as I have Penny Bohn and more chemo coming up. I am trying so hard to come to terms with the cancer, I know it will not go away, but I wish it would. At some point I will have a scan, I will not let anyone know when it is, even close family as the less people know the fewer question can be asked. I am open about most things but sometime you need time to digest information yourself before facing others.

Mind over Matter

Still feeling sick and a bit of a headache today, but life goes on, walking still makes me feels queasy, but I tell myself to get over it !!
A dog
 walk with Heather and Emma to the Park, then Megan comes in with baby Seya, so I had to hold her for a while , such hard work !!!!. This really cheered me up, she is so small.
Dentist this afternoon, Bertie had another walk with Poppy .
This evening I have been to the hippodrome to see the Kinks, John booked it on Monday night. It was very rock and roll, very loud in places, but do you know what I really enjoyed it . We were dancing in our seats at the end.  Such good fun, it was like a party and I do love a party!!

Feeling Better

 I had a good day yesterday, walking the dogs in the morning, then an afternoon pottering . I then walked in the evening, but I ate the wrong food before I went , combined with the effects of chemo, 3 miles felt like 20 and when I got home I felt totally frustrated and just went to bed, hence no blog.

But today is another day and I have been swimming with Gavin and Richard, they swam in another lane, I can keep the pace for 4 lengths, used to hold my own. So I pottered, chatted to Aunty Vi in another lane. I got out early as I am off to art this afternoon.  I am also pleased with myself . I caught a bus home as I am craving independence .
This afternoon I went to art, I tired painting a picture with a bridge in, it was not my best effort as I lost concentration as my head felt fuzzy. But the afternoon was really good, I just enjoy the company and the cup of tea and cake .
Back home I got Bertie from Heathers after she had taken him for a walk and had an afternoon there, it is now really tired. This evening I am feeling sick, so resting in bed.

Petition to request more funding for Brain Tumour research

Yesterday we came across this petition requesting more funding for research into Brain Tumours.
This is obviously something I think would be a good thing and it would be great if people could sign the petition and pass it on to anyone else that would sign it

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/169667Q

Thank you

Tired , total now £800.00

I am very tired today, it is a good tired. To be honest I am also emotionally  tired, although I am happy to talk about brain tumours , I also found it hard, like any cancer your future feels uncertain and to be honest the next few months scares me as I am not sure how the chemo will affect me and how life will be. I am missing work and the routine, but know I am still not  well enough  to work as I get tired very quickly.
Sorry , didn't mean to moan.

On a very positive note , the new amount raised is £800.00, ... I can not thank people enough.....

THANK YOU

 Thank you to everyone that came to Tea Party this afternoon, we raised £737 , amazing, brilliant, I am almost lost for words !!!

Also a big thank you to everyone that helped, it is only a team that can make an event work, so thank you again...

Feeling so much better

It was raining this morning, so I was lazy and did not walk Bertie instead I got Poppy to come around and charge around the house with him. The sickness is better, only 1 anti sickness tablet today and I generally feeling better, although I am still very tired. Today was good, I did some housework and yes I do know what it is!.  I have never been great at doing this , always other things to do, but I love vacuuming and washing up ! Sarah and Phil came up with cakes and loads of other goodies for the coffee and cake, Sarah also helped me get ready for Saturday .
This evening Cathy, Alison, John, Richard, Sally and Annete took part in a swimathon, If I had been well enough I would have taken part but never mind. I did manage

to stay up and watch them !!! They did 151 lengths in  55 min .  I am very impressed. This all stemmed from conversation with John and Sandra in hospital  who are involved with the one at Portishead. This inspired Cathy and Alison to sort out a team for this one,.....

A bettter day

Today has been a lot better.  Richard came to pick Bertie to take him for a walk, then he asked me to go, after a bit of though and a chat to myself about going to the outside world again I went. We went to Blaise Castle and it was great, not a long walk , followed by a cup of tea and a muffin.
In the afternoon Janet and Toby came around for a cup of tea, the rest of the day was pottering .
I only took 2 anti sickness tablets today and the sickness has been ok ish.
Sophie and I have also baked cakes. Tonight I am just watching TV...

still feeling very sick and .Teddy reaches 15!!!

Me being me decided  that I was not going to have any real side effects from the chemo and life would go on as normal, how wrong I was I feel  rubbish, aching and feeling very sick.  It  has also made me feel very tearful , I am not one that cries a lot, but I have cried more since I have the brain tumour than I have done in all my life, tears can come from nowhere. for example if someone is nice I cry, reading nice email, letters and any act of kindness I cry...My dad put a tear in my eye by framing one of my first pictures I painted at art.  I have gone off track again, back to today I have spent the day in bed and once the good anti sickness kicked in I moved down stairs. Luckily Heather walked Bertie for me, he can not wait to go and play with Poppy..

Teddy my old dog has reached 15 years today, we are amazed as in his life, he has been hit by a truck, got a bad stomach bug and has had loads of stokes and he still here. So Happy Birthday Ted.