A puppy arrrives

This week has been busy with the usual swimming with Cathy and Richard came on Friday which was great, food shopping with Mo which I do enjoy doing and a 13 mile bike ride today with Phil and John , did a big hill today and felt very pleased at the top. I hope to do a longish bike ride next year if the cancer allows me !

Sally and I went to look at a cockapoo in the countryside of Wales on Wednesday, 3 hours later  after we had a good chat, we were making sure she was ok and visa versa we are bringing him home. He is called Benji, black and white and lovely. We met both the mum and dad and they were good natured I know Sally and Jack will be the best owners out, as Sally has said she has never been without a  dog and I know from the past year the feel good factor of having a dog with you, |I would be lost without Bertie(he is sat next to me now)

Worst and Best year of my life.

I thought I would write this as  an extra blog.

First I never wanted this cancer, I really am not happy with it, and the year has been hard, first the radio therapy where I met some wonderful people, the 6 rounds of chemo which was  very hard.
Then you may say  how can it be the best, while I will tell you.
This year I gave up my job, although I enjoyed the people , the job was just ok. Before the cancer I was  very focused on sport, which probably did not give enough time to Sophie and John. So what has changed you may ask. I wihile her goes!!
first I have come closer to the people I care about , I do art with dad, which is such a privilege to say I do art with him. Mum is just there, a friend.  I  cycle with Phil and John . My John has joined the tri club, he has lost weigh and is pretty fit now. Sally has blossomed in to a triathlete and a well balanced person. She doing a full Iron man next year( 2.2mile swim, 100 miles Bike , 26 mile run I think) I want to make it to Sweden next year. My illness has stopped me molly coddling  Sophie and let her be the grown up young lady she is., she is also my taxi !!  . I also feel very lucky that Sally has Jack, who is like my son( he has been mistaken for my son and I do not correct people)
 I have a new weekly routine. Dog walking with Heather. and Emma  ,  weekly food Shopping with Mo and Art with dad. I spend time with mum  walking , she also takes me to many places. I still walk with Celia and Elaine and swim with Cathy and sometime Alison, It has made me realise swimming is my real passion, just  being in the water makes me feel good.. Simple pleasures I enjoy more like Sunday lunch at Mum with Phil and Sarah, watching birds in the garden, making cakes with Sophie and just being with Bertie my dog. I  have also discovered I am a stronger person than I though, who can make who own decisions and guide her own path...
We have done some amazing things and I never say no to anything ,I am listening to a ukele band on Thursday
I do wish with all my heart I did not have cancer and do find it hard not knowing if I will be around next year, but I am determined to give it a good go.

Busy, but I do get tired.

A lovely weekend, doing jobs with Sophie on Saturday, which included buying a bird bath and going to the cake decorating shop. To finish the day a evening with Strictly .
Sunday Phil and I went on  bike ride to the sailing club via Old down, didn't plan it to well as though I managed to do a route without hills, then when we were cycling down one , realized we have to back up one, opps !! but it was ok, easier with clip ons. Phil is very good cycling buddy as we are about the same speed. 
We met John and the club ( did not cycle back )and Sophie and Sarah drove down, really missing walking Bertie, he is fed up too. Sophie and I also spend most of the afternoon giving her room a good sort out . Off to Mum and dads for a roast dinner. Never refuse a roast dinner
O yes the bit about getting tired, I just feel more tired after doing thing than I used

Bertie has kennel cough

Monday evening we thought Bertie was not right, Tuesday Morning we thought he had a bone stuck in his throat, so off to the vets. We only made reception and they said they thought it was kennel cough and we had to go on a room on our own, the vet was not sure so they sedated him and x rayed him, in the end it was kennel cough. He is not allowed to be walked or mixed with other dogs for 2 weeks as it is very contagious .
So my plans had to be changed. I had planned to take him to Glebe  but cancelled, humans can not get it, but I like being on the safe side.
Art was good this week, the people make it. Back to swimming with John and Cathy .Today Emma came for a cup of tea, always good to see her. I then tried to back bread, disaster , but will try again.  I went to Thornbury with mum in the afternoon  for my eyebrows to be  waxed.
I also had a coached swim session with the tri club  this evening, I need to keep my head down more. I also did 4 length pacing a 25 year old. I kept up with him !!!!! it was good fun..
Tomorrow  a swim with Cathy and food shopping with Mo, plenty of ingredients to buy as trying new recipe's.

walking, cycling, swimming and a spa afternoon to finish off

First Mo and I were back to our usual food shopping Friday, keeping the diet healthy. In the evening we went to see Crazy for You at the hippodrome, it was excellent, singing, dancing and so very good songs..
Saturday  morning Sophie and I went for a cockapoo group walk at Aston Court, where we met up with 40 other cockerpoo's and their owners, manic it was, but brilliant fun !!  In the afternoon John and I went on a cycle ride with my new clip on's.
Sunday morning John and I went to Cromhall Quarry for a swim as I have not swam there, I only did one lap and I really enjoyed it.
Sally, Mum, Sophie and I went to the Bristolian for lunch ( very good)then went  for a spa treatment. We went to the Ballantine Spa which was ok, the pool was lovely and so was the hot tub. Sally and I then went for our massage which was  late, then we went into a room and got ready , only to be asked to be moved as they wanted it for a couple, having the girl said my cancer was not a problem , another girl came in and questioned my cancer and should I have a massage, having discussed it I finally got a massage ( hooray) and the girl  did a very good job. Sophie went in after me and we waited with mum to go in. We waited a while and then asked when she would go in, they had forgotten her!! She did get her massage and it was good !!A lovely afternoon with the girls, best memories!!!!

Back from Venice

The last day of Venice we visited the Palace and the  cathedral that I can not remember the name of in St Marks square. Both were amazing . First the palace which was very interesting, the prison part  I found more interesting, the conditions they lived in was horrible. The Cathedral  was just brilliant and even I felt lost for words(That does  not happen that much). a lovely meal and a final visit to St Mark square.
The taxi  ( speedboat) took us to the airport in the morning, The journey was quick and it felt like we were in a James Bond movie!!  I  did look for James Bond !!!!
I had a ball in Venice, Mo and I  did a good job not loosing John and Shaun, we did look around once and could not see them, but they found us. We were known for popping into handbag shops!!
When we got home Sally surprised us with a roast dinner with mum and dad coming up too. I was so hungry and the meal was good.

Back home and a walk with Heather, a visit from Elaine. Dad also took me to my flu jab via the coffee shop.

Venice

John and I are in Venice with Shaun and Mo. We have done so much. We are staying 5 min walk from St Mark Square , so very central. Yesterday we walked around a lot of Venice exploring and going into bag shops !! Today we went by boat to Murano where they do all the glass. We also  had Jackie and Dave with us, there cruise ship happened to be in Venice today. We also visited Burano where they made lace, both fantastic places to visit. The sun was out and with good company what more could you ask for !!  The day finished with drinking Prosecco In St Marks square listening to s 5 piece band playing The  Sound of Music, Clare (My sister who died years ago in a riding accident )
and I used to sing together, The song I am sixteen going on seventeen  was our favourite, she was the  female and I was the male. Such good memories.  What more can a girl want. Another good day planned tomorrow so I will  blog again. I have also been in loads wonderful churches and ate plenty of good food.

Gloe Swim

15 members from the tri club went tp Vobster Quarry for a night swim. The swim started at 8pm when it was dark and there was a full moon. It was different, we all got into the quarry with a glow sticks attached to our swim hat and attempted to swim in a straight line , it was hard, some people had lost there glow sticks and keep a straight line in the dark was not easy !! I manages one lap, John did 2, so did Gavin and Richard.  Did I enjoy it,? I think so, would I do it again ? not sure.  But it was a great experience.

something shared..

I though I would let you know something about cancer, it makes you do the weirdest things. I can not being to hope that I will be one of the lucky ones to make 2 years, I can not believe I will have made it to a year at the beginning of November . In moments of madness I have done some things like clearing out my wardrobe (thinking I might not need the cloth again)so now I am going away I really do not have any nice cloths, I have refused to buy cloths all summer, hence more shopping with mum and Sarah on Monday. I have had the family telling me what to wear on holiday.  I have also cleared out all the cupboards and I have got a little addicted  to looking for things to get rid off..

For me I do find living with cancer hard, planning family holidays for next year is proving hard for me. we are booking them, but I know there is a chance I will not be on them.  I think I am ready to talk to there people with terminal cancer and how they are coping. Kate tomorrow  and a hair cut, I need both !!

I have clip on for my bike

My bug is going, 2 lots of anti biotic and plenty of rest I am winning.
Yesterday I walked Bertie with his best mate Poppy, then in the afternoon I picked up my clip on for my bike. I am now the proud owner of mountain bike shoes.I only got them because Sally and John nagged me a lot!!!! The peddles were changed at the shop and this nice man gave me a lesson on my bike on a trainer in the shop. Feeling confident  and brave went on the road at home and today with Phil I cycled to mum's. Following my cousin Denise ( she is doing 64 miles for women v  cancer) example I hope to do more on the bike, so I have to fight this cancer really hard now so I can be fit enough to do a bike ride.    I also want to get Sophie on the bike as I have given her my old road bike.