My Life's Winding Roads: Happy New Year

My Life's Winding Roads: Happy New Year: Wow, just look at where this year has gone, good morning all, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas weekend as we now move towards sayin...

My Life's Winding Roads: Going home for Christmas

My Life's Winding Roads: Going home for Christmas: Good morning friends and family on this very special Monday. I truly had moments when I thought today was just never going to arrive - why ...

Happy New Year

Wow, just look at where this year has gone, good morning all, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas weekend as we now move towards saying goodbye what has surely been a challenging year. I for one will not be sorry to see the end of 2021 but I am so blessed that I was able to end this year with my family and at home. I was discharged last Monday, hallelujah what a relief after three long weeks. Poppet very kindly drove me home and spent the afternoon with us which was awesome, being home and with those I love. On Tuesday Big Guy arrived and spent that night with BigBear and BabyBear before meeting up with the rest of us at Poppets house for a family dinner. The biggest surprise was having known that Big Guy had been on a diet for the last fourteen months, he had been very careful of not letting any of us see photographs of him, so seeing him was a really enormous surprise, he has lost 50kg's and the change is absolutely incredible. Apart from looking and feeling healthier he looks at least 15 years younger, Congratulations son you are an example and inspiration to us all. It has been beyond special having him home with us this past week, he also has done the bulk of the cooking, thank you my love, as well as all the rest of the family time we have had, it was sorely needed (by me) and the best way to see out the year. In general it has been a quiet week as I have found that I am not quite as strong as I would like to think, the three weeks of lying in bed and literally being pumped full of medication has taken quite a toll on my body as well as the adjustment to being home and not in isolation ...... there is no place like home. We spent Christmas Day with Poppet and Princess at their house, Sonshine is still stuck in the U.K. after testing positive for CoVid 😢. Poppet and Big Guy worked as an amazing team and produced a feast of note, thank you guys for an incredible meal and to all for making it a special day, despite the circumstances. Thank you Princess for insisting on playing Uno Flip hahaha it was also a very much needed time of laughter and fun as a family. Yesterday we spent quietly at home and today are going out for a meal before my handsome son flies back to Johannesburg tomorrow, I am going to miss him so much and am praying it won't take twelve months to see him again. Folks as we wrap up this year I pray that we can leave the 'negative/unhappy' parts behind us, taking what we have learnt and the positive changes and experiences with us into 2022. May this year ahead be one of good health, strong family bonds, productive and prosperous work experiences and just overall, a year filled with joy and goodness. Stay well and stay safe folks, thank you for your support and continued readership I am looking forward to some new adventures, memories and fun in this coming year. Ciao ciao. Zeepha being cute.

Going home for Christmas

Good morning friends and family on this very special Monday. I truly had moments when I thought today was just never going to arrive - why such expectation ? Because today I go home after spending 19 days in hospital in 'isolation', my excitement is simply too great to even try and express. This past week seems to have passed at a snails pace and for the first time in my life I have found that sleeping during the day is my friend, it is something I normally cannot do, the last three weeks have changed that 😄. Every day has been a breath holding experience when my blood tests come back and the doctor walks in but, as always, God has proved Himself faithful and steadfast and once my last drop of antibiotic drips in, I am out of here. 

 My family have been absolute superstars and their support and hard work kept my brain from exploding whilst at the same time kept me in touch with what is going on at home. Due to their kindness and forethought everything I would normally have done in preparation for December re cleaning the house and preparing it for Christmas, has been done. We were blessed to have a company come in on Friday and do a major deep clean from top to bottom, thank you guys. On Saturday Hubby and I had previously organized for a couple to come in and help in the house and garden and we kept to that plan which means that even curtains got washed, fridge defrosted etc, etc and the garden were completely taken care of, saving Hubby dearest days of work and a sore back. Even the dogs have been groomed, although that was scheduled ages ago ..... I am going home to a sparkling home and can concentrate on getting strong and well. It has been a shock to me how quickly ones strength disappears after three weeks in bed, not being able to eat properly has not helped in that regard I know. Now that I am off the multitudes of pills and antibiotics I am trusting that the nausea will become a thing of the past and I can resume my normal life and strength day by day.  The family are all well and winding down on what has been an extremely difficult year. It is certainly time for us all to breathe and just 'be'. Big Guy flies down to the Cape on Tuesday morning for a week and seeing as it has been a full year since we've seen him I am super excited whoop whoop. Princess has been in Natal with family friends for the last week and is currently on her way back to Pretoria, she also flies back a bit later this week and we will all be together #mommyheartfull. 

This year has for most people that I know or have spoken to been a lot more difficult and stressful that even 2020 in almost every way imaginable but, what I am trying to keep my focus on is not the challenges, the loss, the anxiety etc but the fact that we are still here.  We are alive, changed forever? Yes without a doubt ....... but ......... alive, wiser, richer in compassion and understanding, more patient and for the most part I hope and pray ..... our focus and values have changed to become less self centered and more all encompassing.  Without God's intervention in my life, this Christmas would have had a very different outcome.  He has brought me/us through all that was thrown at us and now it is time we as individuals take that and share it with those who face unspeakable challenges.  CoVid has changed the world and the way we live and unless we continue to live out the changes we have learnt, what was the point of  coming through it.  Cancer has changed me in more ways that I can begin to mention at this stage, things that I thought were important at the start of my journey are now way down the list as merely the tinsel on the tree.  My basic health and well being are far more important than whether I am finished with aesthetics of the journey, that will happen in time, right now I am here, I am alive, I am going home to be with my family which is the greatest gift God has ever given me and every day has new opportunities for me to learn, discover and try new things.

This is probably not quite what you were expecting to read today, it's not what I was expecting to write but I guess three weeks of being on your own and trusting God hourly will bring about some reflection and change, all to the good if it makes me a better person.Folks, I wish you all a peace filled week, may you not get caught on the merry-go-round of insanity as Christmas day draws closer, may it be about the time shared with your loved ones and staying healthy and safe. Wishing each of you a very blessed Christmas with love from my family to yours. 

My Life's Winding Roads: A quick catch up.

My Life's Winding Roads: A quick catch up.: Well ....... good morning folks, I certainly did not envisage today's Blog would be typed from my hospital bed, but here I am and seeing...

A quick catch up.

Well ....... good morning folks, I certainly did not envisage today's Blog would be typed from my hospital bed, but here I am and seeing as last week I really just said hi, I thought it was time for a catch up. Today marks my 13th day here and even though I know it is part of the process that does not take away the frustration of wanting to be home with my family and eating home cooked food. What a process it has been and continues to be as my days start at 5 am with someone standing next to the bed wanting to draw blood. Because the infection I had was identified as a hospital super bug - Enterobacteriaceae, the same one as found on the last surgery, I was very smartly moved to a private ward where only certain staff members are allowed to work with me. I will admit to feeling quite emotional when I saw the notice on the door stating isolation and sanitisation procedures, it felt like I was 'unclean' (which in a sense I was). It also means that most staff don't come in = less chats lol. I have built good 'relationships' with the staff that I do have contact with and have to say that they are truly fantastic. There are so many doctors involved that at times it is hard keeping track of who is who and again each one has been really super. The reason behind the daily blood tests is to access the infection levels as well as toxicity levels of the two antibiotics I am on by a Macrobiologist? who then instructs the Specialist which Med's are to be adjusted accordingly. Currently I am on four drips per day one of which is a huge 'banana bag' of intense multivitamins, thanks to my original surgeon who also called in a Nutritionist. Apparently the more protein I can consume, via shakes and protein powder at the moment the quicker my body can fight back. As of last night my infection level was down from over 50 to 4 Praise the Lord. The toxic antibiotic has reached a trough which is what most of the attention is focused on currently. Within myself I feel fine and have had barely a minutes discomfort from the surgery itself, I have no appetite at all which is causing a bit of a problem combined with the nausea but, mentally I am ok. I'm getting impatient to go home and spoke to the Specialist today as I want and desperately need to be home before the 21st which is when Big Guy flies down. Dr will only discharge me on the 21st after my last dose of the'dangerous' antibiotic. it took me a while to get my head and heart around that. All prayer for favor and miracles are greatly appreciated hehe. I try not to think of the days ahead whilst waiting because then I might just go totally loopy. The family are all well as can be expected and have been such a blessing and encouragement. Hubby has been working hard on getting his car back on the road and is literally inundated with clocks, he is now having to say to new clients that their items will only be available in the new year. Jelly Bean has been an absolute rock in picking up the reigns and running the house like an star as well as doing her actual work. Princess is in Durban for a few days and Poppet is as busy as ever. BigBear and BabyBear are winding down the roller coaster they've been on and looking forward to resuming a normal life . Big Guy is also working hard to get as much in before he goes in leave so that he too can relax. I just want to be out of hospital and celebrate Christmas with my family. I don't think the cats are too fussed about me not being there but Charlie is definitely taking strain - Hubby took some of my pyjamas home for washing and Charlie nearly went crazy following the smell and trying to reach them in the washing machine, then he ran to the front door to look for me, then back to the washing machine hehe, when the door opens he runs to the car barking to see if I am sitting inside. Folks, that is my catch up from the confines of 4 walls and a sliver window view of the mountains behind Gordon's Bay. To every member of my family, thank you from the bottom of my heart for you constant encouragement, visits, positivity and prayers, you keep me focused on the end goal and make each day possible. To all my friends who have stood in the gap for me praying, encouraging, calling and messaging, thank you for holding me up and your love and care, there are no words. I pray you each have a wonderful week, that God multiplies your time and gives you wisdom in every situation and that you stay well and safe. Don't stop sanitizing or lower any of your protection protocols please. Ciao ciao My exquisite bouquet of flowers from Poppet, Sonshine and Princess. There has not been one person to walk into my ward, male or female, that has not commented on how beautiful they are

A wee break this week.

Good morning all, I trust this quick note finds you all well. As this morning finds me still in hospital after being re-admitted on Thursday for another emergency surgery to remove infection, I have decided to give this week's Blog a wee holiday and will be back with you next week. The surgery itself was successful and I am currently waiting on blood tests and pathology reports. Praying you all have a super week, Please stay well and safe. Ciao Ciao

Christmas is approaching.

Good morning folks this year is fast coming to a close much to the relief of most of the people I know.  To be honest it has been a doozy and I for one won't be sorry to see the back of it.

All in all it was a quiet week after two successive trips into town for ........ doctors LOL.  I got the thumbs up and temporary sign off from my Breast Surgeon who is happy with where I am now, temporary because she will be involved in my exchange surgery.  I also then got the thumbs up from my Oncologist after booking a bone density test in early December, I will be seeing her every three months so that will be ongoing.  Then to round them all off I saw my Plastic Surgeon who was very happy with all the stitches and wounds, but booked me for an Ultra Sound Aspiration which was done and yielded only 13 ml and another happy Dr Radiologist whoop, whoop. Happy doctors makes a nice change.  Today I go in to have all of the stitches removed 🙏🏻 and the possibility of my first fill.  On our way home last week we stopped at a vet shop and  as I walked in I realized that it is the first store I have been in since before the 8th October - major milestone 😂😂.

We had a fabulous Saturday when the girls came around, exams are finished and a little pressure is off.  It was awesome to see them relax and Princess decorated the Christmas Tree for me, it looks absolutely stunning.  Poppet cooked us the most delicious curry and the afternoon was topped off with Christmas mince pies, my personal weakness and favorite, yummmmm. Thank you girls for making it special and giving me the privilege of seeing you both actually relax a bit.

There has been much stress due to the U.K. closing its borders to SA as Sonshine is booked to be back here for Christmas.  This action has caused such heartache not just in our family but all over the country and my heart goes out to everyone on both sides of 'the Pond' who have been affected and we can only pray that somehow God will make a way.

There are so many people right now who are struggling just to get through the next hour / day / week, even in my own family and  when I look at the tiredness of Spirit and body in those I know, I am so aware that we can do nothing in our own strength.  The last two years have been beyond difficult on every single, possible level, spiritually and physically people are drained and exhausted.  The ONLY answer I have is God's Word and prayer.  It is only in relying on Him that we can face the next hour, in our own ability we are nothing. 

Isaiah 40 v 27 .... Why do you say oh Jacob and assert oh Israel " my way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God?"  Do you not know ? Have you not heard ? The Everlasting God, the Lord,  the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.  His understanding is inscrutable.  He gives strength to the weary, and to him to lacks might, He increases power.  Though youths grow tired and weary, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;  They will mount up with wings like eagles.  They will run and not get tired, the will walk and not become weary.

Joshua  1 v 9 " Have I not commanded you ? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord Your God is with you wherever you go."

Folks, we can't do it, but through relying on the strength of the Lord we can conquer everything that comes our way, irrespective of how tired or weak we are.  It just takes calling out to God for His help, His strength, His wisdom, His peace to bring us into a place where He can reach out and give you what is needed.  Just on a personal level if I did not do this on a daily basis I know for a fact I would not have coped with what am going through and have been through.  

My prayer for you all this week is that you will feel the peace of God, experience His helping hand, strength and wisdom and that the challenges of the week will crumble at your feet.  Stay strong 💪🏻 and stay safe and well.  Ciao Ciao .

My Life's Winding Roads: A very unexpected week

My Life's Winding Roads: A very unexpected week: Good morning everyone from a gorgeous blustery, cool Bettys Bay. Yesterday was what I would call a perfect day - strong winds, overcast and...

A very unexpected week

Good morning everyone from a gorgeous blustery, cool Bettys Bay. Yesterday was what I would call a perfect day - strong winds, overcast and just cool enough for blankies. May this stay for awhile please.

Well ...... last week was definitely not what I expected even in my wildest thoughts. After all my positive feedback and excitement things went rather awry. I had started feeling quite sick on Saturday and actually thought it might have been a Fibromyalgia flare. On Monday, prior to my appointment for the fill I called my Dr and explained how I was feeling, he immediately sent me off for blood tests and I then went in to see him early the next morning (Tuesday). They had received the results already and things snowballed so fast my head was spinning. The results showed that I had a bad infection and after taking a swab from the right side I was literally sent directly to hospital, no going past go, no collecting R200. Hmmmm...... Before I knew it it I was admitted, in a bed and waiting for a CoVid test. Once that came back Negative I was moved back down to Surgical Ward and placed on a drip for antibiotics, as well as sent for a CAT Scan, which showed an abscess. Wednesday morning at 5.45 I was wheeled into theatre (I didn't even know they operated so early) and they were all hands ready to go. Apparently there was a pocket of fluid which had filled with some yucky stuff and was fast becoming a large abscess, so my Surgeon reopened me and flushed everything multiple times to make sure nothing was left behind. Happily it had not reached the expander and so that did not have to be removed, although Dr said to me afterwards that one more day and he would have had to remove that as well. Once I was in recovery I had a Tachycardia episode which got everyone running around quite smartly, they put a tablet under my tongue which normalised everything and I was sent back to the ward. It really happened all so fast and poor old Hubby was back and forth on Tuesday trying to get my hospital bag which precious Jelly Bean just took care of, in the end it all worked out. Apparently the Tachycardia was caused by my potassium levels being very low because I had been too nauseous to eat and then the anaethesisa, but a very close eye was kept on me for a couple of days. I was discharged on Friday after I managed to find a Wound Care nurse locally who has been coming in daily to administer my antibiotic drip. Late Friday afternoon the Dr called to say that the swab results had come back and shown the presence of a super bug 🤦🏻‍♀️. Off to the chemist trundled my long suffering Hubby for a new, oral antibiotic to add to my collection. I will admit that most of the weekend I slept, just cannot keep my eyes open for long. This morning late we are back into town for wound check and Dr's appointment. I am really praying that from here on out it is going to be smooth sailing with NO further complications or issues, just nice and easy progress and healing. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 A totally chaotic week for all, with Hubby and Jelly Bean still holding down the fort and working at the same time, thank you guys for everything, words are totally insufficient. Also thanks to all who sent messages and or phone calls, you precious ladies kept me positive and on track. 

As for my poor little Charlie, he apparently went into full on pine mode and eventually I suggested Hubby put one of my shirts on the chair and apparently that is where he slept with his nose pushed into my shirt. Hubby says he would keep going back to the car to check that I wasn't hiding there 😢 Nevertheless he has hardly left my side since being home and is once again a happy camper. The family are all well, Poppet is getting over a bad bout of sinusitis which laid her low, Princess has one more week of exams. BabyBear finishes off her studies and one of her most difficult years on the 13th Dec, and the boys and Jelly Bean are all snowed under as seems to be the norm at the moment, but coping and grinding out the work. I am certainly praying for a much tamer and please God simpler week coming up. 

I am signing off for now folks and wish you each a wonderful week, may all the crinkles and obstacles smooth themselves out and may you have the strength to rise to every situation you are faced with. Please stay safe and healthy. Ciao ciao

A gorgeous gift of a double stem orchid.

Good news

Good morning everyone and here again Monday has rolled around just like it always does. I trust you all had a good week and aren't under too much pressure. For a change of pace I went into Somerset West twice in a row, real gallivanter I am hehe. On Tuesday I went in to Radiology where a Doctor did the aspiration which went very smoothly and for the first time since my surgery she was delighted with what she could see internally. Yaaaaay. On Wednesday we were back in really early for my Plastic Surgeon to asses things and double yaaay, he was really happy, all the wounds are healing nicely despite still having 2 surface holes. Today the plan is for him to insert a few stitches, under local anaesthetic this time and then to do my first fill, I am extremely nervous and leaning heavily on the Lord for strength and also wisdom for Doctor. His words to me were "now you are starting to make progress for the first time" 🙏🏻🙏🏻 On Wednesday afternoon we were SO blessed to have a visit with Sonshine, Poppet and Princess, who is still writing year end exams, yes, after 106 weeks he managed to get here without incident and they are all having a truly special visit. The Bears are overworking, like everyone else I guess and Jelly Bean is still wearing many caps every day, apart from working and looking after me and keeping the house afloat. Hubby has also been really busy but has had a really sore neck so he was able to gear down a little. Big Guy is on his way back from Mozambique where he spent the last four days, a well deserved and very overdue rest. Yesterday with a very real need to do something useful, I sat and repaired all of Charlie's soft, cuddly toys 😂, now he can play to his hears content. Funny though, Sasha has never been attached to a toy rather, she likes to scoot the cushions off the chairs and has done since she was a baby, funny little munchkins. We have, three times this week, had a Hadedah hollering late into the evening, which is most unusual. My theory is he must be young and for some reason keeps getting lost 🤷🏻‍♀️ I can honestly think of no other reason. Whilst on the subject of Betty's Bay's wildlife a very dear friend of mine sent me a video yesterday, of a Puff Adder merrily wending his way through her fynbos garden, thank the Lord she was not gardening at the time, oh we do live in a very special place. Well ladies and gentlemen that is all for me today. Have a super fabulous week and turn those lemons into lemonade when you need to. Stay well and safe. Ciao Ciao Sunset last night. taken by BabyBear in Gardens, Cape Town looking towards Lions Head.

My Life's Winding Roads: Life continues on its path

My Life's Winding Roads: Life continues on its path: Good morning folks, I hope this finds you all well and ready to face the new week. It seems we are fast cruising up to Christmas and I know...

Life continues on its path

Good morning folks, I hope this finds you all well and ready to face the new week. It seems we are fast cruising up to Christmas and I know that I for one don't feel much more prepared than I did last week lol. Weather wise it has been really mild and comfortable, some days are windy but no extremes anywhere. 

 Well despite finding myself 'grounded' again we have managed to have a fairly productive week, 'we' being a very collective we hehe. Hubby has made huge strides with the deck,- he has the door frame in and has spaced out and begun the placement of the windows whooo hooo, we are working towards being enclosed by Christmas, not finished but enclosed and usable 🤞🏻. He has also had a constant stream of clocks - mantel, cuckoo and grand-father as well as a couple of watches come in. Generally it is the clocks that give him grief by ticking along merrily for days and then stopping for no obvious reason which usually then requires a lot of out-of-the-box thinking. 

 Jelly Bean has had a crazy week work wise, I think work is always going to be crazy no matter what field you are in, the minute you add clients i.e. other human beings into the mix things get crazy. As for the rest of the family I believe that the above stands true for all of them, the year is winding down and deadlines are looming = crazy with large doses of patience needed all round. Princess started writing her year end exams so it is full steam ahead for her as well. 

 I mentioned that I am 'grounded' grrrrr. The hole in my stitches which was so painfully restitched two fridays ago, reopened last Tuesday evening and I will admit I came unglued emotionally, it was like the last straw - I just sat and wept. On Thursday it was off to the Plastic Surgeon very trepidiciously only to be surprised when he was not phased but in fact delighted with all the other wounds. It would seem that despite the set backs, on the whole he is happy. He then sent me off the Advanced Wound Care Clinic, they could only take me an hour later so we stopped for new antibiotics and then did a really quick pop in with the girls for a delicious cup of coffee. It was so good to see them and get hugs. Back we went to the Clinic where after a bit of a wait I was fitted with a Negative Pressure Therapy Vacuum Pump, I have never even heard of such a thing. This pump works over the open wound and by vacuum it drains any fluid as well as causes granulation of the site and thereby closing the wound. 🤞🏻🙏🏻. It is heavy to carry around and I have to wear it 24/7 until Wednesday, as well as it sounds like a soft Kreepy Krauly 😂😂. Hence being grounded. By the time we eventually got home I was in tears from tiredness and pain caused by the pump pulling on already sore skin. Later that night Jelly Bean and Hubby performed some home remedies by snipping some small pieces of the plasters to lessen the pull and then taping the tube to my tummy with micropore tape to lessen the drag of gravity ........ instant semi relief. That night I tossed and turned until 12.30 before gathering up ALL my many pillows, my machine (yes a couple of times I've walked off without it🤦🏻‍♀️) and my quilt and made a bed on the couch, absolute bliss and comfort. I am still here and sleeping well because of the support it gives me. 

Despite being grounded Jelly Bean managed to colour my hair on Saturday despite the weird positions, conditions and angles we were able to work with. At least I don't look like Cruella de Ville anymore hehe. Yesterday she and Hubby bathed both the dogs and made a truly delicious lunch - I am beyond blessed. 

 Well folks that's it for this week, I wish you all a good, happy week full of accomplishments and victories. Ciao ciao for now

 P.S. I have added a page which is an abbreviated 'Journal' account of my Detour with Cancer. Please feel under no obligation to read it just because you follow the Blog, I have done it in the hopes that if it helps just one woman deal with / understand /semi prepare her journey and setbacks then this journey is worthwhile. I will continue to add to it as often as anything happens or I feel the need. 

 Charlie my constant companion

My Life's Winding Roads: Week three and I am back

My Life's Winding Roads: Week three and I am back: Good morning one and all on this brand new day of a new month. I am having a real hard time trying to figure out how we got to November, m...

Week three and I am back

Good morning one and all on this brand new day of a new month. I am having a real hard time trying to figure out how we got to November, my year kind of got all messed up in June and I still feel like it's the middle of the year 🤦🏻‍♀️. It was only this week that the realization of how close Christmas is hit me, made super exciting when Big Guy sent us a screen shot of his air tickets to come home for the holidays yippppeeeee. At the moment we enjoying very mild weather with a tiny bit of rain now and again and some wonderful winds to keep us cool. 

 Currently I seem to be living my life vicariously through other members of the family - I have 'been' to a wine festival, walked the dogs to the beach, spent time DJ'ing, doing Cross Fit to name just a few 🤣🤣. The only 'out' excursions I have had are to the Dr and back and just doing that generally wipes me out for the following day. Recovery is a day by day thing and a lot slower that I expected or hoped. There have been and are some challenges with the healing of the wounds which is holding up the next phase but, I have made my peace with the fact it's going to take as long as it takes. I saw a meme yesterday which hit the nail on the head, it said "Yes, I will get through this, I just don't like going through it." I have also come to realise that every person's journey is different on just about every level and, for that reason it is a very lonely journey. I will never 'know' what someone went through with Breast Cancer because no two cases are the same nor are they treated the same. I do know this though without God, friends, family and the Medical Team I have, I would not be this far. Some of the most meaningful and touching calls or messages I have received have been the ones saying "how are you and what can I pray for today?" and the ones saying "I am thinking of you". Thank you everyone for your love, for listening and for your prayers I cannot explain how much it means to me. 

 Jelly Bean and Hubby have been absolute pillars of strength and help, handling the house and cooking as well as all the running around. From washing my hair, to changing my dresssings and everything in between. Hubby has made rusks twice and they taste exceptional, meals have been brilliant together with all the other household tasks. Jelly Bean has been working around this as has Hubby with clocks and watches continuing to come in, he has even managed to get some work on the deck done, we are so close now to closing up 👏🏻, I can't wait to get out there in my hammock chair. The rest of the family are all well and working hard, Princess starts her year end exams this week and has been studying like a little Trojan, well done my angel, I am so proud of you. There was one very surprising bright spot on Friday, Jelly Bean has been making me smoothies and we were talking about the benefits of fresh juicing so, I had the bright idea of asking on the Village WhatsApp group if anyone had a hidden juicer they would like to sell. Within an hour one lady, whom I don't know had replied, she had one that she had forgotten about and when I asked her the price her reply was " You can have it for nothing, I had forgotten it was there ." I was speechless and am now the owner of a good Braun Juicer and will be stocking up on fresh produce to be juiced and consumed. The only activities I have accomplished in the last three weeks has been the finishing of books and my ongoing recovery , so for all my friends who ask me to slow down, I am slower than the proverbial tortoise 🤣🤣 

 Folks I am going to end off with a prayer that your November is excellent in every way, thank you for your participation in this Blog and please stay safe and well. Ciao

 Caio

Jasper pulling the majestic card.

 

My Life's Winding Roads: A very quick check in

My Life's Winding Roads: A very quick check in: Hello, hello family and friends this is just a very quick note to say hi and also to say a huge thank you to everyone who has messaged and...

A very quick check in

Hello, hello family and friends this is just a very quick note to say hi and also to say a huge thank you to everyone who has messaged and or called over the last two weeks, your  thoughts and prayers have meant so much to me.   The surgery went well if not very long, somewhere just under six hours and the first few days I was kept heavily dosed on numerous pain Meds before being discharged exactly a week later. Poppet and Princess drove me home in comfort and great style.  On the Sunday BigBear drove all the way through for a visit as well as giving Jelly Bean a day off by making us the most delicious lunch.  This past week at home has possibly been one of the longest weeks of my life as I am learning to manage the pain, discomfort and dressings as well as two trips into Somerset West to see both Surgeons - those trips along my favourite road I now dread the most, for all the corners, bumps and jiggled lol.  The one thing that became apparent within hours of waking up was this phrase - The expectation is vastly different to the experience, and once again I can say that without God I do not know how I would have coped, He is ever present and indeed my comfort and strength. As I said this is really just a "Hi" and "I am still here" check in folks.  Hopefully by next week I will up to a more chatty Blog but as far as the family are concerned everyone is doing well, the animals are up to their normal antics, with Charlie quite literally barely leaving my side.  Apparently he became quite depressed whilst I was in hospital and now that I am back he is making sure I don't disappear again hehe. Well folks I wish each of you a wonderful week, make the most of your health and time and as always stay safe.  Ciao ciao with love 

My Life's Winding Roads: The wait is almost over.

My Life's Winding Roads: The wait is almost over.: Well at long last the wait is almost over and I wish you all a happy Monday from a mild weathered BB, we have even had some glorious rain an...

The wait is almost over.

Well at long last the wait is almost over and I wish you all a happy Monday from a mild weathered BB, we have even had some glorious rain and our first official South Easter of the season.   One annoying thing with this time of the year is there are certain grass and weed seeds which get stuck in the dogs fur and require multiple combing sessions during the day to get them out with a fine tooth comb, it is nice bonding time though.

Last week passed in a blur of busyness, stress and a fair amount of drama and lovely surprises, and I am SO glad it is now history, I almost feel like I should issue a disclaimer saying "Please don't hold me accountable for anything I said or did last week". 😂 Sasha had 6 teeth pulled and came through the whole ordeal like the trooper she is and has finished her antibiotics and pain pills, she is livelier than ever. I spent the week completing the cat caves (can you believe it?) at last after redoing the one that was already finished and yesterday they went off to their new owners  ..... Yaaay

On Wednesday we had a visit from very old friends of mine whom I have not seen in over 16 years, what a lovely visit and special time of catching up with each other.  Thanks D,A and M for taking the time to come all the way out here and for my gorgeous gift.

On Thursday our day exploded with a bang when Zeepha  ate one of Sasha's pain pills, while Hubby was busy doing  her breakfast.  I jumped onto Google and found out it was highly toxic for cats so then it was a call to the Vet who told me to give her one tablespoon of charcoal mixed with one teaspoon of washing powder mixed into a paste, to induce vomiting.   Well, I had carbon pellets, which don't crush, and mixed them with washing powder, added a little water in an effort to dissolve them, even tried pulverizing them which also didn't work.  Jelly Bean and I tried pouring it down her throat not very successfully and managed to scrape together a teaspoonful of gritty mix and get that in but nothing we did caused her to bring up the tablet.  More calls to the vet who then asked us to rush her in, I don't think we have every driven that fast on Clarence Drive.  As we arrived they were waiting and first thing was to weigh her and because she had picked up 500gm it put the tablet slightly over the overdose limit, this was a crucial plus.  The vet gave her a proper syringe of charcoal and we came  home with a cat who has still not until today vomited the tablet out.  She seemed ok and was eating although I was worried about her breathing as it sounded very chesty, I now realise that when giving her the carbon we must have got some in her lungs 😢.  On Friday she  ate breakfast and by that night her breathing became very interesting rapid and crackly, we honestly did not think she would make it through the night, she was not eating at all and hardly moving.  I awoke in the middle of the night and was too scared to go see where she was as I was convinced she wasn't going to make it.  Saturday morning Hubby was also up early because of worrying about her and there she was, ready for food, her breathing normal and on the mend, I prayed so hard and truly believe that God intervened although undoubtedly she used one of her lives.  Good grief talk about stress..

On Friday whilst JB and I were in Somerset West I received a message for other very dear friends who were in town and they spent Friday afternoon with us.  How to be truly blessed beyond measure with old friendships that never change despite time and distance and, having two visits in one week 💗 

We are in another family birthday week  - Poppet celebrated her birthday yesterday and Hubby dearest is on Tuesday, as a result everyone came over to our house yesterday with the guys doing the braai and I did salads and a pudding (which I forgot to serve 🤦🏻‍♀️), BabyBear also did a salad and Princess had organized and left me with a decadent cake and all Poppet's favorite pastries.  We missed Big Guy and Princess who is in Pretoria for the week,  you two missed out on a feast..... sorry 🤗 .  Needless to say I sent everyone home with a pudding packet and memories of a really special day hehehe.

This week ahead is going to be one of preparation including another CoVid test prior to my surgery on Friday, the wait has been so long which was not necessarily a good thing mentally and emotionally and now that I'm in the final approach I will admit to being a little nervous.  I know beyond a shadow of doubt that God is in control and has already gone before me and in that I am trusting, for every single aspect, from the diagnosis to my complete recovery.  Due to the fact that I will be in hospital next week I am going to take a brief 'Blog Break' for a week or two, just until I get up and comfortable enough to carry on.  To every single person, some of whom I have never even met, that has messaged, called, encouraged and is praying for me ....... Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your care and love.  Messages and calls come just when I need them most, picking me up and encouraging me when I feel overwhelmed.  I am truly blessed to have such special people in my life. 😘 

I trust and pray that this week will be one of peace and blessings for each one of you, thank you for your support on this Blog as I share My Life's Winding Road.  Please stay well and safe Ciao Ciao 

Cat Caves ready 

A bit of this and a bit of that

Good morning everyone on this last week of September, I don't know about you but it has been a very long month as far as I am concerned. As I type this I look up out of our roof height windows and the mountain is shrouded in grey cloud, looking beautiful and dark. Weatherwise we have been really blessed with mild temperatures, some rain and mild winds, just what I call comfortable 🙂 After many times of crocheting and undoing the Cat Cave I eventually got it just right and oh my word was I a happy camper. The pattern is now amended properly and I should be able to knock the second one out this week 🤞🏻. Zeepha took such a liking to it that I have decided to undo her's and remake it according to the new, amended pattern before I go into hospital. I got some baking done and quite a bit of catch up within the house. Hubby spent the majority of the week working on clocks and watches and has come a long way in clearing the queue that had begun to build up. I would say that production wise, we had a good week. Sasha has been 'coughing' of late and we noticed that it seems to be more prevelant when the temperatures drop or it rains so, on Thursday we took her into the Vet for a checkup of her teeth and the 'cough'. Seeing as she is now 12 and apart from vaccinations this is her first ever visit to the Vet, I think she is doing very well and is still very active. The diagnosis was that she needs to have her teeth cleaned as the back molars are in a bad state and the Vet believes that this could also be the cause of her cough, kind of like a post nasal drip. Her heart sounds good and so this morning Hubby is taking her in and they will do her teeth under anaesthetic and I pray that will fix it all, poor old girl. After the check-up Jelly Bean and I were dropped off with the girls where we were able to relax while my very energetic Hubby did all the stops that seem to accrue with annoying regularity. Just going in exhausts me at the moment so I really appreciated the down time at Poppet's house. Friday was a Public Holiday and we invited the girls over for a braai which turned out quite different to what we had planned. At the last minute we decided to use the Air Fryer instead of making a fire - we do not eat a lot of meat but oh gosh, the lamb chops and pork steaks were absolutely delicious, done to perfection. The more I use it the more uses I find for it 😁. The rest of the family are doing well although BabyBear twisted her ankle last week and it turned out to be a torn ligament, she is now in a brace/boot and more than frustrated at not being able to exercise and get about. Praying for a quick recovery Angel. Now that I am down to less than two weeks of waiting for my surgery I will be honest and admit that I am nervous, yes a little about the actual surgery but also about the post-op recovery with all that it will entail. I think the wait has just been too long and I will be glad to have at least the first major step behind me and know that I am on the recovery road. It is impossible to 'imagine' how I will feel waking up after the surgery to effectively having lost my 'boobs' but, I am still just as determined to beat this and do it in faith and with grace, I also know that it is going to involve a huge amount of prayer and resilience. Without God I would be lost, it is only in His strength that I can come through this. As a quick follow up on all the drama regarding Scar Face last week, it seems that that the three Villages - Bettys Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els are going to come together to protect our baboons and preserve our Biosphere for future generations. There is still much anger and grief around last weeks situation and the best way to channel it is to form a strong enough group to stand up to those who are totally unscrupulous. Well folks that is it for now , I wish you all a wonderful week, for those who are struggling and hurting in whatever way I pray that you experience the Peace and Comfort of the Holy Spirit and that God Himself will make your road smooth and give you the wisdom needed in all your decisions. Please stay safe and stay well, Ciao Ciao . My Interior Decor is designed around cardboard boxes for Zeepha's pleasure, even if she doesn't fit.

My Life's Winding Roads: #R.I.P. Scarface

My Life's Winding Roads: #R.I.P. Scarface: Good morning greetings everyone, here we are at the beginning of yet another new week and I hope you are all ready to tackle whatever comes...

#R.I.P. Scarface

Good morning greetings everyone, here we are at the beginning of yet another new week and I hope you are all ready to tackle whatever comes with it. Weather wise we have had a glorious week of mild temperatures and strong winds (they do make getting the washing dry so easy). There is definitely a bit more warmth in the air but thank goodness no major heat 🤞🏻. My week started off with a determination to solve the pyjama 'crisis' and my course of action was that on Tuesday I got into my car and drove through to Somerset West to find the appropriate garments. It was the first time since we moved down, I think, that I went by myself into town to do some shopping for myself and was just what I needed. I did try and get some extra Tyarn but that proved unsuccessful so I then turned my attention to my most hated place, the Mall. Clever me, I phoned ahead to find out who had what and bingo ........ I got exactly what I wanted and needed. The store I had called were keeping two pairs aside which I took to try on and whilst walking throughout the shop I noticed a rail pushed to the side with old stock of winter pyjamas, as I ran my eye across I noticed a shorter sleeve and just managed to conceal my delight on seeing that it was last years stock of summer pj's, one size bigger than I wear and THE only summer pair on the rack. Whooo hooo, into the changing room and they were perfect - roomy enough to deal with dressings and drains and extra bonus, R100 less than this years stock. I was beyond chuffed and now have two new pairs 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. I consider that a successful trip and even though I paid the price the next day physically it was SO worth it, even stopping at the roadside Coffee trailer on the way home and indulging in a steaming cappuccino. I will be honest the waiting is certainly proving beyond tedious and I'm almost down to counting days, currently two weeks and 3 days. On Friday we received an email from the Surgeon letting us know that our Medical Aid has waived all the co-payments for the hospital, thank you Father God. That has been such a concern, now we are praying and waiting to hear about the co-payments for the Plastic Surgeon. Hubby is still being inundated with clocks and watches which is amazing but, also means the deck is on hold added to which it is well nigh impossible to Install glass with a gale blowing. On Thursday for some reason Jasper was very unwell and had a very unhappy tummy, by that evening when he started vomiting we were really beginning to get worried. I continued giving him tummy meds and just plain boiled chicken and happily he is now completely back to normal. 🙏🏻 On Friday our little Village exploded with the news that the baboon monitors (an extremely contentious issue as they terrorize the baboons with paintball guns, trying to drive them back into the mountains) had been given permission to euthanase the one Alpha male called Scarface. He has been a lone baboon ever since we've been here and is extremely intelligent in that he learnt how to lift sliding doors off their frames. To back up a little as most of you know we live in a what has been identified as a world protected bio-sphere. Most of the residents, like us, made a conscious decision to move here for all that being in a bio-sphere encompasses - dirt roads, free roaming wild life, protected vegetation, no light pollution etc. The baboons come with the package and as such every responsible resident has a baboon safe rubbish cage or bin and devices have been developed to protect sliding doors and windows etc. As the population has grown and with it irresponsibility, the baboons have been introduced to human food and will come down into the Village to look for it. There are quite literally a handful of not even full time residents who have not put in place the necessary protocols and they somehow raised enough noise to cause the Municipality to hire a 'firm', the 'monitors' mentioned above. These people will rampage through anyone's property chasing and shooting the baboons in an endeavor to herd them back into the mountain, I know of one family personally who have moved out of BB due to the gun (paintball) toting idiots, the constant sound of said guns firing and the desperate cries of the baboons being hurt. Back to Friday, once it was discovered what they intended doing a group of residents got together to try and protect the troop and Scarface in particular. He has NEVER hurt or attacked a human or a domestic pet, except in trying to defend himself against unleashed dogs. As you can imagine this has caused a complete uproar and by Saturday morning Beauty Without Cruelty had become involved in absolute desperation. After their talks with the Mayor he was given a stay of execution and the decision to re-locate him was made. Relocation as far as we are concerned was just as unacceptable, but infinitely better than being killed. We have local residents who spend all day every day with the troop watching them, following them and where necessary warning residents if they go in amongst the houses. Everyone did absolutely everything they could and just before lunch on Saturday he was enticed into a cage using potato crisps and then murdered. Their excuse was they had caught him and could not keep him locked up with no relocation papers available despite two locations being made available for him. As you can imagine this has left almost our entire village in a state of mourning for the cold blooded killing of a magnificent animal. As I said on one of the forums "It is just as well that humans down through the ages have not been 'euthanased' for being too clever, because if so we would still be living in the Stone Age. All I can do is pray that somehow, somewhere, some organization which is bigger than these bullies will come in remove them and cancel their contract. They were fired from the City of Cape Town for similar unsuccessful conduct on the Peninsular and are now on our side intent on wiping out a species which is endemic only to this area, the Chacma Baboon. As you can probably gather I feel very strongly about this and if I could I would do whatever it takes. Anyway folks, that is my news and my rant for the week, I wish you all a blessed week as God goes before you to make flat all the hills and surround you with His peace. Ciao Ciao 

#Scarface relaxing on the  grass. 

Photos shared with permission #peteoxford

Enjoying the gardens.

My Life's Winding Roads: The walk of faith

My Life's Winding Roads: The walk of faith: Good morning friends and family at the start of another fresh, brand new week I hope you are all ready to take control this week and not be...

The walk of faith

Good morning friends and family at the start of another fresh, brand new week I hope you are all ready to take control this week and not be controlled by circumstances. I know that during these times we are living in so many people feel as if they have lost control of their lives and trust me I totally understand. I believe that it is vital that we choose to steer our lives, as much as possible, in the direction we want them to go and not just lie down and be bulldozed by life. Yesterday I drove through to Somerset West to collect Jelly Bean who had been house sitting, Hubby offered to drive through and or go with me but I really needed to do something by myself and for myself, which he understood. I took Charlie with me in his new car seat and we had a slow, peaceful drive in and a good drive back home. I think for myself, that with things going the way they are and being uncomfortable / limited in what I can do for so long, I just needed that little bit of independence and making my own decision. For many of you this time feels like a loss of freedom, restrictions on the way you live your life, loss or decrease of income etc, so many challenges people are facing right now. Please try and not allow these circumstances change who you are find ways to re-find yourself, your joy and your purpose. 

 Ok then, not the normal Monday start to the Blog but then who is counting? It has been blissfully cool for the last couple of days after one blistering hot day on Thursday and yesterday we had some wonderful, soft rain which was just perfect. The week passed somewhat uneventfully apart from a lot of correspondence between ourselves, doctors and Medical Aid. It is ridiculous the amount one pays on premiums and then the negotiation needed in order to get treatment....... we are praying and I know and believe God is working on all angles and with all parties concerned. Hubby has been inundated with clocks and watches so guess where he is most of the time? Bless his heart he even took time to mow the lawn which was fast becoming a jungle, thank you my love. On Friday we went through to the girls to say hi, then into Cape Town where we met up with BigBear and BabyBear. I thought we were just meeting for coffee but it ended up in having lunch at a super little restauant around the corner from their apartment. What an unexpected treat as we shared two Greek tapas platters and took much longer than I expected, but oh it was so good. On the way home we shopped for a few groceries before dropping Jelly Bean off and eventually getting home after 5 pm, it was a perfect day but as usual totally exhausting for me and I was fast asleep just after 9.30. On Saturday I unraveled the Cat Cave I was making when it became obvious I didn't have sufficient yarn grrrrrr. I immediately began a new one so here's holding thumbs I can get this order out. I also tried my hand at reading a book on my iPad but very quickly came to the conclusion that I am a paper pages and cover girl hehehehe. I have used my Air Fryer every day of the week with perhaps one day where it sat undisturbed hehe, the more I use it the more I discover and find new ways of doing things, it really is a magical appliance. 

 Saturday was not the best day for me as I was tired from Friday and the thought of my recovery coupled with Fibromyalgia and Adrenal Fatigue left me feeling overwhelmed. I got myself into a panic because I have so far not been able to find button up pyjamas for hospital, ridiculous I know but that is what happened. I have no idea how to 'build' my system up further than what I am doing and things seemed insurmountable. I had my little 'meltdown' and some more handing everything back to God and for now I am doing all I can and will deal with the surgery and recovery when it happens, I know God is in control and has already gone ahead of me on this. 

 Well, folks I did say I was going to 'document' this journey I find myself on and hopefully in so doing, someone else will find encouragement and energy and know that they are not alone. I trust and pray that this week will bring you answers to your prayers, good health, God's peace and grace and your needs met before they even arise. Please stay well and keep safe, with love from BB Ciao Ciao 

 Charlie in his car seat (about 10 minutes before motion sickness took over)

My Life's Winding Roads: What has been happening

My Life's Winding Roads: What has been happening: Good morning all from a quiet and sunny Bettys Bay, the weather changes from day to day which is one of the joys of living in the Cape. To...

My Life's Winding Roads: Round One

My Life's Winding Roads: Round One: Happy Monday everyone I hope today's Blog finds you all well and ready for another week. Weather wise it has been a nice week although ...

My Life's Winding Roads: How did we get to September?

My Life's Winding Roads: How did we get to September?:   A cheery good morning to everyone from a still wintery Village, I will admit that I am totally loving this weather of mild to cool days an...

How did we get to September?

 A cheery good morning to everyone from a still wintery Village, I will admit that I am totally loving this weather of mild to cool days and cold nights.  We have had more rain, so much so that on Friday and Sarurday I noticed three houses at the end of our street doing repairs and maintenance on their roofs, it is an everyday occurrence down here to see someone standing on their roof usually with a bucket and paint bush in hand - such is our weather.

After a very sad, heartbreaking start on Monday when we had to have little Max put to sleep, even though we made the decision and knew it was a reality, it hit us all a lot harder than we  expected, he is now buried in the garden facing the sea next to Gemma and CeCe.  As a result this past week was one of clearing domestic backlog for me - baking rusks, dog biscuits and gluten free biscuits, washing big stuff that needs a good wind to dry, doing my and Jelly Bean's hair (no small task) and bathing both the dogs.  Yikes perhaps I overdid it with them because since I bathed them my right arm which had the Lymph Node removed has been very sore when I extend it, so I have scaled back a bit.  A lot of experimenting has been carried out with the Air Fryer and I am totally in love with it, not one thing has turned out as a flop and it cuts my cooking time dramatically. Some humour, I decided to make sweet and sour chicken one night which requires coating the chicken strips and frying them.  There I stood with JB frying all this chicken in batches on the stove, when it was all finished I put the chicken and sauce into the AF to bake.  Once I turned away it hit me ........ Air fryer ..... battered chicken duhhh I  could/should have just fried it in the magical machine 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️, lesson learned and a good laugh on me.  On the subject of the Gluten Free Biscuits a recommendation - Woolworths have a fantastic Ginger Biscuit GF pre-mix which is incredibly quick and easy and tastes better than normal shop bought ginger biscuits. 

Hubby put an ad out for watches and clocks and has received so many I've lost count,  added to which we also had an order for Embroidery Stands so between that and fixing two of the three cars he has had his hands full and been a very busy guy.   Jelly Bean also started her new job this week so it has been a very productive week !  We also discovered that Libraries in South Africa have gone online and by downloading an app called Libby and using your library card number you can book or borrow any library book to read online, the usual rules of having it for two weeks still apply.  I am a lover of books but have done this and don't find it unpleasant, it does take some getting used to but I figure seeing as I am in for a hospital stay it is easier to take my iPad instead of four or five heavy books.

Now that all the running backwards and forwards is over I am coming to terms with my diagnosis, every now and then I would suddenly realise "wow, ok I was diagnosed with breast cancer". it honestly and truly is something I never imagined happening to me, as I imagine most people feel.  It has not changed my  outlook or determination to win this fight, if anything,  my resolve is strengthened and I am even more determined.  A while back Hubby downloaded  Spotify on our tv and I decided to get acquainted with it, what a lovely surprise.  I found a beautiful Worship album and it just plays automatically from one album to the other for the entire day, no better way to build my faith and calm my heart.

Folks there is not a lot of other news beyond the above so I will be kind and keep it short this week.   There are many people who are still being hospitalized with Covid so please don't relax your vigilance in sanitizing and wearing  your masks, I hope you all have an incredible week, please stay safe and well.  Ciao ciao.  

Zeepha has the most gorgeous profile.

Cold, rain and snow.

Well good morning everyone from our decidedly cold little seaside village, what an odd week weather wise as a huge sub polar cold front moved into the country on Thursday and oh my word did it rain here. We were in Somerset West and came home to a water logged, freezing little village, the rain and very unusual hail, thunder and lightning continued until Saturday leaving all the mountains covered in more snow than we have ever seen down here. On Saturday Hubby and I drove in to take Princess to a hockey match and the mountains are just gorgeous. Quick brag here my gorgeous girl scored the most perfect goal, I wanted to hoot but had promised not to 😀 so I had to settle for prolonged clapping hehe. 

Last week it just happened that we were out every single day, there has just been so much happening I am still trying to catch up. Tuesday was my birthday and with the impending hospital visit coming up I decided to treat myself to a lovely haircut in Hermanus after which Hubby treated the three of us to lunch at a wonderful restaurant called The Char'd Grill, what a super place and definitely on our list to revisit, between all that and all the amazing birthday wishes and messages that I received I felt well and truly loved and spoilt, it was a very special day. Thursday was BabyBear's birthday and today it is BigBears birthday, talk about birthday week. The MRI scheduled for Thursday did not happen, we discovered the day before that our Medical Aid does not cover breast MRI's, as I had an appointment with my Oncologist later that day I was able to discuss it with her and get loads of questions answered and a lot of clarity on what is going to happen. Poppet went with me to that appointment and the one with my Surgeon on Thursday, it was a great help having her with me to remember what I forgot, ask questions etc, as she has been through this she knows more than anyone what lies ahead. My Oncologist is an absolute darling, my entire Medical team is really of the highest caliber. She agreed with me when I said that I had reached the point when the MRI was cancelled, that I will have a double/bilateral mastectomy and be done with it for once and for all. The moment I made the decision I had total peace as it had been on my mind since meeting with the Plastic Surgeon. On Thursday we went to the Surgeon for the final discussion and she is 100% behind my decision, in fact she is really glad that I got there on my own. Both Poppet and I at some point will be going for genetic testing as we apparently present quite a 'case', when I got home I prayed severing all generational curses and diseases in the Name of Jesus. The final decision is that we will be doing the bilateral mastectomy with what is called a staged reconstruction which means, that during the first surgery they will insert expanders which will gradually be 'pumped up' (☝🏻No laughing allowed hehe we've already thought of all the jokes around that 😂) until the required 'size' is reached at which time I will go back into surgery for the full reconstruction and move on from there. It is a long road but one now that I know what is happening, I am ready for as much as I can be. The only issue is that surgery is currently set for the 8th October unless an earlier date opens up, I would far rather have had it within the next couple of weeks but as Poppet said this may just be God's way of giving my body a chance to fully recover from the first surgery and also the massive Fibromyalgia flare and exhaustion that I find myself in. I can't argue with that but would just like it over, I'm tired of the waiting knowing what is inside of me, if that makes sense? Having said that though, I can quite honestly say I have never in my life been as tired as I am currently, so now after all the running backwards and forwards I am trying to gear down and relax, not finding it that easy mentally hehehe. 

Today is also a very sad day as we have to say goodbye to our little Max who has been with us since he was a teeny puppy 13.5 years ago. We've known the decision would have to be made for awhile but he has got to the point where due to being mostly blind and frail that he just sits trembling most of the time, he has also become very unsteady on his legs and sometimes it takes him a good few minutes after waking up to actually get everything moving and start walking, loosing control of his bowels at times etc. Irrespective of all that I still feel like a 'killer' even though in my heart I know it is the right thing to do, we are going to bury him here with CeCe and Gemma. 😢 R.I.P. To the smallest little dog with the biggest sense of adventure, Max aka Houdini. 

On a happier note I really must share what happened on Saturday when we went into town to pick up Princess. I needed to stop at the nail supply store and while I was there Hubby went into the motor spares shop. Back in the car I could not find my glasses anywhere, hubby was driving and I was literally pulling the car apart looking for them, so confused because I'd had them 10 mins prior 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ I tried calling the shop but they were closed. Poppet called to see where we were just as I was trying to get Hubby dearest to pull over, as I was talking to her I looked at him and whilst my mouth was uttering words, my mind looking for the glasses I saw his glasses and thought 'why is he wearing clip on sunglasses ?' Then I looked again and 'those silver ear arms are mine' ......... I shrieked, "why are you wearing my glasses?" Initially he didn't even react and then eventually he was "oh I didn't realise, I thought they were mine." I just could not believe it, mine are far heavier than his and a different colored lens to boot , talk about confusing 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ So much stress lolol . 

I have also joined the very 'elite' club of Air Fryer owners as a gorgeous, big Fryer was received for my birthday....... I am truly, truly blessed. So far everything I have cooked in it has been incredible with the exception of a frozen, uncooked gluten free bagel, possibly I should have baked and not 'air fried', but oh my word people what a difference and so quick and clean and the food tastes amazing. Wooohooooo. Thus cook has already put in an order for a movable, tiered, counter height trolley on which to keep it 😁😁. I am looking forward this week to having time to experiment and use it more. Well folks, that is me for this week, thank you to absolutely everyone who commented and messaged after last week's Blog and also for my birthday, each and every call or message blessed me beyond measure and your prayers are treasured, I was blown away, thank you.💗 Stay warm, safe and well Ciao Ciao R.I.P. Little Max

Snow on the Helderberg Mountains.

Round One

Happy Monday everyone I hope today's Blog finds you all well and ready for another week. Weather wise it has been a nice week although I've read that we are all in for a humdinger of a week with rain, snow, gales and every other imaginable word that goes with cold and wet 😁. Wow....... this past week has been a roller coaster emotionally and in terms of going backwards and forwards, I am not ashamed to say I am exhausted. It kind of all started with my Dr follow up appointment on Tuesday, as I walked into the consulting rooms I quickly glanced at a message on my phone from a dear friend who wanted to know if I was ok as she had been praying for me all morning, the minute I saw it I knew things were about to go pear shaped. When the Dr ushered us into the office I could see on her face that she was not sure how to begin, she had just made a call to the Pathologist and was still trying to assimilate the news. The Pathology, after six days of testing and dissecting had come back as positive for cancer and three of the four margins were compromised, this took all of us by total surprise especially the medical team (Radiologist, Surgeon and Pathologist) they had been. convinced that it was not cancer and at the worst pre-cancerous. All I can say I had an overwhelming sense of peace as I tried to take in all she was saying about the road ahead, she did a wound check and is very happy that all is going well there. We decided that a Mastectomy is best way forward with a reconstruction, now the ball is rolling and gathering momentum all the time. An appointment was made with the Plastic Surgeon whom we saw on Friday and again I did my best to take It all in as well as ask questions which I had written down, basically he went through all the different surgical and reconstructive options that are available to me explaining the pros and cons of each one. Through all this I have had a peace in my heart that God is well and truly in control - I did have an emotional melt down on Thursday morning, for those first few moments after you wake up everything feels normal and then whammm it all comes back to you. The prognosis is that : A. I am in God's Hands. B. We caught it early. C. It is small. D. It is 100% treatable and. E. It is a slow cell division cancer . This week will be an MRI on Thursday because of the family history, the way it snuck past everyone and to confirm that the left breast is clear, once this has been done then the wheels will kick into a higher gear, dates and final decisions will be made. I am strong and totally committed to beating this and being cancer free and I give thanks to my Heavenly Father for my wonderful family, friends and an incredible medical team. Because we travelled this exact road before with Poppet ten years ago I am under no illusions that it will be a walk in the park and she is being an absolute rock with answering questions and giving me tips on coping etc, she will also being going with me to the upcoming appointments to ask questions and remember what I forget. There is one thing that I have noticed this last week and that is, many people do not know what to say or how to respond and can be very blunt (one 'friends' first words were to tell me to have a Hysterectomy and tell me about two people she knew who died) seriously ?? Or, in not knowing what to say a person tries to make light of it. At the risk of sounding 'ungrateful or offensive' - when you hear this type of news, if you don't know what to say rather just say "I'm so sorry" don't offer advice or a million suggestions of what you would do, you are not that person and please God you never find yourself in a similar position, but you have NO clue what you would do until it happens to you. Every person is different and I cannot speak for or tell anyone else what decisions they should make with their body in a situation like this. I do have moments of feeling very emotional but I refuse to go down 'Why Me Avenue' or 'What Did I Do to Deserve This Lane', right now I don't have that luxury, right now I am in a fight the likes of which I have never fought before and all my strength, faith and concentration is on getting through each Surgery, each step successfully, to the point where I can stand up and say 'Praise God I am cancer free'! This journey will become part of my Blog as I go through it in the hopes that if it can help one other person to fight and win the battle then it has been worth it. Onto to happier things, on Tuesday whilst we were out Charlie was so stressed that he chewed his way through the wire fence and squeezed himself through the palisade fence (about 6 cm) to try and find me, when we turned into the road there he was waiting, for a day or two his ribs were sore from that little escapade 🤦🏻‍♀️, I believe he senses there is stuff going on and rarely leaves my side. Jasper on the other hand last night attacked me visciously for the third time in the last two weeks for no apparent reason 🤷🏻‍♀️, who knows what goes on in their heads. The family are well Big Guy went away for the weekend to the bush which I think was a pefect prescription for him, to get away from everything and all the busyness, right now I so wish he was down here as well. As it is a real birthday week in our family Poppet hosted the most wonderful lunch yesterday with incredible birthday cake and treats for myself, BabyBear and BigBear. It is the first birthday in five years we were able to share with her and Princess and we made it a real celebration of life and family, I am so very, very blessed. I was given the gift of my dreams and feel humbled at being so spoilt, thank you ALL of you for everything you do and are. The only person who accomplished and finished any projects this week was my Hubby who just steadily gets on with it, shout out to Jelly Bean who has picked up the load of housework, food etc and has been invaluable to me in every way. Hopefully soon I will be back at the assembly line of projects and creating things. I would like to wish you all a wonderful week, please take time to look after yourself and your health - please don't ignore those annual medical check ups and, stay safe and well. With much love and appreciation to each one of you for your readership and support Ciao Ciao . Birthday celebrations

What has been happening

Good morning all from a quiet and sunny Bettys Bay, the weather changes from day to day which is one of the joys of living in the Cape. Today may be sunny but tomorrow we may end up having a fire going all day 😁. For quite a few weeks I have been alluding to things going on in my life and for many reasons I needed them to 'play out' before I got to sharing with you all. The reason I am sharing the story now is also as a reminder to us all not to neglect the important things in life, especially when it comes to our health. As a woman dealing with Fibromyalgia I know that I am not alone in ignoring new symptoms and just shoving them under the Fibromyalgia umbrella but, having said that there is nothing better than listening to your heart and following God's prompting. This is naturally directed at the ladies but really it goes for every member of our families. I have never been a fan of the annual Mammogram and ladies physical but have over the course of the last fifteen years had a mammogram roughly every five years or so, my last one being just before we retired in 2016. Due to Poppets history of Thyroid Cancer and then Breast Cancer in 2005 and 2011 respectively I was taken off HRT and put onto Bio Identical Hormonal Cream to deal with the issues of post menopause. For this treatment I initially saw my regular GP and when he sadly passed away I had to change to an Integrative Doctor as not all doctors are able /certified to prescribe the creams. So ....... long story short for the last five years I have had an annual blood work up with this doctor and he has managed things based on those tests, as well as 'sort of' managing the Fibromyalgia. My GP never suggested the annual ladies tests and quite frankly I never thought to suggest them until earlier this year. Some of you may remember I had some tummy troubles which led to an abdominal and pelvic ultra sound which showed no problems, that was when I had to look at what I was eating and make changes accordingly. When it came time for my 'annual blood check' I had a hesitation about going back to the same doctor and made enquiries as to which other doctors were around who could prescribe the Hormone Cream and this is really where God stepped in and this part of the story starts. A lot of my hesitation was based on the fee the doctor charges and the rest of it was an underlying nudging that I needed a doctor who would actually look at everything as a whole, I was directed to the most wonderful lady doctor in Somerset West who apart from also having Fibromyalgia and being a strong Christian is an incredible diagnostician. Dr E worked me over from top to toe, asked every question imaginable and then sent me for a battery of blood tests before she even picked up a pen to write a prescription. Along with all this was very strong order to have a Mammogram, she was happy with the pelvic ultrasound but insisted on the other. Good grief what a roller coaster I've been on since the middle of June and God has shown Himself to be in control every step of the way. The Mammogram was done and immediately afterwards a thorough ultrasound because they had picked up a spot they were unhappy with, within days I was seeing another lady doctor who specializes in cutting edge breast care including breast conserving cancer surgery, she is absolutely incredible and is also a Christian. The speed with which everything moved was startling and before I knew it I was booked for a Vacuum Assisted Biopsy, they were convinced that the small spot which was seen was benign but were leaving nothing to chance. The Biopsy itself was done under a local anaesthetic and we had the results within a couple of days as apparently the Pathologist battled with the sample. It was diagnosed as an Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia which means the abnormal cells are not cancer but have a high risk for cancer. Praise the Lord for good news, immediately a further surgery was scheduled to remove anything left behind and get clean margins, everything was going smoothly and after consultation with the specialist I went ahead and had the CoVid vaccination 5 days prior to the date of surgery. I then had to have a CoVid test two days later for hospital admission and on the Saturday afternoon my surgeon phoned to say I had tested positive 😡😡. She immediately upped my vitamin regime and kept in touch regarding symptoms. The only place I had been was to the chemist for the vaccination so 🤷🏻‍♀️, again God came through thick and I had little to minimal symptoms and the surgery was scheduled for 17 days later - this past Tuesday. Having waited so long and with everything having moved so fast those two weeks felt like two months and I had to really pull my mind in and centre on what Gods Word says. His Son paid the price for our sins and sicknesses Psalm 103 v 3, I know that Words are creative when spoken out aloud Provrbs 18 v 21 "The tongue has the power of life and death ...". and that was one of the reasons I shared this with only a handful of people, I didn't want a lot of speculation and careless talk going on when I was standing against an onslaught. Eventually Tuesday dawned and off Hubby and I toddled, first to check into the hospital, then drive to a different location for another ultrasound and a wire insertion which would guide my surgeon (I could not believe how long the wire was or why), then back to the hospital and it was all systems go. I think one of the worst aspects was not having Hubby with me before and after surgery. Even there I really feel as if God was well and truly in control, I have had way too many surgeries in my life but the team that I have had from start to finish with this has been unlike no other, caring, compassionate, patient, expert and confident. I do not as a rule play nicely with general anaesthetic and it took quite a lot longer than we expected, there was one 'curved ball', before I went through to theatre my surgeon Dr L told me she was also removing one lymph node, I had not considered that at all, and really didn't have time to dwell on it. We came home the same night and I am proud to say that I have accomplished absolutely nothing this week in terms of producing anything, I have accomplished Self Care and am very proud to say that is my priority right now. I had stocked up with yarn thinking I could make up the cat igloos, the packet is still unopened in the cupboard. Hubby and Jelly Bean have been fantastic, she is like an eagle the way she keeps an eye on me, healing is going well with the under arm excision being the most troublesome, Fibromyalgia raised her nastiness which I have just taken in my stride and upped the Self Care. On Thursday we went back for a wound check and happily the Lymph Node was/is completely clean, the rest of the Pathology we are still waiting on and tomorrow I go back for another check up and hopefully the last results. I have come to realise that it is going to take some time to get back to normal and have peace in my heart not to rush things. Hubby spent most of the week working on the cars as his has been giving trouble, we have even seen Gods hand at work there with people coming forward with diagnostic equipment etc. The rest of the family are all doing well and are healthy thank God. I can share one funny incident, on Saturday Jelly Bean and I were at the stove, the gas was on and as usual Zeepha was running interference, she has become a real little pest in the kitchen. All of a sudden JB noticed smoke coming off her tail, this silly cat was so engrossed in trying to get at whatever we were doing, that her tail was busy being singed 🤦🏻‍♀️, she had a glorious tail which now, once I ran my hand through it is markedly thinner. I am just so grateful she was not hurt. I know this is a long missive and I appreciate you taking the time to read through, my biggest message I want to get out is PLEASE listen to your heart / your Spirit / that voice deep within you and follow through, yes it can be scarey, but if I had ignored that nudging to change doctors this would have gone undetected and had an entirely different ending. Not once in the five years we've been here has one doctor asked me about a Mammogram, when last I had one ........ nothing. From here on out I know that by default they are going to be a regular part of my life and you know what ? I'm fine with that. God has carried me through this entire time in ways I could not imagine, He has held my tight when fear tried to take over and comforted me when I didn't know if I could do it, right back to my new GP who is letting not one aspect of my health go untouched, I am convinced that one of the reasons I had such minimal CoVid symptoms if any was because she has me on such a high regimen of vitamins and supplements which can be inconvenient and yes expensive, but clearly they work and I pray that I will be all the better for them. Have a wonderful week folks, please stay safe and well. Ciao ciao Charlie my constant companion