Downhill Slalom

Free Riding
2015 I was pushing up hill all year. 2016 the incline was not so steep and we were often on level ground. Now I feel like we have just come over the rise and are ready to toboggan down the slope. Free riding. Hopefully come to a slow stop on level ground so I can ride again.
We have lost that panicked feeling that I lived with each day, each hour,  and minute of the day.
It is hard to think about 2 years ago when life was turned upside down with Colin's diagnosis in January 2015. I  am thrilled we get our 2nd Christmas together and look forward to each year as a special gift. Who knows what is ahead.  Clinic early January will be interesting.

This very week Colin's blood test has improved again.  It has taken over a year todrop to this level. If it continues we see that he may get off the dreaded medication sometime next year and improve again. Prednisone has not been kind but he manages so well.  Even if this is how it must continue,  it is worth it. 
I will disregard the grumpyness,  the tiredness,  memory loss,  deafness and slowed down everything. Life is great.

Louise
My body is not bouncing back like it used to.  Now I know why old people moan. Though I  together with Colin have achieved so much in a year. The best feeling is repairs to the shower and roof are completed to stage 1 and I  can feel satisfied for now. No more leaking. My cake decorating is fun and I am planning the next design.

Colin
Is happy pottering at home. Even cooked dinner last night but Cameron had a bad reaction to the spaghetti sauce. Lucky Colin medicated him. Then had to plaster me up when I cut my knee. Gosh if he can start on his 6 months of immunizations he may be able to go back locuming part time in a year. Dancing 3 times a week is hard but worth it.  We are unable to fit in the daily walks now.  Well the winter was so wet and dreary. Colin is still on the computer heaps and started touch up painting areas after the towel rail needed fixing. Did take 3-4 weeks to fix but I have to be patient,  right?

Nick and Julie
February wedding was perfect.  Now baby girl due beginning of April. They are still as active as ever  i said keep going. Life after baby will be a shock.
Consequently we have a room full of baby gear as Nick's flat is dinky and tiny.  Nephew Adam moved in with them which works so well.

Brendon
Now has girlfriend Lillian and they are a great couple. Brens change in job was a big help and  he has taken up snowboarding,  probably  an influence from work and getting passes to snowplanet. he has a houseful with everyones partners but  In big need of a cleaning lady though.

Cameron
Is happy working all year.  Shows dedication  and consistency with his job and having to work Saturday gets no complaints .  Getting out of bed in the weekends and a bit of cleaning of the room etc wouldn't  go amiss at home though. Enforced holiday over the next few weeks will be spent in front of the computer I guess.

Lucy
This year has a food thief.  How to catch the sneaky cat who knows how to get in the cat door with out making a noise?  Neighbour cat Squid is always teasing her and got her recently. Vet visits are costly. Still a hapoy little cat who doesn't show her age. Has single handedly tried to decimate the gecko population in my garden.  Don't  tell Gareth Morgan.

Merry Christmas and Happy new year to all of you

Love Louise and Colin

Julie 6 months pregnant 

Hamburger topper

Merry Christmas All

Win some and Lose some

We are having a string of badluck with breakdowns around the house. I asked Colin how we ever managed when he was working such long hours each week! When people ask what Colin is doing now we laugh. Like they think we are sitting around at home. Ha. Well we do sit for a while when we recoup and get on with the next job.  This month has been a flurry of activity in spurts.  Well Colin still likes to sit for hours and read the news paper daily which irritates me when I am  on an agenda.

The leaking shower was finally fixed but we still have the floor to go.  Dave the bathroom builder  was great and shhh! but he hasn't sent the bill yet. After removing gear from part of the wardrobe next to the ensuite and covering everything in plastic,  it became a mission to access anything.  The tradies took ages to book in and so what I thought was a week or so turned into a month of living downstairs and sharing the son's bathroom. If anything I gave his shower and bathroom  a good clean. A big hole in the ensuite floor fixed and threatening removal of a wall and cavity slider was averted. Can asure you the shower is great and new fitttings make a big difference. No more cleaning tiles and worrying about the leaking through the grout.
Now the gate has broken and depending on what we find we are hoping it doesn't entail tree removal. Can't start the weedeater so a service cost. 

Colin is still managing well.  No changes but he is functioning well and only gets tired later at night. Though I do find walking anywhere a little slow as his legs don't move very fast. Too much activity makes him exhausted Suddenly.  We attended a Leukemia meeting to listen to a dietitian talk.  Listening to the other more recent patients  made me think back to last year  and freaked me a bit. How did we get  so far? How did I get through it? Don't know how but the thought of going back is always in my mind.  Luckily not so much now as it was the fear of losing him on my mind e ery minute of the day and night I was awake.  Our friends Sandra and David came to the meeting too and also expressed the same feelings of last year being a million miles away.
We are so lucky to be here.

I have managed to acummulate more baby furniture for the awaited granddaughter in April. 👿 Hence a big sort and chuck out when the wardrobe went back.  (I swore that the same stuff was not going back so I parted with shoes and handbags) and clean up of the landing to store the baby gear. Then moved downstairs stairs to the office.  I have filled the inorganic bin with heaps of paper.  Today was another hitting the garden as the bin pickup is next week.  How come as you work in one area, you see 10 other jobs to be done?? This is a busy week out so I have my work cut out for me. Hiring a gardener is sounding like a great idea.

Off to Foodtown reunion but the cat is limping so a vet visit costing $144 but Colin pulls the senior card and gets 10% discount and 4c on the AA card. It all adds up

Knitting for the grand child due next year. 

Remember this? 

Early 2015 after chemo. Hasn't Colin come a long way

Colin today looking healthy and a bit chubbier

Note I have him at work. 

5 months pregnant  and a movember! 

Little Surprises in store

Colin is on track will gradually lowering of his blood test.  Looking well and enjoying life. Due next week for his hospital clinic appointment. Thank goodness the days of his total exhaustion are gone. Those days of afternoon sleeps like a baby are gone.

Talking of babies, we are due next April to have our first grandchild. Even more exciting it is going to be a girl.  We can't wait.  I  am researching daily online about the best baby nursery and travel items to buy.  Back 30 years ago there wasn't so much choice or info.  I have learnt  heaps about the new trends.  Swaddles,  sleep sacks etc. When to use,  what not to do.  How on earth did we bring up 3 boys. Have you seen the equipment you can purchase now???
Nick was a little shocked at the prices but in my way I have purchased excellent quality trademe items at a great price and some secondhand toys that are a fraction of the price. Some will only be used for 6 months so I am always on the hunt for a bargain.

With all the wet weather it has set me back on outside maintenance. Tackling it with gusto this week. Unfortunately our shower leak finally had to be fixed.  Big Bill to come!! But with a hole in the ensuite and decisions on new flooring it has been a disruptive time.  We have moved downstairs because the ensuite is not functioning and the dust and mould could be dangerous for  Colin.  I  can't sleep in the single bed and the traffic noise and cat scratching at our door doesn't help any.

Nick and Julie bursting with anticipation. 

Lucky we have 9 months to prepare. 

Getting Back on Track

Love is.... Someone to care for you

We have had a busy month again.  I got a bit stressed out from an overload of work.  You know how you are fine and then one thing tips you over the OK level.  Just took on too much and had to scale back.  Didn't  help that I caught a chest cold which really knocked  me for energy. Colin had to look after me this time and he was trying but I  still have to cook and was pretty exhausting just getting everything done or not done actually.  Daughter in law brought us some dimsim which was a godsend for lunch one day.  Amazingly I am getting better and have spent yesterday on catch up mode in  the garden.  The sunlight and activity does wonders but the next day I am on a go slow again.

After going to the Home show we have ended up buying things we probably didn't need.  A new shower was costly but we have a leak that needs fixing so a whole new unit which eliminates the tiles should do the trick.  Now working on quotes and deciding on show rose and mixer.  There is also remedial work to be done on the roof so a bit of major ahead.  Still ticking along on the garden tidy up and vege planting for the new season. My two new metal  garden beds are finally filled with a trailer load of organic mix.  Filling them was easier than I thought but had to pace myself.

Colin's fortnightly blood test has been on the decrease over this month.  What a relief,  as it is always a scare when there is a rise.  We are keeping hoping that there will be a normal result one day.  He is doing fantastically well and managing our slowed life well.  More than we can ask for.  We are still doing 2 or 3 dances a week.  Several  of those a class but a great work out none the less.  I have to make sure he rests between dances as getting too tired for both of us means a difficult day ahead. Have not been back to our walking regime as we are late starters in the morning.  Colin's medication  routine in the morning makes it hard to fit it in and he loves to meander over the Herald.  Some times I have to give him a stern hurryup so we can get on with the chores.

Son Nick has returned safely from Los Angeles after 2 weeks work there and visiting my cousin Theresa and biys Davin and Justin.  Just so happens that my mum is visiting at the same time so the visit was fun. So good that at 87 mum can still travel and enjoy herself. Jukie daughter in law has also returned from the US after going for a conference

Blonde Ambition

Love is.... A new wife

Colin's wife is now BLONDE.  Actually grey with blonde highlights this is due to necessity of cutting out the dark dyes which are more dangerous.  They say blondes have more fun don't they.  Still waiting.

Colin went to his 10 week clinic appointment at Auckland Hospital this week. Seems so odd that we were going 3 times a week last year. Now the staff have changed.  The charge nurse has left and only some of the nurses are familiar. I  made them some scones which were appreciated.  Also popped up to the ward to let them see Colin is well.  They don't know what happens to past patients so was nice to see them. Again Colin's blood test is fluctuating. Just when I thought he was going to progress,  there are some liver functions rising.  Will wait and see.  He does look well and we are happy spending every day together.

Our attempts to get to bed earlier and rise earlier isn't working.  Now that we have finally seen the sun for a week and the weather is heading for spring we feel more inclined to be active. Even with 3 dance nights a week we have lost all our summer walking fitness.  I have been eating non stop but mainly healthy foods.  Just too much of them.  Suddenly want to eat salads and discovered a No Knead CIABATTA  recipe.  Cousin Di has given me full instructions for beat in one sponge cake that I finally mastered.  So good when I  get guests calling in..  Still spend heaps of time in the kitchen but it is worth it.  Have to keep trying to be healthy.

Daily healthy smoothie from organic carrots and beetroot with walnuts, yoghurt,  flaxseed,  apple and orange and seasonal fruits

Oven disasters : dropped the white chocolate mud cake oops

Go Away Winter

Love is.... Being warm and cozy at home

Colin and I are happy at home  and not wanting to travel anywhere. Still can't go overseas  but might explore the countryside when we get the go ahead.
He is very well.  His blood test is stable and has not risen this week.  Also not fallen though . Because his specialist is on sick leave Colin's appointment has been pushed out to 10 weeks.  Kind of wish that we  were back at clinic earlier as I think that dropping his prednisone again would help. They are under pressure at hospital with one main consultant down.  It is amazing that we are no longer running our day around his sleep times as he doesn't need naps anymore. Wonderful.

Still waiting to fix my car but it is looking all duck taped up and easily recognized in the carpark. Bad look.

Managed to be wait listed in a cake icing class today.  Perfect timing and I never knew how much work getting icing on a cake took. Plus the cost.  Lucky Cameron gets a beautifully iced blue chocolate mud cake for his birthday.

If the rain ever stops or should I say they ever get the weather forecast correct! I will get out and spray the weeds.  Sorry but I just have to round up the invasive ivy and hedge stumps to stop them growing  out of control. After hacking at the hedge at my son's house for several weeks,  the neighbors took to it with their pole saw.  I  so want a pole saw. Will have to add to my Christmas list.  What I could do with that pole saw.

Cameron is 23 this week.  How time Flys.  The traditional family dinner

Thankful for our continued good health and happy spirits. A return to private dance classes has been a bonus but a challenge after a break of a month. 

Installed new curtains at son's house to make it warmer. 

No hedge! 

Mrs Grumpy and Mr Deaf

Love is..... A happy retirement

Thank goodness Colin is so placid.  I  asked him how he puts up with my sudden grumpy moods.  He said he is used to it.  Had to get him helping me with lemon chicken tonight as it  was a late dinner and just plain  hard work.  All the food work has been definitely worth it.  Maybe it is working on his health. Good news that Colin's liver function test are finally on the down. His specialist who is on sick leave indefinitely said it may or may not burn itself out.  Let's hope that is what is going on.  His appointment has been pushed out and it is a shame because I was hoping that his prednisone could be lowered  sooner.  Colin says that dropping  prednisone too quick will have a rebound effect on his adrenal gland.

Retirement is nice but more expensive.  I  am not shopping like I used to.  Colin and I are shopping together for house things and repair items. Having him home seems to mean we use more of everything,  food,  toilet paper, power,  water etc.  But we are enjoying it too.  So glad he is not working now but not sure if he is.
I  am always talking to him and he is always not hearing me.  I joked recently about his hearing and listening skills.  He said his hearing was acute.  I said it he might think it was cute not acute.  I'm sure his acute hearing heard my bad mutterings when he tried to clean up a spill in the garage by tipping half a bottle of selleys liquid soap onto it. 
I have my little melt downs but get over it quickly.   Still going dancing once a week and hope to get back to a dance class soon.  Unable to get out walking as much and are remembering to be careful to avoid contact with those who are infectious. All in all Colin is doing very well.

Alovely catch up lunch with friends last week. Sorry photo taker didn't understand when I asked them to hold the tablet steady. 

Most satisfying

Love is..... Being appreciated

Colin is well and life seems almost normal. About 3 weeks ago he started to forgo his afternoon sleeps.  Not sure if this is due to a slight drop in his prednisone,  hence less liver toxicity,  hence better functioning of the organs  = less tireness. 

We are  still busy with small projects.  Finally used my friend  Wendys electrician.  He was here 3 1/2 hours fixing a mess of problems.  Lucky we got him as there was some  dodgy wiring that needed fixing and 3 lights to replace. Some major work to be done at my son's flat with the fencing but in the meantime I am sorting out some curtain and tracks to make his home warmer.  So satisfying when we can get all these major jobs finished. 

With the ever present rain,  I  managed the towel and sheet wash.  Unfortunately the washing of my son's curtains made the washing machine dirty and turned my sheets spotty.  So sheets and curtains adorn the garage at present.
I hit the outside garden again.  Little jobs make little gains. It is so refreshing to be out side.  My life's mission seems to be too tidy everything.  Time and time again.  The family's mission is to make the mess for me to tidy up! 

Another birthday this week.  Mum turned 87. So my attempt at the cake worked out this time.

Following 2 other blogs of my nieces.  One in  Europe having a big party time  the other in  Texas working at Camp America. Both in hot countries and complaining of the heat.  Ha ha I  wish.........

Colin bought me a present.  A HUNGRY WORM BIN. So cool. 

Happy 66 Birthday Colin

Love is...... Celebrating another milestone together

Can you believe it is 1 year since Colin had his  worst day of transplant and drug reactions.  What a horrible birthday in 2015 so we made up for it this year.  Had a lovely quiet family dinner at the Maple Room.  A orange vanilla cake for dessert at Nick's place.  After, Colin and I  touched base with friends at the Cossie club where D'starlights sung him happy birthday. A year passed, was a million miles away.  And we danced the night away......

Little good news is Colin's blood  test is on the decline.  Just hoping it continues to lower

Can I get so excited about delivery of a garden bag.  It is better than getting a new pair of shoes.  Really.  I have been able to pack it tightly with rose clippings and more invasive shrubbery off the bank.  Mornings we are out doing jobs and afternoons I am clearing up in the garden. Feel great at hitting those invasive weeds as it was a mission to deal to them.  Just have to keep them under control now.

Happy 66 years  honey. 

I'm filling this baby to the top. 

1 year post transplant

Love is.... All in the kiss

8 reasons to kiss your loved ones 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/30/8-kissing-benefits.aspx

A year ago Colin under went his bone marrow transplant. His diagnosis was18 months ago. Still going strong at the moment.  I  am sitting in clinic with him for his 6 weekly checkup with the specialist. Our usual Dr is on sick leave unfortunately. A second opinion will be interesting.  As I drove in today I almost can't believe that I was doing that daily. It seems an age away.  We were too scared to look into the future and predict that we would be living an almost normal life again.  Retirement suits him I have to admit.
Dr Tim has a completely different approach. He thinks Colin is stable and has reduced his prednisone as it is an extremely high dose.  Let us see how that develops.

Colin and my agreement is.  I  deal with outside and he deals with inside. Still a bit unbalanced as I seem to be inside and outside.  Outside with the fine weather is good for the soul. Once I am busy planting and gardening I don't want to come in.  Feels amazing as I had to hire help to clear the thicket on the bank "where the wild things are!"  ivy,  convolvulus, nasturtium,  agapanthus and weeds weaved into a solid jungle of triffids between the over grown vines and trees. The help cleared it in no time and I took it to the dump. Still lots of work involved but now I can at least get to it. Managed to plant carrots,  beetroot,  leeks and spinach seedlings that I bought.  Little rascal slugs and snails munched through my organic seedlings. So satisfying. Fingers crossed that it grows.

Still working on organic veges and trying to juice for Colin to improve his immunity.  Evidently it will take another year or more after coming off his medications.  Which hasn't happened yet.  Our friend David has started his immunization Programe which will take 6 months or more.  It is like being a newborn again.

We are still managing dance classes with Albert 2 times a week and dancing on a Saturday. It is fabulous exercise and much more fun than hitting the gym. 
I  am flat out practicing my belly dance routine of 7 dances for a display.  The memory is being tested. Especially with the learning of 4 new dances in new vogue.

As friends talk about traveling I am disappointed we can't go too.  But I  am content that we have each other.  That is the main thing.

Boohoo no kisses this week.  I have got a sore throat so have to be careful.  Colin is wearing a mask all day.  Every now and again I feel desperate for a hug and a kiss from him just for reassurance.  We  always made an effort to kiss goodbye and hello for luck.  Read the article above.  You will be surprised at how it can help. 

The bank has been cleared! 

My little helper. Wet weather and we are stuck inside 

The Great Escape

Love is... Keeping in  touch with Skype.

Weeekend in Australia
I have just had 5 days break with a friend in Sydney.  Fabulous time and lucky to be invited.  A much needed holiday from kitchen handing and gardening and cleaning.  Colin was unable to come as he still can't  travel overseas. I seem to have spent an inordinately  large sum of cash in just 4 days.  Of course the $1000 pair of shoes was just window shopping as I  made a quick exit from that store without opening the wallet.  Not my style.  Money spent at Ikea and Costco on food for Colin.  Still managed to max out my suitcase weight. Was not planning on buying anything!

Walked over Sydney Harbour Bridge,  pigged out on seafood platter at Nick's,  saw the harbour and bridge by ferry at night for $2.50. My friend was great to invite me and i really appreciate the break.  Now I  realise as I  get back to reality that it was truly a break. Even managed a weight gain.  Damn. Walking 20,000 step has to balance food intake. 

We have lost another friend and it is always in our mind.  Colin's blood test made a drop but skyrocketed again last week.  False hopes.  Just wanting him to improve and was quite worried about leaving him.  Worked out that a break would be good for both of us.  He seemed to have taken the mantle of house husband and may have over done it while I was gone.  Enjoying being home again. With relief we notice the drop in the blood test this week.  Hoping still for a continued drop.  Fingers crossed for continual  decreases so he can drop the meds and hopefully balance out so we can travel in 6 months. 

My misery is a bad tooth or as it turns out bad teeth.  I have spent the last months visiting the dentist.  2 root canals and another broken tooth and root canal pending and a lot of agony and excruciating pain on eating cold or hot foods.  That is everything. More painful is the decreasing bank account.  Husband should have been a dentist. I joke they are filming the Block next door to the dentist and that i should  buy and move in so I  can walk to my weekly appointment! Left the pain too long as we had so ma y appointments for Colin and Cameron which I put first. May be it is old age and deterioration!  Stil didn't deter me from eating many prawns in Sydney. 

Live and let live

Love is..... Full of laughter

We are feeling good at the moment.  I  have achieved heaps around the garden and house. Waiting on some hired help to tend to part of the garden this week. Lawns done and the cleaning sorted for a few days. 

We have had 2 amazing weekends of parties back to back.  Home and in bed by 3am on Sunday,  mothers day.  I seem to have plenty of energy so I  attribute that to the supplements both Colin and I  are taking.  Recently added selenium and iodine drops which is easy to take.  Immunity building.  Recent developments in cancer treatment is for the body to fight the illness by itself. Ie Vaccines,  surely it has gotta help.  Even on tv tonight there was a story on lowering our use of plastics.  Are we trying to poison ourselves?

Yes we are feeling good because 2 weeks ago Colin's blood test dropped slightly and it was the first time for it seems,   ages.  I know there was a feeling of relief on both our parts because it was going so high.  Just hoping this week that there is a continued lowering.  There is still a long way to go. 
But we have come sooo far.  Colin has come so far.  It will be 18 months in June and a year since transplant shortly.  Just keep going honey. Just keep going. 

Have skyped Nick and Julie in Barcelona where he was so excited to go to the 3 tier  football stadium. Julie wasn't so keen.  I totally understand that.  Colin and I never got off the hop on hop off bus at the stadium stop.  Everyone else did. Nick and Julie  fly to London tomorrow. So great to see them enjoying themselves.  A honeymoon to remember. 

Mothers day yum char

Major Nelson and I dream of genie 

I like a man in uniform 

Walk away

Love is.... When it weathers the storm

Overcome and over done.
Last week was just frustrating for me.  I have tooth ache and have succumbed to an appointment for a root canal. The continued inflammation is evidently not good for the body.  The videos I have watched by Ty Bollinger on the quest to fight cancer have been an eye opener.  I am glad I have my medical background and can sift the chaff from the grain.  I have worked out to begin with Colin needs selenium and iodine supplements. Already taking vitamin D and C and salvestrol.  He got angry with me which was very upsetting because I am doing this to keep him alive.  There is over whelming scientific evidence that chemo and radiation aren't working and that natural therapies do.  Colin has signed the documents that state by having the chemo it predisposes him to other types of cancer.

I am researching all the time and we need to look at the whole picture.  The whole world is depleted in selenium and iodine,  that is why they supplement the salt.  So it makes sense to supplement to improve your body's immunity to fight the cancer itself.  They are coming out with vaccines that get the body to rid itself of cancer. 

Every week I start off with very little  planned and then the whole week fills in and I spend so much time in the kitchen I cannot achieve anything else.  So I  have decided to come away for the weekend and walk away from the ever increasing job list at home. I  did manage to do the lawns and trim the hedge and am hiring a garden company to help clear part of the garden.

We feel so much better being out of Auckland (not far)  and recharging our batteries. The Matakana market was perfect for my hunt for organic vegetables.  Did you know that they spray veges with small amounts of Roundup to keep the bugs off???
We all have residual pesticides from this and can detoxify easily.

Organic
My quest to include organic fruits and  veges is not too bad.  I am already growing chokos,  Asian greens (with holes!)  and feijoas and apples at Brendon's house.
Mental note: build more garden beds and grow carrots,  beetroot and more greens. Carrots have been a dismal failure in the past but I cracked the beetroot problem by feeding the right nutrients so more google study is needed.

One leaves and one arrives

Love is...... Spending time with friends and family

We say a sad farewell to dear friend and fellow dancer Derek.  He was always smiley and telling one of his jokes to make everyone laugh. Love to his partner Myra who has been so strong.  As we said our goodbyes then a friends grandson was born.  Life carries on.

It is always a struggle when we get Colin's blood test results that aren't decreasing.  Our feelings fluctuate and it makes me apprehensive. We are carrying on regardless and trying to fit as much in  as possible.  We have two fun parties to look forward to at the end of the month. A couple of birthdays in the family this coming week too.  Oh dear another year older!

Nice surprise as we run into a felow patient today.  Silly me didn't recognise him. Well.  The patients  were always sitting or lying and with no hair and having had lost a lot of weight.  He is really tall and had gained heaps of weight and now had carrot coloured hair. We discuss friends who are no longer with us. We are thankful that we still  are here.  Colin and Eric swap notes on graft versus host. 

I Take mum to see Dad's sister.  Just have to make an effort these days as aunty is 93 and you don't know what is around the corner

Molly and Aunty Betty

Lunching with Derek and Myra in March

Ran into Eric at Spotlight 

Amazing Easter

Easter was full on.
We had a dinner and dance for veterans on Friday and Sunday and a wedding on Saturday. Hardly stopped for breathe. It was wonderful seeing the Wellingtonians again.  We missed seeing them last year.  Also managed to talk to friends that we missed seeing for sooooo long.  They can't believe Colin looks so well.  I just want him to continue staying well too.  You have no idea how often I wish and pray for his healing.  It is still at the top of my list daily.
Just can't be complacent.  Still Colin's health is the same.  No improvement but no decline.  Only wish he could come off his prednisone as there are consequences for long term use.  Not too keen with the advance of winter as we will have to again take extra care of flu season.

Working
People ask me if I  work.  Have to say what I  have been doing is like a job.  Colin has had so many peripheral appointments it has been hard to find a clear week.  Lots of property maintenance is coming up for here and other places.  Decided that daily do and grabone is going to be my life saver as I  cannot do these jobs alone anymore.  Spending valued time with Colin is priority and even though we still can't really plan more than 2-3 weeks ahead,  it is improving all the time.  We are very happy with our bubble of life at the moment. Don't let it burst.

Now Colin is happy because the cataracts are gone and he can see, his titanium tooth is A Ok,  and he can read with temporary reading glasses till things settle down. Cameron is much better, and can breathe after his nose operation.  Colin is even braving driving again. We are back to dance classes 2 times a week to try and get up to speed.  Unfortunately the brain is not keeping up after such a long break.  We have not been walking since the summer heat started. Will have to get going again and get fit. 

Colin Caught up with Doug and Harry his old flatmates who came for lunch on  Monday.   Haven't been all together for many years

8 jam jar flowers from my and Jan's garden for Lisa's wedding 

Colin's ex staff at Lisa's wedding

Appreciate the Time you have

Love is giving back the love

Colin
Is still the same.  He Looks good and after seeing Doctor this week it seems he is pleased that there has been no regression.  No progress either makes us antsy though.  Blood tests fortnightly,  and we wait in anticipation to see what the readings are.  The fluctuations up and down  freak us out but the doctor is not concerned.  There is a possibility that Colin will have to stay on present medication indefinitely which is not ideal.  On the other hand he is functioning better than expected considering and able to enjoy life with only a little disruption.  We don't make big plans for anything.  Just a week or two ahead is enough.
Colin still needs a daily sleep and not doing anything strenuous.

Last week saw colin having his cataracts taken out.  The prednisone caused them and because he is taking it long term it was worth doing ASAP. Nurse said he wasn't legal to drive.! That's  what I said when he nearly side swiped a car.  He thought he was fine.  Lucky he hasn't actually driven much this year. I  should have been a taxi driver.

Had a lovely lunch at Di and Phils for joint birthday celebrations for Phil and little Mary.  So nice to see and chat to our friends again as we have been out of action with the wedding  and operations.  Much say the week after the wedding we were totally exhausted.  Felt like I had bad jetlag  and Colin basically slept the whole Sunday.

Looks like a busy Easter coming up so hope we can keep up. 

Look no glasses now.  I am jealous 

Nicholas and Julie : the wedding

Love is........ A romantic awesome  WEDDING

Wedding coordinator
I  have been flat out for the last month with Colin.  Him my assistant and me the coordinator.  It has been massive for us.  Luckily the benefit has been a loss of7 kilos.  Unfortunately I gained back 1 kilo in a few days.  Well the wedding cake was at my place and it was easier to eat that for breakfast as I was so tired and the house was a state of "walk out and leave it mess"

We are so exhausted that I  can hardly complete my jobs and keep falling asleep on the couch.  Feeling bit better today  and writing this blog which I  will now update monthly.  Not a lot else happening  from now.

The wedding ran smoothly and Colin and I  laughed at the grin on Nicks face when Julie came down the aisle to stand beside him.  Debbie and Rick's gazebo
Which I decorated up looked amazing.  Glenda and Serene did an amazing job on the flowers in soft pinks and the petal carpet scatter which accented the paving stones.  Julie out did herself on the candy buffet set up according to Debbies instructions.

Sorrento was the perfect venue on a stunning day.  Couldn't have asked for better weather as guests sat under the umbrellas enjoying the most delicious hor d'oeuvres we have eaten.  The dinner and dessert was amazing but I couldn't eat it from excitement.
Judge for yourselves.