So, how does this all effect me?

Well... the cancer journey is for those who are diagnosed with their condition and for all those family and friends who stand by. So, yeah... it effects us all. I guess more than anything it reinforces the value of a day... so no day is wasted. Everyday is a conscious effort to be the best you can be, to be as positive and calm as you can be, and to derive satisfaction and happiness in as much as possible. No time should be wasted on useless negative stuff. I'm learning about meditation. I'm taking it slowly. I have difficulty keeping still and quiet. Too quiet and I fall asleep. I'm easily distracted. I'm reading a book about The Tao... daily readings. They are excellent. I'm listening to Eckhart Tolle CD. They are all saying the same thing. Be quiet. Be still. Let go and let God. And all that helps. I recognised that should capitalise on my artistic ability, so I'm drawing everyday. Of course I'm blogging. That helps. I'm trying to keep a broad range of interests. I try to give +++ in the workplace. I try not be "all work and no play." I'm aware of recognising the essense of everyone that I meet daily so that no one is overlooked. Sometimes that is hard. Especially if they are in a crabby or negative mood. It's a life and living journey.
I think it's changed me somewhat into being a calmer person. It's acceptance of what is and what is not. I have little aspiration for wealth or power. I value health and happiness. I appreciate good food - healthy food for its healing powers, and delicious food for its taste and presentation (especially if Bryce prepares it). I love tete a tetes for the connectiveness that the opportunity provides. And there's always great subject matter to draw wherever you go. The journey continues.........

Bryce and his morning routine.

Bryce has a particular routine that he likes to stick to, most days of the week. Occasionally I give him breakfast in bed. He loves having B-I-B but only trouble is that he end up staying in bed longer than he'd like. So if he can, he'll beat me to the post, and get up for breakfast. Some relaxation and some meditetion, some inspirational reading, and a healthy post breakfast smoothie. He often makes me my lunch to take to work (if I haven't beaten him to it). Then exercise... either cardio or weights work. Weekends are slightly different, as we like to go somewhere for a tete a tete. He also has his food shopping day. Lately he's been spending a lot of time pottering in his vege patch. Wow, it's been a great winter crop. This is a photo of B outside a cute little cafe in Windsor. What's in the bag? A deliciously moist chocolate brownie. Home made by someone. Organic 75% of the time. Indulgent 20% Other 5%

Gimme a head with Hair.

Ros' new chemo was known to have a side effect of "hair loss". For some, probably for most people, the hair loss is immediate. For others - it's more gradual. Ros is probably finding that she is in the latter catagory. She says she's getting sick of "all the mess" with hair loss happening bit by bit. How does she feel? She's comfortable in her own skin, and accepts that this is part of the treatment. However, Di is taking her to Chapel Street to look at "hair". I won't be seeing Ros til October, so I may not recognise her. She may be blonde, or a redhead. Here in this pic, Ros and Dave are relaxing at Mission Beach at the little cafe on the beach. Ah... that was a nice day.

BRYCE is settling into this life at home... 24/7

A life of Organic Gardening, wholesome cooking, reading, house keeping and an interest in "a little bit of everything"... this is Bryce's new life. Oh, and healing from surgery and "moving forward"... (as per our esteemed Prime Minister). Yep, this is Bryce's life as we know it. He is planning his little mini break. A golfing weekend in Hawk's Nest followed by several days travelling north to Ballina and back home again. I'm looking forward to hear how Bryce's new 5 iron and 6 iron go. Big Bertha irons "on special" at the Wentworth Golf Pro Shop in Orange ($5 each).

Ros deals with the new Chemotherapy

Ros started her new regime of Chemotherapy a few weeks ago. IV Campestar and oral Zeloda. The IV Chemo caused nasty nausea and vomiting, so much so that Ros needed to be admitted to hospital for a few days as she needed rehydration. The oral Chemo all went well. No side effects to note. However, Ros began to notice that her hair was thinning and falling out... not in great clumps but just a generalised loss per day. Ros thinks that she will get a wig... not so much for herself, but so that she doesn't have to deal with other people's reaction to her hair loss. Di will take her to look at hair next week. Stop press... Ros had a second course of Campestar (the IV chemo) ... it was a reduced dosage. And it all went well, with no side effects.

Sunny days, organics, and A2 milk

We are eating an abundance of organic greens from the garden now. So many delicious snap-fresh snow peas, some broad beans, kale, cabbage and silver beet. PLUS yesterday I tasted our carrots. They tasted good. Juicy. Flavoursome. Not too sweet. And there are plenty. Bryce is concerned he should be planting the summer crop. The winter crop was so slow in coming. Now it's here. And we have to eat it all. But now is the time to start planting tomatoes, and other summer salad items. I have been hearing a bit about A2 milk. A lot recently from Bryce. And then on a few you tube videos, information that there is a lot of coverup from the dairy corporation. A1 milk can cause a whole range of diseases including diabetes, autism, and intestinal conditions. Our milk used to be all A2, but then there was some changes in dairy farming and A1 arrived on the scene. Certain cows only produce A2 milk (the good milk). I also found myself that A2 milk doesn't go off as quickly as other milks. I've got a 2 litre container of fresh A2 milk (tastes great) and it's already a week over the expiry date. Interesting!! Anyway, it's great to be able to have fresh veges available anytime. I LIKE THAT. Don't know why we left it so long to do this. Bryce is re-reading a library book we also got out last year by a Dr Neil Barnard (... no, not Bryce's old work colleague) and it's all about the healthful eating. It's called "The Cancer Survivor's Guide".

Life is definitely well lived in the springtime

This wonderful bout of spring weather is energising. What a long cold winter it's been. I think having that little warm sojourn up Far North Queensland accentuated winter when we returned and it was almost like having 2 winters, punctuated by a week of spring. To welcome in the season was a new addition in Ros and Dave's life. His name is Dougal, and I am looking forward to meeting him when I'm next down South. He is a schmoodle (so many cuts hybrid breeds now) - designer dogs, they're called. There's not one breed that's unattractive, as far as I know. A little pup around R + D's place will liven things up a bit. Little puddles here and there. But to all accounts, he's sleeping at night, and in a little while, he'll be starting puppy preschool. I think he's a pretty lovable little pup already. Nothing like the unconditional love that only a canine can give you. Sweep certainly loves spring because there are longer periods when we're all outside together.