It was terrible learning about the earthquake in Christchurch New Zealand on Tuesday morning. When we came downstairs for breakfast and heard the news bulletins we both immediately logged on to our laptops to check to see if Derek and Maureen were okay. I don't know if anybody has noticed the link on the blog site but Derek & Maureen are on a round the world trip and are currently in NZ. Thankfully Derek had been on his journal an hour before and left a message saying they were both fine. They had picked up their camper van at 11.00am from Christchurch just 2 hours before the earthquake erupted. How lucky was that??? Just goes to show, There but for the Grace of God go I.
I know I can be a miserable cow at the best of times but this grey, damp miserable weather is starting to really get to me this week. So its just as well I guess, that we have booked to go away on holiday. It wasn't planned, honest to god, we were waiting to get the radiotherapy schedule for Phil but an opportunity just fell into our laps and we couldn't help but take it. It came about last week when Phil took a call from a company called Silverpoint Promotions telling him he had won a free week in Tenerife. We straight away knew that it was another 'time-share sell' but this time we knew the source. It came about as we were in Renia Sofia airport and were heading towards the departure gate when we were stopped by a lady that said if we answered a few questions then we could win a free holiday. I was all set to walk away but Phil (he who can't say no) duly complied. I think we must be prime candidates for marketing intelligence profiles. We're married, middle aged, own a property and have an income over £25k. It makes sense.
Anyway, of course it wasn't a free holiday; we have to pay a £69 admin fee, plus we need to pay for our own flights. We also have to attend a 2 and a half hour sales pitch. But hey ho, this is not such a big deal. I've reviewed the accommodation and its had some good reviews; the weather will be hot and I've found (and booked) return flights from Luton for £294.00 for the both of us including luggage. We get a VIP pick-up from the airport and I've also managed to wangle an extra night at the complex for 55 Euros. So a 9 night holiday with a fully equipped apartment has cost us about 400 quid. At least it's something in the diary and a goal to aim for. Plus, I think a week in the sun before Phil starts daily radiotherapy will be good for him. The sunshine will give him some extra vitamin D and the rest will help his immune system. I worry that he will fall off the wagon with the diet but we have a kitchen so I intend to cook most days.
Phil is still following the cancer diet and I am pleased to report that he has lost a whole stone. As promised at the weekend, he has done 30 minutes on the exercise bike each day after work all bar yesterday, which has definitely helped. I am still spending many hours (and money) shopping, chopping and cooking in the kitchen and at times wonder whether it's all worth it. I do get a little fed up especially when Phil complains. His needs are very demanding, and try as I may, he is not that easy to please. I do realise that the hormone pills are beginning to kick in but even so.
I shall give you some examples. On Monday I cooked a fish pie, it was a new untried dish for me and me not being a natural cook, anything new makes me anxious. Anyway, I told him at breakfast that he could expect left over Goan curry from the weekend for lunch but having gone to Waitrose to buy fresh fish I thought I may as well cook and serve it up fresh. Monday is always a depressing day for Phil so I thought fresh fish with fresh parsley sauce and a huge serving of mash might cheer him up. WRONG. He walked in at lunchtime and was seriously disappointed with my fresh fish pie, he wanted the old heated up curry. Moan, moan, moan. Tuesday was okay because he got to eat the curry. I thought I was safe with baked potatoes on Wednesday but oh no, I was in trouble again. Even though I cut my visit to the gym so that I could get back to put the spuds in the oven, the large one that I gave to Phil wasn't quite cooked in the middle. I'd given him 2 potatoes and the smaller one was cooked and I even offered him my potato, which he accepted but even that was slightly on the hard side. If uncooked potatoes wasn't bad enough, he then started to complain about the potato fillings. I'd heated up sugar free baked beans and made a mixture of tuna, chillies & chopped up pepper mixed with egg free mayonnaise. For a change I'd used tuna flakes instead of tuna chunks and Phil complained that the flakes smelt and tasted too fishy. There is no just pleasing him some days and if I didn't care so much about his health and his weight I'd certainly tell to go fourth and multiply!
Tuesday Lunch
Thurday Treat
Sugar Free jelly and pot of soya yogurt with blueberries and linseeds
Wholewheat spaghetti with tomatoe and basil sauce
It's been a mixed bag this week and I feel that I have had to drag myself to do things which is not like me. I finally got round to putting in an insurance claim for the bath replacement which took place when we were in India. I am not certain I am entitled to claim but its worth a go. Yesterday I got my eyes tested and ordered 2-4-1 glasses from SpecSavers, a job I've been meaning to do since I accidentally flushed my prescription glasses down the toilet way before Christmas.
This weekend is going to be a busy one; tomorrow we driving to Suffolk in two cars as I need to return the Fiesta to my step-dads. He and Marie return from Spain in a couple of weeks so they will need to have their car when they return. It's been a good little car and I shall miss it. I've been bidding on a Chevrolet Matiz on eBay all week and at the moment I'm winning. Its a 2007 model and has only done 7,900 miles and is a real bargain. The bidding ends tomorrow so fingers crossed that I win.
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