Everything & Nothing

I am all too well aware that this blog has been a little flat and without fizz since we got back from Malaysia.  I can only blame this on jet lag and then the cold flu like virus that has dogged us now for 3 weeks.   Our heads have been all clogged up with cotton wool like stuff and it’s been difficult to think straight let alone put a sentence together. Yes, we have felt rather sorry for ourselves but you know what, there is always someone worse off than you even if you don’t think there is at the time.   Self-pity is rather self-indulgent and I am not a fan or a frequent follower.  Things always have a way of bringing you down to earth though and this happened to me just the other day, funnily enough while I was surfing the net. Well actually, I wasn’t surfing as such; I was catching up with all the blogs that I follow via a link on our blog site which lists the titles of any new postings.  I was straight away drawn to a recent posting by Lisa Lynch, author of the most brilliant blog site, ‘Alright Tit’.  http://alrighttit.blogspot.com/

Lisa Lynch is a 30 year old journalist who blogged about her battle with breast cancer, a blog which was later turned into a published book. She is a balsey chick who has a certain way with words and I love to follow her even if the subject matter is sometimes sad.  Anyway, the title of her last posting, which straight away drew my attention, was ‘The post I never wanted to write’.  As I soon as I read this title I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach and I hesitated slightly before I clicked on the link.  Only one paragraph into reading Lisa’s post and my worst fears were confirmed and I learnt that her cancer had returned.   She’s got secondary cancer in her bones, Stage 4 and as everyone knows, there is no Stage 5.   It was a sad posting and not without traces of her honesty and humour. Lisa is trying to stay positive and there is talk of maybe life expectancy of 8 years with pain relief.  I wish Lisa all the time on this earth that she wants and hope that her pain is minimal and manageable.   Trouble is, I had a friend who had secondary cancer in the bones and she lasted 6 months after diagnosis. This bloody disease, it has so much to answer for.

Of course cancer and colds are worlds apart but reverting back to the subject of the cold virus, I am pleased to report that I have finished my course of antibiotics and am feeling a lot better; not 100% but not far off.  Phil, on the other hand, is still poorly.  He has virtually been in bed since last Thursday which is the last day that he had a shower.  Yesterday I thought things were looking up because he got out of bed and spent the day on the sofa but this morning we have decided that he needs to visit the doctor because he is now into the 4^th week of being ill.  I am not sure whether the doctor will give him antibiotics, I know the course certainly helped me, but I am sure that getting washed and dressed (and shaved) and a bit of fresh air will make me feel brighter.  It’s funny though, although Phil has been ill, his appetite hasn’t been affected, he says he has no taste but he has been eating for England. Funny that!  Most people, lose weight when they’re sick but not Phil.

As you would expect, with a house-bound husband, my weekend wasn’t that exciting.  For want of something to do, I pitched up at Sue’s house to help out with a bit of painting and decorating.  It was a hive of activity at Sue’s, Tom was round wall papering the second bedroom, Sammy was outside clearing the block-paving and Sue and me painted.   Sue’s been working tirelessly in her house since getting the keys back 3 weeks ago.  In fact she’s been in there working every single day without fail.   There is now not a single room that hasn’t either been cleaned, painted, glossed or wallpapered.  At least when she does eventually move-in, she won’t be living with anyone else’s dirt.

To end on something positive, I went on to Steve & Jan’s blog this morning and I read that they have finally arrived in Brisbane after flying out from Heathrow on Saturday via Singapore.  Steve said they the flight was okay but they weren’t able to get any sleep which is a bummer on such a long journey but I shall look forward to following them for the next 3 weeks as they explore Australia.  http://janandsteve.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/australia/

Now that reminds me, Phil & I are looking after their house and their animals whilst they away so we must go round today to feed them.