They do make me chuckle...

We managed to jinx the weather once again this weekend with talk of a quick one night camping trip. We woke this morning to find the glorious sunshine of the week replaced by dark clouds and thundery rumbles. So after packing the stuff into the car and back out again twice over, we finally made the decision that we'd be mad to go, and went off out for a day trip instead.
We went to an old town to the East of Perth called York. It's a one street town, but quite a pretty one. They have a motor museum which kept us occupied for the best part of an hour and had some amazing old cars and memorabilia, the boys loved it but would ideally have like to be able to get inside all the cars for a play.

We had lunch at a local hotel and were served by a girl from Tipperary who had cousins Brian knew in Kerry- scarily small world- then went for a walk by the river and found a pedestrian suspension bridge over the river Avon which is rickety and huge fun for the kids.

The boys in their turn gave me a laugh too. On the drive out they had some (nominally) chicken flavoured corn puffs to nibble- a bit like wotsits but not cheesy. These are new and Ru was the more adventurous to try them. When asked what they were like he answered "Yumm, they're pieces of chicken flavour yellow chocolatey stuff" Interesting concept I thought, if not necessarily an appealing one.

We had the Levellers playing on the stereo and Alfie asked about the words to one of the songs -"Beautiful Day". I told him part of the chorus "nothing is impossible in my own powerful mind" and proceeded to talk to him about how that was a great way to think of life - if you believe in something nothing's impossible and you can do anything you want. Perhaps my choice of words was poor and I should have used "achieve" instead of "do" in that last sentence though, because a nodding, serious looking Alfie came straight back at me with "You can do anything except break the speed limit Mummy, only the policemen can do that." 

I'll keep my philosophical thoughts to myself in future!!

Natures harvest.

We've spent a bit of time since moving into our new house doing some gardening. It's soo lovely to have a proper garden again but much of the "border" area is overgrown with bracken so as a quick fix I've planted up some tubs with herbs, tomatoes and pea plants to get us underway. A small area near the house that was fairly easily weeded out has been the recipient of some courgette plants, known here as zucchini, and some strawberries are going in there too when I get organised.

Lettuce and tomatoes.

Sugar snap peas.

The boys always love to get involved in digging and planting, especially when there's the promise of some food at the other end of it.

Whoever originally planted out this garden must have been a person after my own heart as there are fruit trees galore here, which I find very exciting. As well as the very normal (for these climes) lemon and orange trees, of which we have several, there are also a couple of more unusual ones. At the far end of the garden is a large Mulberry tree which is currently laden with fruit and which I'm ashamed to say I only discovered last week as it's a bit overgrown down there.

Lemon tree by the pool (which you couldn't miss!)

Mulberry tree (which I nearly missed).

 There are also two large bushes of a fruit that we couldn't even start to identify. It looked as if it should be edible, but in the absence of an ID, we didn't dare try. So today went to the garden centre laden with a branch of fruit and leaves and immediately met a man who proclaimed "Oh lovely loquats, lucky you."  "What?" said we. "Could you write that down please?" - so he did. And now we have yet another great source of fruit from the garden.

Apparently it's also known as a Japanese plum -I'm going to need to google search some recipes though if we're to use all this bounty well.

Oranges from the trees

Big bowl of mulberries.

But for now we're managing to enjoy it in a very simple way. Fresh fruit pancakes with vanilla yoghurt for breakfast is surely one of the best starts I can think of to a day.

Yum.

Camping(!) and a birthday boy.

In the past couple of weeks we've bought camping gear, put up the tent, and then failed spectacularly to actually go camping!! Last weekend was the planned trip, so the weekend before we bought a stove, camp kitchen, inflatable bed, chairs, sleeping bags. We had already borrowed a tent from Brian's cousin, but hadn't put it up and had no idea how easy or difficult that may be, so it was decided a trial run was in order just to be sure. In fact, despite the fact that it is by far the biggest tent I've ever used, it also turned out to be the easiest. These canny Aussies are into their camping you see, so they use a bit of common sense and make it foolproof.  The poles are colour coded in each length, and then the tent itself has colour coded tabs. You'd need to be an extra from "Dumb and Dumber" to mess it up.

Anywayyy, having done all our research the weather seemed to turn a little. The rain came in and the nights got cool, and we all managed to come down with a dreadful cold/ cough/ chest infection thing. In the end it was decided that we'd leave the trip for another time ( read "wimped out").  The friends who we were going with went anyway and had a ball- weather lovely.  Typical!

Having ducked out of the camping, we managed to go completely mad and went and bought a car instead. We wanted a 7 seater to make life easier when parents or friends come visiting, plus extra boot space (for all the camping equipment!) when there were only the four of us. So after a small amount of research and 3 test drives, we chose a 2008 Holden Captiva Diesel. Sad to say I wanted it basically because I liked it best to look at and it's nice and high off the ground. Brian's reasons were to do with fuel economy and boot space and those are of course the reasons money was actually parted with! So far anyway the boot space has had little advantage as the boys are insisting on using those seats every day for novelty value!

Wednesday brought Ru's fourth birthday. It goes without saying I can hardly believe it. He got a new bike which he absolutely loves, but has already had to watch Alfie use more than himself as it's a little on the large side. His next favourite pressie was a Lightning Mc Queen laptop from his Grandma and also an Ikea pop up tunnel which has provided hours of fun for a child who is as often as not pretending to be a cat or a mouse anyway.

We went to Jandakot airport for a treat and met  a couple of friends there. This is not the international airport. It's the "local" airport with helicopters, training flights, royal flying doctor service etc using it- and it's really busy. What a great spot for a boys day trip though. There's a cafe with picnic area directly overlooking the two runways, the refuelling area and the helipad, so we sat and drank coffee and cut his cake with entertainment on tap.

And today is Saturday. The Rugby World Cup has overtaken our afternoon. I sit typing and watching the Ireland-Wales match. Currently it's 10-10 but the Irish are struggling and it's a bit disheartening. Having said that, we're in the garden, the sun is shining and I have a beer beside me.

Not such a bad way of life really.

Lifesaving, art shows and mud pies.

It's been a busy week. Brian has been in Singapore and will be there until next Friday so the lads have been pushing the boundaries with me at times, but generally they've just been missing him, so keeping busy has been a must.

Last week at the local pool, where the boys do their swimming lessons, was "lifesaving week". Tuesday came and Alfie was very excited as he'd been told to wear some of his old pyjamas for his lesson. The agony of which ones would be the most cool to wear....(!)  Anyway, when we got there it was really very good. Each group was taught what they should and shouldn't try to do if they were in the situation where somebody needed help, or indeed if they need help themselves. They worked in pairs and took turns to be the victim or rescuer. The children all behaved really well for once because it was all so new and interesting. Alfie even used the experience as his "news" to tell the class at school.  Ru's lesson is on a Friday, and he hadn't been asked to wear PJs so we assumed they wouldn't try to teach such skills to 3 and 4 year olds. Remarkably he had almost exactly the same lesson as Alf. They were repeatedly told that they must never jump in to try to help, but from throwing out a toy, towing people back in and yelling for help, the lesson was the same. I was most impressed I must say. Ru took to it like a duck to water and when his teacher pretended to fall in just as the lesson was ending, I'm proud (and amazed!) to say he was the first to pick up a polystyrene "woggle" and lie at the side to try towing her back. 
Then came Alfie's school art show. Now I was obviously always going, as one does to show support for such events, but I can't say I was expecting much of a primary school art show. I was wrong. They do such amazing stuff. There was a photography exhibition by Year 4s (around10yrs old) which anybody would be proud to put their name to. There were sculptures made from recycled items, paintings, models, clothes designed and made by older students. Alfie's year had several projects on display, with Alfie himself having 4 paintings all showing outer space. Just lovely, and he was sooo delighted to show them off to us. Then to cap it all, the school takes part in a "seeds" program called Robotics. In the library the children involved in this were displaying their dancing robots, which move around to music. It was fascinating, and I had to keep reminding myself " This is a primary school, the oldest these kids can be is 11or 12" !!

As an extra special treat we had drive-through "Red Rooster" roast chicken and chips take-away on the way home. It's something we do so rarely that the boys love it and eat every bite every time.

When the weekend dawned with no Daddy, Grandma and I were keen to keep on the go. We went to the playpark for an hour or two, until Ru fell off his scooter and removed last weekend's large scab from his elbow. It was bad enough that he was actually leaving a trail of red drips as he ran back to me, so with a tissue clutched to him we went home to look for a Gruffalo plaster from the medicine box. Later in the afternoon we went visiting friends and sat drinking tea and eating some very delicious home made sausage rolls while the Children played some more. 

Sunday we went to Bunnings (-read B&Q) after mass to get some compost, pots and plants. We spent the afternoon creating a herb tub and planting out pea seedlings. I ran out of compost before we got to plant up the tomatoes, lettuce and courgettes so will have to make another trip, but the boys didn't let that bother them. They just carried on digging and watering in one of the border areas in the garden. When I asked Ru what he was doing with his bucket of mud and water, he proudly explained that he was making giant food - of course, why hadn't I realised?

Amongst all this, we got news that our old house has been re-let so we can finally give back the keys and stop paying rent on it a mere 3 weeks after moving out (all due to the situation of breaking our lease and moving on regardless, as we needed some positive action). This is great news, but required Mum and I to go and clean the windows and give the place a general once over before the keys went back. I suspect window cleaning isn't entirely among my list of recommended activities, but apart from feeling exhausted afterwards, I did ok, and I tell myself it was a good test of my physical recovery.

So today began another week. Alfie was back at school. A man came to try to sort out our green swimming pool, but ended up going away again and saying his colleague will be back tomorrow- the fourth visit to what I'm starting to believe might be a large duck pond if we're not careful. Ru made more giant food and spent much of the day being a baby lizard. And this evening, both boys have been dancing to Buena Vista Social Club, one of our CDs which emerged, as things always do, as a result of the move.

 Now to bed. Ru's there already, Alfie's just going, and I won't be too long behind them I suspect. Sweet dreams...

My recent journey.

I've not been blogging much recently, in fact I was rather shocked to see how long ago my last post was. Thing is, and I'm sure most of you know this already, I've not been all that well of late. That is to say, the doctors tell me I haven't. I've been feeling as well as ever. But about 6 weeks ago I found a very tiny lump in one boob and thought I'd better get it double checked "just to be on the safe side". GP thought it was probably nothing, but she'd send me for a mammogram and ultrasound to make sure. Thinking nothing of it I walked in to the breast clinic 3 days later. By the time I walked out, I'd had 2 biopsies as well, and I knew there was probably more to this thing than I'd hoped.

Early the following week the results were in, and I was sitting looking at the same GP as she told me I had a form of breast cancer called DCIS which usually stays in the milk ducts and is eminently treatable. In fact they even dare say curable if it has not come out of the duct, like a dangerous criminal that can't harm others provided he's kept locked up. "The best of the worst" news.

Neither of us slept for a couple of nights, but then I found I just had to stop panicking, keep a brave face for the boys, look at what I could do for my own health and wait to see what the specialists said, and with that came an odd sense of calm.

Within four days I'd seen a consultant and he'd scheduled me in for surgery the following week. A total mastectomy. B was shocked as everything he'd read and everyone he'd spoken to had said this thing usually just required a lumpectomy. I was not, as the Radiographer who took my initial mammogram had told me whatever she was seeing was in several different areas of the same breast. "Just take it off and get these cells out of my body" was all I could think. There'd be time later to lament the loss and consider reconstrucive surgery.

Within a few days my Mum had arrived to help out. She'd be needed while I was in hospital to look after the boys and what a great support for me too. I'm so lucky to have her and that she's so fearless to be prepared to travel alone to the other side of the world. My Mum-in law was also just as ready to come if needed, and it was decided that we'd see how things went and if I needed extended care, I might well be needing her later.

Thursday 18th August. Half past seven and I'm admitted for my op. I had to have some radioactive stuff injected into my boob in the morning and a CT scan taken to detect the main lymph drainage node from the breast - the sentinel node. The idea was to take this out at the start of the op, get it checked while I was in theatre, and if there was any sign of cancer cells they'd go right ahead and remove all the lymph nodes in my whole armpit (an axillary clearance). I prayed and prayed that they wouldn't have to do this. Bigger op, plus it would mean there were signs of spread so it was important to me that this was all clear. It was. When I came round in the recovery room, I heard the recovery nurse hand over to the nurse taking me back to the ward. "Right mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy" she said. Even in my half conscious state I waited to hear her continue with "also total axillary clearance". She did not. I actually asked the new nurse while we were in the lift going back up to the ward. She checked her papers and agreed that there was no mention of it. I could have cried with delight, something was going my way after all.

I won't go into the rest of my hospital stay. Let me just say the staff were incredible, the food was great and I wasn't in any real pain cos they'd cut through so many nerves it was more numb than painful. They let me out after 5 days and I went home to be pampered some more by Mum and Brian and the boys.

Later that week the results were available of all the pathology tests they do on the breast. The lymph node was totally clear of cancer on extensive further testing, but some of the cancer had indeed made its way out of the ducts and into my breast tissue. Bugger. However he was quick to assure me it was such a tiny amount that it was considered negligible, and he felt sure no chemo or radiotherapy would be required. The oncology specialists agreed and I have been put on a tablet called Tamoxifen for 5 years to keep any errant cells under control. I hope very much that they are right and I have to trust their judgement and be delighted that I won't have to undergo any more extreme treatment.

Throughout all of this, the mums at Alfie's school have been incredible. Mum literally didn't cook a meal for the whole time I was in hospital and for 2 weeks after. Every day somebody would appear with a dinner either half cooked and just needing a bit more oven time or totally ready and just needing a reheat. When we needed a second car for taking the boys to school while Brian took me to hospital, a "spare" car was donated for 4 days, keys given over without question. The boys were taken out on playdates, picked up from school, dropped to sports lessons. Nothing has been too much trouble for these people who I've known for less than 6 months. As well as being a huge help it's been an enormous boost to morale.

So here I am, nearly a month on and I'm feeling great. Well, as well as could be reasonably expected after having a part of you removed. I still get tired a bit quicker than normal and there's a small amount of discomfort at times, but really I'm very well indeed, and definitely feeling more like my usual self. I take Alfie to school in the morning and somebody always asks how I am, and as I reply how well I feel and thank them for their support I invariably well up with unexpected tears and embarrass us both.

The whole episode is somewhat surreal. I never really felt ill, and due to the fantastic medical cover we have and the system here I hardly had time to stop and panic. Although I will perhaps never trust my body in quite the same way as I once did, I'm coming out the other side with a different perspective on what is important in life and a renewed faith in other people.

And my biggest hope right now is that I am indeed coming out the other side of all this.

Psssssst......don't tell anyone......

...but the Aussies have kidnapped and cloned one of ours.
There's this current affairs programme on here of an evening called "6.30 with George Negus". Well, it's not all that often I've got the TV on at that time of night, but this evening we did. Brian's out on a work "do" so I ate with the boys and railroaded Ru into a much needed early bedtime. Anyway, the TV was switched on by Alfie and there, looking back at me was Alan Whicker. Thing is, it's not. It's this George Negus chappie apparently. Take a look and see for yourselves whether it's just me, or is this a doppleganger situation??

This is George..

and this is Alan.

How odd is that? Admittedly there's an age difference but apart from that it's uncanny.  Not only does he look the same but he does a very similar job. Curiouser and curiouser I say.
I reckon these Aussies have cracked the human cloning thing long ago, but just aren't telling... ;o)

Theatres, Cups and Complications

Last Friday was the last proper day of the school hols and I took the boys up to Perth city to see a musical Scooby Doo show. It was really very good fun and once the kids realised they were supposed to shout and enjoy themselves spotting the "ghosts" mayhem ensued and a great time was had by all. Even better they sang the original "Scooby Dooby Doo, Where are you?" song so all the parents could join in too. I do wonder if I enjoyed it even more than the boys!!

Very blurrry Scooby and Shaggy.

The boys and their schoolfriends, who by some wierd chance were sitting in the row directly in front of us.

That evening, because they had behaved well all day and earned stickers for their chart, both the boys managed to reach their "goal number" of stickers and earn themselves a reward. On this occasion the goal they had been reaching for were Gruffalo mugs. Alfie's has a saucer for biscuits, Ruairi's has its own bag to carry it in (when not full obviously!). I fired up our coffee making machine and frothed some milk so that their night-time milk drink was a "babycino" (frothy warm milk with a light sprinkle of hot choc powder on top for the uninitiated). Alfie even wrote down his order and brought it to me in the kitchen. He didn't get the spelling quite right but it wan't half bad- began with BAB and ended in NO , just a bit wonky in the middle! I was so proud that he had tried.

The boys enjoy their in-house cafe experience with new Gruffalo cups!

Meantime we've had word that work would ideally like Brian to be in Singapore full time for the next 6 months! We only just got here!! He'll get away with doing 10 days on, 4 off or some such rota though, so having talked it over, we've decided I'll stay put with the boys so as not to disrupt their school/ lives more than necessary. However it's led to an even bigger decision. We may try to move house. The house we're in is lovely to look at, but it is overly big for us, and expensive to boot. The boys don't even like to go down the corridor to their room because it feels a long way away! So the thought is that economically and sensibly, we should downsize. Smaller house is cosier for just me and the boys, easier to heat and cheaper in rent. Can't lose.
Hmmm. Trouble is, I'd forgotten how hideous the Perth rental market is. I saw a house yesterday lunchtime on an open viewing. Really liked it. Rang the agent today to speak to her about it, only to be told it got let this morning first thing. You have to literally get in the door within the hour with your application or you don't stand a chance. I'm already wondering if I can go through it again or whether I should just hunker down and keep going as we are.
Watch this space for the answer in the next few weeks...