MY WEEKEND

1st and 2nd May 2010

On a bright and clear Canberra morning we headed off to Stromlo for running training. Stromlo is the Cross Country track in Canberra and although it seems quite flat it is deceiving because there are actually some hills that really can be difficult even for the seasoned runners. Nalani is coming back from her calf sprain so she did some jogging intervals while Jarrett did 1km reps. The sun felt so marvellous on my aching bones and I almost feel asleep because I had had a dreadful night sleep with pain all down my right side as well as feeling a little dizzy in my head.

After running training we went to visit my Uncle James and Aunty Kate. They were talking about my book, the launch and how terrific it is that I am doing fundraising by myself for a cause that I really believe strongly about. Aunty Kate made some scrumptious blueberry muffins for morning tea from a new recipe book she bought. My Aunty Kate is an excellent sweets cook, her cheese cakes are incredible!

I came home and decoupaged a heart shaped box I am going to give it to someone very special but I can't tell you because it will spoil the surprise. Then we had a visit from our GP who was unable to attend my launch but really wanted a copy of my book. We chatted for some time and he mentioned that with me being unable to eat much food it could actually be that my enzymes were affected from the chemotherapy because it was at such high doses and if the enzymes are not working properly then it means that I would not be processing my food through my body correctly. He wants me to mention to my oncologist this and suggested that even perhaps an enzyme supplement may be of benefit to me.

I was excitedly awaiting a special visitor later in the afternoon, it was Gavin and his beautiful fiance Gill, she looks like a movie star or a princess. I was so worried about him after his motor bike accident and it was so terrific to be able to give him a big hug. He does not look too bad but I could tell that he was still in a bit of pain and found things like talking and moving difficult. I don't think he likes not being able to eat decent food and only survive on soup at the moment. He is such a special person, he is one of the miracle men behind my book and I can't believe that this happened to him. I again question why terrible things happen to all the really wonderful, kind and caring people. Then I am reminded that only the strongest and most special people are given these journey's because it makes us better people. Gavin and Gill were telling us all about their wedding that is going to be in July. I think that they will be very happy together and will have many rainbows in their lives. I think that even though my journey is devastating that I am so fortunate to have travelled it because I have met the most phenomenal people, like Gavin, Tess, Paul, Ben, Liam and many others.

At night we watched Enchanted, I really love that movie. I went to bed extremely tired and sore again on my right side as well as having louder ringing in my ears than usual. But I had had a really terrific day.

It was another sunlit day in Canberra this morning and an exquisite morning to go for a walk while Jarrett was doing his running training from the AIS. As we walked along and I was in my wheelchair, I had some dreadful shooting pain going through my right knee. I find when I have so much pain all the time that it really zaps a lot of energy out of me.

After coming home from running training and taking a dose of panadol to ease my pain we headed off to the shops to finish off Dad's Birthday shopping and do Mothers Day shopping. Last year Mum and I were in Sydney for Mothers Day and I remember Mrs Galloway coming to visit us and then going to the shops at East Gardens.

In the afternoon I worked on a memorable project for my Dad for his Birthday, it is a photo frame and I have used my scrap booking materials and placed two photographs on a background with rainbow colours on it and then put a butterfly and flowers on it. On the outside of the frame I have put some really cute circle puffy stickers. Then on the back I wrote a special message to Dad. I really hope he will be excited to receive it on his Birthday on Friday.

I helped Mum make vegetable slice for dinner tonight, I am getting to be an expert at cracking eggs now!

We had more orders for my book online over the weekend and I am so thrilled that many people are ordering more than one book. We have now sold over four hundred books, another four hundred are coming next week and then Borders and Angus and Robertson have one thousand between them and they are supposed to be starting to have them in store from next week. We are looking at having a reprint done and hopefully we will sell all the copies of my book that are printed. My book is reaching far and wide because people are sending it to South Africa, America, England and Canada as well as all around Australia. I hope that we can raise as many funds as possible to go to the Sydney Children's Hospital Brain Tumour Fund. Once my book is all sold I guess I will have to start thinking about other ways that I can help.

'We all have a magnet in our hearts that will attract true friends. That magnet is unselfishness if we think of others first then we can learn to live for others each and every day of our lives'