Week 7 - Seventh Week of Recovery - Post Radiotherapy/Chemotherapy Treatment

Hay there how are you all?

Sorry this update is a couple of days late... Dave and I have had a busy couple of days!!

Firstly, before I update you I just want to send out our heartfelt love and support to all our New Zealand friends and family after the recent major earthquake of 7.8 magnitude last Sunday which was situated in the South Island, near to Kaikoura and felt in Wellington and up to Auckland in the North Island.  I have experienced earthquakes myself, but nothing this severe!!! I hope the continuing shakes stop and you can soon get back to some normality, though this will be some time for some of you!! Please know we are here for you if you need us.

Dave is still on the right road to recovery and is improving day by day.  Though still getting his nutrition via the PEG, Dave's taste is slowly returning and he is exploring small mouthfuls of different food options, including:

• Cauliflower puree soup
• Mushroom & chicken puree soup
• Mash Potato & gravy
• Pots of jelly
• Pots of fruit with juice
• Homemade baked fruits - nectarine, peaches in a orange juice sauce with grated strawberries, balsamic vinegar and vanilla pod (a Jamie Oliver recipe).
• beetroot gazpacho soup, lobster tail, zucchini with feta and pine nuts!!! (more on this below)

Our week was again very quiet and relaxing!

The only things we got up to during the week were little walks each day up to the putting green. Firstly, a sit down when we got to the clubhouse and coffee for me and rest for Dave.  Then onto the putting green for Dave to improve his putting and to patiently teach me all about it!! 

Some days going out twice a day for a walk, which has been lovely.  Each time walking a little further than the last!

Though some days this week the temperature has been 36 degrees so a little too hot to go out putting for Dave as the heat just exhausts him.

Saturday I even managed to push myself out of bed to join my walking club at 7.30am!!! It was great to get into it again.  Dave also managed to get out and about at 10.00am on Saturday too, driving his mate, Brian W's golf buggy again for him for nine holes with Tracy, Steve and Brian B.  Its awesome to get socialising again :-)

Sunday was an exciting day as our darling friend Jordan arrived from New Zealand :-) We drove to Morisset train station to collect Jordan, then home to drop off bags, freshen up and open up our personal delivery of 'I Love You, Send Money', which Jordan has recently written and published... can't wait to start reading it!!!

Then onto Vinden Estate for a bite to eat.  When I booked I ensured there was something for Dave to sample/taste/enjoy too, which was a bowl of Beetroot Gazpacho Soup.  Initially it was a little too spicy for him so we asked if they could cool it down a bit, which they did by adding some coconut milk, which worked well.  Dave also enjoyed sampling what Jordan and I had selected: Grilled Zucchini with feta, currants and pine nuts, Lobster Tails with Prawns and to finish off their famous Lemon Meringue Pie.  All totally delicious!

Will update you on the rest of our few days with Jordan in our blog update next week!!!

From Love is All You Need...

Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly.

by Rose Franken

From You Are my "Once in a Lifetime" I will always love you... by Marci

You Are My "Once in a Lifetime"

Once in a lifetime someone comes into our life that we really

connect with heart to hear... soul to soul.

A friendship develops and love follows.

With all of my being I know that you are my "once in a lifetime",

and each time I think of you,

I realise how lucky I am to have found you.

Take care and loads of love to you all xxxx