I now have my consultants report for my employers....not I might add until I'd pestered his poor secretary until I think she was ready to resign!!!

He only took 7 weeks to do it...apparently that is good going!!

Got the news on Friday that he'd done the draft and sent it to me for my consent to send off.....Nothing had arrived by yesterday so his secretary said I could go in and pick up another copy.

I collected it this morning and all looked and read ok....except my address. He'd used my old address from 2.5yrs ago and sent the original there!!!!

I expect the lady in my old house had a nice time reading all about my illness.

I just don't understand where he managed to dig that address up from as I get all my scan/echo etc letters to my new address.

Oh well at least the report has been done and will be faxed to Capita tomorrow.....wonder how long it will take them to decide if I qualify or not for Ill-health retirement.

Love Clare xx

Mixed feelings today....

Got up happy and had a good morning at playgroup with Jack.

Phoned the Pru pensions admin and they told me I've been accepted for ill-health retirement -yippee. Just have to hope Capita also decide the same. My consultant is dragging his feet where my medical report is concerned, I know I'm not his only patient but come on, 6 weeks ago he got the request!!

Back here for lunch and found and Email from Kate's neice Emma...I knew the email would tell me what I'd been dreading...Kate had passed away..for those that don't know she was a 'cyber' friend that I met through a forum for women with breast cancer 2.5yrs ago. When I joined the forum she sent me a private message welcoming me and we had quite alot in common, just little things but it warmed me to her and she was a huge support to me (albiet over the internet) when I was re-diagnosed last year. She was such a brave woman and fought to spend every last precious minute with her beloved family.

RIP Kate.

So happiness and sadness all in the space of 30mins...how strange life is.

love Clare xx

12th Herceptin

Haven't written here for a a while as I haven't had much to say (yeah I know that's unusual!!)

Had 2 extra Herceptin treatments since I last did a treatment update as I had to have a weekly dose and a two weekly dose after I was poorly at my 9th March session. Everything is ok again and it must just have been the fact that I was feeling rough to begin with.

Went for another Herceptin today and all went well. I normally have a sleep as soon as the drip starts as I get very dozy with the piriton they give me. Today I didn't sleep at all as I got chatting to another lady who was having the same treatment as me.

Consequently I was very tired this afternoon and laid on my bed with sunshine streaming through the window...lovely.

Have had a busy couple of weeks over Easter...Jon's sister Mandy, Nick, Olivia and Megan came to stay Easter Sunday for a couple of days and we had a lovely time. Jack loves his cousins being here and they all behaved themselves too!!

Jack had a go on the Wii but we won't be getting one soon as he's far too young (so say I)

The weather has been glorious this weekend and Jon has sorted all the plants in the garden and it's looking good.

Still haven't found a work surface that we both like....I won't compromise as it's something we have to look at everyday.

Diet is going well again after a couple of weeks gaining and losing a few lbs, back on track and am determind to get to my target by the end of June.

love Clare xx

What a week it's been so far and it's only Wednesday...First Mum's birthday, then Jack's, then mine...

Jack had a lovely birthday on Monday and took opening all his presents in his stride.

I got thoroughly spoilt today and have received lots of lovely presents from very generous family and friends.

Was at Mum and Dad's this afternoon and there was a ring on the bell so I went to answer the door and at first I didn't know who it was standing there...bugger me it was only Ray...he'd been to visit Sylvia and Dom and thought he'd pop into Mum and Dad's to see how I was doing!!

I haven't seen him for over 11yrs, of course I get to hear how he is through Ang and Hilary. Considering he's had bowel cancer he looked very well indeed and I'm not sure if it was a brave face or not but he seemed really positive now his chemo has been sorted out.

He's 'step' grandad to two little boys and seems to be enjoying life - I'm glad he is.

So another year older and one I thought I'd possibly not see 3yrs ago...how lucky I am that treatments seem to be working for me and I've been given so much more time with my gorgeous Jack and of course Jon.

Looking forward to the weekend as we have Mandy, Nick and the girls staying....

Love Clare xx

My wonderful Mum......80yrs old

What a lovely day I've had with my family over at Judith and Gerry's celebrating Mum's 80th birthday.

We got there about 11am so I could give Judith a hand with a few bits but she'd done most of it anyway.

Jack was entertained all day by his cousins playing football and he even went next door to play with the children there on their trampoline.

It was lovely to see Martin and Danuta and have a nice chat with them both.

Buffet was ready for 1pm and my goodness it was a very nice spread indeed...I ate far much more than I should have but hey..your Mum's only 80 once!!

We gave Mum a digital photo frame and had loaded a memory card with photos from each of us and a few special ones that I'd scanned and put on there for her from years back...here are a couple of them....


My Mum means the world to me and has done so much for me over the years and as far as I can remember she has never once raised her voice to any of us, has always been there to comfort me and laugh with me.....she is the most wonderful, loving, selfless mother anyone could wish for...and I was lucky as she's my Mum.


Love Clare xx