Category Archives: Sarah

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Busy Calendar

with end of school year, Cannes and N.Y. reunion

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Travel for the Rest of the Year

The other night I finalised the extra flights and ferry bookings I need for planned activities for the rest of the year. So in July it is a quick trip to Brooklyn for eight days. It will be Erich’s first trip to the USA. Then late August early September it is Singapore, Paris and New York again. End of September we are off to Byron Bay for an extended weekend. Early November I am off to Brisbane for a conference then December it is an overnight crossing on the Spirit of Tasmania to join everyone for Christmas.

Gowdey Busy End of School Year

James’ birthday party was held early because the real birthday was too close to the end of the school year. Sarah took part in a fundraising and did remarkably well. Lots of determination to finish shone through. Isabelle, James and Sarah have been told their teachers for next year and which friends they will be with and they all seem happy.

N.Y. End of school year

Charlotte graduates from her current school as she is off to Middle School in September and she will be doing French Immersion which is very exciting. Baxter has been doing some impressive work at Kinder. Sophie is doing well.

Gowdeys were in N.Y. when Charlotte’s graduation was on.

James had his 8th birthday in Brooklyn with 7 cousins (see video in righthand column).

Kate and David went to see Hamilton on Broadway.

Meanwhile Liz was working hard in Cannes in South of France mixing with the rich and famous.

Medical Updates

Erich went back into hospital for them to take a deeper section away fro behind his ear. His eye is slowly improving. Hopefully he will be fit for US trip which is less than 3 weeks away.

My markers went down at last week’s visit to oncologist which was a bit of a relief but I have to stay on treatment indefinitely. This medication can have fairly severe side effects but so far going OK.The neurology in my feet has lessened considerably and I am not in the pain when I walk that I was a few months ago.

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Winter Came Early for Us

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New York Gang

Liz has been posting cute photos of Miss Izzie on Facebook plus lots of shots of weekend excursions. Lucky them having summer whilst we freeze (and in May). I have made a short video (RHS) to include some of the photos. I kept the photo on left separate as I wonder if it reminds Charlotte of some other boats in another place. Those boats had country flags on them and Charlotte almost had an international incident.

Kate Hits Town for a Quick Visit

We had Kate visit for a surprise but appreciated four day weekend. She did a lot of card playing with her grandmother.

Blue Mountains Ultra Trail

Poor David had the worst of the weather – it rained all day but he battled on and finished his 22km well.

The weather was kinder to Kate for her 50km and Sarah’s 1km. The temperature was cold, very cold and the house reminded me of my childhood days. One heater in the living room and electric blankets on the beds.

We had a great week with Kate, David and the kids. The thought of the whole thing is enough to exhaust me. I was shocked to see people finishing 26 hours after starting! I hadn’t been to the Blue Mountains for about 50 years so there were lots of changes – especially to the scenic railway!

We had a couple of days in Sydney before we took to the mountains. Down to Bondi for breakfast and a drink at the Opera House.

 Medical Updates

Erich had a supposedly day patient treatment to remove a skin cancer on bottom eye lid. They ended up keeping him overnight. Looks terrible but all should be OK when the bruising/swelling is gone.

Ongoing Ovarian Cancer Treatment

I am going every two weeks at the moment as we test the new drugs I am taking orally. My markers went down a little over the first two weeks of treatment (85 to 75. We want under 40). Hopefully that will continue. Soon I will only have to have blood checked and see doctor every four weeks. Not sure about NY trip as I should be going in the middle of that period so tomorrow I’ll ask.

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Fresh Starts

A New School Year

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Today we said goodbye and good luck to the Buchanans and Joyces. Due to some unexpected decisions it looks like New York is going to be home base for quite some time. Hannah and Sarah hopefully will enjoy their term in the New York school system.

Erich and I enjoyed a farewell visit from Bruce, Liz and Baxter on Friday/Saturday. We are happy for the travellers but sad for us as we won’t see the family as often.

The Gowdey kids have also started a new school year at the United World College Singapore. This year Isabelle joins them. So now they are all in the same school.

I have made a video to mark the New School Year.

Hopefully Sophie’s ear is getting a fresh start as well. She has once again shown how brave she is when she had yet another operation.

Singapore had a birthday/national day earlier in the month.

 

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I have now completed 5 rounds of chemo so only one to go. I still have some hair – yeah! but some of the other side effects are a bit gruesome but it all finishes on 16 September so not long to go.

Erich spoiled me for this coming birthday – my cooking gadget heart has always been for magimix so now I am the proud owner of :

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Paris, here we come …

5 Week Chemo Break

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I was so excited last Friday to finish Round 4 of my chemo treatment. As luck would have it because of the dates of our trip I am now getting a five week break. So I have three weeks to get into top shape before we leave. My skin is still an issue but hopefully this break will help.

Both Charlotte and Sarah are thinking about their packing. It is quite a challenge for me to go to Europe with only carry on luggage but I am determined to do it. Erich keeps asking about the return trip with the ‘goodies’ but I intend using the post if we buy stuff that won’t fit into the luggage.

I am so excited and I have really enjoyed finding lots of fun and interesting things for us to do. Most of the activities I would have not known even existed but for one lucky contact which then led to another. Even people who know Paris didn’t know that there were private tours of La Tour Eiffel. We are also doing children’s treasure hunts with our own private guide at Le Louvre and Musée D’Orsay – lots of fun hopefully. And lots of other surprises. (We are spending their inheritance!)

Everyone seems so busy. The Gowdeys with James’ s birthday and the end of the school year. Also the round of farewells and sadness of having to say goodbye to some good friends. That is the downside of being an expat … the continual movement of friends. The Buchanans and Joyces are also on the move. Baxter and Liz at the farm for the weekend, Charlotte and Sophie getting ready for their holiday with their dad. Liz and Baxter off to New York to be joined later by Sophie whilst Charlotte joins Sarah and me for our Paris trip. I hope someone in the family has shares in an airline!

Peter is doing a great job at work. He has brought some real energy into the business at exactly the right time. It has made an enormous difference to my peace of mind particularly now with the medical interruption. Maddie is still working with us on Thursday afternoons. She is enjoying her course.

Liz has shared lots of mini videos through icloud sharing in photos on my phone. I have access to them but I can’t figure out how to move them to my mac. I was able to export the photos and they went automatically to my dropbox but the folder in dropbox which says videos is empty. When I look at them on my phone there is no sharing, export or other button/indication I can see.

I have made an interim video of Baxter at the farm but I will add some of the small videos once I figure out the above.

 

 

 

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4 Weeks to Paris

But who is counting?

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Chemo

I have had my second treatment in Round 4 so only one more Friday and I get to have a break. I won’t start Round 5 until beginning of August. I should have started on 30 July but the genetic testing woman who gave me the appointment knew about chemo and still didn’t change the time. When I told the oncologist he said the genetic testing people think they are top of the food chain.

I am getting help from my GP Elizabeth for my skin. She gave me some stronger antibiotics which seem to be helping and I have some illegal hemp oil (external use) which the Naturopath at the chemist got me as it helps skin heal faster. Unfortunately the chemo slows down healing a lot. The blisters on my heals took forever and there are still terrible marks there. I suspect the pox are going to leave lots of scars.

Third Yeah! Weekend

Erich and I went to Werribee Mansion. The actual mansion was really something and the grounds are unbelievable. The Victorian Government had to buy it as no-one could afford to keep the grounds in the original layout so it is classified as heritage. The hotel part is run by a small boutique group. I always believe the blurb and I am continually disappointed. The restaurant was less than ordinary and the room was nothing to write home about even though I booked Indulgence etc. There was the saving grace of a pool and spa though I could only have a facial as my skin is so bad I couldn’t expect someone else to touch it. Erich had the massage.

Fourth Yeah!  = Paris

I am counting down the days. The accommodation is all paid and all our tours and special activities are confirmed. Interestedly there is an article in the Weekend Fin Review that the Ritz just opened at the beginning of June instead of March as they were meant to. So how lucky are we. The photos and article show just how splendid it is all going to be!!

Different Generations – Different Opinions

I am loading part of an article written by Bernard Salt in the Weekend Australian. He write a column each week. I totally agree with him in this case. I know that not all the family agree. Writing thank you notes was once part of the Grade 3 (8 year old) curriculum when I taught. Addressing the envelope correctly was also part of the learning. In my office the Y generation have no idea of addressing envelopes – I haven’t tested them on thank you notes.

Thank You Notes

Dinner at 25 Toorak Road

That’s the name of the restaurant and it is one of our favourites. I love one of the lamps that they have in the restaurant and consequently discovered the owner’s wife had them made. They are very French style.The upright etc are metal with parchment style shade.

So last night we went to dinner and came home with a new lamp which we had ordered six weeks ago. I only had one bunch of week old roses to christen it with. It will look so good with two bunches.  We don’t have much room in our apartment for more things but I squeezed the lamp in and I think it is sensational. It gives out a lovely glow to the room.

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Busy Families

Mother's Day, Blue Mountains Racing, Yeah Weekend and more

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Erich and I went to the Park Hyatt for my second Yeah Weekend! We went shopping early Friday afternoon then back for a swim on Friday afternoon then out for dinner at their restaurant. Saturday was a spa then more swimming. Back home then for an afternoon rest before heading into the city again by tram to have dinner at French restaurant then onto the State Theatre for the Carole King Songbook Concert which was great. Three young singers telling the story and singing the songs. I now see that there is also a broadway show about her life which may be following here. I had no idea she had written so many of the songs which went along with my life. 400 hits over fifty years. Amazing.

On Mother’s Day we had a quiet day. I am grateful for my gifts and phone calls and Facetime. Thank you all.

I am now looking ahead to my third Yeah Weekend, not sure what we might do – the fourth will not be a weekend but a trip to Paris. July is getting closer and I am excited.

Maddie is now working at Planinsek Property Group one afternoon a week. She is doing some much needed data entry work. At the moment mostly for Peter but I am waiting in the wings with my data – building up our email lists is the priority at the moment.

Peter continues on his selling way which is great. He has introduced a very positive energy around sales in the office. Great for our business.

The big news is Kate and Sarah coming back for the races in The Blue Mountains. Congratulations to both of them for such a great effort. I wonder if Kate has run out of punishing races?!! I am amazed at what she can do! I’ve made a video The Blue Mountains 2016.

I have now started my third round of chemo and things are going along OK. I have had a terrible skin reaction on my arms which started in Singapore and is now worse. Thankfully with long sleeves it is not so noticeable. It isn’t itchy just looks disgusting.

We are looking forward to Liz and Baxter visiting on Thursday. Rebecca and Peter are helping with the babysitting! A family affair.

 

 

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Six Weeks Later

And things are looking good

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It was six weeks on Friday since my major op. so now I am back to driving and tomorrow I am going to start walking to work again. On Friday I started my second round of chemo and I am apparently responding well to treatment. I am now accustomed to having a frozen head for three hours!

Last weekend we returned home after a great week in Singapore with the Gowdey family. We managed to fit in some fun stuff with the family – our favourite chilli dumplings, a great live show from New York, a hike in the bush (grandma crumbled), lunch at PS Cafe, a great show at the Arts Science museum and two great dinners out besides all the stuff at home – card games, two dogs and unfortunately one very sick Nelson.

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Sharing our News

Please subscribe

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Can you please subscribe so you will get an email when I add a post.

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Please add comments to let us know your news. I only just discovered that Liz has just returned from New York, Charlotte, Baxter, Hannah and Sarah B. have been in Tasmania and David was in India this week. I am not sure that comments are working as I think Sarah Gowdey tried when I first started and it didn’t work.

I think I can add comments so I am going to add the last email I received from Maddie as a comment.

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Hot Day in Singapore

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Yummy Drinks

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Highs and Lows of the Week

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I am very pleased with myself as far as my walking goes. I replaced my Jawbone with the Fitbit. Jawbone changed their clasp and I thought it was terrible as it kept opening and then I ended up losing it. I had being wearing Jawbone for a few years thanks to David buying one for Erich when he had his bi-pass. The Fitbit turns out to be much better – I love it.

I started on 1 August to aim for 10K steps. I walk to work 3 mornings a week and usually walk home one day. I don’t do exactly 10K steps each day, some days are far more and some are less. Each week I have been doing over 75K steps.

This week I have had to change my plans a little but I still got my steps done.. It is slightly amusing as one ages that one has to have various things tinkered with to keep the body functioning properly. Erich has had his heart and eyes ‘reconditioned’ and now I am having some remedial surgery to ensure the nasties don’t interfere with my wellbeing.

Kate sent me a couple of tiny videos of Isabelle so I combined them and made the video – Miss Isabelle’s Chinese Song – see near the top of video list in right hand column. I am going to try and load lots of the old ones as well. I may combine them like I did for Isabelle.

Kate sent me the photos below. The shirt James is wearing was Simon’s, the nightie Sarah is wearing was one of Katie’s favourite. Kate was always a sucker for satin. The singlet top was a Buster Brown – the 3 Canadian kids had tops like this plus plaid pants that went with them. The ranges each year used to have different animal tags on them so kids could choose a top that went with the pants – elephant with elephant etc.

I am slowly learning WordPress and I am pleased with how far I have come in three weeks. I am now going to concentrate on making this site have a log in for security. Hopefully in the next two weeks.

Memories ...

Memories …

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The BW photo is a tiny proof and it is all that I have. We had this done professionally and I have no idea where the photos went. I think we may have done them as Christmas gifts and couldn’t afford to have copies for us. Don’t know. The coloured print was taken on a Saturday morning at Sandringham council grounds. The Girl Guides obviously had a job. Do you recognise the man, and that cute little fellow to the left? I thought I had a photo of Kate in that nightie but couldn’t find one. It gave me the idea of showing some of the scrapbook on line.