The Furry Monkey

2 march 2007
a shock email is delivered to Furry Monkey..!!!

So why is it a shock - well listen to this. The email said Subject: Re: Cancervive. Oh I thought, it's about my diary. Then I opened it...

It was from Cancervive Inc. in the US…...they sent it late Friday night and I had a very worrying few days thinking I was going to be sued from here to hell and back. I've had a pretty stressful time lately anyway and this was the LAST thing I needed. A few words on an email can scare you, sleepless nights and tense days are not a nice feeling at all. I've been told to avoid stress where I can with the blood pressure going up and down like a yoyo and I dread to think what it was like now.

I'd never heard of them before so I checked them out on their website and they claim to be a not for profit organisation “dedicated to providing support, public education and advocacy to those who have experienced this disease. Our mission is to assist survivors to reclaim their lives after cancer”. So supportive that they are threatening a cancer sufferer with legal action if I don’t remove the word ‘Cancervive’ from MY online diary!

I sought advice from various friends and a lawyer. Thankfully discovered that the word Cancervive is not registered in the UK Trade Mark Registry or the Community Trade Mark Registry which register trade marks in the UK, and that I am not doing anything unlawful by using this word (after all it's just a word and I thought of it in my head after diagnosis). Checked with medical contacts in the US and they had never heard of Cancervive Inc either – so they don’t appear to have a big reputation in the US. Sent strongly worded reply saying I would bring their communications to the attention of the media if they issued me with any more threats. Could do without the aggravation and stress!!!”

I have not even had the courtesy of a reply back - silence. Perhaps they are chasing the other 9,000 people who are using that word somewhere on their website. Watch out National UK organisations, they'll be on your tail soon.

 

6 march 2007
surprise, we're on a mystery tour...

John has a few hospital appointments this week so has taken a few days off, it's also his birthday too so a sort of treat out. He didn't tell us where we're off to but we went on the M25 and then onto the M40.

As we got nearer we worked it out - we were going to Moreton In The Marsh - where we went on holiday a couple of years back - well near there. It has a lovely tea shoppe there and we had a nice start to the day - John had a cream tea - yes I know it's still morning but he'd been waiting a while to have one!! I had a Chicken & Avocado Baguette and Mum had a Cheese & Tomato sandwich - she's never very adventurous and has the same old same old.

We then had a little drive around the villages again and it was so nice to see a different pace of life going on. We got some fresh bread and fruit in the market and had another cup of tea and decided that we'd go back to our favourite pub in Chipping Norton and we made it 5 minutes before they stop doing food!!! It's still owned by the same people and it's the same chef going by the food we had!

We then went into a couple of shops on the way back to the car (parked almost outside!). Got a paper and a drink for the journey home and then poodled off. We also decided to call into Bourton On The Water before we went home and the river is really high.

In fact, the whole of Oxford was waterlogged in places. So many fields were literally just lakes.

We went through Little Rissington (I thought of you John in Oz!!) which is a beautiful area of the countryside.

Slowly we went back home taking the country route for a while. Motorways are OK but they are SO boring aren't they!!! It was a great day out and made a nice change from hospitals and local towns.

 

7 march 2007
another day out, this time the other direction....

Yes, this time we were going South and although we were going to have a visit to somewhere nearer to save John driving he decided on a longer journey and we ended up in Portsmouth!!! It has changed a LOT since I was last there.

 

15 march 2007
haematological tumour group

As you know I am a Patient Representative on this group and it's great to think that the Medical Professionals now encourage us to be there and also ask for our help when they need it. After all without us there, they wouldn't be and they might think they are doing the best thing for the patient, but in reality the patient is on a completely different train of thought as to what is best.

What also impressed me is the dedication of the team and that their main concern IS patients - apart from all the red tape they have to deal with on a daily basis, and of course the thought that their hospital could be closing. How do you work with that on your mind? You go in one day and have a job, the next you might not. Some of them have even had to apply for their own jobs, how ridiculous is that?!?!!?

They need our support so if you see any public meetings or posters around your area, then back them all the way. We need them as much as they need us. Without them a lot of us wouldn't be here to tell the tale remember!!!

 

20 march 2007
rhs wisley - special preview event!

Yes, we've been invited to the preview of the new Glasshouse at RHS Wisley. A wheelchair has been ordered and now it decides to turn cold after the lovely weather we've had lately. Oh well...never mind.

The huge cathedral-like glass structure will cover an area the size of 10 tennis courts and rises to 12m (40ft) in height. It will have three climatic zones, recreating tropical, moist-temperate and dry-temperate habitats.

I took some photos for you all to see, specially if you're horticulturally minded as some of you are!


The huge waterfall - you could walk behind it and look between the rocks!


Not strictly in the new Glasshouse, he was outside, but you know me and how soft I am with animals....!


Amazing, trees through platforms up into the roof space!


The view from the top of the boulders through the waterfall.

Luckily there are seats built into the rocks along the way so there are places to rest. Also, if you are disabled there are wheelchairs you can book and they now even have a motorised buggy which takes passengers around the gardens.

I have loads more photos if anyone is interested - too many to upload here though.

All in all a lovely day - we didn't go round all of it of course, just the main parts. Oh if you like Bread Pudding then choose that in the Coffee Shop! Delish!

 

24 march 2007
relaxation day

It's arrived at last. A lot of work has gone into this day by a good team of people working together. The Trustees came along to help shift tables and chairs and there was over 145 people there this time.

Loads of 4 and 5 out of 5's which is excellent. All in all everyone had a great day. It's jsut what you need, a bit of pampering to relax you from the day to day stresses and strains of life.

 

26 march 2007
oh no, just what i don't need....

Guess what has happened? No I've not won the pools...or the lotto.....or been granted three wishes.

No what has happened is that the Furry Monkey has been hacked. Not locally on my PC, but at the webhost server. A total nightmare. Everytime I click on the site it says there is a Trojan.

So as I have an appointment this afternoon, then I've got to work like crazy to get it all sorted. After a few conversations on a support ticket it turns out I have to delete everything and then reload it.

Luckily I have regular backups so have it all there but it's a real pain having to do it all. I did as much as I could and got the main pages deleted and reloaded.

It took all morning, and then I did more in the evening as well. I was totally shattered doing that. Good job no hospital appointments tomorrow to go to.

 

27 march 2007
sleepless night again....

I'm going to share something with you now as it's been happening quite often lately. I've been getting very scary dreams....frightening in fact. I wake up shaking and wondering if it's a dream or not.

You know the type. Now where are they coming from? I've not changed any medication or been eating cheese before bedtime.

Anyone got any ideas on what it might be?? I'm not sure so any ideas would help.

Not quite sure where to start on this one.