Yes, we've been away. John had some time off due at work and arranged a surprise holiday. We went to the Cotswolds.....what a lovely pretty area of the country. Very picturesque and so clean...no litter...no graffiti...lovely polite people.

It's great when you go in shops there, they actually WANT to serve you and it's so different from here where all they want is to get rid of you as soon as possible. A "back in time" place that suits me down to the ground. Although I do still prefer Yorkshire I think. My ideal place.....hmmmm...we can but dream.

We went to Moreton-In-The-Marsh, Stow-On-The-Wold, Bourton-On-The-Water, Eynsham Hall, Winchcombe, Broadway....all lovely small villages in an olde world time. It was a pleasure to go in all those wonderful olde tea shoppes and have a nice sit down and enjoy some tasty food. I even managed a couple of cream teas. If you're ever in that area we can recommend quite a few places to visit!

The Cotswold Falconry is a wonderful place to visit, specially if you see the Show as well. You get so close to the birds and it's amazing the different ways they fly and get their prey. I was walking up to the Show when a falcon went across the field and skimmed the top of my hair!!! Of course everyone laughed at me. Typical. Wrap up warm if you go to the last show at this time of year though. You certainly need it!

I was in two minds as to whether to go to this or not as I was not feeling too good and was so tired. Sleep is just not happening at the moment and I don't know why.

Anyway I decided to go and John took me to Regus where I was to get the minibus. That was fun in itself as it had a huge step to get up into it and it wasn't easy. I'll have to tell them that as there was a couple of us with mobility probs and it was more difficult than it could've been. Life is never easy sometimes.

It didn't take us long to get there, with lots of laughs along the way. We were the first to arrive apart from the organisers and there was champagne and juice. Sadly I had to have juice, although I am used to it now, it's still sad that I can't have the alcoholic beverages!! There was an orchestral group playing which was lovely.

Once we had all arrived and everyone was chatting away it was soon time to go into the Conservatory - it wasn't your common or garden one either, it was HUGE!!! When we sat down a live band arrived and they were amazing. Real music by real singers, I enjoyed it tremendously, although some of the others weren't as keen as me. I spoke to the keyboard player and singer and said how great I thought it was. They were concerned with the height of the roof some of the sound was lost but it didn't sound like it to me (no pun intended!!).

There was also an Awards Presentation to lots of people for their hard work and input into the Cancer Network. Ben then said that there was an award for someone who puts in lots of effort into her local group, TACT, taking the minutes, creating all the documentation required, assistant editor on the CancerVOICES magazine, attends numerous groups and panels and is a hard working member of the network. He then announced my name.....Karen Theobald.....wow I wasn't expecting this at all. It was brilliant to be recognised for all my hard work. I do it all voluntarily when I am on a "good day" and rest when I can't do anything. It does make me extremely tired but it is all for the good of cancer patients and is worth it. Who knows I may need more help later on with this awful disease that we have.

Another visit from the Assessment Team. After the last attempt where he turned up with the wrong screws and went away to get some and charge his drill....we never saw him again!! We were dubious if they'd even turn up. They had already cancelled several appointments.

However someone did turn up. So now we have a step outside the front door (so much easier for me!) and also handles each side to make it easier to get in the door. Handles are also on the back door area too. John's sofa also had the riser put on it but he couldn't do the stair rail or my sofa either.

Still it's a start and it makes life so much easier to get around. I hate feeling this immobile sometimes. I should be in the prime of life, but feel like a 90 year old sometimes.

Today is my Nan's birthday. Boy do I miss her a lot. I wish she was here with me. I have no grandparents and am thinking of adopting one. If you know of anyone let me know!

Also I had my flu jab. I was in a huge queue with lots of "oldies" or "wrinklies" as I call them. John said it makes me into a "wrinkly" now too..... ;-)

I had to sit down for 10 mins afterwards as I'd not had a jab before. Several people have been collapsing afterwards so it's best to be safe than sorry. I'm pleased to say I was fine and then got the bus back home after getting couple of kitty bits and a few other bits and pieces.

My arm got redder and harder during the day and lasted for several days afterwards but is fine now. At least I know that it is done. John said after all the injections you've had, you moan about a small flu jab. It's all relative I told him!!!

It is our Crest Chill Out Day today. I'm looking forward to my hands-on therapies. I have to ask if it's going to be a deep treatment first though as this is not really a good idea with lymphoma and lymphoedema problems. Mum is also looking forward to her massage, she's not had one before and I've always told her she'd probably like it. Now is the time of truth, will she or won't she?!?!?

We also had some workshops, we did ceramic painting and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was quite therapeutic to do and I loved making my Father Christmas for Mum (she chose him) and getting covered in glitter. Much the same as when I do the craft workshops at the Beacon, it makes you forget things for a while.

Lunch was then ready and it was a buffet style which was very tasty and much enjoyed by everyone. The caterer couldn't come and it was still a brilliant effort by everyone involved.

After Mum came out of her treatment room, she looked a different person and felt fantastic. I did the "I told you so" bit of course! It did her a power of good which is just what she needed. She can't wait for the next Chill Out Day now!

As for me, my treatment lady didn't arrive! It was disappointing and I missed my therapy there. I did go into the Crystal Workshop for a short while then remembered I said I was going to do another ceramic for John this time. I decided on a Jiminy Cricket this time! Sadly no glitter but you can't have it all the time! Bling bling!

A long time ago I expressed an interest in a new Consumer Research Panel which arose at our TACT meeting. Well a meeting has been arranged and this is the first one.

I've not been to St Lukes before. It was a lot brighter than the Middlesex, but when walking down corridors it all came back to me, seeing signs saying "Mould Room". "Chemo Suite" etc. It doesn't take much to remind you of the not so good times. I think it is something that will never go away totally but usually I try to keep it in the background.

We made a lot of progress in this our first meeting. Whacked me out when I got home though, so tired lately. Then when I go to bed I don't sleep anyway and watch hours (not just minutes!) pass by. It's so boring. Perhaps I should set up a chatroom for people who don't sleep and we could at least do something whilst waiting for sleep to come!

After missing the last meeting, it was minuted that I had put in a tremedous amount of work. It's good to be recognised for this. Also that there will be a training course for minute taking and other things for the team members in the group.

We're close to two successful project endings now. It's great to see things come to fruition. Our meetings for next year were also arranged, although one member said "that's if we're here of course". Not quite what we want to hear although some think it.