madona's Journal

We have been having rain since late last afternooon and it is predicted to continue throughout Monday . It is lovely and cool . I have my first forray into some serious gardening on Thursday 22nd and feel very virtuous although my legs and arms are still protesting !!

I have been thinking for some time to reduce the grass area in the back garden to make life easy for the future and decided to have it part paved and go for some new plants that need very little watering like palm and bamboo .

As usual it boils down to the budget so I am waiting for the various quotes to come back and see what I can realistically afford .

I have been put on Tamoxifen for a month since I completed my 6 chemos by my oncologist . I am going for a CA125 test on Tuesday 27th and see the oncologist on 3rd June . The weight gained during the chemo and steroids is coming off slowly which makes me so much happier !! I also started to do some pilates which hopefully do wonders for my lower abdos !!

A close friend has recently become a grandmother and I need to find some nice baby toys/clothes for her grandchild and also some for my next door neighbour 's 18 month old baby Leo . My next door neighbour has been wonderfully supportive when I was in hospital and subsequently when I was recuperating from the op and chemos . They mowed my garden, walked the dog , did my shopping and got me lovely plants for the garden too ! I am very fortunate to have such wonderful neighbours . I did not always had good neighbours ! the next door only moved in 6 months ago . Before that the single lady who lived next door for 14 years was aloof and very sarcastic , and did not speak to any one on our road ( so may be it is not me !) I always love a good chat and a cup of coffee and I tried so hard to be frindly with her all the time coming against a brick wall ! When she finally left she did not tell anyone that she is going , and afterwards most poaple on our road was so critical of her coming up with all sorts of nasty stories I was amazed !! It is so much easier to live in harmony with your neighbours than have issues !! Some peaple just can not help being unfriendly I suppose and better left alone ! And there are others like my friend Danielle who radiate such good energy and a sunny nature that peaple automatically draw towards them . Daniele grows all her own vegetable , bakes her own bread , keeps her bunglow spotless and decorates every few years , walks few miles every day , does crossword and suduko , is an excellant cook, looks after the whole neighbourhood's cats and plants when they go on holiday , teach french to local children (she is french and married an english guy ) , goes to a spanish language class every week , looks after 4 cats and she is only 70 and a widow ! When I die I want to come back as Danielle !!

I wish all my sisters a sunny happy  peaceful day !

Lots of love and hugs ........Monica