I'm back

[ZenaJ]

Hi everyone, I'm sorry I haven't answered all my emails yet but I've got hundreds and haven't had time to answer them yet. I'm working my way through but as fast as the numbers are going down they're going up again.

Anyway, after my hospital stay and release a couple of days before I went away I had a lovely time. Absolutely nothing went wrong. No health issues at all even though loads of people on the ship were sea sick. I had to watch what I ate so must be one of the only people to go on a cruise and be half a stone lighter when I got off. I honestly have never seen so many overweight people in all my life. It's 24 hour non stop eating and drinking and a lot of people make the most of it.

Boston was freezing but New York was a lovely day. It got a lot warmer on the way down to Port Canaveral and we had a good time visiting NASA. We got off the ship in Miami and hired a car and drove down to The Keys where we hired a house boat for a few days. The devastation of the hurricane was still evident. Some still didn't have water and electricity after 60 days.

We drove back up to Orlando to 'do the parks'. Fantastic rides. We managed to pick up some bargains on Black Friday too. All in all a great holiday which cost an arm and a leg but hey hoe you can't take it with you.

When I got back I've had an invitation for the SEARCH trial. Is anyone else doing it and what's involved?

Hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to reading all your posts over the next few days. Best wishes, Zena xx

[Suzanne333]

Hi Zena.

Missed you.

Glad you had a good time - Can’t believe you lost weight on a cruise. It’s good to get away though. 👍🏻 You saw lots of places

Back to cold old England

Glad you’re back keep warm

Xxxxxx

[ZenaJ in reply to Suzanne333]

Hi Suzanne,

I can't keep warm as the boiler packed up yesterday. No hot water and no heating and I'm the coldest person in the world at the best of times. Never mind it could be worse. Seen a bit of snow today but it didn't settle and didn't last long. I can't believe I was in Tshirts this time last week and now it's 4 layers of jumpers. I'm like the Michelin man and can hardly move.

Hope you are doing a bit better now. There's been some sad posts since I was away.

All the best, Zena xxx

[Kryssy]

Welcome back. What a fabulous holiday. I'm green. Would have been too if I'd been there. Not a good sailor.

You sound so happy.

Love Kryssy xxx

[ZenaJ in reply to Kryssy]

Hi Kryssy, I'm blue, not with sadness but cold. Ha Ha.

Hope you get away next week. Where are you off to? xxx

[Kryssy in reply to ZenaJ]

Hi Zena,

Blue too - We've had snow today!! However, not going anywhere next week, unless you count chemo as a holiday. Perhaps you meant Lily-Ann who is jetting off - hopefully. Thank you for the sentiment though. A holiday sounds wonderful to me so long as it's doesn't involve ships, planes or trains. I think it's called, hibernation! K xxx

[ZenaJ in reply to Kryssy]

Sorry Kryssy, I've been reading so many posts I'm getting in a muddle. I'm easily muddled these days. Let's hope you manage a holiday soon. It won't be chemo forever. xxx

[Lily-Anne]

Sounds lovely. I guess the regular cruisers get used to the opportunity to eat through the food available. I’m hoping that I will be restrained next week if we get there lol

Xx

[lorraine71-Australia]

Hi Zena, Glad you had such a great time now a lovely Christmas to look forward to..Take care

Lorraine xx

[ZenaJ in reply to lorraine71-Australia]

Thanks Lorraine, it's a pity I spent all the Christmas pressie money. xxx

[Yoshbosh]

Hi Zena,

I’m so glad you were well enough to go and had a great time.

Is the SEARCH trial the genetic study looking for alternative genes that cause OC? If so, I have participated in it.

Vicki x

[ZenaJ in reply to Yoshbosh]

Thanks Vicki,

I think it is. I won't know much about it until 14th December when I go for my BRCA test. I'm meeting up with my trial nurse at the same time. Is there much to it? Zena x

[Yoshbosh in reply to ZenaJ]

No, it’s just a questionnaire and some bloods that you can have done locally and put in the post to the study team. Other than a letter confirming receipt of the samples, I’ve not heard anything else from them, and I did it summer 2016.

[ZenaJ in reply to Yoshbosh]

Thanks Vicki, seems simple enough. It did say in the letter that I'd only hear something if they found something wrong with the test and that it wouldn't help me at all but it may help others in the future. We can only do our bit. xxx

[Purple-iris]

Wow sounds a fantastic trip . So pleased you were well throughout and good luck on the trial

Love and best wishes Kim x💜

[ZenaJ in reply to Purple-iris]

Thanks Kim, I'll keep everyone informed. It's at least 2 weeks away so there won't be any news just yet.

Best wishes, Zena xx

[Solange]

Lovely you had such a fantastic time! So pleased for you. Sounds like it was a proper adventure. Love Solange 😊

[ZenaJ in reply to Solange]

Thanks Solange, it was fantastic. Wish I had the money to do it all again but the cost of entry into the theme parks has put me off a bit now. Pity because I love the rides. xxx

[Solange in reply to ZenaJ]

Think I 'd be too cowardly and my husband certainly would be!! 😝 Lol. Xx😊

[ZenaJ in reply to Solange]

Apparently, it goes back to the beginning of time where some people went off to kill for food where there was danger and others stayed at home. The theory is if everyone had gone out and faced the danger everyone could have been killed so it was necessary for some to stay out of danger. If there wasn't that difference ,humans could have been wiped out. It shows itself these days with some risking all for a thrill and others avoiding it. Could be true, I don't know but it's something I saw on TV once. xxx

[Katsmum]

So glad you had a great time, cruising is great! I am sure I have taken part in the SEARCH trial last year. If it’s the same one it just involves allowing an extra small vial of bloods when you next get a blood test and I think I remember a questionnaire plus access to records possibly. Sorry to be vague but I don’t think it’s much more than that.

Keep on enjoying yourself and many more hols to come

Jane xx

[ZenaJ in reply to Katsmum]

Thanks Jane, the trial doesn't sound too painful. I'm happy to go ahead. After all, I've done paid trials in the past and with this one there's no risk involved.

Hope you are well,

Zena xx

[thomas62]

Glad you had a brill time. We love cruising and are looking for one post Xmas. Want to do Venice particularly.

Gwen xx

[ZenaJ in reply to thomas62]

Thanks Gwen,

Hope you find a cruise. Venice is lovely to visit, you'll really enjoy it. In the meantime enjoy Christmas. There's lots to look forward to.

Zena xx

[chrissapam]

Hi Zena glad you're back....were you able to do the rides yourself? Hope so, Rainham marshes will be a lovely change after a few days...! the security of having a doctor on board on a cruise, is worth having is it not? Love Chris xx

[ZenaJ in reply to chrissapam]

Hi Chris, you're right it gave me peace of mind knowing there was a doctor on board even though I was told seeing the doctor is very expensive.

I certainly did go on the rides. There're some fantastic ones there now. We went on the Hollywood Rocket. The ride goes straight up so you're laying flat on your back then it goes over the top and carries on as a roller coaster, twisting and turning. Great. The Avatar 3D ride is wonderful too. I couldn't begin to describe it. I only wish the parks hadn't been so busy so we could have gone on more rides. Backwards roller coasters in the dark, shaking, spinning upside down. I'm surprised I've got any insides left.

Take care, Zena xx

[chrissapam in reply to ZenaJ]

glad you felt secure doing it....lots of love Chris x

[Nicky100]

So great to hear your news and that you managed a great trip.

I hope you took loads of lovely photos.

Love Nicky x

[ZenaJ in reply to Nicky100]

Thanks Nicky, Dave (my husband) took loads of photos but I haven't seen them yet. I'll probably make an album. If we leave them on the computer we'll probably never look at them again.

Take care, Zena xx

[GoldenGourd]

So glad you had a good time. Memories can’t be taken away and I am still enjoying remembering my big trip to the us last summer. Really helps when it’s cold outside and you don’t feel up to much.

Take care, Netti xxx

[ZenaJ in reply to GoldenGourd]

Thanks Netti. I really hate the cold, it makes me miserable and bad tempered. I hate being too hot to. Am I ever satisfied? Yes, I am, when I'm tucked up in bed all cosy or sitting by the fire with a nice glass/bottle rum and a bar of chocolate.

I feel guilty though when there are so many homeless people living on the streets and I'm moaning about being cold when I'm in doors with my thick jumpers and slippers. There are worse things in life.

Hope all is well with you. Best wishes, Zena xx