Gifts .............

[Jan76]

My birthday has got me thinking of the way that gifts can come in many guise's .....

We tend to think of gifts in a material way but there are other sorts too .........

A bunch of flowers from a friend , a lovely hug or a phone call to cheer some one up , a nice cream cake to share ... theses can all be gifts to someone .

For us and many like us there is another gift .. ( Each new day) whether it be pouring with rain or wonderful sunshine .

For me this year it has to be the gift of reaching 56 and being able to celebrate it in London with my wonderful hubby and doing the sights and sounds of London .

Starting with the Thames Clipper and hopping off to walk over Tower Bridge and then on to the Embankment to take in the sights such as Trafalgar Square , National Gallery , Horse Guards Parade , Whitehall , Downing St , Houses of Parliament and Big Ben .

A delightful lunch with hubby at Gillrays Steak house and then a trip on the London Eye .

It was such a lovely day ........

The gift of friendship too has kept me going this year from all areas of my life both old and new friends .

The support that I have have had from the Ovacome family has been a very big help and with the fun and laughter too has kept me smiling .

At the start of my Journey I met a lovely lady called Sue from the MMMT web site an American site and Sue lives here in the UK . She was a great support when I started my chemo ..sending me mails and keeping an eye on me and later we chatted on the phone .

Sue's cancer had returned this summer and her hubby told me in a mail today that there is no more they can do for her other than to make her comfortable . Both Sue's sons married this year .

Sue was all for getting out there and enjoying life and packing lots in too .

I am going to give it my best shot to be here for my 57th birthday and enjoy the many gifts of life on the way .

Love Jan xxxxx

[iamstillme]

Hi jan,

wishing you a happy birthday and many more beautiful ones to hopefully come,

i know you must feel sad about sue and although many of us hear would not have known her am sure will think of her and her family at this time .

Love

Ally

[Hidden in reply to iamstillme]

Hi Ally,

I have not heard from you for a while.. I hope you are okay thinking of you love x G x

[Jan76 in reply to iamstillme]

Thanks Ally xxxx

Yes I do feel sad about Sue as I had hoped that this next lot of chemo would help her but it was not to be .

I was delighted to share her news that she had seen both her sons marry this year and learn about all the wedding outfits ...

Love Jan xxxx

[Hidden]

Hii Jan,

I am so glad you enjoyed your birthday and hope you have many many more, you are right gifts coming in many different guises, and even today is a gift...I expect you are tired now...

I hope you don't mind but I have posted a poem on your "potty antics last year" a little giggle. To cheer us up.

I am sorry to hear about you friend... I lost a friend and a niece to O.C. this year this is when it hits home.. but I do hope your friend recovers...I know her husband said otherwise but where there's life there's hope.

Lots of love x G x

[doreenharwood]

Hi Jan,

I am so please you had a lovely Birthday and enjoyed London. It is mine next week and although I am not doing anything as wonderful as you did I will be please to see my 3 grandchildren and my daughter who are coming over to my house for a Birthday tea. I have my last chemo on Thursday so Friday will be a double celebration.

I am sure we will still all be on here typing away when we are drawing our pension.

Love Babs x x x

[Hidden in reply to doreenharwood]

Hi Babs,

A celebration indeed....I hope you are feeling better...I am sorry you haven't been well sending you best wishes and love x G x

[doreenharwood in reply to Hidden]

Hi Gwyn,

I am doing okay its just Im still recovering from my op and I had chemo a couple of weeks ago. I am sure once I am back at work I will soon be back to normal. I have had a very sore mouth this week it seems the chemo always give me ulcers and now I have a sore tongue as well. Still must not moan Im still here and I am going to be fine soon x x

Love Babs x x

[Jan76 in reply to doreenharwood]

Hi there Babs ,

Many thanks xxxx

So pleased to hear that next Thursday is your last chemo and what with your birthday on the Friday it will indeed be a double celebration and with your daughter and grandchildren too .Hope someone will make you a cake ..you must have a nice treat xxxx

Do hope that your sore mouth will improve soon and you feel better too xxxx

Take good care now xx

Love Jan xxxx

[wendydee in reply to doreenharwood]

That sounds really gorgeous, Babs. I hope you're feeling a bit better today? I bet you can't wait to get on with post-chemo life and begin to build up your strength again. You've done so well. All the very best of love and a hug from me ((((xxxx))))

Love W xx

[Cinderella]

Happy birthday Jan. I am so glad you had a great day out in London. I totally agree with you that the gift of each day is very precious to all of us who have gone through the journey of OC.

I am sorry to hear about your friend, Sue. I do pray that with faith & hope she will get better.

Enjoy the year ahead & may it be a year full of health, joy & happiness.

Lots of love, Samixa X

[Jan76]

Thank you Samixa ,

We have another day of celebration today as the family are coming for afternoon tea ..so looking forward to that .. been to Waitrose and have some really naughty cakes to share with them ...

Thank you so much for your good wishes xxx

Love Jan xxx

[Hidden]

Hi Jan

So sad about your friend but some lovely thoughts in your post.

Hope you have a really happy family day today and do enjoy your treats.

Love

Linda xxx

[Jan76 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Linda xxx

We had a wonderful afternoon with a yummy spread .... need a long walk now to shift the extra pounds I must have put on ....

Love Jan xxx

[Whippit]

I love your post Jan. It sums up everything I feel about Ovarian Cancer. None of us want to be here but there are many blessings and many sadnesses all of which have a sweetness about them. I don't call it a roller coaster because that makes it all seem out of control. I just look at it as a blessing in many guises.

It was good to hear what an amazing day you had. Enjoy the day with your family today. xxx Annie

[Jan76]

Dear Annie ,

There are indeed many blessings and many sadnesses and in the last two hours we have both both . Brians uncle Tom passed away last night and my daughters friend Louise gave birth to a little boy at 6.25 pm yesterday .

Life moves round in circles .......

Thank you Annie xxxx

[wendydee]

It sounds as if you had a really wonderful birthday and some lovely moments with your family. You're right, life is often happy mixed with sad. I met up with five friends yesterday and we used to be seven of us. It's always so good to see them and we always talk of the two who we have lost. I reckon that if we can talk of friends with a smile in our hearts, they are true friends. I hope your friend, Sue, is finding some comfort from her friends and family.

Enjoy this lovely sunshine today. It's all about loving each moment, isn't it?

Love Wendy xx

[Jan76]

Thanks Wendy ,

I woke up today feeling very blessed and very lucky too to have a smashing family and wonderful friends .

Wendy you have summed it up just right ..its is about loving each moment and getting out there and enjoying it too if you can .

Love Jan xxxx