Monday 24 November 2008

Christmas Lights Switch On + Good News

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It has been so bitterly cold the last few days but, just as I suspected, no snow fell here. We got the rain.

Saturday night last saw the switch on of our village lights. How times have changed. Probably because councils are now leaning more towards Winter Festivals than Christmas. Just a couple of years back, we had the traditional switch on . There would be the tree, the Salvation Army Band would play, there would be a Carol service, the local dance school would put on a display - all resplendant in their Christmas costumes. Christmas as we have always known and celebrated it.

What rides and a house of horror have to do with Christmas I have absolutely no idea. However, I suppose it is better than nothing and did attract large crowds to our little village. There was a Father Christmas but he was sitting inside one of the shops at the very back, so was not on public display. As I said, having all these things is better than having nothing at all, but I would so liked it to have had more of Christmas about it and less of a funfair.

Anyway, Mike did pop up there and get a short video so you will be able to see for yourselves. It is colourful and it is noisy and no doubt the children and teenagers loved it all. At the end of the day, I suppose that is the main thing.



At least our hardware store stuck more to the Christmas theme:


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Now for the good news of the heading. I attended the breast clinic this morning. It was harder for me than usual because I have had a stomach bug all weekend. I have been living on soup, dry toast and sugar-free jelly. It was touch and go whether I was going to be able to make it but I was determined not to cancel again. I did not want more weeks of that hanging over my head.

The journey went quickly but we did have a pretty long wait once we arrived at the unit. It had been just over a year since I had seen the wonderful Caspar, my surgeon. He was his usual comical self. He has such a great sense of humour and we have always been easy in each others company.

He asked me lots of questions and went into great detail about how I now felt about everything, did I still worry over it? I told him that in a way it is like always walking with a shadow, a ghost, so to speak. He told me not to talk about him in that fashion and then I said "Oh yes! Caspar the friendly ghost". He burst into laughter along with his nurse and the two students that were in attendance.

He told me that was something that would never go away, he has heard it from so many people and I told him that I also knew - because of the long discussions I had months back with the cancer counsellor. I told him I had learned to live with it and that it no longer occupied my every waking moment. In fact, most days I do not even think about it. Of course, when something is mentioned on the t.v. or in the newspapers, that really brings it into the forefront.

He then told myself and his students, that he has found over many years, that peole who react very badly in the early days, as I did, crying all the time, unable to sleep, living in constant dread, usually do much better in the long term, better than those who say that they can handle it, which many apparently do on being given their diagnosis. They are the ones who tend to go to pieces later on, because they are bottling it all inside themselves.

He then gave me a very detailed and thorough examination at the end of which he told me he could find no abnormalities and that he was extremely pleased with me. He does not want to see me again for another year, all being well.

Of course, I still have a long way to go. I have my mammogram and my meeting with my oncologist in May next year. If all is well then, that will be my second year all-clear. It will be two down and three to go. Of course, I am not counting my chickens, I would never tempt fate like that. I have learned to take every day as it comes now, try not to worry about the future. To count my blessings, and I have been blessed, I do realise that. I just hope and pray it continues that way.

As you can imagine, I am very tired now. I still have my diabetic check to face within the next couple of weeks but I am not going to worry about that now. What with the stomach upset and the tension of this morning, I am typing this with my eyelids dropping, so I am going to get off the computer, have a nice cup of tea and then an afternoon nap. I promise I will get to your journals when I can.

Wishing each and every one of you a wonderful week.

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37 comments:

  1. Oh That is wonderful news Jeanette!!!!!
    I am so happy for you!!!

    I will be praying for you that all goes well with your other tests - but what a relief that everything is great !!!

    Lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!!

    Love,
    Michelle

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  2. so happy to hear your appt went well. i am on the same time table as you, march will be 2 yrs & 3 to go then!
    sorry you've been ill with a bug, wondered why you hadn't visited my last few posts or made a post of your own.
    have a good week.
    huggies...

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  3. happy, happy, happy!!! Big hugs to you Jeannette. Now you make sure you rest lots!!! Put your feet up! Love Laine xxx
    http://lainey-lainesworld.blogspot.com/

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  4. I'm so happy for you! Now relax and enjoy your family during the holidays!

    Hugs, Rose

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  5. Our 'big switch on' is this weekend coming, nothing so elaborate as yours! Just some parish councillor declaring the lights on - but there is a free mince pie for all! Big smiley faces all round regarding your appointment this morning! Love B x

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  6. Very good news Jeanette, and long may it continue.
    I too miss our lovely Christmasses which we used to have when I was a child.!!!
    Now they don't do it either because of money or because they are afraid of upsetting someone.!!
    Take care
    Hugsxx

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  7. That is such good news Jeannette ,well done for going inspite of having a very uncomfortable weekend ,Your little village certainly looks good ready for ..erm Christmas ,enjoy your nap love as always Jan xx

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  8. Great news I was wondering where you were all weekend. Hope the tum clears up now the appointment is done. Love Joan

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  9. Lovely lights...in your village. And that was such good news you shared....may you have many more days of good news like that to come...hugs and love,
    Joyce

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  10. Good news, indeed! I don't imagine any US communities will turn on Christmas lights until after this Thursday's Thanksgiving Day is over. At least I hope they wait that long. God is good...Linda in Washington state

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  11. Jeannette that is such good news ~ hope your other appointments go as well ~ and I hope you are feeling better now ~ Ally x

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  12. Hi Jeanette. I know you're relieved to get the good news. A nice cup of tea and a nap should really help :).......

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  13. So very glad your appt went well... hurrah for good news! Now feel better and quick
    hugs

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  14. Jeanette, Wonder if this will go this time ?? anyway fingers crossed...I am so happy that all went well this morning and now you can look forward to Christmas and next year with a smile on your face. Much Love Sybil x

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  15. good news jeannette. now look forward to xmas. can i have mine WITHOUT that snow though? lol take care love mort xx

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  16. A great hurdle to clear before Christmas! You get over that bug now.....
    Bunny xxx

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  17. Jeanette, I was so happy to hear your good news, you made my day dear. Will keep you in my prayers that your other tests also will go well.

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  18. I am sooooo happy your checkup turned out well. Now you can enjoy your holidays. I like the traditional also. They commercialize everything so much it takes the fun out of the holidays.

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  19. Fantastic news, Jeannette! Actually I've been thinking about you today, although I wasn't exactly sure which day you were going to the hospital this week. What a relief. I know the "ghost" will never totally leave you but as you've said, it will be more bearable and "friendlier". I've still have two tests to go on the 5th and I'm not looking forward to them, but they need to be done, bacause I live with a "ghost" too! The lights in your village are lovely. As you say, all in all Christmas is also about joy and happiness. Take care. Ciao. Antonella

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  20. great news..thx for sharing...now get better with that darn bug you got!!! ;)

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  21. That was a wonderful video Mike took, but you're right, not very Christmasy...
    So glad you made it to your appointment and all is well!!!
    Have a Blessed Week!!

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  22. So glad you got a bill of health that is always something to be thankful for.
    I'm like you that should have been more towards Christmas instead of carnival.
    Take care, Chrissie

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  23. Glad to hear your appt. went well hon! Your right the lights festival is more like a carnival than, anything to do with Christmas. (Hugs)Indigo

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  24. Enjoy whatever looks like Christmas while you can. I'm thrilled your trip went as well as it did and especially happy to hear the good report from Caspar!

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  25. I'm so glad you're doing well! I don't think you ever forget about cancer. I think you learn to live with the possibility.

    Have a good week!

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  26. Glad to hear your doctor visit went well. Mark has his annual cnacer checkup coming as well in a few weeks.

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  27. What wonderful news Jeanette! I am happy to share also that my grandmother has survived and healed also from cancer now some twenty good and happy years!

    I agree that it is nice when they stick with traditional Christmas.

    Lisa

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  28. Jeannette,

    I'm so happy that your report from the doctor was so wonderful! I know what a weight that must be off your mind and heart. Bravo!

    I also wanted to tell you that I love your picture at the top. It looks like you could just step into that scene. So beautiful!

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  29. It does make one wonder why the house of horrows at Christmas. Maybe they missed getting it set up for Halloween LOL. Glad that every thing seems in great order on your test. Good luck on the rest of it. Hugs, Helen

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  30. Congrats..I've nominated you for a Superior Scribbler Award...;)

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  31. Congrats on your first 2 years! @-}--

    As for the Christmas lights, I'm just going to go back to http://gryph-wotd.blogspot.com and put my rant there.

    ;^) Jan the Gryphon
    http://gryph-wotd.blogspot.com/

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  32. Fab news Jeannette especially before christmas...I dunno what they do at the turning on of the city lights here as we never go to see them beign switched on...They do the tree seperately to the lights though which is a bit strange...Our tree for the city comes as a gift from Norway so london isn't the only place to get one from them lol

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  33. Sorry to hear you were unwell but glad you made it to see the surgeon, and all is well.
    I haven't been into town for a few weeks so I don't know if there any lights yet, I enjoyed the video, and like your festive picture.

    Take care

    Yasmin
    xx

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  34. Hi Jeannette so pleased your hospital visit was a good one ,I was thinking of you and praying it would be good news .
    I can't believe we are nearly in December ,...with love Jeanxx

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  35. Hi Jeannette, I`m so pleased that your apointment went well and you are ok. I was thinking about you and had a good feeling that all would be well. I`m having a lot of problems accessing journals and I keep getting what looks like a draft form with no way of commenting...sigh. Anyway, dear friend, take care. :o)

    Love Sandra xxxx

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  36. So pleased to hear your good news!!!!!!! Sorry I am posting as anonymous but I can't log in, again! Eileen x

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  37. This is such wonderful news!! I am so happy to hear you had such a favorable visit. My mom worried constantly the first two years as well. She tried not to show it but I know each time something felt a little odd she immediately thought her cancer had returned. It has been 5 years now and although she is happy she made the five year marker it is still with her. I don't think it will ever go away - but it did get easier for her.
    Sending you a big congratulations HUG!!!

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