jo mac's blog

Belfast Bash

2011-06-22T17:51:54Z

Hi Everyone

It has been some time since I wrote on this page, but I just had to write and thank all our wonderful Mac friends for making the Belfast Bash so memorable for me and Liz G. It was an absoloute pleasure to welcome you all to Northern Ireland and we fel honoured that yoiu made toe effort to come. When we jokingly suggested last year that we would host the next get together, never in our eildest dreams did we every think it would actually come together, for a start there was the distance, and obviously the expense , there were a few hurdles which would have stood in the way of lots of people coming.

For those of you who couldn't make it we raised a glass to you , we knew everyone had their own personal reasons for not being able to make it and we respected that.

The day was full of fun and laughter and it was great to see everyone make new friends, some that we have chatted to for threee years, others brand new friends, personally I was on a high all day and felt like a silly teenager, but do you know what no one cared!!! I was able to relax and be myself and truly believed I was among friends. We have share so much over the past few years laughter and tears.

This site and the people on it have supported me and my sister Liz and for that I am very grateful to you all.

There was enough food to feed an army and most of our guests left with a nice dooggy bag, we thoroughly enjoyed all the preparations as we knew how much it meant to everyone to get together, and this seems now to be an annual event with some poor sucker being coaxed into the next party.

We took a little time out for a minute to remember why we all had got together and to toast absent friends, and of course this was an emotional moment, as we have lost friends on this site that we will never forget.

Just want to say a big thank you to everyone who made it happen, and for those of you who coundn.t make the journey across the water Julie Clarke and Shelly Greenwood have been brave enough to take on the challenge next year, well done Ladies, I can/t wait for 19 May 2012.

Jo Mac

Round two for Liz

2010-04-14T08:01:50Z

Hi Everyone

Yesterday we got the news we had been dreading, yet expecting that my sister Liz G has another tumour . She is taking it as she takes every aspect of her life, on the nose and is dealing with it in her own way.

For those of you who know me and Liz from the old What Now site you will know the love and closeness we share and the past two years since she was given 3-4 months to live ,have been the hardest most emotional I have ever experienced with her and my family.

While I am writing this she has just texted me and the rest of my sisters to ask if we want our hair done tonight, she is a hairdresser and usually pampers us ever three weeks (we meet every Tuesday for a girly get together five sisters and our Mum) and she posponed our hair last night while she dealt with the terrible blow she had been given, but true to form she has bounced back this morning.

Liz will be starting chemotherapy again next week a course of taxotere, and her concern?? that she will be bald for our sisters wedding in July when she is the bridesmaid, WHO CARES!!! as long as she is there and isn't bald beautiful?? my husband thinks so lol!!

I know all of you who know Liz will join me in wishing her luck for her second bout of chemotherapy Liz we are right there with you and anything you need just say the word Love you sis xxx

PS : Liz now its my turn to say to you "Work through the pain" lol xxxPrivate joke folks but Liz knows what I mean xxx

More Good News for Liz G

2009-11-11T12:50:50Z

Hi Everyone

I haven't blogged for ages, but I am so excited and wanted to share the news with you all. My sister (Liz G, a member on the site) visited her oncologist this afternoon, he hadn't seen her since January, as he was off on long term sick himself, and she had been seen by someone else.

Sitting outside his office today, we were both waiting anxiously to go in, the oncologist came out and said hi to me, and asked me how I was doing, told me he had seen my scan results and was ver pleased wit them. in the meantime Liz is waving to him and saying "Hello it.s me "

I found this extremely funny, althought he is used to seeing us together, as we are like "superglue"", after realising his mistake he said see you in a few minutes,.

Liz and I by this time were rolling about laughing, at his error and she turned to me and said he' probably didn't expect to see me looking so good!!!! Em hello sis what are you trying to say????

Okay lets cut to the chase, he is extremely well pleased with her, her tumors have not changed since he last saw here in January and he can't believe how well she is doing, , I don't know how I can contain my excitement, she has a scan late December and he is confident that there will be good news from that., he even gave her his approval to do a tandem sky dive !!!

When we left the hospital a "high five" was definately in order, Sis me and you against the world love ya!!!!

Jo Mac

Lynne's Jim Sadly lost his fight

2009-09-26T17:31:55Z

Hi Everyone,

Our dear friend Lynne Beaton's husband Jim lost his battle and passed away at 17.30 tonight.

Lynne has asked me and Liz (Liz G) ) to let you all know he died very peacefully.

Lynne has been a great comfort to both me and Liz and we met Jim when they both came to visit us in Belfast, Lynne, Jim was a true gentleman, and we condiser you a good friend, anything you want just let us know. My heart goes out to you at this very sad time

Jo Mac (and Liz G)

Liz G becomes a Grandmother

2009-09-11T21:27:44Z

May I be the first to congratulate my sister Liz G on the birth of her first grandchild. Corey, Braden, David Lagan made his entrance to the world tonight at 7.03pm, he weighed in a 7lb 6ozs and has a lovely head of blonde hair. i know the birth of any grandchild is special, but for Liz it was a little bit more than that. For those of you who have been reading her blogs and who have become mine and Liz's friends you will know that in March 2008 her prognosis was poor 3 - 4 months. Among other things on her "bucket list" was the wish to have a grandchild, something she thought was beyond reach as she never thought she would even see her daughter married let along make her a granny. Kim married and made Lizs life so much more meaningful when a few months later told her she was expecting a baby, her happiness was tinged with sadness when there was a realisation that she may never see her longed fo grandchild, as time was not on her side. Today she was like a dizzy blonde, laughing and giggling as we wee out shopping and checking her phone every ten seconds to see if her son - in law has sent a text to update her on the goings on in the labour ward. The the call came tonight when we were watching a DVD (never got to see the end what a waste of £3!!!!), She ran out ofthe house and left me and my sister sitting in he house, with no transpot home as she had picked us up, lol To see her so happy 18 months after her diagnosis is something I will never forget, she has had so much heatache over the last year, and she so deserves to see this little one grow up. I hope you ll will raise a glass to Liz and congratulate her on the birth of little Corey, he doesn't know yet just how special she is, love you sis and CONGRATULATIONS Jo Mac

Liz & I did it "Race for Life"

2009-05-31T16:47:52Z

Hi Everyone We did it!!! Liz and I and two of our sisters completed the "Race for Life" today, and the weather was glorious. Five of us set off this morning (one being an honary sister who we have claimed as our own) and we couldn't have wished for a beetter day. The atmosphere was electric and we had lots of fun taking part in the warm up. The commentator invented a Hug a scientist day" where we had to go round and hug all the scientiests dressed in blue which got the crowd in a good mood!!! The tags on everyones back told their own story, thank goodness Liz brought her tissues, I thought I had got away with the crying when I had the sunglassess on, but anyone of you who know my sister know she doesn't miss much, so didn't even get to have a cry in private!!!!! I have lived near Stormont Castle most of my life, but never got that close to it before, the walk took in the mile road (uphill!!!) that leads to the main building and it is a beautiful site. We did complete it, but it was difficut to walk at a good pace with som many people in our path, Lis is the one with cancer and she would have put most of the walkers to shame, barging past everyone trying to break her time limit to get an extra £10 sponsorship money if she walked it in less that 50 minutes !!! 5000 turned out and everyone was dressed beautifully, a sea of pink . I t was nice to see so many men out to support and cheer us on . My only regret is that I did not run it, I felt a tinge of envy when I saw the running group head to the start, but hey that is my goal for next year !!! All in all a fantastic day. M People sing a song called "What have you done today to make you feel proud" Well I have never been prouder that I was today to do this today to help raise money for such a good cause, also for people I love and admire that are battling with cancer every day. Roll On next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Red Badge of Courage

2009-05-16T17:24:56Z

Hi GuyThis is my first blog so bear with me. A local singer wrote this song when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, it was played on our local radio yesterday as pat of the fundraising for Race for Life which takes place in Belfast on 31st May. I have substituted the word"lady" to sister and modified some of the other words to suit, as those of you who know me and my sister Liz on chat will understand why. I hope you like it, but it is to all of yo people out there who are bravely fighting this awful disease, but especially to my wonderful sister Liz ( she hates all this soppiness so I won't embaas her anymore. My sister's got a red badge of courage she wears it like a medal on her heart she wears it with pride like most people wear a smile and no-one else but me can see her scars My sister's got a red badge of courage it's one that you can't steal and yo can't buy it's not a thing that you can hold, but it means more to her than gold and it's wrapped around her heart like an old flag Chorus My sister she's a fighter, she's a winner but she's not the type to boast or brag or swear This last year I have seen the woman in her thats makes me proud to say I belong to her My sister's in the roll call of hero's of those with nothing else to lose but life for whose few remaining years, ae filled with days of constant fears but who will never quit or give up on the fight My sister's got a red badge of courage she's joined the ranks of those who know the score for whom each day is still a prize, a gift that she can't toss aside for it's too prescious to be wasted like before Yes my sister's got a red badge of courage It's the one thin I am sure she's rather not have When you ask me what war ans what she got it for I say bravery in the face of cetain death. Love you Liz and I am so very proud of you. Jo Mac