Joycee's Blog

Wishing You All ....

2012-12-17T06:57:52Z

Wishing All My Dear Mac Friends .....

A Joyous and Peaceful Christmas ,

Love and best wishes, Joycee xxx

Good Reason For Carrying On

2011-11-13T09:32:04Z

Well, after a long day our new baby Granddaughter decided to make her earlier than expected appearance into the world. Freya Lily was born yesterday evening weighing 7lbs 7ozs, both Mum and Baby are doing well.

Looks like I am going to be kept quite busy again, but I have a grin like the Cheshire Cat !

Joycee xx

Friends Reunited ............. ? !

2011-10-04T10:50:14Z

Friends Reunited ............... ? I don't know if it's just me but since this new site launch nothing has been the same, I have experienced difficulties with making replies to blogs and so forth - however, that problem has come to light and is hopefully being addressed ( Internet Explorer 9 ) So whilst I can gain access using my hubby's laptop - different browser - I shall try and make the most of it.

As so many of you have already pointed out, the lack of a more visual friend's activities list isn't too good - I know that we can trawl through and find out, but that is rather time consuming and I tend to give up after a short while. This lack of info makes you feel out on a limb or suspended somewhere in cyberspace ........... like, hello is anyone there ? But again, hopefully this will be remedied soon.

My other moan is the reply posts whereby you can't see exactly what you are replying to ........ with the old system the previous post was clearly visible and there was no need to commit it to memory or jot down notes before typing. Now I think that some of you have been using such things like cut / paste or something or other ......... afraid that I am totally useless at that sort of stuff and wouldn't know where to start ( apart from taking computer lessons ! ) The old system was so much easier.

I also miss the old What's New page as that contained a lot of current info that actually stayed there for a while - eg. discussions / forums; blogs; status updates and recent group activities, etc. The new one covers these but pass down the list so quickly that such a lot can be missed ............ maybe it's just me but it does feel more impersonal now.

Even our profile page is very short and sweet - to the point of terse - there isn't as much info there for others to see as in the old site ( no wall to leave a quick comment on ) and where have the personal photos gone to ? I was hoping to get something uploaded onto mine - with help, that is ! - but it looks like that facility has disappeared.

Looks like we'll just have to get used to this, so gripes over for now so take care, my friends !

Joycee xx

Just Testing - Part Two !

2011-09-26T14:45:03Z

Just Testing !

2011-09-26T14:42:38Z

Another Review........that came round quickly !

2011-09-19T11:04:29Z

Well, I can hardly believe that the last four months have past by so quickly as tomorrow it's back to The Christie for my check-up again. As per usual, my nerves are starting to jangle at the thought ......... especially as three years ago I was almost at the end of Radiotherapy and in a very bad state ( indeed, I was so bad that they admitted me to a ward for care ) So that will entail a rather quick and undignified scurry along the corridor to get past the Radiotherapy Suites as rapidly as possible. Suites ........ the name tends to imply something pleasant, but beware of the monster machines that lurk within all ready to dispense those deadly rays to the unwilling victims !

However, needs must that I go ....... albeit it not over-keen, but they have to check that the evil cancer is no longer. So I will try to look my best and smile nicely at the Consultant - and hope that he see fit to put my next appointments back to six monthly intervals. Fingers crossed !

Still sore !

2011-08-07T18:09:20Z

Sorry, but I have bottled this up for long enough now - my tongue is still very sore after almost three years post-radiotherapy and I am beginning to become despondent about the whole thing. I understand that it can take a long time to heal, but all the info on the subject reckons it usually takes about six weeks to recover.......no mention of years !

I have tried just about everything to try and encourage the healing process, but to no avail. Maybe this is something I have to learn to live with - yes, indeed I am grateful to be alive - but some days it feels like my resolve is being ground down and I have no fight left. Another down day, I guess.

Joycee

Three Years Forward

2011-07-06T18:09:50Z

At about this time three years ago I was nervously trying to settle into my ' new home ' for the next two and a half weeks - a ward in Wythenshawe Hospital. My operation was planned for the following morning when the carcinoma was to be surgically removed from the floor of my mouth. It was a very strange feeling to be away from home, and whilst trying to be brave, a medic came with the usual forms and then proceeded to draw dots with what appeared to be a felt-tip pen across the front of my neck - from ear-to-ear - and then down the inside of my forearm. I was quite bemused by this and thought it resembled a child's game of Join the Dots or a more sinister instruction to Cut Here - the latter being correct ! But I live to tell the tale and although this an anniversary I would rather not have had to happen, it was necessary for my survival and my thanks go to the surgeon, Mr. Patel and his team. So now it's time to not only reflect on the past, but also to move forward with all the determination I can.

Joycee

Bit of a Down Day

2011-06-05T17:52:09Z

Felt a bit down today over my inability to eat ' normally ' - apart from my recent success in managing some bread with soup, I am still finding it quite difficult to move the food with my tongue. I realise that this may be largely due to the extensive surgery and radiation, but after almost three years I was hoping to be way further along. Maybe I am expecting too much - or do I have to come to terms with the fact that I may never eat ' normal ' food again and be grateful that at least I am alive ? Normally I try to be optimistic about everything - perhaps it's just a ' bad hair day ' - I guess that I should be thankful for where I am at the moment and snap out of it. Tomorrow is another day !

Bread !

2011-05-13T13:25:43Z

This week I reached another long-awaited goal - for the first time in almost three years I had a taste of bread ! It was a rather messy operation because it was necessary to ' dunk ' the piece of bread into my tomato soup to make it softer - where's a bib when you need one ? But, with a lot of effort I did manage to eat the biggest part of a wholemeal roll........wonderful !

Follow-up Clinic

2011-05-05T18:33:46Z

Next week I have an appointment for a check-up and, as always, I am getting a bit nervous and apprehensive. It is almost three years since I was diagnosed with mouth cancer but somehow the fear comes back when I have to go to the hospital. My mind plays games and I am back on the table with the mask firmly in place having the radiotherapy..........but I should be grateful for the fact that this cancer has been destroyed. I shall strive be positive and keep smiling !