Update on our lives - the road we travel

Hello dear friends Yes!!

We are still here!!!

I know it has been awhile but with all Rob's tests happening and his constant lack of energy now, sitting and chatting for hours on end is all we feel we are doing at the moment.

Rob's Second operation is on Thursday and he will be in hospital for several days. The doctors are very positive but he is coughing a lot lately so me being me I read the worst into it.

Last Sunday we did however go out with our lodge to Melbourne for the morning to the Grand lodges Pink Breakfast for breast cancer and it was a lot of fun (I was even in the paper the next day)

See how bossy!! I am - moving everyone around so we can see them all! (smiles) Yes that is me in the pink hair!!

Right that is better!! say cheese everyone!! - O! know were did Rob go? lets try that again!

Does anyone know were Rob is Yes! everyone yells (behind the camera) oops! red face to match my hair - sorry honey!! (smiles)

You will find us here beside the bus all looking "VERY PINK!"

That is better here we all are!!

We also went to a wedding, we could not stay too long but it was so nice to share the moment with the young couple, and here is my darling and the groom our new partner in our business - One of our apprentices who has just come out of his time and is now part of our family business. This will help Rob to do just a little less and worry a little less too while he is in hospital.

Thank you dear friends for your lovely comments and emails and I am sure you understand why I have not been around to visit lately but I think of you all often - with blessings and good wishes to you all always. I will add a little post here as soon as the operation is over to let you all know.

This is my Tuesday - with anticipation and hope in the air!!

Spring in our part of the world - brings art to life.

With the coming of spring and the daffodil festival comes not only the beautiful bulbs popping their heads out of the soil but also art springs up all over the town and so today my darling husband and I decided to enjoy a little walk in the sunshine by the creek and see the art that has "popped" up in the last few days.

Here it is and we are happy to share it with you all

BUT!

Not before I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your messages of hope and good wishes and prayers.

As I sat in Church on Sunday many of you came to mind and the prayers that have reached us from around the world. THANK YOU ALL!

My husband Rob.

Blessings to you all on this Tuesday - on a spring day! with a feeling of true hope in the air!!

With swords drawn "Let the battle begin!"

Rob Has been told his biops have come back positive for cancer and after the shock of the news we decided that the battle was on for a full recovery.

So my darling husband now after he has recovered from his last operation has to go back into Hospital for another operation to take out the other half of the thyroid. Then they hunt down any thyroid cancer cells.

We know there will be a battle but we also know we will win!! the war.

Thank you all for your kindness and good wishes, it helps truly it does.

I leave you with some spring colour that is finding its way into our garden & that has to be a very good sign to this family.

An emergency at our place!

Just a little update to tell you all my dear husband was taken into surgery On Thursday in a bit of a rush - He was chocking on Tuesday night and on Wednesday so they quickly got him in to do the surgery.

I must go now but wanted everyone to know he is doing well and we now wait for the results of the tests. His surgeon was concerned when we did see him yesterday and Rob is so very sore but it is over unless they need to go in for further work.....I pray not!

Must Go love to you all my dear friends from around the world!

We have a date!!

Dear blogger friends "We have a date!" with the surgeon now it is either the 15th or 16th of this month.

Rob is having a lot of trouble sleeping and feels like he is choking all the time - these next few days cannot come and go quick enough until his operation.

On another note I truly wish we could send a little of this heavy rain we are having to the fire effected areas of America - we are thinking of you all.

Rob and I had a wonderful day today looking after four of our grandchildren wow! did they give us a workout!! no wonder Rob had to go straight to bed he was so tired. Just simple things happened like taking a gradson to school or a grand daughter to kinda, like holding the baby in your arms until she falls to sleep, or like the number three darling following poppies every move and copy cat action (puts a smile on my face as I see it in my mind)

BUT they are wonderful memories we will keep in our hearts forever.

This is our Monday - shared with a husband! I love!

"Just the two of us!"

It is "Just the two of us"

For the past three weeks something very strange has entered our lives here at Pear tree cottage.

Rob went to see his local doctor for the results of his last lot of tests.

She is a nice enough lady but does not know us well and is new to the surgery - anyway His results on looking at them looked bad - very bad "life threatening" she said. As she kept on reading the computer screen THEN SHE SAID!

You have cancer you have to give up work and get your "things" in order because you do not have long. "do you need councilling?" all that in the one sentence - If I was there (Rob was on his own) I would have slapped here well and truly across the face IF she had taken her eyes off the computer screen.

Then Rob just got up and left and as he got to the door of her room he turned and said "you are wrong! VERY WRONG! and then walked out".

I was at work and he came past and put two thumbs up all is ok!! there I was thinking it is ok! and there he was thinking is it or am I going to die soon.

Sunday was like any other sleep in and sip coffee in bed on a winters morning chat about this and that and all the while Rob has hidden deep inside him the words of a Doctor that touched his very being and me thinking all is OK! IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN.

Monday morning comes about and I go off to look after some grandchildren and he goes to Work just like any other day.............but come 9am he starts making phone calls first to his specialist, the answers came think and fast "Rob you may or may not have cancer I do not see the results here yet BUT let me tell you you will die first from old age other then thyroid cancer we will chat after you talk to the surgeon. Then he calls the surgeon and he does have the test results. come and see me this FRIDAY Rob.............but let me tell you, you will be ok!

I went with Rob to see him last Friday still thinking that the operation was going to be all that would be needed and as I sit there it dawns on me that something is not right..............it is all to knowing from one man my man and the surgeon they are chatting as if they know more about the last week then I do and then the moment came. Well Rob your Local doctor is wrong you may or may not have cancer but you will not die from it you will be operated on and you will have 5 weeks off work and you will rest and we will fix this problem so do not worry................................OK! what is going on.

Then as we sat in the car in the car park I was told how my dear husband felt and how he did not believe what the local doctor had said and that he just needed time to work through it all by himself and while he should have shared it with me on that very first day "he was not sure what he was sharing so waited to share the truth!

I was so angry and upset even now (forgive me!) I still just want to go and slap the face of that lady doctor for putting my man through the pain and the feelings he could not share until he knew what TRULY was happening.

So here I am sharing this with you all and feeling as if I too can now let go of this horrible week or two and once again know

Rob and I are "Just the two of us"

This is my Sunday! a blessing YES! But it is so hard to understand just what has happened! or what it could have been!

Now we wait till next Friday to get the operation date.

Were have the many days gone since my last post?

It is so typical of us here - the days rush head on one into another, and before you know it a new month has arrived and my blog looks like I have left the planet..................well the busy days have been filled with new babies, high teas, and my darling husbands health. If you have a moment I will share it with you now.

First and most importantly my Husband has not yet had his operation but has had several ultrasound and scans and needle biopsy on his thyroid and they even took out over ten mils of fluid from the thyroid but it is now all back and looking very large again. He feels very tired and we are still waiting for the results, then the surgeons visit is on the 21st to make the operation time.

Husband feels fairly well other then being tired and had three days off work this last week after the two days of many tests.

Rob just said tell them about the "vintage rose high tea" so I will...............It was beautiful!

Setting up the day before!

one must always have a "taste tester!" this is my sisters darling grand daughter

My mum helping to sort out all the china - she cooked over three hundred scones for the day!!

The day before my husband Rob giving me a hug "you can get it done! He said!" no I carn't I was saying!! it did done!!

All was ready just in time while the ladies over 140 of them gathered out the front of the building being served by the men of the lodge bubbles and chocolate dipped strawberries and catching up with those on their tables.

Because we "the lodge" are celebrating our 150Th year all year. Some of our ladies once again dressed in the Victorian style - representing those ladies who had gathered in this lovely old building all those years ago. As they worked towards its future and here we now represent them on this day. We stand here because of them! those ladies from the past. I loved the thought that they may have also held a high tea all those years ago and that fine china was used as it is today.

When the doors to the hall opened this is what the ladies found.

The ladies were asked to have a vintage rose in their hair or hat and these ladies looked lovely with fresh pink roses in their hair and beautiful smiles all around the table.

As the host of the day I told the ladies a little bit about the reason for the high tea the charity "Starlight childrens foundation" and how it helps to make a wish come true for children who are very ill. each lady was given a vintage hankie and on the hankie was a tag with a word on the back these words were to remind them that children who are ill have the same dreams and hopes as us all. JOY! HOPE! SMILES! HAPPINESS! FUN!

I then showed them my outfit and how it is put together traditionally wearing the corset laced up and all, it was a nice way to chat with ladies while their teapots were arriving at the tables.

This is our future daughter in law and she had a lovely day with us all - she is now part of a BIG! family and loves it!!

The men of our lodge and those around here helped put on the auctions to make a little more money for the charity and here is one of the men in his gardening outfit "roses gumboots" as well and the ladies bid on each auction with laughter and fun and "THAT! my friends is exactly what the day was all about"

O! here I am again telling them a little about their teacups the trios 140 of them I am afraid to say belong to me and I adore that they are being used and tea is being sipped from them. They were a little nervous that two ladies in the hall were sipping from teacups that were made in 1880's I wouldn't tell them who had them on their tables.

Here are our "men in black" as they escorted out the auctions of wonderful glasses that were donated by my sister from here optometrist store in Hobart...........thank you sis!

Some tables had four generations on them one table a lady cuddled her 5 week old baby and another one the ladies listen to the stories from the oldest lady in the room about days gone bye.

I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to put together such beautiful

"moments in time"

It was a wonderful day and the hall was filled with chatting and laughter and that is what I feel is the most important part of the high tea. a celebration of life, touching another's heart with your own hopes for their future happiness and we all feel we did this simple yet richly rewarding thing on Saturday25th of July at Zetland masonic lodge in Kyneton.

My Mondays blessing is for more tea to be drunk with much laughter to follow!!