Well done Kieran

My little boy, Kieran got a certificate at school today. I bought him some new football boots a couple of weeks ago and has been so proud of them. He has taken them to school and played football. He got a certificate from his headmaster in his good work assembly, they have one every Friday.
He said he was in goal and was told he was very good. Considering we have no one in our little family that follows football, he has chosen it for himself. He brought home a medal that he was presented with yesterday and didn’t want to take it to school today. I also spoke to his teacher about his school work and he was very pleased with the way he is progressing.
It has been such a busy day, what with sorting out the finances, assemblies, and holidays, I also went Christmas shopping with my sister and eventually sat down at 9:15pm.

Bernie Banton

Bernie Banton was a sufferer of Mesothelioma and sadly lost his battle with peritoneal Mesothelioma at 1am 0n 27th November 2007. He lived in Sydney, Australia and was highly praised for his tireless work with highlighting the issues surrounding asbsetos and Mesothelioma. The worlds first asbestos research centre will be named after him. The multi-million dollar centre is being set up to find new treatments for the disease. May I take this opportunity to say y thoughts are with his family.

The link below details more about Bernie and his campaigning.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bernie-banton-dead/2007/11/27/1196036838655.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/29/2105643.htm

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Bernie-hopes-for-justice-in-time-for-Christmas/2004/12/18/1103312783973.html

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/11/22/1195321951509.html

thinking of the future

We had a lady in work today who was selling usbourne books. I had a look at the books and picked out some for my little boy for christmas, he loves joke books especially the unfunny ones : ) One book caught my eye, It was a book about growing up and on the cover were questions.
How will I have my first shave?
Why are girls different?
What is testostorone?
I thought I would get it for him and then it hit me……Will I be here when he has these questions?
I left work and went to my sister’s for a good, strong hug and to bawl my eyes out. It isn’t often that I get a wobbly moment but this was a major one.
My sister was wonderful and told me I have every reason to feel like I do and listened to me blubber on (thanks Sis x).
I really hope I am, I am going to put it in his memory box as it will be really helpful to him anyway. I may well be here and will definatley help him with his questions, although, I do have to fight him for a kiss!

There are really lovely responses on the newspaper site this evening. Thank you for taking the time to write in. I appreciate it and all these negative comments will only spur me on to raise more awareness of Mesothelioma and Asbestos.

Thank you

I want to say a big thank you to all those of you, especially Suzanne, who responded in the paper and those who have sent emails of support and to family, friends and workmates who have supported me while I have been attacked for my payment.
I am rising above it and just thinking about my family and the future we have left.
I do appreciate any comments and I knew some people would not be happy but to be attacked in this way for getting an illness through no fault of my own is wrong.
Once again, thank you, I appreciate it.

Debbie

Debate online - local paper

There has been a debate printed in my local newspaper concerning my pay out. Although I have not let out how much I have recieved, some people are not happy as my payment (they think) is in excess of what they would get. One person has accussed me of dragging my family through the press which I haven’t. I don’t feel I have to justify myself to anyone and have asked in the forum if the person/people complaining would honestly sit back and say/do nothing if they were in this position. I don’t think they would. I am not entitled to Industrial injury benefit which is included in the link below.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/OtherBenefitsAndSupport/DG_10020628

I have a lump sum payment of 6 figures, that is all these people know. As I have said before, do not knock me, if you want to vent your anger, direct at those who gave us this life sentence.
The article is contained below.

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133188&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133171&contentPK=18958606&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

On a lighter note, my eyebrows are growing back. I have been without them for about 10 months and have been thinking of having them tattooed on. I have lost them due to Alopecia and not chemo as I have not had any. They are pure white so I will be tinting them when the time is right.

feeling unwell

I really gutted my bedroom yesterday. I have moved furniture, thrown out stuff that had been hanging around for too long and I think I did too much.
I am feeling cold and shivery and my poor little limbs are aching. I don’t like anything beating me and have a persistant son who wants to see his friend today. I am also trying desperatly to get something to take to work tomorrow, I am helping to build our ice palace scene for Christmas.
I need another week off work to get myself ahead of all these projects. I have used up all my holiday and have to squish it all into 3 days. It is good to keep busy but at times I need to listen to my body when it says slow down.
It will all be fine tomorrow, I will try and lay off doing too much today.

Blast from the past

I was given some memorabilia today by my sister. It had been found while she sorted out boxes at our home we lived in as children.

I couldn’t believe it was still in the house. There was a newspaper cuttings which had to be from the late 70’s and a membership card to the “official David Essex fan club”.
I was in love with David Essex in the 1970’s, as were many other teenage girls, and was so much in love that I joined the club which made me feel a bit closer to him. He had the most beautiful blue eyes and that dirty cockney look, like a gypsy, which mesmorized me.
I had all his albums at one time which have since gone. I also have an annual somewhere which was from the 70’s. I had it bad :)

The Bay City Rollers were my favourite band back then and I was in love with Woody. I was so in love with him that my sister, Wendy, had made me a white jumper with a big red"W" on the front which was very similar to the one he wore. Of course I had to have trousers to go with it so armed with a pair of scissors, needle and cotton, a white bed sheet and my mother’s tartan skirt, I set about making them, all hand sewn I might add and I was so impressed that I wore them to someones wedding. Don’t know who it was getting married but I sat at the back in my gear and must have looked a right fool! AAhhh those were the days ……