It's all changed

I don't usually use my blog for personal things but I don't feel like telling the world on social media the latest news about my breast cancer.

If you are here it means you followed the link from Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and for that I thank you as it shows you care and didn't just click the 'like' button 😘

I know so many people, family and friends are concerned. I've been overwhelmed with the many messages and cards, thank you, so I want to let everyone know what's happening.

I'm not sure how I am just now, physically the chemo side effects have nearly gone, just feel tired and need to rest between jobs. I need to build my strength up and lose some of the fluid that chemo brings .... chubby chops!

Mentally and emotionally I am all a bit mixed up, we are all finding it hard. Nick, Michael and myself have stayed home since they did a shop last Thursday, we have the garden and technology so we can get some fresh air and keep in touch with Philippa and our family.

With the world changing so drastically the doctors have decided to stop my chemotherapy as it's too dangerous to have such low antibodies and when being so ill from the side effects it is a worrying time to catch any virus never mind this one.

As my last chemotherapy treatment was two weeks ago I fall into a window of opportunity to do my lumpectomy operation now (it has to be 4 weeks after the last treatment) so I have my pre-op Friday and my operation 3rd April.

It is a worry to be attending the hospital, I feel safe here locked away from everyone. I have to attend on my own and will see just the Breast Care Team for the pre-op and the Day Care Unit for the actual operation. They are spacing appointments so limiting contact with other patients and will do as many follow up appointments by telephone.

The operation will be day surgery which again limits contact and is deemed less risk than needing to stay in hospital afterwards. All the medical staff are working so hard, not just to do their normal jobs but to constantly be aware of the danger of this virus which brings added work and pre-cautions, but I am worried. Obviously there is still the worry of how intensive the operation itself will be, that has always been a concern since my diagnosis back in December.

It's good the operation is being done, I have struggled since the beginning as to why the cancer was still there even though I had an op. I understand the medical reasons of using chemotherapy to shrink it first but it still feels odd. I am so so pleased not to be having any more chemotherapy as I have never felt so ill in my life and I was panicking a bit about having four more treatments.

With life changing every day this plan may change but for now the medical team, nationally and locally have looked at all cancer patients and reviewed their condition and treatment and for me this is the plan.

Thank you for all your messages, it has been an unknown road with many twists and turns, this feels like a hairpin bend, I just hope it's not too steep!

Another wine night - The Wine Society

I love hosting our wine nights for our Scout leaders and friends; deciding which wines to buy, which order to sample them in, writing tasting notes, matching a few nibbles and of course the best bit, enjoying the wines with great company.

Life is slightly different for me just now but there is no way I am not making the most of my 'good' times so Hubby and I hosted a 'Wine Society' evening mid February.... instead of all the hard work (and it is) getting everything ready I bought their 'Christmas Party Dozen' mixed case delivered home with tasting notes to download.

Sitting in the conservatory at my laptop writing up the taste table I really enjoyed looking at each bottle, finding more about it, thinking about what to drink in what order .... yes it felt how life should be.

However life isn't quite right so I can't really add tasting notes as, to everyone's surprise and maybe amusement, I was spitting (those who know me well know this isn't me!!) My body is too full of medication with another dose due two days later, I will have plenty of time to enjoy the full wine experience come the autumn.

My reviews on these wines are mainly from The Wine Society's tasting notes with a few additions from comments on the night and my own previous knowledge of some of the selection. The tasting order was mine and Hubby's decision, the mixed case is designed to be enjoyed as a whole or over the festive period.

All set up and ready to go 

As with most of our tastings we tried all the whites before moving on to the reds, it's always hard to decide which way to do it as some people are not so keen on white wine and therefore are not so interested in the first tastings - other's are not red wine drinkers so the second part of our tastings is not their favourite - hopefully over the evening everyone found a wine they liked.

Our white selection 

Domaine Felines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet was our first white, one of my favourites from the Languedoc region of France. Hubby and I have holidayed nearby many times but unfortunately have not yet visited the domaine. Picpoul is growing in popularity here in the UK being such a great pairing with seafood, in particular mussels. It was a new wine to many and one of the white favourites with  its citrus and herby notes.

Our second wine was from Italy, Vittoria IGT Venezie Pinot Grigio. A light wine with some citrus notes. It was very clear in the glass and could have had a little more depth, however we all agreed it was probable not a winter white and would probably be best served in the summer.

Our nest two whites were tasted as a pair, Lascar Classic Central Valley Chardonnay and Victory Hotel Chardonnay-Semillon. The first from Chile and quite light in flavour, everyone agreed it would pair well with a seafood dish, prawn linguine was mentioned. The second from Australia had more aroma and depth of flavour, a wine more suitable to drinking unaccompanied. Saying that the room was split as to which was preferred.

A Fistfull of Schist Reserve Chemin Blanc was the first of our drier wines. This South African was very easy drinking, good notes of green apple and white stone fruits. Although we didn't have any Chenin Blanc pairs very well with guyere cheese.

Our final white was my favourite, although I did find it tasted slightly different with my current 'off' palate. Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp subtle wine, not in your face as the New World sauvignons can be. A very refreshing wine that served well chilled would be welcomed any time, unaccompanied or with food, I'm hoping to try this again once my taste buds return to normal.

Our red selection

Lascar Classic Carménere started our red selection, a grape variety we have tasted before but not one many of our members buy as it is relatively new to them. It had great flavour which was enhanced with our nibbles of dark chocolate, in fact one of our members said 'this has notes of chocolate' before I had mentioned our pairing. It was one of the favourite reds of the evening. 

Moving to Italy next with Barrolo Appassimento Rosso Veneto, a medium bodied wine with great flavour due to the grapes being semi-dried on the vine. Slightly oaked but not tannic heavy this was liked by many of our ladies who are not all red wine drinkers.

Our next three wines were from France, it was tricky to decide which to try first but we decided on Domaine Raynier St-Chinian from the Languedoc. A fruit filled wine from this sunny hot region of Southern France, this was a lovely Syrah wine, lightly tannic with high notes of pepper.

Hubby and I have visited this next domaine in Vinsorbes when on holiday in the Cotes du Rhone region, all due to discovering them at a Wine Society tasting evening. Domaine Jaume Cotes du Rhone is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre giving it plenty of fruitiness. A lighter wine than others from this region and this domaine that we have tasted but another one of the night's favourite reds.

Our final French red was from the south west, Chateau Tour La Verite Bordeaux. A wine with some dark fruit with some tannins that was liked by some but others are still looking for their good Bordeaux, the suggestion of a wine searching holiday in the region had the thumbs up from all.

Casa La Rad Solarce Rioja was our final wine, although 14% it was a young wine so quite light. Tempranillo is not my favourite grape and I was hoping to discover its merits with my different taste buds but sadly no, I'm still happy for Hubby to have the Riojas to himself.

Thank you to the Wine Society for making it do-able just now, thank you to Hubby for all his help and pouring skills and thank you to everyone who joined us on what was another super night,