We are off to Llandudno and we decided to take our 13 year old cat Chloe with us for the first time. She always associates the car with going to the vets and injections so she was quite surprised when 2 1/2 hours later she found herself exploring her new home for the next 5 days. When a large seagull perched on the windowsill I think it came as quite a shock to a little cat who is only used to chasing pigeons and magpies. We took her out on the landing and to John's horror she disappeared through a gap in the marble balastrauds, It was a 30ft drop and he dreaded seeing see her lying on the floor but no, there she was gingerly walking round a narrow ledge. Cats are cleverer than we give them credit for and very intuitive. When I was really ill during chemo sessions, Chloe would lie with me on the bed and never leave my side. I am sure that other people with animals know they can be a real comfort.

When she was put in her basket for the return journey I think she had quite an adventure. If only they could talk! I will never know if she would have preferred to have stayed at home and be looked after by our kind neighbour Mike rather than be with us in strange surroundings.

Our special Chloe
Back home I went to a fondue party in Balsall Common and what great fun we had cooking chicken, steak, prawns and cheese. It was in the 60s 70s that I last used a fondue and it was so enjoyable I must go into the loft and find it and start using it again. Why do all the cooking when you can get your guests to do it!!

After a session of aromatherapy and healing, the weekend was upon us and John and I went to my friend Cheryl's 60th birthday party at The Bell and Cross,Belbroughton. Cheryl and I worked together at the BBC and she always talked about her friend Sandra whose love life seemed to mirror mine in those days and then, when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer Sandra was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Once again our lives seemed to be mirroring each other, although we had never met.

That is until the party where I found myself sitting opposite this vivacious blond with a great sense of humour and a tan. Yes it was Sandra who had come back from a Mediterranean cruise that day. We got on like a house on fire and both agreed that when you you have a life threatening disease such as cancer, you live everyday to the full. It was a really great night and we were all asked to make paper hats from our napkins. Sandra and I might not have won the prize, but we had great fun making them and I think we could have graced Ladies Day at Ascot no problem! The great news is that we are meeting up for lunch in Leamington Spa.

Sandra and I, looking very silly!

John was off on a walking/drinking holiday with 6 of his old friends to Wales. When I go there it always rains, but this time they had 5 glorious hot sunny days. I am not sure if these men, who were all in their mid 60's, walked up Snowdon, or just walked in Snowdonia, but they all had a great time and I think it is good for them to get together away from us ladies.

This left me to my own devices and sunny days were spent sunbathing in the garden and planting all my plants which were promptly dug up by our pesky squirrels or eaten by our army of slugs and snails. Girlfriends came round for a glass of wine and a girly chat. I could play my music when I liked and as loud as I liked and I could go to bed when I felt like it. I certainly wouldn't want to live without John,but just for a short time I was amazed by how much I achieved in his absence. The saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" is true and we both felt really happy to see each other again. Now, I too have an adventure to go on, which I will tell you about next time!

It's Saturday morning and I'm sitting in the Alexandra Theatre with my 2 grandchildren Ben and Nicky, with a bag of sweeties, waving an luminous wand, waiting to see the Tweenies. I think I am the only person in the theatre who has never seen them on CBeebies, but after singing along to every song, stamping my feet and clapping my hands, I am truly converted!! In fact I think I enjoyed it more than the grandchildren who looked at me in puzzled amusement. It reminded me of when I took my own sons to the pantomime where I would boo and hiss and shout "he's behind you". They were so embarrased by my enthusiasm to join in, that they wouldn't sit with me on the bus, they walked on the other side of the road and refused to go with me again. What a joy to have grandchildren so I can enjoy doing this all over again. Ben and Nicky might one day also be too embarrassed, but I can't wait to take them to the next show!!

I really needed this break, to take my mind off a very unwelcome visitor who arrived in our bedroom at 4am in the morning, thanks to our cat, Chloe. She proudly presented us
with a small rat and as it ran up the curtains, I could see it's long tail dangling down. From the safety of the bed, I shouted to John "Pull it down by it's tail". "It's too big" he retorted. This is the man who took on 2 masked raiders when they smashed into our house one night with 5ft sledge hammers!! After trying to chase the rat round the bedroom it disappeared from sight. Tired and weary, we left Chloe in the room to keep guard and retreated to try and get some sleep in the smaller 2nd bedroom, knowing Ratty was residing in the master bedroom!

This state of affairs went on for a week. We kept the door firmly shut, I gingerly crept in to get my clothes and to keep up the search. As I got bolder and more angry with our intruder, I stripped every drawer, took everything out of the wardrobes, moved the bed and the furniture and searched every shoe box expecting the rat to run out. Apart from signs that he had spent his first night in John's knicker drawer, there was not a sign of him and Chloe, who was in disgrace, showed no interest whatsover. Rentokil said that a small rat can get through a hole the size of the top of a pen and could have squeezed through the skirting and could now be heading to our loft - Great!! We tried to entice him into traps filled with juicy raisins and chocolate to no avail. A week later, we warily moved back into our immaculate bedroom. We have never seen Ratty again and we can only hope he went out of the open window back to where he belonged.

Jonathan, my son was coming over from Canada to a wedding and was staying at our house. "I'm not staying if that rat is still there," he said. I convinced him that it had gone, but even now a couple of weeks on, I still keep a wary lookout for him!

All too soon I was at Birmingham Airport waving a tearful farewell to Jonathan. What a joy it was to be able to be a Mom again and spoil him. John thoroughly enjoys him coming to stay, because the menus improve considerably as I rustle up all Jonathan's favourite meals.

My friend Sandra and I both have ovarian cancer and are an incredible support to each other. We try to help, support and give encouragement to other ladies who have only recently been diagnosed and are afraid of the chemo and the future. Sandra and I also like to socialise together. We can talk about anything because we understand each other's fears and this is so valuable.

After Jonathan left, we had a day at the Jewellery Quarter. We caught the train and had a lovely time gazing longingly through shop windows and lunching in this unique part of Birmingham. We went to the Jewellery Museum which was fascinating and we plan to return to visit St. Paul's Cathedral and the ancient cemetry. All this history on our doorstep and how often do we seek it out?

Sandra and I also book all the speakers for our Solihull Cancer Support Group and this week it was our own oncologist Professor Poole, who was coming to give a talk. At 8pm the room was full, but unfortunately there was no Professor Poole. When I finally tracked him down at 8.30pm, I was amazed that he was still at the hospital with a patient. He said he would still be able to come and give his talk, and at 9.45pm he arrived. Sadly some people had to go home, but those who stayed were not disappointed. After a long hard day, he gave a brilliant speech on how chemotherapy drugs have evolved and advanced during his career. When Professor Poole finally finished, well after 11pm, he must have been shattered, but we were so delighted that against all odds, he gave his valuable time to talk to us. It is so important to have faith in your oncologist and Sandra and I knew that we were in very safe hands.

My week started with 2 sessions of yoga on the same day, but I am a firm believer that for me and anyone whose bones have been damaged by chemo, yoga helps to keep you flexible and build up the muscles so that you can still live a normal life despite a few aches and pains that you could really do without. It is a matter of working with where you are now instead of wishing you could still do all the things you used to do.

Everytime I go to friend's funeral I think how lucky I am to still be here. A few weeks ago on a wonderfully sunny day I went to the Solihull Friary to the funeral of my friend Val's father Alec.

It has been a few years since I have seen Alec, as Val and Carol now live in Llandudno, but once seen never forgotten. He was a man of great charm and when you had a conversation with him he made you feel that you were the only person in the room - he made you feel special. That is a rare talent, as we always seem too busy to really listen to what people say to us anymore. Alec obviously made everyone he met feel special, because I have never seen so many people of all ages coming to pay their respects. The Friary was standing room only - a true testament to what he gave during his life

The next day I was on my way to Clent to see my friend Yvonne who I worked with at the BBC and who used to sit with me in those long chemo sessions, that's what you call a true friend. Knowing that I have absolutely no sense of direction, John set up the Tom Tom in my car and to my amazement I reached my destination no problems. Before I discovered TomTom, I would be going round the roundabouts two or three times desperately trying to find my exit and making the odd detours knowing that I was hoplessly lost. After a few frantic phone calls I would eventually arrive at my destination stressed out and late. Does this sound familiar ladies?

This will now be a thing of the past, I need never get lost again, the world's my oyster!. For all you ladies out there who have the same problem it's well worth putting TomTom on your birthday list from your partner, more importantly it will help him too. Like John he also never again need fear the dreaded phone call asking "Where am I?. ..

Inbetween all this I am having to make regular visits to my dentist Nigel as I have awful toothache on a bridge that cost me a fortune some months ago. Feeling sorry for myself I moaned "Things always go wrong for me". Then I thought, hang on I teach people to be positive,a fine example I am, this is just a blip on the journey and I have great faith that Nigel will sort it out. Do you know I felt so much better for thinking positively instead of negatively. That night when I went to a wine tasting evening I also discovered it defintely was a far more pleasureable remedy than the pain killers I had been taking!

Macmillan plays such an integral part in my life and amongst all this stress I attended 3 Macmillan events which are always a pleasure to support.The first was at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital which lookes amazing as it undergoes major reconstruction. The Citizens' Advice Bureau have set up advice centres at the Q.E., Heartlands and Good Hope Hospitals and they, in conjunction with Mamcillan are available to offer financial advice for cancer patients which I know will be invaluable.

With the Macmillan Fund raising team and my good friend Steve Dourass we went to The Belfry. A lovely lady called Dawn Stakouris who is a great supporter of Macmillan has opened a very tranquil "Spa and Beauty Salon" at the Belfry. The decor was very exotic and I would loved to have lain on one of those welcoming beds for a massage to take away the stresses of the previous week. The hospitality was great and Jasper Carrott declared it open with his normal dry wit.. Dawn raises donations for Macmillan and I realise that in all walks of life people are working to help raise money for a cause which is so vital to people like me, living with cancer. Perhaps I should book myself a day at the Spa it sounds just what I need!

I was even more convinced that is what I needed after completing the annual Macmillan Fun Run on the 3rd May at Perry Barr Park.On a sunny Sunday morning we were all limbering up in great spirits as Batman and various other fun characters including a man who amazingly completed the 4 miles on stilts - what a feat! Mine was really a leisurely amble round the park with John and a few other people who I knew who I kept meeting. One such friend was Monica who found time to do the walk and run a nutritional stand there. This is inbetween writing the play about the 5 lives of women living with cancer. which she is putting on at the Solihull Arts Theatre in September. Her energy and enthusiasm is amazing and like myself she gets great fun out of giving something to Macmillan. The saying "It is better to give than receive" is so true.and do you know it actually makes you feel better too..
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May has arrived and to walk through the bluebell woods when they have just come out is amazing. The smell is intoxicating and the sea of deep blue is breathtaking. I always used to walk through the bluebell woods with my Father and last year he said "I will never see them again". Sadly he was right and it was very poignant for me this year. He was a wonderful artist, but he always said he could not capture the beauty of the bluebell woods try as he may, but for just a short time they are are there for all to see.

When I go away for only a few days, the garden seems to have burst forth with flowers, shrubs and weeds all vying for space. When I start working in my garden I have no concept of time, consequently I am always late for everything and beautifully manicured nails are destroyed as I can't work in gloves.However, the joy of caring for a garden is wonderful and I believe that a well loved, well cared for garden is a happy one. That is how it feels, all the flowers are blooming better than ever and the birds are singing, and working so hard as they swoop onto the bird table for worms and seed to feed their young who are nestling in our bird box. It is such a busy time for them and I only hope we can be around to see our family of bluetits leave their nest. Last year John cleared out the box and I have kept a perfect shaped nest to teach the grandchildren all about the wonders of nature.

Easter was spent with good friends. Thelma and Leno and Jean and Ray who were my neighbours for over 20 years, came round for drinks and on the sunniest Easter I can remember we went to church. Easter Monday, John and I went to our friends Kay and John's for lunch at their wonderful old cottage in the woods and as we sat basking in the sunshine in their garden with great views of Worcestershire, life felt really good.

Easter was always spent with my Mom and Dad and the boys. Another anniversary without my Dad always feels strange and Jonathan being in Canada makes it even worse. Justin was busy, but you have to accept that life is constantly changing and instead of wishing for the good old days, you have to enjoy what you have now.

I am really a kid at heart and so was delighted to have John's grandson James to stay for a few days.What an excuse to do fun things like walking in the park, going on the swings,visiting Sea Life in Birmingham, riding on a train and a tram and watching lots of childrens' videos and doing jigsaw puzzles - I haven't done one for ages but haven't lost the knack! The joy of being grandparents is that you can make the time for things which parents just can't do. Sadly after three days it was time for James to go home, but what fun we had and he said he would like to come and live with us- can't get a better compliment than that from a 5 year old!

A glutton for punishment, I took my grandchildren Ben and Nicky to the pictures for the 1st time.We went to see " Monsters and Aliens" which was in 3D. Equipped with our special glasses which cost £2 something each, we went in to enjoy the show, but they were terrified and after 30 minutes I had to take them out, so I will never know how the film ended and I've got 3 pairs of defunct 3D glasses!

The next day the sun is still shining so I think a day in the garden sounds a good idea after all this excitement!

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How did we ever survive without computers? John's went down a few weeks ago and after sending it off to be repaired, it packed up again, so off it went once more and now we have had it returned for a second time, they still have not fixed it. The service we get today is really dreadful, people don't seem to care. Luckily my son Jonathan gave me a laptop so I can once more continue my blog in the hope that people haven't forgotten me!

When I last wrote, I said that I was waiting for my oncologist to compare my scans and write to me with his findings, 6 weeks on despite phone calls I am still waiting. They cannot possibly understand the anguish and worry we cancer patients go through when we are kept waiting for results. Luckily for me, I feel well, but if I didn't the worry would certainly make me feel a whole lot worse. I just have to believe that no news is good news - I hope!!

John & I at the Ball

I always believe that keeping busy takes your mind off concerns and worries and I
went to the Mayor's Ball in Solihull. It was a great night and all the proceeds went to help the wonderful Macmillans. I saw this handsome young man on the next table who seemed to recognise me and then I remembered - it was Alex, who a few years earlier had gone round the world with my son Jonathan. What a small world and how lovely to meet him again, unrecognisable from when I last saw him, with beard and backpack at Heathrow Airport where we excitedly welcomed them home.

My brother came over to England from Australia for a few days and came to dinner with his son Matthew. He was six when I last met him and is now 25 - again how time flies.

The next evening I went to the Solihull Arts Theatre to see the musical 42nd Street. I had seen it many years ago in London and was expecting a very amateurish version of it. How wrong I was, it was top class and the tap dancing and the energy they put in was amazing, especially as they have jobs to go to in the day. I will certainly look out for the Coleshill Operatic Society when they come again. It feels so good to support our local theatre where I have enjoyed some really great entertainment over the years.

My week finished with my grandson Nicholas's 4th birthday at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre where the children had great fun on the bouncy castles and equipment, followed by a tea party which had a jungle theme. Apparently children don't have parties at home anymore, they have them at Wacky Warehouses or McDonalds etc.

I am showing my age now but I so loved arranging parties at home for my boys, with lots of games and prizes and home cooked food.I can still see the children to this day excitedly running over the house hunting for hidden items to win prizes. I don't know who enjoyed them most the children or me, but I do wonder if the kids of today get the same fun out of these themed parties and for some mothers it must be very hard to have to keep up with the Jones's when times are hard.

My brother goes home next week and I sadly won't be here to say goodbye as I am off to the New Forest to spend quality time with my friend Debbie.

Debbie and I always have the most wonderful time together and I love staying with her and Gordon in this beautiful part of England. Walking the dogs first thing in the morning is a novelty for me, but by the end of my stay I felt very much fitter and slept like a log.
We went to Branscome Chine where the beaches are as beautiful as any you see abroad and the sun shone every day. We caught the ferry from Sandbanks to Studland Bay and explored Corfe Castle, seeped in history but very much a ruins thanks to Cromwell.

Debs and her beloved dogs Mia and Molly

On my last day we went to Chawton to see Jane Austen's house where she wrote so many of her novels. It was a perfect English village with a Church and Manor house which was owned by Jane Austen's brother, who was lucky enough to be adopted by the previous wealthy owner and inherited everything.

All too soon, it is time to go home and we are both sad to say goodbye, but we always have so many wonderful memories to take with us and as I drive the 2 1/2 hours back to Solihull I I am always happy to be going back to John and my Chloe, who although she is 13 runs down the stairs the minute she hears the car, charges through her cat flap and is sitting there to welcome me on the drive before John has even heard the car.

Be it a dog or a cat,they all enrich our lives and give so much pleasure and the welcome they give us shows how much they have missed us, although I think John missed me a little bit too!

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It has been a very busy week of aromatherapy and yoga at my house, osteopath and physio treatment, running my course on Tuesday and finally, a scan on Friday at Coventry. I am exhausted just reading this list, so it is time to indulge myself in what I enjoy most - live entertainment. My husband John, my friend Wendy and I all went after my scan, to see "Quidam" the latest Cirque du Soleil show at the NIA. I never fail to be amazed at the skill and precision of these wonderful entertainers and I love walking over the bridges at Brindley Place and seeing the trees lit up with twinkling blue lights. Although it was March, we sat outside a restaurant where the air was warm, thanks to the gas heaters, and enjoyed a drink together before going home. This was the best way to forget the scan and hospital visit. Keeping busy always helps me to stop worrying about the results.

The weekend was upon us, but I was sad. For the first Mothering Sunday ever I was not able to spend it with my boys. Jonathan who always takes me out for a meal was in Canada and my oldest son, Justin couldn't make it .Always one to make the best of a bad situation I arranged to take Justin and my grandchildren out for lunch on Saturday instead. When I opened my door and saw my small grandsons standing in the porch eagerly waiting to give me a card and bouquet of flowers I realised the date is unimportant, as every time I share time with my family, it is special.

On Mothering Sunday my doorbell rang and there was the florist with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a balloon from Jonathan and Jaimie in Canada who had remembered, even though Mothering Sunday is celebrated on a different day there. Although there are so many miles between us, they made my day.

I went to church and all the ladies were given a posy of daffodils which was a lovely gesture and I then went to put some roses on my own Mom's grave. It is a day of very mixed emotions for those of us who have lost our Moms and I remembered all the wonderful Mothering Sundays I had shared and how I missed her.

5 o'clock that evening I was waving goodbye to John as I was on my way to London to attend a Macmillan course and I met up at Euston with my friend Maureen who tutored with me on our very first course in the Midlands.We were staying at the Jury's Inn in Islington and on the night headed for the nearest restaurant in this amazingly busy area of London. After putting the world to rights with much laughter, we went back to the hotel for hopefully a good night's sleep to prepare us for the course the next day.

Unfortunately there had been a double murder just down the road, so police sirens were going ten to the dozen making sleep impossible. Well it was a very different Mothering Sunday to what I am used to but as my Mom used to say "nothing in life lasts dear!" but do you know I really enjoyed it.

The course day was busy and we were learning to teach a completely different course tailor made for cancer patients. It was both exhausting and rewarding and at the end of the day I collapsed on the train seconds before it moved from the platform. I was amazed to learn that it now takes just 1hr 15mins to get from London Euston to Birmingham International.

All too soon the day of reckoning had arrived... time to see Professor Poole for the results of my scan. I met a lady from my course there. John says wherever we go I always know someone and I think he is right. The scan showed I still have cancer in my lymph nodes but nowhere else. Unfortunately the radiographer hadn't compared them to my last scan to see if they had grown, so Professor Poole said he would do that and write to me in 2 weeks and if all was well then he would see me again in 3 months. So I don't know if it is good or bad news till I get his letter, but I am going to be positive and believe all is well.

That afternoon I met 2 old friends from the BBC in Kenilworth and we all went into the church in Abbey Fields to say thank you and then we went off to do a spot of "ladies who lunch" in the warm Spring sunshine. Once again the memories of my hospital visit were replaced by happy moments with good friends and I truly believe that this is all contributing to my survival with cancer.

Everyone always says how well I look and that I am always smiling. Well thank goodness for that, but I, like all cancer patients, have my worries. I have been having stomach pains and a lump in my groin seems to be getting bigger, so a trip to the doctor's is required. He suggests I see my oncologist as soon as I can, so an appointment is arranged for the next week. In the meantime my osteopath is still working wonders with my back which is just as well, because as we have to completely empty the loft as we are having it insulated. Trouble is, we have so much up there it took 4 days to get it all down. Debbie should have been staying with us, as we were going to the ballet together, but every bedroom was full of our stuff so sadly, there was no room at the inn!

I am sure I am not alone in keeping memorabilia which includes everything my boys made me at school, such as deformed clay pots, lopsided baskets, & every card they ever made or sent me. There's my hot pants, my leather and suede mini skirts, my first going-away outfit and hat I wore 43 years ago - will I ever wear it again I ask myself! My love letters and cards from way back, my Dad and Mom's love letters from 73 years ago, my old schoolbooks, the list is endless - do I really need to keep all this? and yet it is really hard to throw away memories of your life. So I haven't quite thrown everything away but pruned it down to the bare minimum and 2 weeks on, I feel so much better for getting organised and clearing the clutter.

A couple of very welcome yoga classes helped ease the aching bones and I went to Coventry Hospital to sort out my lump. A scan was arranged for last Thursday. I had been to the cinema the night before so hadn't checked out my instructions and after a lovely breakfast of tomatoes on toast I had this awful thought - I wasn't supposed to eat for 6 hours before the CT Scan. Sure enough that's what the instructions said and I had to come clean with the X Ray department who luckily were able to make it the following day. I had my blood tested and will see my oncologist next Friday. You see when you have cancer, however hard you try to get on with a normal life, the worry of it is never very far away.

Nevertheless, I do try to lead a normal life and we had my son Justin and his family to dinner for a big Sunday roast and we took John's son Richard and his family out to dinner for his birhday. We all get on very well together, so often, extended families don't so John and I feel incredibly lucky.

One day last week Monica. the poet and playwright came to see me with wonderful news.
I already mentioned that she is writing a play about 5 ladies with different cancers, but she said that the one on ovarian cancer will be my story completely. So even when people have tired of reading my blog or watching my video, or listening to my speeches, my story will be forever in the play. I can't wait to see who will play the part.

Monica is also a nutrionist and has given me a new regime for me to follow - oh dear this is going to be hard!

Luckily for me, John and I were invited that weekend to stay with our great friends Yvonne and Tony in Cheshire, so I can eat what I like there and then I'll start on Monday! We went to a fascinating place called Willow Garden Centre which is full of rusty old mangles, ploughs, tin baths, old Victorian gazebo's - can't get away from the Victorian era this week! It was amazing, the tea room was decked out for Xmas and there were little thatched huts where they also served meals
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We then went on to Great Budworth a perfect little English village with a very large church and it's own well. After such a lovely weekend I was able to forget all the worries
of the previous 2 weeks, thanks again to wonderful friends..

A month has gone by since I last wrote, but I'm still here and feeling energised by this wonderful Spring weather and the joy of watching the spring flowers and blossoms burst forth and the sounds of busy amorous birds.Our 2 bird boxes have now been claimed by blue tits and a blackbird couple and a robin seem to have taken up permanent residence in our garden.I'm always planting and pruning and it feels such a happy garden, if only I had the time to relax and enjoy it. That must be my new goal for this summer

I lived in my previous house for 20 years and my next door neighbour was a lovely lady called Stella. When she left I used to visit her and she was always interested in "my boys" and my cat Chloe who she loved. I was going to see her before Xmas but I had to cancel and she was disappointed. "I shall come and see you again soon" I said. As I sat at her funeral 2 weeks ago, how I regret not making the time to see her for now it is too late. I shall never make that mistake again.

I have always been lucky with my neighbours and we invited our great friends Thelma and Leno, who were my neighbours 40 years ago,to a "cinema evening" at our house to see "Mama Mia" - what a happy good feel factor that film leaves you with.

Talking of good feel factors on the 24th February I started the first session of "The Living with Cancer Course" run by Macmillan at Coventry.I always do a great deal of work beforehand because it is so important. My co-tutor Mike and I are a good team and we were pleased to see 14 people turn up. They all looked worried and uncertain about their future. Three weeks on the difference is amazing, they are making action plans, taking control of their lives and daring to hope and more importantly they are helping each other.I always come home exhausted, but it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.On the first day I had an hour to turn myself round and go with my friend Debbie to see "El Divo" at the NEC.What a wonderful night, it's amazing how 4 handsome, gifted men can revitalise you again!

That week my friend Steve Dourass from Macmillan brought the latest member of their fundraising team, James to meet my "old" Macmillan nurse and friend Sue and myself.What a joy to be able to entertain Sue to tea and cakes again - just like old times and for all of us to discuss how we fit into the "Grand Plan". It is very good when the men at the top take the time to find out what happens at "the coal front". We all learn so much from tthese meetings and share stories and laughter which help us to help others.

The weekend was upon us and John and I had such a special treat in store - our friends John and Kay had arranged a night with dinner in the best room at the best hotel in Llandudno.Kay and I have been friends for 60 years and this was my 65th birthday present.No one could have given me anything more special, John and I both love Llandudno, we always feel well and happy there and I believe the sea is very therapeutic.

We arrived at the Osborne Hotel and were shown to our beautiful suite decorated in Victorian style complete with a fire in the old Victorian fireplace. The next morning we sat having breakfast in our room, overlooking the sea, with a friendly seagull perched on the window ledge hoping for a croissant, I thought how lucky I am to still be here to experience all these wonderful things and when our friends Carol and Val, who live in Llandudno, knocked on our bedroom to have a cup of tea with us I felt just like Hyacinth Bouquet.

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We left Llandudno refreshed and happy after 2 glorious sunny days there thanks to special friends like Kay and John whose generosity had made it all possible.

As I sit here writing my Blog in glorious Spring sunshine it is is hard to believe that last week we were in the grips of snow.

My aromatherapist Ann struggled to get to us from Sutton Coldfield to spend a day at our home giving treatments and my ex Macmillan nurse Sue and her partner Pete braved the elements to come to dinner last week which was great.. It doesn't feel right to say "ex" because although she retired last year she is still very involved with my cancer journey and is always on hand to give advice. I do have a lovely new nurse called Louise and I know when the time comes she will give me all the wonderful support that Macmillan nurses specialise in.

I never quite get away without at least one visit to a hospital and this week it was Mr. Ramos who removed my "enlarged toe joints" which sounds much better than "bunions" this time last year - how time flies. I gave an interview at the time for the Birmingham Mail because I had agreed to enter the Macmillan Birmingham Fun Run only 10 weeks after the operation which I am not sure was a foolish or a brave decision. The headline read "Brave Angela defies cancer - and bunions....." No good for my image, but all for a good cause and when I lined up for the run - or in my case "the hobble" with my friend Debbie I felt great that I had made it.

Talking of time flying it is 3 years this month that my dear Mom died and I still find it hard when I see all the Mothers' Day cards in the shops. My friend invited me to her church at Barston when my Mom was so ill. I always say that the first time I walked down the path past the clusters of snowdrops in the churchyard and entered through the old oak door of the church, I felt I had come home. The people were so welcoming and friendly and when I went last Sunday I still felt that same lovely warm glow I experienced the first time. My faith certainly helps me through the tough times on my journey with cancer.

On the night Debbie and I went to see Elaine Paige at the Symphony Hall - my birthday treat to Debs and yes I was lucky enough to share it.The show was wonderful and Elaine Paige is an amazing performer. After a hearty English breakfast next day Debs left my house for home in the New Forest and I went to do a photo shoot for Macmillan at the BBC. I always love going back to where I spent such a happy 37 years of my career although I left when the BBC was at Pebble Mill, I never made it to the Mail Box.

Pictures were taken of a great guy called Gurcharan, Steve Dourass, Joanne Malin, and me. When we were introduced she said "I know you, I did a test interview with you down the 'phone and you were in your kitchen". She said "because of that interview I got the job at the BBC so I have you to thank for my career."

I was so thrilled and I do remember that interview I thought it was going out live and I was disappointed to find it wasn't, but how lovely to find out all this time later that I played a small part in helping Joanne's career. I even managed to achieve another goal that day. Gurcharan who was a very colourful character, had bought his Dhol drum with him - hope I've spelt this right. He and hundreds more Dhol drummers are hoping to set a World Record on the 2nd May in Centenary Square, Birmingham and all the money raised will be split between 3 charities of which Macmillan is one.I love the drums and have always wanted to play them so when he asked me to have a go on his dhol drum what a treat, another goal to tick of the list!.

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One day last week a lady called Monica who I had met when I went to the preview of the Macmillan film a few weeks ago rang to ask if she could come and talk to me. She is writing a play about 5 ladies who have different cancers, one being ovarian cancer. She wanted to talk to me to learn about my story and my my experiences. I had a great time telling her the funny things that happened to me as well as the sad. We got on like a house on fire and 4 hours later she left with enough material to write a book. How exciting to be involved in her play, I look forward to seeing it when it is performed this September at the Solihull Arts Theatre

All this aside it was Valentine's Day this week and I am an incurable romantic so I was spoiled by John with a present, red roses and an excellent romantic meal at The Oak restaurant in Hockley Heath, Solihull.

To return the compliment, and as a "double Valentine treat" I took John to Fawsley Hall in Northants. We first came across it 9 years ago when we went to a wedding there - a beautiful Elizabethan Manor House in lovely grounds. As we set off in the sunshine with the hood down on the sports car I worried that it might have changed or gone down hill. When we arrived it was still as special, the service and the hotel itself was wonderful and in this rapidly changing world of ours how lovely to know that some places still retain all the qualities that once made England great.

After a busy morning in Coventry sorting out the Cancer Course, what better way to end the day than with a session of reflexology which has always been one of my tools in my fight with cancer.I met Lynn over 8 years ago when I first went to her for a reflexology session knowing absolutely nothing about it, I felt so ill and the medical profession didn't seem to know what was wrong with me so I was prepared to try anything. I mentioned in a previous blog that Lynn asked me if I had trouble with my ovaries and lungs and I replied no. Each time I went she asked the same question. Six months later I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer that had spread to the lung. I was amazed that this was picked up by a reflexologist but not a doctor and my faith in certain complimentary therapies started from that day.

While I was in hospital having major surgery 8 years ago, Lynn used to come and precariously perch on the end of my pressure relief mattress as it moved up and down to relieve my bed sores. She worked on my feet to help calm me and ease the pain. I was terrified of the operation as the outlook was so grim, but she came the night before and gave me reflexologyy and I went down for my operation the next morning feeling that a great calm had replaced the terror of the night before

We are still great friends, we laugh through our reflexology sessions and enjoy fun evenings together with our partners, but I will never forget the care and kindness she showed me in those early dark days of cancer. For my birthday she treated me to a day's photographic course at Westonbirt Arboretum. I love being given experiences and I also love giving them to other people for their birthdays. Best part is that you can share it with them and this photo is my attempt to catch a spontaneous action shot of Lynn.

Toothache obviously doesn't respond to reflexology because I have had it for 2 weeks and it was still there when I went to my dentist the next day. I have been to Nigel since my twenties and never once has he inflicted any pain despite major dentistry. He says I have pulpitis - never heard of it, but trust me to get it! One kind is reversible and one irriversible and he thinks I have the latter. Only time and antibiotics will tell, but mind over matter - I'm going to will it away!"

On Sunday, John and I drove to Cheshire to have lunch with 2 very dear friends.It seemed a long way for Sunday lunch but well worth it. On the way home travelling down the M6, swirls of snow enveloped the car and England was about to be covered by a blanket of snow that looked beautiful but caused havoc for many days to come.

The next day I seemed to be the only person on the road as I set out in the virgin snow to find my new osteopath who would hopefully help to get my back pain sorted.

Not only was he very professional, he was also very attractive with a good sense of humour which always helps when he is contorting and pulling your body every which way hoping for a crunch or a pop! When I staggered to reception to pay for this torture he kissed an attractive blonde lady."What do you have to do for that? I asked her. "Be his wife" was the swift reply. That told me!

Amazingly after a couple of treatments the pain in my back has definitely improved and I look forward to going back for more.

The next day I was due to go to the Penny Bron Cancer Care Centre in Bristol, as I had been asked if I would like to become a Trustee. I was deeply honoured, it is such a wonderful place to be and the first time I went to stay 7 years ago, it's home was a beautiful old convent in Clifton, Now it is housed in an old hospital which has been sympathetically and luxuriously renovated. I came home feeling hope for the first time because no one had given me any hope. I also came back with new methods and ideas to beat this cancer.It certainly changed my life.

Unfortunately that day the snow was falling heavier, motorists were stranded and the warning was "Don't go out unless really necessary". I hate letting people down or giving up, but I had already had one nightmare journey of a different sort that week, so perhaps it was sensible to listen to my husband and stay at home and feed the birds who are so desperate for our help in this extreme weather, but a little bit of me felt "a wimp!"

Amazingly, being at home that day meant that I took a phone call from a lady called Niku of the Solihull Community Housing for Disability.She asked if I would I come to do a talk next Monday on my journey with cancer and the disabilities it causes. Yes my diary was free, I would be delighted.

Problem was my week was so busy, there was no time to think of what to say. When I give a speech on cancer although the core is the same, I do always write a new one to suit the people who are there and to update it. John always thinks that I go to far too much trouble as I am beavering away in his study, but I really care that I make it interesting and hopefully inspirational for the people who have bothered to come.

Sunday afternoon arrived and I was about to go under the MRI Scanner at Heartlands Hospital. The staff were so kind, but I am claustrophobic so how was I going to stay under there for an hour without panicking. Easy, I decided I was going to write my speech in my head whilst in the Scanner. So with eyes tightly closed all the thoughts just kept flowing into my mind and my speech was completed by the time they wheeled me out and I'd never noticed a thing. Apparently I was so still they completed the scan in half the time and I couldn't wait to get home to put all my thoughts down on paper.The next day my talk went so well that it is obvious that I need to pop under an MRI scanner each time I need the inspiration for a new speech!