Strange Behaviour?

This week, Sarah arrived back in Queenstown creating a whirlwind of activity in and around the house.  

Beautiful snowy weather, taken full advantage of. 

Sarah has been walking and cycling daily. 

I've been  popping out to snap photos of the sunrise to the East

and cruising around the Lake to get my daily steps in. 

My favourite spot for chocolate milk shake is the shingle beach. 

Now 52, I am rugged up still loving feeding the ducks and drinking kids food.

Top walk for Sarah this week was over the Ben Lomond saddle in snow and down the Moonlight track. (the snowy dip on the photo below)

I felt sad waving her off as I just do not have the energy to join her on these long day walks or short cycles anymore. At least I can be useful in collecting her at the end and cooking up treats.

Despite much poo pooing by Sarah before tasting it, my chemo diet concoction of fresh banana and white chocolate chips mixed into a crumble like base (baked in the oven for 40 mins) topped with cream cheese infused with lemon zest, lemon juice and icing sugar went down a treat. 

Consistency of cheese cake but an unusual combo, enjoyed by all including tradies. 

We have had a week off workmen and have lounged around until after 9 in PJs. But they are back next week. A new gate will arrive. We were very excited to see part of it being welded on in the workshop

Sarah has finally given into the weather and is sporting longer shorts

and matching wrist muffs

Alternatively, she borrows my clothes. Today it was painting trousers as she valiantly painted several things outside in cool temperatures including the new wood store.

Meanwhile, I sat by the roaring fire, burning some of the pallet I had chopped up the week before having had loads of fun borrowing Simon Kings’ skill saw. 

My hair is taking on a wild professor quiff/life of its own whilst it is still on my head (no control despite gel) Notice the steroid induced glow.. or was it close proximity to fire?

There is never a dull moment with Sarah around, but I have been providing my own slightly deranged entertainment.

• Sarah has often to remind me what I was supposed to be doing when I wander into a room and have no idea what I am doing there.
• I was supposed to be helping Sarah with a printing problem and turned up with a baking tray.
• I have even found myself putting spoons in the wardrobe after a session of wiping up; getting distracted by something or other.

I hope this behaviour is part of the chemo brain and not early onset of dementia. What with:

• menopause (regular hot sweats at night)
• constipation (like trying to shit a bowling ball for 2 hours)
• stomach cramps that last 2 days (not drinking enough or eating carbs for breakfast when I am supposed to be eating stuff to help by bowels)
• the regular 3am inability to sleep until I have written copious notes,

I am turning into a right mess. It has been a painful week.

Anyone with any hints or tips on how to drink 2.5 litres of liquid a day in winter (when you do not feel like drinking much) would be much appreciated.  I have resorted to Guinness with crisps as I like the malty taste with the saltiness of crisps but still not hitting the magic volume recommended.

We did have fun on our regular visit to the Old Post office in Clyde.

I needed a carb fix to feed the steroids post chemo. We wanted a toasted sandwich but they didn’t have any, only a cheese roll. This turned out to be a rolled up toasted sandwich of cheese.

We may have become NZ residents but sometimes even English is lost in translation.

Sarah has just been cycling and is modelling all my winter cycle clothes as well as her cheese roll.

Good news: one of my “good for cancer sufferer” roses has bloomed in winter. Quite beautiful. 

It made me smile. Perhaps the advertising blurb was true.