b r a v e c r e a t u r e s

For those of you who know me, you are well aware that 2005 is down as Annus horribilis for me and my loved ones. Death, desertion, divorce, dismemberment, depression, illness, unemployment, car accidents, theft, bad investments, money problems and a Liberal re-election. Truely a crappo year.

Funnily enough, looking back on it, while lots went REALLY wrong I have to say that my abiding memory of the year is that lots went really right. There is only one thing that is really bleak about 2005, but its probably the most important thing to me. Losing the love of your life is, as they say, a bit of a bummer. But I have come out of it with a list of wins that I am really happy with. Tres lucky, I am.

To me it felt like the corner was turned for 2005 just before Christmas when my mother came through her cancer operation with flying colours. Today that substantial win was compounded. I will again let my mother speak for herself in this excert from her email to friends and family.

To all of you who have helped me thru this rather dreadful time in my life, my news is suddenly such that the dance of the fairies is in the seeable future for me. Thanks to all of your prayers and for whatever other reasons may apply, I have just received a phone call from the Gold Coast Hospital with wonderful news.

My operation was done in consultation with the Royal Brisbane Hospital and their cancer experts. News has just been relayed to the Gold Coast to say that while they had told me that I would require chemotherapy, I do not need it after all. My hospital will keep an eye on me, but they believe that chemo is not necessary.

To say that I am over the moon, and have improved my state of health from 25% to 50% in the past half hour is the understatement of the year.

You REALLY cant keep the old girl down. At 74, shirley is still a force of nature.