"Coldfingers" (with apologies to James Bond)

You'll be pleased to know that our social life has continued and life isn't just restricted to hospitals, doctors appointments and visits from Donna, our wonderful Community Nurse.

While Kiwi Pete was staying with us, it was decided to again make use of the "smoker" that John & Nerida had given us a while ago.  Having neighbours like John and Nerida is priceless.  They came for dinner along with Joe & Leona and we decided to have smoked trout. 

So Pete and Alex headed off to the Sydney Fish Markets to purchase said trout.  While they were trout hunting, a serving of Sydney Rock Oysters jumped out and Alex managed to catch them ...  Thanks Pete for the photo!

Pete saw some green mussels and decided he would treat us to one of his special "Kiwi Mussel entree". 

For me this was a real treat - all I had to do was make the salads and dessert, and the boys were looking after the entree and trout.  This meant that the boys congregated around the smoker

waiting for it to heat up enough for the trout to be put in to cook.  Apparently a few cold beers helped the process as well.

Pete then did his bit for the entree

and we all enjoyed a delicious meal washed down with a bottle or two of red wine - courtesy of John & Nerida - and enjoyable conversation.

We went up to Bathurst for the weekend to help Tracey celebrate her birthday.  Back in Sydney this week was taken up with visits from Donna and then to hospital for two doctors appointments on Wednesday.  Alex had to give blood on Wednesday because chemo was booked for early on Thursday morning, and just after we left hospital on Wednesday the hospital called to say that he needed another blood transfusion and this was booked in for Saturday.  This came as a shock but we were very thankful one could be arranged so quickly, and during the Easter weekend as well - and that his chemo treatment could still go ahead.

We arrived early on Thursday for chemo and Alex's favourite corner chair was available.  He had his laptop and movies organised and just before Nurse Jane came to insert the cannula and drips, one of the volunteers came around with a huge smile & bunny ears offering mini Easter eggs.  She was lovely and she certainly added a lot to the atmosphere.  Knowing what was the come with the treatment, Alex had his hot coffee early and so the mini eggs were very well timed.

Alex has dedicated this chemo treatment to James Bond - and has called it "Coldfingers".  All we need is Shirley Bassey in the background and perhaps the make-up and costume crew ...

Thankfully this time Alex only had to wear the cold mits and he was spared wearing the cold boots.  The treatment went very well and thankfully there were no bad side effects.  We've been very lucky in that regard.

We decided to keep up the tradition of going from chemo to a cafe for lunch and we settled for "Jack and the Beanstalk" - a new cafe around the corner from us in Dulwich Hill.

We spent a quiet Good Friday at home and this morning we were back at hospital early for Alex's 3rd blood transfusion.

It is surprising what you get used to isn't it? 

It really is hard to believe that we would ever become so familiar with the layout of the RPA car park (and get very excited when we find a vacant space!) and walking in and through the hospital up to the Chemo Suite has become "normal".  Alex has his favourite corner chair, and instead of going to the cinema in the evenings to see a movie, he now watches them while having a coffee as the chemo or blood transfusions do their thing.