Life amongst the chestnut groves

Last Saturday Delia and I were invited to afternoon tea at a couple who go to a language class I attend. Delia’s mum went too. It was a lovely summer day and the cakes were delicious. Very traditional, scones and jam with cream, fruit tarts and even cucumber sandwiches. Quintessentially English.

The next day our social whirl led us to an al fresco lunch at some friends at a French/English discussion group I also attend, again with Delia and her mum. There was more French spoken, there being maybe 10 French people and perhaps 15 English. Food was delicious and the weather fine and sunny.

Monday arrived and Delia’s first chemo session. Up to now we hadn’t availed ourselves of the paid-for taxi to the hospital so this time we decided to do so. The taxi duly arrived around noon and we were transported in air-conditioned luxury to the hospital. Delia had to have a heart scan first, during which the taxi driver took me around to the various desks to do the admin needed for our trip. I think this set things up for the remaining 5 sessions. We had quite a wait in a darkened waiting room, to see a doctor and then finally taken to a room with two beds where Delia was connected up to her drips. Apart from the sharp prick of the needle into her previously surgically inserted port all seemed pretty comfortable for her.

Two hours later we were ready to go home – by then the time was about 7pm. We had a batch of prescriptions for anti-diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting – a veritable smorgasbord! Unfortunately no-one had mentioned out of hours pharmacies to get hold of these and we thought first thing in the morning would be fine. However that night Delia’s nausea got worse and worse. By the time we got her drugs she couldn’t keep any of it down to take effect. Eventually she did manage to calm it down but that first day was enough to convince her she didn’t want to go through this again. The next day was a bit easier and the next even more – until Friday when Delia more or less felt normal. Chocolate doesn’t taste pleasant though coffee is good (which helped rid her of the caffeine headache). We tried to arrange an appointment with the oncologist but she was on holiday until after Delia’s next session.

On a happier note, this Saturday we went to St Yrieix about 30 mins drive away – there was an annual “festival” of watercolour art. Again, it was the three of us and there was a wide range of artistic styles to enjoy, including paintings by Delia’s current art teacher.  An enjoyable couple of hours were enjoyed by all.

We’ve been having some lovely cooler weather here in our part of France. It’s been a nice change/relief however we are expecting another hot week this week. I have a busy weekend this weekend, this morning I went for coffee and this afternoon, we were invited to afternoon tea with friends of Pat who he has French class with. It was lovely to sit in their wonderful garden this afternoon, drink a glass of elderflower champagne and then have tea, scones, cake & tarts. Pat definitely enjoyed the food! Tomorrow we are heading out for lunch with Pat’s other French language group – which I am thoroughly looking forward to.

Last week we had Bastille day and the usual fireworks happening. This time we could just walk out our front door and watch them. I enjoyed that, Siena (our dog) not so much, though when we were standing outside together she did calm down.

I’ve enjoyed mum being here, we went to the student art exhibition opening last Friday, which was fun. Last weekend we went for a nice walk around St Matthew and yesterday mum and I went into Chalus had a look at all the art exhibitions that are currently open, had a walk through the market, had coffee and then headed off to lunch (with Pat) at a lovely local restaurant where we sat out under the tress and had a wonderful meal. I then headed off to a drop in art class and “finished” a painting of a rooster – I’ve bought him home – picture below – but I’m not quite sure if he is finished.

I’ve bought myself an adult colouring book, which I’m planning on using to distract myself during chemo. We will see if that helps, but at least I will have Pat and my mum with me, which will be really nice. I do hope that I will get some interesting and good pictures out of this – we shall see.

For now, à bientôt, from our wonderful part of France – Delia

Last weekend we were graced with our long-time friends from Nottingham – M & S. We managed a good mix of tourism and relaxation including our first bbq of the season (at this house actually) .  The Tour de Chalus-Chabrol from which Richard the Lionheart was fatally wounded by a crossbow (a while back now)  was open to tourists. This is quite a rare event and isn’t all that well publicised, the only clue was a flag flying from the tower. The last time we had visited the tower, or even been aware that it was open to visitors was August in 2014. This time the tower was actually accessible and we were able to climb to the top to enjoy the marvellous vistas across Chalus towards the Dordogne. The interior of the chateau a few metres from the base of the tower had changed somewhat, with some extensive rearrangement of artefacts. Most significantly, the rooms below ground level had been excavated, an outer room and the kitchen now accessible.

The next day we all went to Aubeterre. Delia and I had been a couple of times even before we had moved here.  The church was carved into a limestone cliff and though partly collapsed still retained an impressive interior reaching 17 metres high. Aubeterre is a pretty village with some wonderful restaurants. In one of which M & S treated us to a menu du midi. One of the best I have ever had.

The next day a pleasant picnic at a nearby lake.  Mike and I both took pictures of the Damsel flies.

 

Yesterday we picked up Delia’s mum for Limoges airport, still rather dumbstruck from nearly three days travelling and layovers. She recovered in time for an outing that evening where Delia exhibited at her art class student “vernissage”.

 

It has been hot and humid here in France, not the most pleasant of combinations. Thankfully the bedrooms are downstairs in our current house and that means that they are significantly cooler than other parts of the house, so for the most part we’re getting some sleep. Currently I’m sitting out the back of the house (in the shade) enjoying the light breeze that is wafting around me, waiting for my nurse and typing this blog. The weather is due to change later in the week with storms forecast.

So Pat headed off to the UK for a couple of days for a funeral, I still had the nurse coming so didn’t go with him. Pat didn’t enjoy showing up at his hotel (a pub with rooms) and finding it closed! He had to find elsewhere to sleep! While he was away I took Siena up to the Voie Verte for a walk, this is converted railway that is now paved and used for walkers, bikes etc. I had a very close encounter with a rather large collard grass snake – thankfully totally non-venomous and if harassed they actually play dead rather than try to bite (there is a picture at the very end of the blog). The Australian in me did have mild hysterics however as I really did nearly stand on it – and Siena walked right over the top of it. I was very fortunate that it wasn’t an aggressive (or venomous) snake.

I also had a very quiet week at work, which for me was great as the 2 days that I worked last week were manically busy and I was exhausted by Friday – so much so that I slept in on Saturday until 9:30 (nurse showed up at 9:40 and I was not ready for her). This Friday was much better with the whole day off and I was back at art class – I’m currently painting a rooster, I’m really enjoying this painting, partly because I painted it for fun and it is actually working out really well. Not sure when I will finish it but hopefully it won’t take too long.

Cancer Update – We finally have heard about chemo – the results came back indeterminate, which basically means that the risk to benefit ratio is very close. The surgeon wants me to have a chat with a chemo specialist so that I can make an informed decision about if I will go forward with the chemo or not. I go back to the surgeon this coming week to get the biopsy results for the 2nd operation – hopefully everything is clear this time.

We have friends arriving next week – for a long weekend with us – so the next blog may be late – but should have a number of photos 🙂

For now, à bientôt, from our wonderful part of France – Delia

Our time in France has been both eventful and quiet. I feel like its been a pastoral interlude and that once in Aus our lives will begin again. When we first arrived we had a summer gite in the middle of a cold winter. For differing reasons we lost both of our main clients. What with the cold, the stress of the property search and difficulty with our work things were stressful. Not to mention the extra stress of all the necessary French paperwork. Yet Delia and I learnt a lot about each other, how we each handle stress and, eventually, how to deal with each other during that stress.

Moving to Beaulieu meant we continued to spend most of our time together or at least under the same roof. I will certainly miss her company when she is back doing the commute. But nothing prepared me for the massive weight dropped on us by her cancer diagnosis. However, after the initial shock we gradually found that the future was less and less bleak. But not without some long dark nights. I really learnt to appreciate Delia when the stark possibility of her not being there dropped on me. Its come as a surprise that we’ve been at our happiest with each other over the past weeks. Yes Delia curses the cancer wishing it away, as do I, but, given the contrast of what could have been, we find ourselves not bickering over little things the way we used to. Generally being nice to each other and more accomodating. Why say no to each other at all I guess.

We have learnt lessons that, one way or another, most couples who stay together have to learn, I suppose. We’ve each learnt to care more for each other. Delia certainly spent a lot of time caring for me during my shingles and the after effects – with me suffering in pain but at least not life threatening. Now I get to care for her. The stakes initially seemed higher but now we understand that we just have to get through it as best we can. We are in it together.

We are looking forward to several visits from friends and relations now we have an idea of how things are proceeding though we still don’t know if chemo is on the cards (apparently only 34% of breast cancer patients actually do have chemo). We are looking forward to some of the travel that we have had to postpone over the past weeks. Plus, now my visa seems to be moving forward at last there’s a real possibility of us being in Aus before Christmas (?).

Well it has been an interesting week, we’ve had lovely weather and crap weather. We’ve been out, we’ve been back to hospital and tonight we are heading out for dinner! Let me start at the beginning, last Sunday we were invited to a concert at one of our ex-neighbours. We had a wonderful hour listening to a cellist & pianist, we have heard them before at a previous concert, it was lovely and we got to see a lot of our ex-neighbours. Our friends who joined us for the concert also really enjoyed themselves.

The rest of the week felt like various trips to the hospital. Tuesday we went to see my new surgeon (another lovely female surgeon) who informed me that we still didn’t know about chemo but that she did need to know by the time of the surgery as I was to have a port if chemo was going ahead and my surgeon wanted to put it in while I was under. Unfortunately by Thursday we still didn’t have any information back from the pathologist so I had a short operation to remove the extra tissue that needed removing. I’m doing really well after my operation, so much so I was allowed to head home later that day – after I had eaten and drunk something. I also feel like they finally got my anaesthetic correct as I had no vomiting or nausea after the operation – and that was fantastic.

So yesterday and today I’ve not been doing much, I’ve had the nurses to visit both days to change the dressing, both were sad to see me again as they knew that it meant I had to go for another operation. But ultimately the results are good (ie. How the boob looks – but I’ve definitely got a size difference happening!). We are hoping that, that is it on the surgery front but unfortunately we don’t know. I am however well enough to head out to dinner tonight – we were invited by our quiz partners to come over for dinner so we are looking forward to that, and I’m really happy we can do it as this was planned before I had my operation. Tomorrow I’m also hoping that the weather will be a little nicer and Pat and I can head out for a small walk together. Also to help along my tomatoes as my cherry tomatoes have little ones happening and I’m happy about that.

For now, à bientôt, from our wonderful part of France – Delia

Sorry about missing my last blog, I was fiddling around trying to write some “further information” about our relationship.  It is surprising how few photos of both of us we have (to prove our “togetherness”). They want a UK police check and also want a certified translation of my French police check – ironic that, having spent most of the past 6 years having certified translations into French. Anyway, its good to have some hint that they know I exist, visa-wise at least.

Delia goes to the consultant this Tuesday and then a further op on Thursday. Her first op has healed well and is just stopping being painful so its annoying to be “looking forward” to another two or three weeks of more pain. We already know that 5 weeks of daily radiation therapy is going to happen but should know on Tuesday if chemo is also on the cards.

Last Sunday was the first time that the weather was good enough for a picnic. We went to a Lac St Estephe to the west of us. We managed to avoid the crowds who thought the same thing and had a lovely shady picnic. Now, Delia and I differ on what constitutes a picnic. Me? I’d be happy with a plastic bag with some baguette, cheese and tomatoes and pausing somewhere to sit wherever seemed good. Delia on the other hand requires a table, plates and cutlery (the concession was that we had to “tear and share” the baguette).

After we had eaten we carried on around the lake. At one point there is a delightful little pontoon that you have to pull yourself across with. We took a selfie of ourselves – the first one I had tried with a new phone – can’t say I’m impressed but here it is anyway.

We have had to suffer storm Miguel the last couple of days, definitely unseasonal- hopefully I’ll have more sunny morning walks to look forward to such as this one below .

 

Well the weather is currently glorious, which is wonderful. I actually got up this morning and put on cut-offs and a t-shirt – no jumper or warm slippers. It was wonderful. However along with this wonderful weather, we get interesting surprises, such as the snake that slithered its way through our back yard yesterday while Pat and I were outside enjoying a late afternoon drink and snack. We did have to remove Siena from the situation as she was a little too curious. We think it was a non-venomous snake but not sure, it definitely wasn’t aggressive. We will try and get a photo of it, if it comes back.

Last weekend, we headed off to a local fete – one that we used to walk to. We ran into a lot of people we used to know and it was lovely to catch-up with people. We have 2 invites at the moment, one for cake and the other for a concert – another cello and piano recital which will be lovely. I also bought two tomato plants (cherry – one yellow, one red) at the fete as I’ve missed doing a bit of gardening (never thought I would say that!). They have yet to be planted into their planter that is a job for this afternoon.

Friday at art class I finished a painting – and started a new one – but I’m very happy with the finished painting. I feel my watercolour painting has really improved over the past 6 months. I know I just need to get on with my drawing and give that the boost it needs. I am actually planning on combining the two mediums a bit more which will be fun to play with.

On Monday, we did head back to the surgeon, this was a mixture of good and bad news. Good news – only 2 lymph nodes had cancer. Bad news, no clear margins on the tissue extraction around the tumour, so I have to go back in to be operated on. This will be a much smaller operation than previously – so that is also a positive. We however still don’t know if I need chemo, and using my results from the testing they have done on my tumour (thank-you NHS Predict) it appears I am sitting on the margin of risk versus benefit for chemo – ie. There may be nothing gained from having chemo. So we wait for more tests and I will find out on the 11th June. I am healing well and very happy with the results so far.

For now, à bientôt, from our wonderful part of France – Delia

PS. Pat apologises for not doing a blog last week, due to having to write an essay on “The nature of our relationship” for his Australia visa application.

It has been a quiet week after coming out of hospital. I am recovering well and very pleased with how I am doing after just a week – especially when I compare it to how I felt after my thyroid operation. I will be back at work next week and I had my first outing on Friday. I went to art class; which was lovely and obviously not too stressful. I also got to pick up one of my paintings which I had had framed – it was my painting of a hydrangea. It was really nice to be out and about even though I did end up in bed at 9:30 last night.

Tonight I am hoping that I will last to see the whole of Eurovision, a programme that I do enjoy watching. Though I’m not sure of Australia’s entry! However it would be nice to be in Australia at the moment as our weather has been very un-spring like – we’ve had lots of sunshine this week but it has been cold. Today I have the fire on and it is raining very, very hard. Tomorrow I am hoping that it will be dry enough that we can get out for a walk. I have been doing short walks most days this week which has been good.

Tomorrow we might even go for a Sunday brunch in a nearby town, which has a wonderful tea shop that does all day English breakfasts – and the most fantastic cakes. Or maybe I might just make Canadian style pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. We shall see, and yes I am eating more than I should at the moment but hey I won’t be doing this forever.

For now, à bientôt, from our wonderful part of France – Delia

P.S. – Brunch was pancakes, bacon and maple syrup – lovely

For my birthday we went to a restaurant that we had been passing on our way to the airport yet never visited.  It seems like many others we know too. It was large, so no need to book, in fact for a good part of our meal we were the only two occupied seat out of 80. The food was good and Delia’s steak one of the best she had had apparently.

The delay to Delia’s op freed up the weekend we had planned to go to Berlin – too late unfortunately. So we looked for a last minute booking near the coast.  Our usual place near Contis was booked so instead of St Julian en Borne, it was St Parentis en Born about 50km further north. Much cheaper, but we got what we paid for (more about that later).

The Saturday drive was 3 hours mostly in rain with dazzling breaks of occasional sunshine through the clouds. Arriving we had a compact and bijou detached annex to a duplex single storey house. Our “annex” comprised two rooms and a bathroom. Compact but for two night perfectly acceptable.  We quickly unloaded and then jumped back into the car with Siena and drove to Biscarrosse Plage. First impression in the rain and cold wind were reminiscent of Skegness out of season – including the deserted fairground rides. All a bit dismal, even the beach wasn’t dog friendly (though Siena did manage a short crazy dash around appreciating the soft sand between her pads).

Back to our gite with a roasted chicken for dinner and a bottle of bubbly in front of a log fire  It was after this that the negatives began; two undersized single duvets on a double bed, a cock crowing from 5am and yappy dogs at the door at 6am. Anyway, the day was fine and after our experience of Biscarosse we drove the 45 mins to our known favourite beach near Contis. As usual Siena loved to run and run and we had a lovely long beach almost to ourselves. After a picnic of chicken salad followed by pancakes in Contis we explored our way back and found a slightly less deserted beach albeit not such a long walk from the car. The back to the gite, pasta carbonara (and wine) followed be a repeat of the previous night. I can safely say I would have happily strung up those 4 fluffy white terriers that decided barking at our door was a right laugh!

Unusually for us (well, for Delia if truth be told) we wound our way home more slowly than usual. Pausing for a gawk and coffee in Parentis and then the coast road towards Archachon. Parking near the road and walking through the woods towards the beach found us on a long deserted stretch of beach by a long metal wharf. Unlike yesterday, the sea was calm and quiet.  An hour or so here and then heading home with a late lunch at a services, better quality food (though not by much) than the equivalent in the UK.

Of course the big thing this last week was Delia’s operation. She may write more about it next weekend but most of you have been kept up to date  more or less. In short it went well. On her return to the hospital room where I was waiting she was awake enough to be smiling.  It went so well in fact that she was able to leave a day earlier than expected.  I had expected more time to tidy up etc but I had at least bought her flowers the day before, to greet her upon her return home.

Delia is still a bit fragile but the nurse is visiting each morning and it looks like she may be able to have the drain (draining blood and plasma from the operation) removed tomorrow (Monday). I think she is looking forward to being able to get around less hindered. Perhaps a short walk in the (just returned) sunshine.