Hi all well after I came back from my hols I went into Blackpool Hospital on the 10th Oct. They the bottom half of my right lung. The biopsy showed it to be cancer the same as my neck. The only good point is that before the op the pet scan shoed I was clear every where else. So now they have removed it I am once again in remission until it appears somewhere else. Providing it keeps to ares they can remove I soppose I should be grateful. As I don't really do any work as such I was back in my office 6 weeks after the op. The worst part of the whole thing is I can't fly for thre to four months and I had planned to go to China at Christmas.

Well all the best to everyone for Christmas and the same for the New Year

Hi Maurice

I hope that everything turns out well, and I'm sorry that you've been forced to postpone your trip. Where in China had you planned to go?

Merry Christmas! 2009 has got to be better.

Julia

Hi Julia

From what I have been told I am now clear for the present but as I said it may well come back again somewhere else. However as we all know you don't need to think about that just enjoy each day at a time. I have no complaints, I have had a good life and in fact my life and my attitude to it have made me a better person.

As far as China is concerned I do go often as my wife is chinese and we do have a house in her home town, so it is not to bad as we can go another time. Our house is in Nanning which is in the south west very near vietnam.

Maurice

Hi Maurice

My sister-in-law is from Chengdu (yes, earthquake central). She and my brother talk about retiring there someday. She's trying to convince me to go there and teach English. Also, my sister and brother-in-law adopted a little girl from a Guangzho orphanage. I've always enjoyed learning languages, so in honor of Yanyu (sil) and Lida (niece), I'm trying to pick up some Mandarin. My accent is ok, but I can't say much.

Julia

I know Guangzhou fairly well as we fly via there then oon to Nanning. We to intend to live there eventually although I do realise it will mean frequent trips back for check ups. Maybe mid 2009 we will eventually do so. As far as teaching english is concerned they are eager for any english speaker to teach them even I have ben offered a teaching job and with my accent lots of english poeple can't understand me. I hope your sister-in-law's family did not suffer any injurys in the earthquake. If you have not been to China you should go as the people are fantastic and living is very cheap. You can live well on around £6,000 a year.

Maurice

hi maurice

just like to say your post here has given me a huge lift. to think what you have been through and are still talking about taking trips to china is amazing. I'm still a bit scared about leaving the house for too long! I get out and about for a bit but i'm looking forward to going away for a proper holiday at some point too! just a useless post but thought you might like to know you have giving me some inspiration.

thanks

gordon

Gordon

However bad you fell now I can promise from experience that it will get better. I can well remember going to bed and not wanting to wake up. But over time and it does take time thing get a little better bit by bit. I can now look back and say that if not for my cancer I would not be having the fun I do now. Before I was a workaholic now that has all changed. When I got my cancer at first I was going through a divorce, living on my own with fanishing funds. Now I am a seucsessful project manager with enough money to do what I like. Have you read my blog maybe it may help you in some way. Remember to take it day by day and accept any help given.

Regards and try to enjoy Christmas because the New Year will bring a different and maybe better life.

Maurice

My sister-in-law's family made it through ok, thanks. Their apartment building was pretty shaky, but they'd just bought a car so they stayed in it for a while.

Thanks Maurice i will do that.

I'm not particularly depressed about the situation,in fact i feel i'm doing ok, just it's great to hear people getting on with their lives like you. Like yourself I was a workaholic with my own business, and I've gone through a separation with my partner this year too (it never just rains does it? ) Already my outlook and priorities have changed as you say, but i still get the dark moments when i get a bit down. Reading about people taking trips abroad and enjoying life does fill me with hope for the future, so thanks!

This Xmas is certainly going to be the best one yet, I'm loking forward to it already.

Thanks
All the best for Xmas and the New Year!

Gordon

Hi Maurice,

Really glad to hear you are doing OK and got through the lung operation. Read your blog a few times over the past few months and it has really helped me.

Are you back in Ireland at work?

Ken