Day 36: Nat's double silver disks

Today I wore the second gorgeous pair of earrings Nat (Day 12) gave me for my recent birthday. Again they are made by Pip and again they are double layered and fit together to make a perfect whole. I love wearing these and will be sorry to deposit in my box today knowing I won't be able to wear them again for 80 days or so!

I wore these today as I knew I'd be seeing Nat this afternoon. Another foray to campus meant I connected with Nat to start plotting a new research project following on from our successful construction project. She kindly drove me home through the ridiculous Sydney afternoon traffic. This city just doesn't work anymore!

Before catching up with Nat, I attended a meeting with Andy and many wonderful colleagues at the Australian Human Rights Centre to give them an update on the expansion plans we've been working on. Fingers crossed they come off, especially after the months of work we've put into the planning of it. Everyone gave me such a warm welcome today. I feel truly so blessed to be part of that community, and to work in a place where all the stress of work has been lifted from my shoulders, leaving just the enjoyable parts -including connecting with great people and working on interesting papers - which I can dip in an out of as I am able.

This photo was sent to me from colleagues when I was in hospital and missing the AHRCentre Christmas party. The signs were made by the wonderful Di who keeps the Centre running. It was a lovely gesture that meant a lot when I was at a low point.



Day 36 went quickly. After two days out and about I'm feeling very tired tonight and ready for a quiet day at home tomorrow. But it has been so good feeling 'normal', involved in non-health related conversations and away from hospital waiting rooms. Another month down.

Day 35: Annecy Pink flowers

Back in 2005 when we were in Annecy, I told Rob about Saoya, the earring shop where Mum and I had bought her studs (Day 1: Annette's Annecy Studs). Unbeknown to me, the next day he slipped away to find the shop and bought these pretty pink earrings and a matching necklace. I didn't get them straight away, or indeed as a package. James - then aged 2 - gave me the earrings as a Mother's Day gift, about a month after we returned to Sydney. Another 7 months on, I received the necklace as Christmas present, a reminder of our wonderful experiences in France. So typical of thoughtful Robbie!

Selfie chicks: Jan and Lou/Maggie T!

I wore these today to match my pink "Maggie Tabberer" turban. It was my first foray onto campus since December, and was feeling a bit self-conscious about my new look, so I needed these as protection. As it turned out I had a very affirming visit, first catching up with my lovely colleague in Politics, Carolien van Hamm, and then with the wonderful Jan Breckenridge, an Associate Professor in Social Work and Social Policy. Jan is an expert in gender-based violence and her work in the area is groundbreaking. Largely through her tireless efforts we now have workplace laws in Australia to provide leave for those subjected to domestic violence; her latest initiative is to work with the big banks to address financial abuse as a form of domestic violence. The banks have responded incredibly well to Jan's ideas and are changing their policies and practices to give women fleeing violence access to emergency finance, and to reduce the red tape needed to stop debt being racked up in their name. Jan's life-changing work is an example of what a difference academics can make to society.  Together Jan and I supervise the fabulous PhD student Sophie Yates, who is also working on a gender violence topic.

Last year Jan and I had the pleasure of hosting at UNSW  Sr Angelique Namaika, who was in Australia as a guest of the UN High Commission for  Refugees. Sr Angelique does amazing work running a refuge and training programs for women and their children affected by conflict-related violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was an incredibly inspiring presentation.

Jan has her own wonderful earring collection, my favourite being her cushion-shaped diamond- cut citrine's that she often wears. She wonders now whether she's become and creature of habit with her earrings, and what that means about her life - who knew our earrings could make us think so much about ourselves and those around us! At work, Jan always has my back, and in recent months, she has sent me constant messages of love and support, for which I am so grateful.

It was great to see Jan and Carolien today, followed by a meeting with George Williams and the powers that be about our human rights initiative (by the way GW wrote a great piece today in the SMH on the need for better recognition and representation of women barristers - go George!). A bonus lunch meeting with the wonderful Steph to discuss the initiative was icing on the cake. By the time I got home I was exhausted...I had just enough energy to sit through the Academy award ceremony and watch aghast at the La La Land debacle! Whoa! The stars are completely out of alignment in every sense in the US right now!

Day 34: Bill's Amber drops

Bill and Maddie's Wedding, September 2001

Today is the birthday of my longstanding friend Billy Budd, who bought me these earrings many years ago - I'm guessing 1991... If I remember correctly, he purchased them from a jewellery shop on Glebe Point Road that had an amazing array of earrings, but sadly no longer exists. They stand as a testimony to our friendship of over 30 years that has seen us both move through many different phases of life - including our undergrad university days - until most happily he married my dear friend Maddie Drake (Day 21 Silver spoons) and together produced their gorgeous daughter Marcella. It's lovely to have been connected over all this time and to still see Billy regularly to share a joke - he has a great sense of humour - and to discuss the latest political scandal or university gossip. Bill, who is based at the University of Newcastle, is a clever neuropsychologist doing incredibly interesting and important work on brain disorders and functioning.  Happy Birthday BB!

Day 34 has whizzed by. It was all go in our house this morning - Angus and I were up early to bake a banana butterscotch pudding to take to Cazy's for Sunday lunch while James went swimming and Rob walked Miss Molly. Angus' dessert was a hit, alongside Gracie's chocolate raspberry slice capping off a delicious meal prepared by Cazy and Ben. I was such a treat to go across town for lunch, and for Paulie, Geeta and Jai to join us now they are Sydney residents. My only regret was not to be able to join in on the pink champagne!

In between I've been working with the wonderful Steph (Day 28: Butterfly Domes) and George Williams, Law Dean, on our Human Rights proposal in preparation for a meeting tomorrow. A lovely catch up over skype with Fiona (Day 30: Edinburgh Circle) in Scotland capped off a happy Sunday. I have touch of queasiness and again have developed an itchy scalp, but otherwise I'm feeling good and looking forward to making the most of this upcoming week before my next infusion on 7 March.

Day 33: Sian and Richard's geometrics

The Oliver-Falconer's in their new house, 2015

About a week ago a small parcel arrived in my mail box with a UK postage mark. I excitedly open the packet to find inside the most fabulous pair of earrings - sent by our dear Edinburgh-based  friends Sian Oliver and Richard Falconer, part of the Scottish web. The divine Richard is the brother of our special friend Lindsey (featured Day 20: French Violets) and is married to the wonderful Sian. They have two gorgeous children, Bella and Xander.

Friday night pizza with Bella

We have known Richard and Sian for many years but had the pleasure of bonding more closely with them while we were living in Edinburgh in 2013, meeting regularly for Friday Pizza nights.



I love this action shot of the 'big boys' and Bella playing chasings in the Grassmarket after dinner one night.

Big boys and Bella, Grassmarket, 2013

Meeting Xander, 2013

We were fortunate to still be in town when baby Xander arrived in November 2013 as a sibling for his sweet sister. Rob enthusiastically joined in the celebration with Richard and friends to 'wet the babies head' with a few drams at the Canny Man's, while dear Sian recovered in hospital! Richard also introduced Rob to the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society. Dangerously, the Society now has a branch in Sydney, where Rob and Chris, Richard's brother-in-law, are now members!








Sian and Richard have been generous hosts to us whenever we've returned to Edinburgh. Dad and I enjoyed a lovely family dinner in their new house, including Richard and Lindsey's lovely Mum Arlene, when we passed through in 2015. We arrived bearing gifts from their Sydney cousins. Evie and Gabe.

As I said, these earrings are really fabulous. They are an asymmetric geometric pair in rose gold, with a circle stud on one side and black stud with a turquoise triangle on a stem that swings from the back of the stud! I don't have anything like them, and am loving wearing them for the first time today. With their 80s vibe, I'm feeling all 'Boy George-ish', in a really great way! Sian thoughtfully bought these earrings for me when she was in on a recent visit to London. She has kept in close contact over these past few months sending me messages of support. Quite freakishly, just as I was writing this paragraph I heard a 'ping' in my inbox, and Sian, up in the middle of the night with a sick little Xander, messaged me! I'm a bit goosebumpy now.


Day 33 has been as relaxed as any day could be. A long overdue cool and rainy day meant I stayed in bed for most of the day before heading off to have my nails done with the gorgeous Aiofe. I went all goth with the Opi 'Lincoln Park After Dark' colour; my new crystal glasses collected by Robbie today set off the look!

Day 32: Cazy's wedding earrings

I have such happy memories wearing these earrings today. The are small very dark blue Swarovski crystals which I bought on my honeymoon at Eumundi, in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. They were purchased to match the dress I was wearing to Cazy and Ben's wedding, which was held a few weeks after ours. A double wedding in December 2001 was not what either of us planned - and certainly not what the parents of the brides had contemplated! At the time Cazy and Ben were living in London and with limited holidays, we were living in Sydney, but planning to go join them in London for my sabbatical, so that's how the timing worked out: us on 2nd them on the 30th. Everyone went shopping for 2 for 1 dresses!

The gorgeous couple with a happy Annette, Rob and Anne in background

Theirs was such a beautiful wedding. For a start everyone looked so gorgeous - especially the handsome groom with a tie that matched his baby blue eyes, and the bride in her beautiful bias cut silk gown and feather bower! Cazy also wore specially designed Sarina jewellery including clear crystal drop earrings, and some stunning crystal flowers in her hair. As bridesmaid in a fabulous black dress, Lindy also wore Sarina earrings plus some crystal flowers on her straps. Millie and Daisy made the sweetest flower girls in their pink sparkly dresses. Those little guys in their pink ties are all now well over 6ft. Paulie gave the most brilliant wedding speech, complete with video, where he was pretending to be a TV newsreader crossing "live" to a reporter - himself - describing the happy couple's background and the wedding. Hilarious!

With mother of the bride Mark II

With my beautiful big sis, Ree

Both Ree and Mum looked so beautiful that day -  I love these happy shots of us together on the lawns of St Patricks, Manly.
In the end my earrings were probably a bit too subtle given the hair - but they remain special nonetheless.

I wore these earrings today because I knew I was going to see both Cazy and flowergirl Daisy (see Day 11). Daisy has flown to Sydney for the weekend to catch up with the Sydney-based family before returning to her current base in Berlin. It was so wonderful to see her looking so happy and content after time with Ree, Col and the family in Queensland. She gave me two pairs of her recent earring creations, which are quirky and wonderful - to be displayed soon! Never idle, while at home Daisy has kept herself busy with her art, taking a temporary break from tattooing to turn her attention to a more conventional canvas, creating some amazing new works, using colour rather than ink for the first time. Her a colour palette is like Matisse - Fabulous! She has her first gallery showing in Brisbane next weekend for anyone in the area: March 4 Analogue Gallery at Greaser Bar, Fortitude Valley. I so wish I could go.

I've been feeling good on day 32, 10 days in to the second cycle. I've got some aching bones which I think is the bone marrow trying to make some extra white blood cells at the lowest point in the cycle, and which is why I am tired, but the queasiness has passed. Cazy, Daisy and I enjoyed our lunch at Bread and Circus, and an afternoon nap filled the day.

Yesterday Cazy recommended the Netflix doco called Abstract: The Art of Design which is fabulous series on contemporary designers and artists. The first episode on Christoph Niemann - who has done many an iconic New Yorker cover - is wonderful. His ruminations on the challenges of the process of producing his work are so insightful. I love his chart which captures the joy and frustration that I feel during the writing process I know my dear colleagues and PhD students also understand. We don't get the blip with an invoice, but maybe it's the same as a submission!

Niemann's Agony/Fun Chart

Day 31: Firenze coins

Kerrie and Betty, Florence with photo bomb (!), 2011

Today I'm wearing a pair of earrings which are replicas of a Florentine coin, featuring the city's Fleur de Lys emblem. I bought them when we were living in Florence for 6 weeks (the reasons for which I will explain another day, with a different pair of earrings!). The important point about these coins is that they link me to my wonderful sister-in-law Kerrie McCallum, one of Robbie's older sisters. While we were in Florence, Kerrie and Betty came to visit us - as did my parents, Fiona and Georgie, and Catherine and Bart. It was a really special time; it was during the depths of winter so we were able to explore that gorgeous city, especially the magnificent galleries, without any tourists around. It was the first time both Betty and Kerrie has been to Italy, so it was especially nice to be able to give them a Florentine base from which to to come and go, and for them to regale us with all their adventures.

Scott, Annimieke, Betty & Kerrie

Kerrie is endlessly generous, never missing a birthday, always arriving with some gift or delicious food, and is very caring - she clearly takes after her Mum! Kerrie is married to Mark, a senior policeman and one of the most reliable and trustworthy people around -and is a dedicated Mum to the now grown up Scott and Caitlin. Scott and Nikki have now started the next generation with a gorgeous daughter, Annimieke.

On a shopping spree, Florence, 2011

Kerrie has many talents, one of which is shopping! This made it extra fun having her in Florence. While I was caught up working, Kerrie would be out scouting the best places, including great earring shops, and it was on her recommendation that I found the shop that sold these coins. They are a lovely momento of our time together there. I'm so grateful to be threaded into the web of the Ridley clan, with Kerrie and all my other lovely in-laws.


I can't miss the opportunity to shout out a very happy birthday to my gorgeous nephew Charlie Kelleher who turns 18 today. Charlie is an incredibly talented sportsman, and a gentle soul who, at 6'8, is carrying himself with ease and grace into adulthood.

Captain Cha Cha

Big cousin Charlie with baby Angus, 2006

Day 31 has been another good one. A routine morning walk followed by another day editing another long-overdue paper I'm writing with Rose. I had the chance for a long chat with Sally Kelly, cousin Matin's wife, who is emerging at the other end of her breast cancer treatment, juggling the rigours of a particularly tough chemo regime with a gorgeous, active 1 year old son, Samuel. Her attitude is inspirational and advice very welcome. We've both discovered our sweet tooth, with my favourite dish de jour being a version of Mum's apple crumble - with my addition of berries, plums and pears.  My scalp's itchy again and the stubble shedding like crazy. Robbie's been busy cleaning out the kitchen cupboards. What would I do without him!

Day 30: Edinburgh circles with green beads

Today's earrings are part of the golden thread that attaches me to Scotland. Over the years, the density of this thread has created its own Scottish branch of my web. Our family consider it a second home - it is the place I most want to return to as soon as this treatment is over. Two people who are centrally located in this Scottish web are Fiona Mackay and Georgie Young.

Fiona, Professor of Politics at Edinburgh University, is a close colleague -  indeed she's among of the best I've ever had the pleasure of working with. She is so clever and has taught me so many things, including how to think in news ways about topics I'd never even considered before. Her own work on gender, politics and institutions has been inspirational, as her Professorial lecture demonstrates. She gives me moral support and encouragement when the chips are down or when I have to face a new work or life challenge, and will patiently listen to me endlessly prattle on when I get enthusiastic about a crazy new plan.

Fiona, Georgie and Me, Edinburgh 2015

But Fiona is much more than a colleague. I count her as one of my closest friends. She is compassionate and kind, and has generously opened her life to me and my family. Fiona has given us the opportunity to visit Edinburgh on many occasions, including most transformatively, in 2013 when she encouraged and supported my application for an Edinburgh University Fellowship, which allowed us to live there for 6 months - a period all of us count as one of the happiest in our family history so far. Being able to stop by Fiona and Georgie's wonderful flat - with a view of across the Meadows to the Castle -  for a chat and cup of tea or something stronger - on my walk home from the University was such a treat. Skype doesn't quite make up for it, but keeps us in regular contact.

Georgie and Gus 7th 'Irn Bru' party

Elvis strikes a pose with Georgie's art

Fiona's partner Georgie has also been incredibly important to us. One of Scotland's leading artists, Georgie paints the most stunning landscapes and still lifes, which she sells at the annual Pittenweem Arts Festival. Georgie and Fiona have a cottage with a studio in Pittenweem - a gorgeous Fife fishing village - which they have generously shared with us. Although having such a busy life herself, Georgie is the backbone of the household with Fiona's current position as Dean at Edinburgh burdening her with endless commitments. As a result, it has been Georgie who has prepared us gourmet meals and guided me, and especially Rob, around the traps of Edinburgh - including an introduction to Eddie the Fishmonger. Georgie is so thoughtful with the boys, including organising appropriate birthday presents such as Angus' Im Braw T-shirt which he still tries to squeeze into. Georgie's cat Elvis is an important member of the household and the master of the pose.

Blowing a gale in Pittenweem, New Years Day 2011

Fiona and Georgie are famous for their fabulous parties, including their Hogmanay celebrations where everyone takes a turn.

Fiona and Georgie perform, Hogmanay 2010

Without Georgie and Fiona's help, we would not have landed on our wonderful house in Edinburgh with its bramble garden and its nearby perfect school at Toll Cross. 

Boys and brambles, 2013

Dad & Georgie with Henry Moore, Edinburgh 2015

One of the joys our international travel has been the opportunity to link the thread to Fiona and Georgie with other parts of my golden web - to Deb, Lizzie, Trevor and Lye - and also to Dad. On Dad's and my first trip overseas after Mum died, Fiona and Georgie welcomed us for a few days in Edinburgh. It was an important healing time for us, aided greatly by their care and generosity.







My earrings are a pair of dainty circles, with dark and very light green beads, which I purchased at a jewellers called Rosie Brown on the high street in Bruntsfield, around the corner from Fiona and Georgie's flat. I bought them to mark the Chrystal Macmillan public lecture I gave while based at Edinburgh - a nerve wracking but wonderful experience that Fiona and Georgie made possible. Wearing them today without any hair to get in the way showed them off nicely!


Day 30 has been a good one. A nice morning walk after Angus' school interview, then home to work on the paper which I finally sent off - yipee!! It was then time an afternoon rest - I am feeling very tired today, not surprising given I'm reaching the lowest point in the cycle blood count wise. A gift from my Melbourne-based PhD student Sophie, to be displayed soon, touched me greatly. The tongue ulcers are, unbelievably, completely, gone - I'm a convert to coconut oil!

There was however one significant disaster concerning one Molly dog and one jigsaw puzzle. Frustrated that she hadn't been taken for her usual walk while we went to the interview, Molly decided to distract herself with the jigsaw, knocking off the bottom border which Deb has painstakingly helped me construct yesterday. Rob though my response was fairly sanguine, but let's wait until I find out whether she also ate a piece or two... !

Day 29: Mum's blue cubes

Eilee babes 70th, 2016

I awoke this morning to a gorgeous message from my Aunty Eilee - known affectionately as Eilee Babes  - one of Mum's younger sisters. She'd been thinking of me and reminding me that Mum is with me in spirit throughout this process. It was such a thoughtful message, so typical of Eilee who has been a tower of strength for all of us since Mum died, and a constant support to me in the last few months. Eilee is one in a million, she is such a positive person, with a bubbly personality who has a great ability to see the funny side of life and makes others see it too.

Eilee's message made me reach for a pair of Mum earrings - bronze and silver squares with a blue crystal insert. The pedigree of these are vague. Lindy inherited them when Mum died, but then generously handed them on to me recently, to add to the collection. We think maybe one of us bought them for Mum as a gift, but we can't remember. What we can both remember is Mum wearing them, and this, along with Eilee's message, makes me feel very close to her today.

The Napier girls with impressive fringes, Eilee in gloves

Eilee is the second of four girls alongside Mum, Margie and Suzie; the daughter of soft, gentle Harry and vivacious, fun-loving Clare (who deserves and will get at some point a blog post all to herself - as she would want!). Eilee's been the most committed and loving wife to Gerry, who has in turn been a very supportive Uncle to me. A late night bet in 1989 with Gerry that if I could gain a first class honours degree, he'd buy me a Gucci watch, gave me determination and left him sorely out of pocket! He's encouraged me on in my career ever since, but we've never entered another bet.

The Kelly Gang, Sally and Martin's wedding 2014

Eilee is an amazing Mum to five fabulous children, my cousins, Matt, Brigid. Katie, Martin and Gerra. Katie has rightly been in the spotlight in recent years with her Paralympic triathlon gold medal, OAM, and other incredible accolades, but she sits among a talented and closely bonded family who are all highly successful in their own fields. Together they are creating their own expansive next generation with 11 children between them, making Eilee an incredibly busy grandmother.

I love this photo of the Chappell's celebrating Christmas with the Kelly Gang and Suzie and Pete at Nanna Clare's sometime in the mid 1970s. It captures Gerry's in a turtleneck (on Christmas day?? I suppose it was Armidale) Eilee and Lindy with their purple paper crowns, and Ree, aged about 10 or 11 wearing a dress with a Southern Comfort motif! What was Mum thinking?





Often I take it for granted that I'm part of a sprawling tribe but right now I'm feeling such support and love from every quarter, such as Eilee's message today, and feel very grateful for it.

Day 29 (99 to go!) was a good one. My energy went up another notch. Our divine cleaner Chris did all the hard work and left the place sparkling - at least for the hour before the boys got home. I was able to concentrate on work for the morning, inching closer to finishing a long overdue journal article. A great conversation with Andy this morning, followed by a visit from Lizzie and Deb this afternoon connected me with wonderful friends. And as an added bonus jigsaw puzzle queen Deb helped sort out some key pieces of my puzzle.  Dearest Kate and Betty sent gorgeous flowers and a message of encouragement.

I also think I made Dad's day. He's an alternative health advocate whose advice I often ignore, but I did remember him telling me some months ago about the benefits of coconut oil as a mouth cleanser due to its antibacterial qualities. Two days ago, I started developing an ulcerated tongue - a common side effect of the treatment - which was becoming painful. After trying various chemist bought lotions and potions, I turned to the coconut oil, and bingo, tonight they've almost disappeared, just at the point when my immunity is reaching it's lowest point, and technically they should be getting worse. When Dad called today and I told him the news he had the grace not to say "I told you so"!

Day 28: Butterfly domes

Today's earrings are no longer so pretty - the colours of butterfly imprint which sits under a dome of glass has faded and yellowed, making them much less attractive than they once were (I could riff on this theme but will resist!). However, they are very symbolic for me. Apparently, butterflies represent 'personal transformation, freedom from previous struggles, renewal and hope' which is apt given the circumstances under which I bought them, and how I'm feeling today. 

Future Fellowship announcement, Canberra 2009

I always search for a new pair of earrings to celebrate an important event in my life - these come from the Australian National Gallery in Canberra purchased the day my Future Fellowship was announced. For some unknown reason, I was one of the few Fellows invited by the Minister for Education to attend the inaugural launch of the Fellowship scheme - 4 year research-only positions, with project funding. In other words, Academic Nirvana! I remember being awestruck that day by Australian research talent on display - people working on nanotechnologies for chemo treatment (BRING IT ON!!); engineering feats for offshore gas exploration; alternative syringes for application in third world settings; breakthroughs in a Tasmanian devil disease that is driving them to extinction. With my project on Gender and the International Criminal Court, I felt very humbled to stand among these colleagues. It was so special to have Rob there too. As I've explained earlier, the fellowship was also personally important as it meant I was able to move institutions - from Sydney across to UNSW - a critical point in my career. 

Steph the great and Adam the Goodes!

I wore the butterflies today as I had meetings planned with two wonderful colleagues - Steph Manefield and Jan Breckenridge - who are part of my UNSW transformation. Not feeling up to the schlep across to campus meant I was only able to meet with Steph, who kindly came my way. (This means I must leave the amazing Jan for another day). Steph and I haven't known each other long, but from day one there was an instant click between us. She is such a clever thinker; she has an incredible skill set in business and strategic planning that I can only pretend to understand (but I always try to nod at what I guess are the appropriate moments). Steph is also incredibly thoughtful and kind, and has a wicked sense of humour to boot. (I can see a pattern emerging here: of the people who are in my golden web the ability to laugh is essential!). Together with Andy, Andrew, Di and from the UNSW Australian Human Rights Centre, and George Williams the Dean of Law, Steph is helping me plot exciting new developments in the Human rights field at UNSW. If it comes off as we've planned, I have a fabulous career trajectory to look forward to at the end of my treatment. Being able to still work on this initiative when the days allow, with such a patient and sympathetic colleague as Steph, shows just how fortunate I am to be at UNSW. 


As an important aside, Steph's also a key Sydney Swans mover and shaker. She's been so kind in providing Angus with all sorts of Swannies mementos.  Together, Steph and Angus - who plays for the Newton Swans Juniors - are educating me in all things AFL , and it turns out, I really enjoy it. Who would have thought! (Though NB the Kelleher branch of the family boast an amazing representative AFL player in Hughie who plays for Newcastle).  



Weather wise day 28 has been stunning. For the first time in months, there has been a hint of coolness in the air and a drop in the humidity. After the rain, everything is so bright and green and fresh. Bliss! Rob and I walked Molly around Sydney Park this morning, which is looking lush and green. The weather really lifted my mood at just the right moment. I'd become maudlin last night, processing what I've been through until now and what's still to come, and the impact its having on people around me. Things felt back in better perspective today but it was a reminder that the psychological aspects of this treatment are just as great, if not greater than the physical. A lovely message from Fiona in Edinburgh, a parcel from Lisa in Adelaide, dinner cooked by Cazy and calls from my family reminded me how supported I am. Now back to the puzzle...tulips...argh!