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athenadotnet

I'm very excited to announce that I'll now be more involved in the Canberra Windows User Group. For many years the group has been run by David Mackie who recently decided enough was enough. I've posted the news on my work blog.

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May 03

Update on my cousin

Thank you to all of you who have asked about my cousin and sent your well wishes. I now have an update on her progress.

She had the operation and they couldn't get it all. They have been monitoring her since the operation and she is displaying short term memory loss. Today she was moved out of Intensive Care and into a normal ward. The doctors say it is a slow growing malignant tumour (probably started when she was in her teens) that they will not be treating with radiation. They said they will monitor it over the years and see whether it grows again and if it does they will operate again.

They are expecting her to be able to go home in a week or so.

So I guess it's good news. Her brother is releaved and say that they are all happy with the outcome. As it's slow growing and will now be monitored they aren't expecting any more surprises.

Thanks again for your support and well wishes.

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April 24

Life's too short

My 29 year old cousin has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. It's in her pituitary gland. The doctors rushed her to Royal Melbourne hospital as soon as they found it, that was Friday last week. Surgeons operated on her today. It was a 6 hour operation and they couldn't remove it all. They will now conduct test to identify whether it is benign or melignant. But either way, as they couldn't remove it all they have to operate again. The test results should come on Friday or Saturday. At this stage no one has told us about the chances she'll recover or whether or not the operation has caused any brain damage. It's her birthday in just over a week.

Her dad is by her side as are her partner, her son and her mother.

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April 14

Greek Easter

For the first time in many years Greek Easter this year fell on the same day as 'normal' Easter. It's the one time of year that I try and make it back to Melbourne to see the family. And this year I made it. Flew in on Sunday with a esky full of cakes to take to the rels and flew out that night with an esky half full of cakes to take back to Mum, Dad and Helen....Gotta love Greeks and their food. Also as per usual lunch was at Uncle Nicks, a BBQ and to top it off Essendon was playing that day too. It's great to see them all. Wish it was more often. When I no longer want to live in Canberra I think I'll go back to Melbourne. Of course having a cousin who works in a pub is never a bad thing either.

However family are funny aren't they. It's great to see them yet.....here are some examples of why they are priceless. My uncle Jim, well i see him for maybe 1 - 3 hrs once a year and he pulls out the "You've gained a bit of weight since I saw you last!!!!" That's always lovely isn't it???...and a Happy Easter to you too

. And as always my Grandmother pulls out the "I want you to get married and have kids before I die". I keep telling her that means she needs to stay alive for at least another 20 years!!!! Are all Greeks like this?? I believe the answer is yes!

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Back!!

Well it's been a long time since I've written and what's new. Well... In my new house (will add pics when I get around to taking some), yes that means moved out of my parents house..again, I've been to Germany and London, I've lost a mobile phone and as for the love life..well we'll leave that one alone for now!

So how was CeBIT in Germany?? What stood out the most:

German people are very generous and helpful
Their public transport system is HEAPS better than ours
It's really nice to wake up to snow once in a while (don't get me wrong, lying on a rock in the sun with a cocktail still wins)
We are very lucky to have strict anti smoking laws now. I think I smoked 3 packs a day in the convention centre
Beer Halls are amazing, as are the 2 litre steins!!...oh, as are the women who carry 10 of them at once!!!!!
Cold beer is better than warm beer
A conference can be too big (26 halls all up...took 1 hour just to walk across the other side of the centre and back)

The highlight of my trip I think was going to see Phantom of the Opera in London. Something I promised myself I'd do one day.

Anyway, it's good to be home.