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.

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.

 

 

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!

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:

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.

Floriade opened on Saturday. Those who don't know what that is, it's a flower (tulip) display. Set around Lake Burley Griffin. It's free to get in and the flowers are arranged in patterns usually following a theme (http://www.floriadeaustralia.com). This years theme is Carnivale-The World on Show. I haven't visited this years event yet but have been to many in the past. It's nothing too exciting but after a cold winter it's nice to walk around in the sun looking at brightly coloured flowers. Believe it or not people actually travel from around the world to come to it!!!!!!!

 

This time of year also lends itself to getting out and exercising. Walking around the lake with Adam last week set me off. I went for another walk around the lake on Saturday where I saw an unusual site.........girls in bikini's. Yes! In Canberra! By the lake! I was as stunned as you are now. Clearly they must have come from the UK or somewhere cold like that.....SURELY.

 

The great weather has also encouraged me to grab my bike out of the storage shed, pump up the tyres and go for a ride. Once again around the lake. This time there were no bikini clad girls, just a bunch of people walking, riding, picnicing and generally enjoying the outdoors. If only it could be like this all year round.

When Steve Urwin died the other day I must admit I wasn't too upset. Sure I was sad for his family that will now grow without him but I can't say he offered me anything. In fact growing up when Steve was on the TV I'd change the station as soon as I could.......but Peter Brock?!?!?!!!!

The number of afternoons I spent watching him driving round (generally winning) in his Holden (yey!!)....well they were countless. Tomorrow when driving to Sydney in a Holden I'm going to place an 05 on the back window. To say thanks, for the entertainment, for sharing your passion and your life with us. RIP Brocky.

For those of you who access this site and wonder why it's full of personal stuff and not much work stuff...I've also got a work blog. Here's the link: http://athenadotnet.spaces.live.com

 

Hi.

This is my first entry and I have NO idea what I'm doing. This is evident by the fact that it's actually taken me 3 hours to get where I am now on this site. What have I acheived? Well. I've added some music (not sure how to get it playing in the background yet), I have 1 friend added (thanks Darren, you're my first), I've added a few photos and I've moved around some windows.

So this poses the question....Is this a good idea?

I'm yet to be convinced. I see that it's a great way to communicate to others what I'm up to. But really, who's THAT interested? Surely at 1.30am on a Sunday morning there are better things I could be doing with my time? But seeing as though I just purchased an iPod today (well yesterday now) and I was on my computer anyway....we end up here.

So why is this entry categorised under Health and wellness? Cos at this stage I think I'm going to go nuts before I get this site working to its full capacity. But we'll see shall we.......