A mate of mine called mid chemo, a man I've been friends with for over twenty years. He voiced his concern with an air of exasperation. "But when will you get the all clear?" It was the second time he'd asked and I wasn't providing the right answer. I was vague and ill prepared for the conversation. There seemed to be so much ahead of me … [Read more...]
Search Results for: all clear
Uneventful Phone Calls
November 13, 2014 by 11 Comments
“Even when all the paperwork-a marriage license, a notarized deed, two birth certificates, and seven years of tax returns-clearly indicates you're an adult, but all the same, there you are, clutching the phone and thanking God that you're still somebody's daughter.” ― Kelly Corrigan, The Middle Place The time has come, the expat said, to talk … [Read more...]
Make A Tally
July 25, 2014 by 2 Comments
It was a quick round trip. I drove the little travellers to Granny's, stayed the night and then turned around the next day on a solo journey to collect G. G and I will have a night in a hotel, a quick catch up with friends and then regroup to begin our family holiday. The little travellers loaded the car as if we were camping for a year. Stuffed … [Read more...]
My Friend Donna Wins At Halloween. You’ll Never Guess Where She’s From…
November 3, 2013 by 6 Comments
Donna aka CarrieThis is my friend Donna, she wins at Halloween. Every year.For the last few years I've noticed a trend in Australian news. On about October 1st each year the same old story makes the rounds.Should Australia be celebrating Halloween?While quite a few friends in Oz posted/talked of how they enjoyed Halloween, I couldn't help but … [Read more...]
The Expat Holding Pattern
December 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Definition of a holding pattern. 1 : the usually oval course flown (as over an airport) by aircraft awaiting clearance especially to land. 2 : a state of waiting or suspended activity or progress I was flying into London to meet my husband G who'd been there working all week. As Aussies living in Canada with four young children it had taken … [Read more...]
Before you put your pink bow on
October 8, 2017 by 1 Comment
October is a big month for our family, it begins with my son's birthday and ends with my husband's (which is usually completely overthrown by Halloween). Over the years it's meant four kids with four costume requirements and some crazy class party baking requests. A couple of years ago a breast cancer diagnosis meant I added chemo to the list of … [Read more...]
How Do You Re-Invent Your Career? This Is What I Did.
February 28, 2017 by 4 Comments
The invitation to speak came in the form of a message, a night with the Qatar Professional Women's Network, would I be interested in speaking? I checked out the evite "Hear our speakers talk about how they reinvented their careers since moving to Doha". So how do you re-invent your career? How did I re-invent mine? Let’s start from the … [Read more...]
A Buttered Bum
October 23, 2016 by 2 Comments
*I gave a talk yesterday at a Breast Cancer Awareness function in Doha. There were some great speakers from Hamad and the Cancer Centre - lots of great info and a great event to show women in Qatar that they are in good hands. I really want to say thank you to the American Women's Association. Those love heart cushions and drain bags are so … [Read more...]
An Elephant Never Forgets
October 11, 2016 by 4 Comments
At aged two my son held a grey plastic elephant in his hand at all times. Breakfast, park, lunch, nap time, dinner and bath - the grey elephant his constant companion. I have no idea when or why he stopped doing it. I just remember it being a thing, and then it wasn't. The grey elephant was filed into the same folder as bedwetting, thumb … [Read more...]
Something To Be Aware Of During Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 6, 2016 by 7 Comments
I began my first round of chemotherapy almost twelve months ago. I had arrived back in Doha to be with my family after having surgery in Australia, knowing that the real fun was about to start. When it comes to cancer people change their language completely, it somehow becomes brutal and harsh. Everyone's fighting a war, referring to themselves as … [Read more...]
