THE HOSPITAL

A big and very sincere thank you to the many lovely people who have sent love and hugs, prayers and encouragement, over the past week during my cancer surgery.  Your words kept me going through what was a times a bit of a nerve-wracking, not to say frightening, experience.  Of course, it is not all over yet and I see my surgeon on Thursday for pathology results and discussion on future treatment, but for now I am very happy to be back home, in the house I love, surrounded by Mr Cardinal, family and friends.

This is moi, lying in the hospital, wearing white pressure stockings.  They obviously worked well, because my legs are feeling 100% fine these days.  I amused myself pretending to be the subject of a French impressionist picture:

Woman in White Stockings, 1924, Suzanne Valadon.

My left arm, however, is very stiff, sore and sorry.

Its new best friend is a pink satin horseshoe of a cushion provided by the wonderful Kim Walters Choices Program for women with breast cancer:

Eventually I plucked up the courage to inspect the damage.  My left side now resembles the left side of a kewpie doll:

Or, to put it another way, who knew my waist was thickening down there under that boob?  Out of sight, out of mind ....

I hope my face is kinder than the one painted on this funny little porcelain family heirloom doll-on-a-brooch.  Her eyes are deadset ferocious!

Views from my hospital window:

Loved the house with a vine growing over the rooftop.

I could look across at the Cancer Research Centre, which seems appropriate.

Enjoyed the hospital art in my ward..

All my favourite indigenous painting styles were represented. 

 It cheered me up a treat on my daily Walks for Fitness.

A few Autumn leaves I brought back from Canada last October -

the only way I can play Autumn Colours in Brisbane.

Loving the fresh air and slightly cooler temperatures.

More later xx