Addicted To Green Tea: January 2013

Saturday 26 January 2013

Good advice

But very difficult to follow but I try.......

I was in one of my favourite places last Saturday 19 January

I was here in Hout Bay for the weekend which is near Cape Town. The start of my holidays with Neil Chris & Philip to South Africa. Lovely and warm and sunny. Missing all that cold weather at home - poor Colin.

Monday 14 January 2013

A Special Lady

Early on New Year's Day a very special lady left us. Heather Hanson, our friend Sally's mum. I had not known Heather that long, and yet I felt that I had known her all my life. She was one of those people who immediately made you feel at ease. She had a zest for life and took an enthusiastic interest in everyone she met. She had the perfect personality for her job as a Stewardess with BOAC & British Airways, those were the days of one flight a week to New York, when the attendants wore white gloves and travelling was all about style, halcyon days that we'll probably never see again and by the sound of it Heather enjoyed every moment. She was always a joy to be with and always saw the fun in life.

My favourite memory of her was at the Golden Jubilee Street Party in June last year.

Heather is talking to Lynne who has the Queen's mask on. I can hear her laughter. She was in great spirits even though she had just been diagnosed with cancer and was about to start some chemotherapy. During her illness she always remained positive, cheerful and was such an inspiration and always caring of other people.

Her funeral is tomorrow and I will be there to celebrate her life and say a personal fond farewell. I will miss her, as will so many other people, none more so than her beautiful daughters Sally and Julia. I was so lucky to have known her.

Les Miserables

What an early start for a Sunday! We had tickets to see Les Miserables at the London Imax for the 9.00A.M YES A.M. showing!

I had not been to the cinema this early in the morning since I went to Saturday morning kids cinema at the Plaza cinema in Cardiff when I was a young boy not yet a teenager! Yes a long time ago but happy simplier times.

Anyway back to Les Mis. I had read the reviews on Saturday which went from fabulous to mediocre. I had seen the stage show a long time ago and I enjoyed it but did not rave about it. So I was looking forward to seeing how the film version impacted me.

The Imax was busy considering how early it was - some hardcore fans there and yes I suppose I could be one of them. The Imax screen is huge and the sound systen was brilliant. Armed with a cup of green tea from their cafe I took my seat. I was amazed how quiet the cinema was - not the usual popcorn munching crew here or was that because the vending station was not yet open?

As the film started the sound seemed so loud - was this going to be a problem I thought? I need'nt have as I got used to it and it really was suberb. As the screen was so big and the film has lots of close up and personal shots I felt more involved with the characters than I did when I saw the stage show. The music was beautiful. The actors are singing live - not dubbed and lip synched. They have a small ear piece which you cannot see and a pianist is close by playing the music for the actor to sing along with.

What an emotional film and a Sunday morning. I had forgotten that one of the most famous songs from Les Miserables " I dreamed a dream" ( of course we all know that one after Susan Boyle belted it out!) comes quite early in the proceeedings. That song is a tear jerker in any case but the way that Anne Hathaway sang it made even more emotional. So off I was on an emtional journey that lasted the rest of the film.

I was so delighted to have seen this movie and it's still with me as I hum the songs as I go about my day. I was even singing as I took Colin for his walk in the snow this morning.

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Blue Skies ....

There was blue sky this afternoon for my walk with Colin. The second day of this year where there has been blue sky! Very watery and the sun was not that hot but at least it is a break from that grey sky.

And there is some colour in the garden too..............

White Azelea - thank you Sally what a beautiful gift.

Skimmia

Mahonia - aromatic yellow flowers always welcome in January

Vibrant red dog wood

and I noticed that the moss of the trees were very vibrant today or was I just more in tune with it all as it was such a sunny walk .....

Lime green moss

Paler green lichen

And this always makes me smile...Colin's favourite yoga pose - yes it's dog face down and he is an expert at this pose.

OM!!!

Monday 7 January 2013

Sometimes you just need some time....

So off to a healing session at Burrows Lea. My time!!

Friday 4 January 2013

I Love this!!!

Pinterest - a great website for inspiration............... and today I love this quote as it made me think about the journey I have been on in the last 12 months........

Inflammation

Every day there is always something interesting to read from the reputable cancer related websites that I subscribe to and read. Today I logged into Facebook and Verity a lady that I met at Penny Brohn the last time I visited had posted a comment from "Life over Cancer", I clicked on the link and have now spent 30 minutes looking at the posts on the "Life over Cancer" pages. Not that I have the time today as the Christmas decorations are in the process of being taken down and need to be completed by 1.00pm as I am volunteering at the Cancer Research Shop this afternoon.

There is lots of interesting information and I just wanted to share this article on inflammation which sunmarises the subject - it is written by an American which is why some of the words are spelt differently from us in the UK.

"Evidence of the ability of inflammation to both initiate and fuel cancer has been accumulating since at least the 1980s. In fact, any chronic inflammatory disease – such as arthritis, bronchitis, fasciitis, colitis, and asthma – can increase the risk of cancer.

For example, according to a 2000 study, approximately one in every ten patients with ulcerative colitis will eventually develop colorectal cancer. However, it isn’t just the risk of cancer that is a concern when chronic inflammation is present. A study published in the May 2009 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology demonstrated that patients with high blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) were two to three times more likely to die prematurely or have their cancer return than patients with lower levels.

These markers indicate the presence of inflammation in the body. While acute inflammation is a healthy immune system response, chronic inflammation is not. Inflammation is one of the mechanisms that initiate the cascade of molecular events that lead to cancer and promote the growth of existing tumors. If a cellular mutation is the spark that lights the malignant fire, then inflammation is the fuel that keeps the fire growing. In general, the higher your CRP levels, the more unfavorable your prognosis. Indeed, in advanced cancers, CRP levels are often the most reliable indicator of prognosis, particularly with colorectal, lung, pancreatic, and prostate cancers.

The converse is also true: controlling inflammation can reduce the risk of and decrease the aggressiveness of cancer. Most, if not all patients, are dealing with high levels of inflammatory biochemicals that are produced by malignancies, and increased by surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. At the Block Center, we measure and monitor the inflammation levels of all of our patients, and encourage them to make lifestyle and dietary changes that can significantly minimize other sources of inflammation. It is important to note that being overweight, especially with excess abdominal fat, can be particularly harmful. People who are overweight have a higher level of inflammatory compounds in their blood, regardless of lifestyle or medical history.

One of the most important ways to control inflammation is to adjust fat intake. Inflammatory mediators are triggered by eating too many omega-6s and too few omega-3s. To decrease omega-6s, avoid beef, milk, cheese, pork, egg yolks, and poultry, as well as corn, safflower and sunflower oil.

To boost omega 3s, eat salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines, as well as plenty of green leafy vegetables; and use only (extra virgin) olive, walnut and flaxseed oils.

Because refined carbs and other high glycemic-index foods are directly related to blood levels of C- reactive protein, the Life Over Cancer diet emphasizes whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruit. Artichokes, spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, parsley and zucchini are especially good anti-inflammatory vegetables; eat brightly colored fruits like cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries.

Here are a few lifestyle changes Dr. Block recommends: Get adequate sleep – sleeping less than four hours a night for ten straight nights can make levels of C-reactive protein soar – avoid unhealthy high-flame or high-heat cooking methods like charcoal grilling and deep frying, limit alcohol consumption, and if you smoke – quit!"

Something to think about and for me it is the post Christmas incentive I need. I was relatively good over the festive period but the excuse " well it is Christmas" is no longer valid. So soup and a salad for lunch today I think! I have made some celeriac soup and have a fridge full of green stuff to make a salad. And love the comment about adequate sleep - I always feel so much better after a good 8 hours worth!

Wow it's been a while

I was surprised this morning when I checked the last time I had blogged to find yet it was 26 November last year! Last year!. Where did December go?

There have been no health issues that have arisen and I have been feeling very positive so why no blogging? I think it is just down to being busy and nothing else.

So busy doing what?

Seems to be out enjoying myself! The highlights were...........

A dinner with the folks from The Cancer Research shop where I volunteer.

Ruth me & Julia

Back to Burghope Manor with 9 friends for the weekend.

A deferred birthday celebration for Neil and an early Christmas celebration. We had a murder mystery dinner on the Saturday evening which is why we are all in fancy dress. Neil was Inspector Clu D'eau and I was Jeeves the butler.