Addicted To Green Tea: March 2014

Kris Hallenga was diagnosed withe Stage 4 breast cancer at the age of 23. Through her charity, CoppaFeel! she is fighting to raise awareness of breast cancer in young people. She has made a TV programme "Dying to Live" which is aired on BBC 3 on 26 March at 9 p.m. This is a programme I all encourage you to watch as difficult as it might be. She is one very brave woman. The film documents her life-changing and life-enhancing cancer journey and the way she has fought against public ignorance to ensure that doctors and young women are more aware of breast cancer and can find it – and beat it – early.

I can really relate to her quote:

" Cancer has given me a life and given meaning to what I do with my life.
I'd really hope and like to think that I would have that same appreciation of life even if I didn't have cancer, but this has just made it all the more important."

This reminds me of a woman I met at Penny Brohn two years ago called Angela Chamberlain, who was the one of the youngest women in Cardiff to be diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 21. When I met her she was 32. She was one of the most inspirational people I have met. She had a cheeky smile and a great sense of humour. We met on a Living Well course at Penny Brohn Cancer Care in 2012. I still have such fond memories of that course. Angela just made me laugh so much at a time when I was finding it difficult to laugh. I am still amazed how we laughed so much when we were at a cancer care centre. I was saddened to hear that less than a year after we met she sadly passed away.

So I urge you to watch Kris Hallenga's programme to see just what strain and difficulties these women have been through at such a young age and how brave and inspirational. This film shows just how difficult this journey is for them and all around them.

Wisley

The flagship garden of the RHS, Wisley captures the imagination with richly planted borders, luscious rose gardens and the state-of-the-art Glasshouse.
Gifted to the Society in 1903, Wisley has evolved over time into a world-class garden.

I decided on Monday to make a visit. I am a member of the RHS so it was a free entry. Spring is only just starting there - lots of daffodils and a sculptural exhibition. A lovely cup of green tea and a sandwich for lunch. Then bumping into Sue, one of my healers from Burrows Lea what a treat!

Here's some photos of my trip.......

Reminds me of the Wordsworth poem "The Daffodil"

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.