IF ONLY IT COULD ALWAYS BE LIKE THIS

Usually everything "fun" in my life is organised to coincide with something else, and more often than not that " something else" is medically related. Part of that reason is that most of the things I classify as fun are in the city, a 4 1/2 hour drive away. While it's understandable, it's also a bit unfair because it means you're constantly waiting for the next incident or appointment, to squeeze in the latest musical, a get together with friends or a football match.

This week we turned things around a bit. For a while now my daughter and I had been talking about flying to Melbourne on the east coast of Australia, to watch our favourite football team in action. So, this year we finally did it. We finally planned something because WE wanted to, in a time frame WE wanted. Ironically of course there had to be a medical appointment in the days leading up to our trip. But, this was actually organised around our trip for a change. It might seem that I'm excited about nothing to some people, but when you have Cowden's syndrome so much control is taken from you, that any control you can have on your life becomes quite empowering.

Anyway the medical appointment was to

Passing time waiting for the doctor

check up on Ashton's thyroid, because she has a multinodular goitre that has to be monitored. Cowden's syndrome also carries an elevated risk for thyroid cancer, so regular checks are important. I lost my thyroid back in 2007 and with it any dreams of being a singer. Luckily I had none!

I'll talk more about her thyroid in a future blog post. Let's just for the moment say it's big, it's ugly, it's fascinating. So much so, that as they were ultrasounding her thyroid, no less than four doctors stood there mesmerised. Ashton got a bit touchy about this. She's quite protective of her organs.

Anyway, enough about thyroids for a while. This post is about making time for fun and scheduling it in if you have to, so I want to tell you a bit about what we've been up to in Melbourne.

Today we visited DFO South Wharf (shopping outlets), the Emporium ( more shopping) and Melbourne Central ( you guessed it...more shopping). Melbourne has a brilliant food culture so of course we ate great food . This includes my first ever chicken dumplings and the best curry puffs I've tasted in years. I've also ticked two things off the bucket list - macarons from Zumbo's and afternoon tea at Brunetti. Let me just tell you that the Nutella macarons and Italian strawberry biscuits with chinotto ( an Italian soft drink) are to die for. We ended the day with a drink in the bar after which Ashton left to go out with a friend and I left to tuck myself into bed with my iPad.

Was yummy

Miss Ashton relaxing with a beverage

I don't ask for much! Nice food...good coffee...that's all!

I'm absolutely exhausted and my feet ache, but there's a happiness with it all that has come from not thinking of lumps, thyroids or brains for a while. We've simply enjoyed life AND there is still tomorrow to come.

If only it could always be like this!

Till next time...xxx