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arpie's avatar
arpie
Member
8 years ago

Doing what you LOVE to do - before, during & after BC! What's YOUR favourite?

Hi guys

I am really lucky in that I have 2 BIG passions that consume a lot of my time ..... and (no surprise to some of you ....)

Ukulele Playing - this was a library gig we did last year .... (I am 4th from left, front row.)  Our ages range from the 50s - 80s.  Every 4-6 weeks we play 'gigs' at 4 Nursing Homes - and we practise weekly at another nursing home ... so I guess you can call us 'volunteers'??  Some of our members are older than the people we are playing for!  LOL

and
Kayak Fishing - I love nothing more than hitting the lake with a bunch of buddies.


Yesterday, I was getting cabin fever from lack of fishing (wet & windy here for the last week), so I grabbed a warm jacket
& walked the edge of the Boat Ramp .... I was busted off on the first fish :(  (a good sized Flattie from the power of it's head shakes!) then dropped the next few that spat the hook .... then finally landed another nice one, that came home for dinner!!


So WHAT IS IT that puts that 'gleam in YOUR eye' - is it Golf (I play it badly), Playing Bridge (never tried it - I think you have to be 'serious' to play Bridge), Singing (that goes hand in hand with Uke Playing), Community Groups/Volunteering, Tapestry, Running (I couldn't run round the block to save my life!), ..... that gets you out of bed quicker in the morning if you know you are going to 'do it' ........ 

How has your surgery/treatment impacted on you doing 'YOUR TIME" stuff?  Have you had to stop doing it or can't do it as often due to your treatment?  Do you find you find you are still expected to do EVERYTHING ELSE at the expense of 'Your Time'?

Prior to my surgery, my uke group were amongst my greatest allies - I had to tell them straight away as we were gearing up for a big performance at the Blue Mountains Uke Festival - and I didn't know if I would be there for them!!   After my surgery, I was back playing again 2 weeks later - but was very mindful of where my uke sat - as it was right across the affected boob!!   The Blue Mountains gig was 3 weeks after my surgery - and luckily, I made it!!  4 of my Uke group have had BC & were able to offer info & support.

My Fishing Buddies were also an immense support to me as well (as indeed they were when Hubby was going thru his cancer in 2010)  - I've caught up with a fair few of them since I was diagnosed & it has just been terrific.  A bunch of my kayak fishing ladies had also had BC and were a wonderful source of info & advice!

Part of my philosophy to recovery is to try & keep 'busy' with 'stuff' so that your mind is kept active & is a 'happy thing' compared to what we are going thru daily just now  (Hmmmm - tho I REALLY should be decluttering our home - but that doesn't excite me as much!  LOL)  

SO, let's get a list going of all your favourite pastimes ..... then, if anyone on the forum is living near you or passing thru - you may be able to share your passion with them to help them 'while away' the time!!

184 Replies

  • WOW!!  Awesome, Kate!!   I used to love cooking - but these days, hubby likes 'stock standard Meat & 3 Veg' and gets a bit crabby if I try anything else!  :(  I DO slip in some nice Lambs Fry & Bacon now & then tho!  (A winter favourite!)  

    I look at all these yummy Indian recipes ..... and then go & buy another bottle of Butter Chicken Sauce!  :(   Tho I DO serve it with a yummy rice mix with cardamon, cloves & onions in it ..... and of course papadams, bananas & coconut & cucumbers in yoghurt on the side ..... hmmmm might do that for dinner tomorrow night!  :) 

    Choir is terrific - I did a Singing Lesson with 20+ choir people just the other week & with no accompaniment, we made BEAUTIFUL music!!    I quite surprised myself, as I don't have what you can call a 'good voice'!  But you don't need one!  It is the blending of ALL the voices that 'makes' the lovely sound!  ;)  

    I did  a B/W Photo Processing & printing course many years ago & used to do all the arty farty stuff - these days, I take more pics of my fish than anything else! I rarely get any printed!  They are just my 'record of catch'!  LOL

    I am in awe of you - you have SO MUCH on your plate (as well as the BC) so just make haste slowly - it will all fall into place nicely, I am sure, given time!    ;)    xxx
  • I lost quite a lot of myself over the five years before my diagnosis. The chain of events in my family whittled me away, with a couple of exceptions. I wasn't really aware of it until I was discussing 'stuff' with my psychologist. So part of my recovery plan is to repopulate my life with 'me'.

    The two exceptions were baking, which I truly enjoy doing. You have to be present and mindful, which I find relaxing, and everyone appreciates it! And India, specifically planning, organising and escorting small groups of people there, showing them a country I love. It's tremendously hard work but so so satisfying when you watch the love bloom in their eyes, or when you seamlessly solve a big problem on the fly. Hoping to get back to that next year.

    I've got a list of things I want to do, or at least try. They include yoga, joining a choir, voluteering, learning to speak Hindi, and maybe doing something with photography. Just for myself that is, improve my skills so I can take better photos.

    Also have to get a job and continue caring for the family... Not sure how I'm going to fit it all in, not all at once that's for sure!
  • @"Kiwi Angel"  - bloody chemo & medication can play havoc with your 'senses' - hubby reckoned everything tasted like metal whilst he was on chemo.    

    I hope you feel up to doing a bit of yoga now & then, even just stretching, and hopefully everything else will slot into place in a timely fashion.   Nothing nicer than a walk on the beach on a lovely morning or afternoon ...... 

    What do they say sometimes?   Fake it til you Make it?   I do that sometimes when I can't sleep - I pretend I am asleep & sometimes I DO actually fall asleep!   LOL
  • @aprie for me it has to be exercise and food - 2 things I have had little interest or been unable to do in the last month to 6 weeks.  Running, yoga or even just a walk near the beach.  Food has always been a passion too - eating it, cooking it - beautiful restaurant meals - at the moment though everything tastes like crap!!