A Sunday Gathering in Fig Tree Pocket

On Sunday, local Asopians and their spouses  we were invited to lunch at Henry and Janelle's home in Fig Tree Pocket, a leafy suburb of Brisbane. 

Lots to talk about when we get together

Unfortunately, we didn't get a shot of everyone who attended. Here is (L to R) Colin, Josephine, Joseph, Ros, Denis and Bob sitting under the umbrella as it was extremely hot on Sunday.

Henry and Janelle have a lovely garden

Henry and Janelle have a tropical garden. They have both been sick too. Henry has been treated for cancer and Janelle has just had an operation. We couldn't believe they didn't cancel the lunch. Luckily their daughter together with friends Lucy and Geoff got everything organised in the kitchen.

Ros and Diane cool off at the pool

It was lovely to cool off near the pool, we should have taken our togs. I am sitting with Ros who has also been very ill with throat cancer and the aggressive treatment since we last got together. 

It is so sad to hear of our friends getting ill. Since our first reunion of ASOPA students back in 2002, we have lost  friends and many have been ill. The joys of growing old. 

However, we did enjoy relaxing by the pool with friends and partaking of a delicious seafood lunch and a glass or two of wine.

News from Dave (Dubbo) Kesby

Dear Friends, 

Since my last email sent to you on New Year’s Day  things have moved along.

You might remember we were hoping that I had the wild gene..well I had it and so I can receive this drug called “Erbitux” which keeps me alive.

Well I have been to the clinic 6 times and I have received the drug 4 times.

The 2 times I missed out are of interest..the 1^st time I went I had such a bad reaction to the drug that I collapsed on to the floor and they had to revive me and give up for that week.

They had to work out what pre med to give me so that I could tolerate the drug. On about the 3^rd time I went they decided not to give it to me as I looked so bad..One of the side effects of the drug is that  I get really bad acne and I looked that bad with the acne that bad another dose would have really put me over the edge. Since then I have really attacked the acne so now all I look like is an old bugger who has drunk too much whiskey.

My son Pete who follows English Soccer reckons I look like Sir Alex Fergusen, the coach of Manchester United.

I am really looking after the face at the moment as I have a couple of Social functions coming up where I have to see other people..So I am doing the face twice a day every day..when it was at its worst I thought about buying a face mask.

The only other news is that the drug makes me tired but Elissa keeps me organised and going to different things..we have joined the the seniors upper north shore table tennis group..we have just had 3 days down at a beach south of Burrell lakes on the South Coast  which was fantastic..the salt water did wonders for my face..we participated in the Sydney festival seeing The Jersey Boys and enjoying a night listening to Paul Kelly ( for overseas readers of this blog..he is one of Australia’s greatest song writers ) She has organised me into 2 day long workshops on the ukulele which I enjoyed .I can now play “You are my Sunshine” and I am working on “ I saw the light” ,a great Hank Williams song of 1948..I think she is planning on us seeing Don’s Party at the Opera House. She is not here at the moment she is out at Cherrybrook earning a dollar..she goes once a week. But as I have said in all of my previous emails..she is my hero..whenever it gets too much she just thinks of alternatives.

I am still a non drinker..I haven’t had a beer since October..I still feel like a drinker though..love to go to Dan Murphy’s and look at the specials look at other people drinking and wish that I was with them. There is another person at the clinic I go to ( the clinic has 16 chairs it’s an amalgamation of 2 clinics and is very crowded) who is on the same drug as me..he has 2 beers every night I had to ask him why..the answer was that his bowel cancer metastasised to his lungs and mine went to the liver and my liver rejects alcohol ( I know that this is in the too much information department but there it is).

Anyway people thanks for reading my email..I hope it will be the last for a while..that means I will be going to the clinic once a week Elissa picking me up, the premed drugs they only give to you if you have someone picking you up..they send you off to cloud cuckoo land..and everything is good..no more news thanks again for your wishes and thoughts..we have had good Catholics.. good Protestants..good Jews..and good Buddhists all wishing Elissa and I good news..it must have done some good because we are still here  so once again thanks for reading my story. I hope I have included everybody....all the best

Dave & Elissa   

Richard's 83rd Academy Awards

Richard Jones' peek at the 83rd Oscars

To read the story - CLICK HERE

Film Night in Brisbane

For the Brisbane Chapter, from Henry Bodman:

ROTARY CLUB OF TOOWONG
PREMIER FILM NIGHT

Wednesday, 23rd February 2011 
at the

Regal Twin Cinemas

Honour Avenue - Graceville

6.00pm - Champers and nibbles night

7.00pm - Screening of "Conviction"

Cinema management relaxed about drinks and food

in the cinema

All profits to the Rotary International Polio Plus programme

$20 per head

Please contact Henry for tickets
Email - hmacdb@ozemail.com.au
Phone (07) 3378 8383

Richard Jones Top Five Live Shows

Richard Jones' Top Five Live Shows - CLICK HERE

Richard's 10 Best Movies

Richard Jones sent us his review his 10 best movies in 2010.

To read it -  CLICK HERE

News from Dave (Dubbo) Kesby

Happy New Year to all our readers

As I told you in my last email we were Joined by son Pete and his lovely wife Beau for Christmas and we also had Jack &  Miah and their beautiful  kids for Christmas Eve..we went to Canberra where Elissa & I were able to still do the long walk involving a climb up the Pinnacle and look at the Kangaroos...We can usually do the walk in about an hour this time it took about 2 hours but we were relieved that we can still do it ,the hospitality and welcome we got from my sister and family was something else ..It was over the top..we had great time..most people there who had seen me before said that there was a big improvement.

Well the story took a bit of a turn  2 days ago
Many of you know that there is a drug that can control the cancer if you have a wild gene . If you have a mutant gene there is nothing that can be done for you.
1 in 3 have the wild gene..well 2 days ago the oncologist rang and said that  I have the wild gene and come in and see him so today ,New Year’s Eve, Elissa &  I visited him.

Well the news is good and bad ,mostly good.
For the rest of my life I will be taking a drug called “Erbitux” stop taking it and I die. I will take it once a week intravenously .At the start it will take 1.5 hours but after awhile it will be less.

The side effects of the drug will be acne either on the face or body..I will also be tired listless and lazy..I thought to myself “what’s new”.
At the clinic where the Doctor works there is 1 patient who has had over 100  doses of this drug...that’s 2 years..that’s 2years he wasn’t counting on....There is only 1 worry he’s their first.

The Doc wasn’t able to cite other examples..didn’t worry me .I said where do I sign. He said the drug acted like a sniper it tries to shoot the cancer gene whereas Chemo knocks out all the genes
Like a shotgun.

Asked about other things..I can eat what I like..if I put on any weight that would be a bonus...I told him The taste of alcohol was not good
He said my alcohol drinking days were over..the liver is no good and it can’t control the toxins so when the beer hits the throat the liver says “get to the shitter out of here” or something like that. Elissa & I had lunch with son Jack at Australia Square  yesterday and I looked at all the young girls drinking beer in long glasses and I thought to myself....

Why am I not there and then realised I couldn’t stand the taste anyway .

Well thanks for reading my story..As always Elissa is fantastic so all is good...keep you in the loop.

Dave from Dubbo