Providing free online community support to people affected by breast cancer

Recent Entries

• The joy of generous friends

  by JoBattersby1961 November 2, 2013
  Just before my diagnosis with breast cancer some dear friends whom I have known for 30 years gave us their caravan. They planned to move to Queensland and were getting rid of things they didn't need. They had bought the caravan about 9 years beforehand, intending to renovate it, but had never finish...

• The joy of proficiency

  by JoBattersby1961 November 2, 2013
  I remember when I was learning the piano as a child. I knew I should practise every day. Whilst I wasn’t quite that diligent I did practise regularly and could play the piano reasonably well back then. I would never have made a concert pianist but I put that down to the fact that in all areas of my ...

• The joy of first times

  by JoBattersby1961 November 2, 2013
  One of the things I struggle to get across to my 13 year old daughter is that having to wait for some experiences is a good thing. I’m sure I felt like her when I was younger but I think it’s even harder for kids now. Everything around them encourages them to grow up faster and with that comes the ...

• The joy of back to normal

  by JoBattersby1961 November 2, 2013
  For about the past year, as a result of the rebuilding of a bridge, traffic that normally travelled along another major road has been diverted to the main road from which we enter our street. Getting out of our street in the morning and entering it on the way home from work in the evening ...

• The joy of getting over yourself

  by JoBattersby1961 November 2, 2013
  Yesterday I had a challenging day at work. I won't go into the detail but a series of events had left me feeling frustrated, foolish and inadequate. The temptation was to wallow in it, feel sorry for myself, give up, or any number of other unhelpful responses that wouldn't have changed the situation...

• The joy of celebration

  by JoBattersby1961 November 2, 2013
  Last Saturday my husband and I went away for the night to celebrate the sixth anniversary of our first date. We drove to Victor Harbor, a seaside town about an hours drive from Adelaide. The day was perfect - sunny and warm, signifying the coming of Spring. We stayed in a gorgeous self contained sui...

• The joy of discovering family

  by JoBattersby1961 November 2, 2013
  A few months ago a social work student commenced a placement in our division at work. As she was being taken around the office to meet everyone, she kept being asked if she was any relation to me because we had the same surname. She said she didn't know. When she eventually came past my office we sh...

• The joy of anticipation

  by JoBattersby1961 November 2, 2013
  There are so many ways I could start this - not least of which is a reference to the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which has always been a favourite film - but the truth is I love celebrating special occasions and I look forward to them in anticipation of the enjoyment of them. Christmas is a favourite...

• The joy of a winter day

  by JoBattersby1961 November 2, 2013
  I have to start this post by making it quite clear that I am not a winter person. If it was 30 - 35 degrees Celsius all year round I'd think it was bliss. So this moment of joy is extra special! Yesterday my husband and I went down to have lunch with our friends in the near countryside about an hou...

• The joy of innocent laughter

  by JoBattersby1961 November 2, 2013
  Yesterday I went to my favourite supermarket to do the weekly shopping, as I do most Saturdays. I had forgotten to take my shopping list, from its place under a magnet on the side of the fridge. I was looking forward to the challenge of remembering everything we needed for the week, deciding to mak...