Rhododendrons Video

This is a movie of our beautiful rhododendrums.



It was lovely to feel the grass beneath my feet and the wind gently blowing the bag.

Jon; xx

My Turn

My turn! Thought I would like to join in the banter. On the subject of belly buttons, mine is an inny, less inny lately since I have lost some weight (one side effect of the recent turmoils that I am happy to live with!). I will be pleased that Jon has now got an inny, when the wound finally heals and flattens as his outy caused him so much nausea and embarrassment! It was a part of his anatomy that could never be mentioned, let along touched – even by accident.

Was delighted to read that the Staceys had been back to the Farringford on the Isle of Wight – would like to see the old place again myself, promise to be a better sport this time!

On the matter of the naming of the bag – loved all the suggestions – particularly fond of Winnie!

Jon is doing fine, it is going to be a long haul but he is achieving more each day and getting less tired. Great to have people popping in and to read your continuing support on the blog, - it still means an awful lot to him (and all of us!).


Love Marilyn

My Navel

As long as I can remember my navel has been an outie. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not something I was particularly proud of but it was mine. I never had to clean it which was a plus but on the down side I couldn’t abide it being touched. The merest contact made me feel sick which is a weakness my brothers soon discovered and exploited. Even my beloved children would take great delight in teasing me and giving it a sly poke. Imagine my horror then upon waking from surgery and seeing that the surgeon had cut straight through the middle of it and it was full of staples! There was no sign of my outie, just this huge metallic chasm.

My dread of the navel staples coming out far outweighed the nausea of imaging the actual moment of incision. A week later the dreaded removal moment arrived. The nurse started with the first staple at the top and worked down to the navel whereupon I bottled it and made her stop. A different nurse took over the next day and did a terrific job at lighting speed and they were out before I knew it. A close inspection followed and I now have an inny!!!!

There was no mention of that in my consent form which disclaimed every other potential pitfall known to mankind. I will be frank, I want my outie back. I miss it. I swear I saw a hint of fluff in it yesterday! What’s that all about!

They say all surgery carries risks but was this too higher price to pay?

A good day today and I even managed to do a bit of office work.

Love, Jon; xx

PS Thanks Webby, you are a star.

Flat Day

Another flat day today I'm afraid, so nothing to report as I have spent most of the day in bed. It is just tiredness and I don't feel ill. I was warned that I would have good days and bad days and I am happy to take them in my stride. Tomorrow will be a good day as Oli is coming home tonight and will go back in the morning. Jen is on holiday in Wales with Matt for a week and she is having a wonderful time staying in a remote coastal farmhouse.

Here are some stats from the blog. Click on image to enlarge.



Much love to you all,

Jon; xxx

Idle Jottings

My batteries ran low yesterday and I spent most of the day in bed snoozing. Marilyn’s niece Karen and her fiancé Simon called in before lunch and it was lovely to see them. They are getting married in New York in September and we are all looking forward to it immensely. Marilyn and I will then go on to see our very good friends Francis and Skip in Canada and will have a short holiday with them.

I have been back to the hospital today for routine blood tests and to have my drain wound dressed as it is not healing properly. It was lovely to see all the nurses again and they made a fuss of me.

I am slowly getting to grips with life with a bag and I am learning by trial and error. For example, changing it whilst swimming is not a popular move.

So it was Chris and Jane Stone who were number 2000 and not Joanna. That makes more sense. I know for a fact Jane has a naked photo of me on her fridge which she semi worships so it only seems fair that Chris should have his own picture of Marilyn. I don’t know what he did with the one I sold him last year!

I am trying to come up different ways for recycling the bags. So far I have come up with:
Green land mines
Caravans for dung beetles
Foot warmers
Extreme whoopee cushions

I am now well enough for visitors and would love to see you all if you are passing (Canada, Australia, Singapore and Japan are excused). Could you please ring Marilyn first as she is keen that visits are staggered.

Much love,
Jon xx

Statistics

13 days from first diagnosis, to removal of tumour by surgery and hence being cured.

17 days in hospital

42 staples

16 stitches

18 stomach injections (not pleasant)

45 blood samples

6,000 calories in 16 days

10 kg lost

2,000 blog visitor 2,000 was Joanna my secretary. I don’t know why she wanted to see Marilyn naked, probably fancied a change.

25 Technicolor yawns.

2 erections during bed baths. The first one was 3 days after the op and the pretty young nurse discretely left the room suggesting a mint tea which she brought in and left me alone to compose my self. She came back 5 mins later and said “Well, how did that go down?”

5 maximum pain score reached out of 10 during my whole stay (apart from chundering).

100 days to earliest next poo.

120 days to start of hockey season!

Home Sweet Home

Well here I am. What the **** happened there?!!

Suddenly I am home, 10kg (1 stone) lighter and pretty bewildered. I am still making good progress. I can get up for a couple of hours at a time before conking out for a 2 hour power nap. Fortunately I absolutely love power naps. I never recovered from having to abandon afternoon siestas upon our return from the Middle East 30 years ago.

I now need about 2 weeks bed rest whilst slowly increasing my eating and then hopefully another 4 weeks to get fit again and resume my life.

I see the Oncologist in 2 weeks where I get the complete low down on the cancer as to be truthful I am still not completely clear as to the situation. I am sure the consultant lingers outside your bedroom door waiting for signs of you just waking up, then bursts in and delivers his chat, exiting before you can think of a coherent question.

From what I understand, he said that consultants differ 50/50 in their opinion as to the outcome for the stage my tumour was at. Half will say I am fully cured and the other half think there is an outside chance a few rogue cells may remain and chemo will zap these. I will wait for the oncologist meeting to get a full understanding. As a result, for some really weird reason we have not broken out the champagne and can’t seem to get our heads around the fact I am cured. I think it is because it has been such a huge emotional whirlwind for the four of us and we hadn’t fully got to grips with the fact I had cancer let alone being cured of it.

In any event future action it is now back in my control and there is no rush. I think I will get better first, get the bag reversed in about 3-4 months and then give it some serious thought around Christmas.

Many thanks for all your wonderful cards and presents. Several of you sent me heavy machinery which I thought was a bit insensitive as you know I mustn’t operate this for 6 weeks.

Much love to you all,

Jon xxx

I'm Home !!!!!!!!

My dear, dear family and friends.
Just a quick post to let you all know I am home safe and sound in care of my family.
I have made remarkable progress in the last couple of days. The Sister said yesterday how totally amazed they all were at my positive attitude and my will to get better. I explained to her about my blog and the fantastic support network of our e community and how it was so easy to be positive with all the love and prayers coming my way. Thank you all so very very much. I am forever in your debt.
much love to you all and keep watching for further updates.
All my love,
Jon xxxxxx

Marilyn. A woman of her word.

Wonderful news!

Dear, dear friends and family - we have just heard and wanted to let you know the prognosis for Jon is good - a theoretical cure - debatable whether he will need a mop up dose of chemo in a few months' time but he doesn't have to worry about that now and can take professional advice from everyone involved when he is over his op. He will be home before weekend if everything goes to plan.

Thanks you so, so much for all your support - I will blog again tonight.

Much love

Coming home soon

Good evening everyone..

Nothing but positives tonight. Food is going through nicely - Jon just has to replace the liquids in his body at the same rate now he is off all drips again. They have put him on a special hydrating liquid. It has lots of salt in it and he says it's very yukky to drink... Mobility great, even took a stroll round the outdoor courtyard wtih Jen and I this evening, and walked up a flight of stairs. The Consultant had his meeting with the other specialists dealing with his case today and will be able to update us with the prognosis now. Hope to post results on the blog tomorrow.

We are aiming at him coming home on Thursday now if his progress continues at the same rate, so fingers crossed.

Love Oli Jen and Marilyn

Clarification from the Naked Lady

Have just got back from hospital and Jon is very upbeat. Jen and I caught him casually strolling down the corridor with his drips attached and that is the first time he looked like his old self. He then ate a jacket potato with cheese - they are pleased with his progress and have decided to try food again. He had a scan earlier that showed everything was normal in his abdomen. We had a laugh together and he clutched his tum as it hurts to laugh, so we will have to remember that!

Now about last night's blog... I would just like to point out that the naked photo is all Oli's idea and I wasn't consulted! You just may be lucky though... Not saying at this stage but keep those blogs going! I laughed out loud at your 'purvey posts' Phil, and so did Jon (clutching his tum in pain!). And Webby, it will definitely be Munroe, but on a bad day!

So, here's to our boy's continuing recovery and the speedy return of the Beales to the social scene!

Love
Marilyn

Oli Here...

Dad was very chirpy when I saw him today. In fact he was standing up doing his marching excercises when I walked in the room. He's graduated out of his gown, into a matching blue t-shirt / boxer short combo.

He's being fed by a drip again. It's a white substance that looks suspiciously like shampoo and he appears to be being pumped full of it. It's giving him a well earned break from his eating-vomiting cycle thats been getting him down.

The operation required a large incision running centrally down his body from just below the nipples to just above his 'special place'. It had been held together with lots of metal staples. They all came out today, having done a wonderful job of keeping his insides... inside, despite a lot of wretching and heaving. I imagine that was very painful, but he was laughing and joking about the different nurses' removal techniques.

I think it's another day off the food tomorrow. After that he'll try eating again by which time hopefully his digestive system will have ceased its hunger strike. It can't hold out much longer.

Keep posting. Mum has promised to post a photo of herself naked when we reach 2000.

Another step back I'm afraid...

Well poor Jon's intestines are still on strike and they have had to put him back on 3 drips, one food, on sodium solution and one pain killer, as he became very dehydrated. Combine this with feeling sick all the time and I'm sure you can understand how ill he is feeling. This means he wont be making a trip home tomorrow or coming out on Monday. Such a disappointment but appaently this often happens and everything else, mobility and healing, are coming along fine.

Oli is coming back tomorrow and I guess it's the Eurovision Song Contest for me tonight!

Love to you all

Marilyn XX

Busy day for Jon

Well Jon has had a busy day today. He had his final tube taken out, took a shower, walked quite a way, walked up some stairs, ate all his meals and received the thumbs up from the consultant. Unfortunately in the usual two steps forward one step back route, he was unwell all afternoon and very sick again this evening - the intestine is still not fully playing ball. Apparently, this is a common thing and we hope this wont put back his 'release date' back but he has to get through this hurdle before he can go home. Hopefully he will sort it all out over the weekend.

Oli and Jen have gone back to London for 2 nights so I am 'home alone' but I'm fine.. It's actually quite nice to have some space to myself for a short time (and to get back control of the TV remote!)

Another great collection of messages today - thanks so much - even when he is flat he still loves me reading them to him every morning! Not long before he will be thanking you himself.

Enjoy your weekends

Love Marilyn XX

News from Jen

Oli and I had a lovely visit with dad today, he was feeling very positive and has now been detatched from most of his fixtures and fittings. Hopefully he will be allowed home for a couple of hours on Sunday and will be coming home for good early next week. He still needs to build up his strength and become more mobile but this should be easier now he's lost his drains and drips.

Dad was telling Oli and I earlier that he is now no longer thinking of himself as sick but as recovering.

We can't WAIT to have him home and are all so proud of him!
It won't be long now til he's blogging again himself...watch this space.

Another Good Day

We were warned of the up and down nature of recovery and, sure enough, Jon has been in better spirits today. Went for a long walk down the ward corridor with his drips (Jack Nicholson style for those film buffs out there!) in his gown and sat in the chair twice. Tonight he is trying food again and hoping the stomach doesn't reject it with projection again. They are also taking his drain out.

A short comment about Andy Yeo's jokes... Jon was able to finish the punch line on each one, but he says the oldies are the best and loves the fact that you are trying to cheer him up!

It also took this blog for us to realise the we have two sets of Jane and Chrises and two sets of Phil and Sandies as friends.. Don't worrry we can always tell which one it is when we read the comments.

Also, apologies to anyone who waded through Jon's brothers' NAGA report! For those of you who don't know, this is a golfing challenge that the Beale brothers enjoy everytime they meet up and Jon was supposed to be attending this one but had to cancel for obvious reasons.

Much love to you all out there

Marilyn

Oli here...

I've been charged with the task of raising the spirits on the blog. It's hard though as I just got back from seeing Dad and he's really not very well. He's tired and emotional and it's nothing to do with Jordan and Peter Andre's break up.

It's all completely normal and we knew before that this first week was going to be very unpleasant. I guess you can't take bits of the human body out and hope to get away with it.

He loves hearing about the blog. We've noticed you've actually started talking to each other on here now too. That means it's now officially an "E-Forum". A community of people bound together out of respect for one man's bottom.

What a difference a day makes!

I was so pleased to see Jon smiling at me when I entered his room this morning. He had slept quite well, the pain has subsided and it only hurts when he moves now. He has indigestion which they are medicating. They got him up for a walk around the room and sat him in a chair twice today and are pleased with his progress. He is now being fed through a tube into his neck because they don't want to risk him being sick again. I decided to massage his calves and when the nurse saw me she told me off, incase I move a clot! Don't worry, I dobbed him in and said he'd made me do it!

Jen commuted to work for the first time today and dealt with the many emails and cancelled appointments that had accumulated in her absence and Oli is back into the swing of it at work too. I don't know what I would have done without them.....

I can't tell you how much he enjoys me reading your messages to him each morning, We have wonderful family and friends.

Love Marilyn

Marilyn here...

Just a quick bulletin tonight... Jon still poorly. They took him off the epidural and he has been very sick which, I am sure you can imagine, is agaony with such a big wound. This is a normal reaction and they say he is still doing fine medically. He has been moved out of high dependency and back into his room. He's exhausted and fed up and we are all hoping for improvement tomorrow - day 5.

Jen will be commuting to work from here from tomorrow and Oli will be back in the week and do the same. I will still be passing your messages so thanks v much for those. Can't think of anything witty to say tonight so will sign off.

Love to you all....

Day Three

We were warned that day 3 would be difficult for Jon and that proved to be the case. Today he has been flat and emotional and in quite a bit of pain. However, he is philisophical and knows that this is par for the course. Tomorrow he will have the epidural detatched, hopefully without too much pain, but they've got it covered if there is.

Last night Oli went back to London for the weekend, I went out for dinner with Lynn and Gill as it was dear Jane's birthday and we always raise a glass and think of her. I was pleased to still be able to do this and enjoyed the break. Jen went round to her good friend Julia's house for dinner.

Once again, thank you so much for all your blog comments, letters, cards, calls, emails and texts. They are uplifting and help us to cope.

Until tomorrow - Marilyn XX

Update from Jen...I finally get a turn!

I’ve just got back from visiting dad in hospital. His spirits are still high, although he is beginning to feel more uncomfortable as the epidural is wearing off. The nurses are all singing his praises and dad says that their calm and positive vibe is helping him to make good progress. His blood tests have shown that he is healing well and that he has a reduced level of protein markers (the body produces these markers to fight off cancer cells). A reduced level of these markers means a reduced level of cancer so this is very encouraging!

Just in case he’s not getting enough attention already, Dad is keen to share with you a top to toe list of all his fixtures and fittings!

1. Elastic stockings (toe to thigh)
2. Pneumatic leggings
3. Drain into abdomen plus bag
4. Main central wound (stapled)
5. Abdominal catheter into bladder
6. Stoma bag
7. Blood oxygen monitor attached to finger
8. Drip into forearm
9. Drip line stitched into jugular with 3 drips attached.
10. Oxygen tube into nose
11. Epidural into spine
12. Heart monitor (3 wired nodes)

As you can imagine all these wires and tubes are stopping him from sleeping much at the moment. Hopefully they will start to come out one by one from Sunday onwards and then dad can get some well deserved rest.

He is still enjoying hearing your messages every day so do keep them coming!

Visiting

Marilyn here.... From the photo and comments it is easy to forget that Jon has been through a huge ordeal and is still very unwell.

He will be in the high dependency unit for at least another 2-3 days where only family can visit. When he is back in his normal room at the hospital, I will let you know when he is up to visitors by an update on the blog.

Oli, Jen and I have been so pleased to receive your support for us as well. We are coping and definitely benefited from a good night's sleep last night! I am off to the hospital this evening and we will continue to post the blog. Please note Jon doesn't have his mobile at the hospital as there is no reception.

XXX

Dictated to Oli from Jon

My dear friends. Thank you for all your wonderful wishes and prayers. It makes a big difference to me but you're still not getting a mention in my will.

The medical team here are absolutely fantastic and I'm deeply touched by their professionalism and care.

As well as a general anesthetic I also had an epidural and this has blocked out all the pain.

A couple of mentions from your messages:

Good to hear from Phyllis.

I particularly liked my old school friend Jay's comment "Don't worry, only the good die young."

My spirits are high and I'm making slow but good progress. I stood for the first time today. Unfortunately Oli chose that exact moment to walk through the door. (Oli here, I should explain I witnessed his naked behind through his backless gown with white stockings pulled up to his groin. It was like a horror remake of the Mrs Robinson stocking scene in 'The Graduate'.)

Much love to you all.

Jon;

x

I think this says it all really.

Good News!

The consultant called me and said everything went well with no unexpected finds. He had to fit a bag but hopes this can be reversed when the bowel has healed. No blood transfusion needed and Jon is now going up to a high dependency room with a nurse in attendance 24 hours a day for 3 days. We are off to see him now very briefly but I wanted to let all you loyal supporters know the good news. I will post again after we have seen him tomorrow morning. What a relief... hopefully the three of us (and Jon!) will get a good night's sleep!

Hello, Oli here.

Mum, Jen and I have just returned home after sending Dad off to theatre amidst a sea of smiling nurses. He spent last night in hospital getting ready, although I'm sure he asked to be admited early because he's allowed to watch the football there.

He's being a brave boy. All morning different medical professionals have been popping in and out and describing increasingly undignified procedures that will be taking place over the next few days. He still manages to find something funny to say to each them.

I wore my Poobah (special Beale hat, as seen in the blog photo) as a symbol of solidarity. One nurse apologised as she came in, thinking she had interupted some sort of religious ceremony.

All of a sudden it was time for him to head down. This was a moment that I had been dreading and although it was very hard and upsetting, we left feeling totally positive and confident. Jen and I left Mum to see him down to the theatre, that must have been hard for her but she's being strong and brave as she has been all along.

We get a call to find out how it went this afternoon. There are different combinations of factors that make up different variations of good news. I know time is going to drag till then, but I also know it'll all be fine.

Mum will post later.

Hello everyone, Marilyn here.

Sorry this is so late but the consultant didn’t turn up until 3 o’clock. The news is good and the surgery will go ahead tomorrow afternoon. Scans were clear but cannot give 100% thumbs up until they have had a good look around and analysed the parts they remove. That will be 2 weeks’ time but the surgeon will ring me tomorrow after the op and let me know more. We have left him there optimistic and getting on with the laxative pre-op procedure. He has been so touched by all your support and has loved the blog, so keep them coming and we will relay your messages to him. Oli and Jen are still with me and very comforting and supportive, so don’t worry about me – I will ring you when I need to.

A small bit of news

The surgeon's secretary has just rung and they want to admit me earlier at 12 today.
Still no other news apart from the consultants meeting is lunchtime and he wants to come and see me straight afterwards. We are still hopeful for surgery tomorrow but without current news on the spread we are naturally a little anxious as to what he might say.
Vibes received with enormous thanks.
Love to you all,
Jon x

Leo

Thanks Leo. I love you too Capalino.
Jon x

Monday 4 May

A family day today.

Mark phoned first thing and was congratulated for rhyming cyber with Khyber. I also liked his suggestion that I add a semi colon after my name. I will try it. Jon; ...perfect!

Jen is back and the 4 of us went out for a lovely lunch. We were wonderfully surprised by a bottle of Moet organised by Malcolm and Trish. Very enjoyable which we followed with a nice red. An afternoon of snoozing followed!

Oli and I had a huge giggle taking the poo photo. It is great to share a sense of humour. He truly is a lovely son.

This evening we are slopping around all crammed onto one settee. We are just being a family which is perfect as we miss this now that they have their own lives. Marilyn is being fabulous and strong and we all love her to bits.

Thanks again for your good wishes, especially all of you from the colonies.

Jon x

Last Poo?

Sunday 3 May

Another good day.

Our very good friends John and Rita came round for coffee this morning and it was lovely to see them. Quick phone calls to my brothers in Oz but could only get Bob. I always enjoy talking to him and we had a good laugh. Is there no respect for my condition!

Marilyn, Oli and I then went for a lunch time walk in the lovely spring sunshine and got as far as the pub. It would have been rude not to pop in so we had a leisurely drink and then home for lunch.

Marilyn's friend Elaine popped round with a beautiful cake she had made and stayed for a coffee.

We spent the afternoon reading all your wonderful messages. Lovely to hear from my Epping gang. We have all been such good friends since we were 15. Also good to hear from Jessie my favourite niece(don't tell the others).

I had to have a nap this afternoon as I had pain for the first time. I think it is probably the stress of waiting for the prognosis.

Fully recovered and out this evening to the pub with my very good hockey and now golf pals Malcolm, Chris and Peter. Lots of mickey taking and abuse but also real affection and concern. Marilyn and Oli went to the cinema. Jen is coming back home tomorrow to stay and I can't wait to see her.

I am beginning to get a bit nervous now as Tuesdays case meeting approaches.
How ghastly must it be for people like me without the support and love of family and friends. I am very lucky.

Jon x

Saturday 2 May

A good day today.

Our good friends Lynn and Gill called around this morning for coffee. I left the girls to it and went into the office to do my invoices and leave copious notes to my excellent team John, Paull, Steve, Joanna and Linda. I am so lucky to be able to leave the practice in such safe capable hands.

Back home at around 3pm and made further phone calls to good friends breaking the news. Talking about it is fantastically therapeutic and this blog is a great help. The site has had 100 hits today from friends and family! Very heart warming to all of us. Thank you so much.

Some beautiful flowers arrive from Ruth, Claire, Caroline, Robyn and Kelly who are Oli's friends. Such sweet girls who I know were just using him to get to me.

We had a quite night in tonight. Just me, Oli and Marilyn all having a cuddle on the sofa watching a crappy movie. Jen had to go back to London today to get clothes and see her man. She is coming back on Monday. She is gorgeous and has just text me a goodnight kiss.

Phoned our good friends Tim and Frances in Canada to have a chat. Francis is tremendously uplifting and as usual we talked complete nonsense in fits of laughter.

Jon x

Farting

The prospect of perhaps never farting again, post operation, is dawning on me.
I'll be frank, I bloody enjoy farting.
I think it's a bloke thing.

Marilyn will be thrilled. Picture the scene...every day for the last 37 years I have started each day with a fart during mid pee followed by "good morning botty". It drives her crazy.

She is a grand master and has the wonderful ability of "breaking wind" with a complete lack of embarrassment and odour. Perhaps that's the secret. Her range is fantastic and I particularly like the motorbike starting on a cold winters morning and disappearing down a narrow lane backfiring all the way. Don't let on I've told you though.

We all have our own styles. Oli is messy. Sounds a bit like the rapid slapping of a wet halibut. Jennifer is very neat. Brother Leo always follows his with " a bit more choke and that would have started"

My mother never farted in her life and Dad took this as a licence to fart twice each time at slightly different pitches.

So it is looming that my farting days could be over. No more bubbles in the bath, fanning sheets, fearing the follow through or "morning botties". I will miss them terribly but I guess I'm on my own there. Marilyn is reaching for the champagne..

I'll just pray the surgeon doesn't have to take too much out. Wish me luck

Jon x

Thanks for your messages

Thanks for all your wonderful comments. There clearly is a lot of pressure on you all to be witty but it is not necessary. Keep them coming, however but we are equally happy just to have a "hello, how are you, thinking of you"

Just off to buy a hat to go with the bag.

Jon x

Friday 1 May

I spent the afternoon today at the hospital having all my admission checks done. Blood, urine, ECG, chest x ray etc, etc. They concluded I was fit and well in all other departments and I must admit I have never felt better. I had to smile at the rigorous MRSA tests....bloody cheek...we all know the best place to catch it is in hospital. Probably wanted to make sure I had it before they would admit me. A sign of the times was that I was also tested for swine flu. I had to find a truffle hidden in her handbag.
.
To be serious, the hospital has been absolutely fabulous and I am very, very impressed.

I was taken up to see my high dependency room where I will be for 3 days in the permanent company of 24 hr nursing. I hope they don’t take advantage of me as I am bound to look dammed attractive lying there with my Gucci tubes.

The anaesthetic I was given for my colonoscopy was an amnesiac drug. The admission nurse asked me how I coped with it and I replied it must be just like date rape. The poor women collapsed in laughter and kept giggling for the rest of the examination.

Everyone has enormous praise for my surgeon and I know I will be in excellent hands. He is in Ireland playing golf this bank holiday weekend so no more news on tests. I still will not know if it is operable on Wednesday until after the group meeting on Tuesday morning.
I never thought I would ever keenly await surgery.

We are all deeply touched by your kind messages and gain enormous strength from them.
Thank you my dear friends.

I am especially pleased to hear from all you Aussies as you really understand what it is like down under.

Jon x

Small Prize

I can see a theme developing here and it's giving me the shits!
I am however pleased to see that you have all learned from the master.
A small prize for the best pun which will of course be delivered in its own personalised bag.
Jon x