Hello folks
I must apologise for not updating my blog for so long. I find the computer and especially the internet an unconvincing space to spend time in, although I definitely see it's value when contacting people and looking for information. I'm thinking that, given my prognosis I want to limit the time I spend on the computer. At the moment most of my time is spent writing my life story which hopefully will be completed and available for my children as a legacy in coming years.

I complete my last round of chemo on the 7th April. This will give me a 3 week break before we head of on our 9 week holiday to the UK and Europe on May 1st. The initial chemo has stopped working and the main tumour in my liver has grown 2 mm. My blood markers have increased from 4 to 7. This is not cause for concern in the immediate term, but the therapy is following it's statistical timeframe, that is the therapy works for approx 10 months and I was on it for 9 months. Going overseas has its gambles. Not being on chemo could speed up tumour growth, although the oncologist is not convinced that anything drastic will happen in the next 3 months. This has alleviated some anxiety about our travel time and plans. I have to be careful about not catching any infections, have had my H1N1 and flu jab and staying as healthy as possible, eating, sleeping very well etc
Side effects are so debilitating but my determination and strength is carrying me through the worst. I had a painful bout of mouth and lip ulcers this time around, but they have moderated. Nausea, billiousness and flatulence continue to be the 3 main effects, but hey, I'm alive and excited about my family trip.

Talking about holidays I'm off to Perth to see my son for 3 days just before we head off overseas. He can't come with us given work commitments, so I thought a couple of days with him would be special.
The last 3 months has been busy and exciting planning where to go and what to do. We will spend just under a month with my Father and his family before heading off to Europe for 3.5 weeks. My sister has offered her car so we will drive around Europe. Places to go to are Belgium (Brugges), southern Germany, Czech republic (Prague & Cesky Krumlov), Austria (Vienna), Switzerland, France finishing in Paris. Sounds ok eh? We are also taking my Dad and Aunty to Rome for 5 days and having 4 days in Hong Kong with Margaret's cousins. I'm keen to see Tintern Abbey and Ely cathedral as well as Lindisfarne (Holy Island)on the east coast of the UK. We have also have a connection in London who has offered us a house for 5 days so will do the tourist run around the English capital!
It's a "bucket list" experience in many ways and whatever time I have left before I die will be filled with satisfaction knowing I have taken my family back to my roots and have introduced my girls to the paternal side of the family, the Ollerton's. Marg and I have a couple of romantic days set aside too such as a trip to Stratford on Avon to see the Royal Shakespeare Company's Anthony & Cleopatra and a trip to the West End (London) and the Vienna State Opera.
Many blessings to you all for your continued care, concerns and especially your prayers. It's a special feeling knowing that someone is setting time aside to meditate and pray for me and my family, it has not gone unnoticed. We will attempt to update our blog during our trip.
Blessings
Ray

Had a great Christmas in Canberra with 14 members of Rays family. Between Christmas and New Year, Ray went fishing with his brother Dave and son Andrew. He was very proud of the fact he caught the biggest fish - a 3kg yellow belly - and has a photo to prove it. He enjoyed having a month break from his chemo treatments over Christmas/New Year and said he felt like he could climb Mount Everest. Ray started chemo again on Tuesday 12th and is feeling quite nauseous at the moment.
Again, we want to say how grateful we are to everyone for showing their care, concern and love in many and varied ways. The journey continues.
Happy new year and best wishes everyone.

This year we have received invaluable support, in many ways, from our family, many friends and neighbours. We have experienced the 'spirit' of Christmas many, many times throughout the year.
We feel blessed and sustained by this care and our faith that is underpinned by hope and energised by a desire to live ever more compassionately.
Merry Christmas everyone, may peace and good will bless and keep you all safe.
Love Marg, Ray, Tahnee and Marli

We arrived back from a lovely, relaxing 10 days in New Zealand late last Sunday night. Ray’s friends, Brian and Carole, made us feel very welcome in their beautiful home at Clarkes Beach, Auckland. We spent a few quiet days at Clarkes Beach so Ray could recuperate from his latest round of chemo treatment (the girls made good use of Carole’s spa each day), then Brian, who has a keen interest in New Zealand history, took us on a 3 day road trip north of Auckland to the Bay of Islands area. On our first day we visited a black sand beach, a gannet colony and then went for a swim at the thermal springs pools at Parakai. On our second day we stopped off to see and use the amazing mosaic toilets at Kawakawa before going to the historic town of Waitangi, where we learnt a lot about the history of NZ at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds museum. Ray was invited to be the visiting ‘chief’ at the Kapah Hakah cultural performance. We then headed off to KeriKeri where we visited the oldest surviving house in NZ and the reconstruction of a neighbouring Maori village. On our last day, we travelled through some (even more) beautiful country, stopping off at Opononi Harbour and then the Waipoua Forest where we saw NZ’s tallest kauri tree, Tane Mahuta, which measured 52 ft in girth and was estimated to be 2,000 years old. Finally we visited the fascinating Kauri museum at Matakohe.
Back at Clarkes Beach, the girls spent more time in Carole’s spa but also went hunting for scallops & kayaking on the tidal estuary (that Brian and Carole’s home backs onto) and snorkeling in the oceanarium at Kelly Tarlton’s. On a quieter, but just as enjoyable and memorable side, Marli, Ray, Brian and I spent some lovely evenings learning and playing new card games together.
We arrived back in Melbourne expecting to be greeted by searing heat, but were surprised to find it was mild – even a bit cool - and better still, that a very good amount of rain had fallen. We not only thank Brian and Carole for their generous hospitality and looking after us so well in NZ, but also our wonderful neighbours and friends who took great care of our garden and animals while we were gone.
Hoping life has been treating you all well. Marg, Ray, Tahnee and Marli.

Last Friday (23rd Oct) Ray had a small operation to have a port-a-cath inserted, just under the skin, in his upper left-hand chest area. This replaces the picc line in his arm, which was used to deliver his chemo drugs. The picc line required a lot more maintenance as it has to be flushed every week to ensure no blood clots form and there is a higher risk of it becoming infected. With the port-a-cath, Ray will be able to do things like swim and it will give him a bit more freedom all round. Ray says it's wonderful not having the picc wires hanging out of his arm - a constant reminder of his treatment.
Starting to get excited about our trip to NZ now that it's only a week and a half away.
Best wishes everyone.
P.S. A big thank you again to the 31 people who turned up at our place last Sunday for a working bee. We are extremely grateful to you all.

Rounds 6 & 7 of chemo - weight 77.8kg. Similar side effects. The first 10 days are filled with hot flushes, gurgly tummy, nausea, sneezing and cold-like symptoms. Getting used to the emotional side effects is the biggest effort. Never going to the doctor's for other than annual checks and then having a fully invasive procedure, is a whole new ball game. I'm trying some alternative therapies like men's multi-vitamins, amino acids, juicing fresh fruit and vegies. Continuing with my healthy diet. Sleeping a sold 7-8 hours each night. Considering some Chinese herbal therapies. Have been researching the ones that have integrity as a medicine and will use these conjointly with the chemo.
Off to NZ on 12th - 22nd November - all four of us. Staying with friends who live on a tidal estuary 40kms from Auckland. Had a wonderful week in Sdyney first week of the school holidays. Did the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb as a family. What a wonderful experience watching the sunset over the Blue Mountains. Travelled to The Rocks on the Ferry Cat down the Parramatta River, on the 30 deg. day before the red dust storm. Travelled back to Castlemaine to a 4 deg. evening - brrr! The positive to this was a full rain gauge - 54mm! Fantastic.
Thanks again to all you beautiful people who continue to send your prayers and positive messages of support. Take good care of yourselves.
Blessings - Ray

Fifth round of chemo yesterday. Blood count was good and my weight is up to 78.4kg. Some say it's the steroids, I say it's the good food - maybe a mix of both?
Results of the CT scan (done last Wednesday) were good. The tumors have reduced in size, so the chemo is having a positive affect. Still struggling to work out when will be the best time to have our family trip o/s. The chemotherapy treatment I'm on has a failure rate of 10.6 months, i.e. statistically at 8 months patients have a 70% success rate with the chemo, at 9 months it usually drops to 50%. I am concerned the longer I leave our trip, the more risk there is of the tumors growing again.
At the moment, physically, I have a tight, dry throat, feeling nauseous, nose runny. Have that visual effect where my centre vision is blurry. Happens each treatment for 24-36 hours.
Thank you to everyone who leaves messages on the blog. I do appreciate them. I'm sorry I can't respond individually. You mean a lot to me. Keep the messages flowing.
Blessings - Ray.