Monday

2 Years To The Day ......

I can`t believe it`s 2 years since i had a trip to Australia . The time seems to have flown by so quickly !
My partner and i arrived on the 3rd November in Sydney , and we had 2 wonderful days , until we travelled down on the 5th nov , to see my sister , near Dapto . It had been 4 years since i last saw her , here in the UK . So it was a vey emotional reunion to say the least . To see her newly built home and surroundings , and her 2 children , who have grown up too fast !




Just a few of my favourite photos , as we took 300 of them !


The infamous Sydney Opera House ....







Looking down on Sydney , from the tower ...... i did not take this one , as i am afraid of heights !!









Travelling around The Blue Mountains , at Katoomba , Echo Point , and The Three Sisters .......









Upon walking around to the waterfall , tucked behind it , virtually hidden in the trees , we saw a house there ! What a view they must have had !! I loved it so much there , when we got back , i looked at properties to buy . And guess what ! ? The house that we saw , was for sale ...... With over a MILLION price tag !!










Some of the many 1920`s / 30`s homes at the seafront looking onto Bondi Beach ........









Gothic building at Melbourne ........



















Below is a photo of my younger sister , me and the kids ...... I`m on the right in case you were wondering Tammy !!
This was one of the last photos i took before we had to say the inevitable " goodbye " for who knows how long we`ll see each other again ......








I have done this post as a tribute for my sister ..... why , you may ask ?
Because , no she hasn`t died , but because she was diagnosed with cervical cancer at only 38 .
May 17th this year , is a date that is etched on my mind .... I was standing at the bus stop , and got a text from her saying ... bad news i have cancer ....... My world fell apart , and i stood there crying .............. That day was a daze , and since then it has been a constant worry that she will have successful treatment for it . On June 20th , she had to have a radical hysterectomy , including lymph nodes removed , as it may have spread there too . Because i`m so far away to see her in person , and give emotional support ..... i have some guilt at not being there for her . Even though my parents now have emigrated there as well , i felt "alone " . I can`t even begin to imagine what she has been through , although we talk on the telephone , it`s not the same as seeing them in the flesh ....
What makes me even more angry is the way it came about ....... Over in Australia , they have smears at 2 yearly intervals , unlike here , ours is 3 yearly . The cancer that my sister got was cin stage 3 , which takes 5 to 7 years to develop . So how can someone miss this ???
Someone has done a serious mistake out there , and my sister is paying the price .....
Then last week , another text came from her , they have found something on her liver now ........ Blood tests have been done so far ..... if anything shows on those , like a tumour , she has to have an MRI scan , then they decide on what to do at a later date . I`m not sure what the future holds for our family , but i hope that things will improve and that my sister will have her health back , she deserves it .
So please , all you women out there , get a smear done ! Forget about the embarrassment factor , it could save your life !!


This is a last photo , which i have embedded on my mind , after i said goodbye .......
Alot of my time and energy is going on her , thinking ... alot of that is being done , and hoping that she`s strong enough to take this on and to come through the other side - happy and healthy ..... that is all i wish for .....
My focus on creating things is clouded at this time , and i lack motivation to do so many things that i have ideas for . As i have found that creating is an emotional form of expressive release for me and i can`t seem to grasp it with both hands and get on with it ......
I will get it back ... But i`m not sure how long it will take me .... I will still be doing things , but i need to give 100% to a project i`m on with , and i am myself`s own worst critic !! So i hope you will come back , and thank -you for reading this post of mine !












6 comments:

Sherry said...

Of course your focus is divided at the moment. If couldn't be otherwise. You are far from your sister and that is so hard when she is in the middle of this crisis in her life. Sending prayers to all of you...take the time to you need and allow your feelings to be expressed in your art. It really does help.

cherry said...

Hi Carolyn! This is my 1st visit here...I really enjoyed the pics of Australia! My dh traveled there many years ago and I have always been curious about it. Beautiful pics. I am soooo sorry about your sister...I will pray for her! I also like to do paper crafts amongst other things! I will be back to visit...loved your collage. cherry

Jo Anne O. said...

Carolyn,
I am so sorry to hear about your sister! I am hopeing that they do all they should do in order to get her well...so sad for someone so young...

*~tabby~* crooked heart art said...

hi carolyn
so sorry to hear of your sisters cancer-how hard it must be for you to be so far away-
prayers for better news and recovery soon:)
nice to see a pic of you both with the children

Laume said...

I really enjoyed the photos - I know very little of Australia so it's fun to see all the variety of images.

It's so hard to be away from family when you want to help and support them. Hugs.

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