Five for Friday

The calendar on the fridge is full with scribblings of the daily happenings in the Howard home.   Three kids and two businesses makes for a busy home.

So things I discovered this week.

 

1. It’s fun having a house built across the road. 

My office faces this building site.  I see everything but the tradies can’t see me.  I see them working all day in the sun, I see them walk in and out the portaloo.  I see them blockade their workmate IN the portaloo with strops and wood.  And I hear the laughter.  My favourites are the scaffold guys, those guys are FUNNY.  They laugh and sing and are the happiest people out. On those days I make sure I don’t even go out to get my mail because I don’t want them to know I’m here, I don’t want their laughter to stop.

How lucky am I to have this view of the portaloo and rubbish skip all day?

2. I am walking a marathon.

Goal: 105 laps at Relay for Life this weekend.  It’ll be 42km.  It’s a big call.  I get breaks in between if I want, but it’s still a big call.  Temps are meant to be 26 degrees, no wind and baking. 

42km.  That’s a lot of walking and probably a lot of kilojoules walked off.  This is why today I give myself permission to browse Pinterest.  I give myself permission to type in the word ‘yummy’ and browse all the gorgeous food I usually try and avoid looking at.  And when I half naked picture of Channing Tatum appears under the same said search phrase, I shall look at that too.  You know, because I can’t help if he turned up when I search ‘yummy’.  Bad luck for me.

I could have placed a pic of Channing Tatum here but… actually I don’t know why I didn’t.  Peanut butter choc chip dough vs Channing Tatum.  Hard choice. 

3. Skin cancer can hide.

I have just returned from a yearly check at the skin specialist with Paul. 
I am clear.  In fact the doc said I am blessed with lovely skin and the words “textbook mole” were used.  Cue laughter from Paul – and actually the doctor joined in.   Lucky he’s a lovely guy.

However, the doctor took one look at Paul’s chest and said “There is cancer”.  I couldn’t see it.  The lesion is big enough to require surgery and Paul has been warned the cut will be 4cm long. 
Go on, try and spot the cancer. Look closely because the education you get from this pic could help you find these lesions on someone you love.

Try and find the skin cancer that will require surgery and an incision 4cm long to get it out.

I’m betting you probably picked the spot either on the bottom left or bottom right of the pic.   Nope, those are healthy skin pigmentation.  The cancer is right at the bottom of the v-neck tan line (See pic at the end of this post).  It’s a reddish looking blemish right in the centre of the pic.  It’s about as big as my little finger nail.  While this cancer is not a serious aggressive threat (It is basal cell Carcinoma, the most common type), it rarely moves throughout the body, this is still a malignant cancer and it needs to be removed.  Ironically my hubby is super-vigilant about sunblock.  He sunblocks his face, ears, neck etc every day, but has only just in the past year or so started wearing v-neck polo shirts for work.  He isn’t in the habit of sunblocking the ‘v’.  These cancers usually turn up where the sun damage has occurred.

Please share the link to this pic, we usually think we need to go see a doctor about suspicious spots, but sometimes they don’t look like we expect them too.  Would you have picked this as a cancer?

 

4.  Another leaf, and a thanks.

Thank you so much for the comments of support and love that you sent after my post at the start of the week.  And you know, generally things are great.  I have a fabulous family and we are very close-knit.   Everyone has rough times and I’m lucky I have an amazing support network. 

One thing I didn’t include in the post was this photo.  I forgot about it.  This little leaf turned up 3-4 days after we found the one in the skip.  You can’t really see it until you turn the washing machine on.  Try and imagine how I felt one morning as I threw the washing in the washing machine, throw the powder in, push the buttons one, two and then start and blip, blip, blip and up popped the light behind the little screen and there was the heart.

Very unexpected.  This one might be coincidence.  It’s the tiniest scrap of leaf that is actually still on the washing machine a month later – it’s cute huh?  Coincidence or not – it gave me a smile that day.

 

5. Finally. A kit.  Just about.    I have a limited amount of kits for this class (taught at ArtVenture, California) on the way.  The kit is the class taught over in the USA, without the frame.  I expect these to be available for purchase around Wednesday next week.  Email me and let me know if you want to be on the newsletter-list to hear when this kit is available for purchase.

 

 

And that is all.  Five for Friday, all wrapped up – don’t forget to get up close and personal with your loved ones tonight, those skin cancer spots are harder to find than you imagined, right?

Laters.

Comments

[Mary Rogers]

I noticed it because I have a friend, and a brother who both recently had leisons removed and know what to look for. Both have outside jobs in the sun all day.

I am thankful they spotted it on your husband right away. Quick recovery I hope.

[Judy]

The very best of wishes for relay for life this weekend.So glad you managed to get paul to the dr for a check!

[Jo Baker]

I'm so impressed Paul goes with you to the doctor for these checkups - mine has to be on death's door to agree to see a doctor. Thanks for the photo, a good reminder to check those we care about.

Love your latest leaf :)

[Gela]

wow would have never guessed

[megan]

OMG that kit is beautiful Id be stoked if you popped me on the list :)
I picked that mole, and no Im not that good, but I had the same thing on my head, the one place I do sunblock and still got it :(

[Janelle Jones]

Good reminder for everyone to have their skin checked. I had my very first check just in January this year. So glad I did. Nothing wrong but some things that need to be watched. I think I am now also much better at protecting my skin after that visit.
As usual, your kit / page is absolutely gorgeous.
All the best for this weekend. It will be super hot. Drink lots of water and have lots of arnica cream ready to put on your calves!

[Belinda Basson]

I saw it, my gran had lots, I check myself regularly for them too. Luckily I have textbook skin so far too...Now I want those choc chip peanut butter dough cookies too...yum

[Kim]

I picked it straight away but then working with hubby for so many years I know what I'm looking for. Glad it is coming off. Have a great weekend and send me some of those yummy cakes please

[Teryl]

I had two very similar spots removed from my chest late last year and my doc thought they would come back clear but he did not like the look of them... tests came back that they were bcc's... so good to check any spot which is a little different.... godd luck for the relay, today is so hot but a fab cause :)

[Michele in Texas]

Sadly, I could pick it out. I've been there. Recently had one removed from my face. Good luck!

[Jo]

Hey Nic, you've been thru the ringer lately. Thinking of you. Hope the family is holding on. I too have had Bcc (on my nose)from years of having a sunburnt nose as a kid! I now get regular checkups and other lesions lasered off, keep the check ups regular. Hope your child is on the road to recovery and hope your marathon went well, it's prety hot out there! You are an inspiration to us all, looking forward to seeing you at AE Taupo.