tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48994345898691712772024-03-18T23:09:20.728+08:00CHRONICLES OF A LUMPY PERSONWelcome to my blog. Follow the ups and downs of my family life and my personal journey with Cowden's Syndrome!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.comBlogger237125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-54752958498921005992018-03-19T19:29:00.001+08:002018-03-19T19:50:06.320+08:00THAT 'NICE' FEELING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg8UANirP4CBMW9apKJWt8sbusyRj09qrJ9qxa6D8WoQdwsNVGjHyC-NG4XiZkJQ5Zks8ZGCTLCY_D3r7SNxgu2agYzkmf7_m55aTsIV7GCSlx4Yknfq7nZPvp0mG68No0Ir1ASJlhyphenhyphenY/s1600/night-television-tv-theme-machines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg8UANirP4CBMW9apKJWt8sbusyRj09qrJ9qxa6D8WoQdwsNVGjHyC-NG4XiZkJQ5Zks8ZGCTLCY_D3r7SNxgu2agYzkmf7_m55aTsIV7GCSlx4Yknfq7nZPvp0mG68No0Ir1ASJlhyphenhyphenY/s320/night-television-tv-theme-machines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Last week I went out for for dinner with a bunch of girlfriends. For 30 minutes, we discussed in depth what Netflix shows we've been watching, went into shock if we hadn't seen a particular show and exchanged suggestions on new shows to watch. I now have a list as long as my arm for what I need to watch over the next month or so.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to lie, I've been a bit down in the dumps lately. What's kept me going? Along with the support of friends and family, I've been watching Will and Grace. I never watched the show when it was on in the early 2000's. But now, I'm glad that I am watching it and have got into the reboot very quickly. The show is just 'nice.' It's nice in a way that I can have a laugh, and escape the reality of the real world. I now frequently imitate Karen by calling everyone 'honey' and on a daily basis embrace my Grace Adler quirkiness (for me though, this is not hard!)<br />
<br />
I also did this with Gilmore Girls when I was finishing my degree (in addition to the copious amount of red wine I drank!) I will be forever grateful to my spirit animal Lorelei Gilmore for letting me escape from the stress and harsh reality of forcing myself to finish my degree. It was a great help and a 'nice' show to watch.<br />
<br />
We currently live in a world were a red headed clown is running one of the biggest countries in the world where a terrorist attack could occur anywhere at anytime. We cannot predict what will happen in the future, and we are forever furious at leaders who are corrupt or people who treat others with disrespect. So we latch onto something that is joyful and provides us with comfort.<br />
<br />
I even feel this watching the football (the Aussie rules type.) For 3 hours, I can sit in front of a TV or be at the ground on match day yelling for my beloved West Coast Eagles. Being attached to the 'West Coast Eagles' community gives me a sense of identity and something that I belong to. I met one of my closest friends through our love of football and she has contributed to giving my life a 'nice feeling.' That I will forever be grateful for.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to sit here and tell you all that we should all be finding something 'nice' on our TV screens that gives us a distinction from reality. But for me, it's something that keeps me sane. I can forget about my Cowden's Syndrome and my doctors appointments. I can forget that I still need to look for a job. I can forget that I'm down in the dumps.<br />
<br />
I know there are other 'nice' things out there that could give me comfort. Mum's recently been trying to get me into crocheting, but I get frustrated with it and give up in two seconds. I want to learn how to use my SLR camera properly, but I struggle to concentrate and get too tired. My sister has tried to teach me how to do my make up. She has explained things to me so many times, but do you think I remember? No bloody way.<br />
<br />
So for me, something that is easy and 'nice' for me right now is TV. It's simple. And at the moment that's what I need. After many years of not accepting that I have Cowden's Syndrome, I just need to have something 'nice and easy' in my life. And one day when I'm well rested and back to my usual self, I'll find that motivation to do something other than 'be attached to nice TV shows.'<br />
<br />
For now, I sit back with my coffee, pop on the latest episode of the Will and Grace reboot and carry on with my day.<br />
<br />
Until next time...<br />
<br />
AT xxx<br />
<br />
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-9968425805343503162018-03-16T20:25:00.002+08:002018-03-16T20:25:36.065+08:00THE LAST TEASPOON When I was young, I watched a very funny TV skit on the Paul Hogan show. ( <i>For those who don't </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBpBHHEytxmzrZcbW3rHO1tCUT0LKe86U4ne-sUrI2Vr7Ioue3QrrTL3Z1aApCRjahSK0bFXADAaZAsXMT8NsSt7ddlZ54-Axfg6dY2GP-vUhWJr-BNbbhmCcrSxwAksAjJwCEyaYYbQ/s1600/spoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1233" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBpBHHEytxmzrZcbW3rHO1tCUT0LKe86U4ne-sUrI2Vr7Ioue3QrrTL3Z1aApCRjahSK0bFXADAaZAsXMT8NsSt7ddlZ54-Axfg6dY2GP-vUhWJr-BNbbhmCcrSxwAksAjJwCEyaYYbQ/s320/spoon.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div>
<i>know who he is, think Crocodile Dundee)</i>. I can't remember exactly what it was about, but I do remember the ending. A man was washing up some dishes and no matter how thoroughly he scoured the water, every time he pulled the plug, there was always one teaspoon which had managed to avoid being washed.<br />
<br />
Now, I can't do the humour of the skit justice at all, but ever since I watched this, the saga of the last teaspoon has stayed with me. Every time I wash dishes ( no, we don't have a dishwasher), I think of this skit and yes sure enough, there is always one teaspoon that makes it through unwashed. You can almost hear it yell " Take that sucker! I'll shower when I want".<br />
<br />
I've grown rather close to that " last teaspoon " over the years and I've become quite a fan of the notion that I too can do things on my own terms. Maybe it's an older woman thing, but these days I seem to be a lot more ok with certain behaviours than I used to be.<br />
<br />
Here is a list of my current top teaspoon moments;<br />
<br />
1. If on a certain morning I don't feel like getting out of my pj's I won't. There is no pj monitoring police floating around the neighbourhood noting what time I've changed my clothes and charting my misdemeanour. In my opinion, wear them all day if you must, though please don't leave your house wearing them . That becomes a different issue all together.<br />
<br />
2. If I want to watch a Netflix show, I will do just that and while we're on it, watching Netflix all morning in bed is perfectly acceptable. So is ignoring housework to watch Netflix. Let's face it, nothing is going to get done properly till you find out what happened next, so you may as well watch it.<br />
<br />
3 Spending money on yarn is a perfectly acceptable behaviour. Yarn brings joy, peace, calmness, creativity. Only Nutella can compete, though Nutella also gives me hives and a sugar high. I will spend money on yarn ( possibly to the exclusion of food) and I will stop... maybe never.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXOR7LQZ4BlTtLI9MWiD62mvt82H3Sfi_AC26pFT4J9jR_JbWm_2OmELbsDnMuUYaSGcLTR5UWGaxrA27XqWOWaMhr8nF4Il1mLL48ff7f2-F-B3QLgz1LE9O8MeTAGaop0Cw6vFkZ44/s1600/yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXOR7LQZ4BlTtLI9MWiD62mvt82H3Sfi_AC26pFT4J9jR_JbWm_2OmELbsDnMuUYaSGcLTR5UWGaxrA27XqWOWaMhr8nF4Il1mLL48ff7f2-F-B3QLgz1LE9O8MeTAGaop0Cw6vFkZ44/s320/yarn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
4. If I have no one to have a coffee with, I will coffee with myself and enjoy my own company. Truth be known I'll probably spend the time weighing up the pros and cons of buying a chocolate muffin. It never used to be the done thing to sit alone. God forbid, people might think you had no friends! But these days to hell with all that nonsense. I no longer need to move in a pack and surprise, surprise I actually enjoy my own company.<br />
<br />
5. I WILL smile at people, say hello and give out compliments. No, I'm not weird. I'm just nice and I want to stay like that. Why is it even a " thing" that being the above is construed as weird by some?<br />
<br />
6. I hate and have always hated makeup. If I hadn't been present at my daughters' births and therefore have irrefutable evidence they are mine, I would think they were adopted. Both love makeup, one to obsessive levels. I'm no longer worrying about this one any more. Life is too short to be pressured into wearing makeup religiously.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7l8yEWHjGWiJ6SB2VHZXPnJZAGZYcdKtcCuJOjkSU64L77f0gdaZCZkVDmtVVe082Dkb6rjo_k6uGUbxC1ZJy6IB2pEpg34-_GLFSzY4n5vrMw5qfj05_I6OdHThB9Q8yz9nkvar57Tw/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7l8yEWHjGWiJ6SB2VHZXPnJZAGZYcdKtcCuJOjkSU64L77f0gdaZCZkVDmtVVe082Dkb6rjo_k6uGUbxC1ZJy6IB2pEpg34-_GLFSzY4n5vrMw5qfj05_I6OdHThB9Q8yz9nkvar57Tw/s320/coffee.jpg" width="320" /></a>7. I don't like kale, green tea, coconut water, protein drinks and any other health food. I just like food that tastes like food, looks like food and smells like food. And I love coffee...quit telling me how much coffee is safe. You have NO idea, but I know exactly how little coffee is dangerous for you.<br />
<br />
This list is obviously a work in progress. I'm sure I'll add to it!<br />
<br />
Long live the last teaspoon!<br />
ST<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-60024732499909273662018-03-14T21:24:00.000+08:002018-03-14T21:24:41.448+08:00FEMALE EMPOWERMENT<div>
Last week, I spent Monday morning watching the Oscars. One of my favourite moments from the show was when Frances McDermond won the "Best Actress" award for her role in 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.' </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With a standing applause from the audience, Frances decided to turn her acceptance speech into a stance on equality between genders. She then invited all of the females who were nominated for an award that night to stand and be congratulated by their peers for their achievement. This was followed by a mention of "inclusion riders" - a clause which is added to an actors' contract to ensure that casting and production staff meet certain levels of diversity e.g. inclusion of women. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Cue Ashton bawling her eyes out. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
Whilst in the middle of accepting one of the most prestigious roles in Hollywood, Frances made the selfless decision to champion the subject of equality between women and men. She and many other women have echoed this support and empowerment during the recent film awards season. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I truly believe we are in a stage right now where change is happening and equality between sexes is finally finding it's equilibrium. Campaigns such as #MeToo and #TimesUp are movements championed by not just those in the film industry, but leaders worldwide who are passionate and are determined to fight for change. People such as Oprah Winfrey who made mention of the #MeToo movement while receiving the Cecil B. de Mille Award at the Golden Globes. Or Malala Yousafzai, who fought for female education in Pakistan and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ever since my sister and I were young, mum and dad have instilled in us that <i>'if we want to achieve or do something significant, we had to work hard for it.' </i>As young females, we were determined to do this. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At 15, I marched into the deputy principals' offices with a proposal for a 'Pink Day' to raise money for Breast Cancer awareness. My lip trembled and I was filled with nerves as I presented my proposal to them. I remember thinking, <i>"they won't listen to me. They'll just push it aside. Why am I even bothering?" </i> But it turned out that they put my idea to the school board who allowed me to go ahead with pretty much decking out the school in pink. We raised over $700 that day which filled me with so much pride and joy. </div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My sister Ciara on the other hand has always wanted to be a performer. After numerous auditions, she is currently in her second year of a Bachelor of Musical Theatre at the prestigious Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA.) Getting into a course like this is not simple. She put in hours and hours of work to get to this point, even though it was an extremely difficult time for her. Looking back, she is so happy to have toughed it out because now she is one step closer to living her dream. And we all get a thrill not from just seeing her perform on stage, but knowing that she is so close to living out her dream. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are many female role models that inspire me on a daily basis. They're hard working, they're strong and aren't intimidated by the judgements other people make of them. If they see that something needs to be changed for the better, than they'll fight for that to happen. If someone tells them they can't do something, they'll do everything in their power to prove them wrong. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To have people like this to look up to and have around you is an amazing feeling. This is how empowerment and change happens and we need more women to see that they are capable of finding their voice to make a change themselves. Therefore I say this: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>To all the women out there, who are reading this blog. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>May you have the courage to stand up for what you believe in. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>May you stand up for injustices in this world. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>May you never feel ashamed for the life decisions you make. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>May you support each other and lift each other up. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>May you tell your fellow girlfriends how amazing and beautiful they are. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>May you conquer your dreams and not let anyone tell you that you can't. </i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Until next time... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
AT xx </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDD61ofuI2rdp-F-mU4Cq0d7sAFKWBvYwzxLYpEy9v0vlu-W8EeEI2VOkIBHsCWJLz97iC1r4m0_0I1eEGvu-0om6Yq7AsyS_Pnl7k3vBTg7bCrt1RKc8HqncYetWRhXbieDPDtDldcI/s1600/face-2936245_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDD61ofuI2rdp-F-mU4Cq0d7sAFKWBvYwzxLYpEy9v0vlu-W8EeEI2VOkIBHsCWJLz97iC1r4m0_0I1eEGvu-0om6Yq7AsyS_Pnl7k3vBTg7bCrt1RKc8HqncYetWRhXbieDPDtDldcI/s400/face-2936245_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-3541486165790933452018-03-10T17:12:00.003+08:002018-03-12T15:10:49.859+08:00POSITION VACANT- ENQUIRE WITHIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>POSITION VACANT - ASHTON TAYLOR</u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<u>JOB DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND: </u></div>
<br />
Something that I have not shared on this blog is that a few weeks ago, after my first day of work experience, I had another seizure. The cause? My brain switched back into full time work mode and I started stressing and was also way too tired. These are common symptoms that contribute to a seizure occurring, and that of course is what happened.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlaGkTkp5m-Dxg6x7Lr9A0ctA4jUfa0oTTcdKFZp04TnAmAwHasQAafzwpzGm0Nz5bc0dR3AHZnrZzfA5SXVD5rXk5axEmd6VkvfvMIkn1uOGSmYuJY7PFmxtJjPBsX_oL_p91rPyJt4/s1600/female+business.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlaGkTkp5m-Dxg6x7Lr9A0ctA4jUfa0oTTcdKFZp04TnAmAwHasQAafzwpzGm0Nz5bc0dR3AHZnrZzfA5SXVD5rXk5axEmd6VkvfvMIkn1uOGSmYuJY7PFmxtJjPBsX_oL_p91rPyJt4/s400/female+business.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
You may remember reading in a previous blog that I had a seizure back in late January. The neurologist told me that if I was to have another one within a month of the last one, I wouldn't be able to drive for a year. And on Thursday, I officially received that news- <i>No driving until the 21st of February 2019. </i><br />
<br />
I remember at 17 being so excited when I got my licence. I was finally independent and could go anywhere without needing my parents to drive me. Never did I think that in my early 20's that I couldn't drive for a year on two seperate occasions. An age were independence, work and socialising is a major part of my life.<br />
<br />
After a few days of being down in the dumps about this, I've finally managed to pick myself up and look at this situation in a positive manner. The situation sucks and I know at times I will regularly get down about it, but at the moment it's time to carry on with life and keep going. In addition to doing this, I am requiring help in the following areas. So, feel free to apply for the following job. Requirements are as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>I require several chauffeurs to drive me around. In return I will give you a chauffeur name, but you are welcome to suggest a name yourself. So far I have 'Driving Miss Daisy' and 'Aunty Uber.' </li>
<li>You must be able to chat with me and keep me entertained . I love talking to other people and listening to their stories. It's one of the reasons why I've always wanted to be a journalist. I just find people so fascinating and I want to tell their stories. </li>
<li>You need to provide me with some ongoing suggestions for good podcasts for when I'm on public transport, especially any that are uplifting and around the topic of female empowerment. </li>
<li>I also need someone to suggest good 'walking shoe' brands. Although I'm not needing them just now, I know that I will get to a point during the year when I will. As this topic bores me silly, your advice will shorten the process.</li>
<li>I will also be needing a lot of strength and positive vibes around me. This is very important and one that is essential. I really don't want candidates to be consistently sympathetic towards me. I just need your positive vibes to help me get through this period. I will be forever thankful if you are able do this. You can also provide chocolate, but not wine as Dr Meany took that away too. Ability to provide chocolate is highly regarded for this position,</li>
</ul>
<br />
For more information, please personal message the 'Chronicles of a Lumpy Person' Facebook page. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
CLOSING DATE: Ongoing until the 21st of February 2019.<br />
<br />
Until next time...<br />
<br />
AT xx<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-76713365800216507562018-03-07T18:19:00.001+08:002018-03-12T15:54:34.604+08:00LEARNING HOW TO ACCEPT ME<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0H-8IE2ak08ETolyfDUtis89tPLH_0xKlJsjKxR_cXi79sGAHNEyDqGHIfE3dT-oOMlkh1xd_gvHtDcQJvOHXhn46ytJzHPVDuj8Fx7Lj5Tkgw12KPYliCpgf1Y9pd-Hg7iTThORVe7k/s1600/balloon-3185008_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0H-8IE2ak08ETolyfDUtis89tPLH_0xKlJsjKxR_cXi79sGAHNEyDqGHIfE3dT-oOMlkh1xd_gvHtDcQJvOHXhn46ytJzHPVDuj8Fx7Lj5Tkgw12KPYliCpgf1Y9pd-Hg7iTThORVe7k/s400/balloon-3185008_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
In the last week I've crumbled. My energy levels have been low, my motivation has been lost in translation, my mental strength is nowhere to be found. I simply just <i>'can't portray the tough girl image anymore</i>.'<br />
<br />
<div>
You see, your early 20's are considered to be 'the best years of your life' before settling down and starting a family. My idea of my early 20's was to be as sociable as possible, go on at least one exotic European summer holiday and to finish my degree.<br />
<br />
Going through living with a rare brain condition and having Cowden's Syndrome, my early 20's have instead looked a little bit like this:<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
1) A typical night out with my friends usually involves me ordering myself an Uber home at 9pm as I get tired AF (Grandad if you know what this means, I'll be very impressed.) What's worst is that I tend to not concentrate on conversations because it's exhausting for me to keep track of them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2) Eyyyyy yes European summer holidays. For someone who '<i>has to have her 8 hours of sleep' </i> (neurologist's words, not mine) a Contiki/Topdeck tour were you sleep for minimal hours is not really appropriate for me right now. Luckily, I've been to Europe twice already so for me it's not that bad. But I will get to you Santorini... once someone gives me a job (**wink, wink**) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4) Before you go 'but you finished your degree?' Let me tell you how I completed my degree:<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
- First of all, I decided to graduate in the easiest way possible. A combination of 16 brain surgeries, a broken ankle, family health scares, a year off Uni, many assignments, repeating and failing units, creations of feature films, ridiculous amounts of marketing reports .... and you have yourself my version of how to get a Bachelor of Arts degree from UWA. Easy yeah?<br />
<br />
- 3 consecutive years of completing summer school. This involved cramming a semester of work into a month. Luckily the Tavern was open once I had finished my exams at the end of it....<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
- I had to acquire the help of Uni Access staff. These officers are equipped to recommend the best options to enable your participation at Uni if you have a medical condition or disability. And let me just say, they are AMAZING. However, I still had to remember that I needed to fill out paperwork to receive assignment extensions or for requesting a different exam location. I may have missed the deadlines for submitting the latter on a few occasions and found myself running from one side of the campus to the other side of it on exam days (not a pretty sight, trust me.) </div>
<div>
<br />
I see a lot of people around me progress further and achieve great things in their life. They work hard and get the rewards for the effort they put in. I'm so determined to put in 110% into everything I do, but I just can't put as much effort in as I want to. Why? Because having epilepsy requires me to have breaks every hour so I don't get stressed and so my brain can shut off from looking at a computer screen. Otherwise, I'll have a seizure and end up not driving for however many more months that I can't already drive for. And accepting this really, truly sucks.</div>
<div>
<br />
Mum and I have really tried over the years to pick ourselves up and carry on if we have some sort of medical drama. But for me lately, I have not been able to because I've tried to keep up this 'strong' and 'never let anything get in my way' image. <u>I haven't been able to accept me</u> and it's time to stop acting like this.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Until next time.... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
AT xxx</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-68584702432974147372018-03-06T07:22:00.000+08:002018-03-06T15:41:30.949+08:00LUMPY AND BUMPYIt's March already! How did that happen?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pixabay.com/get/ea34b50f2cfd033ed1584d05fb0938c9bd22ffd41cb3114297f1c678a7/flower-3140492_1280.jpg?attachment" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="133" src="https://pixabay.com/get/ea34b50f2cfd033ed1584d05fb0938c9bd22ffd41cb3114297f1c678a7/flower-3140492_1280.jpg?attachment" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I can honestly say that February was a waste of time for me. From beginning to end the whole month was non productive and disorganised. For example, I gave my niece her birthday present on the 3rd of March. Her birthday was the 10th of February. I'm never like that!<br />
<br />
One thing I did achieve was a plastic surgeon visit for a lumps evaluation. For those unfamiliar with Cowden's, we can grow many, many nodules, tumours, lumps. On the whole thank God most will be benign, but you just never know when one won't be, so checking is good. I did try the ignoring trick once, but as I flippantly asked my GP to confirm it was nothing to worry about, I could tell by her face that it was serious. That lump I was going to ignore was a breast cancer.<br />
<br />
So, fuelled by that experience I really struggle as in reality I can't have every lump removed. If there was a grade given for ability to grow lumps, I'd receive an A+ so it's near on impossible to remove all. The latest culprits are on my arm, stomach and knee. The one on my arm is large and unsightly and I have no doubt it will grow back, but its going and will be replaced by a scar which will fade nicely.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pixabay.com/get/ea35b20f2cf1073ed1534705fb0938c9bd22ffd41cb3114297f1c87ca7/medical-care-3030456_1920.png?attachment" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://pixabay.com/get/ea35b20f2cf1073ed1534705fb0938c9bd22ffd41cb3114297f1c87ca7/medical-care-3030456_1920.png?attachment" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My stomach has long been a problem for growths and thankfully I'm not a bikini wearing babe, otherwise I'd look gross. Most of the growths on my stomach are nodules or black in colour so I don't think twice about them being removed. Black is never good in my mind. The plastic surgeon is pretty sure that black or not, they're benign. But, how can you be sure and can you just ignore something black growing on you? Nope!<br />
<br />
The knee one is quite a surprise. I'd been feeling a stinging area on the side of my knee for quite some time, but never associated it with a lump till recently. I should have twigged because 40 years ago, my first lump was in exactly the same place on the other knee. Did I just write 40 years??? Wow 😳.<br />
<br />
So, that's the lumpy roll call. My general advice to people who find any lump on their body is to get a GP to check it out. Most lumps are nothing, but only someone qualified can start the process to confirm this. If it worries you, ask for it to be removed. No use stressing about something so fixable.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
On other news, I would like to thank ABC country radio for inviting me on their radio programme on rare diseases day, to speak about living with a rare disease. It was a real privilege and they let me talk for ten whole minutes. So happy to be able to advocate for my condition. Ashton also gave it a red hot go. Her post was shared many times and read by thousands. Thumbs down while we're at it to online agencies who ignore such pieces, in favour of perpetuating rubbish events currently in the media. We only wanted one article on one day! It wasn't a big ask. Advocacy is a never ending struggle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pixabay.com/get/eb34b5072af5023ed1534705fb0938c9bd22ffd41cb3114297f2c17da5/speaker-2148213_1920.jpg?attachment" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="800" height="230" src="https://pixabay.com/get/eb34b5072af5023ed1534705fb0938c9bd22ffd41cb3114297f2c17da5/speaker-2148213_1920.jpg?attachment" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Have a great week. Till next time<br />
<br />
ST XXX<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-56022205362282103222018-02-27T18:01:00.002+08:002018-03-12T15:57:18.885+08:00RARE DISEASE DAY 2018 <div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99ZRw4BGTiOZx7F1oKGAdnYgCaOPZ3_dvqKw2OZnvHll8PODyZOB8B84FkqsAT4PphTTvcKGTRcN_hDh2DVW8LPMlr6mpkY_i334z-KVXwOZSc6rBIyxAQG0jG54j2e-Zw0EfinMKhsM/s1600/ashton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1080" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99ZRw4BGTiOZx7F1oKGAdnYgCaOPZ3_dvqKw2OZnvHll8PODyZOB8B84FkqsAT4PphTTvcKGTRcN_hDh2DVW8LPMlr6mpkY_i334z-KVXwOZSc6rBIyxAQG0jG54j2e-Zw0EfinMKhsM/s320/ashton.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating my sister's 21st in September 2017. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Picture this: </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You're lying on a hospital bed after your doctor has cut short your brain surgery procedure. His reason - <i>'there is a suspicious nodule on your enlarged thyroid and I want it checked out ASAP.' </i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You're frustrated because once again it's another 'health drama' to add to your list. You're angry and more than a tad 'pissed off.' </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, what you're most annoyed about is that the topic of Cowden's Syndrome is raised again. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Doctor- </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Have you been tested for Cowden's Syndrome yet? I think your enlarged thyroid and the nodule on it is related to Cowden's Syndrome.' </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is Cowden's Syndrome I hear you say? <i>Cowden's Syndrome is a disorder characterised by multiple noncancerous, tumour-like growths called hamartomas. It's also associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer, particularly cancers of the breast, thyroid and uterus. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Cowden's Syndrome is a highly-underdiagnosed condition that 1 in 200,000 people </span>in the world have. Mum has the gene and has had two cancer diagnoses. It was highly suspected at the time of my first brain surgery that I did as well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I never wanted to be tested because deep down my gut feeling was that I knew it'd be positive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At 21 years old, I just couldn't fathom the thought of having another medical condition to worry about on top of an already existing rare brain condition. I seemed to spend my time in and out of doctors and hospitals as it was. Why spend more? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, my thoughts and feelings about the situation did change over time. I decided that I needed to know for the sake of my health and for when I want to have children later down the track. It was better for me to be organised in preventing any future dramas. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgX0vLRr79kZly8ds59YE7iqvKbI_HivabkJwvZdyc_PjIT6SMMWyNs5566X7Eo_LtjgxhJm6GNWIGnhOzyxrbMrA0bTp_JvQv1HYq8wR3xcYmF6tsbJCcj_PCXYkoPU_1nx2Kpz4tt4/s1600/thyroid+surgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgX0vLRr79kZly8ds59YE7iqvKbI_HivabkJwvZdyc_PjIT6SMMWyNs5566X7Eo_LtjgxhJm6GNWIGnhOzyxrbMrA0bTp_JvQv1HYq8wR3xcYmF6tsbJCcj_PCXYkoPU_1nx2Kpz4tt4/s320/thyroid+surgery.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recovering after thyroid surgery in August 2016. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After testing and patiently waiting for three months, it was official. <i>I had inherited Cowden's Syndrome as well. </i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since the diagnosis, I've been through several procedures and check ups. For example, I've had my thyroid removed. The doctor who performed the procedure was so impressed by the size of it that I felt like rewarding myself with a gold medal. He said they stopped counting at 100 nodules. Goodbye thyroid and goodbye elevated risk of thyroid cancer. Good riddance actually!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I also have to have regular ultrasounds on my breasts, with my last check-up being both an ultrasound and mammogram. Once again the count is through the roof but I'm being well monitored. I feel so out of place every</span>time<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I go to an appointment. Picture this... I'm sitting among 40 year old plus women. I'm too young to be here. I don't want to think about breast cancer and stuff like that. But I've learned that ignorance is not bliss. I need to know. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifViblodpf1_7CCFm5WSAXJ6w2yZsy_gWKOvZpKmWU5bGDDmP28BPHC0RPMjR7jUHNbqIIXn0Y9Ubnzv1nlybp_yY9FocbT2EXff9lrpqPzA8T7hkNF5C8OsDSMWZqvxVRpJ0ulr382UY/s1600/14379603_10154472044774417_8351146707273099730_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifViblodpf1_7CCFm5WSAXJ6w2yZsy_gWKOvZpKmWU5bGDDmP28BPHC0RPMjR7jUHNbqIIXn0Y9Ubnzv1nlybp_yY9FocbT2EXff9lrpqPzA8T7hkNF5C8OsDSMWZqvxVRpJ0ulr382UY/s320/14379603_10154472044774417_8351146707273099730_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graduation Day from UWA in September 2016.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cowden's<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Syndrome is a disease that is with you from </span>birth. It is genetic. Having this condition has however had no effect on what makes me who I am as a person today. Despite everything, I've graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from UWA, I've travelled the world and I live life as best as I can. And I'm a really nice person if I say so myself. I just deal with my situation and get on with living!<br />
<br />
Rare Disease Day is happening on the 28th of February worldwide. The main objective of this day is to raise awareness amongst the general public of conditions like Cowden's Syndrome. It also encourages researchers and decision makers to address the needs of those living with rare diseases. From my perspective, it would be awesome if one less doctor says 'Cow-what?'<br />
<br />
One common trait you find with people that have rare diseases is that they never, ever give up. They are out there to spread awareness and they want to champion their story. Our stories are so rare and so uplifting that you'll want to help us continue our fight for awareness in this world.<br />
<br />
Until next time....<br />
<br />
AT xxx<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>189</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1082</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Personal</o:Company>
<o:Lines>9</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1269</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p><!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "-webkit-standard" , "serif";">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>68</o:Words>
<o:Characters>394</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Personal</o:Company>
<o:Lines>3</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>461</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>96</o:Words>
<o:Characters>552</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Personal</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>647</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<o:p></o:p>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>42</o:Words>
<o:Characters>244</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Personal</o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>285</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><o:p></o:p><!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-51622368230290387242018-02-27T10:23:00.002+08:002018-02-27T10:31:38.780+08:00LUNCH WITH MOTHER <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQkUSkyEzG6XJNO_y-kH7b_E5wMprTJ1jkynAsAoTAmoegJmIhiWo403ibiE8yxaBOnxiqDhaXjJbQoXwRE-X_x7iSkIMiVVk_dDK_cCe4toERsTvgPoF0pirSRT-uqOyhUm8JIzG6-4/s1600/Mum%2527s+food+blog+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQkUSkyEzG6XJNO_y-kH7b_E5wMprTJ1jkynAsAoTAmoegJmIhiWo403ibiE8yxaBOnxiqDhaXjJbQoXwRE-X_x7iSkIMiVVk_dDK_cCe4toERsTvgPoF0pirSRT-uqOyhUm8JIzG6-4/s320/Mum%2527s+food+blog+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Lunching </span>with my mother is always an event because she is the queen of being " hangry" and it's fun to see the change food brings. Did I say fun? Read on...<br />
<br />
Yesterday after taking Mum to a medical appointment which ran 45 minutes late to start with, Mum decided that if she didn't eat soon, she would perish on the spot. This actually happens frequently so I wasn't overly alarmed. I looked at my watch and decided that I had 3 hrs to make my plastic surgeon appointment at 1.30. OK MOTHER lets do lunch!<br />
<br />
Cafe number 1- Mum decides that it's disgraceful to have to pay for parking as well as food so we move on. ( I sort of agree)<br />
Diversion to pharmacy...time is ticking.<br />
Cafe number 2 - we are greeted with a marvellous array of muffins, lunch time foods and gorgeous seating. I get excited. Mum likes nothing. I get deflated and apologising to the waiters we leave.<br />
Cafe number 3 - Mum does a food reconnaissance and likes nothing. I knew this was coming the minute I saw the quinoa salad. She hates quinoa.<br />
We cross the road.<br />
Cafe number 4 looks inviting but there is not one free seat in the house...so we leave.<br />
We cross back and spot an Italian restaurant. Mum loves Italian anything.<br />
<br />
The Italian restaurant is staffed by an Italian god who announces he is 100% Italian, when Mum quizzes him to see if he is the real deal. Mum falls in love and starts telling the man her life history. She also gets an overwhelming desire for pasta.<br />
<br />
She takes AGES to choose a pasta because apparently she likes them all. I choose for her and face my own dilemma. There is NOTHING on this menu that a person with a touchy gastric sleeve can eat. I decide that I can pick at a chorizo salad. So we order and we wait.<br />
<br />
The next bit is like a movie scene where as the clock ticks the actors are filmed in various positions. I swear that Italian god was growing the wheat to make the pasta to make Mum's lunch. It was taking ages. She was hangry. I was hangry. The world as we know it was ending and I needed to be on the other side of town in 40 minutes . There were 6 million traffic lights between me and the hospital...I needed to take Mum home...the hospital was notorious for bad parking...nothing to be done except ask for a takeaway.<br />
<br />
The eyes of the Italian god sank. I had insulted him by asking for takeaway. He has beautiful eyes which any other time I would have been happy to check out further. But, no...fuelled by hanger, I threw Mum and two take away containers in the car and lead footed out of there.<br />
<br />
Mum was deposited home safely.<br />
Every traffic light bar one was green. At the red one I opened my overpriced chorizo salad. It looked hideous.<br />
I nibbled on some chargrilled bread and some white gunk fell on my new skirt. Fabulous, now I had a doctors appointment AND a lawyers appointment where I would smell of vomity cheese.<br />
I nibbled on some chorizo, got out of the car and threw the lot in the bin. I do not like processed meat.<br />
<br />
Wondering if there was a bottle shop hiding somewhere in the hospital, I headed to my appointment which I arrived at bang on time.<br />
<br />
Still hangry.<br />
<br />
ST<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-21529979696972957562018-02-26T19:38:00.000+08:002018-03-12T15:59:24.783+08:00ANOTHER YEAR OLDER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYkkz-LSv9SZ_nry8x3CzW3Vjs-pyRFyxPcCgN8f-aBC-TR988oLhYGbfUjDCkis3iMfShzoFVnCCTHF9VgFohu3isN53ZsapajQBuoI-FAgfUYvKkX7-PhVEOmQvJljPngA-OOIBbtY/s1600/Happy+birthday+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYkkz-LSv9SZ_nry8x3CzW3Vjs-pyRFyxPcCgN8f-aBC-TR988oLhYGbfUjDCkis3iMfShzoFVnCCTHF9VgFohu3isN53ZsapajQBuoI-FAgfUYvKkX7-PhVEOmQvJljPngA-OOIBbtY/s400/Happy+birthday+image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Today I turned 24.<br />
<br />
I've felt incredibly odd about it all day. I'm now at an age where I am considered to be in my "mid 20's" and I don't know how that really sits with me.<br />
<br />
I always looked at this age of being one of 'settlement.' I thought by this stage of my life I would be settled in a job, in a relationship and had saved enough money for a house deposit. But as always, life doesn't always go to plan, and for me I've finally learnt how true this is.<br />
<br />
Age is such a funny thing. We spend our whole lives thinking that we need to achieve a goal by a particular time. That if we do, we'd be satisfied. That if we do, we'll be happy. However, what we don't realise is that while we are so determined to reach this goal of being 'happy' or 'settled', that we miss out on what other things life has to offer.<br />
<br />
'Long term happiness' is not real. It will come and go, but there's no such real thing as 'being happy forever.' What is real is learning how to embrace opportunities, learning how to stand up for yourself in a tricky situation, learning how to find the good in the bad and to find the strength to get through a tough situation.<br />
<br />
I like the rest of the world have been reading 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' by Mark Manson. It's an incredibly motivational kick-in-the-ass book and one that I encourage you all to read for yourselves. He sums the above perfectly with this quote- <i>"The desire for more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one's negative experience is itself a positive experience.' </i><br />
<br />
In the last 24 years, I have gone through more than what any other person would have done in a lifetime. I've had 16 brain surgeries, I've graduated from university, and I lived in Melbourne for 6 months. There is so many more other things that have happened that I could list both positive and negative, but they have all helped me into getting to this stage of my life.<br />
<br />
While the thought of being one year off the quarter life crisis scares the crap out of me, I'm actually pretty excited for what's to come. Life always has a way of working things out and I know that my path is waiting for me to ride along it.<br />
<br />
So here's to the year of 24. I may have not achieved what I set out to achieve by this age, but you know what? I really don't care. Turning 24 instead comes with a feeling of contentment . It comes with a feeling that is ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges that come with it.<br />
<br />
As always....BRING IT ON!<br />
<br />
Until next time...<br />
<br />
AT xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-52957969949140925282018-02-20T22:09:00.000+08:002018-03-12T16:03:39.685+08:00LESSONS FROM STRANGERS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAIqBJ-mR4OCTWJjNS7OS8b9TMaFejok563LLc349L5s_BDxvp6q0QxJf5eoaNy-uAHk9qBjU7WyeRRF91FcCqUdPc-9rUvudYc2krEVuwc8gDCHX-ozMKJRSKJyD0rsw9w8rOLtY0aE/s1600/blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAIqBJ-mR4OCTWJjNS7OS8b9TMaFejok563LLc349L5s_BDxvp6q0QxJf5eoaNy-uAHk9qBjU7WyeRRF91FcCqUdPc-9rUvudYc2krEVuwc8gDCHX-ozMKJRSKJyD0rsw9w8rOLtY0aE/s320/blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm almost one month into my three months of not driving.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So far I'm doing ok. I'm walking a lot, getting lots of lifts from family/friends and catching way too much public transport. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After living in Melbourne for six months, public transport over there was not a problem for me. Where I was living, there was a tram just out the front of my house that came every 5 minutes which took me straight into the city. It was an absolute breeze!<br />
<br />
Returning home to Perth, public transport is at the opposite end of the spectrum. A lot of extra time needs to be added on because most often you'll need to catch more than one bus or train to get to a certain place. And if you ask anyone who does this commute daily, they'll describe it in a furious manner with many expletives muttered in between</div>
<div>
<br />
To give an example, the new Optus Stadium (still wondering why they couldn't have just called it 'Perth Stadium') will only be accessible via public transport. Cars can't drop people off close by like they used to at Domain Stadium/Patterson's Stadium/Subiaco oval. And because of this change, people are furious because they'll have to take many trains/buses to get to the stadium. Or as how other people describe it, 'they need to stop making Perth transport like Melbourne transport.' </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you've read my previous post, you would know that I'm doing my best to put the phone screen down at the moment. Well because of this, I seem to be having more conversations on public transport with the people around me.<br />
<br />
For example, last week I was chatting to a lady on the bus who was in Perth for a psychology conference. In the 20 minutes that I was on the bus for, we got chatting about each others' family and reasons for our chosen careers. She told me about how she had taken several years off work to look after her unwell child and was now finally in a place were she could return to study. She also told me about her husband who had studied acting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), but turned down a career in it to take up professional photography. Life for her and her husband had changed dramatically over the years, but together they just kept pushing through the tough times.<br />
<br />
Today I had a chat with a lady on the bus who has been in Perth now for 24 years. Her and her husband came here for a holiday in 1994 and loved it so much that they decided to move their whole British family over here. She told me how important it was for them to embrace new and exciting opportunities because life is too short to waste them. If she hadn't taken the risk, she wouldn't be so content about life right now as a retiree.<br />
<br />
With my 24th birthday coming up next week, these ladies have taught me two very important lessons: <br />
- Yes, being 'unemployed' sucks. But, tough times do pass and this tough time won't be forever. I just need to keep plodding along. Something will come up!<br />
- I need to get out of my comfort zone more. For me, getting out of my comfort zone is like being thrown in the deep end and not knowing how to swim out of it. It's difficult, but sometimes that's the best way to learn and become a better person.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Public transport in Perth will improve as the years go on, but like my conversations with these two ladies, lessons from strangers on public transport will help improve things for the days and years to come. I'm going to make the most of the next two months of not driving and try and learn from as many more people as I can. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Until next time....</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
AT xxx </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-66881425880359413932018-02-18T19:37:00.001+08:002018-02-18T19:50:12.539+08:00RARE DISEASE BURNOUTIt's been 10 months since I posted anything. Why? It's actually really simple. I woke up one morning and the urge to write was gone.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlysbz9D9UXbdDIJEYQWTKCSnQYLj5v2vDEZvE36ZDsPujVrqbFvYWqx7PGeUacV3kmayZRvaSLLAuiJ-L3mWRQuBZWW_eLrklIzYOhgR4AwkysafkmHVy4dH8-52sV-UHi5awMNDI3I/s1600/YellingWoman.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlysbz9D9UXbdDIJEYQWTKCSnQYLj5v2vDEZvE36ZDsPujVrqbFvYWqx7PGeUacV3kmayZRvaSLLAuiJ-L3mWRQuBZWW_eLrklIzYOhgR4AwkysafkmHVy4dH8-52sV-UHi5awMNDI3I/s1600/YellingWoman.png" /></a></div>
OVERNIGHT I didn't want to share my life with CS anymore .<br />
I didn't want to be different with all my ailments and tests and surgeries and nonsense AND<br />
I especially didn't want to talk about my daughter Ashton any more. It was too painful.<br />
Enough was enough. I had rare disease burnout.<br />
<br />
I suppose in retrospect, I felt that if I went quiet the condition would too. Let's just say it didn't go anywhere.<br />
<br />
Time is a great healer of emotions and not surprisingly that's why this blog is back. You see we're not done. We'll never be done. We have a role to play with advocating for this medical condition and we take that role seriously.<br />
<br />
You notice I say WE. Yes, from now on this blog will be a joint effort and I will let my daughter tell her own story. There may be overlap. I am after all a parent of a child with a rare condition. I happen to have the same condition. 1 in 200 000 and we have 2 in this family of 4. Still does my head in.<br />
<br />
So since we met:<br />
-While actively trying to pretend I didn't have a medical condition, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. She is a private person so I will not discuss her condition. The only thing I want to say is that her primary cancer was in the bowel and this has made me question her negative CS diagnosis again. But it is really pointless to pursue this now. The months have been filled with being a daughter and helping my mother through this in any way I can. I won't lie. It's been hard.<br />
<br />
- The aftermath of the gastric sleeve surgery from hell is an unwanted gift that keeps on giving. Despite another procedure to dilate ( open up) my stomach opening, eating is no longer a pleasure and causes me no end of grief. But...we will leave this for another blog post one day.<br />
<br />
- things keep growing on me. Remember, a person with CS has a tendency to do this. At time of writing an odd shaped cystic lesion is growing on my stomach wall. I'm sure its benign but I'm off to the plastic surgeon next week to make sure. It's ugly and very annoying but unfortunately it's not alone. My arms are unsightly with scarring from previous lumps and more are about to join them as new lumps have emerged. These are usually lipoma ( harmless) and they are removed when there is a good reason. My good reason for this one is IT HURTS. My plastic surgeon is great. He takes them off when I've had enough.<br />
<br />
- I'm meeting a new specialist in two months who supposedly can manage my condition for me. After managing myself for years I'm slightly cynical. This is gonna be good.<br />
<br />
Till next time<br />
ST<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , "nimbus sans l" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-24468169505955536732018-02-16T16:30:00.000+08:002018-03-12T16:06:10.794+08:00NORMAL LIFE vs HYPER REALITY <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YmblwQohJEbXQqsP18_KtbbutMv06PIldLcKRauC0Ao59fzxBCZB3zK-wk6z_xFSQ0Rlx4BpWVvfJylMvR-FTM8PTfkHwGa5LN1Y83tunTHbBf9T0agA7imdqa35NmGsUBAszevHMF8/s1600/Blog+2+Photo+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1110" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YmblwQohJEbXQqsP18_KtbbutMv06PIldLcKRauC0Ao59fzxBCZB3zK-wk6z_xFSQ0Rlx4BpWVvfJylMvR-FTM8PTfkHwGa5LN1Y83tunTHbBf9T0agA7imdqa35NmGsUBAszevHMF8/s400/Blog+2+Photo+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you spend too much time engrossed in social media? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you find that you know way too much about a person that you've never met?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is the first thing you do in the morning check in on Facebook to see what you missed overnight? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’ve said yes to any of the above, we share a very deep connection. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi I’m Ashton and I am a social media addict. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes that’s
right , I am a social media addict. And after many years of denying it, here I
am finally admitting it. It's become an unhealthy obsession and I've just about had enough of it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My addiction with social media started back at 11 years old when
connecting to the internet required dial-up and hours were spent redesigning my Myspace page. Since then, the world of social media has exploded with everything ranging from Snapchat to Twitter. Over the years I’ve downloaded and used too many social media channels to
count. I’ve had everything ranging from a Tumblr blog to Periscope, which is a live video streaming app. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other day I was
reading a well known social media influencer’s Instagram page (yes another social media channel!) I’ve been
following her page for a few years now and really admire how she’s made a name
for herself as a business woman and influencer in society. Her recent post spoke about people making
assumptions and forming uneducated opinions about her personal life and the effect it has on the people around her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It got me thinking. Why are we so focused on perfecting a certain look and forming a certain opinion because of what we see through a social media channel? The majority of social media content I follow is full of glitz, glamour, bright lights and flashing cameras. I follow many social media pages where influencers are frequently attending lunches, are gifted products from PR agencies and are dressed in the latest designer gowns at formal events. How am I meant to be the best version of myself when I am viewing content like this? Why am I so fascinated with this content when all it is doing is making me feel inferior? Who cares if that top is from XXX and costs XXX? Who cares if you've been gifted a piece of jewellery that costs XXX? I can't afford that, so why am I feeling like I'm not living up to societies expectations because they are posting this content? It's just not real, and I've had enough of it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While this 'hyper reality' life is something that we'd like to become accustomed to, we often forget about what these people have gone through to get in front of those lenses. We don't see the hours put in at the gym to perfect that particular look or the tears because they've missed out on important family celebrations/weddings. Or even the stress to get a babysitter/nanny so that their 'social status' was not missing from an event.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you may or may not know, in the last year I worked as a social media manager. To counter defend what I have said above, social media is a
great marketing tool for businesses to use in terms of creating brand awareness
and business growth. For certain businesses it works a treat and it’ll be a part of their marketing plans for years to come. In my personal experience though, being on social media all the time and using it in a way that has an effect on your personal life is somewhat counterproductive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is much media commentary out there about the effect social media has in society. However, what I'm finding that they don't say is that when you're constantly comparing yourself and making assumptions about someone on these channels, it becomes exhausting, and you may not even realise this. You are living in a world where the switch in
your brain doesn’t turn off. You are living in a hyper reality world that
serves no purpose than to make you feel like you aren't conforming to what is 'supposed' to be right in this world. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One thing that I’ve learnt as a person with Cowden's syndrome, is how
important it is to 'live in the moment.' Although this sounds cliche, with a medical condition that
unfortunately comes with numerous medical problems, I want to focus this year on living life to the full. It’s time to put the phone down and embrace myself more
in what life has to offer. I know that it is easier said than done, (I can hear
those of you saying ‘yeah fat chance that’ll happen Ashton’) but it’s something
I just really want to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have any tips on breaking this hyper reality cycle I'm in, please let me know! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Until next time….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>449</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2560</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Personal</o:Company>
<o:Lines>21</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3003</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
AT xx <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-74331350069541291352018-02-14T10:56:00.002+08:002018-02-19T11:11:41.214+08:00THE ART OF FRUSTRATION<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZe4w-AyceIuMq3qput5qBJU95xqID_6y2D4LWYq_zXZ9IWJ5Zf8E2J_kk6Qq2wXXVzoY5OYiKAifPR_J3QP4PP4ScGCWExjYcVA6R-bboeHnFYUFpOMD84nwYRA-BsUJkyPopN6phQyQ/s1600/angry-2191104_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZe4w-AyceIuMq3qput5qBJU95xqID_6y2D4LWYq_zXZ9IWJ5Zf8E2J_kk6Qq2wXXVzoY5OYiKAifPR_J3QP4PP4ScGCWExjYcVA6R-bboeHnFYUFpOMD84nwYRA-BsUJkyPopN6phQyQ/s400/angry-2191104_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
How am I feeling right now?<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m frustrated. I’ve been looking and applying for jobs for
a month and a half. My days consist of looking at my laptop, sending off job
applications, going for my daily walks, getting rejection emails from those job
applications and watching at least one episode of Will and Grace a day. All I
want is money for rent, money so I can buy food, money to have a life and money
to go on holidays. That dream of dipping
my feet into the pristine waters of Santorini just seems so unachievable at the
moment…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During my first year of my communications degree, it was
stressed that we get as much work experience in our chosen future field of work
as possible. At the time, I was highly invested in becoming a journalist, so I
went off and completed work experience at my local hometown’s newspaper. Fast
forward a few years later, and after completing jobs that just weren’t right
for me, I’ve reignited with my love of writing and love of telling people’s
stories. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since returning to Perth, I’ve been applying for numerous
journalism and communications jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although
I have past experience to do with these areas and have the skills to complete
the jobs, the feedback from those emails/interviews has been something like the
following: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘We’re really impressed with your CV, however there were
people who had more experience than you.’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘We’d love to give you a job, but we haven’t got enough
money to have you on board.’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘You don’t have the paid experience that we are looking
for.’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After all the work I’ve completed in paid/volunteer work, I
STILL DON’T HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE! And that for me is frustrating,
because I have worked really hard in the past few years (on top of everything
I’ve been through!) to get to where I want to be. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As my days have only consisted of what I’ve stated above,
I’ve really been struggling to get out of bed in the morning. And for me that
is FRUSTRATING because I am a very happy, bright and bubbly person. Although I have been trying my best to get
motivated to achieve something each day, my morning routine sounds a little bit
like this. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6:30am: ALARM 1<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- ‘I
can’t be bothered. I’ll set it again for 7:00am. ‘<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7:00am: ALARM 2 – ‘NOPE. I’m only applying for jobs all day.
I don’t have that much to do!’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8:30am: AFTER SCROLLING ON MY PHONE FOR AN 1HR AND 30 MINUTES -
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘GET UP, GET UP, GET UP. DON’T WASTE
YOUR DAY.’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s another point to add to my frustration. I can’t drive
for three months. Yes that’s right. Yours truly had another seizure a couple of
weeks ago and now can’t drive for three months. I’m desperately trying to think
positively about the situation. If I go anywhere, I have to add on at least 30 minutes
preparation time so I walk to the place or catch the bus/train. While it’s
great exercise, I have moments were I just want to fire up my car engine and
head off somewhere. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This period is tough and frustrating for me right now and especially when you have Cowden's Syndrome because you’ve got to think about your
health at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This phase will
pass, but I just don’t know when.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that I’ve got my frustration off my chest, I’m off to
watch another episode of Will and Grace.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until next time….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AT x<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>478</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2731</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Personal</o:Company>
<o:Lines>22</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3203</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-9113559903412911132017-03-08T12:28:00.001+08:002017-03-08T12:28:46.999+08:00HOW ARE YOU GOING?<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="http://www.pictures88.com/p/how_are_you/how_are_you_022.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pictures88.com/p/how_are_you/how_are_you_022.gif" height="139" width="200" /></a>Are you OK or how are you going are the hardest questions for a person with a rare condition to answer. I get asked these question dozens of times a week and each time I stumble over my answer. You see they are usually asked because a person is genuinely being nice. Sometimes they are asked because a person is being nosy. And other times, especially in Australia it is just habit. </div>
<em><br /></em><br />
So how does one answer these questions without offending the genuine and do people really want to know the proper answer anyway? I find myself increasingly answering "good thanks", simply to get the situation over and done with. I find myself realising that people don't need to know and sometimes don't really want to know, so I feel I've saved us both the trouble really.<br />
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNharoiBs7zjHtgrV_KEkHvC3QhPh9GprjkfTLvQv10VWEUepqFFbbXItRytKnU_u5t49Ev7hl70Ocw_pg0k74ioe60wJIv5DipfVTOh9GA-1CfcO0QvA6uMT8hnfsmR5rVZL-mcpuCME/s1600/gagged_woman_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNharoiBs7zjHtgrV_KEkHvC3QhPh9GprjkfTLvQv10VWEUepqFFbbXItRytKnU_u5t49Ev7hl70Ocw_pg0k74ioe60wJIv5DipfVTOh9GA-1CfcO0QvA6uMT8hnfsmR5rVZL-mcpuCME/s1600/gagged_woman_image.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
It really is quite exasperating because this ends up feeling like I have been issued with a gag notice. <em>You must not and can not tell people the truth about how you are going, because in reality they can't possibly understand.</em> Some gave up trying to understand my condition and my daughter's ages ago. They don't understand why we are not fixed, so when they occasionally slip up and ask how we are going, you almost see a look of terror on their face. OH NO, SHE IS GOING TO ANSWER. I think that people don't know what more to say and I get that. <em>The first time she was sick I was 100% supportive but by the twentieth time, I don't know what to say to her.</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
Of late I have even started the "good thanks" business with family because for some reason I always feel like I am trying to out do their problems. And that is not fair. Everyone's reaction to their situation is relative to their experience. A lump in my body results in a systematic approach to investigation. I do it without blinking. A lump in someone else may elicit pure terror. Although the lump is more likely to be nasty in my case, I zip my lips. Everyone has to feel their own way and their own terror. A friend recently had a melt down because he needed a blood test. Oh LOL.<br />
<br /><br />
Maybe I should adopt my uncle's approach. When he came to visit us in Australia from Malta, he seemed completely baffled why Aussies use the phrase " how are you going?". His initially couldn't figure out why people always asked his mode of transport. After laughing my head off we explained it was a way of saying "how are you". Maybe I should just answer " by car" to everything, like he initially did.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/70329c66-4aa7-4667-af99-8e771add77c2/898bfa59-4e91-425c-be9e-c8588ab2a1e6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/70329c66-4aa7-4667-af99-8e771add77c2/898bfa59-4e91-425c-be9e-c8588ab2a1e6.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
A week in the life of someone with CS varies. My daughter and I have what we call "doctors weeks" where we try to make sure we use our time wisely to avoid the 450km trip back to the city. So between us it could look something like this - specialist visit, mri, blood test, endoscopy. I haven't made that up. That was a few weeks ago and its not unusual.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
So when you ask if I'm ok this is what I want to say:</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="http://www.jerseycrossfit.je/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/oh-dear-lord.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.jerseycrossfit.je/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/oh-dear-lord.png" height="200" width="171" /></a><em>I'm worried about that lump.</em></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<em>I'm worried about the ongoing radiation.</em></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<em>I'm scared the nurse who bruises me will do the blood tests.</em></div>
<em>I'm terrified of more damage to my stomach.</em><br />
<em>I'm worried about the bills.</em><br />
<em>I'm anxious at missing work</em>.<br />
<br /><br />
But I can't because it makes people uneasy and uncomfortable. I save it for the precious few who can still cope and for the majority I answer "I'm good thanks". It's not fair but its what I've got unless you want the " by car" answer.<br />
<br /><br />
Till next time...xxx<br />
STAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-8613466865362779442017-02-21T17:43:00.004+08:002017-02-21T17:43:52.651+08:00WHEN YOU GROW UPGrowing up is hard. In a classroom I frequently have to remind myself that the behaviour of a student<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://vagendavixen.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/growing-up-is-never-easy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://vagendavixen.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/growing-up-is-never-easy.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
will be different " when he or she grows up". I have to remind myself to be patient, calm, methodical and non argumentative when all I want to really do is slap their bottoms. It's taxing but it will be better "when they grow up".<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Enter Sam a 14 year old boy with overactive vocal cords and quite possibly ants in his pants because he can't sit still. Sam is the class clown. He reminds me that we met last year in his old school and as I have deleted said meeting from my memory banks ( if it ever happened), I pretend to remember. Big mistake. He then proceeds to say something inappropriate to his mates who all laugh. He has a team. Game on buddy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sam twists and turns and talks out loud, especially when I'm talking. When reminded of correct behaviour he stops for a millisecond, before continuing. He then asks to go to the toilet and delighted to have 5 minutes peace I agree.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sam returns and resumes his conversations with his admirers. Time to take out the allies. I ask him to move to a seat in front of me. He initially refuses as it would ruin his tough guy reputation. I focus my look on a spot between his eyes and he caves...momentarily. He gets his own back by announcing to the class that I want to get closer to him. I ignore and sit on my twitching palms. He'll be better when he's older.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I ignore the hand waving in front of me until there is some writing on his page. So he scribbles something. He wants to go to the toilet. " But you've been!" I say. "No, I couldn't find it" he says, " so I came back".</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now this is possible BS or possibly true. These kids are new to this school. I take him outside the door and point out the boys toilets. He scoots down the stairs and I pray there is no deputy principal wandering. Actually at this stage, truth be known I didn't care.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He returns and sits himself in front of me. I ignore him and do a round of the room. I return as he has been trying to rev up his team from afar. He asks me if I'm aware one of my eyebrows is higher than the other. I ignore. He tells me my nail polish is pretty. I ignore. He turns round and engages with an ally. I react calmly and move him to a table and chair outside the room, on the verandah. He is mortified and now worried as the head of department is close. For a moment I feel sorry for Sam. He is just a kid and it will be better when he grows up. But there are 20 something others in the room and my sanity to contend with.</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/65/1/639787835-it-takes-courage-to-grow-up-become-who-you-really-are.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/65/1/639787835-it-takes-courage-to-grow-up-become-who-you-really-are.jpg" height="185" width="200" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
Years ago I taught a different Sam, a female one but equally argumentative and difficult. This Sam was with me for 10 out of her 30 lessons a week and though many times I literally wanted to kill her, she remains one of my favourite students ever. She was loud, pig headed, adamant she was always right and hard work. As I got to know her I realised she had the biggest heart, was super loyal and defended those she loved at all costs, even if she got suspended, which inevitably happened. When my daughter moved to college in Perth, she threatened to move in. I used to laugh but took it as a compliment of how far we had come. She was getting better as she grew up!<br />
<br />
This week, five years after she left school, I received the most beautiful note which touched me deeply. Here is part of it:<br />
<i><br />
</i> <i>And also I don't know if I have said it before but reading some of your blog posts and growing up a lot now I feel so horrible for how much of a brat I was in school for you. Knowing some of your stories and your sickness I feel like such a little brat (which I was) and feel terrible as back then you would have been dealing with and going through hell. I thankyou for all the love and support you still gave me regardless through it all. I hope you are well.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i> Wow...wow...wow<br />
Talk about getting better with age! So glad for the gift of patience that has enabled me not only to deal with students in my career but also the hurdles my condition presents sometimes on a daily basis.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRhr4YRUAAAsEf0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRhr4YRUAAAsEf0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Till next time...xxx<br />
ST</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-50802006849898071232017-02-01T17:15:00.000+08:002017-02-01T17:15:21.352+08:00PENCIL PAINThere is nothing more irritating to me than the sound of someone tapping their pen repeatedly on a <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://daily-dew.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/pencil.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://daily-dew.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/pencil.png" height="199" width="200" /></a></div>
table and so when I found myself in this situation this afternoon, I gritted my teeth and waited for it to stop. It didn't.<br />
<br />
Now the person in question is a 12 year old boy and my experience with this age group is that pretty much , NOT MUCH, resides in their head. I mean they have a brain and all that, but it's obvious that the brain is in a try before you buy phase. Let's call the boy Ryan because that's not his name.<br />
<br />
" Ryan, I'd really like it if you stop tapping your pencil and use it instead to do some work".<br />
" Ok miss" ( I'm eternally unmarried in public school).<br />
I watched as Ryan looked me straight in the eye and started tapping his pencil again. This little sod is now upping the ante.<br />
Take 2 - " Ryan please don't tap your pencil. It's very distracting to everyone ."<br />
" Ok Miss"<br />
Once more he looks me in the eye and continued tapping.<br />
" Ok Ryan, make a choice, keep tapping and you'll lose the pencil and have other consequences OR stop tapping and do your work"<br />
" But if you take my pencil, I can't do my work!" ( flipping 12 year old male logic).<br />
" Make a choice!"<br />
" I'll do my work"<br />
" Good choice. Well done.<br />
He then proceeded to once again look me in the eye and tap the pencil.<br />
" Oh Ryan bad choice, 5 minutes detention after school.<br />
"Why?" ( is this kid for real???)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://argfactor.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/images-duckduckgo-com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://argfactor.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/images-duckduckgo-com.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
" We'll discuss it after school.<br />
Ryan then proceeds to do one whole minute work without tapping. He is joined at detention by another darling with over active vocal cords.<br />
" Why have I kept you in Ryan?"<br />
" Err dunno "<br />
" Well maybe I have to let you sit quietly for a while till you come up with a reason."<br />
" I didn't do my work".<br />
" No"<br />
" I talked too much".<br />
" No".<br />
" Any other reason you can think of?" ( shakes head).<br />
Another couple of minutes to think while I dispatched vocal cords.<br />
" Anything new Ryan?"<br />
" Was it the pencil?"<br />
Bingo.<br />
<br />
The story concluded with a discussion about him looking me in the eye and deliberately doing the wrong thing. He repeated to me what he had done wrong and told me what he would do differently next time.<br />
<br />
Hmm<br />
<br />
Day 1 - school is back and the teaching of social skills and manners is up and running.<br />
<br />
Till next time...xxx<br />
STAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-13618395419243686872017-01-27T09:33:00.001+08:002017-01-28T07:03:36.257+08:00I'M FINEA number of people have made contact with me recently asking why I haven't updated my blog. I <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.liveluvcreate.com/create/n/nah_im_fine-448522.jpg?i" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.liveluvcreate.com/create/n/nah_im_fine-448522.jpg?i" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
have been going through a few dilemmas with regard to my blog, so I thought I'd try to explain.<br />
<br />
This post may have no order to it. Try to keep up!<br />
<br />
When people look at me very often all they see is a woman with health issues. There is no escaping this. People ask how my health is all the time. They forget to ask about the other parts of me. People are kind, but lately I've been wanting to be noticed for other things other than disease. I'm a wife, a mother, a teacher. I have hobbies and some I'm actually good it!. And...oh yes...I have CS.<br />
<br />
When people listen to me they don't understand why I'm not "fixed". They don't understand that I will never, ever be fixed. There is no pill, no surgery, no doctor on the planet that can fix me. I just have to soldier on unfixed and broken.<br />
<br />
Sometimes saying " I'm fine" pisses me right off. I am never fine. I have good days and I have bad days, but I am never fine. With the considerable weight loss I've had I can feel every tumour in my body. Sitting for long periods is uncomfortable due to tumours in my butt and back. They're benign and that's all doctors care about. But I'm not fine. I'm in pain...a lot. Benign tumours can be painful.<br />
<br />
I worry a lot and lately more than usual. I keep quiet about a lot of it because people don't always want to or need to know. I worry about cancer all the time and I feel quite alone about this, because doctors only deal with what is, not what isn't. This doesn't help me after two cancer diagnoses and a body as lumpy as hell. And I know it's easy to say to someone to try not to think about it, but that doesn't work. I think of cancer every day. Every time I undress for a shower and see my reconstructions, they still fill me with fear.<br />
<br />
Sometimes a week of doctor's appointments can silence me for a while. Because I don't live in the city appointments are scheduled close together. In one week my daughter and I can attend more appointments and undergo more procedures than a " normal" person in a lifetime. This drains you. Last week I held my daughter while she sobbed with fear after her breast check up. I know how she feels so all I can do is be there and bargain with God. Then there was my endoscopy to try and inflate a stomach that will not hold food. The tears started as the hospital came into view. I spent six weeks locked up in that place, and there I was about to go through a dilatation of my stomach to help me eat, a procedure with a risk of perforation once more. The procedure appears to have been successful and Ashton has a leave pass from that doctor for a year, but the week took its toll, physically and mentally.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://secure.static.tumblr.com/24a8339891c9eb50369aabaa6a7f608f/nizy58l/X3kmx28rb/tumblr_static_tumblr_mqogemyyg61qmej1mo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://secure.static.tumblr.com/24a8339891c9eb50369aabaa6a7f608f/nizy58l/X3kmx28rb/tumblr_static_tumblr_mqogemyyg61qmej1mo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And I suppose there is life in general to cope with. There are the problems everyone deals with- family issues, financial issues, work issues etc. Add them into the mix!<br />
<br />
I didn't write this for sympathy. I wrote it to explain why sometimes I'm quiet on the blog. But it does give an insight into life with a chronic condition. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of good in my life. Just sometimes I need time away. Blog statistics don't worry me anymore. The blog started as therapy and like all therapy it needs to be regular. I'm just redefining regular.<br />
<br />
For those of you with CS, my door is always open. I get you. You don't have to tell me you're fine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://aos.iacpublishinglabs.com/question/aq/700px-394px/purpose-open-door-policy_b8f0dbef670b2e6d.jpg?domain=cx.aos.ask.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://aos.iacpublishinglabs.com/question/aq/700px-394px/purpose-open-door-policy_b8f0dbef670b2e6d.jpg?domain=cx.aos.ask.com" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Till next time...xxx<br />
ST<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-63363560835095830482017-01-10T09:53:00.003+08:002017-01-10T10:01:30.632+08:00MY HAPPY PLACEEveryone needs a happy place, a place you can go to for recharging the batteries. Sometimes you can close your eyes and remember. Other times you get to go there in person.My happy place is Bali, Indonesia, a 3 1/2 hour flight from Perth.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggxrMwAVxWoZaCXJenzXtjidTx0IO-ydOL8VFaSZ9WSyBTzBshyphenhyphenX3MJNbThbqGZ7vO9k7VX9xFdx_15rZWBYWaVUYjUVyKRV_hd_ECB2rzc-lEVdy0EyNzcRGrmLJZN3PT3vJiHiZCLE/s640/blogger-image--1198323609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggxrMwAVxWoZaCXJenzXtjidTx0IO-ydOL8VFaSZ9WSyBTzBshyphenhyphenX3MJNbThbqGZ7vO9k7VX9xFdx_15rZWBYWaVUYjUVyKRV_hd_ECB2rzc-lEVdy0EyNzcRGrmLJZN3PT3vJiHiZCLE/s320/blogger-image--1198323609.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Having just been to Bali 3 months ago, I did not expect to be back so soon. How lucky can one be! We arrived on a late flight after an interesting journey sitting next to an elderly woman who must be in her eighties at least. She was dressed immaculately right down to to the pearl necklace and bracelet and probably would have been more comfortable in first class if the flight had one. When the drinks service started my thoughts were confirmed. The lady asked for a double scotch on the rocks and could not believe her ears when she was told that wasn't possible. " I've flown all over the world and never been refused a scotch" she said. Mark and I chuckled quietly as she continued complaining that she also missed the toiletries bag she normally got in first class. The lady next to her tried to speak to her quietly, but all that happened was " what are they going to do? Eject me?<br />
<br />
The flight was quick and pleasant and we soon landed in Bali. Unfortunately we then had to wait one and a half hours for our luggage as due to a very tough drug policy every bag is scanned in Indonesia. Being a person who travels with loads of medication I always worry about this part, but again they let me through without a problem.<br />
<br />
Perth airport had not been so easy. I was " selected" for a full body scan and then they told me there was a suspicious spot on my thigh. I told them it was fat but they patted me down regardless, before deciding it was the folds of my dress! As soon as that was over I was selected for an explosives test! OMG! Do I look that dodgy? The only explosive likely was from my mouth, so I was let go.<br />
<br />
Our poor driver had been waiting for us for two hours by the time we found him. The trip to our hotel was reasonably quick with both of us taking in the sounds and smells of Bali we've grown to love, while at the same time wondering how we could possibly avoid hitting the motorbike riders who were everywhere.<br />
<br />
It was lovely to be greeted with " welcome home" by the staff. Makes you want to keep coming back.<br />
<br />
The night went quickly and soon it was breakfast time. Normally Mark is up and at it first, but today I ended up in breakfast first because I seriously needed a caffeine hit. There were squeals of delight from a couple of the staff who remembered us. One of the older ladies asked me how my stomach<br />
was. I think the look on my face answered her question. Breakfast was mainly fruit. I don't trust my stomach too much here, actually anywhere.<br />
<br />
Mid morning we caught the hotel shuttle bus to Kerobokan to find a leather maker everyone has been raving about. He is getting married soon and I think we helped contribute to his wedding fund today. I am so excited to see what this man can do, especially with a piece of fabric I gave him.<br />
<br />
Crochet, my current go to hobby, is everywhere as is macrame. There are crochet tops, hangings, bikinis, light covers etc and all are beautiful. With that in mind I went to a shop that caters for all crafts and I swear I started hyperventilating. I have never, ever seen such beautiful beads and braids. I also hope that Jetstar don't mind the 5 kg of crochet cotton I bought. Oops!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbPb1n_yk_c9dEpskEaNEP8Ks44HKGTU4Gfig1Kvjbpn2OHoIvENuJxMWBS5yLKWqvH23bpE_TRL6f5M4s968pYkOT7weFgfLA0ZjIeE_HwSKsfRl6ES8PZPOa85RZAX8lyZ1La-cDcM/s640/blogger-image-1811203123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbPb1n_yk_c9dEpskEaNEP8Ks44HKGTU4Gfig1Kvjbpn2OHoIvENuJxMWBS5yLKWqvH23bpE_TRL6f5M4s968pYkOT7weFgfLA0ZjIeE_HwSKsfRl6ES8PZPOa85RZAX8lyZ1La-cDcM/s640/blogger-image-1811203123.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The day ended with a swim, happy hour for cocktails ( and yes I drank both in the 2 for1 offer), a magnificent sunset that Bali is famed for and an excellent local style dinner of which my stomach handled very little. Will this food nightmare ever end?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuYHPjgPC9JHACCqmI21ZHO8iNxrLT6nuQEVSWIWTUjmyEnA18H0phQsGJVjjdQtSzt5sPPdZC_3HzH8SVOEPhDme2lQtGxy5SDO17iHl9djxx_SHVJ67qwNkDvWbgGbg4mmJK9R_vQg/s640/blogger-image--1430794491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuYHPjgPC9JHACCqmI21ZHO8iNxrLT6nuQEVSWIWTUjmyEnA18H0phQsGJVjjdQtSzt5sPPdZC_3HzH8SVOEPhDme2lQtGxy5SDO17iHl9djxx_SHVJ67qwNkDvWbgGbg4mmJK9R_vQg/s640/blogger-image--1430794491.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuYHPjgPC9JHACCqmI21ZHO8iNxrLT6nuQEVSWIWTUjmyEnA18H0phQsGJVjjdQtSzt5sPPdZC_3HzH8SVOEPhDme2lQtGxy5SDO17iHl9djxx_SHVJ67qwNkDvWbgGbg4mmJK9R_vQg/s640/blogger-image--1430794491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt_ipT13MrH7oYWr2X4334yQ3reoeyrsbYrRZgM-Cv64LeiQZBU-8p33AQy3XDZKqvUDc2tsEnLPC_mT95Se0nMshlCxplzRMdhSzVPHFq3vVhRtxIa8gzMxyvi69-i22HNuHPVYllb8/s640/blogger-image-764346869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt_ipT13MrH7oYWr2X4334yQ3reoeyrsbYrRZgM-Cv64LeiQZBU-8p33AQy3XDZKqvUDc2tsEnLPC_mT95Se0nMshlCxplzRMdhSzVPHFq3vVhRtxIa8gzMxyvi69-i22HNuHPVYllb8/s640/blogger-image-764346869.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Bed time. Mark has TV blaring. Hope the neighbours are as deaf as I think he is.<br />
<br />
Till next time...xxx<br />
ST.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-58447751057597627722016-12-31T18:44:00.000+08:002016-12-31T18:44:06.674+08:002016 BE GONEIt's been a while between posts as I have been busy preparing for Christmas. Those who know me <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu_nmNzzmNU/V-N-5Uoc56I/AAAAAAAAO6Y/7oZ0hZrXybUKPbSl37vRlaO18B5MS2y4gCPcB/s1600/IMG_5495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu_nmNzzmNU/V-N-5Uoc56I/AAAAAAAAO6Y/7oZ0hZrXybUKPbSl37vRlaO18B5MS2y4gCPcB/s320/IMG_5495.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
know I don't believe in the nonsense that goes with New Year, so I won't say I've been preparing for that because I haven't. New Years always seems like an anticlimax and for those of us with rare medical conditions, the promise of a new year with change can seem hollow. It's basically same ***, different year and to pretend that life is going to be any different because it's January 1 is probably somewhat naive for us. But anyway, moving on...<br />
<br />
I recently read another blogger's summary of her year ( thanks Heather) and I thought I might try something similar myself. Humour me. It's 12.37am and I'm wide awake. (Note to self - re read in morning).<br />
<br />
<u>New Year 2016 - New Year 2017</u><br />
<ol>
<li>Number of operations this year for me - 1 ( huge improvement)</li>
<li>Biggest achievement this year - learning how to eat again after my gastric sleeve operation.</li>
<li>Biggest event that messed with my head - 48 kg weight loss! Took a while to get used to.</li>
<li>Event of the year - turning 50</li>
<li>Disappointment of the year - my hair loss and Snape dying.</li>
<li>Favourite holiday - Bali</li>
<li>Biggest surprise - Western Bulldogs winning grandfinal</li>
<li>Happiest moment - a tie between Ashton's graduation and Ciara getting into her hard to get into course.</li>
<li>Area I need to improve on - stamina for work.</li>
<li>Area I improved on this year - days I managed to work.</li>
<li>Hobby started - crochet</li>
<li>Hobby never started - regular exercise</li>
<li>Favourite food this year - Brie and cruskets </li>
<li>Medications I stopped - 0</li>
<li>Medications I take a day - 7 ( 😔)</li>
<li>Person I couldn't live without - my husband</li>
<li>Medical person of the year - the doctor who removed Ashton's giant thyroid </li>
<li>Medical idiot of the year - same as last</li>
<li>Blog highlight - my series from people also living with CS</li>
<li>2017 goals - attend not avoid all checkups, plan a 21st for Ciara, make a mandala and virus shawl in crochet, put the past behind me, avoid those who drain me, avoid those who use the phrase " think positive ", drink more good wine, pay it forward when I can, spend time with family, continue to advocate for CS.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE</div>
<div>
Thanks for being a crucial part of my life</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HPro7f4YqFk/V4D4Y3z86vI/AAAAAAAAOm4/LshY1M7qFNMoBgkwBK8tYnWPvWhLQ-k7wCPcB/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HPro7f4YqFk/V4D4Y3z86vI/AAAAAAAAOm4/LshY1M7qFNMoBgkwBK8tYnWPvWhLQ-k7wCPcB/s320/image.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Till next year...xxx</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-32137909715708942412016-12-05T22:40:00.000+08:002016-12-05T22:43:02.526+08:00JUST SOME THOUGHTSToday a child told me she hadn't attended school for the last two days because her guardian couldn't find the money for bus fare. I didn't want her to feel shame so I said nothing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/31/99/69/3199691df401061526ce532048f2caf3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/31/99/69/3199691df401061526ce532048f2caf3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Last week on a particularly warm day I asked a student why he was still wearing his windcheater. He told me nobody had washed his school shirt and the windcheater was all he had on. I didn't want him to feel shame so again I said nothing. He is 11.<br />
<br />
Two weeks ago we were brain storming reasons why kids don't eat breakfast. Reason number two was " no food in the house". My heart broke. I reminded them about the breakfast club before school and moved on so nobody would feel embarrassed.<br />
<br />
This afternoon I made puppets with a bunch of 14 year old female childcare students. Their pleasure in something so simple was a joy. Five minutes later they were discussing somebody they knew who had been bashed by a boyfriend. The story stole everyone's joy.<br />
<br />
I asked a young girl why she wasn't going to be at school the following day. She said she never came on Wednesdays. I asked her why. She said she preferred Netflix, her bed and the fridge at home. I asked her how come her parents allowed it and she proudly told me the sort of trouble she could cause if they intervened. So they never did. Her attendance confirms this.<br />
<br />
I listened to a group of 12 year old girls discussing their boyfriends. I sincerely hope they're imaginary ones but I doubt it. I also doubt they're all still virgins.<br />
<br />
There are kids who look like they could do with a hug. As a teacher I can't do this. As a mother it is hard not to do it.<br />
<br />
What the hell is wrong with our world that our children are living like this?<br />
<br />
ST<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-20351372823399784982016-12-04T07:22:00.000+08:002016-12-04T07:22:03.397+08:00TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BADLately I just haven't been bothered with my blog. It's odd isn't it? After 3 years of writing and telling my story, I just seem to have lost the interest to share.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/77/a6/87/77a687c3b8fba67ad7eaa862c491bf0b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/77/a6/87/77a687c3b8fba67ad7eaa862c491bf0b.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But I've realised how dangerous that can be for me. I've realised how therapeutic and necessary blogging is to my mental health and I've also realised that every story has good and bad parts to it, and sharing the good is as important as sharing the bad. Have I confused you yet?<br />
<br />
So here are the good and the bad from the last month.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>My stomach is a mess. It's formed angles where food is lodging before making a reverse journey. Apparently the scar tissue from all the procedures has caused this. Most likely back to theatre for me in the New Year. ( BAD)💔</li>
<li>I've now lost 48kgs ( GOOD) and thanks to my useless as hell PTEN gene can now feel every lump on my body. The broken PTEN gene is what causes my Cowden's syndrome. Biggest problem area under my right ribs. Joy to the world...more theatre/ surgery looming. ( BAD)</li>
<li>I've been blessed with some full time work for 3 weeks. My body is exhausted and unused to full time work, but I am pushing through because the money is much needed before Xmas. (GOOD) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDOEGhiOAMHbnJOv18ThIEJJ-ssuAT2yaVEbeD5651jazUE1OQG5qSrA-RAv_AGhfvrulLO3ZKr0ngcWLGVAJhLwvzQRVI1tyuWqkQu551pCGhtrTzjjXx08AtCCfLRPPPNMSitbqfmyw/s1600/Exhausted_revision_v02_01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDOEGhiOAMHbnJOv18ThIEJJ-ssuAT2yaVEbeD5651jazUE1OQG5qSrA-RAv_AGhfvrulLO3ZKr0ngcWLGVAJhLwvzQRVI1tyuWqkQu551pCGhtrTzjjXx08AtCCfLRPPPNMSitbqfmyw/s1600/Exhausted_revision_v02_01.jpeg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>I've taken up crochet, a craft I used to love in my teens. It was a bit hard at the beginning because of my tremor but I swear it's helping my fine motor skills. I actually threaded the sewing machine at school the other day. Unheard of!!! ( GOOD).</li>
<li>My youngest daughter got into a prestigious musical theatre school. I am so proud of her hard work and resilience. So excited for what life holds for her. ( VERY VERY GOOD).</li>
<li>I'm going back to Bali, my happy place. My husband says we deserve it so I'm not arguing. The place, the people, the food, the noise and the sunsets ground me. Again...so excited. ( VERY VERY GOOD).</li>
<li>My children are coming home for Xmas. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. We don't need to travel for Xmas. ( GOOD) </li>
<li>Every Xmas decoration I've ever owned or made by the children as they grew up has been accidentally binned. I've had to buy new baubles to dress the tree 🌲. It doesn't feel the same or look the same. It's like our stories have been stolen from us. ( BAD)</li>
<li>I've had a mini spring clean ... at the start of summer! All has gone to charity. It feels wonderful to have the extra space, but again some of the stuff being donated feels like part of our story we have lost. It had to go though as we are bursting at the seams and I don't want to become a Today Tonight story!!! ( GOOD).</li>
<li>My eldest daughter is looking the best I have seen her in years. She is happy and looks fit and healthy. More tests in the New Year but at the moment # Wearebeatingcowdens (GOOD).</li>
</ol>
<div>
So there you have it folks. The good 😊 is exceeding the bad this month. About time we had a good run! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/b1/3d/24/b13d240c2379a072910717cd154bdcdb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/b1/3d/24/b13d240c2379a072910717cd154bdcdb.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Till next time... xxx</div>
<div>
ST</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-80730803606878501062016-11-12T07:42:00.000+08:002016-11-12T07:42:00.987+08:00YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET THE BEATERYEARS AGO when I was about seven my Dad decided to take me to visit my Nanna. I was not<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://transformingkatrina.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/untitled-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://transformingkatrina.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/untitled-13.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
impressed. I loved my Nanna but that morning my eyes and my tummy were engaged elsewhere. Mum was making a chocolate cake. Her beautiful Kenwood mixmaster was set up on the kitchen bench ready to go and she had promised I could lick the beaters when she'd made the cake. So I wasn't happy about giving up my beaters to go visiting. My Mum ( probably sensing she would be one child less for a few hours) promised to save the beaters for me and happy with that deal I took off with my Dad.<br />
<br />
A few hours later Dad and I returned and I raced up the stairs in anticipation of the chocolatey goodness awaiting me. I have never forgotten the sight that awaited me. There sitting on the floor covered head to toe in my cake batter was my five year old sister Michaela. She had (when Mum wasn't looking), reached up for the beaters and sitting casually on the kitchen floor has licked them dry.<br />
<br />
I screamed blue murder and Mum came running. I was inconsolable. Why did she have MY beaters? Mum raced into the room, took one look at my sister covered in batter and collapsed laughing. How could she laugh? My pre established rights to that beater had been thwarted. This was a scandal of national proportions made only worse by Mum telling me to " get over it". Oh the injustice of it all.<br />
<br />
So at age 50 why am I bringing up this story? Apart from the fact that I'm still harbouring a grudge, it's been obvious to me this week that my story is symbolic of so many aspects of life. You don't always get what you believe you should get.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/you-can-t-always-get-what-you-want-when-you-want-it.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/you-can-t-always-get-what-you-want-when-you-want-it.png" height="200" width="171" /></a></div>
<br />
For example I never imagined that after working so hard to climb the ladder in my teaching career, that I would be back to substitute ( relief) teaching at my age. For those who don't know my story, I was forced to give up my full time job to deal with illness in both myself and my adult daughter. I needed a more flexible job situation, one where I could easily take time off if I needed to. Relief teaching was ideal. Not where I wanted to be at this stage of my life but ideal for dealing with what life had handed me. You don't always get the beater.<br />
<br />
A 12 year old girl shared a story with me this week. Her eldest sister had given birth to quadruplets and soon after her partner had walked out on her. Not surprisingly she was struggling with the enormity of four babies and everything that goes with them. To help her, the girls' Mum takes two babies at a time home with her to give her eldest daughter a break. The babies are rotated so they all get to spend time with Mum.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2016_35/1154777/quadruplets_5_05c14aea616966d33817f64dd1a0b359.today-inline-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2016_35/1154777/quadruplets_5_05c14aea616966d33817f64dd1a0b359.today-inline-large.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
I couldn't help thinking about this Mum/Nanna. She has a 12 year old herself and was probably thinking she could see the light at the end of the tunnel. I wondered if she was dreaming about a child free time coming soon, about no school runs, no lunches, no uniforms, when suddenly BANG she became a Nanna to four...and her daughter needed her...and it felt like she had to start all over again. Poor woman! I'm sure it's not what she had in mind. You don't always get the beater!<br />
<br />
There are so many other examples I could share. I have been fascinated by the American elections this week and disappointed that Hillary didn't get the beater. It was expected she would have it, but Trump stole her beater and like my sister licked it dry. You don't always get what you feel is rightfully yours. Life inevitably goes on and we learn to accomodate the changes.<br />
<br />
I'm off to make a chocolate cake.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d3awvtnmmsvyot.cloudfront.net/api/file/Jqoi44f2S6aGO6RXDja1/convert?fit=max&w=1450&quality=60&cache=true&rotate=exif&compress=true" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://d3awvtnmmsvyot.cloudfront.net/api/file/Jqoi44f2S6aGO6RXDja1/convert?fit=max&w=1450&quality=60&cache=true&rotate=exif&compress=true" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Till next time...xxx<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-64668850474064839302016-10-24T09:03:00.000+08:002016-10-24T09:03:08.570+08:00ZAP ZAP ZAPWhen you have Cowden's syndrome and you grow lots of lumps, you can bet your bottom dollar that sooner or later you will be having a lump of some sort tested. Today is that day and at the moment I'm having a stand off with a glass of water, which is glass 1 of 6 that I need to drink before having a cat scan in two hours time. I have such a little stomach that I'm already struggling and I haven't even drunk one! Oh dear. Sip, sip.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.xl.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/canstock12449880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.xl.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/canstock12449880.jpg" height="141" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
I arrived early for the scan because I had a few questions. It quickly became obvious that the lady dealing with me was not in the mood for questions. This attitude when it happens is so hard to deal with. Unfortunately it happens frequently.<br />
<br />
I wanted to know if the dose of contrast dye was calculated on your body weight. The reason I wanted to know is that I am 46kg lighter than last time and didn't want any possible problems if they grabbed the dose off my last sheet. She answered my question but literally stopped short of rolling her eyes in frustration at me. It was a standard dose by the way.<br />
<br />
I asked why I needed to stay for 45 minutes after the scan as I'd never had to do that before. This time I did get the rolled eyes. Apparently it's protocol. Hmmm lady I've had more of these than you and I know its not, but I'll be quiet because otherwise I might need to explain what a supreme effort coming here is. I might have to explain that this time a year ago I almost died in this hospital and that today is the first time I've stepped back in here and brave as I am I don't want to be here a minute longer than I have to, let alone 45 minutes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://previews.123rf.com/images/blamb/blamb1303/blamb130300016/18458647-A-cartoon-woman-shoots-laser-beams-from-her-eyes--Stock-Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://previews.123rf.com/images/blamb/blamb1303/blamb130300016/18458647-A-cartoon-woman-shoots-laser-beams-from-her-eyes--Stock-Photo.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
While positioning me on the scanner bed, my patience finally ran out. I had to lie on my back with my arms extended above my head. It's a difficult position for someone who has breast reconstructions and it usually takes me a minute to get comfy. She was having none of it. She grabbed my arms trying to pull me into position. I asked her to be gentle as it is uncomfortable to be in this position when you have breast reconstructions.<br />
<br />
Her tone changed immediately. Yes telling her I had reconstructions was indirectly telling her I once had breast cancer. She became human. I told her I had Cowden's syndrome which unsurprisingly she had never heard of and she said it was great I was still around, which is a standard reply when people don't know what to say. I shouldn't have had to share all this to get her human side.<br />
<br />
It's quite surreal when the scanner is blasting you. I know that my condition isn't helped by the radiation being fired through me. But I also know that without it, the tumours invading my body can't be monitored and they need to be monitored because without my padding I can feel them more and they bloody hurt. And when something hurts you worry and think the worst, even a hundred lumps later.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEO5RUVMBOsnxaiJOlMMehIAKsDD1mh4LQ8RUotOPgxQsXbdrXrk1QBHpSNS_unrEjr6YHndo7g2-9cjLVfkDJB4PnghTPix0v6XVI1cHXtJ0_NNTyiviDOtCPvwzwMmYrJhruEbz8ls/s1600/sore+butt+1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEO5RUVMBOsnxaiJOlMMehIAKsDD1mh4LQ8RUotOPgxQsXbdrXrk1QBHpSNS_unrEjr6YHndo7g2-9cjLVfkDJB4PnghTPix0v6XVI1cHXtJ0_NNTyiviDOtCPvwzwMmYrJhruEbz8ls/s1600/sore+butt+1.gif" height="176" width="200" /></a>The dye starts. I can feel the metallic taste in my mouth and then the familiar warmth invade my groin area. It seems to last longer than usual but I don't dare ask another question. I am taken off the bed and into the waiting area to serve my 45 minute sentence.<br />
<br />
At the end, a young man whom I remember from my previous scan comes over. He says " welcome back" and asks how I've been since last time. We make pleasant chitchat for five minutes and he then ushers me into the treatment room to remove my cannula. I jokingly say that his colleague thinks I'm a " pain in the arse" because I ask too many questions. He chuckles and tells me she's the biggest pain in the arse going. I laugh and my faith is restored in people.<br />
<br />
Moral of my story- ask as many questions as you like. Nobody knows your condition and your story as well as you do and you have every right to information and knowledge that informs you and eases your mind.<br />
<br />
Now to wait for results.<br />
<br />
Till next time...xxx <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.quotesgram.com/small/63/95/853907085-27164-there-is-no-stupid-question-stupid-people-dont-ask-questions.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.quotesgram.com/small/63/95/853907085-27164-there-is-no-stupid-question-stupid-people-dont-ask-questions.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-86026948508688949482016-10-12T19:12:00.006+08:002016-10-12T19:12:46.803+08:00TRUST ME I'M A DOCTOR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://betanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/trust-e1436536636481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://betanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/trust-e1436536636481.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
My entire lifetime is littered with experiences of having to place my trust in the medical profession. You walk into their rooms, you tell them what's wrong and then their super human brain works it all out, and they tell you what they're going to do for you. Usually then you shrug your shoulders, go " what the hell, I have no choice" and agree to trust them to do what they say, because you need the job done. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/3b/06/f0/3b06f07cf60ef75effcb41be9989fc6e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/3b/06/f0/3b06f07cf60ef75effcb41be9989fc6e.jpg" width="107" /></a></div>
<br />
To me trusting a doctor had always been a given. My Dad is a doctor and I grew up around doctors. To not trust a doctor would be like telling my Dad I didn't believe in his skills, his judgement and his wisdom. Till last year it never dawned on me "not" to trust anyone in the medical profession.<br />
<br />
When I trust a doctor, this is what I expect:<br />
<ol>
<li>That they know what they are talking about.</li>
<li>That they have the skills to do a good job.</li>
<li>That they treat me ( and every other patient) as the most important patient ever.</li>
<li>That they don't rip me off. I still need to survive after the surgery and I will need money.</li>
<li>That they treat me with respect and that includes my after care, my worried phone calls and a year later if necessary. </li>
</ol>
A year ago a doctor who operated on me broke most of my expectations. The surgery was a mess and it left me in hospital for six weeks often fighting for my life. It was the worst period in my life and when you remember that I have had two cancer diagnoses, you might start to get a feel how bad this period in my life was. It was awful.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.clipartpanda.com/diabetes-clipart-11971071922084539979metalmarious_Medicine_and_a_Stethoscope.svg.med.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.clipartpanda.com/diabetes-clipart-11971071922084539979metalmarious_Medicine_and_a_Stethoscope.svg.med.png" height="200" width="195" /></a></div>
<br />
Its a hard thing this trust business and one none of us can really avoid. If you want a haircut, you need to trust the person with the scissors. If you want a meal out you need to trust that the chef is doing the right thing with regard to food safety. There are so many examples. You get a driving license and you then need to trust others driving around you to do the right thing. You need surgery and you have to trust the doctor.<br />
<br />
In the last twelve months I have really struggled with the broken trust issues from this doctor. As a result I have become nervous, on edge and quite panicky about anything medical.When my daughter had to have surgery with a new doctor in recent months, it just about finished me off. I didn't know this doctor or anaesthetist. How could I trust them with my child? Cue a full blown panic attack. (Incidentally surgeon and anaeasthetist were excellent).<br />
<br />
As a person with a condition requiring not one but an army of doctors, it hasn't been a good idea to be so doctor phobic. I have no idea why its got so bad, but I know I've been actively avoiding GP visits and blood tests especially. And visiting people in "that" hospital, forget it!<br />
<br />
In the last week a few things have made this issue come to a head. Firstly one of my specialists rang me checking why I hadn't had my bloods done. He was actually concerned. ( Note to self - doctor cares and can be trusted). Then my psychologist told me that if I let this continue, I would become more of a victim than I already was because of a dud doctor. I like her because she tells me straight.<br />
<br />
So, I am officially making an effort to move on from this issue. I am going to remember all the other doctors and medical personnel I have been able to trust and I am going to try to move on. Its another of those situations I really don't have a choice in.<br />
<br />
Have any of you had any success with learning to trust again? All tips welcome.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/p/1/005/098/3d1/11951c0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/p/1/005/098/3d1/11951c0.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I HOPE NOT!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Till next time...xxx<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899434589869171277.post-43600290602945751292016-10-03T16:30:00.002+08:002016-10-03T16:30:35.819+08:00COWS WITH BREAST CANCER<a href="http://tweeting.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Im-A-Survivor-Breast-Cancer-Facebook-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://tweeting.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Im-A-Survivor-Breast-Cancer-Facebook-Cover.jpg" height="118" width="320" /></a>You'd have to be a real hermit to not know that October is breast cancer awareness month. Social <br />
media is full of advice on what to do and what not to do and the colour pink ( which I can't stand) is everywhere. I hate the colour pink being associated with breast cancer because it's a traditionally girly colour and this makes me feel sad for the men who get breast cancer. Yes, being male doesn't exclude you from getting breast cancer and if you're one of those poor blokes, the last thing you want to feel is that you've got some girly disease. Maybe the colour should be green.<br />
<br />
It's been almost eight years since my breast cancer diagnosis and only lately have I been able to think about it without shaking all over. Maybe the only reason here is that life is a series of events and other things have become more important. I can't be sure as to the reason but I am sure that I no longer worry as much about breast cancer. I hate that it happened. I loathe my saline fake boobs. I hate the way that one is higher than the other. I feel like a freak without nipples. BUT, the cancer itself no longer fills every waking thought. Everywhere I look this month breast cancer charities are actively encouraging people to fundraise so that they can continue to raise awareness and support people. Real people like me have received financial support or services because real people like you donate money. I'll save my hugs and kisses till I meet you. Just know that it helps.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.symptomsof.co/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Breast-cancer-symptoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.symptomsof.co/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Breast-cancer-symptoms.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
One of the things that does worry me however is Cow related. If you are new to my blog you may not realise I have Cowden's syndrome (CS), a rare genetic disorder that increases your risk of tumours and cancers. It's also called PTEN Hamartoma Tumour syndrome ( PHTS) cos somebody decided we needed four words instead of two. Same same just wordier my friends. Anyway, the reason I'm worried is that nowhere in all the advertising this month will you see information about CS and this is concerning on two parts. One is that CS carries with it a higher than average risk of breast cancer and two, according to Professor Charis Eng ( guru of all things CS), the condition is significantly under diagnosed due to doctors' lack of knowledge about visible signs which may suggest a diagnosis.<br />
<br />
Now I have a friend in the UK who is pretty cluey on all things CS. She writes:<br />
<br />
<i>Benign breast disease is thought to be common in women with CS/PHTS, so women could be turning up at breast clinics with clear evidence of CS/PHTS on their skin, and/or oral mucous membranes, but that evidence missed due to lack of knowledge about CS/PHTS. Those women are then denied the opportunity to have regular breast cancer screening or prophylactic surgery. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
So, basically what she is saying is that there are certain lumps and bumps on the skin and in the mouth that may indicate you have CS and if you do then you may have an increased risk of some cancers like breast cancer. So you need to know this stuff, but don't panic and do get a doctor involved because you might need a biopsy to diagnose some of these growths.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thefreshquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Check-Your-Bumps-For-Lumps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thefreshquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Check-Your-Bumps-For-Lumps.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
So if you want to impress your doctor or intimidate him because you know something he doesn't, here are a few new words to google the hell out of. The most common skin signs are <u>trichilemmomas</u> (mostly found on the face), <u>keratoses</u> (mostly found on the hands and feet) and <u>papillomas</u> (mostly found on the oral mucous membranes). There are some other less common skin lesions, but let's not worry too much about them for now.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/89/12/83/891283d92c8500cc8ac3d0f238c85af2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/89/12/83/891283d92c8500cc8ac3d0f238c85af2.jpg" width="200" /></a>I hope I haven't scared you. Actually that's not true, I hope I have because then you might check for lumps and check for growths and see a doctor. Better to check stuff out if you have a concern.<br />
<br />
And before I go I have one request. Breast cancer agencies don't publish information on CS because it's rare ( 1 in 200 000). Professor Eng is convinced it is likely higher. So please help me and my Cow friends get the word out by sharing this post. Would really appreciate it.<br />
<br />
Till next time...xxx<br />
MooAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183123168609600670noreply@blogger.com4