Category Archives: Personal Experiences

A Stroke, can change a life in a split second

Posted on January 9, 2023 by sjdeventsltd

I wrote this at the back end of 2022, a few weeks after my life or, at least my husband’s life changed in a split second, on Friday 30th September 2022. So, do you know the signs of a STROKE, … Continue reading →

Posted in Of General Interest, Personal Experiences, Uncategorized | Tagged 11 hour rule, A&E, arms, call GP, Charing Cross Hospital, do not google, emergency services, face, FAST, health, hospital, I love you, life is for living, listening to body, live life, mini stroke, panic, self-diagnostic, sickness, silent killer, speech, stage 4 breast cancer, stop smoking, stress, Stroke, TIA, time., type 2 diabetes | Leave a comment

Why I volunteer at the hospital that saved my life …

Posted on May 1, 2022 by sjdeventsltd

Volunteering is not for everyone but let me tell you, that the benefits are amazing, so please if you have a spare three hours a week, maybe you can consider it? I had volunteered for a number of years for … Continue reading →

Posted in My 'cancer' diary, Of General Interest, Personal Experiences, Uncategorized | Tagged Cancer Club, cancer hospital, cancer journey, Friends of Royal Marsden Chelsea, Friends of the Royal Marsden, front line, giving your time, hospital that saved my life, make a difference., MBE for voluntary organisation, meet & greet, new normal, no visitors, pandemic, patient journey, Queen's Voluntary Award, Royal Marsden, Royal Marsden Chelsea, volunteering, volunteering at hospital | Leave a comment

What has having cancer taught me, five years on …

Posted on September 20, 2021 by sjdeventsltd

I am just about to celebrate my five-year milestone of being Cancer free, six years with my now husband and seven years since I lost my mother. But I am here, and I will continue to take a magical pill, … Continue reading →

Posted in My 'cancer' diary, Of General Interest, Personal Experiences, Uncategorized | Tagged Bowelbabe, Cancer Club, cancer does not define you, cancer free, cancer journey, cancer taught me, chelsea rug company, Deborah aka Bowelbabe, Emma aka Limitless, five year milestone, Friends of the Royal Marsden, herceptin, kissed a lot of frogs, Limitless, Look Good Feel Better, lumpectomy, lymphatic drainage, lymphatic massage, Maggie's, Maggie's Centres, magical pill tamoxofen, manage bereavement, Marsden March, Royal Marsden Chelsea, spark joy, stage 4 breast cancer. | 2 Comments

Life does change during the pandemic

Posted on February 2, 2021 by sjdeventsltd

I heard someone say that during the first lockdown it was a novelty but this one its harder and this is so true. I take my hat off to all my friends who have turned their hand to home schooling … Continue reading →

Posted in My 'cancer' diary, Of General Interest, Personal Experiences, Uncategorized | Tagged Big C, during lockdown, friendships, Hope, Life, life changing, Life is a journey, lockdown, love and positivity, my rock, my soulmate, nature, pandemic, power of smile, School Governor, smile, Stoke Row School, The Cherry Tree, The Crooked Billet, The Stoke Row Store, unknown territory, Winnie the Pooh | Leave a comment

Is time a healer for grief … can we overcome the cards we are dealt …

Posted on September 19, 2019 by sjdeventsltd

Yes, and why, well in a few days, that significant date for me comes around again, the 21st September. Rewind to five years ago today, I lost my best friend, my mother to the Big C. A short battle to … Continue reading →

Posted in My 'cancer' diary, Of General Interest, Personal Experiences, Uncategorized | Tagged achievements, Anoushka Faisca, Big C, Big C journey, cancer journey, career change, charities, freedom, Friends, Friends of the Royal Marsden, grief, Henny Cochrane, hospital companion, Hubert Phipps, listening, living in moment, loss of best friend, mental health, Pamela Deakin, Royal Marsden Chelsea, Royal Marsden Hospital, Rug Company, saving for a rainy day, significant dates, support, talking, team player | Leave a comment

Sarah Ducker and Henley Literary Festival and Mental Health

Posted on July 3, 2019 by sjdeventsltd

This year sees me as an individual sponsoring Charlie Hart & Beth Lynch at this year’s Henley Literary Festival on Sunday 29th September. Previously, SJD Events Limited would have sponsored this event and over the past eleven years, I have … Continue reading →

Posted in My 'cancer' diary, Of General Interest, Personal Experiences, Uncategorized | Tagged 2010 Henley Literary Festival Melvyn Bragg, @henleyliteraryfestival, @sjdevents, Beth Lynch, charity sector, Charlie Hart, fundraising, Henley Lit Festival, Henley Literary Festival, Henley Literary Festival 2019, Melvyn Bragg 2010, mental health, Royal Marsden Chelsea, RoyalMarsdenChelsea, Sarah Ducker, SJD Events, SJD Events Limited, Skymeadow, soul mate, sponsoring at Henley Literary Festival, sponsoring authors at Henley, Walking with the Wounded | Leave a comment

Knowing when to let go … almost five years on

Posted on March 19, 2019 by sjdeventsltd

So, rewind to September 2014 when my mother passed away after a short illness to the Big C. My first time on the front line of being the carer and I learnt a lot as I cared over the 4 … Continue reading →

Posted in My 'cancer' diary, Of General Interest, Personal Experiences, Uncategorized | Tagged BADA, childhood memories, Coming Home, do things on your terms, dwelling on the past, goodbye to family home, grief to emptiness, Henny Cochrane, i feel liberated, letting go, life changing experience, life into perspective, listen to body, listen to gut, loss of my mother, Maggie's, Maggie's Centres, memories, new beginnings, new dream home, new memories together, re-kindle sister bond, Royal Marsden Chelsea, safe haven, Secret Garden, time warp, volunteering | 1 Comment

January challenges – a Triathlon with team ‘You Me and Big C’ and volunteering

Posted on January 23, 2019 by sjdeventsltd

So, rewind a few months when I met Deborah and Lauren at the book launch of ‘F*** You Cancer’ at Henley Literary Festival and it was at this time that I realised I was part of what they called the … Continue reading →

Posted in My 'cancer' diary, Of General Interest, Personal Experiences, Uncategorized | Tagged BADA, Big C Club, cancer changes you, cancer survivor, F*** You Cancer, Henley Literary Festival, life changing, Maggie's, Maggie's RMH Sutton, Maggie's Royal Marsden Sutton, meet & greet, menopause suck, Royal Marsden Chelsea, talking and sharing, Team YouMeandBigC, The Secret Garden, Tri Jan, triathalon, You Me and Big C | Leave a comment

Getting a Wake Up Call

Posted on October 24, 2018 by sjdeventsltd

I am writing this article as I think I have just had a bit of a wakeup call. What do I mean? Nobody officially told me that my body would change after my Cancer treatment or that I would never … Continue reading →

Posted in My 'cancer' diary, Of General Interest, Personal Experiences, Uncategorized | Tagged BADA, bald liberating, Big C, Cancer Club, Deborah James, F*** You Cancer, Henley Literary Festival, hormones, Lauren Mahon, listening to body, Maggie's, Maggie's Centres, menopause, Royal Marsden Chelsea, Stand Up To Cancer, tamoxifen, There But Not There, vroom vroom, Wake up call | 1 Comment

When you realise you are not fit …

Posted on July 5, 2018 by sjdeventsltd

So, I think I am healthy, I am not obese, well maybe I carry a few extra pounds but hey what you expect when you get over 40 as our metabolism slows down. In fact, since I had cancer two … Continue reading →

Posted in My 'cancer' diary, Of General Interest, Personal Experiences, Uncategorized | Tagged abdominal exercises, boot camp, Breast Cancer, exercise, feeling good, frozen shoulder, kicking middle age spread, lifestyle changes, lymph nodes, menopause, middle age spread, no pain no gain, pelvic and stomach muscles, realising you are unfit, waking up muscles | Leave a comment