What is your risk? RESPIRAGENE (TM) A Gene Based Test for Your Sesceptability to Lung Cancer

Blog number 7


Well everyone I have my DNA results........



I do have the gene - and it has taken me a couple of days to get over the surprise I felt finding this out.....I wasn't upset as such, just surprised and disappointed have been not so cavalier since I heard the news and also blogged about my children and had the ire of my daughter's significant other via email today, but so be it.......sent him a reply he won't like lolololol but I'm sorry I meant every word, dude (maybe that was a gut reaction, who knows)!!!

It is inevitable that I will get Lung Cancer if I stay on my current smoking path.....now this is a shock!

I felt up until now unable to self destruct, but know I actually know that I can.....well this is a bit of an awakening for me and I am taking it on board and doing the best I can to come to a good decision and therefore a potential good outcome....its f...ki..g hard though....I'm 59 about to turn 60 in a few weeks and I did want to make older bones.....if I stop smoking now - well I will possibly make the older age group - if I don't maybe not such a great outcome.....and this I HAVE CONTROL OVER.....yes I actually do!!!!!!!!!!! my little grey cells have gone into hyperdrive and I'm still thinking hard on what to do....BUT - it is very simple I STOP SMOKING....but how, how, how and when and why and all the shiiiiiit that goes with this - have I got the bottle to do it? Do I have the guts to quit and stop smoking for the rest of my life ( I have used it as such a crutch and think its my only one....lol don't like booze and other substances....so its cold turkey for me ) how deluded I am....hey I'm human and have frailities and sometimes find the hard yards just that HARD......like us all. I now have the information so now I can make an informed decision, yeah rite! now I just have to DO IT....YES DO IT S T O P the smoking, just stop it!!!!!!!

Okay some ideas here peeps - what do I do instead of it, indeed do I need to do anything or do I just bite the bullet? Please some feedback required here - I am alone in this and know I have to make the decision but.....yes but, its not that easy I'm finding it hard and I'm also very sad and want to quit - maybe a path to the hypnotherapist and take the patches and do the drill....it will work, I have to be positive.



I am going to type up for you some of the items on the score sheet and then a blog about the most recent update on the research plus type a sheet I got with the results.....



RESPIRAGENE*

Thank you for your interest in the Respiragene test.

The lung cancer risk test (Respiragene), identifies smokers and ex smokers at greatest risk of getting lung cancer compared to the average smoker. This test has been developed by comparing genetic and clinical factors between people who have smoked a minimum of 20 cigarettes per day for 20 years and who have either been diagnosed with lung cancer or who have been shown to have no evidence of significant lung damage.

The Respiragene test is a test of susceptibility or risk of future lung cancer and on this basis is not a diagnostic test. This test is most appropriate for chronic smokers (current and/or ex smokers). The Respiragene test is not recommended for life long non smokers or people considering taking up smoking.

The cost of the test in New Zealand is (XXXXXXXXX) For further information we recommend you visit the website http://www.synergenz.com

If you would like to purchase this test, please provide your mailing address and a Respiragene kit will be mailed to you. You will be required to complete the enclosed Respiragene request form and return it with your swabs and payment before testing will be completed. Please discuss with your GP if this test is suitable for you.


Note: peeps - blocked out the cost for those of you who are not in New Zealand but will say here that it has been made extremely inexpensive for us locals and can be taken via New Zealand but the cost is sorted per individuals country of origin. Please remember that this test here in New Zealand is in my view much more clincially relevant and it is far more precise than those available currently overseas it is far more accurate - take note of this guys.........


My score sheet has.....(OMG)!


Lung Cancer susceptibility score: Robyn Berry-Luke

Lung cancer risk score HIGH RISK (4-5)

Your score when aged 60: VERY HIGH RISK (6 plus)


In addition to smoking, the risk of lung cancer is further increased by

genetic factors
how much you smoked
age
COPD

Respiragene Test* identifies those at greatest risk based on the above factors.

Life-long Smoker - has on average a 1 in 10 (10%) lifetime chance of getting lung cancer.

Non-smoker - has on average a 1 in 200 (0.5%) lifetime chance of getting lung cancer.



Then there is a graph in the middle within which I have a green luminescent star at high risk and a bubble in red that goes upwards in the 6 or more area - very high risk........I can't scan this to put in here but will when I finally get the equipment necessary up and running I will put it in here for you all to see......





Now for the update:


Respiragene (TM) Research Update

Prepared by Dr Robert Young

Chief Scientific Officer - Synergenz BioScience Ltd.
Associate Professor of Medicine and Molecular Medicine
School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland


Summary

A recently published study by independent researchers from the NIH (Sanderson, et al, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention)[1] has highlighted current smokers' interest in, and responsiveness to, genetic information allows them to better understand their personal risk of developing lung cancer. The study also found that such knowledge of "increased lung cancer risk my increase uptake of effective smoking cessation services". The study surveyed a relatively small group of people (N=44) and it used a single genetic marker that provides relatively weak association with disease. However, I believe it strongly supports our views that smokers are interested in [2], and benefit from, taking gene-based risk tests for lung cancer [3]. Equally, the study found that no patient harm was identified from the testing process.

Abstract: http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/1055-9965.EPI-08-0520v1

The findings of this study support those of a previously published randomised control trial using the same gene based risk test for lung cancer susceptibility (CM McBride et al, 2002), where smoking quit rates were improved by 1.5-2 fold in those getting the genetic test in addition to a counselling based programme [3].


Emerging Trend

The Sanderson study is consistent with a strengthening trend in the scientific literature in this field. A brief summary of the scientific literature to date includes the following points.

1. Between 80%-90% of smokers are interested in knowing their genetic predisposition for lung cancer (Ostroff and Sanderson have both showed this)
2. Fear of lung cancer is the most cited reason smokers quit [4].
3. Despite the well publicised link between smoking and lung cancer, over 50% of smokers do not think they are personally at risk of lung cancer.
4. Smokers taking genetic risks tests for lung cancer are not de-motivated from trying to quit (this article [1] and work we have submitted for publication confirms this). To date, dta shows that testing improves motivation to quit.
5. The significant drop in smoking prevalence in the 1960s followed widely published links between smoking and lung cancer (long before public health) measure were instituted) and the recent drop in coronary mortality has come, to a large degree, from widespread uptake of individualised coronary heart risk assessment and risk reduction with effective treatments.

These conclusions come from published research and should counter the views, primarily taken by non-smokers, that people smoking today are (a.) not interested in learning their personal risk or (b.) not able to be helped through the personalised engagement and treatment approaches prompted by Respiragene (TM) (which are comparable to those that have helped reduce heart disease mortality). Put simply, until governments ban or regulate the sales of tobacco, public health measures alone will not be sufficient to change the attitudes of smokers today - something new is needed to augment existing public health messages.

While non-smokers believe lung cancer is due to smoking, they don't know that they carry 'lung cancer' related genes that are never "expressed" or realised in the absence of smoking exposure. Smokers, on the other thand understand that genetic factors largely explain why only 10%-15% of smokers get lung cancer. This highlights the point that smokers actually understand gene-environment risks better than non-smokers (see Ostroff comments in linked article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090630132003.htm)


My comment: "The view depends on which window you're looking out from".




Now I am going to stop typing here and put the rest of the update later or tomorrow I will try and scan it as its a table and its a bugger to type......but can do it.....only trouble is I read as I type and the subject matter has gotten to me big time.....hehehhee



See you all later


I know, I know - I have made my decision, but I now have to implement it.......lololol




Nite all....





...

BLOGGING its fun its futuristic its fantastic its .......

Whooping cough and the blues...


Well peeps I have been too unwell to blog. What a statement! My Whooping cough is whooping me big time...I don't remember ever having anything so debilitating, but its mine and I own it and I will take the hard yards and move on

I have missed my blogging and I haven't had an opportunity to actually do anything much except heal my body and mind. It is interesting to find that a bug can make you totally nuts and sick at the same time. What a shitty thing to get at my age, or in fact any age, its a pandemic here and I'm totally sick of it. I have had it for over two and a half months and I have been told I've got a least another month to go...bugger!!!

I have the Pelican Brief playing in the background and enjoying just sitting here at the computer and mucking about. Not much of a blog for you guys...I've been happy to just be quiet and even quieter except for my hacking cough and it didn't help any to look up the Mayo Clinic and find out all the ginny on the Whooping cough...it makes your chest and neck sore and I feel bad......poor lil ol me...moi is sick

Exciting times this a.m. went to see the peeps who found the genetic code for DNA and lung cancer I had my DNA test and the results will be forthcoming soonish....I find it interesting that I don't mind the outcome (mind you this is before I find out if I do have the gene) may be different if I do have it and that will be another ball game.....it was so easy and fast just a swab of each cheek and its done. Do feel that a good thing is about to be found out...I like positive information it gives you the wherewithal to make a decision. Now I am a smoker, a dedicated one, and I am wondering how I will actually feel about all this when I have the facts in hand. Maybe I won't be so cavalier when I know....time will tell.

Always have been a person who pursues things and I also have been able to accept and acknowledge bad as well as good things in my life...maybe I am just stupid and don't react as I should but I take things on the chin and try and make the best of all situations and make an informed decision. So much for my truths - this past few weeks have been interestingly awful and I have reassessed my bahaviour and demeanor and find that I actually am reasonably mature, in years as well as mind, and have a good healthy attitude towards most things. I trust I am open minded and do look at issues and my life openly. Others I have found do not.....

They are close minded and in total denial....this I find very sad and even older more mature friends of friends are still being denied a good and full life because of issues they do not deal with full on....they deny all sorts of small things and it looks to me that their lives are not good because of it. I am referring also to a phenomenon called lying by omission....this was to be a total blog but its depressing so its a para in this one..... OMISSION of the relevant literal facts and by not giving these the person hearing the story is unable to make an informed decision because the crux of the matter is not told....this is stupidity of the highest degree in my book...it is one thing to lie about a situation but its totally another not to give the correct facts to a friend, whomever, the information given is only part of the truth...this is just not on. I have been on the end of this a couple of times lately and it sucks.

Knowing the facts is important even if it isn't what you want to know or to hear but if someone wants your help its not a good idea not to let them know the entire story. People going off half cocked is wrong and its a silly and bad idea as friends and people become very upset when they find out the truth. I lost a new friend this week simply because he didn't tell me the entire truth of a matter that was important to me, this he knew and didn't give me the total truth...for this I am saddened and he no longer is going to be a friend. What he didn't tell me is irrelevant here for you peeps but for me it was an omission that could not be forgiven....and I'm not a hard head either...it wasn't nice....mmmmm give me the facts as I would give you and we can talk about the issue and work out a strategy to fix it....don't give me hot air and no facts I felt stupid and uninformed....something I don't care for at all....enuf said

Now an update on the insurance and drunks.......as I live in a Housing New Zealand home they are responsible for the maintenance of this premises and I cannot get the hole in the wall fixed, HNZ have to fix it for me and my Insurance Company will assist me only if I am asked to pay for the damage the plumber/drunk/not a friend person did here....the blood on the coverings of the chairs they will fix,,,,,,omg, what a mess this guy should get a life and I'm now not a happy camper!!!! he will also be chased to pay for the damage etc. etc. what a mess.........yet another bungling human that won't accept his fate and acknowledge that he has a problem of a large magnitude that has affected his family and friends and acquaintances - me I have learnt a big lesson and won't be helping him or anyone like him for a long time...it is too hard and I don't need the grief.....drinking, drunks and damage just a big 'D' for disappointment and disaster - wow I'm moving on at a great rate and leaving very little behind me now.......omg hehe

Going to leave you all now and come back later to talk about anything as I'm not circulating around and can't be bothered to think deeply about my favourite topic the U.S. of A. which saddens me but I'm too bloody sick....I want this W C gone.......

Take care out there peeps and enjoy your lives and make a difference


Best regards

Robyn the cough.....!!!



.....

YOSMITE, RENO, DONNER PASS, LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA at its best

Back again dudes....and dude'ess

I'm going to tell you a story of 1960 and 1961 in California and then we will move to Arizona, but first - wait there's more.....

I ate my first McDonalds in Los Angeles in 1961 (don't look this up..lol) I might be wrong but I remember it being a burger bar and certainly not the mega enterprise it is now - don't forget though this is many many years ago. I ate a quarter pounder with cheese and guess what I had today - a quarter pounder with cheese, fries and a diet coke....still tastes the same and I enjoy every single one I have ever eaten...they are kewl!!!!! I also ate McDonalds pancakes and syrup yesterday I'm going to be a big fat pig very soon, but I don't care....well yes I do actually, but I'm working it all off typing like the wind and moving my lips to the beat of my typing....I learnt to type by music wearing a bib...but I digress -

California is the most wonderful place - I will wax lyrical at this point - it is many countries wrapped into one - golden California though is the best way to describe it. The golden grass has a colour all its own it is muted but bright and Oh so lovely. It makes for a beautiful look and is a backdrop for a great State.

I think though there are some wonderful things that should be mentioned places that defy explanation. Donner Pass - now I was there when it was snowing and it was 4 feet of snow in the morning it was white, pristine and cold but refreshing and it was my first taste of snow. I have had many snowy experiences but this was my first and I went bezerk....totally bezerk!!!!!!!!!! lolololol

It was crisp and white and sounded like thunder when I walked and ran thruogh it....didn't know that the ground underneath was different heights but who cares at 9 years old...I just adored it. For those who do not know Donner Pass was the only Pass that those going to California (out West) were able to take their wagons over the Sierra Nevada...it is a very special place....

My mother's friends had driven us there and because of the snow we were unable to leave until the plough had been through. As it was a very very little place then (don't know about now) it took hours and hours so I just went blue and got very wet and didn't end up with a chill because I didn't stop....running, jumping, doing angels (before they were cool) and generally had a ball. We were staying in a motel...now let me tell you about American motels....

They all look the same, have the same signs (different names) but all the signs are noisy and crackle. This is a fact, no matter where you are in the U.S.A. the motel signs crackle, they burp and carry on something wicked....lol Also adding in here they used to smell the same, slightly tobaccoish with a slight smell of sweat..ewww I can remember all the motel rooms I have been in with the same bad wooden headboards and the fluffy counterpanes...not a good look, prefer now something along the lines of Hiltons...only

The motels themselves (and I have seen lots of movies with them featured since I was in my last American one) don't seem to have changed that much. They are maybe two storied - in my day they were only one story - and Holiday Inns were double storied...but they were the same no matter where we went.

This little journey covered the wonderful Lake Tahoe and Reno and Donner Pass plus I will tell you about staying in the old hotel at Yosmite Valley....what a place awe inspiring peaks and a long green valley

In my minds eye the hotel was enormous with huge rooms and windows to die for....the dining room was capable of seating I'm sure 500 people and it was totally full. There was a huge fireplace on one side made of stone (boulders I learn't 30 years later when I did interior designing (how posh is that not really though by today's standards) and the decor was certainly Native American with overtones of Spanish and French...but it worked - when you are nine it doesn't matter it just looked f...ing good, huge and big with lots of brown and yellow and red, also leather furniture in the lobby, big and bold stuff from memory

We of course weren't told about the special effect that happened when it got dark as our friends wanted us to see for ourselves the awesome and spectacular event.....those of you who have seen what I am about the explain know how wonderous and astonishing it actually is......

Going for a coffee and a flex of the fingers....brb



An enormous fire is built on the top of an excruciatingly tall bulbous rock formation and this fire is tended all day to get it to the stage when it is blazing and they push it over the edge....well I can remember the goosebumps I got when I saw everyone stand up and look out the windows towards the spectacular fall of embers and fire and I imagine as it was so far away bloody big logs which were all blazing, but by the time they hit the valley (which is a considerable distance down) they I think are just ash....this spectacular event is every night and I heard from the friend of a friend who has recently been there that it still is performed....wow nice to think that there are some things that havn't changed over time.....thank God....!!!!!

This friend of a friend did also say that they stayed in a motel and that there were lots of buildings but when I was there I can only remember a camping site and the hotel...must have been eons ago that I was there - yeah rite!!!! I'm turning 60 soon and I can't believe it I'm still feeling about 12 years old, especially when I am typing in here and remembering the gorgeous times I had. Yosmite Valley is a stop for EVERYONE - IT IS AWESOME - if you ever get the opportunity to go there stay in the hotel (if it still exists) must Google it - I will do that after this blog if written - and drive along the Truckie River and - hang on - might be another river - might have that wrong...anyhoo - we did go for a walk the next morning but were told to keep to the road and not go off it....Now my mother is a hiker (sorri was) no longer on the planet, she is keeping me company like she does every night here on the computer but she is in a lovely wooden box and is ashes...now how creepy is that peeps?

Not creepy at all for me...she was my best friend and will be always. Must put her ashes in the golden and floral urn (Chinese ginger jar) that I purchased years ago...just can't seem to do that part....lol I opened a business a few years ago and took her out of my bedroom draw and she has been out ever since.....I put flowers and bows on her box and she joined in the party....I'm if nothing else happy to include everyone in my events and outings....lol p.s. she was in the kitchen on top of the microwave and nobody knew who/what she was....thank goodness - I'm known as eccentric but I understand that might have been a little insane....hehe

I digress.....having a ciggy and a coffee and now going to gulp down a small bottle of diet coke, need the eenees....caffeine, nicotine etc....to keep going......want to do a significant blog tonight.....

Well that was a little redundant...I had the coffee then the ciggy and of course still have the Whooping Cough so coughed my guts up and now feel like I have had a total workout, but that's a good thing...lololol

Driving in California was kewl except that mum ended up screaming all the time and gasping furiously whilst Fred or Fran was driving as she was in the passenger seat in the Yanky car but it was a driving seat for her here in N.Z. this is awful I remember having to tell her on a number of occasions - yelling, I am good at that, move over we are on the wrong side of the road.....hehehe this I still remember when I go down a one way street.....yet again I digress!!!

Lake Tahoe was beautiful dark green and all the fir trees were lovely right down to the sides of the lake and you have to see this for yourselves green trees to the edge of a lake - just thought of Johnny Depp in Secret Window...don't know why but he lived in an area I think close to a lake and it reminded me of it.....Lake Tahoe that is....

Now for an exciting different area in California the Sequoia Park - home of the Redwood Trees.... (sp might be wrong) but at the pace I type I dont' give a damn...these trees are magnificent and reminded me of our Kauri Trees here in New Zealand, they are as old and huge...I mean HUGE, they can take a car through the middle and I've walked on top of one and walked underneath them and walked on the wonderful spongy ground around them with the needles and they smell good.....what is this tonight with me about smell......mmmmmm I know the black cat is still around and when I went out to do the shopping tonight at 10.30 p.m. he came in and sprayed....ewwww yucky little F...k..r???? My townhouse smelt like a sewer he has to go....and I mean Go Go GO GO GO....why hasn't that happened? Will check it out later today.....

I remembered I didn't finish about the Yosmite walk....now we didn't know that bears lived in this forest...lol and when we were about 500 yards from the entrance to the hotel a bear popped up about 50 feet away and our friends high tailed it back toward the hotel...now my mum (totally fearless) decided that a closer look would be a good idea, well thanks to another bear appearing and making a large growl sound she changed her mind and walked briskly back to our friends who were hovering behind a car...good idea I thought....and I still do, bears and I don't mix...will tell you the story of the pies soon.....

I'm actually tired and had enough of my day its now 1.30 a.m. and I'm going to bed....nite all

Wish you every single one of you a fantastic day today wherever you are in the world and I wish for no more killing or deaths its got to stop.....enough of world politics

Goodnight from me and its goodnight from him






.....

"ODE TO OBAMA"

C H A N G E


Changes never before seen in our world need addressing now Mr President


Heartfelt knowlege that you possess is being used for motiviation to change


Admiration for your consumate use of power not being judgemental and aware of our needs


Now we can wait and watch you work your miracles to change the world into a better place for us to live


Get up and go never before seen in a President


Everything our world needs in a great package of knowledge and harmony metered out with kindness and thought


Thank you Barak Obama for being the right man for the job at hand, change is so needed now for our society to survive we require a leader of your standard to take us into the next phase.......


My best wishes to you and your family

Kind regards

Your Magic Blogger

Robyn Berry-Luke
Auckland, New Zealand



......"the right man for the right job"

GENETIC PRE DISPOSITION TO LUNG CANCER

Blog number 6


Tonight I had a telephone call from Auckland Hospital with an AMAZING new Respiratory Genetic questionnaire...... I am totally blown away (pardon the pun)....

Raewyn asked me numerous questions all of which I was so pleased to answer and hear, they are covering an area that has been in desperate need of a big and I mean big TWEET peeps..... Doctor Robert Young a General Surgeon and Respiratory Geneticist..(sp) is conducting a new survey on genetics and smoking....what a blast, I am as I said totally blown away (no pun intended).....

One of the questions was: Would I be prepared to take a genetic test to see if I was likely to have the gene that would give me Lung Cancer? -- my answer in a heartbeat was YES - I would and from this I deem that maybe the world is finally going to find OUT IF WE CAN SMOKE - SOME OF US ONLY - AND NOT NECESSARILY HAVE A PRE DISPOSITION TO LUNG CANCER , COPD, EMPHASEMA ETC......

ROCK ON WITH THIS TEST......YES I feel everyone should be able to have it, I do know that it is already available from Australia for $50 NZ but I havn't had the money to have it done... They send a swab from inside your mouth to Brisbane in Australia and your genetic code is analysed -  what a call

IRONY, IRONIC....OMG OMG OMG


S.M.O.K.E. - maybe we can come out of the closet and maybe the Tobacco Companies (this is my tweet on them) could start to stop S T O P putting in the toxic chemicals into the tobacco - there are Gods in the heavens shining down on me now...and hopefully on an entire generation now and those to come in the future......WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





Raewyn and I discussed and I answered questions on things like why I smoke...what does it do for me....etc.etc.

The questionnaire was explicit and had a good bite to it with a lot of depth I want to thank the person who wrote it - it was AWESOME covered all the gremlins that I have about my own smoking kewl and I am sure will go to assist many new young people who will start smoking no matter WHAT information or advertising or ASH does out there...........


I am about to Google Dr Robert Young (now of course here I have to mention that this name brought back memories like you wouldn't believe) the actor Robert Young was my mothers favourite actor she adored him and of course he was the consummate doctor on television for many many years in America......you look it up peeps???????





Put in the following for Google (I'm not going to list the sites they are many and various) but will tweet a couple of them onto Twitter I put in

"young,robert,doctor/medicine/genetics/new zealand/genes got a plethora of answers with heaps of articles and information that is WONDERFUL..... been reading for over an hour and am wrapped with his work and I again can say I am blessed to have been chosen to participate.........


Bloody Hell - I feel like the dog in the tv advert that misses the back of the truck and says "BUGGER" will find out a link to this advert it is a classic.......

I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANSICO HIGH ABOVE THE BAY?

Been sitting in front of the computer screen thinking about San Francisco and humming that song - "I left my heart in San Francisco high above the bay"

I will always remember the first time I walked through Union Square there were pigeons everywhere and an elderly man sitting on a park bench was feeding them bread, they were flying in from all the buildings around the square and it was amazing to watch. (There is that word again 'amazing') seem to use it all the time but it is the best descriptive word I can think of

We were standing opposite I Magnum looking towards Blums and the Macy's entrance it will always been etched in my mind as the sun was warm and inviting the pigeons by this stage had settled on the ground and everyone seemed happy, now at 8 years old everyone does seem happy or just bad, one or the other nothing in between. I will mention here that we had walked out of our hotel in Geary Street and gone across the crossing - I have always had a fear of crossing roads (even now) from the accident my confidence has always been nil where it comes to streets, especially busy ones. You should see me taking off across Ponsonby Road here in Auckland - bit deep breath and then I launch out like a maniac and being a lady don't run, but go at a great rate of knots to get to the other side as soon as possible.....lol

Mum and I must have walked hundreds of thousands of miles in our years away from New Zealand but we walked most of all in San Francisco and London. S.F. was wonderful to walk around and also there was the added bonus of the cable cars going up the hills, God they are steep and the one's without steps are just bloody

Used to love driving in Fred's car going down with the pitch of the road and then the cross section one which is flat and then down again the car seemed to launch out over the edge and then fall down at a great rate which was almost I might surmise the same as a G force in a plane

Now close to us at the Franciscan was Woolworths on the corner of Powell and Market on the harbour side (sorri harbor)... we used to go their first as they sold I think what you call bear claws - pastry with an orange glaze they were absolutely wonderful - my mouth is watering as I'm typing....Oh they were huge so we used to only get one (can't remember how much they were though) but I can remember the taste...awesome!!!

In the walk down from Geary to Market on the left side of the street was a cigar making shop with a guy working in a window - half open - a hot sugar and peanut making shop (trying to remember the name of the candy) mmm - Oh got it peanut brittle - a steak house (that I still covet to this day) and then Woolies.... Of course this was a daily tour/routine and then we would out of the donut area and launch into Market Street. Usually turning left and walk down to a large Hotel on the other side of the road about 3 blocks down. Can't remember the name to type it here but it was the hotel with the Russian Tea Room in it. What a place....full of palms and lovely white linen and smelt of warm toast

We would walk down as far as we could looking into the windows and then come back and have a hot chocolate for me and a coffee for Mum, we didn't have much money so only had the 'tea' about once every two months

Then back up to Joseph Magnum on the corner in Market Street and (?) one I don't remember the name of....City of Paris was on the top corner opposite the square, we used to get up the ire of the policeman sitting on the top of an awning with a loud hailer and he would spew forth would the woman and the girl not jay walk - use the crossing.......he did this every day as my Mother wasn't going to do anything she didn't want to....lol Wow into Joseph Magnum's shoe department - this is where I would cringe - there was a guy who worked there (probably about mid 30's) who wore a brown suit - will never ever forget him - he smelt funny and would be very good at fitting mother's shoes and then he would turn to me and smile - now I haven't ever seen this smile since and he would put his hands on the back of my calves and give me the total sh....ts....... and mumble things like you are nearly old enough to be my wife....Now let me say here that my mum was sitting right next to me and she was so focused on her own feet and shoes that she Never Ever Hear this guy....I used to have a panic attack every time we went in there, which was about once a week. Do you think she would listen to me I tried to tell her as best I could how I felt but she totally disregarded me and for this I am not a happy camper....he every now and then he comes into a nightmare and I can feel the creepy hands on my legs...ewwwwww.....eewwwww....... and I still haven't worked out after all these years what he smelt of....mmmmmm eewwwww again.....!!!!!! ug and men in brown suits should just disappear off the face of the earth...the hairs on my neck are now up like a cats!!!

Sundays were special we would go to the top restaurant in the Sir Francis Drake and the chefs used to cook eggs 'over easy' right there in front of you what a sight this little pan full of butter with two eggs bubbling Oh just bliss - then the view was pretty damn good as well and always busy - we went about 10 a.m. and to this day I still get hungry around that time and as its morning tea here, I eat - often an egg poached (better for me) on a crumpet...see the programming is so in there

Then off up the hill via the cable car to The Fairmont and the other one on the other corner - which had a Scottish bar full of tartan in it...can't remember its name and I googled the other day and panned everywhere we used to walk it was AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING - except lots of things had changed well it is 52 years ago.....just a wee few years - nice to know that many things though are still the same. The wonderful restaurant under the Fairmont in California St. with the water/pool in the middle and dining all around it - wonder what its called, it is still there....kewl

Into the Fairmont all red and lovely carpets, very busy pattern on the floor though!!! We met Andy Williams one night whilst in the bar outside the conference room where he as singing omg - he was such a short guy and had makeup on....well he could sing like an angel though...lol didn't get his autograph he only stopped in the bar to have a glass of water before his show and mum said hello....ever so posh like and he looked at us (mother and daughter with hats on.....) and said where are you two from.....then we said New Zealand and he smiled and said maybe one day I'll go there - have to go singing now.....mmmmm kewl Used to watch him on t.v. heaps with the Osmond kids memories omg memories......now I have moon river going through my head....bugger!!!

Just had a thought - but its gone.....where the hell did it go...anyway, got it....most of this stuff I'm spewing can be verified probably on the net the dates Andy sang at the Fairmont in 1959....can't be bothered checking myself though

Now I remember the smell down at Fisherman's Wharf those crabs cooking in the big pots (do they still do that I wonder) and then we would go to Tarantinos and sit and eat crab with butter and it was ambrosic....would always have rocqufort (sp) dressing (blue cheese) on my salad actually more dressing than salad and I still eat salad the same way none of that yucky french stuff for me a good old fashioned mayo or (I make up a blue cheese dressing myself) for eating with my lettuce - has to be heart though and lots of pepper and tomatoes.....mmmm yummy. Have an old menu from Tarantinos and I look at it every now and then just for posterity's sake.

The Golden Gate park, what can I say - the Japanese Tea House the aquarium and the area outside where we watched lots of things over the years - ballet, shakespeare and music....during the day and at nights (thinking of that movie with the hispanic girl and blond dude) The Wedding Planner when they are in this area listening to music....omg it took me back. Then all the lovely old red buildings - can see them in my minds eye as I'm typing. For those of you who haven't been to S.F. google and have a ball and remember me......and my mum we walked every inch of the place....wouldn't go on the bus see other blog.....made me angry

Mother went out one night (without me cry cry cry) only time she didn't take me in S.F. I stayed with the consulate general's wife - she went to Bimbo's 365 club and saw Gypsy Rose Lee....sorry I missed it but was far too young - a couple of friends from New Zealand were in S.F. and they had a dinner party there have the photograph of the night....Johnny Cave his wife Elsie and about 10 other people.......hehe.   Did have a menu but its gotten lost over these years.....gone bye a long time ago now

Getting a little tired its 1.31 a.m. so will have to make this a two parter but China Town - wow ordering chinese food by a number kewl and Trader Vic's think it is still there - remembered their Butterfly chicken with pineapple and that they had shrunken heads from New Zealand on their walls, which made us creep out but others not so much....they didn't have friends who were Maori, we did

Will go into across the Golden Gate to Ross etc. next blog and expand a little from downtown

Nice chatting with you - God I have a lot to say....and I can't believe I can remember so much, thank goodness I'm off the mental health drugs for the past 23 years or so I haven't remembered anything including if I had gone to the toilet or not....that is how much they suppressed my brain and body...well no more all gone g o n e gone


Night all

Hotels I adore them - spent a lifetime in them as well. American one's are the best?

Now I finished off in California in the last blog at the St. Franciscan Hotel which was just behind the St. Francis. Where we were was an old hotel with large rooms each had a bathroom and there were lots of long staying guests who all sat in the lobby and watched t.v.

We were on the 11th floor - this is not a problem normally except moi had nerves of jelly (jello) and couldn't go up nor down in a lift so I very quickly became fit as I walked up and down 11 (actually 22) flights of stairs at least twice if not up to as many as five/six times a day. Sometimes my mother would just come down or up with me in the lift she had to hold my hand (she did a lot of hand holding over the years) as I used to watch t.v. with the other long staying guests. I remember one program about Hong Kong (in black and white) starring an Australian actor who played a police person (can't remember his name at the moment) but I do remember he had an incident on an aircraft flight to Australia from California and everyone around him was given free flights to where - ever as he was so objectionable. He has long since passed away......mmm still can't remember - can visualise the face though. Oh he was in 'The Birds' with that lovely blonde woman. In that movie they have a shot in a local pet store in S.F. and I used to go there every day to check on the various animals...so the name

I have had a lifetime t.v. fetish (yes I call it that...lol) I am currently blogging and listening to Monk...whom I find fascinating he is a little like me slightly touched....it as you all have read started on the ship - that big box!!!

Also over the years it has (t.v. that is) been used as a baby sitter for me for hours and hours and hours as my mother was an older mum she had me when she was 46 and her and her friends would be partying on down and I would be shoved in front of the t.v. hence knowing so much about the 60's and what was played over the air waves...pulling on my hard drive I think we have the English to thank for t.v. it was produced just after the second world war....enough of that history...hehe more about moi..........lol

Now this sitting in the lobby and watching t.v. also started a lifelong people watching mode which I thoroughly enjoy and will just go out to sit and watch the world go by. There were three older persons and I mean in their 80's and two younger men (don't know maybe 30ish) who were always talking and watching this lobby t.v. I decided that I wanted to be like one of these older women and look like her when I was her age...Now it could be said that I have their ages totally wrong they may have only been in their 50's or 60's but God help me they seemed bloody old and decrepit. There was this one women who always looked immaculate with no hairs out of place, painted nails and beautiful makeup - not a lot but everything colour coded and well put together, she also had a french roll in her hair which had the pins perfectly in line and the same distance apart.....kewl eh?

Now at the moment I am suffering from Whooping cough...still around and making me feel really unwell, but when we were in this hotel we both contracted the Asian Flu during its first epidemic I can remember how horrible I felt, both my mother and I were so sick we couldn't go out to eat and there were others in the hotel in the same boat so the young man who was the bag boy...ran errands for us all. This also became very difficult as we didn't have any money - remember the monetary difficulties ex New Zealand...well we ran out we were both very sick and no food and nothing to drink other than tap water. We had a couple of sticks of gum and we chewed these lovelies for two days plus only drank water. In the meantime the Consulate was endeavouring to obtain more money for us but they were finding it impossible to organise...so this I think is the point at which money, food and I parted company and ever since then its been a problem. We were both so sick than we couldn't walk to the bathroom and had to literally crawl backwards and forwards to the toilet. Will just mention a little side bar here....

In S.F. there are often and I mean often slight tremors and I remember being unsteady on my feet and thinking that while I was cleaning my teeth I was going to fall over but actually it was a tremor and we did get used to them eventually.  These tremors just became part of the every day world - not even a worry

Now the cooking when we did have food was interesting as I said there was a little one element stove on a bench with a small sink about 6 inches by 6 inches in size and a very tiny little frig in this nook...we used to heat lots of one pot meals, still not that into baked beans thanks to this culinary feasting via the cupboard but I'm into toast so that was always a last resort. Boy am I a quick draw mcgraw!!! I can toast over a fixed element with my fingers no tongs required - I had to learn this trick as we didn't have tongs and a fork through the bread only heated up and burnt me..hehe

I have fingers like a chef can lift hot stuff out of anything...have been known to burn myself though if I don't concentrate on it totally in other words totally focus or your cooked, literally

Just before I finish up I would like to make a comment on segregation...we lived in it, with it, around it and it totally SUCKED we came from a country where our brown people (Maori) were treated equally and came into a city where when you got on the bus the black people had to either stand up or get off so that we could sit down or stand in the bus....this I remember being the MOST horrific and ikky thing I have ever had to do. My mother and I would walk for miles because of this....and I have always been adamant that no one, and I say no one, should be discriminated against at any level, of any colour, race,creed or religion - it should never ever happen, but of course it does still to this day and I am appalled with every single one of them