Lesbatees

[quote user="Gluestick"][quote user="Lesbatees"] Oh, for God's sake!!! Those of us who have breast cancer are constantly being told that it's our lifestyle .... erm .... no it's not - BIG REVEVELATION!!! - it's our genes, and the Government will fund pre-emptory testing. The current "truth" is, as my oncologist says, is that nobody really actually "knows" what causes cancer. Give us a break, please. LB [/quote] Well, that's two contradictory statements. Now, is it Genes: or no one knows? I am so sorry, Lesbatees, that you have suffered this dreadful disease and do hope your recovery goes well: however to fly in the face of established medical research does society no good: nor the cause of beating this modern health scourge. [/quote] Gluestick, that is precisely my point.  The UK government is busy encouraging women with a judged "genetic predisposition" to breast cancer to undergo genetic testing with a view to measures like double mastectomy to avoid the risk.  On the other hand, women are also constantly bombarded with NHS propaganda that tells them that a high stress high risk lifestyle puts them at increased risk of breast cancer.  The statistics used to back up this both views are just that - statistics.  They indicate possibilities.  They don't prove anything.   As my husband, a former biochemist, would say, there is, as yet, no fully PROVEN cause for breast cancer.  This is why I put the word "truth" in quotes in my original post.  As for recovery?  No.  There is no way back from breast cancer once you have secondary spread.  All my onc can do for me is delay the inevitable.  Now there's a cold, hard fact for you. LB

Oh, for God's sake!!! Those of us who have breast cancer are constantly being told that it's our lifestyle .... erm .... no it's not - BIG REVEVELATION!!! - it's our genes, and the Government will fund pre-emptory testing. The current "truth" is, as my oncologist says, is that nobody really actually "knows" what causes cancer. Give us a break, please. LB

Don't judge unless you've been there.  Jane Tomlinson was a heroine, true, but for many of us who have secondary breast cancer and can't live up to her ferocious bravery, it is difficult.  Jade Goody was a heroine of a different stamp.  She was no saint but she did what she could in her last months to raise awareness of cervical cancer.  As a result, many women who would not otherwise have bothered are getting smears done. What I am saying here is that we all approach our impending mortality the best way we can.  I hope that when my time comes I will be able to make a good death, as both of the women mentioned did, in their own way.   LB

[quote user="Mark"] Hi all, just to say all went well - Henry, 3.25 kilos, was born at 5.20ish Sunday afternoon, all well.  Squidge's hippy credentials took something of a battering though, as she ended up filled with more drugs than a Rolling Stone, after stating in bold on her birth plan that she in no way wanted any artificial painkilling assistance.  Perhaps I just put the TENS machine pads in the wrong places on her back - not sure. need sleep now zzzzzz..... [:)] [/quote] Tell her not to feel bad about it, Mark.  They don't call it labour for nothing, and until you've actually been through it you can't predict how much it will hurt for you.  Important thing is she has a fine healthy baby and they're both OK. V.

Hi Mog, Hope your consultation with the oncologist went well and you are getitng the treatment you need. Best wishes, V.

Ok, here goes: I wouldn't worry about being offered plenty of anti-nausea stuff, etc.  I have a positive EU mountain of drugs which I was given during treatment and you only have to say if it isn't working and they will offer you something more effective.  However, that said, don't expect anything to completely prevent side effects.  My after experience of chemo (Taxotere) was like two to three days of the world's worst hangover.  Not nice but can be tolerated.  The other chemo I've had (Navelbine) didn't cause any problems with nausea but induced grinding fatigue which meant I had to stay in bed most of the time for several days after the treatment. Can't tell you if cancers are graded the same as in the UK, I'm afraid, as I've never asked.  I haven't felt it profited me to know the information.  I would say it is very likely that they are as medical terminology seems to be pretty universal. My chemo and radiotherapy was always dealt with at the hospital (as an outpatient appointment) and check ups are always with the oncologist.  My GP is not involved, although he is kept informed.  I have regular blood tests and hormone injections and these are delivered at home by a nurse.  I have to arrange these appointments directly with her. If there's anything else you want to know, please ask. Good luck, V.

Mogs, I have received chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for primary and secondary breast cancer in France.  What do you want to know?  

Hi Opas, When I take a taxi to the hospital on the days hubby can't drive me I don't pay anything.  I just sign the bon de transport and hand it over to the taxi driver. V.

Apologies if this has been asked before - I did do some searching but couldn't find anything. We are in the process of looking for a company to treat our newly discovered infestation of capricorn in some of our roof beams. Is there any particular body which accredits such companies?  If so, what is it called?  Val  

I have had three nurses in the last four years.  The first was always in a tearing hurry and never seemed able to find a vein when taking blood.  I was in tears and black and blue after each of her visits.  The second was so-so and the third is wonderful.  Despite the now rather awful state of my veins she's able to draw blood without hurting me, something I worship her for.  She's also bright, cheerful and never fails to ask how my treatment is going and sympathise. MM

In my experience you have to ask what happens next.  I now make a point of putting together a list of questions in writing for any doctor I see.  Gives us time to pore over translation options. V.

[quote user="Judyc"] You remind me of my working life when every year a new university graduate would arrive and immediately tell us where we, who had been doing the job for years, were all going wrong.  After all, they had  a degree and had learned it all out of a book.   No doubt they had valuable contributions to make but to think they immediately knew everything and we were all numbskulls did not go down well.  [/quote] Great post, Judy.  I particularly liked the bit quoted above, having suffered from "graduate syndrome" during my career in Corporate La La Land.  Most of the patronising little ***** I dealt with couldn't spell or punctuate, either, which made it even more infuriating.  Being lectured via textspeak memo is not one of the most fun memories of my career. V

I don't think price has anything to do with it but class certainly has.  My nightmare clients are some English upper middle class types who leave the room like a tip and treat me and hubby like servants.  Favourite clients are at the other end of the English class spectrum, and usually (but not always) from the North.  They leave the room looking as if it has hardly been used and even (God knows why) make the bed before departing!! Our Dutch, Belgian and French clients usually leave the rooms in a good state.  Obviously used, but tidy and easy to clean.  The French tend to strip the beds for us. V.

You might also like to try http://www.laymyhat.com.  Loads of information about ironing systems there. V

[quote user="mascamps.com"] MM: Why not get a credit card machine and avoid the problems? Even via CA, it's only around EUR 30/month so I'm sure it can be had cheaper. I find that we get a much, much smaller percentage of noshows when people have provided a credit card number. That person making multiple bookings would find it a very expensive trip indeed if we all took CC numbers upfront. We find that we rarely bill people as no-shows these days (I think only one this Summer so far) but pre getting the CC machine and taking CC numbers at the time of booking, we'd have notionally been billing at least one a week. So, the EUR 30 is covered very quickly. [/quote] I agree with you in principle, Arnold.  Unfortunately, 360 euros per annum before transaction costs is a lot to pay out for a facility we'd not be using that often.  We use Paypal for late bookers, and find it works OK - so far this year we've not had any "no-shows".  The ones that didn't show up in the past were the ones we couldn't get a deposit from as it was too late. V.  

[quote user="mascamps.com"] I've also seen a bit of an increase in French bookings who seem to assume that we're just doing this as a sideline or something and that therefore a booking is just letting us know that they might be there. One or two have been quite shocked that we've billed them when they didn't cancel. I suspect that this is why you've encountered the overbooking problem Anton: the French run places assume that a number of people won't turn up.[/quote] It's not just the French who play these games, Arnold.  A couple of years ago I remember an English contributor to this Forum openly admitting that when making a journey to the South she booked several places along the route and decided which one to stop at on the night.  One hopes she had the courtesy to inform the others she wasn't coming after all.  Somehow, I doubt it. Over the years we've had our fair share of no-shows, and they've been all nationalities.  The end result is that our booking policy has changed so that we now demand 50% up front from one-nighters.  Next year it will be payment in full.  My faith in human nature, never great to begin with, has been further eroded by running a B&B. MM

[quote user="Cassis"] We can't do enough for people who treat us properly, rather than like doormats. [/quote] Ditto.  We've had some lovely people stay here and we've always done our level best to make sure they had a really good time. MM

Hi Susie, I feel very sorry for you.  I wouldn't worry.  As the previous poster said it is highly unlikely that the threatened complaint will materialise, and, if it does, I doubt they have a leg to stand on. I am sure that you told them when they booked what time you serve dinner, and if they couldn't be bothered to let you know how late they were going to be you had every right to assume they wouldn't show.  I would have. Unfortunately, inconsiderate guests are a fact of life in this business.  Thankfully, the majority of guests are not like this at all. V.  

Hi Sandy, You might also want to post a question at http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk.  This parenting forum has a "Living Overseas" topic and there are several people there who have had experience of having babies in France.  They may be able to help. V.

Oh, forget to say.  All my drugs are fully reimbursed, thankfully.  As you say, they are bloody expensive. V.

I have a prothesis. When I first went to get it fitted I was told that the ones you stick on are fully funded by CPAM but the ones that you put in a specially adapted bra are only 60% funded.  I opted for a stick on one.  I am entitled to a new one each year.  So far my surgeon has written the ordonance for me but if I wasn't seeing him I would ask my medcin traitant instead.  No matter what type you have you have to pay for the special bras yourself. Hope this is useful. V.

While I'm all for having a laugh some things are not suitable subjects for jokes.  This is one of them. A more appropriate response would be to go here http://www.justgiving.com/southyorkshirefloodrelief and make a donation. V.

You can do Paris to Burgundy in about 1.5 hours by TGV.  However, I would advise hiring a car if you want to look around since Burgundy's about the size of Wales!  You can hire cars at most TGV stations. I would think you are better off planning a two destination holiday and making a list of the things you really want to see badly. Val

Hi there, You might want to take a look at the following: http://www.vegsoc.org/directory/overseas_france.html We've received very good feedback from our guests about most of the places on this list.  If you want more info please PM me. We're exclusively veggie, based in Burgundy (71).  Though I do say it myself our guests seem to like our food.  It's particularly gratifying when we get non-veggies eating with us and then coming back for more! Val www.lesbattees.com

Hi all, Sorry it's been so long since "Bennetts" was updated.  It got stalled by a massive dose of that inconvenient phenomenon known as Real Life.  As any B&B owner will tell you, there's a lot of that about in the summer and no time for anything else Currently working on the next chapter.  Will post a taster next week. Val