The Writer's Life
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Latest News
Is this summer?
We're really not sure. Summer should be at this time of year, yeah that's right, but gee wizz - this is really bad.
Christmas Day was a real ripper - bright and sunny and warm. People were taking their Christmas Dinner to the beach and enjoying a swim and time together. It seems like a distant memory of days long past ...
We're experiencing the La Nina weather pattern which seems to blast its way across New Zealand every so often. I cannot recall a Christmas/New Year period as diabolical as this one.
Christmas Day was nice then we rollercoastered 
downhill into warm, tropical winds and rain, grey skies. Then we had an OK day at the New Year ... and one brilliant day yesterday ... and today it's stormy as anything with cold wind from the south east. I've moved all my fragile potted plants around to the side of the house in an attempt to keep the wind from ripping them to shreds.
I feel sorry for us all ... this is our biggest holiday time. We hang out for these weeks in late December/early January for our camping holidays and summer activities. What a bummer.
But there is no point complaining about the weather. Indeed little can be done but ride it out. I have a good movie to watch this afternoon and several engrossing pot boilers on the go so I will occupy myself well.
Until everything turned to crap we were enjoying a deceptively beautiful lead-up to summer. The skies were clear, the days warm and long. Ah yes - we were lulled into thinking that would be the way of it all season. The pohutukawas have been simply gorgeous, blooming with their vibrant red flowers, attracting the bees making that delicious pohutukawa honey, pale and creamy ... we have several trees along the beach here and they all decided to go off at the same time, making such a delightful promenade. I was up north a couple of days ago and noticed that many of the trees up there are just starting to show forth whereas ours down here are almost done.
I wish I could share with you stories of my summer parties, photos of guests lounging about in the glorious sunshine on the lawn ... sigh. Instead I will share some photos of Little Boy and I taken by one of my summer guests who braved the wind and rain to s
tay for a few days.
I'm also keeping up my daily Journal again and will be sharing extracts from that on a special new page - take a look. Some of the best things mentioned there are simple pleasures - plum cake and coffee, watching the birds eat bread on the front lawn and visiting a glorious Coatsville garden.
Reviews
(Jane's books are available for purchase in the Store on this site or email Jane for more information)
The Pink Party
RRP $20
Klarer Lasserre Books 2007
Review of The Pink Party by Jenni Scarlett
In The Pink Party, Jane writes a very descriptive account of her journey with breast cancer. Interwoven with her own personal experiences are the journey stories of two friends, Colleen and Manon. Colleen has advanced breast cancer and Manon has a diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer, a cancer which has a poorer long term prognosis.
Jane writes a poignant story with openness and sensitivity about what it is like to be diagnosed with and to live with cancer. She writes of the vulnerabilities associated with loss of health, of coping with side effects of treatments and of the fears of cancer returning. Jane outlines the importance of hope, humour, living life in the moment and counting our blessings. Medical treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are without a doubt vital in the fight against cancer but Jane highlights other key factors in "treatment" - music, fun, laughter and friendship to name a few.
Colleen faces her progressing cancer with courage and dignity. She has difficult choices to make as hope is fading. It is hard to imagine how each of us would cope if we knew of our impending death. Would we have such courage? Jane captures frank and intimate discussions with both Colleen and Manon about death and dying and life and living. Jane shows how humour can be used to raise and cope with the serious issues of life after a cancer diagnosis - she lists the "Ten things to do before I cark it!"
The Pink Party is about the power of "sisterhood" and the empathy that breast cancer survivors have for each other. Pink is known as the colour of breast cancer, but Jane also calls it the colour of life and suggests "a really great party goes well with that." And to give what she terms "fear of recurrence" (FOR) a good kick in the bum, Jane writes, "Throw a party or have a vineyard lunch with the girls. You don't need a reason. There is much to be happy about these days so no shortage of excuses to kick up the heels. It drowns out that ill-mannered FOR troublemaker, raises the spirits and restores the courage."
This is a moving story and a beneficial read for women diagnosed with breast cancer or in fact any person diagnosed with cancer. It is an insightful book for caregivers and for those health professionals that are enlisted with the care of cancer patients. I would also recommend The Pink Party to "healthy" people, as it reminds us not to take our health or our lives for granted and to live each day as fully as we can. Perhaps we should all think about organising a Pink Party!
The Pink Party is endorsed by Sweet Louise and the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) and a donation from sales will be made to these organisations. To obtain a copy of The Pink Party, please visit the Store on this site.
Jenni Scarlet is a breast cancer research nurse at the Waikato Breast Care Centre, Hamilton. She is also a member of the ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group and the secretary of The Waikato Breast Cancer Trust.
Welcome to the Amazon Club
RRP $10
Longacre Press 2004
Excerpts from Reviews
Nelson Mail 2005
A cancer survivor's inspiring story
' As a member of the Amazon Club myself, I could relate readily to this account, and can assure readers - especially new members of the club, their supporters and health professionals - that it could well help them cope with this all too common condition.'
Wairarapa Times-Age 2004
Coping with cancer
'This could be a terribly depressing book. Cancer is, after all, such a big, scary subject. Instead, Bissell offers hope and inspiration to other people facing the same monster. And, like many other cancer survivors, she emerges stronger and more appreciative of life.
'A true Amazon.'
'Required reading for anybody facing a diagnosis of cancer, or supporting somebody in that situation.'
Marlborough Express 2004
Graphic story of breast cancer
'Everyone knows someone who has suffered from breast cancer - it's an insidious disease that affects far too many New Zealand women.
'Written in diary form, this book captures a year in Jane's life, from the time she discovers the lump until a year later when she gets the all clear. It's a devastatingly sad, yet uplifting book.
'A wonderful book for anyone going through a similar experience of for those who have friends with breast cancer.
'While incredibly sad, the Amazon Club is also a wonderful tale of bravery and strength and of a hard fought battle won. Highly recommended.'
The Beacon Issue 30 April 2005
'The main message I took from the book was that cancer can, paradoxically, create a window of opportunity to 'stop and smell the roses.' Jane's touching and candid account of her diagnosis, treatment and recovery left me wit a sense of hope and renewed appreciation of the 'here and now' for what it is.'