11 year cancer-versary - Professional Writing Services

Image: PS I love you

26 February 2026

How good is life and friends and sunshine

Being a persistent optimist, I tend to think that things generally work out for the best, sometimes in peculiar ways. The marking of my dear friend Tamar’s 10 year cancer-versary at the 11 year anniversary being a good example with caring duties, including a broken leg, having forced us to cancel our previous 3 attempts to get away. In the lead up to this trip we both held our breath and quelled the anxiety whenever a loved one was visiting the doctor or walking on wet surfaces.

Looking from behind, a woman at a lookout at sunrise looking into the distance over the ocean

So it was a big relief to see Tamar at the baggage carousel at Newcastle Airport in late February as planned. We giggled as we hugged and relaxed, ready for the cancer-versary – finally!

We started our 4 days away with a tasty brunch by Newcastle harbour with my Dad and Sandra, who were in town celebrating his 80th birthday. Then we stretched our legs and got tangled hair as we were buffeted by the wind doing the ubiquitous Newy things, including walking along Nobby’s Breakwall and around the beaches. We stumbled across a (possibly tongue in cheek or possibly not) statue of a block of coal – an ode to all things Newcastle.

Four friends smiling at the camera, standing in a carpark following a lovely breakfast outing — *Brunch was scenic – the carpark wasn’t*

Two women smiling at the camera, standing in front of an outdoor sculpture that appears to be a block of black coal — *Smog town honouring its coal heritage and legacy*

We then headed north to Nelson Bay where we’d spend the next few days swimming, eating, strolling, snoozing, relaxing and repeat.

Two women in their swimmers after swimming in a calm bay with a sandy beach which is behind them in the background — *our beach – Dutchies*

Two female friends sitting at a dinner table outdoors at a restaurant with a view of a town, ocean and mountains in the distance — *a lovely meal out*

A woman holding an ice cream cone with two large scoops of ice cream, looking at the camera with her mouth wide open about to attack the ice cream — *so good we went back the next day*

Standing at the top of some steps, looking down to a rocky beach and a calm ocean — *looking out at Fly Point*

We had a simple 2 bedroom apartment with a lovely outlook over Dutchie’s Beach. From our front door it took less than 3mins to get down to the beach and be lolling in the water.

A view from an apartment to a white sanded beach in the middle of the day with a bright blue sky and people swimming — *Our beach – Dutchies*

Dusk with a layer of clouds, slightly coloured by sunset, looking over a small beach on a still bay — *Sunset*

A view from an apartment balcony, looking out through a gum tree with a white beach in the background and the sun setting in the distance — *from our verandah*

We explored all the pretty bits of Nelson Bay and Shoal Bay. We ate at some great cafes and restaurants, and cooked for ourselves too. We walked to Nelson Bay Lighthouse and up Mount Tomaree. We checked out the view from Gan Gan lookout. We chatted and laughed and reminisced and planned and were absolutely happy and grateful to be able to have the time away together.

A series of white sandy beaches and small green mountains along the coast line with the ocean — *view south at Tomaree Mountain*

Two friends at a lookout with a series of yellow sandy beaches and small mountains behind them and the big blue ocean — *happy walkers*

A view from a mountain, overlooking a calm bay and a small town — *view of Shoal Bay*

A woman standing at a lookout at the top of a mountain at sunrise with the ocean and a headland behind her — *good morning 🙂*

A woman on a raised walkway on the side of a mountain, with her arms and legs out like a star, smiling at the camera, with a river and mountains in the distance. — *cancer free!*

At the base of a lighthouse, looking at the sunrise over the ocean with some small islands in the distance, with a white picket fence and garden furniture on the green lawn — *view from Nelson Bay Lighthouse*

A view from a lookout, looking over a river with a town in the foreground and mountains in the distance — *view from Gan Gan Lookout*

We turned our brains off, slept well and made time for naps every day. We had lorikeets and kookaburras constantly enjoying the beautiful trees and bushland around us. We saw a stingray with a baby and dolphins cruising past while we were at the beach. We saw stars at night and almost got used to the regular rumble of air force jets doing training runs from nearby Williamtown Airbase. We definitely got used to the lovely morning walks along the waterfront, the great weather and being away from computers and life responsibilities. Most importantly of all we celebrated life and friendship and good health. 💚

Two friends looking at the camera with a breakwall around a marina full of boats in the background — *happy smiley relaxed faces*

A woman pointing to a For Sale sign on a yacht, intimating that she could buy the yacht — *surely every charity needs a boat…*

Additional photo credits to Tamar

Friends and family