For those of you too young to subscribe to Saga.. and those of you who don’t/didn’t… here’s the full article that featured me and my fabulous bench from the April edition.
One day again I look forward to sharing more bubbles with you on my bench at My Little Place of Calm Anna Wallace’s Bench, Berkeley Square W1
I’m delighted to feature in April’s edition of Saga Magazine talking about why I chose to have a Memorial bench to enjoy during my lifetime.
Hopefully the article will inspire others to not wait to fulfil dreams and ambitions.
Full article can be read in the Saga Magazine or viewed online via the Saga Magazine app.
Ps I’m always curious.. if you were to have a living bench, where would you choose and why?
Pps If you visit my Bench in Berkeley Square, please do send me a pic or tag me on instagram @annagoanna1 I so enjoy that others have enjoyed my bench too.
Ppps Forgive the additional chins that I’ve gained during the COVID lockdown!
On 20th August 2009, the day of Mum’s funeral, I first noticed a lump.
On 17th December 2020, today, I got a call from the Robin Jones, the Head of the Sarcoma Team at The Royal Marsden with the results of scans and checks carried out 10 days ago.
They’d promised that if I’d been good and not grown any more lumps or bumps that they’d release me back in to the wild! And… I’ve… been… good…. no lumps or bumps… so after 4,137 days in their care, roughly 102 scans and 68 appointments, they’ve officially signed me off. They’ve been amazing throughout. So supportive and caring. OK so they’ve poked around a LOT and cut out bits and bobs, but their stitching is pretty neat! I have never enjoyed the mammograms AKA boob squishes but I got my own back last Christmas by wearing Christmas Pudding nipple tassels which made us all giggle when they removed my gown for a scan!
Robin has been incredible and truly gone the extra mile looking after me but also when I’ve been contacted by someone just diagnosed with Phyllodes in the UK. He’s been on the end of the phone or email and set up meetings/scans and appointments at short notice as well as being a ‘second opinion’ where required. Phyllodes is a small world (fortunately) and Robin, before coming to the Marsden was on the team who looked after my gorgeous friend Andi in the US.
So I feel spoilt that Robin made the time today to make the call himself and check that I was OK about being discharged from the Marsden’s care. I am. BUT he has asked me to pop in with a cake or biccies for a gossip when COVID is over and to say hello!
Finally, I wrote this in April 2010 ….”It’s been a while since I updated you… mostly because I’m finding it difficult to know where I am. I don’t know if I’m waiting for something to finish or something to begin but I feel lost.”
Maybe it’s now time to dust down that map/globe and head off to my next destination.
Delighted to see Phyllodes is in the new Sarcoma UK e-news. AND there’s a Factsheet now published too. http://Sarcoma.org.uk/…/a4_factsheet_phyllodes_of_the….
Mammogram ultrasound and chest x-ray today. Then results later this arvo! I thought I’d be seasonally dressed for the occasion!
UPDATE – clearly seasonal dressing and biccies for the medical crew worked… no change and they’ve let me go back to annual scans!!
Back in the Wallace Wing for my results. Got here early so I could have some carrot cake It’s sooooo scrummy!
UPDATE. all good, I’ve grown nothing more. And even allowed to go to 6monthly checkups.
I know how to make my wet and grey Thursday a little more fun…. My 4monthly grope, squish and a selfie (of my chest).
So it’s high time everyone saw a little of what I’ve been creating in glass. Yes I need to work on the website and content but this is ‘just for now’… a small selection below OR head over to www.annagoanna.com which is my new glassy website
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Rectangular Server Plate (30cm x 13cm) (SOLD)
Made with white tekta glass as the base layer, robins egg blue, deep cobalt blue, light cobalt blue, turquoise and caribbean blue irid glass piles. #Bullseye glass
Full fuse and then slumped in to a mould to create the shape.
Rectangular Server Plate (30cm x 13cm) (SOLD)
Made with white tekta glass as the base layer, robins egg blue, deep cobalt blue, light cobalt blue, turquoise and caribbean blue irid glass piles. #Bullseye glass
Full fuse and then slumped in to a mould to create the shape.
Square Slumper Plate (21cm x 21cm) 
Square Slumper Plate (21cm x 21cm)
Square Slumper Plate (21cm x 21cm)
Square Slumper Plate (21cm x 21cm)
Square Simple Plate (15cm x 15cm)
Square Slumper Plate (21cm x 21cm)
Square Platter (23cm x 23cm)
Rectangular Plate (23cm x 12cm)
Rectangular Plate (23cm x 12cm)
Rectangular Plate (23cm x 12cm)
Rectangular Server Plate (30cm x 13cm)
Rectangular Server Plate (30cm x 13cm) 
Rectangular Server Plate (30cm x 13cm) 
Rectangular Server Plate (30cm x 13cm) 
Rectangular Server Plate (30cm x 13cm)
Floral Decorative Piece (24cm x 10cm)
Floral Decorative Panel (22cm x 12cm)
Float glass panel – with glassline drawing (24cm x 18cm)
Glass Floral Panel (17cm x 15cm)
Glass Floral Panel (20cm x 15cm)
London at Night (with Copper Oxide) (15cm x 10cm)
close up
London at Night (with Copper Oxide) (15cm x 10cm)
close up
London at Night (with Copper Oxide) (15cm x 10cm)
closeup
Battersea Power Station Coaster (10cm x10cm)
Perth beach (15cm x 10cm)
Random Beach
Glass Drinks Swizzle Sticks (15cm in length)
Glass Leaves (20cm in length)
China Soup Bowl (18cm diameter)
Vitrum Strip piece – Square Platter (23cm x 23cm)
Vitrum Strip piece
China Soup Bowl (18cm diameter)
Rectangular Server Plate (30cm x 13cm)
China Soup Bowl (18cm diameter)
Square Plate Simple (15cm x 15cm)
My first interpretation of My Bench in Berkeley Square in glass. Deeper picture as 4 layers of glass… see other pictures. Defo need to look at strength of some of the colours used.
I had another go at creating my bench in Berkeley Square. Much better colours and depth to it BUT I stupidly had the kiln paper too high so the edges have pulled. I knew what I should do and nervously panicked about the glass pulling out so went higher! Stupid… oh well, will try it again and hopefully nail it.
Loitering in a waiting area between scans (next up CT) and someone is playing the piano as I attempt to snooze. So reminds me of growing up and Mum playing the piano when she thought nobody was listening.
