Susannah has the day off as we had chemo scheduled but it has been cancelled due to the change in plan. This throws me for a bit of a loop as I have gotten used to my Thursday chemo routines. I now have nothing at all on the calendar for this week which is very weird. It’s amazing how much of my life now revolves around hospitals and treatments. My new normal.

We have booked our van in for a warrant so we drive it to Nissan Wairau and wander around until it is ready to be picked up. It passes with no problems. As it’s a lovely day (for a change) we decide to drive to the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple in Manukau. We’ve never been and it’s somewhere we’ve wanted to visit for a few years.  The van could do with a bit of a drive as well.

The temple does not disappoint. It’s very serene and walking around it I feel calm. There is a small exhibition on Siddhartha and his path to Enlightenment. We are offered candles to lay at one of 5 trees, each labelled with a different wish. Susannah chooses Hope and I choose Enlightenment. We also write a personal wish on a paper heart and pin it to the wall. These actions feel very positive and at the same time therapeutic. I really hope our wishes are fulfilled. 

The temple also has a vegan Restaurant and this is the main reason I have wanted to visit. The food is simple but really good and the portions massive. I think if it were closer to home I would be a frequent visitor.

On the way out we buy a bell wind chime which reminds us both of our days in Japan, and Susannah buys me a jade bracelet representing good health. I love it. 

I hope it works.