For something a little different, here's an interview I did with Stephanie Astalos-Jones on her podcast "Flat is where it's at" back at the end of March. We're talking about breast cancer, being a uni and life after... https://flatiswhereitsat.libsyn.com/hangin-with-jessica-cooke
Category: Travel
Starkbierfest
I laced the bodice of my Dirndl tightly, bringing my breasts to a state of perfection as they all but burst from my dress. I hadn’t worn my traditional Oktoberfest dress for months and I pondered how insane I was as I covered my delectable breasts with my coat and stepped out into the snow. … Continue reading Starkbierfest
Closure
It wasn’t just me who had to deal with cancer. My sister flew from Australia to Luxembourg twice to be with me during chemotherapy. The last time I saw Jenni I was finishing my fourth round of soul-destroying EC chemo and starting the eight week brutality of Taxol chemotherapy. I was bald, listless, depressed, incapacitated … Continue reading Closure
Anniversaries, scanxiety and colonic irrigation
Cancer is full of anniversaries. Shout out a date and I’ll be able to associate it with something cancer related, but this was the big one. One year since diagnosis. One year since the world titled on its axis and sent me hurtling straight to hell. A not so gentle reminder of the last 14 … Continue reading Anniversaries, scanxiety and colonic irrigation
Fethiye Flashbacks
I hear yahooing above me as I climb the steep slope to the hotel. I see a group of men on scooters animated about something and wait until they ride away… not the sort of situation I want to enter. I continue up the hill until I get to the bend and find myself facing … Continue reading Fethiye Flashbacks
It was fate
I swam around an island! I am amazing! If that weren’t incredible enough, it was called Shark Island! And for something spectacular, I did it from a boat! Knowing of my crippling shark phobia and my debilitating motion sickness may make this more impressive. I swam around an islandI'm on a boat When I decided … Continue reading It was fate
Juicy Mountain Magic
We have climbed to Limestone Plateau to release our cares to the imp of the mountain. Our yogi tells us that limestone absorbs negative emotions and if we ask, we may leave ours with the little man in the silver jacket. “It may be comfortable, it may be other, whatever”, Kenny intones. I lie on … Continue reading Juicy Mountain Magic
Juicy Mountain Recovery
The sheep baa in the distance as I shuffle away from the meditation platform shrouded in a grey and white blanket. I look back at those shuffling behind me, similarly cloaked in their grey and white blankets and giggle. “I don’t know why they think we’re a cult.” Laughter rings out, breaking the solemnity. Not … Continue reading Juicy Mountain Recovery
Swimming in Sweden
Five years ago, on a ski course, I walked into a guesthouse restaurant to see a man grinning awkwardly. I grinned awkwardly back and made a new best friend. Five minutes later his wife walked in and then there were three. We shared a passion for restaurants, travelling to new places, smutty jokes, ridiculous challenges, … Continue reading Swimming in Sweden
