Ground Zero plus 21 days...wow

3 weeks jammed packed, wow it has seemed like a lifetime of events.

21 days ago, both daughters were in far away locations. Sylvia and I were having an awesome time taking on the market and really loving being back in the drivers seat in Toop&Toop, getting to know our magic team, and loving the coaching. 

In just 21 days...eldest daughter Genevieve (Gen) returns home immediately from USA (rather than casually joining Sylvia and I for our family holiday in Europe). Gen's planned return to T&T was the 5th September, and is now likely to be next Monday 4th June. She comes back after her 2 years out of the T&T business, but is more informed, filled with knowledge, passion and new marketing and real estate ideas. Her passion runs deep to implement ideas picked up directly from world best marketing practices. Her passion has remained steadfast to return to the family business, hometown Adelaide. Gen's partner Tom didn't escape the impact of my new, and returned early with Gen, yet equipped with big credentials for his future building career after working on iconic projects in London. 

Suzannah (Suz - who is massively qualified from Bond University) landed the highly contested graduates dream job in the property section of AMP Capital 18 months ago. She has been mixing it with the big boys in Sydney's property circles and has learned astonishing things about how the top end of the property world works in Australia, rubbing shoulders with the serious players in that space. 

Here we are, 21 days later, and both Gen and Suz are staying the night together in a cheap hotel at Wagga Wagga driving Suz's Yaris home together, loaded with her stuff. By tomorrow night the family will be all under one roof again, and so begins the new chapter.

Suz has 6 months leave granted by AMP Capital; they have been incredible in their compassion and support, as I have already pointed out. 

So what about the business then. 

Toop&Toop runs deep in all our blood. Sylvia and I started this on the 8th May 1985, 27 years ago. I am 54, do the maths, half my life and all of the kids lives. Sylvia and I have been married since 1980, we have worked together more than half of our lives. The kids have this in their DNA, the timing has shifted but their is a lot of passion there.

The Team Toop are well accustomed to running independant of me. Our team are senior and extremely competant. The depth of experience is beyond compare, and this again is now a well oiled organisation, re-engineered for the new market conditions. What I particularly enjoy is pushing the boundaries on new technology and marketing. We are in roll out mode of seriously major innovations so the timing is actually perfect for me to be away for 3 to 6 months, apart from the fact I am not enjoying having cancer. I was loving being CEO again.

 Gen starts what was to begin on the 5th September on the 4th June (probably). 

Sylvia is sitting in my seat and is well and truly accustomed to running the show, only normally she runs me, I then run the business. Now it will be reversed. I will be the man behind the woman!! I hope to be back mid-late spring.

Suz returns to be around the place, to help out wherever she is needed including running me around when I need her. I bet she is seen in my car, mmm, let me know! She has been eying off the black Porsche for years and it may be a short term bonus for her for her stay in Adelaide rather than catching buses to work like in Sydney. Bribery?? 

Today for me was medical appointments pretty much all day again. Radiation a daily outing.

Checked in on how the Chemo was going, all OK, and first round finishes Friday afternoon.

Again at the hospital ran into friends, more volunteers. Our neighbour at St Albyns Ave. Toorak Gardens, Cecily M, PLUS in the oncology unit yet another volunteer person that I knew...so Adelaide!! 

More Doctors. Research is now pretty much done, and so we are having a weekend of family discussions to firm up on my exact treatment decisions. We will firm up on the details of how Suz can most assist all the Team Toop, as well as be available for me as I get deeper into this next tough period.

I must say, this is some journey guys. There are so many people, including young children facing what I am going through,  and a hell of a lot worse...just another reminder to not to sweat the small stuff. Finish every day proud that you have done the very best with that day...they all count. 

So, family united tomorrow (warning: we will probably start fighting by this time next week, but you know what, we are all such strong minded individuals and I recon that somehow it works a treat, & we do have so much respect for each other and our respective skills so don't panic). 

Very proud Dad...

Team Toop...you are awesome too and I hope you enjoy having the girls around the place. I have already been given the drum...GIRL POWER. Blokes, take a stand early!!

That's it guys, and tomorrow I write my last InsideStory for this season. Ready to start them up again when I get back on deck on the other side of all this.