26 February 2012

Birthday cake made by ten-year-old Isabel for Harry's 45th yesterday.

Good news at the hospital on Friday: my blood analyses were fine and a chest x-ray showed only the tiniest bit of growth to the lung tumour. So I continue with no chemo, and my next scheduled appointment with Dr Podd is not until the middle April.

Meanwhile, during March I'm attending workshops at the St Elizabeth Hospice on Thursday and Friday afternoons. I hope to visit Janet and Margaret in Gloucestershire for a few days, and Kate and Harry along with a number of friends, are much in attendance. Willa arrives after Easter for six weeks, so I have lots to look forward to.

I get awfully tired very easily but can still manage to walk up the street to the grocery store for milk and enjoy being driven out to lunch or a movie. The weather has improved over the last couple of weeks, although I haven't written off winter yet.

12 February 2012

There's been no word from me for a long time -- no blog messages, emails or Christmas cards. Many thanks to all of you who have kept in touch regardless, because it hasn't been the best of times.

I got more and more tired when having chemo every two weeks, so Dr Podd has given me a six week holiday, but it doesn't seem to have made much difference. I hope to see him soon.

I have had numerous problems around the house (tv, telephones, central heating, roof leaks, mice) and dealing with transportation for all my medical appointments plus the collapse of my old car that Kate has been using to visit me. At least the weather was unseasonably warm until recently (see photo of my back garden taken yesterday). The worst thing was that I had to have my beloved Dizzy (about 16 years old) put down two weeks ago. At least I don't have to worry anymore about what would happen to her after my death.

Kate and Harry ensure that I have house guests at least on weekends. My friend Audrey who now lives near Vichy will be here for a couple of nights this week. I spent last week in Manchester with Harry and family after a nine hour car journey from Needham -- three hours of which was spent stationary, in the dark, on the M62 in the snow just about 10 miles from Harry's house!

I have recently attended a series of introductory sessions at St Elizabeth's Hospice in Ipswich, where I hope to be taken care of eventually. It's a really wonderful place -- even the food is reasonable!