Quiet week

We have had a fairly quiet week. I had a difficult time with withdrawal symptoms coming off the steroids. We cancelled our 4 day trip to France which was disappointing but fortunately we were able to re-schedule both hotels and the Shuttle without extra cost.

A visit to my oncologist on Monday was upsetting – Mr Nasty is on the move again. I am having 2 more chemo sessions starting tomorrow. So the fight is on once more. Where are my battle fatigues????

Alan has been busy in the garden. This week he has planted runner beans, peppers, yet more potatoes (bargain from garden centre), tomatoes including a yellow variety (Sun Baby) and the hanging baskets are a work in progress.

Today we went out for lunch at the Ambrette – yummy, scrummy – good local produce and Gadds beer.

The Grandies are fine and will be meeting up tomorrow in Fort Lauderdale Florida – I hope to receive lots of photos of them together.

As always my thoughts and prayers are with my fellow warriors, each following their own pathway, each  at different stages of this awful disease. Together we are strong.

Ray's revamped logo.

I end this blog with a wish that Arsenal do what they are paid heaps to do and win the FA Cup on Saturday – that would make so many happy amongst my family and friends.

Tess x

Petition

Hi!

I just signed the petition "FAO Steve Auty: Retract plans to close The Pilgrims Hospice, Canterbury in 2016 and allow it to remain in its current working state." on Change.org.

It's important. Will you sign it too? Here's the link:

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/fao-steve-auty-retract-plans-to-close-the-pilgrims-hospice-canterbury-in-2016-and-allow-it-to-remain-in-its-current-working-state?recruiter=89458196&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

Thanks!

Pilgrims Hospices have 3 centers in E. Kent. Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet (where I attend). The proposed closure of the in-patient unit at Canterbury will deprive terminally ill patients of hospice care when they and their families need it most and will inevitably impact on the other two sites.
If you feel able please sign the petition now.
Tess x

A few days away

We took the opportunity between treatments and medical appointments to escape to the New Forest for 5 days. Just what we needed to restore body and soul. We stayed in the Montagu Arms in Beaulieu, highly recommended! A few more targets met and memories made. I walked more in one day than I have in the last month and my legs are rebelling! Here are just a few photos to give you the flavour of our trip.

Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway

Camellia

Azaleas

Azaleas and Acers

Rhododendrons

Steam engine being turned by a lady with a bad back!

 

 

 

 

River Beaulieu

 River Cruise from Buckler's Hard

Buckler's Hard from our boat

 

 

 

A cormorant sunning itself

Yeah! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

Motor Museum

Ringwood Brewery van

Vintage bus - a real old bone shaker!

Ruins of Beaulieu Abbey

Beaulieu Abbey













Tess x

Easter

I went for a scan on Good Friday. Good to know the scanners are working for outpatients every day except Christmas Day. They just need to get the staffing levels up to the same standard and a few more radiologists to read the scans. So we await the results to see whether treatment stops or continues. The good thing was the hospital car park was virtually empty – if you are a regular hospital visitor you will appreciate what a bonus this was, and only one other couple in the waiting room so another bonus.

Easter weekend was spent in Tunbridge Wells. The weather on Easter Sunday was a bit of a washout so eating, drinking and playing with Ethan were on the agenda. Another lovely lunch cooked by Gaby & Jon – local farm rib of beef – yum! Easter Monday turned out to be a glorious day so Jon and Alan set to and erected the new garden shed. You can tell Jon is fast approaching 40 getting excited about a shed! I asked what was going to be stored in it and was told a chesterfield sofa, a telescope and a beer fridge! This would be funny if I didn’t think it might be the truth! Well the job took them all day but was a job well done. I think they both enjoyed being out in the sunshine and enjoying each other’s company.

Yesterday we met up with old friends Janice & Tony in Canterbury. They were on a short trip south from their home in North Yorkshire. We started in the City Arms where we caught up on news and their recent trip to Cuba and put the world to rights. We then went for lunch in Deesons, one of our favourite restaurants which never disappoints.

The continuing good weather this week has done wonders for the garden. The veggies are all doing well and the roses are just gorgeous.

 

 I received some smashing photos of the Grandies this week – how quickly they are growing. 

Ethan - Superhero

Lilah in her daddy's shoes

 My thoughts as always to my fellow mesowarriors, all at various stages on this journey and all searching for a cure.

Tess x

Update

Just a quick blog update today as I have had a few messages asking how I am. Well after a day’s delay receiving chemo this time all went ahead last Friday. Two nurses, Alan and myself checked and double checked the dosage reduction was correct! I expected that with the reduced dosage the side-effects might be less severe but in fact they were the same but lasted a shorter time – not sure how the extra steroids have affected this. New problems have also emerged, mainly an incredibly sore mouth, inside lips, tongue, gums and soft palette all hurt and I nearly hit the roof yesterday with Sensodyne toothpaste –ouch!!!!!!!!!!! I hope this will all calm down soon.

I have a scan on Good Friday! We did check the appointment and yes the scanner is working all over the holiday. We will wait for the results before deciding whether to go ahead with anymore treatment. So this does mean we will be free from treatments/appointments over Easter. Alan’s services are required in TW where a garden shed needs assembling!

We have enjoyed fine weather this week, Thankfully the Sahara dust has gone and oh my how that did affect me! Alan has been pressure washing and staining the decking. It looks great and final coat going on this weekend. 

Man at work!

Carrots, beetroots, parsnips and potatoes are being planted and the flowers are blooming.

Tree Peony

Plenty of blossom on pear tree this year

Lots of Irises

 Tess x

Made the most of a reprieve

I had my review with the oncologist last Monday. She confirmed I was not well enough to have my chemo treatment last week as I was still zonked out from the previous session. We had a long chat about why I was having such prolonged side effects this time. Basically 19 chemo sessions and 6 months on a drug trial/placebo in just over 3 years have taken their toll and my body is just not so strong. She prescribed steroids to give my appetite a boost and help with fatigue. My next chemo is now rescheduled for this Thursday assuming blood tests are OK and the drugs will be reduced. I will have a scan after this session and take it from there. Perhaps my body is telling me something.

After the hospital visit we met up with Bernie & Norma in Canterbury. We had a good lunch in the new Quex Barn restaurant. Excellent food (and beer and cider) all locally produced.

I have been attending Fatigue Management workshops over the last couple of weeks at my local hospice. This week we had a talk from one of the doctors on how medication impacts on fatigue – very interesting. The final session is Wednesday.

Ray and Jacky visited on Thursday accompanied by guitars so Alan was able to enjoy playing trios once more. We went for lunch in the original Quex Barn restaurant in Birchington which was good. Their company was a bigger boost than the  steroids - they should come on prescription!

Well Big Al became an OAP on Saturday. I hadn’t planned anything as I thought I was having chemo last Thursday but Jon & Gaby cooked a wonderful roast beef dinner and the wine and port were flowing freely! Alan enjoyed himself. A wonderful Mother’s Day for me too on Sunday. Fun with Ethan in the morning (he has discovered the garden hose) and a long Skype with Lilah in the evening. Felt a bit emotional at the end of the day but we had a great weekend. Here are some pics of MD flowers and the Grandies.

Beautiful Mother's Day flowers

 

Biker Boy

Love this umbrella

So into another week and chemo on Thursday. Hope this session is easier for me!

Always thinking of all my fellow Mesowarriors as they continue through their journey including Steve who is currently on a drug trial and will get some results in a few weeks, Mavis awaiting scan results to see what is next for her, Lou who is doing well and about to fly from Oz to America!!

Also thinking of Chris & Mick, hope their daily journey is not too taxing.

Tess x

Foggy Day

I woke up this morning and gazed out of the window

Was the fog outside or inside my head?

Hard to tell

There is poison coursing through my veins

Dangerous, dangerous stuff without principles

It kills good and bad alike, it cannot tell the difference

In its wake it leaves so much damage

Some can be repaired and I guess some cannot

Who knows?

But I need to take a stand and fight this invader

Hard when I have the energy of a gnat and an appetite to match

I must fight, I must fight

The fog is clearing a bit, perhaps the sun will shine later.

 

Tess x