Lots To Tell You!

Hello faithful blog readers; got loads to tell you so brace yourselves for a monster blog today.

Firstly I got the results back of the blood tests and everything is fine, no diabetes which is really encouraging – seems as though the radiotherapy only damaged the ability of my pancreas to produce digestive enzymes not insulin. All other results were quite normal (they screened for everything); they could even tell I’d had a drink or two the day before on father’s day! My private medical insurance company have agreed to pick up the tab on some minor surgery I need to clear up yet another chemo/radiotherapy side effect so I’ll be off to their nearest hospital in Bury St Edmunds for a few days soon.

It was my birthday yesterday (27th 44 years old) and Teresa and I had a great couple of days on the boat on Thursday and Friday. Yep, after the previous week’s near sinking it was a bordering on a miracle that we took it anywhere but it was successfully craned out, pumped out, dried out and cleaned out (along with my wallet). We set off on Thursday heading up the river (towards the sea) to Buckden Marina. As the crow flies it’s only 15 miles or so but takes 10 hours on the gloriously winding River Great Ouse. We tackled 8 locks (each way) from the tiny ‘Roxton’ to the monster, scary and very deep ‘Castle Mill’. We moored at Buckden and then walked into the village for a night at ‘The Lion’ a 14th Century pub. The weather had been glorious all day, really hot and by the time we reached the hotel we were very tired – needless to say that despite the four-poster bed we were fast asleep by 9.15! Friday’s trip back to Bedford was far more eventful. There’s nothing like cruising through locks in torrential thunder storms. At least the rain was warm!

On Saturday Teresa was working so I headed down to the marina with the kids and spent a great day ‘pottering’. Now ‘pottering’ is code for cleaning, polishing and generally nerding around. Whilst I was ‘pottering’ the kids were being introduced to the delights of fishing by the kids on the next door boat. Carys actually caught four – quite the angler. Needless to say I bought them a ‘starter’ rod today. Must confess to being a little squeamish about the maggots. They stink. And wriggle. Yuck.

Today saw me in action on the church front twice. Most of the WNL congregation headed of to Boston to lead a ‘Wootton On Tour’ service. Those of us who were left celebrated the Lord’s Supper (communion) @ 9.00. Because all of our musicians were in Boston my limited guitar playing skills were called on to play. Straight after the 9.00 service I was preaching at Kempston East. The passage for this Sunday was Acts 12 where Peter is set free from prison by God; great passage and I really enjoyed preaching.

This afternoon we met James & Amy at the boat and had a great picnic on the Bedford Embankment. It was all fabulously English, picnic on a checked blanket, brass band, even a shower of rain; perfect!

This week sees me finishing off the decorating before heading off with Teresa (to carry the bags) on a business trip to Northern Ireland on Thursday. I’m looking forward to my bloke’s trip to Spain the following week.

Think that’s about all for now – have a great week.

God Bless

Dave

GREAT DAY (BUT WET FEET!)

Had a great appointment with the oncologist yesterday. I'm in the 5% that make it with this cancer to the 18 months point - BRILL! And (the most amazing thing) my next appointment is not until the 2nd October! The whole summer with no appointments, no treatment and HAIR! What could be better? Also when Teresa asked him if we could book our 25th wedding anniversary cruise for April 2011 he said 'go for it'!

What a mad journey. I give thanks to God for all His healing, to the NHS for all their care, to my friends for their support and of course to my wonderful wife and family for holding the bucket during chemo, mopping my brow as yet another camera was inserted down my throat, up my bum and even (yes) up my nose. Thanks guys.

On a realistic front the battle now is to ensure through healthy living, prayer, positive attitude and LOTS of holidays with family and friends (roll on Malaga) we keep what is still a malignant tumour in my oesophagus and not see it spreading elsewhere. I have been promised a CT scan and endoscopy whenever I feel like I need one so I need to keep myself alert for any changes, aches and pains.

WARNING: I hope to live very well and hopelessly expensively so the blog from this point onwards might not be for the fainthearted. Having a run in with the grim reaper is a great wake up call to enjoy yourself. Spent too many years with a big dollop of Protestant Evangelical guilt (yuck what a waste of energy) and that driven work ethic. No more. If you are our friends be prepared to be exhausted by partying!

The reference to 'damp' in the title of today's blog is I reference to the near sinking of my boat yesterday. We arrived at the marina to find a foot of dirty water in the cabin and all our boaty possessions floating and covered in slime. Got soaked feet paddling around rescuing things. My pride and joy looked VERY sad. Oh well, only a 'thing'. The great guys at the marina who were about to go home pumped it out and craned it onto the bank where the leak is being tracked down. Hopefully she'll be 'bunged up' cleaned out and afloat by Sunday - Father's Day.

Happy Birthday to Amy (my eldest) who is 21 today; have a great day. Also Chloe who is 23 today and gone off to Alton Towers with the Goodsons from church. Have a great day both of you we love you both very much.

Well think that's about all for now - I'll carry on blogging as you seem to want me too. Also, it sort of matters that the stories with happier endings are on the blog too. Too many blogs end with a final entry by a partner or friend that starts... 'Fred lost his courageous fight...', I know other cancer patients read this so I'll keep going. If you are facing the cancer fight too then some advice:

1. Stay positive and dump the negative friends ASAP (mentioning no names!)
2. Spend time with positive friends and if you haven't got any find some ASAP
3. Pray and if you don't; start ASAP,
4. Stop working if you can afford to (realise not all can)
5. Book some holidays!
   
   See you guys
   
   Luv ya
   
   David
   xxxxx

Still Good News....

Hi All,

Heard from the hospital today that although I've still got a malignant tumour it is not growing or spreading. The scan was no different to the last one. This is great news and is as good as it gets at this stage. I'm chuffed! Bloomin marvelous!

We had a great weekend in London, the Kip McGrath conference was really positive with loads of new announcements and products and we've come back all fired up. Fallen in love with Selfridges - especially the awesome pant department, can't beat those Calvins. Could have spent a fortune!!

Thanks to all those who have commented and encouraged me to keep blogging. I will; it sort of helps me. If you don't like it, don't read it!

Teresa is off to Wales for a few days and I'm at Cliff on Wednesday, need to catch up on my dissertation - seriously. Stopping over though probably won't get much sleep.

Once more thanks to all those who folow the blog, thanks to all @ WNL, family and friends especially Nick & Sarah and David B.

See ya soon

David

Sorry!

Sorry I haven't blogged for so long. Had a bit of a blogging crises of confidence. I’ve had a few negative comments about the style/content and have started feeling it was all getting a bit dull.

I have a full body CT scan on Thursday; if it’s clear (hope so) then I’ll almost certainly stop blogging. If it is negative then I’ll keep going to make sure everyone knows what’s happening. Getting the balance of my meds right is proving a little tricky, but when I get it right I’m really well at the moment. Swallowing is OK, digestion improved, no aches and pains. All good stuff.

On the news front we had a great holiday in France with fantastic weather. We did all the normal stuff and had some great afternoons on the beach. We’re back in August with Amy & James and my brother and his family. We headed back in time to lead the Pentecost service at Wootton New Life we then had a great evening on the boat. Since then I’ve demonstrated my appalling boating skills to my mate David who took his life in his hands on a boat trip with me at the helm. Had a great time introducing him to the delights of slimy locks, wet ropes and freezing in June.

Teresa and I are off to the annual Kip McGrath conference in London this weekend. We’re stopping in Central London so should have a few retail opportunities. The deal to buy the East Midlands Kip McGrath master franchise has now gone through (finally). Teresa is working so hard; I’m very proud of her. It’s not always easy with me not fully ‘in harness’. Amy working for us full time is really going well; she’s a hero!

In early July I’m off to Spain with some mates for a ‘blokey’ week in Malaga – should be fun. Never done anything quite like that before – feel quite gown-up but hope it will be a totally chilled immature week. He, he..

So guys thanks for checking up on me again. I’m doing well and prayerfully hopeful about Thursday’s scan.

See ya
David