Hi Bloggettes,
Just had a great weekend (most of it spent afloat) so by definition it was great. On Friday Teresa travelled up to Cliff college with me for my tutorial, it took ages to get there through the mad bank holiday traffic!
After Teresa finished work on Saturday we spent the afternoon on the boat catching some rays. Chloe took Carys and James to Wickstead Park (nr Kettering) and in the evening we had a great BBQ - the first of the season with Amy & James F.
On Sunday Teresa and I bunked off church and took the boat down through three locks on the River Great Ouse to Great Barford. The weather was fabulous, the river quiet and we got a good spot right outside the Anchor pub where we had a great evening meal. Had a cosy night in the boat watching the DVD 'Australia'. Got a good night and awoke to tea and bacon butties. James, Carys, James F and Amy joined us at about 9.30 for the journey back. Sadly the weather was not so good on the journey home. It rained, well, it is a bank holiday. Arrived back at our home marina complete with the obligatory grazes, bumps, sun burnt face and green slime marks from the locks. PERFECT.
Got a three day retreat booked next week at Launde Abbey, actually Launde is full but I'm going to stop in a nearby hotel or pub and travel in as a day guest. Looking forward to some 'me' time, got a few things to work through, some issues to explore, some books to read.
I've got my oncologist' appointment at 11.30 tomorrow and should get my treatment schedule then. Not quite sure what will start when at this stage but I'll let you know tomorrow.Health remains OK - can't handle big meals or watching others eat once I finished but apart from that I'm in really good 'fettle'.
Best wishes to blogging friends Geoff (on Pilgrimage to the Holy Land) and David (off to Spain) - any room in your suitcases guys if I promise to behave?
Thanks for checking in again.
Have great week.
David
Monday, May 4, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Update On a Mad Life
Hi guys; thanks for checking in.....
Thursday 23rd
I went on a jolly with Teresa to Bath on Thursday. We stopped in a great hotel in Bradford on Avon which is a really pretty village, a real tourist trap - can't believe we'd never been before.
Friday 24th
Teresa ran a regional meeting for Kip McGrath South West on Friday whilst I did a bit of sightseeing. Meanwhile (back in Bedford) the boat FINALLY got its newly painted bum back in the river.
Saturday 25th
Carys and I spent the morning cleaning the boat, we started off with soap and water, tried cif and ended up with neat bleach. She looked as good as new by the time we finished. We all headed off on our first cruise of the season in the afternoon.
Sunday 26th
Church in the morning and then lunch on the boat. We had another afternoon on the river and then a great evening with Nick & Sarah Hearn who had put together a great feast! Also they had bought me my own personalised bottle of Bell's. Now that's a gift!
Monday 27th
We spent a wet Monday training some colleagues from Kip McGrath.
Tuesday 28th
My hard-working wonder wife headed off to Wales this morning for some Kip centre meetings and I had to suffer guess where? Yep, on the boat! I did break off momentarily to help take the church youth group to Milton Keynes ten-pin-bowling. Spent the night at the boat which was cosy despite being woken up by a noisy and persistent goose at about 3.00 a.m.
Wednesday 29th
The river looked fantastic this morning, the sky was blue, the sun shone all was well with the world. I hit the office with Amy for a few hours before lunch in Milton Keynes with my mate David - nothing better than putting the world to rights! I took Carys swimming this evening before cooking dinner ready for Teresa's return.
Health
Great health-wise at the moment, swallowing is fine, no aches and pains. I have an appointment regarding the next course of treatment on Tuesday at the Bedford Primrose Unit. bring it on!
You guys are brilliant friends. Thanks for your prayers and care.
David
Thursday 23rd
I went on a jolly with Teresa to Bath on Thursday. We stopped in a great hotel in Bradford on Avon which is a really pretty village, a real tourist trap - can't believe we'd never been before.
Friday 24th
Teresa ran a regional meeting for Kip McGrath South West on Friday whilst I did a bit of sightseeing. Meanwhile (back in Bedford) the boat FINALLY got its newly painted bum back in the river.
Saturday 25th
Carys and I spent the morning cleaning the boat, we started off with soap and water, tried cif and ended up with neat bleach. She looked as good as new by the time we finished. We all headed off on our first cruise of the season in the afternoon.
Sunday 26th
Church in the morning and then lunch on the boat. We had another afternoon on the river and then a great evening with Nick & Sarah Hearn who had put together a great feast! Also they had bought me my own personalised bottle of Bell's. Now that's a gift!
Monday 27th
We spent a wet Monday training some colleagues from Kip McGrath.
Tuesday 28th
My hard-working wonder wife headed off to Wales this morning for some Kip centre meetings and I had to suffer guess where? Yep, on the boat! I did break off momentarily to help take the church youth group to Milton Keynes ten-pin-bowling. Spent the night at the boat which was cosy despite being woken up by a noisy and persistent goose at about 3.00 a.m.
Wednesday 29th
The river looked fantastic this morning, the sky was blue, the sun shone all was well with the world. I hit the office with Amy for a few hours before lunch in Milton Keynes with my mate David - nothing better than putting the world to rights! I took Carys swimming this evening before cooking dinner ready for Teresa's return.
Health
Great health-wise at the moment, swallowing is fine, no aches and pains. I have an appointment regarding the next course of treatment on Tuesday at the Bedford Primrose Unit. bring it on!
You guys are brilliant friends. Thanks for your prayers and care.
David
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Derbyshire
Well, here I am in sunny Derbyshire at Cliff College for the day to change those well overdue library books and add another few thousand words to the dissertation. It's fantastic up here today, warm and sunny. Glad to be retired!
Yesterday I met up with my friend David for a leisurely lunch before running the church youth group in the evening. Tomorrow I'm going with Teresa to Bath where she has a regional meeting for Kip McGrath on Friday morning. As you can see I'm taking it really easy. Not.
Really frustrated that my old tug of a boat is STILL ON THE BANK! A boat was once described as 'a hole in the river you throw five pond notes into'. (Ponies are fed £5 notes Sian) Sun is shining, gin is cooling. Recent boat/drinking legislation which was to outlaw the practice of boozing and cruising applies to all boats 22'+. Mine is 21'6'' - Alleluia. It's only allowed to go 4MPH and the river is about 3 foot deep. Even the dog has her own life jacket. Floating gin palace in actuality but still on blocks. Time to shout (plead really) at the staff at Priory Marina.
Not a very good Methodist am I?
Oh well.
See ya
Dave
Yesterday I met up with my friend David for a leisurely lunch before running the church youth group in the evening. Tomorrow I'm going with Teresa to Bath where she has a regional meeting for Kip McGrath on Friday morning. As you can see I'm taking it really easy. Not.
Really frustrated that my old tug of a boat is STILL ON THE BANK! A boat was once described as 'a hole in the river you throw five pond notes into'. (Ponies are fed £5 notes Sian) Sun is shining, gin is cooling. Recent boat/drinking legislation which was to outlaw the practice of boozing and cruising applies to all boats 22'+. Mine is 21'6'' - Alleluia. It's only allowed to go 4MPH and the river is about 3 foot deep. Even the dog has her own life jacket. Floating gin palace in actuality but still on blocks. Time to shout (plead really) at the staff at Priory Marina.
Not a very good Methodist am I?
Oh well.
See ya
Dave
Monday, April 20, 2009
Weekend Stuff
Had a fun few days after Friday's good scan news.
On Friday after the hospital we shot up to St Ives (that's Cambs. not Cornwall) to the marina we bought our boat from last June. The previous owner had dropped some bits off that were in his garage which it has taken us a year to collect. The marina owners have been tripping over the stuff for 12 months. Boat really should be back in the water by the weekend after vast expense coughed up for an engine re-furb! The re-furb was nothing to do with me inadvertently putting 5 litres of water in the petrol tank last year or that the 4.3 litre inboard is built for water-skiing and we are only allowed to idle away at 4mph on the Great Ouse.
In the evening we took the kids to the pictures to see 'Race To Witch Mountain'. Good film - recommend it if you have kids.
On Saturday I took Carys to Rookery Farm at Stoke Bruerne, met up with my friend (another David) who was there with his daughters and cute granddaughter. Carys loved the animals, baby goats were wonderful. Much less hassle than a pony Sian.
On Sunday we had the day at Alton Towers which was brill. Did all the white knuckle rides Oblivion, Nemesis, Rita etc.. lovely weather which is just as well as we got soaked on the log flume and rapids. Afterwards mum and dad hosted a big family get together at their place where we all ate a fantastic tea (thanks mum!), drank my dad's scotch and put the world to rights. We also indulged in the obligatory boring of all disinterested parties by making them suffer our holiday photos; which everyone graciously endured. Camel, desert, beach, yawn etc.. We headed home this morning and have pottered about since on Kip stuff.
Think that just about sums up all that's been happening. Healthwise I'm feeling well, swallowing is great, feeling positive, going to be in that % that make it and continue to prove the stats wrong.
As always thanks for checking in; keep praying.
Luv
David
On Friday after the hospital we shot up to St Ives (that's Cambs. not Cornwall) to the marina we bought our boat from last June. The previous owner had dropped some bits off that were in his garage which it has taken us a year to collect. The marina owners have been tripping over the stuff for 12 months. Boat really should be back in the water by the weekend after vast expense coughed up for an engine re-furb! The re-furb was nothing to do with me inadvertently putting 5 litres of water in the petrol tank last year or that the 4.3 litre inboard is built for water-skiing and we are only allowed to idle away at 4mph on the Great Ouse.
In the evening we took the kids to the pictures to see 'Race To Witch Mountain'. Good film - recommend it if you have kids.
On Saturday I took Carys to Rookery Farm at Stoke Bruerne, met up with my friend (another David) who was there with his daughters and cute granddaughter. Carys loved the animals, baby goats were wonderful. Much less hassle than a pony Sian.
On Sunday we had the day at Alton Towers which was brill. Did all the white knuckle rides Oblivion, Nemesis, Rita etc.. lovely weather which is just as well as we got soaked on the log flume and rapids. Afterwards mum and dad hosted a big family get together at their place where we all ate a fantastic tea (thanks mum!), drank my dad's scotch and put the world to rights. We also indulged in the obligatory boring of all disinterested parties by making them suffer our holiday photos; which everyone graciously endured. Camel, desert, beach, yawn etc.. We headed home this morning and have pottered about since on Kip stuff.
Think that just about sums up all that's been happening. Healthwise I'm feeling well, swallowing is great, feeling positive, going to be in that % that make it and continue to prove the stats wrong.
As always thanks for checking in; keep praying.
Luv
David
Friday, April 17, 2009
More Thoughts...
Actually thinking a little more about the great results and appointment earlier. Dr Bulusu (my oncologist) actually played down the endoscopies that had shown no evidence of malignancy last year. We thought that the previous results were good news and therefore the more recent negative endoscopy result was bad. He suggested that the difference between a neg and pos result can just be as simple as where the biopsy is taken or how deep they 'dig' for the sample. What he was saying is that the tumour hasn't 'come back' it never actually 'went away'. The amazing thing remains how it hasn't spread to anywhere else. I'm 18 months in and feeling great. They are really pleased with me. I'm going to be in 5% who make it you just see!
I'm retired now really - just pottering around a little bit with Teresa & Amy at Kip McGrath; aiming to keep the stress down and aid ongoing recovery. Keep praying guys!
David
I'm retired now really - just pottering around a little bit with Teresa & Amy at Kip McGrath; aiming to keep the stress down and aid ongoing recovery. Keep praying guys!
David
CT Scan Results - Good
Hi All
Just got back from the hospital after the CT scan and results. Good news is that nothing has spread; it's still cancer and remains (and always will be) inoperable but none of the little areas of malignancy they found elsewhere in last year's tests have grown. Treatment will start again in two weeks, more chemo and radiotherapy to keep it in my oesophagus. It can't get better than this at this stage really so, all in all a good day!
I may be going for tracheal radiotherapy where the isotopes are delivered down the throat rather than from the outside. My oncologist is waiting to see some of the latest stats regarding this. He is concerned that I could end up a stricture (closure of the gullet). This would probably be in Southampton or Birmingham as it is not offered locally yet.
So off to enjoy the next couple of weeks before treatment starts again!
Thanks for checking in.
Dave
Just got back from the hospital after the CT scan and results. Good news is that nothing has spread; it's still cancer and remains (and always will be) inoperable but none of the little areas of malignancy they found elsewhere in last year's tests have grown. Treatment will start again in two weeks, more chemo and radiotherapy to keep it in my oesophagus. It can't get better than this at this stage really so, all in all a good day!
I may be going for tracheal radiotherapy where the isotopes are delivered down the throat rather than from the outside. My oncologist is waiting to see some of the latest stats regarding this. He is concerned that I could end up a stricture (closure of the gullet). This would probably be in Southampton or Birmingham as it is not offered locally yet.
So off to enjoy the next couple of weeks before treatment starts again!
Thanks for checking in.
Dave
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Desert!
Hi Guys!
Just wanted to post a blog tonight (give Sir Redfern a break) Today we spent a few hours at a really nice beach and Spa hotel. I have no idea what the name of it was but I can gurentee you it sure was a luxurious one. Despite putting on factor 50 three times today I still managed to burn! The sun beams down and today I believe it was 36oC. Hot stuff.
Anyway...after we had enough of that we went back to the hotel to ready ourselves for our Sand-Dune Safari evening! WOW! Nothing can quite sum up that experience. It was just so fantastic! We went in these 4x4, that took you off into the Desert and they just put their foot down and you'd be thrown all over the car and as you can imagine it was a 4x4 it just flew over these massive dunes. At times it felt like some of the drops and climbs were vertical. Just SO scary but loved it!! I'm still buzzing.
After an hour we stopped off at one of the millions of sand dunes and watched the sun set. There were 70 4x4 cars. No matter how far you looked the desert seemed to go on and on for miles and miles! Fantastic scenery. Better than what you see in movies! We ate out there too in a camp like place? There were camel rides -us young ones went on. Carys and I are 'tattooed' and I had a smoke too! (haha) It was a great day and nothing can sum up this experience. Wow-wow wee wa!
Tomorrow we plan to have a quieter day, it's David and Teresa's 23rd Wedding Anniversary tomorrow so they've planned a night out at the docks. (joke) they're off on a cruise tomorrow night. Not sure if David mentioned the apartment? For those who watch MTV cribs? It's better than what you get on there! x's 100! Gosh life is hard isn't it at times eh?
Happy Easter everybody don't do anything we wont do!
Luv Chlo Chlo
Pictures!
The beach at the beach spa hotel
View from beach
The dare devils who took us on this Safari!
In the desert before we set off.
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