Hi Folks,

You regular readers will have noticed a lack of update last week; that was down to the simple fact of not having the same free time to write the Blog. Therefore, this week will cover the past two week’s developments and updates.

Health first and the past two weeks have carried on pretty much as before. The issues with my hands and my back pain remain to the fore. The thumb ‘popping out’ has cropped up a further two times and I can now tell if a day is going to give me issues, just by how my thumb feels when I wake up. It does inhibit me on those days and prevents from from doing some basic tasks, but I am working around that. I had a follow up call this week with the cancer support team, following the recent email I sent them. They have recommended some natural supplements to help with my stiff joints. I described in detail, the issue with my thumb, which is not something they have encountered before. We therefore have no cause or solution, but something I will have agreed to monitor and if it persists, we will sort and x-ray. I have added in some additional exercises to help with the back pain and connected stiffness.

I also had my latest blood tests and hormone tablet renewal, with no issues highlighted and everything as normal as it can be. May sound the most routine thing, but psychologically, it is not. These monthly blood tests are now the key indicator, so I hope for ‘nothing’, but there is always the two days in between, of waiting to see if anyone rings with issues, ahead of me going back to collect my new batch of tablets. As we are now moving to the end of Year One, I can relax to a degree, knowing that I can at least approach the Christmas season without any notable issues.

Last week, we had Sandra’s sister Gail and her husband Nicky, visit us for a long weekend. They were the second of our Irish family circle that have visited with us this year, following my prognosis. That was a very enjoyable and pleasurable few days and we even managed to get out and about for one of the days, with a bright day into double digits, with regards to the temperature. It was only to our seafront at Folkestone, but they had not seen the major redevelopments done, since their last visit, so we were all in full ‘tourist mode’. That same evening, we had all of the family round for a quiz and social night, were we played ‘Game Against Humanity’. A very enjoyable evening and Sandra won the game (unsurprisingly!). We rounded off the weekend with a nice meal out the following evening. A few days of normality, which we stopped taking for granted many, many months ago and appreciate even more than we did one year ago.

On Saturday, we had a few hours on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (a light railway line situated close to us) enjoying their ‘Santa Special’ with Alanna, Dan and the Grandkids. We took our children there when we first moved to England more than 25-years ago and it is nice to enjoy it with the next generation. This is the second time for Master J has been on that line with us - the day Miss K was coming home from being born, but the first visit for Miss K. A good afternoon and always great to watch children enjoy the most simplest of things and find joy in them. There was the added bonus of Santa being there and pressies for the kids.

Just prior to the actual visit to Santa, Alanna and I were queuing for the refreshments. At that moment, I had a wobble. That was due to the realisation of ‘how many more of these’ coming into my head. We had an emotional few minutes in that queue, but unnoticed by everyone around us. A brief reminder of where we are and what we are dealing with, in the midst of a normal christmas event with some of the family.

To round of this update (next one will be in two weeks, as I will skip Chrimbo Day’s update), Sandra and I have been struggling to get into the Xmas spirit. Due to time and joint health, we decided that we have not got the stamina to get the tree down, assemble and decorate it. We even briefly contemplated doing nothing. However, Sandra came up with a simple, but effective solution and secured one of those small collapsible trees that comes pre-decorated. From opening the box, to sitting down and admiring it, took around 5 mins; the way forward………..

Thanks to you all for continued interest and support, we both appreciate it.

Regards, Peter