Week 21: w/e 5th July 2026

Hello to you all and thanks for tuning in again and the health updates will start the update. The discomfort continues in the same previous level, but I did exacerbate things mid week - more of that below. I managed to get confirmation of the bone scan date, but only after chasing it up. A letter has been sent, but due to a combination of the NHS postal system changes, and the lack of priority placed on that post by the Post Office, no letter is with me yet. I have the date, time and location, of the back of 2 phone calls and now just await the confirmation of the CT scan. 

Due to the increasing upper back stiffness, I brought my physio forwards to Monday and he went to work - hands and massage machine used. That helped, but left me sore for the rest of the week. After I asked, he did give me additional exercises to add to the current regime, which I am doing daily for the moment (the new ones). 

I undertook a walk on Monday and my time was 13:37; nice to see it coming back down. I then did a cycle first thing Wednesday morning - along the usual route. Sandra and I then went to London that same day and as part of that, we did a fair amount of walking. Part of that involved a steep hill and then once at the top, I took a further walk. During that, I felt a pull in the lower right hand side of my stomach - which still remains. I am of the increasing opinion that besides the metastatic growth that they zapped with the radiotherapy recently, I may have a hernia. I will see what the scans reveal, then ask him about that specific potential. I also then had a further walk along the hill top on Friday morning (with my scooter friend Davy), which was very nice. He revealed some new parts of the cliffs to me, which included a tarmaced cycle path. Later that same afternoon, I went back and undertook a cycle, which turned out to be more undulating that it initially seemed. The gears were certainly well used and afterwards, my lower back felt it. That was enough exercise for one week! The ‘pushing beyond’ side of things is part of the fight with the mind and body, trying to stay active, against an increasing level of bodily issues. Maybe not sensible to undertake that last cycle, but part of the pig-headed approach that we all do from time to time. To add to the above, I appear to have pulled a muscle in my right shoulder / shoulder blade, on Friday evening, which by Saturday and Sunday, was very painful and restrictive. It has left me with a sharp stabbing-like pain at the bottom of that shoulder blade, which I am trying to manage through exercises, until I can get an appointment with the physio. Therefore, I now have 3 separate areas of pain along the right hand side of my body and it is tiring and uncomfortable. 

Tuesday was another offsite consultancy day, then at the end of the day Martin (auction place friend) Sandra and I met up for the first time in a while. A very nice catch up and great to see him again. Wednesday was when Sandra and I went to Greenwich in London and took a nice walk around part of the museum there, along the river, then up to the observatory (the steep hill walk!). The weather was superb and the views were stunning, out over the whole city. That was part of us making the most of Sandra’s changed working hours and ensuring we do things, as much as we can. On Thursday, we did a small bit of clothes shopping, then at lunchtime, we met up with Kim and Andy (holiday company friends), who we have not seen for around 2 years - this week’s photo. Due to a mix up with the food order, we managed to spend a good few hours together; again, great to catch up with friends and enjoy some good food as well. We went to one of our usual haunts in Sandgate and managed to get seats on their rooftop seating area, where we made the most of the ongoing sunshine and great views out over the Channel. As mentioned above, Friday morning seen me spend some time with Davy and we explored one of the cliff top walks near where I live. Despite living here for almost 30 years, it is not a part of the cliffs that I have been along before. Breathtaking views of the cliffs and bays between Folkestone and Dover, which I will happily return to (the chase up phone call regarding the scans was taking place during that walk). The past week is one where I have emphasised time with friends, and it was nice to see everyone. In the early afternoon of Friday, Mark (Karl’s friend of 20 years) came along and took time to have a look at Karl’s scooter. He was the person who rebuilt the engine and now that it is in the frame, he needed to set up the carb properly. He worked his magic and had it running quickly, followed by some fettling to get it to run steady. He did this on his day off and his time was greatly appreciated; it was nice to hear and see it running once again, as my attempts since putting the engine in the frame, came to naught (the air to fuel mix was not correct).  

Saturday seen us go to Canterbury to watch Keeley’s first big ballet show, where she and the group she is a member of, took part in an annual show. They are all young kids, some as young as 2 years old and they did a great job of putting on their various dances and exhibitions, herded along by their instructors. There were hundreds of people in the audience and the majority of them did well, under the pressure of being greeted by countless over enthusiastic parents and other family members. 

Sunday was a day of mostly relaxation, around some chores. It was much needed by both of us and in amongst that, the Münkemer book closed another key phase, alongside some work being done on a presentation for an upcoming show talk. 

In summary, a challenging week for the health aspects, but one where time with friends was the priority. 

Thank you for your time and interest in these weekly ramblings.

Regards, Peter