Week 6: w/e 18th October 2026

HI Folks and welcome to Week 6, yes, Week 6, doesn’t time fly when you are trying to live your life!

I will cover my health aspects first and the week began with my head feeling ‘odd’. It felt tight around the rear section and was not the same feeling as the chemo induced ‘swimming head’. That carried on in the early part of the week and I tried to adjust my liquid intake to help, as well as adding in some regular small snacks, just to see if those adjustments lessen the impact; it seemed to dissipate later in the week, but I will monitor this development. Besides that, the top leg pain and lower stomach pain continue. The appetite remains variable, but we are varying our food intake between bland and spicy, just to try to help the impact and with the aim of trying to enjoy some food. I am eating normally, just not everything tastes as it should; I am probably eating too much and seem unable to fill myself some days, but I will weigh myself towards the end of the month and see. The overall impact of the chemo has been at its lowest this week, so we seem to have a ‘three-week pattern’ emerging. 

That pattern allowed me to make some plans and the first of those was on Tuesday evening, when Sandra and I met up with Martin, my auction-firm team friend. We have not seen him since the early summer, down to the very variable situation and waiting for various appointments to be made, etc. It was great to meet up again and catch up on life, plus just have a laugh. The Loft is where we meet and it is a trucker’s stop at Whitfield in Dover. The food is made fresh, has very generous portions, is very well priced, and was very enjoyable. We have been there many times and have not had a bad meal yet. The team are very hospitable and if you are in the area, we can recommend it; this week’s photo shows Martin and I. That was followed with a couple of hours on Wednesday morning with Davy, my scooter friend. We timed it well, weather-wise, as the start of the week was wet, cold and very much winter-like. However, on Wednesday morning, we had a nice coffee (I had cake too!) sitting on the promenade at Hythe and even had to take our jackets off. Another pleasant catch up and it was nice to break up the weekly routine, spend time with friends and just enjoy life. Connected to those overall ‘three week routines’, we have already booked a catch up with the holiday company girls and also Howard and Matt, for three week’s time. 

Thursday was one of Sandra’s days off this week and it was a busy day for us, with multiple tasks to be covered off. The main task was my pre-chemo bloods at 11:00am, but prior to that, we visited six different stop off points in town and also en route to Canterbury, ticking things off our list. The bloods and chat were slightly late, but done in one combined session, which was quick and very efficient, and made all the difference to our day and how much of it was spent in the hospital. We followed that by having a nice lunch in Canterbury, with a little bit of shopping for Sandra too. A return to where we live, then another task off the list in the later afternoon.

This weekend was one where I had mentioned the potential of us going away for a night, during this ‘third week’ of better capabilities. However, what was very evident, as the week wore on, was just how tired Sandra is right now, mentally and physically. It was also a weekend where we knew we would not be seeing the grandkids, as they had various commitments already. We therefore made the very sensible decision to stay at home and do very little, which allowed Sandra to recharge her batteries and just rest overall, with nothing planned that required much exertion. This is one of the aspects that I dislike the most, the very visible impact upon Sandra, of me having this disease, which I can also see on both of my children, who ‘cope’ with my situation in very different manners; well they do not ‘cope, they watch what is unfolding and then try to deal with that as best they both can, I see the impact on Sandra’s face, daily and it is very, very hard to watch. 

As to be expected, I plugged ahead with the writing tasks and I am moving towards 75% completion of Hazel’s manuscript editing. I am also at 63% of the ‘117’ book project biographies, so absolutely steaming ahead there. That was crowned off over the weekend, with Alanna returning my proof-read Münkemer book, which will be my key focus for the new coming week, whilst I contend with whatever impact chemo no. 3 will deliver. I am forever grateful for her taking the time from her own busy life, to help me move each book project forwards. Her critique and excellent eye ensures my various finished books are delivered to a high standard. 

In summary, a better week and one that had a bit of everything, most notably, time with friends and Sandra and I getting out for a little bit - a welcome change to the past couple of weeks. 

As ever, your time reading and commenting on these is a key part in our battling with this disease and we thank you for them. 

Regards, Peter