Bugwatch

It seems as though the whole world is sneezing, sniffing, snivelling, right now; and I am neurotic to the point of paranoia about it.

I used to think: "I won't catch that' and was largely right. Now I know a single cold germ could land me in hospital.

If anyone coughs near me I feel violated. How DARE they?

Back on temperature watch after a scary 38 degree reading this morning. It's gone back down since but JP is on standby to take me to hospital if it spikes again.

Have been feeling under the weather the last couple of days. And there is lots of weather;  mostly a grey, oppressive drizzle.

Never mind, we had some glorious sunny days out on the boat last week. We even slept on it twice.

New cleaner is here, quietly going about her business. Marvellous.

Lookalikes (everyone's a winner)

Ed the Red

Ronnie the Rocket

Has anyone noticed the striking resemblance between Red Ed, newly elected leader of the Labour party and snooker ace Ronnie (the Rocket) O'Sullivan?

Both were winners yesterday.

Could they by any chance be related?

Brothers perhaps?

Wedding bells (updated with pics)

It's a day for happy couples and a night for happy coupling! Emma and Rog tied the knot today. They have had a bright cold day for it up on the North Yorks coast. Emma doesn't mind the cold, being a Yorkshire lass. Nor does Roger, being from well North of the border - hence the tartan.

I beat Hello to first picture publishing rights.

Emma's Mum sent me the order of service to follow remotely, so Rob and I sang the hymns. (He sang Bread of Heaven in Welsh!)

Had my health and immune system permitted, I'd have been there, doing a reading:

"Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things......so faith, hope, love abide, but the greatest of these is love" 1 Corinthians 13.

Emma's brother stepped in for me.

It's not often you see the bride playing a euphonium!

Now they'll be on the champagne.

Have a great day, Cruton and Dodge! I'm with you in spirit xxx

Pics: Jim Lee

Five down

ONLY ONE LEFT!!!

FEC felt like an old friend after the nasty yew poison. It's perversely reassuring to see that pink wee once again (FEC contains three chemo drugs. One of them, epirubicin, is as its name suggests bright red and dyes urine the same colour).

Someone said to me the other day:  "You're being very brave. If I was you I'd be absolutely terrified." to which I replied: "You underestimate yourself, if it was you, you'd be brave too!"

Each time I go to chemo clinic or anywhere else connected with cancer I come across people braver than me, dealing with worse prognoses, repeat diagnoses or more ghastly treatment regimes; coping with courage and good humour.

The truth is, it's impossible to remain 'absolutely terrified' for six months solid. There have been moments of  fear, panic and helplessness, and plenty of tears, but there's also been a lot of laughter and times of tracendental wonder when I remember how FEC-ing great it is to be alive!

Finish line in sight

The good news is my bloods are up, liver functioning normally and chest x-ray fine - so fit for chemo on Thursday.

The bad news is I will miss Emma's wedding on Saturday. Sorry Cruton. I will be there in spirit (a gin and vermouth please) and I will pray for good weather.

In between hospital visits we've been enjoying the unexpected warm spell. We've now brought the boat the rest of the way back. Andrew came with us to crew, which was very welcome as I am mostly a figurehead first mate at the moment. Don't have the strength to do locks and ropes although every now and then John lets me steer!

This week's treatment is the penultimate one, the end of this protracted journey now coming into view. Thursday marks exactly six months since Diagnosis Day. Thanks for sticking with me through it!

Maiden voyage

We took advantage of yesterday's sunshine and brought the boat half way home. It's great! Apart from having lots more room, it's got a CB radio to warn the lock-keeper of your approach, and a depth meter which shows how much water is beneath you. It's even got a fish-finder should you want to catch your dinner.

Here is JP skippering. He's grown a beard for the occasion.

Tonight we are going to sleep on it. I love spending the night on boats. The motion of the water lulls you  to sleep and you wake in the morning to see swans gliding past the window. Serene.

And the Colonel was on his best behaviour. We gave him a meal and a bed for the night and he's now left us in peace.

How to get rid of life insurance salesmen

Tell them you've got cancer - they can't get off the phone fast enough! There's been a spate of them recently. Sometimes they make a cursory attempt at concern but mostly they just say 'thank you madam' and put the phone down. They just don't know what to say; it's not covered in the script.

Being at home in the daytime you notice how many cold-calls you get. On the day I came out of hospital someone rang up wanting me to do a survey. I said: "I don't want to do a survey. I've just come out of hospital and I'm feeling rather tired," thinking that would get rid of him, but I underestimated the tenacity of the commision-based tele-salesman.

"Madam, it's a very quick survey and will only take a few moments of your time."

Madam got a bit cross with him at that point.

I am feeling much better - can get up the hill again and today walked back from the hospital. Liver scan came up clear - good news. Also had a chest X-ray - another unexplained appointment - I'm told it's 'routine'.

JP is on leave next week so we might get some boating in. In the meantime we are bracing ourselves for a visit tomorrow by Colonel Sensitivity. Perhaps while he's here I should put him on phone duty?