Month: March 2006

When discussing uncles and aunts and cousins I saw the other day, I somehow completely failed to mention my aunt Caroline and my cousin Alex, whom I also saw! And I did so after they'd come all the way from Australia! I apologise to them and can assure you they are lovely and it's great … Continue reading A public apology

Those of a nervous disposition, those who do not care to see my nude torso and those whose constitutions cannot handle the sight of a tube entering a chest might not enjoy this post so much. Having visited the Marsden in order to discuss my TBI (Total Body Irradiation), give my consent for it and … Continue reading Nudity; tattoos; graffiti; lines…

So, Friday. London. St George's. Blood test. Quick. Ferrari's. Tomandalice and my fazher and Fred. Results fine. Haemoglobin 9.9. WBC 2.5. Platelets 191. Neutrophils 1.1. Bone marrow harvest=4th April. Into hospital 3rd April. Radiotherapy=6th or 12th. Will know tomorrow (Monday). To Marsden probably still Tuesday 28th. Then blood tests @ St G's again.Saturday. London. Stamford … Continue reading In brief

We've filled up the house this evening, as Freddie's Laura is here, Tom and Alice have come for the night, and Sue then appeared too! Dinner was very entertaining, as everyone seemed to be on good form, and at least twice it all descended into those great moments when you simply cannot stop laughing...We had … Continue reading No room at the inn

I return home today (NO TELEPHONING THE HOSPITAL!), as my stem cells haven't been produced in decent enough numbers to bother harvesting them, and I shall have to return to St George's some time later for a bone marrow harvest instead. With general anaesthetic. It shouldn't be too bad, but it's frustrating not to have … Continue reading Stinky stupid stem cells

Yesterday I continued to make the most of my freedom and went chez Gladwyn for lunch, followed by a lovely walk around Cannizaro Park - all lovely. Then I squeezed through the throngs in a pub in Clapham to find my ginger friend Charlie, who has decided he's Irish, at least for this Six Nations. … Continue reading Swing oh-so-low

Am still very tired from all the excitements of the past few days, but before going to bed I just thought I'd give a quick update: I had a stem cell harvest today, but it wasn't as productive as it could have been, so I'm having another one on Monday. If that still doesn't get … Continue reading Short of stem cells

Last night was wonderful: Adam "Spuds" Fudakowski was elected Chairman of the OMV (I had seconded his nomination and helped him a little bit with committee details etc), Jo "Djo" Dowbekin was elected as an Elected Member (I proposed her... no no, not TO her, I mean her nomination... oh nevermind) and lots of of … Continue reading The Chairman has retired… Long live the Chairman!

They counted my stem cells today (1, 2, 3, 4... 7326, 7327... yawn) and they're not numerous enough yet to harvest, so it looks as though that won't be until Monday (I'll be here and expecting your visits until then). Meanwhile, I'm going to pop into London this evening for the OMV AGM! Cool. I … Continue reading A quick update

Some of you might be confused, as I had been half- (well, three-quarters-) expecting to go home today, but I'm still at the Hotel St George (excellent facilities, easy transport connections, friendly staff, 2am alarm calls). I have, as previously mentioned, finished the chemo, so there's not too much going on, apart from the GCS-F, … Continue reading A Call to Arms