Q. What do you call a winner who is quite happy to wait around before receiving his/her medal? A. ... Remarkably, at my last clinic appointment at St George's, I showed my face at reception pretty much bang on time and was ushered through immediately to see the doctor. I was flabbergasted, having set myself up … Continue reading Day +181: The patience of patients
Day +169: Run, Robin, run!
* Raise riches for resources with rock star Robin * My poor cousin Robin, who only ever really wanted to be a rock star, has gone and got himself signed up to run around Wembley Park on Sunday – and all for a very good cause. Inspired by my plight, progress and persistence, he will be taking part … Continue reading Day +169: Run, Robin, run!
Day 167: Inspirational individuals
On Thursday evening I had the privilege of attending a private viewing of Anthony Nolan's fantastic After exhibition, and I'm still trying to process the thoughts and emotions it inspired in me. After comprises photos showing patients who have had bone marrow transplants, accompanied by a description of their story, often focusing on a particular aspect of life they have managed … Continue reading Day 167: Inspirational individuals
My 100th post: 10 months in pictures…
"You know what?" said Mariacristina. "It's been a great year." She's right, of course...
Day +139: Remembrance of things past
Every now and then my father turns up at our house with a box of bits and pieces left over from my years in the family home, which I usually try to squirrel away as quickly as possible before Mariacristina can divert them to the recycling bin. It's good that the imminent threat of a cull hangs … Continue reading Day +139: Remembrance of things past
Day +129: Taking control
On Tuesday I had the enormous joy of spending the afternoon with my super-sweet twin nephew and niece, Innes and Matilda, having previously only met them briefly in Oxford the other weekend at their joint christening (at which gorgeous UK-based nephew Benedict was also splashed and blessed). Between accidentally putting squished fruit up Innes's nose, returning Matilda … Continue reading Day +129: Taking control
Day ONE HUNDRED and something…
I'm not sure where to start. Day +100, perhaps? How much hair can one man wear? [beware: video contains some flashes] http://youtu.be/1QUddSmO0gM Yep – I hit three figures and had a small, hairy celebration with a few friends, toasting the three-digit milestone and raising money for Macmillan. This came after promising results from my bone … Continue reading Day ONE HUNDRED and something…
Day +94: The nervous nineties
As a Modern Languages undergraduate, it was my luck and privilege to swan off for the third year of my degree to practise and hopefully improve my language skills. Having spent my gap year in France, I opted to work as an English assistant in Rome, and it was fabulous: my workload was small, I … Continue reading Day +94: The nervous nineties
Days +79 to +82: ‘A matter of life or death’?
For a coffee-lover and football supporter, what could be better than marrying an Italian? There are plenty of other reasons why I hit the jackpot with Mariacristina, but in the early days of our relationship, I assumed that fantastic coffee and long arguments about the relative tactical merits of the 'false 9' and the trequartista … Continue reading Days +79 to +82: ‘A matter of life or death’?
11 Reasons Why You Are The Boss Of Cancer
So, cancer reckons it's in charge? I'm 77 days post-stem cell transplant following my relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and I say it's not... 1. Cancer fails to deny its inferiority As a trained journalist, I'm keenly aware of giving the 'other side' of a story the right to reply. So I tried contacting cancer through various media … Continue reading 11 Reasons Why You Are The Boss Of Cancer