"You know what?" said Mariacristina. "It's been a great year." She's right, of course...
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
Days +64 to +68: My very own triathlon effort
I've been feeling a bit more tired over the past few days; perhaps because of the triathlon in which I competed on Thursday evening... This was all one take (as you can probably imagine), but hopefully explains the importance of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, and why you MUST support Anna in the Blenheim Palace … Continue reading Days +64 to +68: My very own triathlon effort
Day +9, by Mariacristina: Between shameful truth and hidden strength
Mariacristina writes... Two days ago, one of my favourite colleagues at work asked me to go out for lunch to our "usual" place, Pronto – a really great Italian place I was introduced to by the Raleigh gang when the office was based in London Waterloo. She asked me how things are with George and I gave … Continue reading Day +9, by Mariacristina: Between shameful truth and hidden strength
Unexpected fillings… and leukaemia
We Norton children used to be ferried to Emsworth every six months or so to visit the dentist, a family friend who seldom spent more than a couple of minutes looking at our teeth or less than half an hour exchanging news and gossip. Although we didn't all escape orthodontics (I had train tracks, removable … Continue reading Unexpected fillings… and leukaemia
The marvels of medicine (but still no neutrophils)
Today, my doctors inform me that my neutrophils are still 0.0, the infection indicators have reached a 'normal' level (but are still apparent), my haemoglobin is 100 (normal is 130-180) and my platelets are 32 (normal is 150-450). White blood cells are at 0.3 (normal is 4-11) and lymphocytes are the only white blood cells … Continue reading The marvels of medicine (but still no neutrophils)
On the balance of probabilities
88.2% of statistics are made up on the spot (Vic Reeves) Imagine a parallel world, where estate agents are truthful and reliable. In such a world, Mariacristina and I were incredibly close to getting the beautiful house we now own for a considerably lower price than we ended up paying. Having had our first bid … Continue reading On the balance of probabilities
God bless the NHS
The other day, one of the lovely nurses appeared at my door to ask whether I wanted a cup of tea, or coffee, or anything else. Always – and usually unnecessarily – reluctant to put someone else out, I scrunched up my face so it would say 'I'm really sorry to ask this' and requested … Continue reading God bless the NHS
A strong sense of justice
When I was far smaller than I am today (I realise that's very small indeed), somebody drew a couple of lines with a crayon on the cream, lightly patterned wall of the playroom at home, and subsequently attemped to hide the misdemeanour with some inexpertly applied sploshes of Tippex. My parents were understandably disappointed, but … Continue reading A strong sense of justice
Of eggy bread and personal battles
I learnt that there was a bed free for me in the Ruth Myles Unit on the morning of Sunday, 20th October, but was told it wouldn't be ready until early afternoon. Naturally I did what any self-respecting Englishman would do, and went out to brunch with my wife. We went to Jack's at the … Continue reading Of eggy bread and personal battles