Although I'm managing to stretch my legs across Streatham Common and even spend a gentle few minutes on the exercise bike these days, nothing compares to the magnificent efforts Anna Walker and Will Allen will be putting in, alongside others, at the Blenheim Palace triathlon to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in early June. … Continue reading Days +40 to +42: Double triple family fundraising heroes
Days +36 to +39: Seizing the moment – gently
Carpe diem! Seize the day! It's clear that any reminder of one's mortality and the shortness of life is likely to prompt a desire to make the most of every day, every hour, every minute. Procrastinating is a dangerous habit – when the guarantee of a tomorrow gets weaker than ever, putting anything off would seem particularly churlish. All … Continue reading Days +36 to +39: Seizing the moment – gently
Days +34 and +35: Matters of perception
Yesterday I went to St George's for my monthly pentamadine (to protect my lungs, mostly from pneumonia, I think), after it was brought back in to replace the potentially allergy-inducing septrin I had been taking as tablets. It was a remarkably swift and efficient operation, thanks to doctor Matthew's excellent pre-planning in writing up a prescription … Continue reading Days +34 and +35: Matters of perception
Days +31 to +33: You’re only as old as…
Were I as orderly as I like the world to be in general, I'd have posted two days ago, on Day +31, as I had a rare combination of both news and a time-relevant theme to write about. However, I'm pleased to say that the news – that I was out of hospital again – meant I … Continue reading Days +31 to +33: You’re only as old as…
Day +29: Isn’t life strange? A musical interlude
Heavily boosted by a large Costa cappuccino smuggled in by Mariacristina, I've been bursting with energy and positivity this afternoon and felt an urge to share some of it with my merry band of blog followers before the caffeine high wears off. I hardly need to remind you how important I consider it to make … Continue reading Day +29: Isn’t life strange? A musical interlude
Days +23 to +26: Food fights
A very Happy (delayed) Easter to everyone; I hope you all enjoyed the celebrations and/or the long weekend, as you prefer. I very nearly posted this 'ambush' video yesterday after discovering Mariacristina had taken it, but soon decided that nobody would be in a rush to hear from me on Easter Sunday – and I was too … Continue reading Days +23 to +26: Food fights
Days +20 to +22: Going the distance
Mariacristina was off work on Monday, having traded it for working on Sunday to keep social media updated with the progress of runners in the London Marathon raising money for CAFOD, the charity where she works. They included Tom Jarvis, the youngest participant this year, who turned 18 just two days before the event. I am in … Continue reading Days +20 to +22: Going the distance
Days +17 to +19: On parole
When I reached a point in my leukaemia treatment the first time around where I was able to get out and about and look to start working again, going back to my old job at Literary Review wasn't going to work out very well, not least because my replacement was doing fabulously and resources at the magazine were limited. In addition, … Continue reading Days +17 to +19: On parole
Day +14 (and +13): Selective memory
While browsing a forum for stem cell transplant patients, I was fascinated to read about one woman who has absolutely no memory of her transplant or the days before and after the procedure. She was looking for reassurance that there was nothing untoward in her lack of memory, particularly given the detailed stories being recounted by … Continue reading Day +14 (and +13): Selective memory