Were all going on a Summer Holiday....

A quiet week with not a lot to update.

Went into work on Tuesday to see some familiar faces. It was nice to see them and got me in the mood for work again. I think my colleagues were happy to see me and they all commented on how well I looked, just missing the tan due to the good old English summer!! I must admit that I do feel good in myself, possibly the best since October 06, that's 9 months ago! At the end of the day I was absolutely knackered and this did effect me on Wednesday as well, so I did learn that I am not as fit as I thought I was, need to pace myself.

Getting ready to take the kids to Wales as they break up from school tomorrow. Looking forward to the break and some more rest, just hope that the rain stops and the sun shows his face again. I think I have lost some weight since last year, and todays questions is, Did I have any trunks on???!!!

Its just over two weeks to my next appointment with Prof R and after Kelly's news this week, I am really hoping that I don't get any set backs. Only time will tell, no point in dwelling on possibilities!

Nothing else to report so KYPU and have a great summer.

Who is David Beckham!

Played my first game of 5 a side football (Soccer for the guys from the other side of the pond!) tonight for six months and feel really good. Thought that my lungs could give up after 5 minutes, but managed 1hour with the lads and scored a few goals!

Another step towards normality which is great and feeling good is a great motivator. Celebrated with a few pints of Guinness, to keep the red blood cell count up......honest! This time last year I was playing rugby for my company in the Malaysia Airlines 10's tournament and tomorrow night there is a reunion which I would like to go to. We had a really good laugh last year with some top blokes and it will be great to see them again, what a year since!

Vicky thinks I have the look of DB, do you agree? I like to think of myself as having a party six!

Speak soon and KYPU.

Factor 99 please!

Its nearly three weeks since I finished Radiotherapy and my arm pit is just beginning to settle down that's to the magic of cool aquas cream! The picture shows my burnt pit, with the lighter area raw skin (or lack of it) and this has been very uncomfortable.

I said time was a great healer and this is proving to be right both physically and mentally. Have decided not to have counselling at this stage as I feel a lot better and am being positive about as much as possible.

Great to hear that Willie has been allowed home after this SCT which has been successful. I know that he has been to hell and back but his feet are on the ground again!

Nothing else to report so speak soon.

KYPU!

Getting by with a little help from my friends

It took a comment from Vicky to bring me back to plant earth and bring things in to prospective and for that thanks. We were lying in bed one night, me feeling all sorry for myself and being negative and argumentative about everything when she told me not to be selective in my thoughts. It took a bit of time to sink in but she was right, I was selecting small points to be happy about and negative about everything else. Small comments like that can really have a great effect on you, but am am aware that it may take a small comment to tip me the other way, I must remain positive and Keep my Pecker up.

I have also began to read comments on the Lymphoma Forum which has helped. There is a thread Post Chemo Blues which has made me understand that I am not alone and the experiences really help to change your attitude. I have began to get my self in order, working on setting goals to build my strength to enable me to get back to normal living. This includes work who I paid a visit to this week. I have a date pencilled in for my return, the 20th August, that's 6 weeks away and the week after my next hospital appointment! Having had what will be a total of 7 months off I am looking forward to seeing familiar faces and getting my mind into other things rather than myself and home. I know that Vicky will miss me, she putting on a brave face saying that she is looking forward to some peace and quiet, I know you are joking!!!!!!!

In myself I feel good although the burning from the radiation treatment under my left arm is getting worse and can be quiet sore.

Think that's about it for time being.

Speak soon and KYPU.

C

Motivation...

Well, then end of my first week with no treatment and how do I feel? After a great weekend, possibly assisted by adrenalin, I have spent the past few days not feeling too good. Woken up with headaches, stomach pains, feeling sick and very lethargic. I am not sure if I have picked up a bug (not from Amsterdam before you ask) or if it is something that people suffer from after having long periods of illness. I am also finding it hard to get motivated to do anything other than basic requirements and my head feels full of broken biscuits. I am struggling mentally to get my life back on tracks after such a long time of putting things on the back burner and as a result I have agreed with Vicky that I will take advise if I feel the same next week, maybe some counselling will help?
I know that you are not expected to get up and run straight away and that is why you are advised to take periods of convalescing, 4 - 6 weeks in my case, but the fact that this is effecting me is a backward step and one that I will have to get over before I think about returning to work full time. It is very frustrating but I do believe that time is a great healer and hope that this proves to be the case. A bit of dry sunny weather will help, agh the good old British summer again, remember it is Wimbledon week!
I have also been thinking about my blog. I do not want it to become a diary of my life in general as it is about my battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and the sooner its over the better. I will only update when there is something relevant to share and as soon as I go into remission, then I will close it once and for all.
Thanks for all of you continuing support and comments.
KYPU....

Turn it on again

Just returned from a weekend of relaxation, rest and window shopping in Amsterdam, oh and did I mention the FANTASTIC Genesis gig at the Amsterdam Arena...

It has to be one of the two best live gigs I have been to, the other being Pink Floyd at Main Road. It is 15 years since the last tour and with no new material the boys (or oldish men) were able to go back to their roots and perform classics like 'In the cage', 'Ripples', 'Carpet Crawlers', 'I know what I Like' and 'Firth of Fifth', not as a montage, but in full version with amazing sound. Along with Phil and Chester beating the hell out of bar stools and drums the whole gig was great and made the weekend a huge success. Thanks to Alan for coming with me and using his previous experience to show me the sights of Amsterdam...and there are some, I tell you! Also got to thank Vicky who put the weekend package together for us, we really appreciate it.

I feel really good in myself, with the Radiation 'Sunburn' causing a little discomfort and my lungs slowly returning to improved capacity. I will start my strength building this week with some short walks and cycle rides (if the rain ever stops). I am determined to continue my good feeling by getting fit and returning to the bronzed stallion that you saw on my last post!

Finally a note to Wullie, KEEP YOUR PECKER UP. It is tough for you at the moment, but it will get easier in the near future and that will result in long term joy for all. Remember, you only need two foot prints at the moment, relax and when you are ready you can stand on your own two feet. Cheers.

Speak soon