Highs and lows

After the highs of being afloat again I suppose it was inevitable lows would follow. Yesterday was a routine radiotherapy day. As usual treatment was on time and without incident. One of the proven siide -effects of Radio and chemo therapies is lethargy and, boy o boy did did I suffer on my return home mid-afternoon. A few hours of sleep had little affect and even tea did little to help. My appetite these days must be on a par with a mouse. We road-tested the menu of a pub near here for our planned family get-together after Christmas ( 11 so far with 2 dissenters ). The pub is very old but has recently had a badly needed change of management and the meals are huge, way beyond my current capacity.  

Our waitress kindly suggested a half portion, which was later charged as a children's meal. It was good but I could only manage half of it. No starter, no dessert.

Throughout all this Lynne manages to cope with everything life throws at her, without complaint. How? 

God only knows. Yesterday I was contemplating how to get myself admitted to hospital in the hope of giving her a break, but the idea never got beyond contemplation.

Another photo oh happier times afloat.

Poignant moment

A quiet day and we decided to make the most of it by visiting Tardis two. A very poignant moment

A bit like one of those movie moments when the navy guy returns to port after a long mission and is grabbed by his fabulous wife/girlfriend,with lots of tears and romantic music. Tardis Two is the fabulous

Wife/girlfriend and the tune in my head was dire straits "Going Home". a moving moment. She looked great. My leg was no problem for the second day running (if only I could run).

Once again I slept for half the day ( due to radio and chemo treatment I'm told ).

Apologies for the late posting, caused by technical problems beyond my control. I guess the Sky engineers worked through the night, thanks guys. 

Routine break

Again slept all night, or at least until 05.30, hopefully indicating a change for the better. No radiotherapy today but I do have an MRI scan on my dodgy leg booked for midday at a local hospital. Although part of the same group as the other pathetic hospitals, from our experience, the incompetence and "why should I care" attitude has not infiltrated yet, 

so we hope to be out in time to visit our beloved boat this afternoon, something to look forward to? 

The scan was on time but it was a very lengthy walk to reach it which inevitably was more than my leg could cope with. As a result and the appearance of high winds the boat trip was postponed, in favour of a lie down, after which the leg seems ok. Don't rush me being the message transmitted.

Ditto

Same weather but the rhino tells me there is a slight breeze.

Slept all night although I apparently pushed Lynne out of bed at. 0300.    Oops.   No leg pain last night but a few pins and needles attacks this morning.

I was racking what is left of my brain to remember the last time I missed an entire nights sleep ( see previous blog ). A party in Manchester and the Lyke Wake walk eventually came to mind, although there must have been one or two when camping in African Safari parks. The Lyke Wake walk is 30-odd 

Miles across the North Yorkshire moors and not for the faint hearted or sane. I completed it the day before my 21st birthday party. You try doing Rod Stewart impressions with heavily blistered feet. 

Sunny and mild

Considering it is getting very near to Xmas  the weather is very sunny and mild, reminding me of some of our boating days earlier in the year

Oh to get cruising again. My leg remained painful throughout the night and as a consequence very little sleep was obtained. The. Inflamed area remains constant but I think it is the nerve endings screaming out.

Sorry if the above scared you. It scares me every time I see it, but it looks worse than it actually is.(apart from the pain).  Apparently cellulitis of the leg is a slow healer, a very slow slow healer, as I am about to discover.

Patience is a virtue.

 

Intergalactic credit reversal

Me and my big mouth again. I received a text message from my hospital this morning telling me my appointment today was 12.45, an hour earlier than my appointment card. Lynne phoned to query the discrepancy and was assured the text time was correct. We rushed to arrive on time and waited four hours in the corridor, popping downstairs for radiotherapy, who kindly fitted me in at short notice. Another few hours later, in the same corridor with loads of similarly suffering patients, we reached the point of no return and Lynne popped to reception and announced we were leaving, which as usual, caused something of a stir. My leg got checked and the chemo tablets will be ready for collection tomorrow. Too many patients, doctor too slow or not having realistic appointment lengths, or sheer incompetence ? I suspect the latter.

Credit where due

We had lots to do at the hospital today. Blood test, leg check,radio and chemo, and, credit where it is due, everything went amazingly well. No hold-ups, no frustrations,nothing to complain about. The doctor did not consider my leg infection bad enough to stop tumour treatment but prescribed some strong antibiotics anyway. 

A reasonable nights sleep and a straightforward hospital visit has done wonders for my state of mind and I feel pretty good for once.