999

Yesterday got a call from the police, no they had not found the lost, lost property officer, but they had finally located my stolen items at the station. The officer on the phone even offered to hand delver them back to me, now that's what I call service. 20 minutes later he was here with my strimer and my rotavator. This is just in time for the big allotment weekend. Now I just need them to find the winning lottery ticket for this weekends draw which I have also lost!!

Weekly update

It seems now things have settled down that I am doing fewer but longer posts, so here's an update on the last week or so.

Well I think the chemo is starting to have a slight cumulative effect, as last week the tiredness, and broken sleep, continued a couple of days past where I expected it to end. Luckily I have no other real side effects still, apart from the hair loss, so it is reasonably easy to manage. Even so its a . good job I only have two more sessions.

Aggie, the dog, was looking very disheveled, and so we took her to a new dog groomers, Scruffy to Fluffy, run by a friend of a friend. She was are redundant last year and wanted a new start, so she took her grooming qualifications and has set up h new business. Must say she has done a great job, and a fair bit cheaper, and easier to get to than our old groomer. She loved Aggie, and Aggie showed how much she liked her by licking her to death, but she does that to everyone!

I also found the time to get to the police station to try and reclaim two items which were stolen from my allotment shed back in early December. I heard from the council that they had my items at Reigae station, so off we went. God help us, it was torture, and is till don't have them. On Wednesday I was told that they had lost the lost property officer, which gave me a giggle, but hat they would be in touch. Come Friday and no call, we went back. This time I was told to ask my mate, a sergeant and who had reported it for me, to sort it out. When I explained it was not a good use of a sergeants time, the guy behind the desk went to make a few more calls. Mow it turns out they do ave two items which match my items, but before thy can be released by the property office, note not an officer, maybe that's why they could not find him, they would need an email from the investigating officer. I was Dudley given his contact details for Saturday, his next shift, and told to call him. Now Friday night we went to a quiz night, more later, and my sergeant mate came with us. I told him the saga, to his rolling eyes, and when I told him the name of the officer I had to call he just laughed. Apparently, he reports to my mate, but more importantly, he is a PCSO, a community officer, and he had no authority to release property anyway! So my Mae had to get involved in he end and apparently I will get a call tomorrow (Tuesday) to confirm when I can get my stuff back. However they need to find it first as it has gone missing at the police station, it is not in an of the storage areas. Maybe it's been stolen?

Friday night saw us at a quiz night, raising funds for a friends daughters trip to Indis. We had a great time, and for once were in with a chance of winning. We had quite a big lead about midway, but started to falter, losing a point here, a point there. The most frustrating element being the points we lost, we should not have, as generally we had the answer written down but changed it. We had a one point lead going into the last round, and true to form, we then lost by 1 point, losing 2 points in the last round, again we had the correct answers but chose another. It was good to get out, and have a relaxed, fun evening.

I also have spent quite a bot of tie working on my planned find raiser, finalising routes, camping sites and more importantly looking for the right scooter. I even got to test ride some, bot was it good to gt on to wheels at last, after nearly 4 months. I don't thinking could ride my own bike, it would be too heavy but these little scooters are fine. One thing which is apparent is that when I find a good one, I need to go fr it, as there are quite a few rough ones out there, which is not surprising beating in mind I am looking at something the best part of 30 years old.

I am having an allotment weekend this weekend with lots of friends volunteering to help me get this in shape ready for this year. I have managed to get down there to check what needs doing, but only have a week every cycle where I can do anything, and then it's quite limited. We are providing food and drinks to all the helpers, so have spent time planning and organising, almost feels like being at work again.

Finally yesterday I got to go out shooting with James. This was what was called roost shooting,whereby we would normally walk round the wood where we have permission, and shoot the pigeons on their arrival to roost. To help me James drove me to a good spot, so I did not have to walk, dropped me and my gear, removed te car and then came back. I was able to use my grandads shooting stick, this is a walking stick with a fold out seat. It must be 35 years old but ws great and was a very big help. I only fired a few shots but got one pigeon. Tat shot was the best shot I have ever done, so was very happy. It is now in the freezer ready for later in the year. We were only out an hour, but as with the scooter ride, this was the first thing I have done purely for me, for 4 months. On the subject of shooting, and as I share my interests with you, the next bit is about how and why I shoot.

This one may be a bit controversial to some of you, as covers my newest hobby of shooting. As you can see from previous posts re my allotment, and the fact I keep chickens at home, I am interested in food and self sufficiency. Being able to shoot my own meat, whilst helping the farmer, is something that has been on the back of my mind for years, but it was only in the middle of last year that I actually decided to do something about it. Thanks to a friend at the allotments, who shoots, I was able to try it out. Now I know that to some of you this is against your views, but I would rather eat some meat hat has lived a life in the open, in the way nature intended, than some factory farmed meat where te animal has had no quality of life. To give you an idea, I am lucky to bring home a couple of items per session, although I hope to get better with more practice! The types of things I target are those which I am legally allowed to shoot, and which help the farmers, so mainly for me it's wood pigeon, and rabbits, both of which are very tasty. If you saw the amount of food a pigeon can eat in one go, and they eat 4 times a day, then you would know why these are rightly classed as pests. We also target Corvids (crows, rooks etc) and foxes. Now you might ask why crows, well they eat and destroy songbird nests and young, so we are actually hoping these bird populations in a time when they are struggling in the UK. I must make it clear that I do not agree with trophy shooting, ie large animals to hang on the wall. I just cannot see the point of it, or indeed how it can be classed as sport. In fact I find it abhorrent

Anyway, enough from me for now, keep well everyone

Looking forward, and back ...

I am now starting to come out of the post chemo phase and hopefully this week will get back to my normal self, so it's time to look forward to what I have coming up over the next couple of weeks. Firstly though I need to look back, as 25 years ago today, something happened which changed the rest of my life, for the better. It was a Saturday, and I was stood in the queue at Crawley cinema waiting to see Crocodile Dundee ( that's not a knife, that's a knife) with a certain young lady who is now my wife, Sarah I am so glad and happy that she said yes to go out with me, though I still can't understand why. We have had many ups and downs over the years as all couples do, but we have always stood together. Most of all though we are best friends and we have certainly tried to laugh, even at the worst of times. Here's to our future together, I love you soo much!

Looking forward to the next couple of weeks, before session number 5 of 6, we have a number of things planned. We hope to go to a charity quiz night on Friday, helping raise funds for a friends daughters school trip to India. As you all know I am so keen for everyone to experience everything life has to offer, we are more than happy to help. I hope the tiredness has passed enough for me to go, as we always have fun with our friends at these evenings. The guys take it all seriously, as do the girls, but they seem more focussed on the wine than the quiz! I hope the question who sung Echo Beach comes up, as Sarah now knows who sung it, after insisting she knew the answer last time and getting it wrong, something she has never lived down.

The dog is off to the pamper parlour tomorrow, this is a new one we have not been to before, it will be interesting to see how she comes back. We have had to warn the owner that she does not bite but is extremely licky, she just loves to lick everybody. I also have a meeting with one of my consultants this week, it will be good to see him without any medical urgency for once, it's just a catch up. I am obviously interested in his take on my progress, as so far you all know the news has been positive.

Lastly, I am getting ready for the allotment weekend (3 &4 March), where a number of you have volunteered to help, thank you, more volunteers always welcome, food and drink supplied. We still have some things to buy plus I hope to be able to do little prep work before hand.

Next update in a couple of days,

Hope you are all well, and keep smiling, laughing and loving

Keep it coming

Another quick update from my session yesterday, all went very well again, and the best news was my blood counts went down another huge amount, now my main marker is at 4.5, anything under 1.0 is normal. Not bad from a starting point of nearly 80, and over 10 last check.

Also discussed my progress with my consultant, and he was very positive about this, and said I am at the best end of what he hoped for, so that is all good. he has now had the time to fully review my last scans and the radiologists report, and was very happy with everything he saw. Let's hope it keeps going that way, I am doing everything I can to make sure it does!

Hope my new drug treatment for this week works as well as last round, so I am more awake, but have no major trips planned for this week so not planning any more updates for a week or so.

Lastly happy 25th valentines day to the wonderful Sarah, here's to many more, thank you for all your support and love xxxxx

10,000 and counting

Just a quick update whilst sitting here having my 9 hours of chemo, to say thank you to everyone of enabling me to reach 10.000 hits already!

As usual all going well today and really enjoying my new sense of freedom and movement!!

So excited

Today is a big step and I am so excited. Now it's really big news for me, and I just can't wait, no really I can't. For the first time in 3 1/2 months I am going to, I can't believe I am saying this, I am going to, I really can't believe I am saying this, I am going to, I know it's just so exciting but I really really can't believe I'm saying this, I am going to, I know you can't wait to find out, neither can I, I am going to .. wear some jeans! We are going out for dinner and for the first time in ages I can get in some jeans and not just trackies. Might seem like only a little thing, well my jeans are not that little, but it is to me. Its another step on the way.

If you look to the right of this post you can see how many hits this blog has had since it started. At the time of writing its showing 9,825, I really can't believe that my story has attracted the best part of 10,000 visits, let alone so soon. Alright half of that will be from Mum and Beth, but even so I am very flattered. It's a real boost, and I know I say it quite often, but thank you everyone, I find it a real boost.

Keeping my pecker up ....

I am writing this at home, which means that yesterday went very well. On arrival at hospital, we were shown to my room on the ward, and had quick meetings with the consultant and his team, where they detailed the operation. Then it was get changed into my flattering gown (they really need to make them bigger or really must loose some weight once through this) then off to the operating theatre. Next thing I know I am in the recovery room, and first thing I do is check to see if there is a catheter fitted, and what a relief there isn't. Great news, even in my drugged state I am ecstatic. Then the nurse tells me I actually had a bladder stone, and shows me a test tube with all the bits in it. It must have been huge! I am wheeled back to the room where Sarah is waiting for me, and I am not ashamed to say I had a few tears of joy when I saw her, as I was so happy, and already so much more comfortable.

A couple of hours later the consultant visits to see how I am doing. I tell him the good news that everything seems to be working, if quite sore. He then tells me what he did. After removing the pipe work, he used a camera to check inside. Now to me it feels like he used a TV studio camera with cameraman, but in reality it was a micro camera, and he found a large bladder stone. This he then broke up and retrieved. Having seen the bits earlier, it's no wonder it's a bt sore, because there was only one way they were coming out! It's quite sore when I have to go, and this leads to a few more tears, but I know it's not a day or two and that will go. One major benefit for me is that I can wear different trouser to trackie bottoms, now where did I put those jeans.... I now also need to find a giant potty, it's been so long since I was in charge of this basic function, that I may need some re-training! As for the next few days, well we have a quiet-ish few days lined up, ready to start round 4 on Monday. The good news is that in 6 weeks I will be starting the last session.

Just in case I don't put a post up tomorrow I hope you all have a great weekend

Back to hospital

Yesterday I went to hospital to have my catheter out, unfortunately it did not want to come out - ouch! So tomorrow, Wednesday, I am going back in to have it removed under a general anaesthetic. Whilst I am under, the consultant may also do a little trimming, if its needed, to make my life easier in the long run. If that happens I'll be in for a few days. That has put paid to any plans for this week, and as I'm back for round 4 of chemo on Monday, that's the next couple of weeks wiped out, BUT it is all for the best!

Had some really good news on the sponsorship front for my scooter ride round the UK over the last couple of days, will post a major update on this next month, so keep your eyes peeled!

Another long one

This is going to be another longish post today, so get your tea/coffee/wine/beer ready, get comfortable and I'll begin ..

I'll start with how I am doing before you ask, well, back in the good place now,seem to be over the last round of treatment. Thursday was a good day. I managed to not only get in our small car, but I also managed to drive it! Now of course if I felt I was dangerous I would stop immediately. However had a sleepless night Thursday so did not do much Friday. Just goes to show the ups and downs as last night, Friday, had the best nights sleep for ages. Woke up this morning at 7am, can't remember the last time I did that! We have a relatively busy weekend coming up, despite the cold weather currently hitting the UK. Today we have to get Freja to work and back, Leisha to football, then tonight Sarah and I are going out for dinner with her Mum and Dad to celebrate her Dad's birthday. Tomorrow Max is off to London with the air cadets. Sounds like a good day. They are marching down the Strand, then to a church service, rounded off with lunch at the RAF club. He really is enjoying the air cadets and it's good to see him in uniform, looks very smart! Oh and Freja is going out to Guildford tomorrow as well so have to get her to the station.

I also once again up front want to say a big thank you for all the messages and emails I have had. I know I have not replied to them all, but I have read everyone and they are all appreciated. I also received a surprise package this week, all the way from Sufferlandria (Singapore) thanks David! For all the cyclists, or those into fitness, David is an old work colleague and friend from way back, who had a great idea to make static or turbo training more interesting, and now has one of the worlds best training products - check out his website. The reviews his products get are amazing, and he is a really nice guy too.

Right, back now to my hobbies, so as usual, if you want to skip the next bit, jump to the last paragraph. This time it's my allotment. For those non- UK readers, an allotment is a large area of ground which is normally owned by the local authority. This and is sub-divided into plots, or allotments, of approx 180 sqm, about the same in sqy. The allotment is rented to an individual for cultivation, mainly fruit and vegetables, but some also grow flowers. They person renting the allotment has to keep the area cultivated and clear, you can literally loose the plot if you don't! Once you own the plot, it's yours until you decide you no longer want it, some of the old boys have had their's for 30 plus years. The typical allotment holder is seen as being an old man, grumpy, and a bit weird, so it suits me perfectly!

Anyway, I got my first allotment about 6 or 7 years ago, thanks to Simon at work. As many of you know I am a bit of a foodie, I absolutely love cooking, mainly savoury dishes, and have always had an interest in food provence. The idea of moving to a self sufficient way of life was a pipe dream for me, an if I won the lottery kind of thought. A small farm was definitely on my list, raising some livestock, my own fruit and veg, etc. anyway the closest I had got was the chickens in the garden. One day at work, Simon and I were talking about the lottery, and my pipe dream came out, Simon sad why didn't I get an allotment. He had had one for a couple of years, and there were some vacant plots at his allotment site. That sparked an idea. Being a little unsure of what was involved, I discussed it with Dad. Dad said he woud be glad to be involved, so that was it. Sunday found us down at the site for a meeting with the Secretary, Ron, to look at the available plots and make our decision, which we duly did, and it was ours, all for the price of £20 per year.

Our new plot was very overgrown and we spent weeks clearing and digging and planning what we would grow, this was helped enormously by the fact that we had the plot right next to Simon, so any snails or slugs were helped to move on, and he plot next door looked like a good home! Not really but we did enjoy winding each other up! Our plot was half sized, as we did not want to bet burden our selves. Dad and I used this plot for about 3 years, and then decided we wanted a full sized plot, and we knew one was going to be one available that winter. I discussed it with Ron, and provided we give up the small original plot it was ours.

Within a week or so Dad fell ill, little did we know how seriously ill he was, as he was always so fit and strong. Within a month he was diagnosed with a terminal cancer caused by asbestos, which he had worked with occasionally since he was a teenager. Nine weeks later Dad was gone. He went downhill so fast despite fighting so hard. Not once did he complain, to me a least, and he always kept his sense of humour, he was, and is, a legend. The allotment not only helped me, it also helped my sister Emma, as many of our frustrations and our anger was directed to our new plot, but in a positive way, digging it, and preparing it for Dad. Unfortunately he was never to see it prepared, but I often have a little Robin visit, and sit and watch me work. Dad's name was Robin, so he is still there, keeping an eye on me, telling me the right way to do it. I am so grateful for the time we spent together there as Dad was my best mate as much as he was my Dad.

I kept this new plot on, and now grow a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. I find it helps deal with the stress of work, as it's do different to sitting in front of a PC all day. It takes a lot of time, but I find it worth it. The other plot holders are a great bunch, yes most are retired, but many are not. This year, thanks to all the volunteers, I plan the following crops raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries, blueberries, strawberries, loganberries, potatoes, carrots, onions, sweetcorn, parsnips, cabbage, kale, beetroot, cuecumber, reddish, celery, lettuce, tomato, mange tout, bar lotto beans, chard, leeks, salsfy, French beans, mooli, fennel, broccoli, and lastly rhubarb. There will actually be multiple varieties of many of the crops, so there should be quite a lot. Oh and I forgot the asparagus. This has to be cultivated for 3 years before it can be harvested, and this is the 3 rd year. Mum and Sarah have already put their orders in for the whole crop!

So that's my latest update finished, I hope you all have or had a great weekend and have kept safe and warm. Look out for more soon