Rolling, rolling, rolling

Keep them results rolling.

I have had a great few days, the best of which was yesterday, when I had my first 3 month check up with my oncologist. The great news is that things are continuing to improve, and that I do not need to see him for another 3 months. So now I can concentrate on holidays, enjoing myself, and ohh the return to work!

Saturday and Sunday found me working at the 2012 Olympics, for the cycling road races. I was in Bushy Park for the morning, and just after Hampton Court for the afternoon. I had a great time, and the crowds, which were huge, were very friendly. Tomorrow I am also working at the cycling again, this time trials. I dont know where i will be yet, as they haven't told me, but wherever it is, I will see lots of action as this is an individual sport, with the riders starting 90 seconds apart.

The other benefit of the 3 monthly review is that I am now all set and confirmed for my charity ride for St Catherine's Hospice, so if you have not yet sponsored me, you better now do it.

Olympic opening Cermony rehersals

Last night I went to the opening rehersal to the 2012 London Olympics, have to say didnt like the first part too much, but it got better and better. These are the only pictures I can share, as we have to #keepthesecret

It's not unusual ...

I forgot to add to my previous post that the day before, along with some friends and my mum, we went horse racing at Sandown Park. The evenings racing was followed by a concert by Tom Jones. The racing went well, although I did not win anything major until the last race, when I won enough to pay for the ticket, and a little extra. Garry won on the last race too, but he was not as extravegant as me, so won about £10 less. Amazing what an extra 50p can get you when you bet on an outsider. Mum unfortunately did not win anything! I did offer to be her bookmaker, but she wanted to use her official one. Tom came on and played about an hour or so. Well for a man in his 70's he can really hold a tune. He was great!

Saturday found me back at Sandown, along with quite a few hundred other people for my final Olympic training. Well I can say that us British know how not to do things, but I am sure it will be alright in end, probably because we are British! We are there for 5 hrs, when I get back I run through it with Sarah in under 5 mins, they need some professional communicators and events people to run it, anyone know any that are any good? It starts off with nearly 1.5 hours of repetition, we go over all we have previously been told/taught, and our online learning we had to do prior to attending. Then we get another 45mins telling us what the events are, when they are, and how any will be participating. Cycling takes about 15 mins, then we cover triathlon and road running and walking. No one around me is involved in those events, so we switch off. After a break, we then get down to the nuts and bolts of what have to do.

This is where the confusion really starts! We are told that if we are in sectors 3-6 then we meet at Hyde Park. This throws all of us, as no one knows what sector we are in, and we all have been told to meet at Sandown. The guy next to has to stay at a hotel, and booked one nearby and is now told he is no where near where he needs to be. The presenter tells us all emails have been very clear, and even begs to differ when told they have not been clear, surely it's us as the receivers who can say if they are clear or not! We all think we are working in the Mall and or Hampton Court, in fact none if us are! I am in the middle of Surrey on the outward leg. So will see the race after about 30 mins, then I am stuck for the next 6 hours untill I can leave. To be clear I am happy to help and be involved, just dissapointed I am not on my expected location. But then so was everyone else in the room. The confusion continues when the presenter reverses his original point about the meeting location he was wrong, and we are all actually meeting at Sandown after all! Finally we get down to the actual role, and as a crossing point marshall, it's not really that hard. As said previously, 5 mins would have been enough. Still they gave us lunch so it's not all bad.

Anyway enough about that, but staying on a cycling theme, this weekend I saw something I never ever thought I would see. The Tour de France winner, respendant in his yellow jersey, leading out the world champion in his rainbow jersey, to win the final stage in Paris. And they are both British. I dont think this will ever happen again, for any country. Well done Brad, Cav and of course the bet supporting team ever led by Vroom Froome. This has been one good thing about my illness, I have been able to watch nearly every live minute broadcast, almost, almost made my year, but it's topped by my results, roll on next week and a different colour yellow.

Almost forgot, off to the technical rehearsal for the Olympic grand opening tonight, pictures to follow soon!!

Latest test results

Yesterday afternoon found myself and Sarah down at Gatwick Park again for my latest CT scans, a procedure I am becoming increasing used to. After catching up with all the staff, who all know me by now, it was off to get changed into my gown. My consultant walked straight past me in the corridor, and completely ignored me, I don't think he recognised me now I have hair again. In the scanning room, I have the cannula fitted, this is the point where the radioactive dye enters my blood stream. I have had so many jabs now this is no long an issue. After a couple of test runs, they are ready to inject the dye, and then it's all systems go. Now when ever I have had this before, the only side affect I have is a metallic taste in the mouth, this time however I think I am on for the full house. Firstly I get a warm wet feeling down below. I fear I have embarrassed myself, however I have to lie with my arms above my head so cannot check. Then the metallic taste starts, no worries on that one, I am well used to it. Then off we go for the first scan. We are just about to start the second scan when I fear I am about to be sick. The feeling comes on like a light switch. I wave my hands above my head, but off I go again through the scanner. As I come out, out come the staff, who are most concerned. I am however most concerned they have a kidney bowl with them, they do, and I use it. In fact I used about 3! Within 3 or 4 minutes however I am back to normal. They explain that I was just about to do the last run, and they took the call to put me through. No problem with that, I explain, I just didn't want them to have to wash the nice shiny scanner.

After a nice cup of tea, just what the English like to do after a drama, it's off to see the consultant. He loads not only my current scan, bit also the last one, so he can compare the two. Then he loads the very first scan, all the while explaining to Sarah and I the various changes. And the good news is the changes are quite dramatic. I still have a number of tumours in a number of places, but they continue to get smaller, or not change at all, which is all very good news. He also explains that he thinks some of the larger masses may in fact be scar tissue, but we wills need a bit more time to be sure, or a biopsy. All in all we are very happy, and now go to meet the oncologist on 30 July fuly expecting to hear that we now continue for another 3 month cycle of no attention, and then review again. This is all just great news ahead of the kids breaking up for the summer today.

Another week of firsts

Here's a quick update on progress and a week of firsts. Firstly, I have escalated my working week, up to a full 2 half days a week. Today I went to London to meet with the EMEA management team and many of my European colleagues. It was great to see everyone, really made me feel part of the team again.

Monday night the whole family went swimming, me included. This was the first time I have been swimming since eing diagnosed. I only managed 10 lengths but it felt very good. The kids managed well over 50 lengths, but hey ho, they are a bit younger than me!

On Friday I plan to see the Olympic flame for the first time, as it passes through Redhill and Reigate. Parking may well be a nightmare, but I am sure we will find somewhere

Lastly, on Thursday, I have my first 3 monthy scan, where I expect to get some initial results. The meeting with the oncologist is at the end of the month.

UPDATE

Had to go to hospital last night with a very painful foot, seems I might have gout!! Makes me laugh as they said if you drink smoke and have a poor diet, then this could be a cause. Bearing in mind I have never smoked, hardly drink and in fact did not for 6 months, and for the last 8 months have been on probably the best diet of my life, I must just be unlucky!!!!

That was the week that was

Well that went well. My first week back at work proved to be eventful. My working week is pretty hectic, Tuesday and Thursday, 9am til 111am to start with, for a couple of weeks. The it will increase slowly, provided I am ok, until. I am back to full time, or as full time as I can manage. To give you a flavour of my week, here's a short run down of what I did

Cleared 5,000 emails. this was a mammoth task, made much easier by cntrl + Alt + delete. This selected all emails and deleted them. I kept everything within the last 6 weeks for me to review. This was on the basis that anything older was defunct. Then after reviewing those I had left, I was left with 7 to actually worry about. Great, less than 1 a month I have been off. Only wish that was the case normally.

Made some decisions. I actually got asked 3 questions that needed an answer. One answer was to send the person to someone else. They told me they were harder to get hold off than me, exactly I replied! The 2 others were pretty simple as well.

Networked. One thing I was tasked with was to find out how the business had. Anged and to network again. This was my easiest task, as you know I do like a chat. So at least 2 hours this week was spent catching up on issues with various colleagues. Next time we meet, I will have to ask about work rather than everything else. If I did not catch up with you, sorry, will try harder next week.

Review new IT systems. I also took the time to learn the new IT systems, namely time recording and expenses. These look pretty straightforeward, and better that anything we had before, which makes a change

Meetings. I even managed to sneak in a couple of meetings, mainly about coming back to work.

And that was it. So now I am off to enjoy my 4 day weekend, have a good one all

Work

Freja's prom on Friday night went very well and I must say she, and her friends, looked amazing. We organised a 1950's London bus to take her and a large group of friends to the prom, and it was great. Wasn't too keen on the 5am call to pick her up from the after prom party though!


Tuesday is a big day and milestone for me, I finally go back to work. Its only for a couple of hours, for a couple of days a week to start with, as we all, me, the firm & the occupational therapist, want to make sure its an easy and gentle start back. Every couple of weeks, the hours will increase. Good job the British summer is so hot, so I can enjoy the time I am not working!!

I should say at this point a very big thank you to work, both Towers Watson as a firm, and all the people there. They have been very supportive to me over the recent months, and I realise that I have not really said thank you. The firm have not put any pressure on me to come back, in fact they are holding me back a bit, but I know that's actually for the best. And my work colleagues are really the best, I am looking forward to seeing you all again very soon.

I'll end today's short update by saying well done to Spain for winning the Euro 2012 Championships, and in the best match of the tournament!

Dont forget to sponsor my ride at www.wrongwayround.org.uk