Mists and mellow fruitfulness

Woke up this morning after a very shabby night's sleep feeling a little jaded hoping to find another soul enriching clear and sunny day. Opened the curtains to find it was foggy. Slightly disappointing, but not terminally so, as I do rather like mist and fog. There is a mysterious and magical property about it. The way it dampens sounds when you're out....

It's constant rain/drizzle which, along with the darker evenings, which displeases me.

I think the rest of today may consist of laying in front of Jeff Stelling and the guys as they shout about football. I'm lacking a bit of vim and vigour today.

Sorry if this entry is a bit subdued, so I'll leave you with a picture of Buddy (see yesterday's blog).

First Day. Soup, tiffin, curry, pork pie......not all edible

So, I left you yesterday at the post-chemo arrival home. After a poor nights sleep and an adrenalin fuelled morning at the hospital, I found it hard to settle until the early evening, so so had a wee cooking frenzy.

Mary Berry's Leek and Potato Soup. As you can see it went down very well. If you've not tried it, it's very simple and rather tasty...

and...

Tiffin. Nom nom nom.

I then simply sat for evening and let "the Cruiser" in Jack Reacher just wash over me. Not a great film, but I didn't have the energy to turn it off. I slept well.

Waking this morning I was tired, but that was understandable given the long day before. Once again, it was one of those glorious Autumnal mornings that we've been blessed with over the last few days. Crisp, clear and as the day wore on wonderfully sunny and warm. How we're all going to miss these days when the rain rolls in next week.

Not knowing quite what the impact of the treatment might be, we made no plans for today. However, I felt ok, with the exception of a bit of a red face - not sure what that's about so to be on the safe side bought a new thermometer to ensure it wasn't a fever manifesting itself in me bonce. Temp was fine. It was too nice a day to ignore, so we went for a gentle stroll around Alderly Edge with my new buddy, Buddy.

He's a friends dog, before you get the idea I've lost my mind and am taking on animals of all shapes and sizes. We finished the stroll with a nice cup of coffee at the Wizard Tea Rooms which were accompanied by some rather splendid Tiffin....I wonder where that came from.

After our gentle stroll, Gel and I drove to Manchester so we could get her iPhone screen fixed. While waiting for that to occur, we had a small curry in one of those wee restaurants in the Northern Quarter nom nom nom <burp>.

I'm now starting to feel a bit weary but am glad we made an effort to get out and do something. It's a difficult balance to get out and make something of the day, but not overdoing it. I think the miles of cycling over the last few months have helped me with a decent level of strength and fitness. The trick is not to overreach.

For the fashionistas amongst you, my pork pie hat arrived, but it makes me look like a knob so you won't see any pics and I'll be sending it back......

11:30 and we're back home

So first thing to mention is the astonishingly good humoured, professional, pleasant, and hard working NHS staff I've come into contact over these first two days of the treatment. Makes a difficult time that much more bearable. Hands off our NHS Mr Cameron.

Actually, if this was going to be a true timeline then I really ought to mention how badly I slept last night, but hopefully this will now pass now the first cycle is started. However when I did wake up, I was presented with a truly wonderful sight.

Gel had woken early and produced a wonderful batch of her scones. Nom nom nom.

We left the house - the aroma of warm scones wafting around the kitchen - and battled the rush hour traffic, arriving at the hosp around 8:45. They were ready for me other than the fact they couldn't find my bloods from the previous day......<gulp>. I explained I had taken a photograph of them, but quickly realised the limited diagnostic value a photo may have.

The bloods appeared - confusing address on the bottles - and I was ushered up to the treatment suite.

Here, and this is a special for Anne Cooke, a HUGE needle (canula actually) was inserted painlessly into my wrist. As I mentioned previously, I have "good veins" and the chemo nurse was "spoiled for choice" which I took to be a good thing.

Then after a small saline bag, the chemo itself was loaded into the pump.

The chemo is in a light protecting bag. Some chemo mixtures are light sensitive. To make life simple, all of them are put into these special bag covers.

This is me actually writing the first half of today's blog. How cool is that?

Now we are back home and about to dig into a scone and a brew.

Taking the piss (and blood)

So I'm typing this live from the chemo suite at The Christie in South Manchester. This is a world leading centre for cancer treatment and so, once again, I can count myself a very lucky man.

Before heading off to the hospital yesterday, I had been suckered in by a £10 eye test from Specsavers. Although being honest I do need a couple of pairs of reading glasses so it wasn't such a hard sell. While I was in there we discussed the possibility of being able to dispose of glasses (for short periods) by wearing a single contact lens for near distance, my long distance vision being pretty intact.

It has just occurred to me that I could get a coloured lens and affect a David Bowie fat white duke look......

Yesterday we came to The Christie in the late afternoon to provide some samples of my bodily fluids.

Here is the blood. Chemo is a well established treatment but a fairly blunt instrument. It not only kills off cancer cells, but any other active cells knocking about in your body at the time. It knocks you immune system, so one of the things they need to check is that you are fit enough to be poisoned.

Here is the wee. Infection is something you need to avoid when your immune system is compromised,  so they make sure you haven't got a urinary infection before you start. At least that's what they told me......hey, is that Bear Grylls over there.....oh NOOOOOO

This is an interim entry on the blog, and I'll do another this afternoon after we get home along with pictures of BIG needles just for Anne Cooke, AND pictures of some splendid scones that Gel made us before breakfast this morning. Nom nom nom

Thank you to everyone for your good wishes this morning. It really means a lot.

"A house is not a home without a cat"

How I wish I'd remembered that quote when I was preparing yesterday's blog. It was said to me by my Mother-in-law, Bridie. It's wonderful.

So, and I hope this doesn't disappoint too many of you, but there is no cycling element to today's blog.

Later on this afternoon, I will be visiting the Christie to have my bloods assessed and to have a conversation with the doctor in charge of the chemo clinic about what to expect over the next few months. Although I had initially thought I might go for a spin, it then seemed silly to (potentially) get over tired.

I have taken my first dexamethasone, which is designed to alleviate side effects of the chemo, and I can say that one hour in, I've suffered no side effects from the dexa, so things are looking good.....

So, what to expect? Well I'm not a great fan of needles and I expect to see a wide range of sizes and styles over the next few months (needles, canulas etc). Luckily I have "good veins". At least that's what most of the health professionals I've encountered have told me. Less digging around I guess.

I'm generally phlegmatic about needles. A necessary evil, and as long as I don't watch it going in I'm fine. Most of the people inserting these things are so practiced you tend not to realise it's in (*hope I don't get a trainee doctor...).

I understand that sickness drugs are very good these days, and so being physically sick is something I hope to avoid.

I expect to be tired, but I am keen to understand how long this will last, and whether I can - and whether it is advisable - to push myself when I'm feeling tired, or whether to give in and wait for it to pass. One thing I'm keen to try and do, is get up and dressed and ready for the day, even if that day consists of lying around watching playoff baseball (Go Yankees!).

Hair loss is a given, but will it go straight away of after a few cycles? Since I have a large collection of baseball hats, and to be honest I don't have that much hair anyway, this won't be the worst thing. You always notice missing eyebrows, so perhaps I should persuade Pheebs to draw some in for me.

This is me pre-chemo.

...and it has just occurred to me that I'll be beardless for the first time in a while too. Perhaps that will be the oddest thing for many people who've never known me without.

I fancy finding a hat that isn't a baseball hat. I've always hankered after a hat in the style of Popeye Doyle from the French Connection...."Did you ever pick your feet in Poughkeepsie?"

Today, Gel and I are going to create list of things to do over the next few months. This list is going to be things of all sorts and kinds. A list of practical sensible things it would be irresponsible not to do, e.g. sort out our shared office space, and some trivial but fun things, e.g. feeding the ducks at Redesmere. I'm looking forward to creating the list, and to working my way through it.

Stew Update:

Yesterday's stew was complimented very well with a packet of quinoa and brown rice, and, like many dishes, seemed to improve by standing for 24 hours.

The blog is brought to you by the number 1000

1007.4 to be precise and also B5087. But more of those later.

But first I need to finish off what happened yesterday. The observant amongst you will have noticed that the blog was posted around dinner time (that's in the middle of the day oop north) and that I made reference to a beef stew.

Here's the beef stew (or what's left over for tonight's tea)

Ever willing to take a bargain, Gel and I were in Sainsbury's and there were a couple of packs of rather nice looking stewing steak reduced from £4.50 to £3.50. Not a fortune, but enough to draw me in. I had recently made a nice chilli but using mince, and wondered if a "lumpy meat" version (must copyright the name while I think on) might be nice. However I was persuaded to try a nice beef stew with dumplings, and this one came courtesy of that nice Mr James Martin.

While the stew was, er, stewing, I took the opportunity to give the lawn a last (?) trim before the raw winter sets in. When the weather is like this, it is too good an opportunity to turn down. Looking at a raggy lawn all winter is not good for the soul.....or the lawn.

After tea (that's the early evening meal oop north) we had some splendid news from the far north (Keswick). After losing dear Pouncer in the summer, we are finally just weeks away from adopting two new cats.

It has seemed very odd not having a cat in the house, having had the company of Apple, Mac and Pouncer over the last 20 years. So it looks like we'll be picking up Poussey and Boo when we come back from the Lake District in a couple of weeks.

Poussey is the grey and white female, and Boo the black male. Sweet or what? Not having had kittens for so long, we now have to do some research into what we need to do to make them safe and welcome.

So that was a VERY nice way to end what had been a productive day. Thanks to Phil and Julie Mann for helping that happen.

And so to explain the numbers above.

Having been an intermittent cyclist over the last few years - commuting to work a couple days a week, the odd weekend jaunt - this year has seen an increase in the number of miles I've been doing. Partly to prepare for a Coast to Coast ride, but also it became clear that I was probably going to have some form of treatment and that it would benefit me if I could increase my fitness. Just last week I was looking at the 'history' on the app I use to track my cycling, and noticed that I wasn't far off 1000 miles for the year. Now for most keen cyclists this isn't a huge amount but looked like an interesting figure to hit.

I set out today knowing that I needed about 16 miles to hit 1000 for the year. The route took me to Alderly Edge, which is where the second number comes in. The B5087 is the road that takes you from Alderly Edge to Macclesfield. The first bit is VERY steep, taking you up to the "Edge" of Alderly Edge, and I'd vaguely thought about trying to go up it in the past. Today seemed like a good time to give it a go. I had hoped to make it up in one go. No stopping. But unfortunately about 100 yards from the top, I simply ran out of puff.

Here's a target for next year when I'm back to some semblance of full fitness.

Sill, I eventually made it, carried on to Macclesfield, and back via Tytherington, a flapjack stop in Prestbury, Adlington and back to Wilmslow. Just short of 23 miles to give a grand total for the year of 1007.4 Lets see how far I can extend that over the next few months.

Yay me.

Today's flapjack was a Holland and Barrett Cappuccino one (there's a Date and Walnut one left in the cupboard). Now I like both flapjacks and cappuccino, and while this wasn't foul, I'm not sure I'd have one again. A touch too sweet. Yesterdays was a plain one from B&M bargains in Wythenshawe. I think I got four for a little over £1 so wasn't expecting much, but it was edible and gave me that energy boost to get me home.

Before I sign off today, I thought I'd tell you about my latest cycling related injury which I picked up a couple of weeks ago. At work we have a neat little changing room with three shower cubicles, some lockers, benches and a heated towel rail. I was drying off after my post commute shower - worrying as I often do about what to do if the fire alarm went off while I was in the buff - and leant over to dry between my toes when suddenly I felt this searing pain.

I now have a long red scar where my buttock came into contact with the heated towel rail - which was set to "nuclear".

I hope to give you a blog tomorrow, but maybe off my tits on dexamethsone, a steroid which is designed to counteract some side effects of the chemo, so don't set your heart on it.

Tomorrow is a pre-chemo visit to the Christie to have my bloods tested and for them to discuss with me the weeks ahead. Thursday 9am is my first chemo session.

This is a blog user ID I set up donkeys years ago and failed to do anything with. What a great idea to restart it and do more nothing with it.

Anyway, Rupert Ritzik was a character from the Sgt Bilko Show, if you were wondering.

This week is the week that I start my chemo treatment and many people have asked me to let them know how it's going. Makes sense to do this using a blog. Maybe it will make me more disciplined about updating the stupid thing. We'll see.

I would warn you that not everything is going to relate directly to the treatment. So you may need to plough through reams and reams of nonsense before you get anything vaguely useful. I'd also caution you against thinking you'll find the meaning of life here too. If I knew what it was I'd serialise it in the daily mail.

So what's been happening today?

Well the paper was delivered. Not momentous you may think. If you ignore the BBC and the NHS, one of the things I think is civilised about this country is the delivery of a daily newspaper, and the delivery of milk, to our doorstep. Our newspaper delivery, however, has been particularly pants over the last few months. Very erratic. It got so bad that on Saturday I went to the paper shop and cancelled the delivery.

Of course it's quite timely that I'll be at home for the next few months so I can add collecting the newspaper into my daily routine.

When I came back from the paper shop and told Gel I'd canned the delivery, I jokingly said that I expected to see the paper in the porch on Monday.....and there it was. I now have further evidence - if I needed it - that they are proper hopeless.

Having taken the paper back to the shop, I set off on a morning bike ride. The first 100 yards along the new tarmac on Chapel Lane. They spent Saturday scraping the old stuff off, and Sunday laying some lovely new smooth black top.

Then out along the country lanes of North Cheshire. Round the outside of Tatton Park, through Knutsford, up towards Holmes Chapel but veering off just before and hurtling through Goostrey, past the magnificent Lovell Radio Telescope at Jodrell Bank, past Clonter Opera, the birds at Redesmere, Alderly Edge and home. 35.27 miles. 2158 calories burned (although a large flapjack probably replaced much of that).

It was a beautiful warm, sunny autumn morning. A real treasure.

Out by Goostrey I came across this fellow sitting on the tarmac at the side of the road.

He seemed stunned - didn't object too much to me picking him up - and didn't seem to have any obvious injuries so I guess he might have been hit by a car and was, literally, just a bit stunned.

He was in danger of being squished where he was sitting so I moved him (her?) into what I thought was a safer location. I hope it was just a bit stunned and is now safely returned to it's Monday.

I've wandered into town after my ride and will collect the rest of the ingredients for a beef stew and dumplings.

I'm hoping to get out for another ride tomorrow morning, and there ought to be a special magic number to report on......that's a teaser to make you come back tomorrow and read more of this nonsense.