Just started cycle 3!

Wednesday 28th June

My blood tests were excellent this time, with the liver function a 'normal' 17! No-one seems to know what it actually means: maybe the healthy part of my liver is coping well with the chemicals and the tumour is being zapped? That's what we hope. After next week's session I'll have the scan which will see if the chemo really is working.. this will be a little nerve-wracking as the alternative seems to be stopping the treatment and leaving it to Nature, with pain killers! So, scan on the 10th and see the oncologist on the 17th for the results.

Anyway, all went well today. The line went in first shot, which is always an encouraging sign. It was raining outside so we felt happy in our little room. Geoff  worked and I dozed (well I did not sleep well the previous night and it is very soporific having all sorts of stuff pumped into your right arm for five plus hours). Oddly I have not have what Phil calls my 'chemo high' this time; my liver area feels tender and I just feel tired.

Thursday 29th
A good night's sleep sorted that out and I really enjoyed a good natter over a pub lunch with two friends today.

Friday 30th
We packed quite a lot into my week off so it was fortunate that I felt much better than I did during my previous break. I only had one attack of liver area pain, on the last Monday evening, when we were actually staying up in London for Geoff's Fellows Dinner at Kings. Took a painkiller and had a nap. I thought a walk would help so pottered down to Burger King to treat myself to the cheese burger which I had been fancying for weeks. I took it to Trafalgar Square to enjoy while watching the tourist world go by... very disappointing, and I binned the chips.

We did, however, both enjoy High Tea at Browns Hotel on Tuesday afternoon, before we drove home. The service was impeccable, the dainties abundant and delicious and the ambience of the tea room charming with wood pannelling and comfy seats.

Of course we earned this after a day at the British Museum, which was packed with tourists avoiding the rain. We particularly wanted to see the delightful Hokusai (Old Man Crazy to Paint) exhibition, he who planned to live until at least 110, convinced his skills would be at their peak by then. He 'only' made 90 and it is hard to imagine he could have got much better.

The previous day we went to the Queen's Gallery to see the Canaletto Exhibition, which was also excellent and much less crowded. George 111 in the early 1760s bought up the huge collection of his honorary consul to Venice, Joseph Smith, who patronised Canaletto and his contemporaries whose work appealed particularly to touring ex-pats. So the royal collection has a wonderful range from the large canvas views, to smaller lively depictions of antiquities to delightful drawings.

Of course our main expedition was to Amsterdam for three nights, where we were hosted by Thalys and the Dutch Navy. We stayed at the new Movenpick which is right on the water next to the Cruise Terminal. So we had great views of the water, islands and ferries. And on the last evening, I watched a terrific thunderstorm with lots of dramatic lightning. The first day was really hot so while Geoff was conferencing I spent time, of course, at the Rijksmuseum, renewing acquaintance with some of my fav paintings in the beautifully spruced up warren of galleries. The main improvement is the decoratively glassed in big courtyard, providing meeting and eating places, shops and ticketing, and of course what is most usually needed, dry and warm access to galleries. Far too much to see in one go but an interesting challenge.

In the evening we had a very jolly and boozy canal boat cruise for our group of about 40. Everyone in Amsterdam appeared to be out enjoying the exceptional weather so the scenes were very lively in the light evening. For our starter we moored at an old and very exclusive hotel where we were given a delicious selection of fishy dishes, including raw herring prepared before us. For our main course and pud, another character hotel, and more excellent food. Good thing my appetite was functioning that night! And all surrounded by the endlessly fascinating canalside towers, churches and very variable old houses and warehouses. Like Venice, many buildings are sinking as the supporting timbers are rotting so they lean, sideways like drunks or sometimes forwards in a tottering way!

The following day Geoff went off on a long day's tall ship trip and visit to the old Dutch Naval College for presentations and receptions. I enjoyed a leisurely visit to the flower market  (mainly bulbs these days for tourists), some cheese tasting (good strong cheeses, a world away from Edam) and sitting outside a coffee shop, eating pancake and drinking iced tea, watching the world go by and writing postcards. Very relaxing.

Our return journey was a near disaster, as the airport was solid queues and barely controlled chaos. And when it was time to board our plane, we were informed that several planes had been damaged by lightning the previous day and our designated plane was smaller..so 40 people had to be put on a (much) later flight. Of course our names were on the list (no idea how they choose). We did get lucky, though, by playing the chemo card, and were given the last 2 seats on the plane, in business class! Bonus!

Enough of my reminiscences. Will try and write more often and more briefly. 

Never good with numbers...

I always check my writing for typos and spelling blips so was ashamed to realise I let a number error through last time. The liver function blood test spiked from a nice low 30 to horridly high 300 (not 700!) The good news this week is that it is back down to a good 45 so yesterday I both chemicals... we are now waiting to see what happens in the next week off.

So I have now finished my second (of six) chemo cycles and as a rather exciting act of faith we've booked flights for Amsterdam on Tuesday for three nights! Geoff will be involved in a conference and I'm really looking forward to visiting the revamped Rijksmuseum. The cat won't be happy but she does have a nice sunny conservatory to luxuriate in. Our wonderful European Health Insurance will cover me, for now, until the politicians get stuck into all their nonsense.

This week has been different as Phil took over the carer's role when Geoff reluctantly departed for Newport RI! Actually he thoroughly enjoyed the change, was offered a job, found the conference most stimulating, met lots of old friends and in particular was looked after in the evening by our old friends the Hattendorfs. Mind you, this evening he is shattered. Early night, but only after he has been out with a torch to pick up the slugs which are eating his veg!

As for me I really enjoyed time with Phil. We talked about all sorts of things, even what I want at my funeral! No idea, won't be for years... We went to Avebury to visit the Manor, I had my hair done (I may not lose my hair!), we walked to the canal and sorted out an invasion of ants in the conservatory as well as the unexpected visit by a hornet, who didn't like being stuck indoors (a cobweb mop caught him up and popped him out). He was BIG! Very usefully she tackled my pile of ironing.

So all is ticking over here. Tomorrow I visit the dentist who promises to restore my old, broken crowned front tooth - so I can smile again without looking like an old hag.

A mixed two weeks....

Once again thank you to everyone sending love and encouragement. I have needed all the support as the last two weeks have been disappointing. I was hoping for a pleasant week off from chemo but sadly I didn't feel so good with some real discomfort in the liver area and general feeling of exhaustion, dodgy digestive system and temperature control.

The blood test before the beginning of the second cycle on Wednesday explained it all. The original liver blood reading before the first chemo started was 70, which went down to a healthier 30 before the second chemo session. Sadly the the opposite occurred this week with a spike to 700! This apparently is a sign of an inflamed liver irritated by the chemical gemcitabine so in my session this week I only had the other chemical (cisplatin). Another blood test next week will see how my poor old liver is coping.

Other more interesting things,however, have been going on in the last 2 weeks. Beth and Chrissie visited first, and C came again before going off to the Isle of Skye for Greenpeace boat training. He has been headhunted for another fund raising job, which he is considering. He still has plenty of energy left from his very busy life to mow grass here! He and Beth are keen gardeners in their Walthamstow patch so there is a certain amount of father/son rivalry. Best of all is quality time with each of them to talk and listen.

 Phil and family came next when Barney got back from his end of SATS/ end of primary school camp on the Isle of Wight. It was half term so they were able to stay a few days of pretty miserable weather. Still, being into survival techniques, they spent a lot of time making camp in the wood as well as helping Grandpa in the veg garden and enjoying the big old tractor mower. Phil is ace at bureaucracy and form filling in and is coming next week to look after me when Geoff goes to his Newport RI conference. The 'children' feel a break will do him good so have bullied him into it.

Our third lot of visitors brought some really exciting news: an engagement! Si and Ruth are getting married later this year. We are all thrilled. They are very happy together and make a lovely couple. Exact date and kind of wedding to be announced but it will be small, family and two lots of friends. They want something a little offbeat and quirky...  Watch this space. We of course celebrated with an excellent meal at a nearby village pub restaurant which specialises in fresh daily seafood from St Mawes. Superb. I must just mention my starter of juicy ripe figs stuffed with goats cheese and wrapped with parma ham. Inspired.

So you see I'm still enjoying eating, though quantity is down. And as it is the Open Garden season we are going to see what other people's gardens are like. Thursday, the day after chemo, I felt fine so we had quite a busy day: voted of course, then went on a Wiltshire Victoria County History jolly to Odstock Manor, near Salisbury, a most interesting old house with a long history still being unravelled, in part from the 16th century with all sorts of changes right up to the present day of a charming tower cupola. We enjoyed the gardens and then were given tea and free range of the whole house and their art collection. Fascinating.

In the evening we went to see a show, part of the Devizes Arts Festival which had rave reviews last year at Edinburgh, 'Austentatious'. As the audience enters the space they are invited to suggest a title for a possible play. From this undoubtedly motley collection, the young company of six choose one on which to improvise... 'Charlotte the Siren of Devizes'.. lots of local and of course Jane Austenish references. Very lively and funny.

A quiet weekend for once for Geoff to prepare his paper and for us visit some local open gardens. I shall have to keep my mouth closed for the week as one of my front teeth, an old crown, broke off, 4 o'clock Friday, classic inconvenient time. As if I didn't have enough to trouble me.. the dentist doesn't have a big enough slot for root canal until next Friday!