Our patient is doing very well you will be pleased to hear. I went in at 10pm last night to see him, had thought he might be back on the ward by then but he was still in Recovery, I asked if I could see him briefly in there and they said that was fine, ended up staying there for 3 hours till 1am :-)
Was preparing myself for him to look pretty rough and groggy but he was the complete opposite, for a start he was awake and compis mentis he recognised me right away even without his glasses and he looked remarkably clam and relaxed. He was the only one there and was being very well looked after by the two nurses, he had not had a pre-med which was why he was so awake I think, said he had pains when they brought him round but the self administered Morphine was doing the trick, he was pumping away at it but it's great as he can't overdose because if he pumps it too much he just falls asleep..unfortunately they denied my request to take one home for myself :-( He had numerous tubes going in and out of just about everywhere, think I counted about 9 but was very comfortable, his mouth was completely dry as he is still not allowed to take any fluids orally so they had to moisten his lips and tongue with a giant Q tip this made it a bit hard for him to talk but he was very alert, making the nurses laugh and asking me to bring stuff in for him for tomorrow, we eventually packed him all up and wheeled him back to the ward at 1am back to his same room on C2, they made him comfortable and I said good night about 1:30 the nurse would be then checking on him every hour so hopefully he has had a decent night's sleep.
I'll be back there at lunchtime to see him, he does have his mobile phone with him so if you want to text him feel free I'm sure he'd love to hear from you. Or some people have asked for the hospital address which is
Ward C2 Room3
Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital
Aldermaston Road,
Basingstoke,
Hampshire,
RG24 9NA
I can also print off any emails that you send to take in for him to read.
Saturday 27 November 2010
Friday 26 November 2010
Success
Hi Everyone
Been a long day ! Just had a call from Tom Cecil the surgeon, was a long day for him as well so he was pretty brief on the phone.
Operation was a success, no complications, no unexpected surprises.
Brian will be in recovery now for a few hours, I will call the ward later on and see if I can call in and see him when he's back on the ward which may be around 10pm or later
Been a long day ! Just had a call from Tom Cecil the surgeon, was a long day for him as well so he was pretty brief on the phone.
Operation was a success, no complications, no unexpected surprises.
Brian will be in recovery now for a few hours, I will call the ward later on and see if I can call in and see him when he's back on the ward which may be around 10pm or later
1st night
Morning update. Brian had a good sleep helped by a couple of pills, he was woken at 6 to have the last dose of the jayes cleaning fluid, he's not allowed to drink anything now so was missing his morning cup of tea, the 'team' came into see him..all 10 of them !! including the top brass Prof Heald and Dr Moran, they described the operation 'easily do-able' which is nice to hear :-)
Now it's the hard part, I know you'll all be thinking of him, and thank you again for all your messages of love and support.
Now it's the hard part, I know you'll all be thinking of him, and thank you again for all your messages of love and support.
Thursday 25 November 2010
Hospital
Hi Neil here
Just a quick update on Brian's admission today, all went very well. He was initially given a bed on C3 which is the urgent admissions ward when we arrived at 3pm, but we spoke to his nurses Emma and Niki and very quickly someone came along and took us to C2, we had been told beforehand there was only a small possibility of staying on there, it is the brand new hi-tech ward, he was given his own private room, it has en-suite and is very quiet could not fault it feels like he is in a private hospital
Also could not fault the staff there, everyone we came into contact with was calm and reassuring and knew exactly what was going on..so much so his blood pressure had come down by the time I left him at 9pm. He was obviously quite anxious on the way there but we could not have been treated any better, his will be the only operation tomorrow, they will take him down around 12:30 with the op starting about 1pm so we would hope he will be back on the ward by 9 or 10pm, they will call me once the Operation is nearing completion ( approx 7pm ) , it will be a team of four operating on him, both registrars came into to see us and answered any questions we had..I was a bit concerned that one was still there working at 8pm he assured me he'd go home and get a good nights rest before tomorrow :-)
So I left him very comfortable but a bit hungry, he was going to ask for a sleeping pill to knock him out and they will be waking him at 6am to give him another dose of the cleaning agent he has to take to flush him out, I'll speak to him in the morning so will report back briefly tomorrow how he is.
Just a quick update on Brian's admission today, all went very well. He was initially given a bed on C3 which is the urgent admissions ward when we arrived at 3pm, but we spoke to his nurses Emma and Niki and very quickly someone came along and took us to C2, we had been told beforehand there was only a small possibility of staying on there, it is the brand new hi-tech ward, he was given his own private room, it has en-suite and is very quiet could not fault it feels like he is in a private hospital
Also could not fault the staff there, everyone we came into contact with was calm and reassuring and knew exactly what was going on..so much so his blood pressure had come down by the time I left him at 9pm. He was obviously quite anxious on the way there but we could not have been treated any better, his will be the only operation tomorrow, they will take him down around 12:30 with the op starting about 1pm so we would hope he will be back on the ward by 9 or 10pm, they will call me once the Operation is nearing completion ( approx 7pm ) , it will be a team of four operating on him, both registrars came into to see us and answered any questions we had..I was a bit concerned that one was still there working at 8pm he assured me he'd go home and get a good nights rest before tomorrow :-)
So I left him very comfortable but a bit hungry, he was going to ask for a sleeping pill to knock him out and they will be waking him at 6am to give him another dose of the cleaning agent he has to take to flush him out, I'll speak to him in the morning so will report back briefly tomorrow how he is.
So here we are.............
November 25th............ the day that I go into hospital for my op. Up for a nice breakfast with Neil - so no more food for sometime who knows when. A walk in the cold wrapped up warm. At 10.15pm took my first sachet of Picolax - strange how you put it in cold water and it becomes warm. This is to clear my system so I am sat here at 11.30 am waiting for something to happen. The phone has been going all morning with calls from people wishing me all the very best and that they are thinking of me. What with final packing arrangements, catching up on paperwork it has been a busy morning. Having Neil at home has been lovely as I have someone to merrily chatter away to! I am feeling surprisingly unstressed which is good! I think that I am relieved that today has arrived. The op had been hanging over my head since I was first diagnosed back in June and all through the radio/chemo treatment, the post treatment period and then researching my options. So it feels ok to be getting on with it. I know that I am going to the best place I can for the op and that means a lot in terms of how I am feeling. I know that I just have to go through this - I have no option. I find it useful to keep firmly in my mind that when I wake up from the op the tumour will no longer be inside me and that has always been the main aim of this journey. Where this journey takes me next I have no idea as I do not know what the universe has in store for me.
So we leave home for the hospital at 2.30pm - should take us 30 mins to get there. Another dose of Picolax and an evening of fun with the loo and then hopefully some sleep. While I am in hospital Neil will be sending out a progress email on Friday evening and he will also be updating this blog while I am putting my feet up!
Thanks to everyone for all your support and messages and cards wishing me all the very best of luck. I am so lucky to have such wonderful caring people in my life for which Neil & I are so thankful for. Take care and be in touch soon.
So we leave home for the hospital at 2.30pm - should take us 30 mins to get there. Another dose of Picolax and an evening of fun with the loo and then hopefully some sleep. While I am in hospital Neil will be sending out a progress email on Friday evening and he will also be updating this blog while I am putting my feet up!
Keeping Busy Part 2
This keeping busy has certainly kept me from thinking too much. I am glad that I have adopted this diversionary tactic as I get to see good friends and family and eat yummy food as well! As I will be off food after Breakfast on Thursday until who knows when I feel like I should be eating what I want and I sure have! A delicious pumpkin risotto at Carluccio’s on Tuesday with some of my PwC friends - Dennis Dawn Mel & Sharan. Thanks for lunch and it was so good to catch up with everyone. Then a family dinner with Pam Emma Luke Charlotte and Neil - and two desserts - got to get it in while I can!
An unusual activity for Wed morning - a Christmas fair at Sandown race course with Sara & Rosemary. I don't know if I have ever been to one before. It was very quiet which was good so plenty of space to wander around. I met a stall holder Jane Rafter who I had seen with her sandals product on the Dragons Den. We had an interesting conversation about her business after the show. I had seen her on a re-run and she said that it had been good for trade as their sales had gone up. Got some more Christmas presents including a Where's Wally compendium of books for Luke - which Neil & I played with later! Food made an appearance later as well as Rosemary treated me to a pub lunch. A quiet evening at home and a last sleep in my lovely comfy bed for a while!!
An unusual activity for Wed morning - a Christmas fair at Sandown race course with Sara & Rosemary. I don't know if I have ever been to one before. It was very quiet which was good so plenty of space to wander around. I met a stall holder Jane Rafter who I had seen with her sandals product on the Dragons Den. We had an interesting conversation about her business after the show. I had seen her on a re-run and she said that it had been good for trade as their sales had gone up. Got some more Christmas presents including a Where's Wally compendium of books for Luke - which Neil & I played with later! Food made an appearance later as well as Rosemary treated me to a pub lunch. A quiet evening at home and a last sleep in my lovely comfy bed for a while!!
Tuesday 23 November 2010
Keeping Busy
Now that the date for the op has been set for Friday 26 November I have a plan to keep myself busy. That way I don't get time to dwell on it and work myself up so increasing my blood pressure and also enables me to catch up with people.
To date I had lunch with Sara my lovely friend from next door. We treated ourselves to lunch at the newly opened Coworth Park - described as the 'Dorchester in the Country'. It was a very grown up place for lunch and the food was very good and a little bit different! I thoroughly enjoyed the selection of chocolates which we had even though we skipped the coffee!
My overall impression of the hotel is that the public areas like the bar and the drawing room where you would have drinks or afternoon tea were quite small - beautifully decorated and furnished. They have a fabulously expensive spa - all brand new of course and deserted! What a stunning swimming pool!
Saturday Neil and I went out to lunch at the Fox & Hounds which is right at the gate at Englefield Green to Windsor Great Park - good place for pub lunch before or after a walk in the Park and if you can borrow a dog to do so all the better as we felt a bit left out as we were the only people in the pub without one! Great Fish & Chips though and a nice pint of Brakespears!
You are getting the picture that there is nothing wrong with my appetite and some determination on my part to enjoy my food before heading for hospital food!
On Sunday, unexpectedly we could make it to the Rainbow Singer's annual choir concert of which Lynne's ( Neil's mum) is a member. It was an enjoyable evening listening to them sing some familiar songs. It made me appreciate the effort that goes into preparing for a concert that we sometimes as the audience just take for granted.The choir is made up of all retired people who spend every Friday afternoon rehearsing but I get the impression that they all have a good laugh as well.
Today was spent buying things to take into hospital with me - I think I have it all now - not quite like packing for your summer holidays but you definitely have to get organised!
Then dinner with Daughter at Cote in Richmond - caught up with her moving plans to her new apartment and plenty of laughs as always! Thanks for the puzzle books daughter guess I am going to have to learn how to do suduko!
So you see I have very little time to sit and worry which is good - plenty of time for that later in the week!!
To date I had lunch with Sara my lovely friend from next door. We treated ourselves to lunch at the newly opened Coworth Park - described as the 'Dorchester in the Country'. It was a very grown up place for lunch and the food was very good and a little bit different! I thoroughly enjoyed the selection of chocolates which we had even though we skipped the coffee!
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| Table for two at the John Campbell Restaurant - must find out who he is! |
My overall impression of the hotel is that the public areas like the bar and the drawing room where you would have drinks or afternoon tea were quite small - beautifully decorated and furnished. They have a fabulously expensive spa - all brand new of course and deserted! What a stunning swimming pool!
Saturday Neil and I went out to lunch at the Fox & Hounds which is right at the gate at Englefield Green to Windsor Great Park - good place for pub lunch before or after a walk in the Park and if you can borrow a dog to do so all the better as we felt a bit left out as we were the only people in the pub without one! Great Fish & Chips though and a nice pint of Brakespears!
You are getting the picture that there is nothing wrong with my appetite and some determination on my part to enjoy my food before heading for hospital food!
On Sunday, unexpectedly we could make it to the Rainbow Singer's annual choir concert of which Lynne's ( Neil's mum) is a member. It was an enjoyable evening listening to them sing some familiar songs. It made me appreciate the effort that goes into preparing for a concert that we sometimes as the audience just take for granted.The choir is made up of all retired people who spend every Friday afternoon rehearsing but I get the impression that they all have a good laugh as well.
Today was spent buying things to take into hospital with me - I think I have it all now - not quite like packing for your summer holidays but you definitely have to get organised!
Then dinner with Daughter at Cote in Richmond - caught up with her moving plans to her new apartment and plenty of laughs as always! Thanks for the puzzle books daughter guess I am going to have to learn how to do suduko!
So you see I have very little time to sit and worry which is good - plenty of time for that later in the week!!
Saturday 20 November 2010
Wednesday - not like any other!
Wednesday brought the pre op assessment at Basingstoke. All went well again - things do go smoothly there! I was there for 3 hours - filling in forms, being prodded and blood taken - all OK. Well apart from my blood pressure being slightly on the high side. Nothing to really worry about but surprised as usually my blood pressure has been fine. But then I am not surprised as the thought of the operation has probably not helped - especially as at 53 this is the first operation that I have had and the first stay in hospital. Think that I have done well to get to this age without having those experiences. I also suffer from white coat syndrome so when they wheel out the blood pressure machine I can feel it rising and then we get stuck in a loop where it just keeps going up - which is of course what happened. But I was told not to worry as there was no problem for the op. Needless to say I have been checking it at home and the reading has gone down - not quite to normal but getting there. I am now kick starting my meditation and breathing exercises as well as doing some Yin Yoga at home Yin Yoga is a type of yoga where you hold the poses for at least several minutes which is very relaxing and soft while stretching the connective tissue around a joint.
I was most impressed when I was at Basingstoke with my new consultant Tom Cecil. I was walking along a corridor at the hospital and I recognised him coming towards me and he stopped and asked how I was, had I had my scan and were we all set for 26th? I have only met him once and he remembered me and my details but also he has a personable side. As Mat a friend of mine commented "Sooo pleased that the Basingstoke hospital has proved to be such a good move" - and long may it continue.
Thinking that was enough excitement for one day I was surprised by the events of the afternoon. I was amazed to see an air ambulance land at the end of our road around 3.00pm.
Couldn't resist the temptation to venture out to see what was happening. Won't bore you with the details as it's all here if you want to read it. But there were a lot of people there and we then had press helicopters flying over all night and Sunningdale was on the main news broadcasts that night and not for the right reasons - the poor man who died was on the pavement for hours while they carried out the forensic investigation. Not the sort of thing you expct to happen at the end of your road !!.
I was most impressed when I was at Basingstoke with my new consultant Tom Cecil. I was walking along a corridor at the hospital and I recognised him coming towards me and he stopped and asked how I was, had I had my scan and were we all set for 26th? I have only met him once and he remembered me and my details but also he has a personable side. As Mat a friend of mine commented "Sooo pleased that the Basingstoke hospital has proved to be such a good move" - and long may it continue.
Thinking that was enough excitement for one day I was surprised by the events of the afternoon. I was amazed to see an air ambulance land at the end of our road around 3.00pm.
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| What skill to land here! |
Tuesday 16 November 2010
New Date
My latest MRI scan went well. My delightful neighbour Sara kindly joined me for the journey to Basingstoke Hospital. Arrived early and surprisingly they saw me straight away - no wait just walked straight in! Staff were friendly and quickly got me settled for the scan.What a difference this place is - I think it is jointly funded by the NHS & private health care as it was very smart and Sara was even given tea and biscuits! After the scan,I met Nikki, who is my new cancer nurse, she was waiting for me when the scan was finished. She gave me a hug asked how I was feeling and then we sat down for a chat and discussed the forthcoming new dates......
1. Pre operation Assessment where they take my blood pressure, put me on an ECG machine to check my heart, take blood samples and discuss prep for the op and it is my opportunity to ask more questions about the op and after care. This is scheduled for Wed 17 November.
2. The Operation date is provisionally booked for Friday 26 November. I will go into hospital on the Thursday afternoon.
I was impressed with how efficient they are and that within a week of changing to the hospital I have had my MRI scan and have some provisional dates this is just further proof that it is the right thing to be doing.
1. Pre operation Assessment where they take my blood pressure, put me on an ECG machine to check my heart, take blood samples and discuss prep for the op and it is my opportunity to ask more questions about the op and after care. This is scheduled for Wed 17 November.
2. The Operation date is provisionally booked for Friday 26 November. I will go into hospital on the Thursday afternoon.
I was impressed with how efficient they are and that within a week of changing to the hospital I have had my MRI scan and have some provisional dates this is just further proof that it is the right thing to be doing.
Friday 12 November 2010
Change of Plans
I am now going to have my operation at Basingstoke Hospital which is the UK Centre of Excellence for Bowel cancers such as mine. When I met the consultant at Wexham Park on the 6th he told me what he could do for me but was also happy to refer me to Basingstoke. I decided it was important to go and speak to them, so arranged an appointment last Friday but agreed beforehand to postpone my operation scheduled for 8th Nov till the 15th Nov at Wexham Pk to give me the time to digest the information from Basingstoke.
So off we went to a new hospital and met the new consultant and nurse.I was very impressed with all of them and the hospital. There was something about Wexham Park I could not quite put my finger on that left me feeling a bit uncomfortable. After listening to the new consultant and his team as well as seeing the hospital I felt that this was the right place for me. I feel that I am going to the best place for the surgery and have a confidence in this choice that I did not have in Wexham Park. So all change! They have a different less invasive approach to the operation which I believe is down to their greater levels of experience and expertise. For anyone interested this is a link to their website.
Neil has been amazing in listening to me weighing up the options and is always prepared to talk about the choices.
This means that the op will now not be until the end of the month but it is worth the wait. The cancer is very slow growing so there is no immediate rush. I will need another MRI scan to see what has happened since the last one on 30 September.
So after Oct being a crappy month (cancer wise) things are picking up and I feel a lot better. Everyone still says how well I look, I don't think they are just being kind !! I even made it to London on Wednesday for supper with Gillian which was at our favourite haunt Terroir - very French and delicious food and my energy levels are almost back to normal, going to get out in the garden to do some winter tidying up this weekend.
So off we went to a new hospital and met the new consultant and nurse.I was very impressed with all of them and the hospital. There was something about Wexham Park I could not quite put my finger on that left me feeling a bit uncomfortable. After listening to the new consultant and his team as well as seeing the hospital I felt that this was the right place for me. I feel that I am going to the best place for the surgery and have a confidence in this choice that I did not have in Wexham Park. So all change! They have a different less invasive approach to the operation which I believe is down to their greater levels of experience and expertise. For anyone interested this is a link to their website.
Neil has been amazing in listening to me weighing up the options and is always prepared to talk about the choices.
This means that the op will now not be until the end of the month but it is worth the wait. The cancer is very slow growing so there is no immediate rush. I will need another MRI scan to see what has happened since the last one on 30 September.
So after Oct being a crappy month (cancer wise) things are picking up and I feel a lot better. Everyone still says how well I look, I don't think they are just being kind !! I even made it to London on Wednesday for supper with Gillian which was at our favourite haunt Terroir - very French and delicious food and my energy levels are almost back to normal, going to get out in the garden to do some winter tidying up this weekend.
Sunday 7 November 2010
Change of Date for Operation
The date for the operation is a moving target it seems. Originally planned for tomorrow 8 November it then was pushed back a week to 15 November which I was agreeable with while I sought an opinion from a consultant at another hospital (which my consultant was happy to refer me to). It now looks like I will be changing the date again to probably the end of the month and I will let you know as soon as I have a new date. But I am completely OK with this and it is not the NHS changing the dates unnecessarily.
Thursday 4 November 2010
Paris
Well as promised - just like buses that always come along together when you have been waiting for ages - two blog entries in two days.
So Paris and Michael Buble! Rosemary is a big fan so rather than face the O2 and taking the chance of seeing him in miniature from some seats a long way from the stage we got tickets for the same price 18 rows from the front at the Bercy arena in Paris. We booked these seats in April before the cancer saga had appeared on the scene. Once it did and with the treatment plan over the following 6 months I was not sure that I would get there as I could have been recovering from the op. As luck would have it - I was able to go as there were no appointments to attend and the op date was set for after the concert!
Chris and Philip met the three of us there - they were on holiday at their house in France (where I went on holiday in Sept) and came up on the TGV.
The concert was brilliant - great seats and sound was excellent - it got even better when Mr Buble came down off the stage to sing from a small platform in the middle of the arena. Then we were only 3 rows from the front, but this was not good enough for Rosemary and Neil who were right by the stage. What a great view we all had and he sang " Home" - made me laugh when he sang the line
" In Paris & Rome....." the only difference was I did not want to go home! Michael Buble reached out and touched Rosemary's hand and engaged in eye contact - she was made up and so excited.
He is such a showman and kept us captivated all the way through and we had a great evening - one to keep in the memory bank for when I am lying around convalescing and not able to get out much. I was relieved that he did not play "Hold On" as there would have been an 'emotionally unstable' moment as it seems to get me every time.
Thursday saw us a tourists about Paris - sunny weather and a walk along the banks of the Seine. Starting at the Eiffel Tower
- past the Grand Palais and onto Musee D'Orsay where we stopped a while. A light lunch in the museum cafe and then a tour of the beautiful art What a wonderful treat - Renoir, Manet, Van Gogh, Degas Gaugin and Monets. I was able to get quite close to look at these paintings - amazing creations of light and shadow. So different from the art of Michelangelo of Rome last week, I have been so inspired by the art of these talented people I had to get the Story of Art from the library to read more about them.
Then onto to Saint Chappelle - which is the chapel of the royal family when the French had one - such beautiful stained glass windows. These are in the process of being cleaned - the newly cleaned windows are amazing while the dirty ones you can hardly make out the colours.
Dinner at Bofinger near the Bastille was a unique experience. It is an old fashioned Parisian restaurant so very french and atmospheric. Don't read the reports on Trip Advisor - we had a great evening and lovely food especially the french onion soup which was a meal in itself. Sadly Rosemary's date for the evening Mr Buble at the last moment had to cancel - but she quickly recovered with the help of a Kir Royale:-)
Friday - I had not been to Sacre Coeur so we all went - what a great view but what a desperate area it is in - not sure that I would rush back there so thanks to my 4 friends for agreeing to come.
Lunch in a wonderful French bistro in the Marais - and a decadent glass of red with lunch! Such a great finale to our trip. Neil Rosemary & I said au revoir to Philip & Chris as they were staying an extra night.
What an exciting 3 days in Paris - walking and enjoying great company and plenty of laughter. Again forgot all about the operation. It was lovely to spend such a great time with these good friends and Neil and a big big thank you for all their support over the last few months. They have always been there to listen to me - encourage me and make me smile when I have been down and respecting my need for silence when I did not feel like talking. Thanks.
So Paris and Michael Buble! Rosemary is a big fan so rather than face the O2 and taking the chance of seeing him in miniature from some seats a long way from the stage we got tickets for the same price 18 rows from the front at the Bercy arena in Paris. We booked these seats in April before the cancer saga had appeared on the scene. Once it did and with the treatment plan over the following 6 months I was not sure that I would get there as I could have been recovering from the op. As luck would have it - I was able to go as there were no appointments to attend and the op date was set for after the concert!
Chris and Philip met the three of us there - they were on holiday at their house in France (where I went on holiday in Sept) and came up on the TGV.
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| Rosemary, me, Chris, Neil & Philip |
The concert was brilliant - great seats and sound was excellent - it got even better when Mr Buble came down off the stage to sing from a small platform in the middle of the arena. Then we were only 3 rows from the front, but this was not good enough for Rosemary and Neil who were right by the stage. What a great view we all had and he sang " Home" - made me laugh when he sang the line
" In Paris & Rome....." the only difference was I did not want to go home! Michael Buble reached out and touched Rosemary's hand and engaged in eye contact - she was made up and so excited.
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| He has long arms! |
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| He did touch my hand - I am so excited!! |
He is such a showman and kept us captivated all the way through and we had a great evening - one to keep in the memory bank for when I am lying around convalescing and not able to get out much. I was relieved that he did not play "Hold On" as there would have been an 'emotionally unstable' moment as it seems to get me every time.
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| The man himself |
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| "Just haven't met you yet" boogie & sing a long! |
Thursday saw us a tourists about Paris - sunny weather and a walk along the banks of the Seine. Starting at the Eiffel Tower
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| Artistic shot in black & white |
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| Photo stop en route |
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| Stained Glass at Saint Chappelle |
Dinner at Bofinger near the Bastille was a unique experience. It is an old fashioned Parisian restaurant so very french and atmospheric. Don't read the reports on Trip Advisor - we had a great evening and lovely food especially the french onion soup which was a meal in itself. Sadly Rosemary's date for the evening Mr Buble at the last moment had to cancel - but she quickly recovered with the help of a Kir Royale:-)
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| No its not Michael Buble! |
Friday - I had not been to Sacre Coeur so we all went - what a great view but what a desperate area it is in - not sure that I would rush back there so thanks to my 4 friends for agreeing to come.
Lunch in a wonderful French bistro in the Marais - and a decadent glass of red with lunch! Such a great finale to our trip. Neil Rosemary & I said au revoir to Philip & Chris as they were staying an extra night.
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| Very French! |
What an exciting 3 days in Paris - walking and enjoying great company and plenty of laughter. Again forgot all about the operation. It was lovely to spend such a great time with these good friends and Neil and a big big thank you for all their support over the last few months. They have always been there to listen to me - encourage me and make me smile when I have been down and respecting my need for silence when I did not feel like talking. Thanks.
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Long time no hear from me..............
Apologies but a combination of not feeling like blogging, a bit of travel and being busy has left the blog feeling very neglected. There has been no updates here for you to see what was happening and some of you must be wondering what is going on. So sorry for the gap yet again!
I have a date set for the operation - Monday 15 November. I have to go in the afternoon before for all the pre-operative preparations. They advise that I will be in hospital between 7-10 days. I am planning on getting myself out of there in 7 as I want to spend the least amount of time there and come home and recuperate.
So with the date set - what to do to keep myself positive and stop the slide into the dark side happening again. After a trip to the cinema to see Eat Pray Love with Neil & Rosemary where Julia Roberts spends the Eat part of the movie in Rome chomping her way through pasta pizza and all that lovely well known Italian food sloshed down with a glass of red wine - the temptation was too great. So after discussing the benefits of said trip with Neil and encouraged by Gillian who loves Italy off I went on the 20th Oct for 3 days. The plan was for me to have a day or 2 on my own and then Neil would join me. The joys of having a partner that works for an airline is that you can act on a whim and normally get a seat on the plane without it costing you a small fortune! I had a wonderful time wandering around looking at beautiful buildings, paintings, statues and fountains as well as eating delicious food of course.
The sun shone and it was 20C - perfect for sight seeing.
St Peter's was beautiful and said a few prayers not only for me but asked for help for other loved ones that are going through a similar experience as myself.
I could hardly believe it was late Oct especially when we dined outside on 2 nights - more than we did here in the summer! It got even better when Neil joined me - we chattered our way through Rome and enjoyed ourselves so much we decided to stay an extra night:-).
I count myself very lucky to have made that trip as not only did I not think about operations, cancer et al but we had a pact not to talk about it. Call this denial I like to call a distraction. The trip has proved to be a turning point in me getting myself back into a positive frame of mind.Of course I am worried about the op - I have never been in hospital before and now I have the prospect of 3 to 5 hours of surgery. But I felt refreshed and strengthened by the experience to go onwards with this journey I find unexpectedly to be on. I feel more positive than I have felt during the rest of Oct and thanks for all your emails and calls - many of which Neil had to answer.
Then the following week the long awaited and planned since April trip to Paris happened - more in a separate blog later - but I did not think over the summer that I would be able to make it - and I did!!!
I have a date set for the operation - Monday 15 November. I have to go in the afternoon before for all the pre-operative preparations. They advise that I will be in hospital between 7-10 days. I am planning on getting myself out of there in 7 as I want to spend the least amount of time there and come home and recuperate.
So with the date set - what to do to keep myself positive and stop the slide into the dark side happening again. After a trip to the cinema to see Eat Pray Love with Neil & Rosemary where Julia Roberts spends the Eat part of the movie in Rome chomping her way through pasta pizza and all that lovely well known Italian food sloshed down with a glass of red wine - the temptation was too great. So after discussing the benefits of said trip with Neil and encouraged by Gillian who loves Italy off I went on the 20th Oct for 3 days. The plan was for me to have a day or 2 on my own and then Neil would join me. The joys of having a partner that works for an airline is that you can act on a whim and normally get a seat on the plane without it costing you a small fortune! I had a wonderful time wandering around looking at beautiful buildings, paintings, statues and fountains as well as eating delicious food of course.
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| Eat....... |
The sun shone and it was 20C - perfect for sight seeing.
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| Two old ruins......... |
St Peter's was beautiful and said a few prayers not only for me but asked for help for other loved ones that are going through a similar experience as myself.
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| Pray.... |
I could hardly believe it was late Oct especially when we dined outside on 2 nights - more than we did here in the summer! It got even better when Neil joined me - we chattered our way through Rome and enjoyed ourselves so much we decided to stay an extra night:-).
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| Love..... |
I count myself very lucky to have made that trip as not only did I not think about operations, cancer et al but we had a pact not to talk about it. Call this denial I like to call a distraction. The trip has proved to be a turning point in me getting myself back into a positive frame of mind.Of course I am worried about the op - I have never been in hospital before and now I have the prospect of 3 to 5 hours of surgery. But I felt refreshed and strengthened by the experience to go onwards with this journey I find unexpectedly to be on. I feel more positive than I have felt during the rest of Oct and thanks for all your emails and calls - many of which Neil had to answer.
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| A view to remember |
Then the following week the long awaited and planned since April trip to Paris happened - more in a separate blog later - but I did not think over the summer that I would be able to make it - and I did!!!
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