Monday 22nd October

Monday 22^nd October

Despite the miserable weather I managed to enjoy myself this weekend, starting with a dog walk around St Catherine’s on Saturday morning. I let Jessie off along the breakwater as there were only a few random fishermen about, anyway it’s not my fault she ate their squid bait…….

Whizzed around doing housework before Ransoms and shops and visiting friends, a hurried lunch as hubby and I had to be at the Petanque on the Village Green as we were ‘entertaining’ a group of people from the parish of St Brelade. We played a few different formats before going into the Public Hall for a beautifully laid out afternoon tea! Delicious as it was we couldn’t stay long as we had to walk the dog again! This time along Grouville beach, the tide was right out so plenty of space to splash about (that’s us not her).

I had just started the ironing in the evening when my sister-in-law turned up and offered to continue (how could I refuse?) in exchange for tea and cake! 

 On Sunday a walk in the woods was my first activity, the rest of the family went to the Young Farmers Breezing Competition in Trinity (breezing=shallow ploughing), except DL that had to be at work at 8.30am.

Whilst they were standing in a muddy field, looking at ploughs and furrows, drinking pumpkin soup and troughing bacon rolls, (courtesy of AL) I was doing my keep fit class and playing an hour of tennis! Congratulations to son JL who actually won the competition, (that’s another shield to engrave and polish)!! 

I really wanted Jessie to explore the west of the island so we went to Grosnez, (yes all the way out there!), and meandered along the cliff path for an hour.

I had a terrible night’s sleep Sunday night, mostly I think due to anxiety, as last Friday I was told of the clinic appointment today, and the strong possibility I would have the CT results.

This morning I had a long dog walk suitably attired with a fluorescent jacket over my dark clothes, still saw one or two cars with no lights on through the murk of the fog.

 Didn’t go to Aqua aerobics as the need for food shopping was just too great, that took most of the morning!

 Drove down to the hospital at 2.15pm and hubby met me down there, which was just as well as absorbing lots of information is not my strong point (actually absorbing ANY information!)

The results of the blood test were really good, a significant improvement even from Friday’s tests, my haemoglobin has gone up to 11.1, and my white cells are 3.41, neutrophils 2.06, plus clotting platelets fairly stable at 195.

And, after a lengthy explanation from DR H and a look back at my previous scans, it would seem that there is no change. I still have some residual (?) enlarged nodes, both in my abdomen and right armpit. The ones in my abdomen could just be scarring from the operation (I’d like to think that). The ones in my armpit could have been there all my life- a recent mammogram has proved negative (stop laughing, negative for tumours not negative because I have no chest).

To sum up, I think that generally the news is good, but I am not cracking open any bottles of champagne yet until the Marsden have looked at all the results and responded. My CA125 seems to have remained at 6, which is brilliant, and bloods will be checked again on 5^th November at clinic.

It’s going to be a bit of an emotional week all told, sadly I have my friends mum’s funeral tomorrow, and then son DL has a funeral of his good friends mum on Wednesday.

 My very good friend SC who I have known for 26 years is heading off to pastures new, I know I’ll still see her, but it’s not quite the same as being able to pop down the road!

I do have my brother and sister-in-law arriving tomorrow afternoon for 4 days, so there will be plenty of walks and laughter (he mostly laughs at me not with me!) 

I played badminton ladies doubles this evening, and had some fantastic close games with long rallies.

  

Next update Friday night ....

 

   “Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on, and cherished memories never fade because a loved one’s gone. Those we love can never be more that a thought apart. For as long there is a memory, they’ll live on in our hearts.” - Author Unknown