Living in the same house as cancer: Big Ted

I had one of my moments today, a really big one. Ah he's forgotten someones name, a birthday or his wedding anniversary, you are all thinking. A good guess because I am sure I have forgotten most of those things in my time. It took me a good few years to get Tracey's birthday fixed in my mind and she is able even now to make me go cold by throwing out a plausible but incorrect date. Names, well don't even bother telling me because it just doesn't stick, in it goes, out it comes. I am the one that you see staring at women's chests at conferences, because I can't remember their names, for no other reason than that (and that's my story and I am sticking to it). As for wedding anniversaries, well I pulled a trick there, we got married on North Petherton Carnival day, 7th November, I always remember that one.

No it was for none of the above, today Livi made my heart beat with a pride that only parents can understand. Let me explain.

Most of you will remember from previous blogs that my daughter, off her own back, did some charity fund raising for the RUH in Bath. She raised a huge amount of money. Due to bad weather and other unforeseen circumstances chances to hand this money over had been missed. Well today I took my daughter in to the hospital with me to meet the local fund raising people and to hand over the money. As an added bonus I was able to bring some money that my workmates had raised as part of our annual Christmas draw. Between us we had £792, that is £672 from Olivia's efforts and £120 from me (yes I claim it!). Olivia's money has gone towards the Breast unit and mine (for yes it is now mine) has gone towards a new Gamma ray camera for Oncology which I believe is used for internal body imaging and importantly for the people who raised it is used on both males and females. (Yes I know both men and women can get breast cancer but it is usually seen as a women thing.)

We sat down and talked with Jo from the Forever Friends appeal. She seemed genuinely impressed with how Olivia had gone about her business, how she had set it all up, cajoled shop keepers in to providing prizes, nagged her friends in to helping and raised such a large amount in such a short time. And all the while, with an ever widening grin I was thinking, that's my little girl that is. Perhaps the next stage for Livi is event organising, anybody need a garden party planned?

So there we are the chat is over and we are ready for the pictures. "Would you like your pictures taken with Big Ted?" That seemed like a photo opportunity not to be missed so I said yes, imagine my surprise when this huge Teddy bear walked in to the room and my even bigger surprise when my big scary 18 year old daughter said "daddy I don't like it" and moved behind me. Remember this is someone on an animal management course. Big scary, hairy spider - Yes! Lady in a big Ted outfit - Run for your life! Anyway publicity pictures must be taken so here we are.

Can you see the fear in her eyes? Notice which one of us is getting a big cuddle and which one is ready to run. So there we are, perhaps we will start a little more fundraising at some point in the future.

Of course it's not just my baby girl who can set my heart pounding. Adam has taken part in a video with a couple of friends from school. He acts his little heart out all the way through and it plays to his strengths. The video is very competently made and has now been widely shown to his year group. Another great Tinsley moment. And we have a copy. Other copies available for the usual fee.

I don't want Vaughan to miss out this family love-in but it has been a bit of an uneventful week for him. Next time I shall tell you about his hat trick of tries against as of yet unnamed opponents.

I have another important development in Tinsley life. This week was of course Tracey's CT scan. This great event took place on Valentines day at 7pm. The hospital room was full of people drinking lots of fluid. We had to get there 45 minutes before the scan and Tracey drunk lots of water. After being butchered yet again when putting a cannula in her arm the scan was done, we await the results.

I took the day off and we shopped, at last we managed to get a good jacket for Tracey, lots of walks are now lined up. After our shop we went to a restaurant called Made by Bob for lunch. The food was very good, Tracey had rib eye steak and I had stewed cuttlefish and yes it was wonderful.

Finally I have taken a few pictures of Tracey's new hair, I just want to show you all how beautiful she looks.