Rugby

And so it goes on. Tracey should be about as low as it gets and she looks like she may be coming out of the other side of this chemo session. Still a bit too early to tell if she will get through this bit without infection.

Adam has a cold so has been put in Tinsley isolation. That is not quite as bad as it sounds as it involves telly and Doritos in bed followed by a day off school. Granny is still here pandering to the patients every need and keeping her pecker up. Olivia decided to spend most of the day home which was"boring, all they do is sit down and talk or watch telly". She has now gone down to the pub with her friends. There is a threat of another piercing from the girl, this is being resisted at the highest level, but she is 18........

Vaughan and I went on a magical mystery tour today. It started with a trip to North Dorset Rugby club for an under 16 match this morning, the ground is near Gillingham. Very nice place, Very big defeat (74-7). We went with the bare 15, had 4 injuries and had to borrow some of their players just to get to the end. Still nice cup of tea and bacon roll. Vaughan now sports just the start of a black eye, I hope the girls notice it, it's nice having a warrior in the family.

We raced off after the match to catch the Cornish Pirates vs Bristol at the Memorial stadium. Bit of a drive and a bit of a rush. We arrived and parked in plenty of time and enjoyed the match. Sadly a 21-7 defeat for the boys. While we were there a 2mtre section of metal was knocked off the terraces by the ball and nearly landed on the people next to us. Luckily the club were able to get the accident book out so that won't be a problem in the future. Finally we drove home in time for a bumper Lamb Sunday roast cooked by Granny. We happily stood in the terraces, Vaughan wearing a Pirates shirt right in the middle of the Bristol fans, I shouted and abused the Bristol players and the ref. All was taken good heartedly. And that was today.

Yesterday Adam was at a friends house for most of the day and I spent 2 hour giving Livi a driving lesson. It's not a real lesson. I sit in the car while she drives around, doing the occasional manoeuvre. Fun and frightening all at the same time.

Of course the big news of the weekend is the election of Ed Miliband as Labour leader and the next Prime Minister. Vive la revolution! Come on Red Ed!

Thinking about all that is happening at the moment I have become a now sort of person. I never was a planner, I never thought through the consequences of much that I did and now I do it even less. I hope this will continue once my old dear is better and firing on all cylinders

Speaking of which I don't think we thank you all enough for the comments and support, so thank you. xxx

Chris x

4 days in

You might have guessed from the lack of Tracey blog that she has been feeling less than well for the last few days. The extra anti-sickness pills have stopped her climbing up the wall but she still has not been well. She is back on the upslope of recovery and I expect her to start up her blog again soon. I shall leave the rest to her.

Meanwhile I have been dragged out of the house by my boys over the weekend. Firstly Adam took me out on a bike ride, this took me down to Semington, along the canal to Bowerhill and back home. Any bike ride deserves a good cake and this was no different.

Blackcurrant and cream

After the cake we came to a spot on the canal where I took a picture of Adam and recreated it. We tried to pose many of the things we had last time in the same position as before. Unfortunately I couldn't get up high enough to take the picture at the same angle. See what you think about the changes 3 years can make.



 

2010

 

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Still a handsome chap I'm sure you will agree.

Also it was Vaughan's first rugby match of the season on Sunday at Bradford on Avon. Lets just say they didn't win but at least it was a chance for me to talk to the parents again. There is nothing quite like a cup of tea, a bacon roll and a chin wag to start a Sunday morning. This started with a very friendly mixed training session with the lads from both sides training together and ended with the occasional fight breaking out on the rugby field. It was the first time the lads had to use lifting in the lineout and Vaughan was playing at prop. Great fun.

Vaughan is in there somewhere.

Bye Bye Chris x

Chemo 2, the sequel

Well Friday was the day, the return to the chemo suite. Same chemo again plus 2 new drugs to help with sickness and white blood cell count. As usual when Tracey has recovered enough she will give you a full run down of the day. From my viewpoint, fat, mid 50's, fairly healthy, the day was better than the first time. We knew what to expect, we had our books and even managed a laugh with the nurses. The first chemo chemical is almost exactly the same colour as Iron Bru which had our two Scottish nurses waxing lyrical about all the bright orange things they eat and drink north of the border.

I had to do a bit of running around this time so I was sort of involved. Tracey devoured the two Ice lollies (both lemon) far too quickly so, as they won't give her a third, I had to go and get cold water for her, twice. I also had to get the concessionary parking tickets and get her new meds, these include a syringe so Trace had to be shown how to inject her self in her stomach. More holes. So it was a busy little me for a while. And then it was over, we now wait to see if the extra anti-sickness tablets help and hope she does not become neutropenic again.

Friday was Vaughans birthday. There always seems to be something happening on his birthday to just take the spotlight off him, no change this year. He has a nice selection of presents and money and is waiting for his new season Cornish Pirates top. As a special the family, including granny who is staying, went to Ocean Pearl in Bath for his birthday meal. A real treat as usual followed by a birthday cake at home. I hope he had a good day.

Finally I cannot describe to you how disappointed I am at Somersets final loss of the season, it has been their best ever and worse ever season all in one. I never want to go through this again. Roll on next season when we shall win everything.

Rugby this morning and granny should be coming. I hope none of them hurt Vaughan as they will be in real trouble if they do. I cannot be held responsible for her actions.

Chris x

Brace yourself

Not all days are hospital days, some days are dentist days, today was one of those. Today is a day that Adam has been waiting for for 2 years, the braces came off. I had to spend the day in Bath with Adam as we had a 9:40 appointment and a 15:00 appointment at Bath orthodontics.

Firstly I took Vaughan to school and Adam wasn't ready when I got back, no surprise there. As soon as he got dressed I took a picture.



Braces on



The last morning with Ironwork top and bottom.

We raced to Bath and just got there in time. Then I had to wait. Actually it was a bit better than that as some old football friends of mine Sara and James were there with both their sons, one was having teeth done and the other was recovering from eating road after falling off his bike. I was good to talk Sara is just funny and I used to really enjoy my little constitutionals with James around the football field. We had a laugh and an update and they were gone too soon.

Well I didn't have to wait long, he soon came out, I know this is what you want to see so here it is.



Metal off



He ran outside for the picture and sprinted to the car, chewing gum 5 pulse tropical. he was to have four during the day. So we parked up in Bath ready for a boys shop. Firstly it was a cup of tea for me and a coke for Adam, without a straw, another first for 2 years, thank you cafe Nero.

Bath was full and bustling, brilliant in the sunshine. We headed off down town with presents in mind as it is Vaughans birthday tomorrow. As a "treat" I took Adam pass the Rec just so he could worship at the feet of Bath rugby. On the way there we saw David Flatman in a cafe near the ground, starstruck I had to walk pass 3 times just to make sure it was him. When we got to the ground the gates were open and we peered in. One of the players then invited us in so I took a couple of pictures in the ground. Brill



The sweet taste of coke

And then we shopped, up and down, down and up. In a shop out of a shop. Clothes shopping, book shopping electric shopping. Just enough time for a genuine Bath pasty a visit to the Apple shop then back to the dentist. It didn't take long to get the retainers which he has to sleep in each night and then home. It was a good day but now I am tired.




Dad I don't like Rugby



Still don't like it

I will end today on a sad note. Once again my beloved Somerset have been cheated of a trophy at the last moment. The elements that have been kind conspired to bite them in the bum and yet again the county championship eludes them, there's always next season.

No one really needs reminding but it is chemo tomorrow. It was nice to have a break today.

Chris x

Hospital time

Yet more hospital time, I think I should start keeping an RUH tally. I should make a chart of our hospital activities. The chart will consist of:

• How many visits?
• How many hours sat waiting?
• Number of visits per type, blood, chemo, ill?
• How many cups of tea, free, paid for?
• How much money spent on parking?
• How many attempts at getting blood, by nurses, by doctors?
• How many wigs sighted, how many headscarves, how many commando?
• How many nurses?
• Does Tracey feel any better after the visit?

Today was "bloods day" in advance of"chemo day" and not to be confused with "I don't feel well" day. "Bloods day" is a day to get the blood checked out to make sure that we can go ahead with "chemo day" and hopefully not fall in to the trap of "I don't feel well day". I'm sure Trace will fill you in with details.

From my viewpoint hospital is a lovely drive over Landsdown, past the racecourse, a view of both Severn bridges over to South Wales. This is followed by a slight panic as we look for parking, I always think we are late. Then its up to 2 hour traipsing around after Trace being supportive but not in a recognisably useful way. After that we walk back to the car and do the reverse journey. At the end of it I think we have moved forward but I'm not sure by how much, sometimes I think we we have crabbed sideways.

I am sort of in a routine with it, its easy for me. I am not being pricked with sharp objects. I am not feeling sick. I am not being pumped full of obnoxious chemicals. My hair is unusually luxuriant for someone of my advanced years. Its take 5-6 pints of Stella to make me feel nauseous. My urine doesn't change colour after the hospital visit. My main problem is trying to balance work with home. It may surprise some of you but I actually do care about work. I care about getting it done, I care about hitting deadline (yes we have deadlines in the public sector), I care about not letting my colleagues down. It is hard at the moment and I welcome the help and leeway that work are giving me.

So now we wait for Traceys mum to arrive. Back to a tidy house and square meals. Adam has his braces out tomorrow, a landmark day. This will give Trace and Brenda some time on their own. Friday is Vaughans birthday, there is rising excitement. Livi has started back at college and I am not sure how much she is enjoying it. It will take time to get back in to it, perhaps she will find a sense of purpose.

As for me, well all is fine as long as my Trace is fine and when she isn't she can lean on me.

Chris x

Just another day

One of the worse problems I have is that I don't sleep very well when Tracey is away (or I am away from her). Don't know why, must be the lack of company. Six days in hospital has meant increasing tiredness for me. This has only just started to go away with the weekend. By Monday I will be back to my bouncy self, sadly then I have to go to work.

It's been a funny few days. Tracey is back and we seem to be in a sort of routine, a good one. There is regular food and regular Tracey, both of which are good for me and the kids, work has been OK. The one big event has been the haircut. She is a very brave girl and can pull of the look with ease. She has talked about it on her blog and has the pictures on display, another brave move. I was surprised when she said lets do it, but it was the right move, strands of hair everywhere are messy and would have been a sort of disaster for her. A constant reminder of where she is. This new look is ready for regrowth whenever it will come. Also you can't see the grey.

If there are any of you who don't read her blog, this is how she now looks.

Now that's a look, the dimples are back and the smile lights the room. To embellish the look I have purchased a hat and a couple of pairs of dangly earrings which she has always liked. Unfortunately the hat did not pass the quality test so will never be seen in public, unless I wear it. The earrings however are go and may feature in future blogs.

We have had some welcome visitors today in Tracey's dad David and his wife Heather. We got Trace out to a farm shop, Hartley's at Winsley and had a Waitrose Indian for tea. We will see them again tomorrow and hope to out again.

This is only a short blog as I have had a couple of beers for the first time in a long while and am starting to feel mellow, tired. I may have to go to bed soon.

A final word, well done Somerset, another final, perhaps we will win this one.

I leave you today with some pictures of family life life that I enjoy and a picture I am particularly proud of.

Happy families at West Bay

My most scarey boat trip

Enjoying the walk on Exmoor

Sunset on Weston beach

Can I have some money daddy?

It's always nice to indulge yourself at the end.

Chris x

She's back

She is home. I picked her up from hospital late this afternoon after waiting all day and now she is settled in a chair reading her book "The girl with the dragon tattoo".

I think she is in shock, nothing prepares you for how loud we are as a family, the kids were so excited I had to go and sit in the garden and make a few phone calls just to get away from the noise. And there was laughter, uncontrolable laughter as Vaughan accompanied his Ipod and the Gypsy Kings singing Volare in pigeon Spanish. I was cooking at the time and entered the room to find Tracey clutching her stomach with pain as she laughed so much.

So, for now we are back to whatever constitutes normal.

Chris x