leukaemia-limbo-dance

Monday. The start of the week. And let’s hope it’s the start of a better week. I am due to be in the dentist’s chair tomorrow lunchtime, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that he’ll be able to sort me out. Not looking forward to it at all. It’s very rare that I make a visit to the dentist for an ailment – normally it’s just checks-ups and planned fillings s/he’s found – but this is different, so I am a little nervous.

We haven’t done much again today, although John has battled with installing a new motorised valve on the central heating pump. We have had warm radiators over the summer, even when the heating has been switched off, so he’s had a go at fixing it. There was a bit of puffing and panting and grumbling that he couldn’t see the finer points of the installation but, it looks like he’s done it! Mister ‘I-Will-Not-Be-Beaten‘ has done it again.

We had a drive into Kenilworth too, to drop a couple of Andrew’s suits into the cleaners. That perked John up. He’d been thinking that he might be sitting in his chair all day otherwise. And it was such a lovely day, wasn’t it? The sun was shining and it was mild. Very nice.

I did a little bit of pottering about this morning but, to be honest, any effort seems to make my tooth ache even more, rather than taking my mind off it! So I did the right thing, and sat down for a while. I think I’m beginning to turn into a couch potato………

We are not keen on our energy ebbing away, to be honest – we might, just might be feeling our age, which isn’t what we want at all. I mean, we were going to live forever, weren’t we? We weren’t going to have any of this horrible old-age lark, for sure. But here we are – doing our best, but slowing up, darn it! Or maybe I just feel like that because I haven’t felt well? That’s a nice thought – I might hang onto that.

On the COVID front, fewer people tested positive for the virus – could this be because the schools are out? Who said kids didn’t catch/transmit the disease? At the moment, most of the infections are among school-age children who then pass it to their families, I understand. Those infected numbered 36,567; deaths were 38 in the community and 21 in hospitals in the previous 48 hours. Over 1,000 people were admitted to hospital today.

Let’s keep on, keeping on, folks. Take care and God bless.

Oh, by the way, the word of the day is ‘flenching’ (19th-century Scots): promising an improvement that never quite materialises.

I was up early this morning ready for an appointment at the mobile breast screening clinic. Regrettably, when I got there, it was no-go. The generator had a mind of its own and switched itself on, then off at regular, three-minute intervals. “I am sorry,” said the nurse, “but we can’t do any x-rays until it’s sorted. Do you want to re-book?” There being no choice, all three ladies waiting, re-booked.

Home again, and a text message from the Sutton Sleaths to say that William had been poorly overnight but seemed better now, and Danielle had also been poorly. Michael felt iffy. Hmm…. I thought I’d better phone Dave and Chris. We were planning to go over for lunch, but obviously needed to let them know we’d been in contact with the dreaded lurgy. We agreed that visiting probably wasn’t the best thing to do, given the circumstances, so we postponed our visit.

John, meanwhile, having had a nice lie-in, got himself up and dressed in his best togs, before I had chance to tell him that we were staying at home. “Never mind,” he said, “probably the right thing to do.” So he’s been smart all day – which has been nice.

My intention this morning was to watch the church service. Normally it’s at 9.30, but in the newsletter that’s emailed round to us all it said the service would be available at 10.50. I assumed, therefore, that the service was at 11.00. Hmmm…. got the wrong end of the stick, I think, and it was a recording at 10.50. Ho-hum. That was alright, but the timings weren’t quite what I’d planned.

I watched it anyway and it gave me food for thought on doing our bit for climate change. Feeling a bit overwhelmed by that, though, to be honest. Still, looking on the bright side, we haven’t been using the tumble dryer because we haven’t bought a replacement hose yet. So that’s a contribution to reducing energy expenditure, isn’t it?

With our plans thwarted today, we spent the rest of the day mostly goggling the box. I had a book beside me which I read intermittently, as well – ‘Reasons to stay alive’ by Matt Haig (better than the title suggests)……… John inspected the back of his eyelids for some of the time, waking up for our evening meal, and then back to the detailed inspection of his eyelids until he perked up to watch the Grand Prix. All in all, a relaxing afternoon. Neither of us had the energy for much more. Me, with my toothache and he, with his chest.

The COVID situation continues apace with cases high in numbers. Not quite as high as recently, but still too many, and we need to be cautious – even around our loved ones, despite whatever the MPs might think.

Look after yourselves and those you love, everyone. God bless.

Well, there’s a little bit of improvement here in our household. I actually managed to get up and get a shower and wash my hair this morning. Reasonably early, too. We were due to meet the Sutton Sleaths at the house they are buying in Kenilworth. Michael wanted to measure up a few things so we took the opportunity to go with them and have a look round.

It’s a lovely house, so I am really hoping that everything runs smoothly for them. They have had a tough couple of years one way and another so it’s time for some brighter and easier times ahead.

John drove us there, as my brain was still addled with codeine, and then we all came back to our house for a cuppa and a pastry. Thomas hadn’t been very well during the week with a tummy bug, but 48 hours had passed since he’d last thrown up, so we were confident that the bugs wouldn’t be around.

I still wasn’t feeling great, so I left everyone to it and William and I went to watch some Octonauts on TV. He didn’t want any pastry but ate a few raisins instead. Thomas was clearly better as he hoovered up anything he could find. He came trotting through to the lounge with a mini box of shreddies and grazed his way through them.

The Sutton Sleaths left just before lunch and then, about an hour later, we got a text message apologising for their visit. Why? William now has the dreaded lurgy and had only been home a short while before he decided to throw up, too. Ah, well. Just got to keep our fingers crossed we don’t get it!

Exhausted by our morning excitement, neither of us has done anything today, other than put the shopping delivery away and John cooked the tea.

John had said he’d go to the shops for a few bits and pieces, but I really didn’t want him to. The incidence of COVID in the village quite high, so better to stay safe, I thought. Fortunately, the Co-op does deliveries, so you can do an order and receive your groceries within an hour or so.

Nationally, the incidence of COVID is going up too – in the last week it has gone up by 15%, those admitted to hospital by 19% and deaths in the community by 12%. Not good, is it?

With there being a question mark over whether John has developed any antibodies and, therefore, any immunity to the virus, I have ordered protective masks for us to wear now, instead of the cloth ones. There is some data to suggest these help prevent infection for the wearer, so let’s hope so.

However, there’s always something to look forward to, isn’t there? And the latest news is that, unexpectedly, the Sutton Sleaths are expecting another baby – due in April. They definitely need to move house now!

Take care everyone. God bless.

I can’t help thinking the last few days have been a waste. Here was a week in which we had nothing much happening and an opportunity to get on with those jobs on our lists. But no, if the toothache wasn’t bad enough, the codeine I am taking has done me in. Basically, all I have been doing for the last three days is sleeping and just sitting around, waiting for the pain to go away. Still waiting, in fact.

John, however, has been working through his list – which is a bonus. He’s tackled the jasmine, which was threatening to arrive in all our back bedrooms as it made its way through the roof space. He’s been on to Sky and sorted out our TV and telephone package, which is a relief; and he’s generally looked after me by asking, every five minutes, “Do you want anything?” Mostly, I haven’t wanted anything, so he’s been thwarted in his efforts.

Anyway, middle son thought I ought to be contacting the NHS 111 line as I seem to be taking my time to be better. After a half an hour wait to be through to an agent (or whatever they call them), the girl said she thought I’d got everything I needed, but did I want the phone number of a dentist? I thought I might as well. So she gave me the number of the dentist with whom I am already registered and waiting to see….. I shall just keep taking the tablets and keep my fingers crossed.

I haven’t been taking any notice of the news or the COVID situation – it’s funny, but when you don’t feel well, you can only be interested in yourself, can’t you? Ah, well, another day – maybe tomorrow? Fingers crossed I can give up the codeine which is just addling my brain.

Take care everyone. God bless.

No rushing about, just taking it leisurely today, following a delightful start to the day with a phone call from Australia. Gail was ringing to say ‘thank you’ for a parcel we’d sent. She’s been having such a rough time of things that we thought a few goodies wouldn’t go amiss. Had a lovely long chat and heard all the latest on Gail’s treatment, and how stalwart Graham is being in supporting her. Smashing.

Having said goodbye to Gail, I left John in bed while I went round to Dawn’s for a morning of chatting about weddings. Lucy is getting married next year and Dawn is thinking about her outfit, so we had a good old natter to the seamstress, Jackie, who is going to make it for her.

For anyone who knows how to sew, I am sure it doesn’t come as a shock to you that making a wedding outfit is very complicated. What shape should the jacket be? How about the neckline on the blouse? And the sleeves? How long/short should they be? And how about the fastenings? Goodness me, but the list goes on……

Fortunately, Dawn had refined her ideas very well, and Jackie understood exactly what she was after. A very successful morning and Jackie breezed out with her laptop full of ideas. I stayed on for another hour (not sure if I outstayed my welcome, but there we are) and had a bit of chat before coming home to winkle John out of bed.

Meanwhile, I thought I’d give the dentist a ring. I have a toothache. My own fault, of course. I should have had something done months ago when I had the chance, but I baulked and got cold feet, so now I’m in pain.

I phoned yesterday to make an emergency appointment. Ha! Ha! “Dr Danjal can see you next Tuesday.….” Right….OK, well, I’ll have to go for that then, and hope I can hold out for a week. “But you could phone up and see if there any cancellations each day?” Good idea, so that’s what I did.

No cancellations, however, so I wondered if I could maybe have a ‘quick’ appointment to check whether an antibiotic is needed before any drilling takes place. “Erm… I can book you in for a telephone appointment this afternoon – and then, if an antibiotic is needed the dentist can prescribe it over the phone.” But did I get a phone call? No. Try again tomorrow. Wish me luck.

This afternoon we swanned about. Dozing, watching TV, reading – and John faffed about on the computer what seemed like hours on business-related stuff. And so passed a very pleasant few hours – for me, anyway. I think John was increasingly frustrated in what he was trying to do – with no success yet.

After our evening meal, I went out while John caught up on all the programmes he’s recorded. It’s been a while since I last went to my little prayer/bible study group but I finally made it tonight. I was made very welcome but I felt foolish because a) I’d forgotten the little book we’re studying from, and b) I forgot my bible. Never mind, I listened instead and a glass of prosecco from the host eased the sense of foolishness.

COVID-wise, Gail said they’d had about 250 cases in New South Wales and 2,500 in the whole country yesterday. And they were in lockdown. Ha! We have had 43,738 cases today and yesterday, we were world beating….. but no recommendations for mask-wearing, keeping your distance etc etc…… it continues to baffle me as to why we are accepting this and not doing something about it………

• Monday 18 October 2021: New cases around the world
  • UK: 49,156
  • Russia: 34,325
  • Turkey: 29,240
  • USA: 16,260
  • India: 12,242
  • Iran: 11,844
  • Romania: 10,141
  • Thailand: 10,141

But anyway, perhaps I ought to shut up as well, just like everyone else?

‘The Party told you to reject the evidence of your ears and eyes. It was their final, most essential command.‘ George Orwell, 1984

Take care everyone. God bless.

Monday: “What time have you got to be at your training this morning?” asks John, putting his head round the bedroom door. “Half past ten,” I replied, “but you’ve got to be at Heartlands at 10.15.” Hmmm, best get a wriggle on then! It was already 9.15.

John went to see Paneesha today and I let him out on his own…. I had a remote, online training session via ‘Teams’ for a simulated patient role at Warwick Uni. It’s a while since I’ve done this work given the pandemic, but they asked me last week, so I said yes. However, I am having second thoughts now – there have been so many cases of COVID that I am wondering how safe it will be. We’ll see.

John came back from the hospital not having seen Paneesha, but one of his side-kicks. Nothing to report on the leukaemia side of things. All good. It’s just all the rest now…… and there were no solutions offered.

After his visit to the hospital, John was tired out and mostly spent the afternoon asleep. As did I. Once I’d finished my training and assessment session, I came downstairs, had a bite to eat and thought I’d watch some relaxing TV. It was certainly relaxing….. I dropped off almost immediately!

Nothing else to report really. We’ve had a quiet day and rested. Very nice thank you.

And those COVID numbers I was referring to? 49,156 people tested positive for the virus today. It’s not so much the worry of people dying from the blooming virus now, although there were 45 in the community today, it’s the effects of the virus that’s concerning.

Scientists are reporting significant damage to the brain and other organs such as the heart, in all age groups now. The longer it goes on the more we know about it and yet, the government would have us believe it doesn’t matter. We are the worst infected country in the world now, not just Europe…… God help us, because the government isn’t.

‘Flenching’ – a Susie Dent Word of the Day from last week, meaning ‘promising an improvement that never quite materialises’. Harrumph.

Whatever you are doing and wherever you are, look after yourselves – and may your God go with you.

This weekend saw us staying over in Sutton Coldfield, looking after the Sutton Sleath grandchildren. It’s the first time we’ve done this for a long time and I anticipated that it might feel like a marathon, given that we’ve sometimes felt exhausted after even a few hours with the kids, let alone 48 hours of ’em!

However, it was an absolute delight. The children were comfortable with us staying at their house and were as good as gold. Great company and kept us laughing from morning until night. It was lovely. No tears, no tantrums, just sunny dispositions for the whole weekend.

Not only that, but William slept through until twenty past seven; and Thomas slept through until half past. None of this ‘awake a six o’clock in the morning’ malarkey. Marvellous.

And it didn’t feel like a marathon at all. We are not sure how we achieved it, but the days were broken up into lovely littles sections of activity and fun. Grandpa, in particular, was well in demand.

We are home now, of course, and all of a sudden we have both gone tired, so we’ve looked at one another and agreed: it’s an early night.

Michael and Danielle had gone to Cambridge for the weekend – firstly, to enjoy a lovely meal at Midsummer House, where Andrew works, to celebrate Michael’s birthday; and then, secondly, for Michael and Andrew to run the Cambridge Half-Marathon today.

Being a naturally anxious person, I worried about them both doing the event for different reasons, but I am pleased to report that they crossed the finish line in a respectable time of 2 hours 12 minutes, having supported each other all along the way. You can’t help but be chuffed they made it, can you? And we are – they are! Just look at those smiling, if weary, faces. Love them.

A very BIG thank you to everyone who donated sponsor money on Andrew’s fundraiser page. Over £600 raised and absolutely delighted that the money is going to the charity ‘Something to Look Forward to’. It’s nice to know that the funds will help someone else who needs it. Brilliant.

Such a great weekend, so I am not going to sully the blog with COVID figures tonight. Take care everyone. Night, night. God bless.

It seems a very long time since we went to Ragdale Hall. It is, in fact, a very long time, so I am in need of some pampering. The bones are creaking and the muscles are tying themselves into knots. My friend, Margaret, recommended the local salon as a good place to go for a massage, so I booked in and this morning was the morning.

Oh, what bliss. I had quite forgotten how wonderful it is to be massaged. The masseuse did a grand job of smoothing and soothing. I felt like a different woman when I came out of the salon and I decided there and then, that I’m going to try and pamper myself a bit more. Booked in for another one in month’s time – heh, heh, heh. I reckon I deserve it.

John was just about to get up when I got back, so we had a cuppa and then I fiddled and faddled about for the rest of the day. John is still coughing and struggling to breath, so he’s keen to do most things sitting down if he can. His job for the day? Clear out his ‘man-drawer’.

Gosh, it’s amazing just how much stuff you can get into a drawer, isn’t it? Anyway, he did a good job and didn’t leave too many things out on the work surface in the ‘to be decided’ pile.

The main thing that bothered John was the volume of pens and pencils we’ve got. We still keep them in Michael’s old pencil case and it was full to overflowing. Some of the pens and pencils date back to Michael’s school days, but the marker pens (which took up a lot of room) are mostly remnants from John’s business. “Don’t worry,” I said, “we’ll put back a few pens that we actually need, and I’ll take the others upstairs.” John was relieved – and I have now squirrelled them all away elsewhere. And, before you say it…. we will need to fish them out again if we have a Christmas Quiz……

My main achievement for the day was to get my passport application done and sent. But what a kerfuffle. I’d have liked to have done it online, but the photos that John took of me on my phone were the ugliest of the uglies, and probably not passport-friendly in any case.

I toddled up to the Post Office and proceeded to have my photo taken in the booth there. The government website said that the booths would do me an e-photo, but I couldn’t find a button to click for that, so I ended up with the standard photos and had to fill in the paper form at vaster cost than it would have been online…….. ah, well, it’s only money, isn’t it? Gulp.

While I think about money, there will be NO BLOG TOMORROW because we are babysitting over the weekend at the Sutton Sleaths. It is Michael’s birthday, and they are off to Cambridge for a fancy meal at Midsummer House, the restaurant Andrew works in, and then it’s the Cambridge half-marathon on Sunday. There is still time to sponsor Michael and Andrew if anyone is so inclined, in aid of a charity that supported John and me a few years ago. Here is the link to Andrew’s fund raising page:

https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/cambridge-half-marathon-andrew-sleath

On the COVID front, there are still an inordinate amount of people infected. 44,932 today. 145 deaths in the community. 40 deaths in hospitals in the previous 48 hours. We are waaaay ahead of any other country in Europe. Well, I suppose we’d like to be first at something, wouldn’t we?

This is the latest graph from Independent SAGE. Spot a trend, anyone?

Do take care, as best you can. Not sure how COVID-friendly the half-marathon in Cambridge is going to be, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that it all goes well and there are no ill-effects in any way from the event.

God bless.

“Don’t the leaves look pretty on the pavement?” I remarked to John as we bowled along into Birmingham for an appointment at Heartlands this morning. John was scornful. “Only a woman could think that the fallen leaves look pretty.” he replied. “Men are different. We don’t think like that.” He may have a point. As a woman, I do find odd things attractive, and the golden and russet leaves seemed just that as they nestled into the pavement, framing the road ahead, and occasionally rising and skittering along the pavement in a gust of wind. He wasn’t having any of it though. I suppose the roads into Birmingham are a bit bleak – and no amount of leaf-shaped confetti was going to do it for him.

I left John at the hospital for his treatment and was in two minds as to whether to come straight home or to go into Aldi to see if I could get all the ingredients for a Christmas lunch from their freezers, just in case…… I decided I’d do Aldi and I was in luck. They certainly had all the main ingredients that you’d need, so I bought ’em. It’s the siege mentality in me, you know……

Home again, and I stuffed all the ingredients into the small freezer that we’d had to empty because of the malfunction last week. I had intended to put it all into the freezer in the shed. However, this morning, when I went to check on it to make sure it was functioning appropriately, I got the shock of my life when I found that the door had been wedged open and I was faced with a veritable wall of ice. Oh….. that’ll be a defrosting job then, before I can use it.

This afternoon, I left John to it again as I toddled off to have a game of badminton. I wasn’t sure whether the game would go ahead, as there has to be a minimum of four of us to sort out the equipment and, with one being poorly, another on holiday and another one otherwise occupied, we weren’t 100% certain that we’d be quorate. However, we were in luck again, and four of us were keen for a match. Great fun and we all enjoyed ourselves.

John was watching the box when I got home and doing a bit on the computer – I think he’s got his self-assessment to do….. well, there was a lot of chuntering, so I think that’s what he was mulling over, anyway.

This evening it was a chat on Zoom to the college crew – all who could make it, at any rate. Had a lovely time catching up with everyone, commiserating with those who had ‘stuff to deal with’ or sons/daughters who have challenges before them; and laughing at the antics of everyone’s families. Lovely. But 50 years……. 50 years we’ve known each other!!! Crikey!!

If you haven’t seen the news – any guesses as to how many people have succumbed to the virus and tested positive today? Go on … guess!

45,066 people have been officially diagnosed with the virus. There will be many more, I have no doubt, who haven’t done a test to confirm their status, so who knows how many people it is in reality? This is madness.

157 people died in the community today; 37 in hospitals in the previous 48 hours.

This time last year? 19,724 people were COVID positive; 137 people died in the community; 45 in hospitals on 12 & 13 October.

Why does the general population no longer care? I don’t get it. Answers, please, on a post card to: The Mad House, England.

Take care everyone. Look after yourselves and your loved ones. No-one fully knows yet, the extent to which COVID affects us after the initial illness. So let’s not catch it, eh?

God bless.

The other morning I spent a while sorting out John’s various medical appointments, one of which we arranged for today. It was an early one at 9 o’clock and over at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. We were keen to arrange it early, because at noon we were to attend the funeral of our lovely neighbour, Richard.

As it turned out, the journeys to Birmingham and back were both ‘just in time’. We set off at 8 o’clock with the SatNav suggesting we’d arrive at the QE in about 50 minutes. Ha! Of course, by the time we’d arrived at the Stonebridge island, the SatNav was still suggesting we’d arrive in 50 minutes….. traffic builds up quickly at that time in the morning.

Anyway, we arrived not too many minutes after the appointed time and I dropped John off at the front of the building and went to park the car. Had a bit of trouble finding the ol’ man again though – I’d said ‘no’, when he’d asked if I wanted an email copy of the letter he’d been sent, not deeming it necessary that we both have it, so in essence I had no idea where to go. I wandered about a bit until someone pointed me in the right direction. It turns out I’d never have found him anyway, as he was warrened away behind ‘staff only’ smart-pass doors.

The appointment was to have a vaccination against COVID, but on a trial. The medics are trying to find out if the Pfizer jab or the Modena one creates any immunity in people who are immunocompromised. We know that the Astra Zeneca made no difference whatsoever.

After an hour of checks and questionnaires, John was vaccinated and we were on our way. Wonderful. “You may think I am mad, John,” I said, as we drove along the M6, “but when we get home, I’m thinking we’ll try and get to the church for Richard’s funeral early, before the cortege gets there. I can park in a disabled bay then. Not so far to walk.” Great idea – but the best laid plans…..

We came out of the house at 11.30 after a quick turn around and change of clothes, thinking we were early, only to see the cortege just passing our door. Ah, well, best follow along then.

The church was full. Full of beautiful people who loved Richard and love his family. The tributes were very poignant and on point. The Rector led the service splendidly and we all, I think, felt moved yet uplifted by it. Afterwards, John thought he’d prefer to come home for a rest but I went along to the wake to meet up with people whom I hadn’t seen in a while. It was lovely – the atmosphere wasn’t sombre, but full of life and reminiscences of a very nice man. Glad I went.

This evening it was Quiz Night. However, contrary to our normal eagerness to join in, we both felt drained, so we baulked at the opportunity for once. Nigel has sent us the questions though, so we can do the quiz in our own time if we want! Might just do that.

42,776 people tested positive for the virus today. Who’s counting? Anyone?

136 people died in the community. 40 in the previous 48 hours in hospitals.

Admissions to hospitals in the last seven days are up by nearly 7%.

On the plus side, the population is increasingly protected by the vaccine as children aged 12 and over are vaccinated. This means that 85.6% of the population 12+ has had its first jab, and 78.7% have had both jabs.

Let us pray that the vaccination does the trick and protects us all. In the meantime, here is the beautiful Irish Blessing that the Rector offered us at the end of the service today.

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Amen to that. God bless.