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Local Elections
Well the day of the local elections has arrived. I'm happy to say I have a postal vote because today I'm stuck indoors waiting for a plumber who a few days ago would make an urgent visit within the next couple of days. When I was at school a couple of days meant two but maybe that's why I'm voting in the elections in the hope of improving local education.
To be honest I'm smiling to myself. A few minutes ago I caught the sounds of a van and glimpsed it flying past. The broken refrain was 'Things can only get better' which for all our non-UK friends was the theme tune of the Labour Party during the Tony Blair days.
It sounded as though the van and the pa system were as knackered as the rhetoric of the Blair days too, and the van wasn't stopping for questions. Mind you, it might have been worried that if it did stop it might not start again. Pretty much like Labour itself I think. Since Blair we've had Brown a non-elected Prime Minister whose time was mercifully short since he was bankrupting the country. Then came......I know I'll remember the name eventually. A total non-person with no charisma or leadership qualities. No problem to me since I wouldn't vote Labour anyway.
But back to today and the local elections. Since these should primarily be held on local issues I'm hoping we get an influx of Independents to both our Town Council and the County Council since they would not be obliged to toe a party line. And the party line these days with the three main parties is pretty much pro-Europe on everything despite what the electorate seem to wish. Maybe a beating in local elections will make them think again. Sorry, I'm laughing at the thought of that. A politician listening? I'm still waiting for one to keep a promise.
At the end of the day it will always be a case of to the victor the spoils. I just hope that this time the spoils aren't picking up a mess left by the previous incumbent so that they can concentrate on getting the UK back on track. Good Luck on that then !
By the way, the leader of the Labour party is one Ed Miliband who beat his brother ( a slightly more charismatic man) for the post.
To be honest I'm smiling to myself. A few minutes ago I caught the sounds of a van and glimpsed it flying past. The broken refrain was 'Things can only get better' which for all our non-UK friends was the theme tune of the Labour Party during the Tony Blair days.
It sounded as though the van and the pa system were as knackered as the rhetoric of the Blair days too, and the van wasn't stopping for questions. Mind you, it might have been worried that if it did stop it might not start again. Pretty much like Labour itself I think. Since Blair we've had Brown a non-elected Prime Minister whose time was mercifully short since he was bankrupting the country. Then came......I know I'll remember the name eventually. A total non-person with no charisma or leadership qualities. No problem to me since I wouldn't vote Labour anyway.
But back to today and the local elections. Since these should primarily be held on local issues I'm hoping we get an influx of Independents to both our Town Council and the County Council since they would not be obliged to toe a party line. And the party line these days with the three main parties is pretty much pro-Europe on everything despite what the electorate seem to wish. Maybe a beating in local elections will make them think again. Sorry, I'm laughing at the thought of that. A politician listening? I'm still waiting for one to keep a promise.
At the end of the day it will always be a case of to the victor the spoils. I just hope that this time the spoils aren't picking up a mess left by the previous incumbent so that they can concentrate on getting the UK back on track. Good Luck on that then !
By the way, the leader of the Labour party is one Ed Miliband who beat his brother ( a slightly more charismatic man) for the post.
April out and Scan results in.
Yesterday we returned to the hospital to see the oncologist and get the results of the scan Julia had back in March. Our daughter and nieces accompanied us again but that was probably in the hopes of seeing Dr. Drop Dead Gorgeous. They were to be disappointed since we saw the lady from our last visit. Though she is honest in where we stand she always tries to temper that with some enthusiastically given 'Good News'.
Today we were told that the tumour has grown back to the size it was when Julia was first diagnosed and before the chemotherapy shrunk it so much. This was said with the speed of a machine gun spitting out bullets so that it had just hit home when the speech slowed slightly for the good news. "But" she said " it hasn't spread to any other organ, and since you're not currently uncomfortable ( in pain), and you're currently trying to live as normal a life as possible, we've decided to continue on the path of no treatment. To offer something now could exacerbate the growth and reduce your quality of life. We need to reserve treatment for a time when you start to feel the effects of the tumour again."
Everyone seemed delighted with the news that the other organs were currently clear and that no treatment was currently needed. I held myself in check asking just a couple of questions, the main one of which was to see if chemotherapy could be restarted at a lower dose of the gemcitobene if needed as the other treatment option is to take tablets daily which have only a 10% success rate. The prevaricating answer is that they could look at the option. I thought Julia was happy with the news too until we got home. She told me she's scared that the tumour is back at the size it is and she worries now if she'll survive to see our daughter married or if she'll hold a grandchild of that wonderful union. I did all I could to stay positive and remind her she's still riding and relatively pain free.
My own worries though aren't so easily dispersed since I'm wondering if the scan was six weeks ago, how much growth has there been since then? Will it grow beyond the limits of the splanchnicectomy and cause the pain to return which can only be controlled with large doses of morphine ? I don't even know how fast the growth is. It could have started growing slowly in December when the chemotherapy stopped and taken till March to reach this size, or it may have only started growing a week before the scan and got to this size quickly. This again leaves me wondering where we are size-wise now.
We return to the hospital in 6 weeks unless Julia feels any discomfort in which case we go back straight away. But, if we manage the six weeks I shall feel I have to ask for a new scan to give me a better idea of how we stand. I will worry though that Julia and the girls will see this as a sign of desperation on my part and start to feel the same way. At the moment all I can do is hope Julia continues to enjoy the horse riding and doesn't start to feel enough discomfort to lessen her quality of life.
Friday addendum. It seems I was wrong as Julia has told me today how upset she is that the tumour has grown back to it's previous size. She's wondering now if this is the beginning of the end. Staying upbeat and keeping her positive is that little bit harder now. But, as I pointed out, great strides are being made every day and by next Friday she could be cured and driving me to drink.
Ssssh, It's a Secret
Sometimes you know it's going to be one of those days. Things had started well. Yvonne and her boyfriend Ugo had arrived on Friday morning to pick us up for our weekend away. OK, we weren't going to what might seem to be the most exotic location in the world- Bradford- but 'Wowcher' had been generous with the price and the pictures of the hotel looked promising. It's the first time in years I've managed to get Lady J away and with her health issues we needed a family break before seeing the oncologist next week.
Anyway they arrived and we set off. Since Ugo considers eating an Olympic sport and he's constantly in training we decided to stop off for a late breakfast on the M62 just North of Manchester. Afetr facing a meal with real fortitude it was time to resume the journey. I had been outside having a cigarette when my three amigos came out and we started to head back to the car.
Being on my crutches I'm slower to move off than most but I'd also paid a visit to the service station shop to buy little holiday gifts for everyone.For Ugo I'd chosen a watch. He held back with me as he put it on and the women walked ahead. Ugo had just said to me " I need to have a word please, you know how much I love Yvonne" when the converstaion was broken up as a car window lowered and someone gestured to us and called out " Scusi, scusi, una momento por favore." Ugo, being a kind hearted eating machine thought that directions might be needed and walked over. Less sure of the purpose, I followed behind.
"I am Cosi fan tutti" said the gesturing arm " I work for D & G in Milano and I over here in Manchester for big conference. I have a watch left over worth foura hundreda pounds, is yours for sixty eh." The car was parked beneath a notice warning people to be careful of unlicensed traders in the car parks and so Ugo politely declined and the gesturing arm withdrew.
He carried on talking to me as though there had been no interuption. " Well, I'd like your permission to ask her to marry me."
I judged it unseemly to kiss him and then cheer so I responded that it was a lovely idea and I approved.
"I'll ask her tonight at dinner then when I find the best time. Will you look after the ring for me please until I ask for it." I agreed.
We arrived in Bradford and pulled into the hotel car park just as a police van pulled to a halt sirens blaring outside the wall, next to a bus that didn't seem to be going anywhere. It didn't seem to bode well for the stay but we decided to go in anyway. I'm going to be honest and say it wasn't the most appealing exterior I'd seen. But inside it's a four star hotel with a five star staff.
We spent the afternoon walking through the local park, round the boating lake, looking at the art exhibition in Cartwright Hall and having a nice coffee. As we walked round we spied out the land and looked for the sister hotel to our own where the evening meals are available. Finding it wasn't too far away but from the outside just looking like a normal home we decided to risk it and when we got back to our hotel asked them to book us in.
Seven o'clock and two episodes of Big Bang Theory later we're all ready to go. The taxi arrives and we pile in arriving at the Lister hotel about 10 seconds after we left the Cartwright Hotel. What a difference the inside of the Lister brings. It's spotless and what seems like a professsaional maitre D leads us to seats. Is Ugo sweating?
We order the drinks and then I nip to the gents closely followed by Ugo who wants to know when is the best time to do the deed. "Perhaps after the main course and before the sweet" I tell him."I'll give you the ring then."
Wonderful starters, tremendous first course and Ugo excuses himself to go to the loo. " I won't waste the opportunity" I say and Lady J looks askance at me and suggests I cut down on my drinking as though lime and lemonade has a lot to answer for. I depart , pass Ugo the ring and leave a brief pause before following him back to the table.
We order dessert and somewhere the angels are gawping in disbelief because Lady J has declined.
Ugo turned to Yvonne his heart in his mouth which doesn't leave much room for his tongue and starts to tell her how much he loves her. His hand reaches for the box holding the ring and Yvonne starts to shake. "Will you do me the honour" he says as Yvonne shakes some more and repeats her new mantra of " You can't be asking me that, oh Dear, not now, oh he's on his knee, get up Ugo" and promptly turns to face the wall covering her mouth with her hand as she cries with what I pray is joy. I grab Yvonne's free hand and ask her to turn round as everything is alright. Lady J holds the other hand away from Yvonne's face gently and turning to me says
"You knew and didn't tell me?"
"That's what secret means Dear" I answer edging away from the fists."Come on Yvonne, this is lovely." Whereupon Yvonne finally turned round and accepted the ring from Ugo with a resounding yes. Sighs of relief from the truly helpful staff who were now able to serve the dessert.
We returned to our hotel where they had heard the good news. The Bradford jungle telegraph seeemingly works even faster than our local Mothers Union. We were even bought a round of drinks which was a great gesture even though my stomach lining may never be the same again.
Today we have made sure BT's profit for the next quarter is assured, I have been forgiven for not warning everyone of Ugo's intent and we spent a great time at Skipton Castle and the town market. Yvonne has finally stopped shaking but is walking round with one arm displayed in front of herself so she can see the ring and accidentally prod others to make sure they don't miss it to.
Tonight three of us had a drink in the bar while Julia rested. We head home tomorrow morning after breakfast. This has been a great experience and will no doubt end up in a book somewhere when I start writing again.
I would like to thank Ruth who took so much time to download information on local activities for us. The young lady at the bar in the Lister Hotel was helpful too. The staff behind the bar at the Cartwright Hotel have also been kind including I'm told Ruth's better half.
The owner of these two hotels has put a lot of time , effort and capital into creating an understated but perfect atmosphere in both. The comfort and cleanliness is second to none.
If Bradford's your destination then bear these places in mind.
2
Anyway they arrived and we set off. Since Ugo considers eating an Olympic sport and he's constantly in training we decided to stop off for a late breakfast on the M62 just North of Manchester. Afetr facing a meal with real fortitude it was time to resume the journey. I had been outside having a cigarette when my three amigos came out and we started to head back to the car.
Being on my crutches I'm slower to move off than most but I'd also paid a visit to the service station shop to buy little holiday gifts for everyone.For Ugo I'd chosen a watch. He held back with me as he put it on and the women walked ahead. Ugo had just said to me " I need to have a word please, you know how much I love Yvonne" when the converstaion was broken up as a car window lowered and someone gestured to us and called out " Scusi, scusi, una momento por favore." Ugo, being a kind hearted eating machine thought that directions might be needed and walked over. Less sure of the purpose, I followed behind.
"I am Cosi fan tutti" said the gesturing arm " I work for D & G in Milano and I over here in Manchester for big conference. I have a watch left over worth foura hundreda pounds, is yours for sixty eh." The car was parked beneath a notice warning people to be careful of unlicensed traders in the car parks and so Ugo politely declined and the gesturing arm withdrew.
He carried on talking to me as though there had been no interuption. " Well, I'd like your permission to ask her to marry me."
I judged it unseemly to kiss him and then cheer so I responded that it was a lovely idea and I approved.
"I'll ask her tonight at dinner then when I find the best time. Will you look after the ring for me please until I ask for it." I agreed.
We arrived in Bradford and pulled into the hotel car park just as a police van pulled to a halt sirens blaring outside the wall, next to a bus that didn't seem to be going anywhere. It didn't seem to bode well for the stay but we decided to go in anyway. I'm going to be honest and say it wasn't the most appealing exterior I'd seen. But inside it's a four star hotel with a five star staff.
We spent the afternoon walking through the local park, round the boating lake, looking at the art exhibition in Cartwright Hall and having a nice coffee. As we walked round we spied out the land and looked for the sister hotel to our own where the evening meals are available. Finding it wasn't too far away but from the outside just looking like a normal home we decided to risk it and when we got back to our hotel asked them to book us in.
Seven o'clock and two episodes of Big Bang Theory later we're all ready to go. The taxi arrives and we pile in arriving at the Lister hotel about 10 seconds after we left the Cartwright Hotel. What a difference the inside of the Lister brings. It's spotless and what seems like a professsaional maitre D leads us to seats. Is Ugo sweating?
We order the drinks and then I nip to the gents closely followed by Ugo who wants to know when is the best time to do the deed. "Perhaps after the main course and before the sweet" I tell him."I'll give you the ring then."
Wonderful starters, tremendous first course and Ugo excuses himself to go to the loo. " I won't waste the opportunity" I say and Lady J looks askance at me and suggests I cut down on my drinking as though lime and lemonade has a lot to answer for. I depart , pass Ugo the ring and leave a brief pause before following him back to the table.
We order dessert and somewhere the angels are gawping in disbelief because Lady J has declined.
Ugo turned to Yvonne his heart in his mouth which doesn't leave much room for his tongue and starts to tell her how much he loves her. His hand reaches for the box holding the ring and Yvonne starts to shake. "Will you do me the honour" he says as Yvonne shakes some more and repeats her new mantra of " You can't be asking me that, oh Dear, not now, oh he's on his knee, get up Ugo" and promptly turns to face the wall covering her mouth with her hand as she cries with what I pray is joy. I grab Yvonne's free hand and ask her to turn round as everything is alright. Lady J holds the other hand away from Yvonne's face gently and turning to me says
"You knew and didn't tell me?"
"That's what secret means Dear" I answer edging away from the fists."Come on Yvonne, this is lovely." Whereupon Yvonne finally turned round and accepted the ring from Ugo with a resounding yes. Sighs of relief from the truly helpful staff who were now able to serve the dessert.
We returned to our hotel where they had heard the good news. The Bradford jungle telegraph seeemingly works even faster than our local Mothers Union. We were even bought a round of drinks which was a great gesture even though my stomach lining may never be the same again.
Today we have made sure BT's profit for the next quarter is assured, I have been forgiven for not warning everyone of Ugo's intent and we spent a great time at Skipton Castle and the town market. Yvonne has finally stopped shaking but is walking round with one arm displayed in front of herself so she can see the ring and accidentally prod others to make sure they don't miss it to.
Tonight three of us had a drink in the bar while Julia rested. We head home tomorrow morning after breakfast. This has been a great experience and will no doubt end up in a book somewhere when I start writing again.
I would like to thank Ruth who took so much time to download information on local activities for us. The young lady at the bar in the Lister Hotel was helpful too. The staff behind the bar at the Cartwright Hotel have also been kind including I'm told Ruth's better half.
The owner of these two hotels has put a lot of time , effort and capital into creating an understated but perfect atmosphere in both. The comfort and cleanliness is second to none.
If Bradford's your destination then bear these places in mind.
2
Clarity and Truth
Today we went back to the Oncologist to see if there was any news on alternative treatments for Julia or a restart of the treatment that finished in December when her lungs reacted badly to the drugs. To be honest I was prepared not to go in with Julia, my daughter and my niece because they drool all over poor Dr Garcia and having me there is an obvious distraction being the upstanding citizen I am. My niece had an appointment of her own and wasn’t able to join us so I felt perhaps I could go in and keep my two in order. As it happened I didn’t have to. When Julia’s name was called we took her to be weighed…8st 4 lb including her riding boots etc. I’m quite pleased. Then we were led to a room I haven’t visited before.
Once there we were introduced to Dr. Smith, a very attractive lady of indeterminate accent ( though just possibly S’African or New Zealand). She explained that though she hadn’t met us before she knew Julia very well as she’s responsible for brewing all the concoctions Julia has had to take. She started to go through the notes with us to make sure we were aware f the current situation and left herself open for questions if there were any. There certainly were !! We have had explanations previously as to why Julia could not be operated on the main one being that the tumour being so badly placed that it had enclosed a series of arteries that would make an operation difficult. We asked about the possibility of replacing the pancreas with a manufactured one which had been suggested by an avid fund raiser who wanted Julia to be the first to undergo this operation in the US. We were informed this couldn’t happen as the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes and any operation to replace the pancreas wouldn’t solve that problem and may even exacerbate it. We hadn’t been told this before. Why? Possibly because Dr. Garcia wanted to sugar coat any news rather than cause more worry for Julia. So now we have to adjust ourselves to that news. We were also told that there is the possibility of a different chemo which wasn’t mentioned before either or maybe even the same chemo at a reduced dose. First things first though, let’s arrange a new scan in about 5/6 weeks to see how things actually stand. It’s probable that we’ll see an increase in the tumour size again since it’s been 3 months without treatment of any kind. But, said Dr. Smith, Julia’s positivity is obviously making a great deal of difference to her and it may be best to leave any treatment alone until any symptoms start showing again. Pain or discomfort will be a good reason to revisit the situation but since we don’t want to disturb the lymph nodes if they are quiescent lets leave well enough alone for now.
So there we have it. The new Doctor is pretty and pretty smart too. Didn’t treat us as children unable to take bad news and accepted we’re adults. She was actually amazed at Julia going horse riding and has not had a pancreatic patient present herself looking as well as this at this stage. It certainly pays not to roll over and say die when the ‘C’ word is mentioned. I’m very proud of my wife and the fight she’s putting up. I hope sometime it may just give someone else a little hope.
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MARCH 6, 2012 | EDITLord Daud has entered the building!Lord Daud has entered the building!. A new and Fun interview.
http://acflory.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/lord-daud-has-entered-the-building/
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MARCH 6, 2012 | EDITMarch and the Girl’s Palace. The Girls now live in their new 3 storey palace. Penny (above) is still the boisterous little madam she’s always been and doesn’t think twice about raiding Amy’s quarters for food or just for the hell of it. Amy (left and the darker fur) is learning to stick up for herself a little but is still far too polite to complain when her food goes rushing down two storeys in the mouth of her sister to be hidden for later.
Amy is quite happy to sleep alone and commandeered the little red roofed house for herself. Penny on the other hand thinks Amy makes a great mattress and is inclined to sleep on her any chance she gets. This usually results in the roof going for a burton and both snuggle up after Amy’s resistance is broken. Yesterday we bought a place for Penny to nest in the hopes Amy might get a restful night but Amy removed the bedding and moved herself in. Of course Penny followed suit for a while, still ignoring the extra space and using her sister as a mattress. This morning however I got up to find Amy still in the nest and Penny now sleeping in her expandable tunnel.
The girls need exercise, treats and also food which challenges their teeth and ingenuity. For exercise you can see we’ve installed tunnels, climbing ropes and ramps. To give them something to chew on I bought some nuts though they’re currently very hard to find with shells on. The supermarkets seem to keep them as part of the home baking section so eyebrows are raised when I’m asked ” Making a cake are we?” to which I respond “No, just feeding the rats.”
Getting the girls used to our hands isn’t easy as they seem to associate hands with food and that means the hands could quite easily be the food at that time. Knowing the girls have very sharp teeth, that doesn’t really appeal so being the Gentleman I am I always let Julia have first go while I stand by with antiseptic cream and dressings. They are pure entertainment though and I’m hoping to persuade Yvonne to try and imagine them without tails so she smiles at them instead of shuddering at the thought of them.
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FEBRUARY 28, 2012 | EDITFebruary Ends.Well, for a short month February hasn’t been without consequence. Many of you will know that the pancreas is part of the digestive system, and as a result of having the cancer and also of having the splanchnicectomy ( yes, I’m just showing off that I remember what it was called) Julia’s digestion has been somewhat erratic to say the least.
There have been days of pain with constipation followed by the relief of her meds working to relieve the problem. There have been periods of great distress where the bowels have been working overtime and often without warning. This has also meant some pain, often for me when she screams down my ears “Not again”!!!!!!!!!!! The letter part of last week and the weekend were like that and her mood was very low. She becomes quite maudlin about her parents though she doesn’t want to leave us yet. To brighten her mood I decided to treat her to a hairdo (Thanks Groupon). I was just praying she’s be OK on the day.
The day arrived yesterday and with fingers crossed( and legs) we left the house to do a little shopping for an ‘Urgent ‘ Christening dress ( due in May), a new hat, lunch out and the hair ! Everything was going swimmingly and the weather was nice. Dress and hat nicely bagged ( though we we’re still in Wales and had to pay for the carrier bags) we set out for lunch. Crossing the car park to the pub we’d chosen I heard a sound like a frantic sewing machine approaching at speed. Almost diving out of the way in case a young learner had lost control of a moped I looked round but the only person in sight was Ju who was reddening by the second. It seems some trapped wind had just been released. The meal was nice and we got to the salon in plenty of time for her 3.00 pm appointment. Taking a seat I noticed they also cut men’s hair when they have free time so I took the opportunity to get a crop of my Santa white beard leftover from Winter and a grade 3 haircut. I couldn’t believe how much was coming off. While I was in the chair listening to the young lady tell me all about her father ( probably younger than me but at least it was better than football and politics at the barbers) Julia took her place on the chair close by. We’d been expecting a three quarters of an hour treatment for ‘lowlights’ and a cut to get rid of some of the hair weight that was causing her hair to come out. We left the salon at 6.10 pm and found she’d been given a full colour with lowlights. ( If it sounds like I know what I’m talking about with these technical terms forget it. I learned them parrot fashion). She looked wonderful and her mood was going up off the scale. Brilliant.
Today we had the opticians and learned we both needed new glasses. ( I’d like a pint of bitter in mine please). Varifocals for me and bi-focals for Ju. We were leaving the shop when I noticed that in order to try and fit the new frames the staff had moved her hair. I was left with a dilemma. Did I tell her that she had a very red ear as a result of the dye or did I leave well alone. I decided to mention it…” I didn’t realise that the colouring yesterday included your ears as well as your hair Sweetie” I said. It was suddenly my fault that I hadn’t noticed earlier and warned her before the staff had seen it. That mistake cost me another lunch out.
Recently Julia decided to change the colour scheme in the kitchen. Red kettle, red toaster etc. If she goes in there later I’ll lose her with her hair that colour now.
We see the oncologist on March 8th so I’ll keep you up to date with any news then as to whether there’s any more treatment on offer.
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FEBRUARY 15, 2012 | EDITFebruary ContinuedJulia hasn’t been well these last two days so we’ve been in a lot and watching the characters of Penny and Amy develop.Penny is larger and has a pale grey stripe running down the length of her back. Amy is a much darker grey and much less boisterous than her sister. On Monday they seemed to be fighting and because of the disparity in size I thought it best to separate them. So, when Ju was cleaning the cages we put then girls back differently. Penny was put in the bottom cage and Amy the top. Penny was given an igloo to sleep in though so far she has preferred to drag everything she can into a play tunnel and sleep there. Amy was given the little house they had both used previously and this was put on a higher shelf in the top cage. The only show of disgust we’ve seen from Amy happened then…she didn’t like the bedding material we placed on the floor of the house and promptly kicked it all outside the front door before dragging in some tissue and gong to sleep.
So as not to restrict the girls, access between the cages has been left open and there are ramps and ladders connecting the levels.
I hope the picture will give you an idea what I mean. On Tuesday morning Penny came out full of the joys of spring…I must turn the heating down a bit. She made a huge run up her ramp, through the roof door of the bottom cage, up the hole in the first level of the upper cage (light green), across the wooden footbridge, picked a piece of food from Amy’s food dish and scarpered back the way she’d come. Pretty good since she’d never tried it before unless of course she plotted the route out during the night. Amy didn’t twitch a hair, but having decided Penny shouldn’t be able to pinch Amy’s food at will I moved the dish up to the top layer where the house is.
Today I’m getting a much better idea of their nocturnal activity when I see that Amy has acquired some nice cotton wool bedding from somewhere . Since Penny had quite a bit and I haven’t seen the signs for a sale anywhere locally I have only been able to draw one conclusion. Small she might be but cowed she’s not. Both girls are a delight to watch and they’re definitely becoming less wary of hands since both are happy to accept treats from between our fingers. In fact both are very polite and ladylike in doing so. No snatching and no biting the hand that feeds them either. We’ve also found that when it’s time to clean cage, it’s easiest to put the girls in those big plastic balls that hamsters seem to love. I don’t think rats care for them in the same way since they both sit in their own balls looking puzzled and just rocking occasionally until it’s hometime again. Since spending all that time looking for Amy after ‘The Great Escape’ we’re not risking another runaway session. Maybe when the girls are a bit tamer we can just let them sit on a shoulder till we’re done or if they want to play with Oscar we’ll put them in a pen together so he can’t get away. ha ha22 Comments
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FEBRUARY 11, 2012 | EDITFebruaryWell the month has started slowly. Julia has been forced to sell her horse Tango which has hurt her terribly, but she is no longer able to groom her. Personally I’m glad though it may sound cruel but Tango is now away from the stables I didn’t like, where there were threats of what would happen to Tango if Julia could no longer continue to care for her, and she’s safe on a new farm. As it happens the new farm already had Tango’s best friend so they’re reunited happily.
Two nice things have happened so far this month. One is that after a long period of appeal the section that deals with Disability benefits has finally reinstated my allowance from last August. Second is that Julia was up on a horse again this week for the first time in a long time for a proper ride. It was so nice to see that I sat freezing to death at a picnic table in the rain to watch her. After counting my toes at the end to check none had fallen off with frostbite, I decided it was worth it to see Ju so happy again. Tango couldn’t be ridden since a previous owner had over-raced her and the damage to her tendons was immense. She was a rescue horse and just to be cared for when Ju had her.
Julia has bought two rats. Grey and white they are very pretty. They’ve been christened Penny and Amy after two of the characters on Big Bang Theory which is the funniest comedy on TV today. Penny is the more dominant one who leads Amy astray much as in the show. Penny was also the first to draw blood after Julia’s hand invaded Penny’s space. Amy tried it on me ( shhh, don’t tell Ju as I just told her I have the magic touch) without success as my skin is like the rhino’s. We now have a cage with various levels decorating the lounge but so far they don’t seem too adventurous. We also have to get them used to hands because they’ll be handled quite a lot. If anyone has any metal gauntlets going spare please contact…….
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JANUARY 26, 2012 | EDITJanuary.What a mixed month this is proving to be. Our niece gave birth to little baby boy on 5th, I celebrated my Hrumph birthday on 18th and then a young friend gave birth to a beautiful little girl on 19th. She wasn’t actually due then but no doubt I scare he into it by telling her what would happen if it wasn’t born before 20th and the start of Aquaries.We need all the Capricorns we can get. ( My daughter, amongst other things calls me the Crapicorn).
Today was the important day though 26th. This was the day we returned to see the dishy (not my description-but true nontheless) Oncologist Dr. Garcia to find out if Julia can restart her chemotherapy treatments which you may remember were suspended early December because of the toxicity in her lungs as a rare side effect of the chemo drug.
As her breathing has much improved, I was fully expecting to hear a new start date on a reduced dosage of the drug (Gemcitobine) but that didn’t happen. Ju’s weight has increased to eight and a half stone, she’s as cheerful as usual and breathing well. Dr Garcia told her ‘You’ll live longer without the chemo than with it’ meaning the lung problem will prove fatal faster than the cancer if we carry on. So he’s not starting a treatment at a reduced dose and not going for an alternative. At the moment he’s happy with her as she is and will review it again in another 6 weeks with perhaps a new scan in 2 months.
I suppose this news hits you dependent upon whether you’re a Cup Half Full Man or a Cup Half Empty Man. With Julia it’s left her more positive. With me I’m not sure as I have no idea what the tumor itself can do in 3 months of no treatment and can it be corrected if that’s bad. I’m writing to the US when a Doctor at the University of Pennsylvania has been getting great results with this particular cancer with a new treatment involving something called CD40 which can be used to fight the cancer cells. They have trials in America and also Ireland now. I want to see if they intend any in the UK. I don’t want to sit back and do nothing. Someone has even offered to raise funds to send Julia to the US by way of an auction if a suitable venue can be found…so if you have a Stately Pile anywhere in Europe or America do please let me know.
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JANUARY 7, 2012 | EDITTHE VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD!THE VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD!.
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DECEMBER 2, 2011 | EDITDecember.Well here we are in December. Julia has been in hospital with an infection but was treated on the Cancer ward and was well looked after until she finally returned home on Tuesday night in advance of the Great Strike which affected transport on Wednesday. Though the chest infection seems to be clearing Julia seems to have lost the will to do much at the moment. No doubt one of the 5 stages of grief that comes with the knowledge that you have Cancer. However, today I’m going to see if I can persuade her to come shopping with me and see if that stimulates some interest in her……that’s if shopping for cat food can stimulate any interest. Maybe we can stop for coffee at one of the places we visit in my books ‘Cass E Dees’ or ‘Can I tempt you’ where there are old friends.
Anyway. On behalf of us both I want to wish you all well with your Christmas preparations and no matter what your faith I wish you a peaceful and happy season.
The shopping trip was a success. Julia stayed in the car while I shopped and bought his Highness the cat food he likes ( the dearest of course) and some cat litter. The latter was bought because after lying with Julia on Wednesday night until she was asleep I carefully slipped off the bed and donned my slippers. At least, I donned the left one, as when I started to put on the right foot I found my toes paddling in a pool. I had the dubious pleasure of hopping to the bathroom to empty the contents of the slipper down the loo while I stuck my right foot in the sink and washed it. Julia said Oscar did it because His litter tray was damp and it was my fault….not for using it but for not emptying it. I think it was spite because he wanted Julia all to himself.
Anyway, after shopping we took our usual box of sweets into the cafe for the staff who really made Julia feel at home again and it drew a wonderful smile that’s been missing recently.We sat and enjoyed a latte and caught up on news of the owners sons who are fantastic singers ( sometime I’ll find the youtube link) They are tenor and bass and sing wonderful operatic songs, show songs and even modern songs. Once they sang Somewhere from West Side Story and blew us both away.They are only 18 and 20 which is amazing. We were honored to be given one of their CD’s which we keep in the car.
So, she was tired afterwards but it was worth the effort and I’ll try again tomorrow. We’re due for Chemo om Monday and I’m hoping she’ll be well enough to go. On Thursday we have the results of a new scan to tell us how the chemo is doing and I have my fingers crossed.
Tuesday 6th December.
Julia seemed short of breath today when we shopped and it seemed likely the chest infection was still there. We called the Doctor who visited and after an examination announced it was likely there was a blood clot as there was no fluid sound in the lungs.
They tested her stats on the ambulance and found she was very low on oxygen saturation so started her on that. When we got to the hospital she was taken straight to the AMU ward and bloods taken. Sodium low, potassium low and oxygen saturation very low. It was confirmed that here was likely a blood clot on the lungs. So, she was put on an ECG monitor and given the equivalent of warfarin to thin the blood.
Wednesday 7th December
I’m told Julia will be going for an x-ray and a scan soon. Until then I remain as scared as Julia is and my daughter also though only Yvonne and I dare voice it to each other as we have to remain confident for Ju. She’s hoping that now they know what it is they’ll be able to give her some tablets and a supply of daily injections that she’ll have to have for 3 months then let her out. She’s desperate to be out to attend the meeting tomorrow to see the scan of the tumour and assess how the chemo has affected it. Yvonne has raised the thought that if there’s no visible progress is it worth continuing the chemo when it so reduces Julia’s immunity to infections. She’s quite right but it would be a difficult thing to say in front of Julia as it would be like taking away any hope at all.
Today’s visit has cheered me. The obstruction is dispersed and the oxygen levels are slightly up. They’re even going to try without oxygen tonight to see how she copes. There is still an infection present but we can manage that with antibiotics, the warfarin injections we can do at home but they’d like to see an increase in sodium and potassium levels too. Maybe I can convince her to chew bananas for a few days? Though not happy to be back in hospital so soon Julia was much improved tonight though her eyes were rolling with tiredness…or boredom, which Yvonne and I deny causing. We were happier leaving her than we were last night and know that the staff are trying to help us get her to the meeting with the oncologist tomorrow so we can see whether the chemo has had any positive results.
Personally I’m of the opinion that she’s staying in there to get out of Christmas shopping and gift wrapping in revenge for all the years she got lumbered with the job. Oh well, I hope people like teapots in humerous shapes or silver plated picture frames with pictures of Oscar in them !
Thursday 8th December.
Julia was released from hospital this afternoon so we could attend the meeting with the oncologist. They have diagnosed and treated for basal pneumonia and managed to get the oxygen saturation up a bit so we’ve got antibiotics to take now.
The meeting with the charming oncologist got off to a good start when Julia, Yvonne and my two nieces had stopped saying Corrrrr and drooling over him and his accent. He told us the tumor had responded well to the chemo and shrunk a bit. Before we were able to cheer there came a ‘BUT’
The two latest scans show anomalies on her lungs. There is the outside possibility that this is an infection but the most likely cause is a rare side effect from the chemotherapy itself. If that is the case then chemo will stop dead. Wonderful, the choices now are:- Stop chemo and allow the tumor to grow or keep chemo and damage the lungs beyond repair. A real Hobson’s Choice. He has suspended chemo for next Monday and pencilled in a provisional one for next Thursday following another meeting with him by which time he hopes to know what the lesions on the lungs are. There will be a round of blood tests on Tuesday but I have no idea if these are relevant to that question. We have to get Julia’s weight up again as she’s lost 3lb recently and must keep a close eye on her breathing and temperature in case the antibiotics don’t work and her O2 saturation levels drop again.
I really don’t want this to spoil Julia’s Christmas and I aim to do my best to keep her at home with the family rolling around to visit when they can. The weather’s not nice enough to take her out much and is it possible we’re heading for a White Christmas?
Thursday 15th December.
It was ‘Corrr’ day again as we went to see the oncologist. My wife, daughter and two nieces trooped in to what should have been a surgery and instead resembled a bus with the number of chairs out for us. Of course everyone was concentrating on Dr Garcia and I doubt anyone knew or cared I was in the room. His accent fixates them and it’s like being at the Dr Garcia fan club meeting.
He started to give me the news I was dreading. He’s 80% sure the toxicity in Julia’s lungs is as a result of the rare side effect from the chemo. Because of that he’s cancelled the chemo booked for tomorrow and said to give it a break. We can return in four weeks and he’ll review his decision and MAYBE start her on a new course of chemo at a lower dose. In the meantime I worry that the tumour can start to grow again in the four week break. It’s very hard, shrink the tumour and add more toxicity to the lungs ot save the lungs and……
Anyway, we’ll have Christmas safely at home and hopefully well. We both offer Compliments of the Season to you all and thank you for following this story.
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SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 | EDITThe Hospital that didn’t Care.Sept 9th 2011
The operation went well yesterday I think. An excellent surgeon Mr. Baker, performed a Splanchnicectomy. From there on things went downhill. They discharged Julia at about 1.30pm and her sister and husband brought her home. As she came in you could see she was unwell and I put her straight to bed. Neither her sister nor John her brother in law were happy at the discharge and neither was I when I learned she had been sick throughout the night and morning and had no bowel control. This was soon proved at home too and Julia was in real distress.
By 6.oopm we had got an ambulance and rushed her to the A& E dept of our own Local hospital where they did everything they could to make her comfortable, find out what was wrong and get her a bed. The latter didn’t happen until 11.00pm when she was admitted to the Acute Medical Ward. Some three days later there has been much illness, no eating or drinking and Julia has been on continuous drips until we find out she’s got gastro enteritis.
I’m VERY unhappy that someone on chemotherapy wasn’t isolated after the op to prevent being open to infection and VERY unhappy that an uncaring staff could discharge someone so obviously ill.
Sept 12th 2011
Julia seemed to have turned a little corner today and was a bit brighter. I’m relieved but this will not end here.
I heard from Julia that on the morning of the 9th she was brought some cereal. She wasn’t able to eat any and found that she wasn’t able to swallow the milk. It seems some members of staff found that quite funny. So they ridiculed someone who was sick and suffering and who was becoming dehydrated.The dehydration was very bad by the time we reached the local hospital that evening and there were multiple drips used to help her overcome this until today (Monday).
Sept 13th 2011
Whatever corner we turned yesterday led back to where we were before. Julia is skin and bones at the moment , she’s lost so much weight that she could ill afford to lose. The strain of the sickness and diarrhoea has left her in pain, weak and feeling so defeated that she is saying ” Enough. I give in.” Still unable to eat and drink her mood has become very low and it’s very hard to jolly her out of it or talk her out of it seriously. If only this was over I feel sure she’d be able to get back to the chemotherapy with a degree of acceptance and a determination to win. The nurses on duty on THAT ward on THAT day have no idea what they’ve done. I’m told today there was another cancer patient there also and when one member of staff arrived coughing and sneezing Julia mentioned quietly that she was meant to avoid infections the other woman agreed saying they were at risk because of the chemo. The ‘Nurse’s’ response was to snap and say ” What do you want me to do, go home? Who’d look after you then?” Which is not the attitude I expect from nurses as I don’t expect laughter when a patient complains of being unable to swallow. If a Nurse is so jaded with her job that this is her only reaction then she shouldn’t be in that job any longer. If more than one on duty feels that way then I would expect the health authority to replace them after reprimanding them. The staff on duty the day before were so different from that. I’m determined that this will not be dropped. I have written my complaint and expect the staff on duty that day to be reprimanded and I want an explanation of Julia’s early and cruel discharge that’s made her and all members of the family suffer like this. I suggest anyone who has suffered anything like this at all should not only complain and seek redress of some kind but make sure the local press hear of it as mine will soon.
Sept 19th 2011
Julia is finally home. She’s very weak and her muscle tone has all but gone as she had no spare fat to cope with the ravages of this illness. Now it’s time to start building her up again so we can get back to fighting the cancer. She’s missed two chemotherapy sessions so far and will no doubt miss next weeks too. That scares me as I have no idea if the tumour might have started growing again without the chemotherapy to stop it. We’re in unknown territory now.
Sept 23rd 2011
For the first time since the operation Julia has got dressed. She’s eaten some breakfast and also some of a late lunch. It’s real progress though I realise there’s a long way to go. Next week we see the oncologist and I’m hoping he’ll restart the chemo the following week. We have to build her up to fight and get her exercising. Though I’m grateful to the surgeon for the job he did I’m sorry that the hospital could not exercise more care and send her home well instead of in the state they did. Thank The Lord for the competence of the local hospital.
Sept 26th 2011
Visit from our daughter and her boyfriend yesterday couldn’t enthuse Julia. They came to help rearrange her bedroom and make more space. I’d hoped she would direct operations but it was too much effort for her. But, she did have a private word with Yvonne’s boyfriend Ugo and unusually for her joined him in prayer. This lasted quite a while giving Yvonne and I chance to see how we feel things are going and what to expect.
What a sea change today. Julia woke up when I took her a cup of tea at 8.15 am. She was bright, breezy and much more positive. After washing and dressing without prompting she suggested a walk to the corner shop together. Though her legs were a little wobbly on the return journey it was fantastic that she’s made such an effort. And people were glad to see her which must have helped her confidence. She was happy and smiling all day and stayed out of bed until almost 9.00pm which has been unheard of recently as she’s preferred bed to being in the lounge…despite the fact that I’ve showered this month. I have to hope this lasts as we’re due to see the oncologist on Thursday and I want her back on chemo as soon as possible. The odds are short with pancreatic cancer and I want all the help we can get. I despise the other hospital for causing this delay in treatment and leaving her so weak. I won’t let this drop.
October 11th 2011.
I wrote my letter of complaint in late September and received an acknowledgement of receipt when I complained that they had not done so within the two days they specify for same. I was reminded hat they could take up to 40 days to investigate. As the complaints team are at the same hospital I’m amazed. All they have to do is walk downstairs, verify Julia was on the ward when I say she was and look at her notes which must have recorded her condition? So we are on 11th October now with no further response and I shall wait the prescribed time before writing again. I’m no fan of the compensation culture but this has made me wonder whether something of that ilk isn’t called for to make the hoospital ensure their staff don’t allow anything similar to happen to vulnerable patients in the future. If a charity has to get a nice donation from this so be it.
Anyway, Julia restarted the full course of chemotherapy again yesterday . I was worried for a while as her while cell count was high from bloodtests last Thursday and higher again from bloodtests yesterday, then they mentioned that her steroids could be causing that. She has a great drug too called Creon which is an enzyme, replacing the one the cancer has dislodged, it helps her digest food which means she actually gets hungry again now and can eat. We’ve regained the weight lost since the gastro-enteritis and a little more to boot. Of course I’m bankrupt now as she’s eating every ice cream in the County.
One funny thing yesterday, Julia was going to lie on a bed for the treatment which can take up to 4 hours. The aide who took us started to lower the bed for her to get on. I saw some movement but after a couple of seconds I noticed the lower end wasn’t going down. There was an over-bed table jammed under a metal brace which holds hand disinfectant keeping th bed up, and instead of it going down the legs were coming up. The jammed table was starting to bow a bit so I took a step forward and pulled the table free. The result was the bed slammed to the floor startling everyone in the ward, including the aide who I’d not told to stop using the bed remote , and the table shot free sending the metal struts straight into my shins. I promise I did not swear (out loud). But I wanted to ask if there was another spare bed for a while.
October 20th.
Since the discovery of Julia’s pancreatic cancer life has been a series of ups and downs. The previous ‘up’ was coming through a splanchnicectomy to cut some nerves and rid her of pain. The ‘down’ was the illness she suffered after being discharged the day after the operation by one hospital and being admitted to another as an emergency. We we’re very close to losing her at that time.
The next ‘down’ was the prognosis by the oncologist and though Julia was free of pain she was still in some discomfort and had little appetite. Then through some superb detective work by my daughter the oncologist prescribed what I can only call a miracle drug called Creon. This provided her with the enzymes to digest her food that the cancer had removed. From being bad one day she went to glowing the very next day. Her appetite has increased, she’s put on more weight and she’s slowly bankrupting me with buying ice cream. There is now a huge shortage of ice cream throughout North Wales and it’s all down to her and I love it.
I’m so grateful for all the positive thoughts from friends and strangers alike. When people can work together like this it shows there’s hope for the world after all.
4th November 2011
Finally today I have received a letter from the Chief Exec of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board regarding my complaint over Julia’s treatment.
Julia has received an unreserved apology for the unsatisfactory treatment and the stress and anxiety to us both following her treatment at the WREXHAM MAELOR Hospital in Wrexham. It looks as though attention has been paid to most of the points I raised like a separate room for Cancer patients to recover in if they have reduced immunity due to chemotherapy. But the fact that they feel Julia was well enough to be discharged because no concerns were raised about the diarhhoea and nausea incenses me. That just means that a member of staff didn’t write notes on what was seen to happen. A member of the palliative care team was aware of the nausea and decided to change her medication to off set this, it didn’t work but was at least an attempt and was recognition that she was suffering . As I was aware of her condition and the fact that she was very dehydrated when she arrived home, you would expect the professionals who were monitoring here to notice too.
Julia being a more forgiving soul than me has accepted the apology but I decided that such treatment in my eyes warranted the hospital being named. This wasLister Ward at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital. For the sake of any other patients being admitted with a low immunity from chemotherapy I hope things improve. I have been made aware that the ward sister hs spoken to the members of staff on duty that morning and impressed upon then the need to provide full and proper care and also to give respect to the patient rather than laughter at an inability to swallow. I’m grateful for this.
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Today we went back to the Oncologist to see if there was any news on alternative treatments for Julia or a restart of the treatment that finished in December when her lungs reacted badly to the drugs. To be honest I was prepared not to go in with Julia, my daughter and my niece because they drool all over poor Dr Garcia and having me there is an obvious distraction being the upstanding citizen I am. My niece had an appointment of her own and wasn’t able to join us so I felt perhaps I could go in and keep my two in order. As it happened I didn’t have to. When Julia’s name was called we took her to be weighed…8st 4 lb including her riding boots etc. I’m quite pleased. Then we were led to a room I haven’t visited before.
Once there we were introduced to Dr. Smith, a very attractive lady of indeterminate accent ( though just possibly S’African or New Zealand). She explained that though she hadn’t met us before she knew Julia very well as she’s responsible for brewing all the concoctions Julia has had to take. She started to go through the notes with us to make sure we were aware f the current situation and left herself open for questions if there were any. There certainly were !! We have had explanations previously as to why Julia could not be operated on the main one being that the tumour being so badly placed that it had enclosed a series of arteries that would make an operation difficult. We asked about the possibility of replacing the pancreas with a manufactured one which had been suggested by an avid fund raiser who wanted Julia to be the first to undergo this operation in the US. We were informed this couldn’t happen as the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes and any operation to replace the pancreas wouldn’t solve that problem and may even exacerbate it. We hadn’t been told this before. Why? Possibly because Dr. Garcia wanted to sugar coat any news rather than cause more worry for Julia. So now we have to adjust ourselves to that news. We were also told that there is the possibility of a different chemo which wasn’t mentioned before either or maybe even the same chemo at a reduced dose. First things first though, let’s arrange a new scan in about 5/6 weeks to see how things actually stand. It’s probable that we’ll see an increase in the tumour size again since it’s been 3 months without treatment of any kind. But, said Dr. Smith, Julia’s positivity is obviously making a great deal of difference to her and it may be best to leave any treatment alone until any symptoms start showing again. Pain or discomfort will be a good reason to revisit the situation but since we don’t want to disturb the lymph nodes if they are quiescent lets leave well enough alone for now.
So there we have it. The new Doctor is pretty and pretty smart too. Didn’t treat us as children unable to take bad news and accepted we’re adults. She was actually amazed at Julia going horse riding and has not had a pancreatic patient present herself looking as well as this at this stage. It certainly pays not to roll over and say die when the ‘C’ word is mentioned. I’m very proud of my wife and the fight she’s putting up. I hope sometime it may just give someone else a little hope.
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MARCH 6, 2012 | EDITLord Daud has entered the building!Lord Daud has entered the building!. A new and Fun interview.
http://acflory.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/lord-daud-has-entered-the-building/
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MARCH 6, 2012 | EDITMarch and the Girl’s Palace. The Girls now live in their new 3 storey palace. Penny (above) is still the boisterous little madam she’s always been and doesn’t think twice about raiding Amy’s quarters for food or just for the hell of it. Amy (left and the darker fur) is learning to stick up for herself a little but is still far too polite to complain when her food goes rushing down two storeys in the mouth of her sister to be hidden for later.
Amy is quite happy to sleep alone and commandeered the little red roofed house for herself. Penny on the other hand thinks Amy makes a great mattress and is inclined to sleep on her any chance she gets. This usually results in the roof going for a burton and both snuggle up after Amy’s resistance is broken. Yesterday we bought a place for Penny to nest in the hopes Amy might get a restful night but Amy removed the bedding and moved herself in. Of course Penny followed suit for a while, still ignoring the extra space and using her sister as a mattress. This morning however I got up to find Amy still in the nest and Penny now sleeping in her expandable tunnel.
The girls need exercise, treats and also food which challenges their teeth and ingenuity. For exercise you can see we’ve installed tunnels, climbing ropes and ramps. To give them something to chew on I bought some nuts though they’re currently very hard to find with shells on. The supermarkets seem to keep them as part of the home baking section so eyebrows are raised when I’m asked ” Making a cake are we?” to which I respond “No, just feeding the rats.”
Getting the girls used to our hands isn’t easy as they seem to associate hands with food and that means the hands could quite easily be the food at that time. Knowing the girls have very sharp teeth, that doesn’t really appeal so being the Gentleman I am I always let Julia have first go while I stand by with antiseptic cream and dressings. They are pure entertainment though and I’m hoping to persuade Yvonne to try and imagine them without tails so she smiles at them instead of shuddering at the thought of them.
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FEBRUARY 28, 2012 | EDITFebruary Ends.Well, for a short month February hasn’t been without consequence. Many of you will know that the pancreas is part of the digestive system, and as a result of having the cancer and also of having the splanchnicectomy ( yes, I’m just showing off that I remember what it was called) Julia’s digestion has been somewhat erratic to say the least.
There have been days of pain with constipation followed by the relief of her meds working to relieve the problem. There have been periods of great distress where the bowels have been working overtime and often without warning. This has also meant some pain, often for me when she screams down my ears “Not again”!!!!!!!!!!! The letter part of last week and the weekend were like that and her mood was very low. She becomes quite maudlin about her parents though she doesn’t want to leave us yet. To brighten her mood I decided to treat her to a hairdo (Thanks Groupon). I was just praying she’s be OK on the day.
The day arrived yesterday and with fingers crossed( and legs) we left the house to do a little shopping for an ‘Urgent ‘ Christening dress ( due in May), a new hat, lunch out and the hair ! Everything was going swimmingly and the weather was nice. Dress and hat nicely bagged ( though we we’re still in Wales and had to pay for the carrier bags) we set out for lunch. Crossing the car park to the pub we’d chosen I heard a sound like a frantic sewing machine approaching at speed. Almost diving out of the way in case a young learner had lost control of a moped I looked round but the only person in sight was Ju who was reddening by the second. It seems some trapped wind had just been released. The meal was nice and we got to the salon in plenty of time for her 3.00 pm appointment. Taking a seat I noticed they also cut men’s hair when they have free time so I took the opportunity to get a crop of my Santa white beard leftover from Winter and a grade 3 haircut. I couldn’t believe how much was coming off. While I was in the chair listening to the young lady tell me all about her father ( probably younger than me but at least it was better than football and politics at the barbers) Julia took her place on the chair close by. We’d been expecting a three quarters of an hour treatment for ‘lowlights’ and a cut to get rid of some of the hair weight that was causing her hair to come out. We left the salon at 6.10 pm and found she’d been given a full colour with lowlights. ( If it sounds like I know what I’m talking about with these technical terms forget it. I learned them parrot fashion). She looked wonderful and her mood was going up off the scale. Brilliant.
Today we had the opticians and learned we both needed new glasses. ( I’d like a pint of bitter in mine please). Varifocals for me and bi-focals for Ju. We were leaving the shop when I noticed that in order to try and fit the new frames the staff had moved her hair. I was left with a dilemma. Did I tell her that she had a very red ear as a result of the dye or did I leave well alone. I decided to mention it…” I didn’t realise that the colouring yesterday included your ears as well as your hair Sweetie” I said. It was suddenly my fault that I hadn’t noticed earlier and warned her before the staff had seen it. That mistake cost me another lunch out.
Recently Julia decided to change the colour scheme in the kitchen. Red kettle, red toaster etc. If she goes in there later I’ll lose her with her hair that colour now.
We see the oncologist on March 8th so I’ll keep you up to date with any news then as to whether there’s any more treatment on offer.
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FEBRUARY 15, 2012 | EDITFebruary ContinuedJulia hasn’t been well these last two days so we’ve been in a lot and watching the characters of Penny and Amy develop.Penny is larger and has a pale grey stripe running down the length of her back. Amy is a much darker grey and much less boisterous than her sister. On Monday they seemed to be fighting and because of the disparity in size I thought it best to separate them. So, when Ju was cleaning the cages we put then girls back differently. Penny was put in the bottom cage and Amy the top. Penny was given an igloo to sleep in though so far she has preferred to drag everything she can into a play tunnel and sleep there. Amy was given the little house they had both used previously and this was put on a higher shelf in the top cage. The only show of disgust we’ve seen from Amy happened then…she didn’t like the bedding material we placed on the floor of the house and promptly kicked it all outside the front door before dragging in some tissue and gong to sleep.
So as not to restrict the girls, access between the cages has been left open and there are ramps and ladders connecting the levels.
I hope the picture will give you an idea what I mean. On Tuesday morning Penny came out full of the joys of spring…I must turn the heating down a bit. She made a huge run up her ramp, through the roof door of the bottom cage, up the hole in the first level of the upper cage (light green), across the wooden footbridge, picked a piece of food from Amy’s food dish and scarpered back the way she’d come. Pretty good since she’d never tried it before unless of course she plotted the route out during the night. Amy didn’t twitch a hair, but having decided Penny shouldn’t be able to pinch Amy’s food at will I moved the dish up to the top layer where the house is.
Today I’m getting a much better idea of their nocturnal activity when I see that Amy has acquired some nice cotton wool bedding from somewhere . Since Penny had quite a bit and I haven’t seen the signs for a sale anywhere locally I have only been able to draw one conclusion. Small she might be but cowed she’s not. Both girls are a delight to watch and they’re definitely becoming less wary of hands since both are happy to accept treats from between our fingers. In fact both are very polite and ladylike in doing so. No snatching and no biting the hand that feeds them either. We’ve also found that when it’s time to clean cage, it’s easiest to put the girls in those big plastic balls that hamsters seem to love. I don’t think rats care for them in the same way since they both sit in their own balls looking puzzled and just rocking occasionally until it’s hometime again. Since spending all that time looking for Amy after ‘The Great Escape’ we’re not risking another runaway session. Maybe when the girls are a bit tamer we can just let them sit on a shoulder till we’re done or if they want to play with Oscar we’ll put them in a pen together so he can’t get away. ha ha22 Comments
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FEBRUARY 11, 2012 | EDITFebruaryWell the month has started slowly. Julia has been forced to sell her horse Tango which has hurt her terribly, but she is no longer able to groom her. Personally I’m glad though it may sound cruel but Tango is now away from the stables I didn’t like, where there were threats of what would happen to Tango if Julia could no longer continue to care for her, and she’s safe on a new farm. As it happens the new farm already had Tango’s best friend so they’re reunited happily.
Two nice things have happened so far this month. One is that after a long period of appeal the section that deals with Disability benefits has finally reinstated my allowance from last August. Second is that Julia was up on a horse again this week for the first time in a long time for a proper ride. It was so nice to see that I sat freezing to death at a picnic table in the rain to watch her. After counting my toes at the end to check none had fallen off with frostbite, I decided it was worth it to see Ju so happy again. Tango couldn’t be ridden since a previous owner had over-raced her and the damage to her tendons was immense. She was a rescue horse and just to be cared for when Ju had her.
Julia has bought two rats. Grey and white they are very pretty. They’ve been christened Penny and Amy after two of the characters on Big Bang Theory which is the funniest comedy on TV today. Penny is the more dominant one who leads Amy astray much as in the show. Penny was also the first to draw blood after Julia’s hand invaded Penny’s space. Amy tried it on me ( shhh, don’t tell Ju as I just told her I have the magic touch) without success as my skin is like the rhino’s. We now have a cage with various levels decorating the lounge but so far they don’t seem too adventurous. We also have to get them used to hands because they’ll be handled quite a lot. If anyone has any metal gauntlets going spare please contact…….
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JANUARY 26, 2012 | EDITJanuary.What a mixed month this is proving to be. Our niece gave birth to little baby boy on 5th, I celebrated my Hrumph birthday on 18th and then a young friend gave birth to a beautiful little girl on 19th. She wasn’t actually due then but no doubt I scare he into it by telling her what would happen if it wasn’t born before 20th and the start of Aquaries.We need all the Capricorns we can get. ( My daughter, amongst other things calls me the Crapicorn).
Today was the important day though 26th. This was the day we returned to see the dishy (not my description-but true nontheless) Oncologist Dr. Garcia to find out if Julia can restart her chemotherapy treatments which you may remember were suspended early December because of the toxicity in her lungs as a rare side effect of the chemo drug.
As her breathing has much improved, I was fully expecting to hear a new start date on a reduced dosage of the drug (Gemcitobine) but that didn’t happen. Ju’s weight has increased to eight and a half stone, she’s as cheerful as usual and breathing well. Dr Garcia told her ‘You’ll live longer without the chemo than with it’ meaning the lung problem will prove fatal faster than the cancer if we carry on. So he’s not starting a treatment at a reduced dose and not going for an alternative. At the moment he’s happy with her as she is and will review it again in another 6 weeks with perhaps a new scan in 2 months.
I suppose this news hits you dependent upon whether you’re a Cup Half Full Man or a Cup Half Empty Man. With Julia it’s left her more positive. With me I’m not sure as I have no idea what the tumor itself can do in 3 months of no treatment and can it be corrected if that’s bad. I’m writing to the US when a Doctor at the University of Pennsylvania has been getting great results with this particular cancer with a new treatment involving something called CD40 which can be used to fight the cancer cells. They have trials in America and also Ireland now. I want to see if they intend any in the UK. I don’t want to sit back and do nothing. Someone has even offered to raise funds to send Julia to the US by way of an auction if a suitable venue can be found…so if you have a Stately Pile anywhere in Europe or America do please let me know.
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JANUARY 7, 2012 | EDITTHE VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD!THE VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD!.
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DECEMBER 2, 2011 | EDITDecember.Well here we are in December. Julia has been in hospital with an infection but was treated on the Cancer ward and was well looked after until she finally returned home on Tuesday night in advance of the Great Strike which affected transport on Wednesday. Though the chest infection seems to be clearing Julia seems to have lost the will to do much at the moment. No doubt one of the 5 stages of grief that comes with the knowledge that you have Cancer. However, today I’m going to see if I can persuade her to come shopping with me and see if that stimulates some interest in her……that’s if shopping for cat food can stimulate any interest. Maybe we can stop for coffee at one of the places we visit in my books ‘Cass E Dees’ or ‘Can I tempt you’ where there are old friends.
Anyway. On behalf of us both I want to wish you all well with your Christmas preparations and no matter what your faith I wish you a peaceful and happy season.
The shopping trip was a success. Julia stayed in the car while I shopped and bought his Highness the cat food he likes ( the dearest of course) and some cat litter. The latter was bought because after lying with Julia on Wednesday night until she was asleep I carefully slipped off the bed and donned my slippers. At least, I donned the left one, as when I started to put on the right foot I found my toes paddling in a pool. I had the dubious pleasure of hopping to the bathroom to empty the contents of the slipper down the loo while I stuck my right foot in the sink and washed it. Julia said Oscar did it because His litter tray was damp and it was my fault….not for using it but for not emptying it. I think it was spite because he wanted Julia all to himself.
Anyway, after shopping we took our usual box of sweets into the cafe for the staff who really made Julia feel at home again and it drew a wonderful smile that’s been missing recently.We sat and enjoyed a latte and caught up on news of the owners sons who are fantastic singers ( sometime I’ll find the youtube link) They are tenor and bass and sing wonderful operatic songs, show songs and even modern songs. Once they sang Somewhere from West Side Story and blew us both away.They are only 18 and 20 which is amazing. We were honored to be given one of their CD’s which we keep in the car.
So, she was tired afterwards but it was worth the effort and I’ll try again tomorrow. We’re due for Chemo om Monday and I’m hoping she’ll be well enough to go. On Thursday we have the results of a new scan to tell us how the chemo is doing and I have my fingers crossed.
Tuesday 6th December.
Julia seemed short of breath today when we shopped and it seemed likely the chest infection was still there. We called the Doctor who visited and after an examination announced it was likely there was a blood clot as there was no fluid sound in the lungs.
They tested her stats on the ambulance and found she was very low on oxygen saturation so started her on that. When we got to the hospital she was taken straight to the AMU ward and bloods taken. Sodium low, potassium low and oxygen saturation very low. It was confirmed that here was likely a blood clot on the lungs. So, she was put on an ECG monitor and given the equivalent of warfarin to thin the blood.
Wednesday 7th December
I’m told Julia will be going for an x-ray and a scan soon. Until then I remain as scared as Julia is and my daughter also though only Yvonne and I dare voice it to each other as we have to remain confident for Ju. She’s hoping that now they know what it is they’ll be able to give her some tablets and a supply of daily injections that she’ll have to have for 3 months then let her out. She’s desperate to be out to attend the meeting tomorrow to see the scan of the tumour and assess how the chemo has affected it. Yvonne has raised the thought that if there’s no visible progress is it worth continuing the chemo when it so reduces Julia’s immunity to infections. She’s quite right but it would be a difficult thing to say in front of Julia as it would be like taking away any hope at all.
Today’s visit has cheered me. The obstruction is dispersed and the oxygen levels are slightly up. They’re even going to try without oxygen tonight to see how she copes. There is still an infection present but we can manage that with antibiotics, the warfarin injections we can do at home but they’d like to see an increase in sodium and potassium levels too. Maybe I can convince her to chew bananas for a few days? Though not happy to be back in hospital so soon Julia was much improved tonight though her eyes were rolling with tiredness…or boredom, which Yvonne and I deny causing. We were happier leaving her than we were last night and know that the staff are trying to help us get her to the meeting with the oncologist tomorrow so we can see whether the chemo has had any positive results.
Personally I’m of the opinion that she’s staying in there to get out of Christmas shopping and gift wrapping in revenge for all the years she got lumbered with the job. Oh well, I hope people like teapots in humerous shapes or silver plated picture frames with pictures of Oscar in them !
Thursday 8th December.
Julia was released from hospital this afternoon so we could attend the meeting with the oncologist. They have diagnosed and treated for basal pneumonia and managed to get the oxygen saturation up a bit so we’ve got antibiotics to take now.
The meeting with the charming oncologist got off to a good start when Julia, Yvonne and my two nieces had stopped saying Corrrrr and drooling over him and his accent. He told us the tumor had responded well to the chemo and shrunk a bit. Before we were able to cheer there came a ‘BUT’
The two latest scans show anomalies on her lungs. There is the outside possibility that this is an infection but the most likely cause is a rare side effect from the chemotherapy itself. If that is the case then chemo will stop dead. Wonderful, the choices now are:- Stop chemo and allow the tumor to grow or keep chemo and damage the lungs beyond repair. A real Hobson’s Choice. He has suspended chemo for next Monday and pencilled in a provisional one for next Thursday following another meeting with him by which time he hopes to know what the lesions on the lungs are. There will be a round of blood tests on Tuesday but I have no idea if these are relevant to that question. We have to get Julia’s weight up again as she’s lost 3lb recently and must keep a close eye on her breathing and temperature in case the antibiotics don’t work and her O2 saturation levels drop again.
I really don’t want this to spoil Julia’s Christmas and I aim to do my best to keep her at home with the family rolling around to visit when they can. The weather’s not nice enough to take her out much and is it possible we’re heading for a White Christmas?
Thursday 15th December.
It was ‘Corrr’ day again as we went to see the oncologist. My wife, daughter and two nieces trooped in to what should have been a surgery and instead resembled a bus with the number of chairs out for us. Of course everyone was concentrating on Dr Garcia and I doubt anyone knew or cared I was in the room. His accent fixates them and it’s like being at the Dr Garcia fan club meeting.
He started to give me the news I was dreading. He’s 80% sure the toxicity in Julia’s lungs is as a result of the rare side effect from the chemo. Because of that he’s cancelled the chemo booked for tomorrow and said to give it a break. We can return in four weeks and he’ll review his decision and MAYBE start her on a new course of chemo at a lower dose. In the meantime I worry that the tumour can start to grow again in the four week break. It’s very hard, shrink the tumour and add more toxicity to the lungs ot save the lungs and……
Anyway, we’ll have Christmas safely at home and hopefully well. We both offer Compliments of the Season to you all and thank you for following this story.
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SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 | EDITThe Hospital that didn’t Care.Sept 9th 2011
The operation went well yesterday I think. An excellent surgeon Mr. Baker, performed a Splanchnicectomy. From there on things went downhill. They discharged Julia at about 1.30pm and her sister and husband brought her home. As she came in you could see she was unwell and I put her straight to bed. Neither her sister nor John her brother in law were happy at the discharge and neither was I when I learned she had been sick throughout the night and morning and had no bowel control. This was soon proved at home too and Julia was in real distress.
By 6.oopm we had got an ambulance and rushed her to the A& E dept of our own Local hospital where they did everything they could to make her comfortable, find out what was wrong and get her a bed. The latter didn’t happen until 11.00pm when she was admitted to the Acute Medical Ward. Some three days later there has been much illness, no eating or drinking and Julia has been on continuous drips until we find out she’s got gastro enteritis.
I’m VERY unhappy that someone on chemotherapy wasn’t isolated after the op to prevent being open to infection and VERY unhappy that an uncaring staff could discharge someone so obviously ill.
Sept 12th 2011
Julia seemed to have turned a little corner today and was a bit brighter. I’m relieved but this will not end here.
I heard from Julia that on the morning of the 9th she was brought some cereal. She wasn’t able to eat any and found that she wasn’t able to swallow the milk. It seems some members of staff found that quite funny. So they ridiculed someone who was sick and suffering and who was becoming dehydrated.The dehydration was very bad by the time we reached the local hospital that evening and there were multiple drips used to help her overcome this until today (Monday).
Sept 13th 2011
Whatever corner we turned yesterday led back to where we were before. Julia is skin and bones at the moment , she’s lost so much weight that she could ill afford to lose. The strain of the sickness and diarrhoea has left her in pain, weak and feeling so defeated that she is saying ” Enough. I give in.” Still unable to eat and drink her mood has become very low and it’s very hard to jolly her out of it or talk her out of it seriously. If only this was over I feel sure she’d be able to get back to the chemotherapy with a degree of acceptance and a determination to win. The nurses on duty on THAT ward on THAT day have no idea what they’ve done. I’m told today there was another cancer patient there also and when one member of staff arrived coughing and sneezing Julia mentioned quietly that she was meant to avoid infections the other woman agreed saying they were at risk because of the chemo. The ‘Nurse’s’ response was to snap and say ” What do you want me to do, go home? Who’d look after you then?” Which is not the attitude I expect from nurses as I don’t expect laughter when a patient complains of being unable to swallow. If a Nurse is so jaded with her job that this is her only reaction then she shouldn’t be in that job any longer. If more than one on duty feels that way then I would expect the health authority to replace them after reprimanding them. The staff on duty the day before were so different from that. I’m determined that this will not be dropped. I have written my complaint and expect the staff on duty that day to be reprimanded and I want an explanation of Julia’s early and cruel discharge that’s made her and all members of the family suffer like this. I suggest anyone who has suffered anything like this at all should not only complain and seek redress of some kind but make sure the local press hear of it as mine will soon.
Sept 19th 2011
Julia is finally home. She’s very weak and her muscle tone has all but gone as she had no spare fat to cope with the ravages of this illness. Now it’s time to start building her up again so we can get back to fighting the cancer. She’s missed two chemotherapy sessions so far and will no doubt miss next weeks too. That scares me as I have no idea if the tumour might have started growing again without the chemotherapy to stop it. We’re in unknown territory now.
Sept 23rd 2011
For the first time since the operation Julia has got dressed. She’s eaten some breakfast and also some of a late lunch. It’s real progress though I realise there’s a long way to go. Next week we see the oncologist and I’m hoping he’ll restart the chemo the following week. We have to build her up to fight and get her exercising. Though I’m grateful to the surgeon for the job he did I’m sorry that the hospital could not exercise more care and send her home well instead of in the state they did. Thank The Lord for the competence of the local hospital.
Sept 26th 2011
Visit from our daughter and her boyfriend yesterday couldn’t enthuse Julia. They came to help rearrange her bedroom and make more space. I’d hoped she would direct operations but it was too much effort for her. But, she did have a private word with Yvonne’s boyfriend Ugo and unusually for her joined him in prayer. This lasted quite a while giving Yvonne and I chance to see how we feel things are going and what to expect.
What a sea change today. Julia woke up when I took her a cup of tea at 8.15 am. She was bright, breezy and much more positive. After washing and dressing without prompting she suggested a walk to the corner shop together. Though her legs were a little wobbly on the return journey it was fantastic that she’s made such an effort. And people were glad to see her which must have helped her confidence. She was happy and smiling all day and stayed out of bed until almost 9.00pm which has been unheard of recently as she’s preferred bed to being in the lounge…despite the fact that I’ve showered this month. I have to hope this lasts as we’re due to see the oncologist on Thursday and I want her back on chemo as soon as possible. The odds are short with pancreatic cancer and I want all the help we can get. I despise the other hospital for causing this delay in treatment and leaving her so weak. I won’t let this drop.
October 11th 2011.
I wrote my letter of complaint in late September and received an acknowledgement of receipt when I complained that they had not done so within the two days they specify for same. I was reminded hat they could take up to 40 days to investigate. As the complaints team are at the same hospital I’m amazed. All they have to do is walk downstairs, verify Julia was on the ward when I say she was and look at her notes which must have recorded her condition? So we are on 11th October now with no further response and I shall wait the prescribed time before writing again. I’m no fan of the compensation culture but this has made me wonder whether something of that ilk isn’t called for to make the hoospital ensure their staff don’t allow anything similar to happen to vulnerable patients in the future. If a charity has to get a nice donation from this so be it.
Anyway, Julia restarted the full course of chemotherapy again yesterday . I was worried for a while as her while cell count was high from bloodtests last Thursday and higher again from bloodtests yesterday, then they mentioned that her steroids could be causing that. She has a great drug too called Creon which is an enzyme, replacing the one the cancer has dislodged, it helps her digest food which means she actually gets hungry again now and can eat. We’ve regained the weight lost since the gastro-enteritis and a little more to boot. Of course I’m bankrupt now as she’s eating every ice cream in the County.
One funny thing yesterday, Julia was going to lie on a bed for the treatment which can take up to 4 hours. The aide who took us started to lower the bed for her to get on. I saw some movement but after a couple of seconds I noticed the lower end wasn’t going down. There was an over-bed table jammed under a metal brace which holds hand disinfectant keeping th bed up, and instead of it going down the legs were coming up. The jammed table was starting to bow a bit so I took a step forward and pulled the table free. The result was the bed slammed to the floor startling everyone in the ward, including the aide who I’d not told to stop using the bed remote , and the table shot free sending the metal struts straight into my shins. I promise I did not swear (out loud). But I wanted to ask if there was another spare bed for a while.
October 20th.
Since the discovery of Julia’s pancreatic cancer life has been a series of ups and downs. The previous ‘up’ was coming through a splanchnicectomy to cut some nerves and rid her of pain. The ‘down’ was the illness she suffered after being discharged the day after the operation by one hospital and being admitted to another as an emergency. We we’re very close to losing her at that time.
The next ‘down’ was the prognosis by the oncologist and though Julia was free of pain she was still in some discomfort and had little appetite. Then through some superb detective work by my daughter the oncologist prescribed what I can only call a miracle drug called Creon. This provided her with the enzymes to digest her food that the cancer had removed. From being bad one day she went to glowing the very next day. Her appetite has increased, she’s put on more weight and she’s slowly bankrupting me with buying ice cream. There is now a huge shortage of ice cream throughout North Wales and it’s all down to her and I love it.
I’m so grateful for all the positive thoughts from friends and strangers alike. When people can work together like this it shows there’s hope for the world after all.
4th November 2011
Finally today I have received a letter from the Chief Exec of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board regarding my complaint over Julia’s treatment.
Julia has received an unreserved apology for the unsatisfactory treatment and the stress and anxiety to us both following her treatment at the WREXHAM MAELOR Hospital in Wrexham. It looks as though attention has been paid to most of the points I raised like a separate room for Cancer patients to recover in if they have reduced immunity due to chemotherapy. But the fact that they feel Julia was well enough to be discharged because no concerns were raised about the diarhhoea and nausea incenses me. That just means that a member of staff didn’t write notes on what was seen to happen. A member of the palliative care team was aware of the nausea and decided to change her medication to off set this, it didn’t work but was at least an attempt and was recognition that she was suffering . As I was aware of her condition and the fact that she was very dehydrated when she arrived home, you would expect the professionals who were monitoring here to notice too.
Julia being a more forgiving soul than me has accepted the apology but I decided that such treatment in my eyes warranted the hospital being named. This wasLister Ward at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital. For the sake of any other patients being admitted with a low immunity from chemotherapy I hope things improve. I have been made aware that the ward sister hs spoken to the members of staff on duty that morning and impressed upon then the need to provide full and proper care and also to give respect to the patient rather than laughter at an inability to swallow. I’m grateful for this.
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February ends.
Well, for a short month February hasn't been without consequence. Many of you will know that the pancreas is part of the digestive system, and as a result of having the cancer and also of having the splanchnicectomy ( yes, I'm just showing off that I remember what it was called) Julia's digestion has been somewhat erratic to say the least.
There have been days of pain with constipation followed by the relief of her meds working to relieve the problem. There have been periods of great distress where the bowels have been working overtime and often without warning. This has also meant some pain, often for me when she screams down my ears "Not again"!!!!!!!!!!! The letter part of last week and the weekend were like that and her mood was very low. She becomes quite maudlin about her parents though she doesn't want to leave us yet. To brighten her mood I decided to treat her to a hairdo (Thanks Groupon). I was just praying she's be OK on the day.
The day arrived yesterday and with fingers crossed( and legs) we left the house to do a little shopping for an 'Urgent ' Christening dress ( due in May), a new hat, lunch out and the hair ! Everything was going swimmingly and the weather was nice. Dress and hat nicely bagged ( though we we're still in Wales and had to pay for the carrier bags) we set out for lunch. Crossing the car park to the pub we'd chosen I heard a sound like a frantic sewing machine approaching at speed. Almost diving out of the way in case a young learner had lost control of a moped I looked round but the only person in sight was Ju who was reddening by the second. It seems some trapped wind had just been released. The meal was nice and we got to the salon in plenty of time for her 3.00 pm appointment. Taking a seat I noticed they also cut men's hair when they have free time so I took the opportunity to get a crop of my Santa white beard leftover from Winter and a grade 3 haircut. I couldn't believe how much was coming off. While I was in the chair listening to the young lady tell me all about her father ( probably younger than me but at least it was better than football and politics at the barbers) Julia took her place on the chair close by. We'd been expecting a three quarters of an hour treatment for 'lowlights' and a cut to get rid of some of the hair weight that was causing her hair to come out. We left the salon at 6.10 pm and found she'd been given a full colour with lowlights. ( If it sounds like I know what I'm talking about with these technical terms forget it. I learned them parrot fashion). She looked wonderful and her mood was going up off the scale. Brilliant.
Today we had the opticians and learned we both needed new glasses. ( I'd like a pint of bitter in mine please). Varifocals for me and bi-focals for Ju. We were leaving the shop when I noticed that in order to try and fit the new frames the staff had moved her hair. I was left with a dilemma. Did I tell her that she had a very red ear as a result of the dye or did I leave well alone. I decided to mention it..." I didn't realise that the colouring yesterday included your ears as well as your hair Sweetie" I said. It was suddenly my fault that I hadn't noticed earlier and warned her before the staff had seen it. That mistake cost me another lunch out.
Recently Julia decided to change the colour scheme in the kitchen. Red kettle, red toaster etc. If she goes in there later I'll lose her with her hair that colour now.
We see the oncologist on March 8th so I'll keep you up to date with any news then as to whether there's any more treatment on offer.
January
What a mixed month this is proving to be. Our niece gave birth to little baby boy on 5th, I celebrated my Hrumph birthday on 18th and then a young friend gave birth to a beautiful little girl on 19th. She wasn't actually due then but no doubt I scare he into it by telling her what would happen if it wasn't born before 20th and the start of Aquaries.We need all the Capricorns we can get. ( My daughter, amongst other things calls me the Crapicorn).Today was the important day though 26th. This was the day we returned to see the dishy (not my description-but true nontheless) Oncologist Dr. Garcia to find out if Julia can restart her chemotherapy treatments which you may remember were suspended early December because of the toxicity in her lungs as a rare side effect of the chemo drug.
As her breathing has much improved, I was fully expecting to hear a new start date on a reduced dosage of the drug (Gemcitobine) but that didn't happen. Ju's weight has increased to eight and a half stone, she's as cheerful as usual and breathing well. Dr Garcia told her 'You'll live longer without the chemo than with it' meaning the lung problem will prove fatal faster than the cancer if we carry on. So he's not starting a treatment at a reduced dose and not going for an alternative. At the moment he's happy with her as she is and will review it again in another 6 weeks with perhaps a new scan in 2 months.
I suppose this news hits you dependent upon whether you're a Cup Half Full Man or a Cup Half Empty Man. With Julia it's left her more positive. With me I'm not sure as I have no idea what the tumor itself can do in 3 months of no treatment and can it be corrected if that's bad. I'm writing to the US when a Doctor at the University of Pennsylvania has been getting great results with this particular cancer with a new treatment involving something called CD40 which can be used to fight the cancer cells. They have trials in America and also Ireland now. I want to see if they intend any in the UK. I don't want to sit back and do nothing. Someone has even offered to raise funds to send Julia to the US by way of an auction if a suitable venue can be found...so if you have a Stately Pile anywhere in Europe or America do please let me know.
The Versatile Blogger Award.
Many Thanks to Pete Denton for a nomination in 'The Versatile Blogger' award. It's quite a chest Puffing thing to be nominated for an award you wren't even aware of. Many thanks Pete. It especially nice from a man who has himself been nominated for the award and who fully deserves it for his writing. See for yourselves http://petedenton.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/the-versatile-blogger-award/
As part of this contest I'm supposed to mention 7 things about myself, so taking a chance on boring you, here they are.
1. I didn't actually wear jeans until I was about 30 and had to be persuaded (violently I might add) by my wife and daughter to join the 20th century.
2. I remember the start of Coronation Street and used to be able to name the cast members thanks to my grandmother growing up with Auntie Vi Carson aka Ena Sharples.
3. As a child at School I sang in a Church choir. You certainly wouldn't think it now.
4. I disliked Senior School thanks to the teacher who always made us create things from balsa wood. I used to play truant along the banks of the River Mersey in Stockport.
5. I'm an avid collector ( or hoarder my wife says) and have left behind collections every time we've moved. The last buyers got some good walking sticks and a forgotten coin/note collection.
6.I have been involved in charities for many years. Once when doing a treasure hunt (in cars) a clue asked us to bring back the Prince of Wales Feathers.In about 20 cars we denuded a garden of Pampas grass only to find out we should hsve been collecting 2p coins from a phone box.
7. I'm addicted to the Big Bang Theory which I think is the best comedy on TV in years, yes even better than Scrubs. I can't imagine learning the lines they have to for that show.
Sites I like for the Nomination.http://petedenton.wordpress.com
http://ililarbel.weebly.com Work in Progress.
Hello everyone, welcome to my blog/web pages.
Since I started another blog site dedicated to my books I have also starting interviewing other authors. They have provided interesting insights into themselves as well as their books. I'd like to invite you to visit http://barsetshirediaries.wordpress.com to meet these authors and to sample some of their work. You'll enjoy it.
A very kind and talented author created a site where we poor starving authors can receive a little exposure. She created one in my honour http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wix.com%2Fniamhclune%2Fdavidmichaelprosser&h=WAQD5xq2i if anyone would like to share. The talented Lady is called Niamh Clune and I suspect we'll be hearing a lot about her in the future.
Further interviews include....
Collette Scott - Author: A visit with Lord David Prosser of The Queen's Envoy collettescott.blogspot.com
Another gentleman created a new site - http://www.booksandnovelstoread.com New and aspiring authors are largely ignored by publishers because the industry wants a sure thing, an established author or some sort of celebrity. So, many authors go down the self-published route and then their problem is getting the book seen by the reading public. This website is to give FREE ADVERTISING to the many thousands of emerging authors. There are so many of good books out there that you wouldn't normally get the chance to read if it were not for the internet. Give it a try you will be pleasantly surprised.
A fun interview to share with you. http://paradox-theangelsarehere.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-with-david-prosser-author-of.html
Sometimes life gets in the way.
There's an Old Jewish saying I heard recently Man plans, God laughs.
Recently my wife Julia had been complaining of stomach pains. Because her father was ill we put off any trip to the doctors except to get painkillers , putting the problem down to stress. Her father, lovingly known as the 'Squadron Leader' passed away and we got caught up in all the arrangements and the clearing up. This was a little worse than usual because he had died within 24 hours of an operation there was an autopsy and the coroner called for an inquest. The inquest won't take place until November and that will hurt everyone all over again as we have to attend to get a death certificate.
Anyway, we had the cremation service which we tried to make light by playing his favourite song, The Banana Boat Song, or Day, Oh, by Stan Freburg.
The following day there was no ignoring the pain which was by now more than uncomfortable and we had to call a doctor out. Ju was taken to hospital where we have since discovered she has pancreatic cancer. She's been an absolute star since she was first told. A little cry followed by the determination not to let the cancer win. We've been told that they cannot operate as the tumour has grown round the main blood vessels which run through the pancreas. This is a blow but we are resigned to having chemotherapy to shrink it. Then, knowing chemo is not enough to kill it we have to see if we can get radiation therapy.
Along with morphine to kill the pain there are other medicines to take to manage the pain and today we have to try and get steroids to see if we can enhance her appetite to counter the weight loss. Somehow I don't think this is a diet that will catch on. Then there will be a dietician to advise on what best to eat evn if Ju doesn't feel hungry as seems to be the case most of the time.
Next week we see the oncologist who will tell us when the chemo starts and where it will take place. We have our fingers crossed that it will be at our nearest main hospital and not in Liverpool so Ju does not feel too isolated. It's also a time to see if we can get her on a trial for a new radiation therapy. At least her age is in her favour here as she's not too old for that.
I'll update as we go along and when we get more news if anyone is interested. You can always leave a message on Oscar's Blog or message me on twitter @davidmfprosser.
23.Aug 2011.
Today is the day I've been waiting for when the chemotherapy starts. It's been a difficult time watching Julia suffer because every few days her body has adjusted to the morphine and the dose has had to be increased. We've had various methods of delivery too form under the tongue to the current arm patches with doses of liquid morphine as well. On Sept 8th a great gurgeon will operate to kill the nerve endings to the part of the pancreas where the tumour is. That should help the pain as long as the tumour doesn't grow, or hasn't grown since the last scans were taken.
Sept 9th 2011
The operation went well yesterday I think. An excellent surgeon Mr. Baker, performed a Splanchnicectomy. From there on things went downhill. They discharged Julia at about 1.30pm and her sister and husband brought her home. As she came in you could see she was unwell and I put her straight to bed. Neither her sister nor John her brother in law were happy at the discharge and neither was I when I learned she had been sick throughout the night and morning and had no bowel control. This was soon proved at home too and Julia was in real distress.
By 6.oopm we had got an ambulance and rushed her to the A& E dept of our own Local hospital where they did everything they could to make her comfortable, find out what was wrong and get her a bed. The latter didn't happen until 11.00pm when she was admitted to the Acute Medical Ward. Some three days later there has been much illness, no eating or drinking and Julia has been on continuous drips until we find out she's got gastro enteritis.
I'm VERY unhappy that someone on chemotherapy wasn't isolated after the op to prevent being open to infection and VERY unhappy that an uncaring staff could discharge someone so obviously ill.
Julia seemed to have turned a little corner today and was a bit brighter. I'm relieved but this will not end here.
Sept 19th 2011.
Finally I have Julia back out of hospital. She's very week and though the sickness has ended the gstric problem still remains. We have to wait for it to clear itself out of her system and start building her up. As she carried no reserves of fat when she went into hospital, the inability to eat or drink has left her weak and with poor muscle tone. We need to get that back in order so that we can get her back out there fighting the cancer.
Sept 24th 2011.
This is the first day since the operation that Julia has got dressed. She's eaaten some porridge for beakfast and also had a little lamb, mash and veg for lunch. Not much but it's progress. I've finally had an email to acknowledge receipt of my complaint against the first hospital and I'm told it's been passed to them to deal with. The delay was apparantly due to changes in dealing with issues. I hope it won't lead to a delay in the first hospital acknowledging receipt and acting upon it. If it does, then I shall name and shame the Hospital and the ward before then speaking to a solicitor.
Sept 25th 2011
Our daughter and her boyfriend visited today. The object was to help tidy up Ju's bedroom and remove unused things to the garage. This was meant to enthuse her but she was listless and left it to us more or less. The one thing that happened that surprised me was that Julia had a private converstaion with Ugo ( Yvonne's boyfriend) and joined him in prayers. Unusual because like me Julia does not hold to a specific faith. We usually tend to cherry pick the best of each and hope the world will change to keep to the nice bits of them all.
Sept 26th 2011
Today was a breakthrough day. I woke Julia with a cup of tea at 8.15 am and she was positively radiant. She even suggested taking a walk together to the papershop, which we did even though she finished it on wobbly legs. She ate a steak at lunch time and has stayed positive all day.
October 11th 2011
The new round of chemotherapy started again yesterday..at last. I think we're both disappointed that it's had to start from scratch again. 7 weeks at one day a week, then 3 weeks out of every 4. It almost feels like the three treatments she had before the operation have been wasted. But since she came out of hospital she's been given steroids to help with appetite and some enzymes (Creon) which have been marvelous at helping digest her food which she couldn't do as that's what the cancer does to the pancreas. Since then we've regained the weight that was lost plus a little more. I'm guessing that's because she's currently trying to see if she can eat her way through every Cornetto in every County of Wales, and bankrupt me in the process. There was a little worry yesterday to when we found her white blood cell count is high. It was measured both last Thursday and yesterday from bloodtests. We hope it's just a side effect of the steroids.
She's practically pain free, she's bouncy and she's eating. I'm really pleased.
The hospital acknowledged my complaint and said it could take 40 days to investigate. That's a walk down to the ward, collecting notes to prove Julia was in for the op, checking that she exhibited the conditions I claim, seeing who was on duty that morning and writing to tell me what action they're taking. I'm being patient nontheless and waiting till the end of October. If I hear nothing by then it's the press and a solicitor who can talk for me. They need to be aware they have vulnerable people in there and can't treat them like this. When you go into hospital you expect care, you need care and that's what we pay staff to give, In fairness the staff are usually amazing and I must make a point of saying The Staff at Glan Clywd Hospital in Bodelwyddan, North Wales are brilliant. I can't thank them enough for the care I've had in the past and for sending Julia back to me this time so improved.
20th October 2011
I've been notified the investigation should be completed by 26th October. It looks like there were more stairs than I thought. I'll keep you all posted with their response.
2nd November 2011
It appears they changed their minds about Ju's chemotherapy and counted the first treatments as part of the current course, and they're counting the break as natural and as one treatment(~?) so this week she'd on a break. Yesterday, our Silver Wedding Anniversary we went to the pain clinic and were told that the meds she's on now are holding her so well that they're not going to change them. That's great as she's feeling no pain at all ( though boy is she windy) and feels pretty normal in herself, quite chipper in fact.
I heard that the investigation concluded late but that it's done and the person responsible is just waiting for agreement from upstairs on the letter. Then the chairman will sign it before it's sent out to me. I e.mailed straight back to ask whether a written apology would come to Julia as I requested but that received no response. So, now I wait for the letter before I decide whether to go to the papers, name and shame on my websites and take legal action for their
4th November 2011
Finally today I have received a letter from the Chief Exec of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
she seems a sincere and pleasant lady. Julia has received an unreserved apology for the unsatisfactory treatment and the stress and anxiety to us both following her treatment at the WREXHAM MAELOR Hospital in Wrexham. It looks as though attention has been paid to most of the points I raised but the fact that they feel Julia was well enough to be discharged because no concerns were raised about the diarhhoea incenses me. That just means that a member of staff didn't write notes on what was seen to happen. As I was aware of her condition and the fact that she was very dehydrated, you would expect the professionals who were monitoring here to notice too.
Julia being a more forgiving soul than me has accepted the apology but I decided that such treatment in my eyes warranted the hospital being named. This was Lister Ward at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital. For the sake of any other patients being admitted with a low immunity from chemotherapy I hope things improve.
That the staff on duty that day have been spoken to by the Ward Sister with regards to their duty of care is a god sign. But, if we have nursing staff so jaded that they need reminding their patients deserve the best care possible, and they think of this as a job and a means to get paid rather than as a vocation then they're in the wrong job. There was a time that British hospitals were the best and Matrons ensured they remained so. I wonder if we've gone to far with restructuring and employing 'managers' to recapture that time?
Wednesday 23rd November.
Monday's chemotherapy seems to have had an adverse effect this week and Julia is not herself. On asking her to take her temperature this morning we find it's elevated and phone the hospital straight away. The Cancer Unit have sent out an ambulance straight away and they've admitted Julia with what appears to be a chest infection or, an infection that's gone to her chest. I can't help but wonder if it's from a little bite Oscar gave her on Tuesday morning.
Friday 25th November.
The infection has settled in well and Julia is on a variety of drips as she's not eating and drinking again. Antibiotics, saline and glucose drips are all attached. The infection has caused her previous stomach problems to return and she's sick from both ends. Blood samples are difficult to get as her veins are collapsing left, right and centre. I hate seeing her suffer like this and she has no will to smile .
Monday 28th November.
A slight improvement today and a little food has been taken. I'm pleased as maybe the scheduled scan can go ahead tomorrow now though Julia is none too pleased at the liquid she has to take in half a pint of water this morning, tonight and then an hour and a half before the scan tomorrow. At least the sickness has stopped and the temperature is down.
Tuesday 29th November.
What a performance. Julia went for the scan at 9.30 and was turned away as she hadn't drunk the required liquid...as her Oncologist told her yesterday she didn't need too as he could see what he needed on a scan without it. The scan staff told her to take another dose and return at 12.00am. She did and the scan was finally done. I had high hopes of her discharge today but it's not looking hopeful. Tomorrow is the day of the general strike which will make transport difficult if she's discharged then and I won't be able to get to see her.
Wednesday 30th November.
Well, with a lot of grovelling the staff let Julia come home at 9.00pm last night. My brother went out to pick her up and bring her home so not only was I delighted to have her home but I had the pleasure of seeing him too. She went to bed pretty much straight away and I took a cup of tea through and settled her.
Thursday 1st December.
Julia's chest still feels tight she says though her temperature is normal again. I expect it will take time.
I can tell she's not happy and our daughter has managed to find out that she's afraid this is the end in sight.
I don't agree. Julia has barely left the couch all day and shows no interest in going out. I need to motivate her somehow.
Friday 2nd December
Success ! This morning I reminded Julia that the cat was almost out off food and that we needed other things. She agreed to come shopping. She actually stayed in the car while I shopped but I don't mind. It was worth crippling myself under 93 bags and having to avoid talking to people in a shop just to get her out. Then another miracle. She agreed to stop for coffee at a cafe we use a lot. Brilliant move on the part of this genius husband. The staff were delighted to see her and I actually saw Julia smile for the first time in days. We enjoyed a latte and headed home where she was more animated than she has been. I still had to be the one who cooked the lunch and washed the pots though...she's risking her health again. Actually I think she's pushing her illness too far just to see me work for a change. Our daughter Yvonne came after lunch and managed to brighten Julia even further by helping get down the Christmas decorations and Julia started putting them up. Oh for the peace and quiet of hospital again.!!!!
Wednesday 7th December.
Julia had to go back into hospital as an emergency yesterday as she found it difficult to breathe. It turns out that she has a blood clot on her lungs. It never rains but it pours on her. Low sodium, low potassium and very low oxygen saturation. These was a warfarin injection given and that will have to continue daily for 3 months and there will no doubt be new antibiotics which I hope they give in tablet form as the IV drip often upsets her stomach. I'm scared and I know my daughter is so it's quite likely that poor Ju is too. She really wants to come home today so we can attend the meeting with the oncologist tomorrow and see what effect the chemo has had on the cancer.If it's little or none the question is do we continue knowing that it has a detrimental effect on Ju's immunity and leaves her open to infections?
Thursday 15th December.
It was ‘Corrr’ day again as we went to see the oncologist. My wife, daughter and two nieces trooped in to what should have been a surgery and instead resembled a bus with the number of chairs out for us. Of course everyone was concentrating on Dr Garcia and I doubt anyone knew or cared I was in the room. His accent fixates them and it’s like being at the Dr Garcia fan club meeting.
He started to give me the news I was dreading. He’s 80% sure the toxicity in Julia’s lungs is as a result of the rare side effect from the chemo. Because of that he’s cancelled the chemo booked for tomorrow and said to give it a break. We can return in four weeks and he’ll review his decision and MAYBE start her on a new course of chemo at a lower dose. In the meantime I worry that the tumour can start to grow again in the four week break. It’s very hard, shrink the tumour and add more toxicity to the lungs ot save the lungs and……
Anyway, we’ll have Christmas safely at home and hopefully well. We both offer Compliments of the Season to you all and thank you for following this story.
IMPORTANT
A young friend who has just written her first book 'Antiserum' is donating part of the profit to a burns unit that treated her sister successfully for third degree burns. If you want to buy the book to help the cause or just donate to an excellent cause then please go to http://patriciacarrigan.com/ The book is excellent !
And so to begin.....
I'm David and I thought it might be nice to share some things with you about my life. Not that I want to bore everyone to tears but because I thought it might be fun for some of you to find out that even at 60 it's not too late to embrace changes.
For instance, who'd have thought at this age I'd be creating a web page or writing my first book, or even my second or third for that matter?
The books came about by accident. A good friend who happens to be an author asked me one day to tell her about my day. I decided to turn it into a grossly exagerated , out of proportion day. This made her laugh and she asked to see more. As I was unwell and had the time I decided to make every day like that for a time and sent them too her. Soon my wife was asking for copies, then my daughter and her friends who loved the stories. My friend suggested they would make a book and so it happened. I didn't really have much faith in it but when it was published people began to write nice things and say how they'd laughed.
Out of this was born my second book which is due out shortly. A prequel that explains about my title and how after I got it I gave up work only to inherit the unofficial job of The Queen's Envoy which my late cousin had been doing. Here starts the adventures of someone out of his depth in foreign countries trying to solve problems for the Crown.
This web space will also tell about my wish to see the hate in the world replaced by a little more understanding, a lot less hate and a lot of Hugs. One other venture dear to my heart is the exposure of those who sell fake titles, not only defrauding the buyer but debasing the institution of the nobility entirely. In the UK, the most inspirational leads are the Earl of Bradford who deals with those titles claiming to be British, I have great admiration for Professor Frederick Trowman who does sterling work at disecting the family trees of supposed claimants to the names of great houses the world over. I, along with a great friend from South Carolina have concentrated on those sellers of titles who claim to be able to offer all degrees of nobility to defunct lands and houses and to offers of Knighthood in fake Orders, and would profit from the misery they cause. Our work can be seen on http://www.bigtent.com/group/buzz and http://duchyfrauds.ning.com/
My first book was published in early January. I've been very lucky in thst the readers have given it a great response but a little less lucky that it's been published in the US and is on amazon.com making it harder for my UK readers to get to. Fortunately this has changed and the book is now on Amazon.co.uk as well.
The book is called My Barsetshire Diary and here follows some information.
Old Kid on the Block. Proving there's still life in the Old Dog is the aim of many a new retiree. One of those ways is to write the book you always said you had in you. Here is one such book.
After taking early retirement due to health problems Lord David Prosser was determined to show there was still life in the Old Dog.
Just released is his first book in the form of diary cataloguing his daily life, which he maintains is lived in a daze.
Entitled My Barchester Diary this is written 60 years after Angela Thirkell last published her Barchester works which coincidentally was 60 years after Anthony Trollope published his.
This new book shows how David's life is ruled by Oscar the cat and how his wife and daughter maintain a stranglehold on his credit card.
A new author with a new style showing in his comical way that life begins at 60.
Copies of the book can be obtained from Amazon.com, Amazon .co.uk, or by going to this link:-
https://www.createspace.com/3532875
Published by Mediablvd.
# # #
About the author:
Lord David Prosser lives in a small village in Wales. He is surrounded by the characters from the book and of course has heavily disguised the cast's real names in order to avoid being sued. The cat, however, he's taken a chance on, as it doesn't have a solicitor. His wife and daughter obviously exist too and have promised to take no action against him in exchange for his credit card. Please Dear Reader venture into his world to keep him solvent.
I was lucky enough to be interviewed for the mediablvd site by Rachel Allenby. Anyone interested in reading it will find it from this link
http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/the_news/current/my_barsetshire_diary%3a_interview_with_lord_david_prosser_201102202407.html
Reviews
Patti Waugh You will die laughing - I almost did... LOL
Pauline Yudowitz The book is as expected ..... brilliant.
The book is called My Barsetshire Diary and here follows some information.
Old Kid on the Block. Proving there's still life in the Old Dog is the aim of many a new retiree. One of those ways is to write the book you always said you had in you. Here is one such book.
After taking early retirement due to health problems Lord David Prosser was determined to show there was still life in the Old Dog.
Just released is his first book in the form of diary cataloguing his daily life, which he maintains is lived in a daze.
Entitled My Barchester Diary this is written 60 years after Angela Thirkell last published her Barchester works which coincidentally was 60 years after Anthony Trollope published his.
This new book shows how David's life is ruled by Oscar the cat and how his wife and daughter maintain a stranglehold on his credit card.
A new author with a new style showing in his comical way that life begins at 60.
Copies of the book can be obtained from Amazon.com, Amazon .co.uk, or by going to this link:-
https://www.createspace.com/3532875
Published by Mediablvd.
# # #
About the author:
Lord David Prosser lives in a small village in Wales. He is surrounded by the characters from the book and of course has heavily disguised the cast's real names in order to avoid being sued. The cat, however, he's taken a chance on, as it doesn't have a solicitor. His wife and daughter obviously exist too and have promised to take no action against him in exchange for his credit card. Please Dear Reader venture into his world to keep him solvent.
I was lucky enough to be interviewed for the mediablvd site by Rachel Allenby. Anyone interested in reading it will find it from this link
http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/the_news/current/my_barsetshire_diary%3a_interview_with_lord_david_prosser_201102202407.html
Reviews
Patti Waugh You will die laughing - I almost did... LOL
Pauline Yudowitz The book is as expected ..... brilliant.
After inheriting his Title,Lord David little realised he would also inherit a job. After all, he'd just retired. But this job was as an unofficial envoy to HMG and could he turn it down? He's a fish out of water groping his way from situation to situation with a hint of desparation but with all the aplomb and stiff upper lip he can muster.Will he cope with all that life throws at him and all the women that seem intent on compromising him?
Currently available from Lulu.com, Amazon .com and .co.uk ' The Queen's Envoy'
ISBN number 978-1-4475-1181-6
If you would like to sample the book go to
http://bit.ly/hQnDYl
A really nice review.
At the top of my gift list this year is The Queen's Envoy by Lord David Prosser. The only book that has had me laughing out loud in years. I enjoyed it immensely. If you haven't read it yet, you simply must. I'm rushing to purchase his other book 'My
Barchester Diary NOW.
Rosellen Reisinger
San Francisco, CA USA
Kathy Alverson MullisJust had to write and tell you the " The Queen's Envoy" is MAGNIFICENT!!! I loved it; and was especially fond of "Christmas Day". !!! Two wonderful books in a row.......that is awesome......CONGRATULATIONS.....Looking forward to the next one. Kathy
Book Blogger.
The title really explains what this book is about. Lord David received his title when a relative passes away. He finds out that he also inherited his job. Lord David's life and job are described in this book in the form of journal entries. The book was labeled as humor when sent to me and I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. Just because the author thinks something is funny, doesn't mean the rest of us will. But this book lives up to the title (of humorous) and goes beyond. I laughed all the way through this book. I enjoy British humor and that was part of it, but I think this author could tell about taking out the garbage and make us laugh. This is Lord David's second book and I will certainly be purchasing the first one. This book is one of the books being given away on my blog. Make sure you enter to win. This book is certainly a keeper. I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.
Currently available from Lulu.com, Amazon .com and .co.uk ' The Queen's Envoy'
ISBN number 978-1-4475-1181-6
If you would like to sample the book go to
http://bit.ly/hQnDYl
A really nice review.
At the top of my gift list this year is The Queen's Envoy by Lord David Prosser. The only book that has had me laughing out loud in years. I enjoyed it immensely. If you haven't read it yet, you simply must. I'm rushing to purchase his other book 'My
Barchester Diary NOW.
Rosellen Reisinger
San Francisco, CA USA
Kathy Alverson MullisJust had to write and tell you the " The Queen's Envoy" is MAGNIFICENT!!! I loved it; and was especially fond of "Christmas Day". !!! Two wonderful books in a row.......that is awesome......CONGRATULATIONS.....Looking forward to the next one. Kathy
Book Blogger.
The title really explains what this book is about. Lord David received his title when a relative passes away. He finds out that he also inherited his job. Lord David's life and job are described in this book in the form of journal entries. The book was labeled as humor when sent to me and I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. Just because the author thinks something is funny, doesn't mean the rest of us will. But this book lives up to the title (of humorous) and goes beyond. I laughed all the way through this book. I enjoy British humor and that was part of it, but I think this author could tell about taking out the garbage and make us laugh. This is Lord David's second book and I will certainly be purchasing the first one. This book is one of the books being given away on my blog. Make sure you enter to win. This book is certainly a keeper. I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.
Another book in the Barsetshire Diaries series.
Lord David again introduces us to the characters from the first book and tries to help the Dreaded Edna with her campaign to become a Local Councillor following the promise Lady J made on his behalf. How will he cope with this as well as the new fundraising he has to do for Triple D. Diana the Dowager Duchess of Cheam wants her family home restored, Lady J has been given the job and guess whom she co-opted.
Lady J's father , the Squadron Leader (retd) tells us of the man with the big organ before escaping to tickle 'trout'. Come and meet all the usual suspects and a few new ones in this humerous book about the life of the Gentry.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/more-barsetshire-diary/15921411
http://www.prlog.org/11527136-the-barsetshire-diaries-steamroller.html">
The Barsetshire Diaries steamroller</a> The Press release.
http://www.briefingwire.com/pr/barsetshire-revised-in-the-new-barsetshire-diaries-series-of-books.. <a href="
Lord David again introduces us to the characters from the first book and tries to help the Dreaded Edna with her campaign to become a Local Councillor following the promise Lady J made on his behalf. How will he cope with this as well as the new fundraising he has to do for Triple D. Diana the Dowager Duchess of Cheam wants her family home restored, Lady J has been given the job and guess whom she co-opted.
Lady J's father , the Squadron Leader (retd) tells us of the man with the big organ before escaping to tickle 'trout'. Come and meet all the usual suspects and a few new ones in this humerous book about the life of the Gentry.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/more-barsetshire-diary/15921411
http://www.prlog.org/11527136-the-barsetshire-diaries-steamroller.html">
The Barsetshire Diaries steamroller</a> The Press release.
http://www.briefingwire.com/pr/barsetshire-revised-in-the-new-barsetshire-diaries-series-of-books.. <a href="
Allow me to introduce you to Oscar.
Because of a letter from his solicitor which suggested I used his name in my books without prior consultation, I have now been forced to allow certain concessions, one of which is that I allow him the opportunity to allow his fans to see his true self through the medium of a blog. Therefore, from today and with severe misgivings I have created a blog page for him which I have no say in.
Therefore, what you read will be his own work and if it offends you, though it is on my webpages,it's Oscar you need to confront.
David. 06.Apr.2011
Because of a letter from his solicitor which suggested I used his name in my books without prior consultation, I have now been forced to allow certain concessions, one of which is that I allow him the opportunity to allow his fans to see his true self through the medium of a blog. Therefore, from today and with severe misgivings I have created a blog page for him which I have no say in.
Therefore, what you read will be his own work and if it offends you, though it is on my webpages,it's Oscar you need to confront.
David. 06.Apr.2011
