Well, only a little bit...
I seem to have acquired quite a few new readers, and I don't want to let them down by not blogging at all. I haven't had much cancer-related to say over the last couple of weeks. My arm is still a bit swollen but it has gone down a lot. I try to wear the compression bandage recommended by the physio at the hospice, but it slips down my arm in the most annoying way, so I'm not sure it's really helpful. I dutifully administer the horrid Fragmin injections daily as prescribed. I'm waiting for a scan before Christmas, but frequent calls to my consultant's secretary just confirm that they're overloaded and my scan is still 'pending'. So I just have to wait my turn.
In the meantime we have had the huge excitement of John's 70th birthday lunch. I pushed the boat out big time and hired the private dining room at the St Pancras Hotel for a lunch for 20 family and friends on Saturday. I should explain that my hubby is a train spotter, and has a particular affection for the Midland railway, so the St Pancras Hotel is very special to him. And naturally, because we live in Wales, the obvious thing to do was to stay a couple of nights in the hotel. Now here's something cancer-related: I felt awful last week and spent two days either in bed or in the bathroom. This was probably because I had tried, unsuccessfully, to reduce the steroids, and that seriously distorted my bowel function. We were due to take the train to London on Friday lunchtime, but even when we got up on Friday morning, I wasn't sure that I would make it. However, somehow I rallied round, and managed to put aside my pain and discomfort. And we had a fabulous time! The hotel is utterly gorgeous, as any of you who have been there will know. It has been painstakingly restored to its former Victorian opulence, and there is not a surface left uncovered by decorative paint effects, gold leaf, tiles or carpet. There is very little of the original décor left - just a few floor tiles, notably in the main corridor, and one mural of peacocks - but the restored bits are wonderful nonetheless. Here are the peacocks:
And here is another pair of peacocks: us on the magnificent main staircase, complete with Christmas trees:
Only residents are allowed to use the staircase, which extends to the full height of the building (three storeys), but needless to say we saw quite a few people 'trespassing' to take photos of themselves and each other. Our four little granddaughters were entranced, especially by the piano you can see on the right, which plays itself.
Anyway, I just wanted to record that we had a wonderful time, and I have one very happy husband by my side. It just goes to show that life can still be good even if one is battling this awful disease. After they'd told John how well he looked for 70, our guests would then go on to tell him how well I looked (even though I'm now all puffy-faced from the steroids and have a huge swollen abdomen - and a swollen arm). He felt obliged to reply that I may look all right but it's a bit of an illusion. Still, sometimes the illusion is as good as the real thing!
