Post 394: Coffee catch-up and a mighty hike.
What can I say about the restful day that starts the week in such a nice way?
Although I have let my duties slip, I did grab a small piece of paper, sketch and write a few words on it and tape it to my Darling’s bluish 1-litre water canister. She had gone to bed tired and early enough to get a good night’s sleep after a quiet evening at home, as usual. I wanted her to wake up and take it to work with a little message that should say how I feel.
It was when I was finally doing a bit of tidying up after myself and sorting out the big bag of pills into their respective places in a kitchen cupboard that shouldn’t have to double up as a drug store.
Why is it that I have so many drugs to take? Why can’t I wean myself off them to free up my day from alarms and water bottles everywhere in the house just to allow me to swallow another painkiller or heart med?
This week will see me have one doctor’s appointment that is for my accumulated problems — six major problems that need sorting — and another one that’s impossible to tell what it might be for, but I’ve a hunch that it might be for the unexpected annual atrial fibrillation check.
If this Tuesday appointment is for the heart I hope I can speed through it and get on with a few queries of my own, the ones from last week…
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Doctor Notes May 2026
Tuesday 12.00 midday
F2F with Dr T. F.
Heart: Atrial fibrillation annual check-up
Note: mitral valve leaking.
Blood test done last week.
Occasional breathlessness.
Sick/Fit note
Phased return (for two months)
Two hours three times a week
Starting Wednesday 20/05/2026
I’ve had phased return sick/fit notes before and would like this to clarify what I can do at work for now.
“The doctor has noted there is no clinical need to say someone is “Fit to work””.
Paperwork
The form that is still not signed after over three weeks.
An Aviva form ‘SERIOUS ILL HEALTH CLAIM FORM’ that was addressed to
GP, Dr S.
Who is my GP and when does she work at this surgery?
Counselling for continual tearfulness and low mood.
Talking therapy?
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Friday 22nd May at 9.15am
F2F with Dr S.
Cancer Care Co-ordinator
Can I ask if the CCC service is still available to me?
“Regarding the cancer care co-ordinator this can be discussed further in your GP appointment and they will refer onwards to any other care providers for you”.
Author: L S
13-May-2026
Anima
A shoulder physiotherapy referral
Anima
Problems like being not understood and given ridiculous answers or the brush-off. Would I be better to use the old system for cancer patients via the cancer care coordinator?
Example: “Regarding your paperwork I can confirm an SR1 form was completed by the doctor and sent to DWP on 12/5”.
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Are these things relevant right now? I don’t really know because after the weekend I’m not so upset about the systems and ailments as I was last week, I just don’t care so much about any of these things.
I’m worn away with the struggles and the horrible fact that some of these things will settle down after the practice “settles into life here in this surgery”, and some of these issues might be better suited to other institutions (like the hospice or the Oncology department).
I always get ground down by the wait. I do get angry but soon I get bored with it all. My life is better without arguing arguments that powerful people dismiss as “you are too sensitive about everything”.
But I am sensitive and do want my queries answered by a human, not an AI bot that has no consideration for my foibles — I am Mr Foible Unremarkable.
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Moving on. I forgot to tell you what was on the paper that I taped to the blue 1.5litre water bottle didn’t I.
I thought I should write a silly love note.
So I grabbed green, red and black pens from the green rubber boots-shaped pen tidy in the messy corner of the kitchen countertop and set about drawing a dozen red hearts, a green ‘I love you’ and a black ‘Saranghay’ (Korean for I love you) in an arty or scattered way across the paper, which then was taped to the water bottle so my Darling could have a little ‘pick me up’ when she was thirsty, at work.
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Today I was scooped up and taken to town by an old mate for a coffee and chat about book writing after a long catch-up.
I chose one of the myriad drinks from the coffee list and grabbed a seat at the back of the café and got comfortable on a low table for four near the back door, for a quick exit I guess.
Outside there were many people sitting in the cold breeze with their drinks and snacks as if it were summer.
We were settled in by midday when my first pill alarm went off and two hours later, after another pill alarm, we had rattled through many topics including the many ways to choose what the book’s basics are going to be.
Who your reader is and why you’re writing it. Also a strategy of how much time every day you will attribute to the writing.
The talking, though interesting, was not in depth and with the odd crash and whirring of the shake makers it was not conducive to much concentration. But it was a start and there were a few mentions of “bots” that could help me along the way.
My Darling arrived back before my guest went home, but he did soon after. I think I wore him out with my incessant chatter. But I believe he had a good time.
Before he went he showed me what an AI “bot” could do.
He had written part of the first chapter and while I could read it, he had a “bot” read it out loud. Wow, I thought, what a good idea and listened to his story unfold with a male voice narrating his text.
He said you can get many different voices and let the voice give you a different impression of what you wrote, so listen carefully. I guess it’s a great tool to hear where the sneaky little errors are hiding.
While my pal was idling away our day nattering, my eldest was achieving distances unproven thus far.
His wife dropped him off twenty miles east of Carlisle with his water bladder on his specialist hiking backpack full of grade ‘A’ water for the day’s travelling by foot. He also had provisions for snacks along the way and extra socks for the avoidance of a hiker’s worst fear — blisters.
As it was in the end, he only had one on his heel which is good for such a long walk. The extra six miles would have taken more toll on his feet had he continued, but that would have overdone it. Very wisely he walked what he wanted to, so everyone was pleased.
He found it worthwhile but was glad of a Costa to refuel him at the hike’s end.
It’s only three weeks till he joins the thousands attempting the marathon Mighty Hike walk in aid of Macmillan and till now he’s banked just over a grand (£1070), which is double what he hoped for.
Well done Son, you’re doing great.
Well apart from the above antics I’m feeling good about my shoulder that is being stretched more every day, but I’m feeling blue deep inside. Not a surface blueness but, you know those butterflies I had last week? Well they seemed to have moved on.
It appears that I’m conflicted with finances, work, cancer, fitness and the shoulder, hobbies — especially hobbies on two wheels — and the love of my dearest Darling.
All these things are competing with deeper, more challenging thoughts about what kind of footprint I will leave, what family will carry my genes (genes that are corrupted, mutated, not wanted) for another generation.
Is that why I stand as the keeper of my family’s second-last generation?
These things and more are on my mind
Some feelings that are so unkind
Cancer is everywhere, I feel confined
All the bad thoughts intertwined
Good night
Take care
