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The disengaged project
Many years ago one of the directors at the place I was working decided to implement a new system. As the ‘IT’ guy I project managed it. From the moment I contacted the team that would have to use it, I knew we were in trouble. This was going to be one of those ‘disengaged projects’.
The director hadn’t won them over. They had no idea why it was a great system, why it would be better for them to be using it. No amount of explanation on my part seemed...
Hello dear readers,
I have been musing over whether to blog or not to blog, do you really want to know the minutiae of our ordinary lives? or just the cancer bit? But I figure you probably do want to know about the good bits too, shows you that even under the worst circumstances you can enjoy yourself. If you like me have this 'terminal' diagnosis but are not yet in that 'place' yet where your mind allows you to shut out for brief interludes then it will help to know you can? Maybe?...
A conversation at 2am
Wife: “Give me that.“ (holds up her hand, thumb and index finger spread indicating something about 4” in size)
Hubby: “What’s ‘that’?”
Wife: “That!“ (holds up hand again, shaking it at me)
Hubby: “Give me a clue”
Wife: [Annoyance in voice] “That!”
Hubby: “Food?”
Wife: “No.” (shakes head)
Hubby: “Drink?”
Wife: “The pink thing. my ladies got it me.”
Hubby:...
It’s hard.
My wife was a successful health care professional, really busy, and yup, stressed. After our niece’s wedding in early June she went to do some work on her laptop and found she couldn’t type. She knew what she wanted to type, but couldn’t decipher which keys to press.
This went on for a few days, started affecting her speech too. She didn’t want to call in sick, she had a job to do! We went to see the GP, who suggested it was stress. Gave her a sick note. Then...
Yesterday's pre-appointment bag making was frantic. The usual gentle chug of the foot peddal became a whir in short bursts. It was more of an avoidance of thoughts than determined machining. There was obviously something playing on my mind but I didn't want to acknowledge it. Seams weren't straight and unpicking was plentiful.
My breastcare nurse is a treasure. The biopsy results from the last round of tests were good, the MRI discussion by the MDT on the other hand was not. one tumour...
A few months after I found the lump, it started to bleed.
Needless to say I was off to the doctor like a rocket and unsurprisingly my mind was already whirling. A couple of weeks later I was seen at The Breast Care Centre in Bristol. It's a brand new centre that's very swish, it aims to be a one stop clinic from scan to diagnosis. Unfortunately it didn't quite workout that way for me.
My first meeting with my consultant was brief; she thought the lump that I'd found on the right breast...
Morning all,
It is early. 4.45am to be precise. I have been awake now for over two hours. The boys are all sleeping soundly. As is the way of things my brain is ticking over and I figure blogging is the best way to get it to be quiet.
Since we got the results yesterday I have had a mix of emotions. Everyone is so happy for us and we are happy too. We are. But...it has also brought me down somewhat too. This I hadn't expected, in fact I hadn't really thought much beyond actually sitting in front...
Today I had my first review after being transferred from the specialist cancer hospital at Felindre to the University Hospital of Wales, generally known as the "Heath". A typical large, rather clapped-out looking British research hospital.
Things have improved physically for me over the last week, following a very rough fortnight after completing treatment. But I confess to feeling utterly exhausted. I also caught some kind of minor bug or cold which had me in bed for most of the last weekend...
Pulling the sewing machine out of the cupboard was a bit of an effort. So much so, I pulled a few muscles. I was giving the sore area a rub when I felt a lumpy area in my right breast. After a good feel, I wasn't too concerned as it was soft, mobile and not painful in the slightest. After setting up my new sewing room, to be honest I'd quite forgotten all about the lump. And it stayes forgotten for months.
My elderly sewing machine was very dusty and I did wonder if it was going to be up...
I might live in Gloucestershire but I'm not referring to the rugby terrace, I mean my shed, the humble or not so humble pile of planks at the bottom of my garden. When I moved in, a little over a year ago it was spider heaven. Now it has plush carpet and better underlay than the living room. I think I rather overdid it but what the hell. When you spend as many hours in it as I do, you need a bit of comfort.
Please don't go getting the idea that I'm any sort of mastercrafts seamstress, I'm not...
