Hi Everyone. I hope you’ve had a great start to the year. It’s been a bit of a slow start for me, but nothing compared to previous years. Still time for an update, health wise and everything else wise.

Firstly the bad.

I have had a cough thingy since before Xmas. (Lots of hacking and mucus production and leaving me at about 70%. Still functioning but not pleasant). Having had three lots of antibiotics (during which I felt at about 90% but it didnt quite sort it.) I had a meeting with Doctor Hodson. He said that it was likely my immune system was still slightly compromised and it was clearly an ongoing problem. He gave me a different type of antibiotic and said to take it indefinitely, but probably not during late spring, summer and Autumn. So a sort of seasonal thing when bits go round.

They then took blood, gave me an x-ray and took a delightful sputum sample. Results pending, but hopefully we should get a good idea of where I am.

I have also had leaking eyes, mainly at night, but bad enough to be gummed shut at times until I cleaned them. This was no doubt the residue from ongoing infection, and seems to have gone now I have been antibioticing (I assume that’s a word).

Finally I have had a sore wrist on and off for nine weeks or so. The little fingers on my right hand mainly, but radiating down the wrist. Some days it’s fine, others bad. Still working out what causes it, be it it seems to be switch related. Maybe rsi? Still will keep reviewing, it could be arthritis also.

Now the good.

The kids are well and fun to play with.

My Spanish learning is proceeding (slowly, it’s been a year and a half now) and I am starting to be able to converse in it for periods of time. I still need a lot of work to be fluent but it’s nice to be making progress.

I’ve read some books, last year I did far less.

I’ve started playing squash again, badly. I’ve been teaching my nephew to play and it’s rewarding he’s getting the hang of it. He’s now giving me good games and given out relative ages, it won’t be too long until he’s beating me. That said it’s just great to be able to do sports again after chemo and the various sicknesses and get a good sweat on without wanting to die.

Business is going well.

So all in all life is pretty good. Whilst I’ve been a bit drained by this cough bug thing, and I obviously still have cancer (incurable as always, but definitely treatable) I’m doing well. I’m also fitter than I have been since before chemo (when Freddy nearly killed me with a mile walk…. Probably not his fault in hindsight, but the 3.4 heamoglobin level). So things are looking up.

Hope you are all well. It’s February, so a little depressing weather wise, but fingers crossed it’s going well for you!

Much love from me and the family.

Someone being cheeky….