As part of my treatment, I was to have a total of 8 lumber punctures. I would then get vials of chemicals injected into me.
The procedure was thus. On Wednesday or Friday afternoon, I was taken either to a room off the daycase area or in Fletcher ward, which was on the floor above me. I would then be bent double, with my back facing away from bed I would use as a head rest. The registrar/doc would feel my spine seemingly for a gap between the vertebrae. I would then feel a globule of cleaning gel rubbed onto the area around the target. I would then get a measure of local anaesthetic, the get that spread around a bit, followed by another measure of local, deeper into the skin.
Obviously being told the phrase lumber puncture sounds pretty nasty, but I'm told they only injected into the fluids around the spinal cord.
A few samples would be drawn from my spinal cord, apparently to check for infection or evidence of contamination by my cancer. This would be sent off to various labs, I'm told.
After the samples were drawn, It was time for the injection. It's part of the procedure that I visually check the packaging before it being used. Info I had to confirm was that it was the right drug, right date, and it had my name on it. All this is apparently legal requirements. It was another legal requirement that, regardless of however many procedures had to be done that day, the process for the individual had to start before 4pm that day. Legally this process started at the picking up of the vial of gunk from Pharmacy.
After confirming details of the package, the needle was readied, and I resumed the position, if I'd moved much. The injection would be delivered. Two measures of methotrexate, and 6 of I think it was called Cytarabin ended up in the old back. I would then get a small plaster over the hole.
After the dose was delivered, I was told to lie flat on my back in the room, for around an hour. I would then return to my room.
Sunday 13 December 2009
Thursday 19 November 2009
Big Day pt1
Today marks the first anniversary of a Big Day in my recovery. It's one year today since I was taken from Licoln hospital to City Hospital, Nottingham. Almost to the minute, actually.
I was picked up from Lincoln and driven by hospital taxi to Nottingham, and the driver and I had a good chat en route. It wasn't quite as fast as the trip from Grantham to Lincoln by rickety old ambulance, facing backwards, and sitting up on the trolley a week earlier, but normal paced. The guy used to service aircraft in thr RAF, and had stories about his times when they had to rip the insides out of a Vulcan because some bigshot wanted to go fishing in Canada, and had a bed in the nose cone, and the like.
When I got to Nottingham, I was put in a bay with a guy called Brian. He was of retirement age, and was recovering from another form of cancer to me.
The ward was set up as a series of bays, with a few private rooms for those with the more dangerous forms of treatment, or as I found out later, problems like C-Diff, and housing us in own own rooms could contain infection. My bay was Bay 3, Toghill ward. The building was a relatively new building. It wasn't your traditional '20 beds in a ward, all open plan, no privacy at all' setup. There were 6 Bays, if I recall, mostly up one end of the building, with a central spine housing bathrooms and shower rooms, both male and female, then a central reception area, and then extra bathrooms, with staff room, and 'consulting' room, and kitchen. The consulting room was a small room with tv and video/dvd, with a case of books and old videos.
I was welcomed into the ward by my roomie, Brian, who showed me the ropes. In Bay 2, the bay behind me, was Barry and Basil. Barry had had various treatments for a few years, and was itching to get out. He was hoping to go to Germany to visit the Christmas Markets there, and had a family do organised in ye olde Skegness coming up too. He would often wander around, and pop in for a chat. Basil was another long term patient. Many a time over the next few weeks, you could hear him doing circuits of the ward, keeping his leg muscles working, so they didn't go to pot.
I seem to recall, Brian had been in on this stint for 6 weeks, and when the docs told him he could leave on the Friday, 2 days after I arrived, you could see the relief, and joy in his face. It really was a lovely thing to see.
Back to yesterday, and I had my 2-monthly checkup. Going really well, haemoglobin, neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, and everything getting back to normal levels, so the after effects of the chemo on the blood at least, are going.
Next visit in 10 weeks. Just before my birthday.
I was picked up from Lincoln and driven by hospital taxi to Nottingham, and the driver and I had a good chat en route. It wasn't quite as fast as the trip from Grantham to Lincoln by rickety old ambulance, facing backwards, and sitting up on the trolley a week earlier, but normal paced. The guy used to service aircraft in thr RAF, and had stories about his times when they had to rip the insides out of a Vulcan because some bigshot wanted to go fishing in Canada, and had a bed in the nose cone, and the like.
When I got to Nottingham, I was put in a bay with a guy called Brian. He was of retirement age, and was recovering from another form of cancer to me.
The ward was set up as a series of bays, with a few private rooms for those with the more dangerous forms of treatment, or as I found out later, problems like C-Diff, and housing us in own own rooms could contain infection. My bay was Bay 3, Toghill ward. The building was a relatively new building. It wasn't your traditional '20 beds in a ward, all open plan, no privacy at all' setup. There were 6 Bays, if I recall, mostly up one end of the building, with a central spine housing bathrooms and shower rooms, both male and female, then a central reception area, and then extra bathrooms, with staff room, and 'consulting' room, and kitchen. The consulting room was a small room with tv and video/dvd, with a case of books and old videos.
I was welcomed into the ward by my roomie, Brian, who showed me the ropes. In Bay 2, the bay behind me, was Barry and Basil. Barry had had various treatments for a few years, and was itching to get out. He was hoping to go to Germany to visit the Christmas Markets there, and had a family do organised in ye olde Skegness coming up too. He would often wander around, and pop in for a chat. Basil was another long term patient. Many a time over the next few weeks, you could hear him doing circuits of the ward, keeping his leg muscles working, so they didn't go to pot.
I seem to recall, Brian had been in on this stint for 6 weeks, and when the docs told him he could leave on the Friday, 2 days after I arrived, you could see the relief, and joy in his face. It really was a lovely thing to see.
Back to yesterday, and I had my 2-monthly checkup. Going really well, haemoglobin, neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, and everything getting back to normal levels, so the after effects of the chemo on the blood at least, are going.
Next visit in 10 weeks. Just before my birthday.
Sunday 8 November 2009
In memorium
Today it's Remembrance Sunday over here in old Blightey. I believe our tranatlantic cousins celebrate Veterans Day tomorrow.
Calendar wise its the anniversary of my fleeing to Grantham A&E with a temp of 40.6C, and the start of my stays in the local hospitals..
This morning I watched The Queen and family do their thing at the Cenotaph. This afternoon, I did my bit at All Saints, Oakham. Higher up the guest list were Oakham's great, good and members of Parliament.
The service started at 2.30pm. There was a small band of onlookers, as well as various service personnel dotted around. Apparently most were there as detail for the Cottesmore base commander. I did get some group shots, but they've not come out too great.
After the service, they all troop out the Church, and lay their wreaths on the memorial outside. The base commander then goes to a dais down by the market square, and the cadets and regulars march past. If I'm around next year, I should have my better telephoto lens with me. I used my old zoom, which doesn't have stabiliser on it.. Now I see how much it does!
Thursday 5 November 2009
One year after the start of things
Today marks the first anniversary of the day my treatment should have started.
I should have started ABVD Chemotherapy at Grantham a year ago today. Mum and I went for the arranged appointment at Grantham Hospital, with the intention to get my first dose of chemo in outpatients. Plans changed when the specialist informed us that the results from my bone marrow biopsy hadn't come back yet, and as yet, they did not know exactly which version of lymphoma I had. It could have been a rare version of Hodgkins that looked like Non-hodgkins, or vice versa. If I started the treatment for one, and it was finally diagnosed the other, it could have proved disastrous.
It was decided that treatment be delayed for I think 2 weeks. It was also decided that from then on, I be signed off work.
As I was walking out the Outpatients door, I saw a positive sight. A few weeks earlier, I had been in for a blood test, and an old gentleman was brought in on a wheelchair. I instantly recognised it as Richard Todd, of Dam Busters fame. I clammed up instantly, not sure if I should say hello, or let him be.. He didn't look too great, and the use of the wheelchair didn't improve things. This time, as I was walking out of the hospital, he was walking in.
Yesterday was my first proper day back. I'm partly retraining, partly covering holidays. Since I left, the beloved company has introduced a new computer system which automates some things, but throws up more processes elsewhere. I guess in time it will fall into place. Yesterday I messed up the cash-up twice in ways that balanced out later. I had forgotten to include either notes or a bag of coins in the final tally.
Lots of customers came in to pay their paper bills etc, and their compliments and messages of 'missed you' were appreciated.
I should have started ABVD Chemotherapy at Grantham a year ago today. Mum and I went for the arranged appointment at Grantham Hospital, with the intention to get my first dose of chemo in outpatients. Plans changed when the specialist informed us that the results from my bone marrow biopsy hadn't come back yet, and as yet, they did not know exactly which version of lymphoma I had. It could have been a rare version of Hodgkins that looked like Non-hodgkins, or vice versa. If I started the treatment for one, and it was finally diagnosed the other, it could have proved disastrous.
It was decided that treatment be delayed for I think 2 weeks. It was also decided that from then on, I be signed off work.
As I was walking out the Outpatients door, I saw a positive sight. A few weeks earlier, I had been in for a blood test, and an old gentleman was brought in on a wheelchair. I instantly recognised it as Richard Todd, of Dam Busters fame. I clammed up instantly, not sure if I should say hello, or let him be.. He didn't look too great, and the use of the wheelchair didn't improve things. This time, as I was walking out of the hospital, he was walking in.
Yesterday was my first proper day back. I'm partly retraining, partly covering holidays. Since I left, the beloved company has introduced a new computer system which automates some things, but throws up more processes elsewhere. I guess in time it will fall into place. Yesterday I messed up the cash-up twice in ways that balanced out later. I had forgotten to include either notes or a bag of coins in the final tally.
Lots of customers came in to pay their paper bills etc, and their compliments and messages of 'missed you' were appreciated.
Tuesday 3 November 2009
The Slaughtered Lamb
Have you ever been the sole person in a cinema screening? I've been in a few where it was me a around 4 others (Night at the Museum 2, for instance. Apparently rip-roaring comedy.. Only laughs were the Einstein Bobble-heads).
The Vue cinema in Leicester are doing a week of 10pm screenings of the John Landis horror-comedy An American Werewolf in London. All time Classic, one of my favourite films, and I've managed to get a few different styles of poster for.
I had thought of ringing and booking my ticket in advance, what with it being such a, I thought, well known film, and short run and all. I needn't have bothered. I got there around 9pm, and made sure I got my ticket. The attendent was talking to a couple about the Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, the Terry Gilliam film starring the late Heathe Ledger. Without knowing which film they were discussing, I didn't recognise the film at all.
Anyway, I got the ticket and returned to the car to read the new US Esquire magazine, featuring ms Kate Beckinsale as the newly enobled Sexiest Women in the World. I'd seen scans and the video they had posted beforehand, and it's a post I have no disagreement over. Earlier incarnations of the post include Jessica Simpson, Halle Berry, Megan Fox.
As the screening time neared, I returned to the desk to get a good seat. Whilst I hadn't noted a flood of folks into the place, couldn't be too careful. It soon became obvious that I would be in a small number of folks watching.
Knowing that if so inclined, the folks outside the screening can watch what the folks in screening are doing, being the sole person in there kind of restricts even more as to what you can get up to. Playing 'Drum Hero' to the opening of the film (one of many versions of Blue Moon in the film) could look a bit silly... LOL!
Even though I've seen the film countless times, this digital transfer made the film really fresh, and I noticed lots of things that I had either not noticed, but forgotten. Still loved the pub scene, especially the 'Remember the Alamo' joke told by Brian Glover. Don't recall Rik Mayall having so many shots. But then until it was pointed out in later years where and what Rik Mayall was in the movie, I just took it as 'extra in shot', which I guess he would have been at the time. Also forgot just how stunning Jenny Agutter was in the film. Sometimes you had Jenny in soft focus on her own, sometimes in normal focus, on her own, or two shot. As a lad growing up just after the film came out, it was a rite of passage watching American Werewolf, especially the Agutter moments, and the first 'change' sequence.
The initial transformation scene was still as great as always. Still amazes me how they shot the stretching of the feet, ears etc. In the past few years they had a 'top 100 scariest movies'on Channel4 in which this was placed. This enabled director John Landis to demystify that scene, telling us how David Naughton (David, the survivor) just had his head and shoulders above the floor when he was seen laying on his back, as his stomach changed shape.
I guess it's one of those films that has a bit of 'Jaws' in it. You don't see much of the werewolf at any part of the film. The werewolf look in the aforementioned transformation scene is different from the werewolf in later scenes, and I think its the first time I spotted the werewolf crouching in the back of the alley in the closing scenes. Movie legend has it that the 'terror' in Jaws was built up because you don't see the whole shark til a long way into the movie. Partly due to the fact the mechanical fishes they used kept breaking down, or looked rubbish. Most of the shots of the werewolf are headshots just before the thing attacks, or long range shots like the closing scenes.
I thought it was nice of Landis to allow the poster for 'Airplane' to be featured on the walls of Tottenham Court Rd tube station (Northern Line), as well as the 'See You Next Wednesday' porno flick that David and his undead friend go to see off Picadilly later on.
It's the 3rd film I've seen this week! This Is It! and Fantastic Mr Fox being the other 2.
The Vue cinema in Leicester are doing a week of 10pm screenings of the John Landis horror-comedy An American Werewolf in London. All time Classic, one of my favourite films, and I've managed to get a few different styles of poster for.
I had thought of ringing and booking my ticket in advance, what with it being such a, I thought, well known film, and short run and all. I needn't have bothered. I got there around 9pm, and made sure I got my ticket. The attendent was talking to a couple about the Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, the Terry Gilliam film starring the late Heathe Ledger. Without knowing which film they were discussing, I didn't recognise the film at all.
Anyway, I got the ticket and returned to the car to read the new US Esquire magazine, featuring ms Kate Beckinsale as the newly enobled Sexiest Women in the World. I'd seen scans and the video they had posted beforehand, and it's a post I have no disagreement over. Earlier incarnations of the post include Jessica Simpson, Halle Berry, Megan Fox.
As the screening time neared, I returned to the desk to get a good seat. Whilst I hadn't noted a flood of folks into the place, couldn't be too careful. It soon became obvious that I would be in a small number of folks watching.
Knowing that if so inclined, the folks outside the screening can watch what the folks in screening are doing, being the sole person in there kind of restricts even more as to what you can get up to. Playing 'Drum Hero' to the opening of the film (one of many versions of Blue Moon in the film) could look a bit silly... LOL!
Even though I've seen the film countless times, this digital transfer made the film really fresh, and I noticed lots of things that I had either not noticed, but forgotten. Still loved the pub scene, especially the 'Remember the Alamo' joke told by Brian Glover. Don't recall Rik Mayall having so many shots. But then until it was pointed out in later years where and what Rik Mayall was in the movie, I just took it as 'extra in shot', which I guess he would have been at the time. Also forgot just how stunning Jenny Agutter was in the film. Sometimes you had Jenny in soft focus on her own, sometimes in normal focus, on her own, or two shot. As a lad growing up just after the film came out, it was a rite of passage watching American Werewolf, especially the Agutter moments, and the first 'change' sequence.
The initial transformation scene was still as great as always. Still amazes me how they shot the stretching of the feet, ears etc. In the past few years they had a 'top 100 scariest movies'on Channel4 in which this was placed. This enabled director John Landis to demystify that scene, telling us how David Naughton (David, the survivor) just had his head and shoulders above the floor when he was seen laying on his back, as his stomach changed shape.
I guess it's one of those films that has a bit of 'Jaws' in it. You don't see much of the werewolf at any part of the film. The werewolf look in the aforementioned transformation scene is different from the werewolf in later scenes, and I think its the first time I spotted the werewolf crouching in the back of the alley in the closing scenes. Movie legend has it that the 'terror' in Jaws was built up because you don't see the whole shark til a long way into the movie. Partly due to the fact the mechanical fishes they used kept breaking down, or looked rubbish. Most of the shots of the werewolf are headshots just before the thing attacks, or long range shots like the closing scenes.
I thought it was nice of Landis to allow the poster for 'Airplane' to be featured on the walls of Tottenham Court Rd tube station (Northern Line), as well as the 'See You Next Wednesday' porno flick that David and his undead friend go to see off Picadilly later on.
It's the 3rd film I've seen this week! This Is It! and Fantastic Mr Fox being the other 2.
Tuesday 27 October 2009
Ware is Wherehouse?
Warehouse 13 is a new show on Syfy in the US and SciFi in the UK. I hadn't heard of it before, but apparently each week, the team try to rescue artefacts for an ultra secret depository, a warehouse, if you like, run by the US Government. So far there have been 13 episodes, and 3 of the shows stars were on hand to meet and greet fanboys and newbies alike.
During the talk they had in one corner of the ExCel centre, the guy in the team, played by Eddie McClintock, recounted a tale from the previous night. They had been sight seeing by nighht, and had reached the Houses of Parliament. Seems someone thought it an idea to pose for some piccies whilst climbing the fence underneath the Clock Tower holding Big Ben. Apparently a policeman approached them, and Eddie thought he was playing around. That was until he was informed that if he didn't come off the fence, he might get arrested, fined and wake up next morning in a cell at Her Majesty's Pleasure. They got a moody shot with the Clock in the background though.
After the talk, a few folks queued up for a couple of autographs, and pics. Just after this talk, was another for the BBC show, Merlin, and they had some stragglers queueing up nearby to get the jump on autographs when they'd finished.
All 3 were signing for free. Like I said, some folks were doing the show to promote their show, and not necessarily earn themselves or the studio, cash in hand.
During the talk they had in one corner of the ExCel centre, the guy in the team, played by Eddie McClintock, recounted a tale from the previous night. They had been sight seeing by nighht, and had reached the Houses of Parliament. Seems someone thought it an idea to pose for some piccies whilst climbing the fence underneath the Clock Tower holding Big Ben. Apparently a policeman approached them, and Eddie thought he was playing around. That was until he was informed that if he didn't come off the fence, he might get arrested, fined and wake up next morning in a cell at Her Majesty's Pleasure. They got a moody shot with the Clock in the background though.
After the talk, a few folks queued up for a couple of autographs, and pics. Just after this talk, was another for the BBC show, Merlin, and they had some stragglers queueing up nearby to get the jump on autographs when they'd finished.
All 3 were signing for free. Like I said, some folks were doing the show to promote their show, and not necessarily earn themselves or the studio, cash in hand.
Welcome to Deep Space
After getting over the diversity of costumed characters wandering round the ExCel Centre (if it's good enough for the G20, it's good enough for the fanboys..), I decided to check out some of the stalls.
Unlike many of these autograph shows, the video games industry had quite a showing. As well as a new RPG called Borderlands, where you're some sort of mutant rampaging round a post-Katrina style lawless terrain, they also had the video game to accompany Avatar, the new creation from James Cameron.
Depending on which games console you have, can lay down which storyline you can take in the game. From what I saw, you are exploring the same fantastical universe as the movie. However, the rep told me that both storylines are different from the movie, so if you haven't seen the movie before playing the game, the movie isn't ruined, and there are two versions of the game. Also, the game is available to be played in 3-D, if your TV allows it. Using the same Real 3-D glasses as the ones used to watch 3-D cinema movies these days, you can play this shoot 'em up. Whilst I didn't get my mitts on a gun or anything, watching the demo in 3-D was pretty impressive.
They also had a 'design your own Manga character' area. Manga is, as has been previously noted, a style of Japanese cartoon. There was also an area that at times, had a demo of drumming. If you recall the opening ceremony at Beijing, they had a few thousand of these drummers. Here they had 2-3. They went for it! They appeared to be doing demos during the day, as the room was filled with the not so distant sound of drums quite often.
Ok, now for the autographs...
On the website, the organisers had helpfully divided those folks being paid to attend by their tv network, and thus promoting a show/film or whatever, and thus signing stuff for free.. Those being hosted by a third company, so still charging, but there to promote company X, Y or Z. The most common category of guest were those who were charging to be there themselves. However, on the Sunday, there were only 3 guests in this category.
Ronny Cox was the bad guy in Total Recall and Robocop. He played Arnie's nemesis in Total Recall, the guy Sharon Stone worked for. In Robocop, he plays Robocop's enemy, Dick Jones. Despite Robocop and Jones both being cops, it seems Jones, played by Ronny, is actually the mastermind behind Robocop's demise in human and (so Jones hopes) Robocop form. He was very gracious and welcoming.
Next to Ronny were two stars from the Star Trek Universe. Both played different generations of the same character. Nicole de Boer played the younger version of 'Dax', and Terry Farrell played Jadzia Dax. I recall at the time, the angst the Trekkies were having about Nicole taking over the role of Dax from Terry, and would it work. As far as I was concerned.. yep.. LOL!
Since her stint in Star Trek Deep Space 9, Nicole has moved on to headline the long running Sci-fi channel show, Dead Zone. She was pretty easy to talk to, and we talked, as you do, about flight lengths, the silly rules the folks at Paramount Craft Services had to work by (NO Tuna sandwich to be made or eaten publicly at 10am or earlier, it might encourage your fellow thespians..), and stuff like that. Yep, world politics and the World of Miley Cyrus were forgotten temporarily. Nicole was cute as Ezri Dax, and remained cute.
Terry Farrell was pretty stunning as the Jadzia incarnation of Dax, which made Nicole's playing of her incarnation important in the Trek Universe. She's still pretty stunning now, a few years later. She moved onto another long running show called Becker. No, it's not a reality tv show following the life of 'Britains favourite German', but a show about a Doctor, and his environs. It starred Ted Danson of Cheers and 3 Men and a Baby fame.
Unlike many of these autograph shows, the video games industry had quite a showing. As well as a new RPG called Borderlands, where you're some sort of mutant rampaging round a post-Katrina style lawless terrain, they also had the video game to accompany Avatar, the new creation from James Cameron.
Depending on which games console you have, can lay down which storyline you can take in the game. From what I saw, you are exploring the same fantastical universe as the movie. However, the rep told me that both storylines are different from the movie, so if you haven't seen the movie before playing the game, the movie isn't ruined, and there are two versions of the game. Also, the game is available to be played in 3-D, if your TV allows it. Using the same Real 3-D glasses as the ones used to watch 3-D cinema movies these days, you can play this shoot 'em up. Whilst I didn't get my mitts on a gun or anything, watching the demo in 3-D was pretty impressive.
They also had a 'design your own Manga character' area. Manga is, as has been previously noted, a style of Japanese cartoon. There was also an area that at times, had a demo of drumming. If you recall the opening ceremony at Beijing, they had a few thousand of these drummers. Here they had 2-3. They went for it! They appeared to be doing demos during the day, as the room was filled with the not so distant sound of drums quite often.
Ok, now for the autographs...
On the website, the organisers had helpfully divided those folks being paid to attend by their tv network, and thus promoting a show/film or whatever, and thus signing stuff for free.. Those being hosted by a third company, so still charging, but there to promote company X, Y or Z. The most common category of guest were those who were charging to be there themselves. However, on the Sunday, there were only 3 guests in this category.
Ronny Cox was the bad guy in Total Recall and Robocop. He played Arnie's nemesis in Total Recall, the guy Sharon Stone worked for. In Robocop, he plays Robocop's enemy, Dick Jones. Despite Robocop and Jones both being cops, it seems Jones, played by Ronny, is actually the mastermind behind Robocop's demise in human and (so Jones hopes) Robocop form. He was very gracious and welcoming.
Next to Ronny were two stars from the Star Trek Universe. Both played different generations of the same character. Nicole de Boer played the younger version of 'Dax', and Terry Farrell played Jadzia Dax. I recall at the time, the angst the Trekkies were having about Nicole taking over the role of Dax from Terry, and would it work. As far as I was concerned.. yep.. LOL!
Since her stint in Star Trek Deep Space 9, Nicole has moved on to headline the long running Sci-fi channel show, Dead Zone. She was pretty easy to talk to, and we talked, as you do, about flight lengths, the silly rules the folks at Paramount Craft Services had to work by (NO Tuna sandwich to be made or eaten publicly at 10am or earlier, it might encourage your fellow thespians..), and stuff like that. Yep, world politics and the World of Miley Cyrus were forgotten temporarily. Nicole was cute as Ezri Dax, and remained cute.
Terry Farrell was pretty stunning as the Jadzia incarnation of Dax, which made Nicole's playing of her incarnation important in the Trek Universe. She's still pretty stunning now, a few years later. She moved onto another long running show called Becker. No, it's not a reality tv show following the life of 'Britains favourite German', but a show about a Doctor, and his environs. It starred Ted Danson of Cheers and 3 Men and a Baby fame.
Monday 26 October 2009
Zombieland!
Sunday, I decided to head to Docklands to try out the Docklands Light Railway. Yep, I know how to live, don't I......
I was aware an autograph/gamers show was on at the ExCel Centre, and hadn't done that one before.. Quite a culture shock, I can tell you.
There are a few shows I've done where you get the odd person dressed up as A Character from A Comic or Computer Game. It's called Cosplay. Can't really see the point but hey.. Usually it Star Trek, The Next Generation, or Stormtroopers, or Lara Croft. There have been occasions where armed Police had been called out because some member of the Public had been alarmed by a guy in dark suit, shades, and carrying two rather large hand guns, thought walking round a open, public shopping space was a good idea, because hey, he's Agent Smith from The Matrix Trilogy, and EVERYBODY knows who that is, right? Old Grannies etc?
This time, those dressed as Storm Troopers, Darth Vader etc were swamped by Manga (ie Japanese) comic characters. Full-on costumes, hair-dye, wooden weaponry.. everywhere..
Two guys walked round connected by a chain, eventually I asked one, who to me looked like a wolf/Balrog cross. Apparently his costume was some character that was a demonic creation from some level of a version of Final Fantasy. How silly of me not to know! His friend came as a wolf. Didn't ask, buy it hopefully was too obvious...
One person came as a banana. Another, as Hello Kitty.
I followed into the centre, a guy dressed as Morpheus, from the Matrix Trilogy. Black leather coat, bald as a coot, armless glasses, the lot.. VERY cool. Later saw him and a Neo posing for a professional photographer. They also had The Mother Alien from the Alien movies. He's quite common. There was also another guy dressed as an Alien with a more pronounced dome of his head. There was also a Predator. I might post shots of them later.
Another bunch I shot was of Power Rangers, with an absolutely amazing Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer version). There was also a Halle Berry version of Catwoman. No signs of Eartha Kitt-style Catwoman, but that WOULD be expecting.. Or Julie Neumar.
I was aware an autograph/gamers show was on at the ExCel Centre, and hadn't done that one before.. Quite a culture shock, I can tell you.
There are a few shows I've done where you get the odd person dressed up as A Character from A Comic or Computer Game. It's called Cosplay. Can't really see the point but hey.. Usually it Star Trek, The Next Generation, or Stormtroopers, or Lara Croft. There have been occasions where armed Police had been called out because some member of the Public had been alarmed by a guy in dark suit, shades, and carrying two rather large hand guns, thought walking round a open, public shopping space was a good idea, because hey, he's Agent Smith from The Matrix Trilogy, and EVERYBODY knows who that is, right? Old Grannies etc?
This time, those dressed as Storm Troopers, Darth Vader etc were swamped by Manga (ie Japanese) comic characters. Full-on costumes, hair-dye, wooden weaponry.. everywhere..
Two guys walked round connected by a chain, eventually I asked one, who to me looked like a wolf/Balrog cross. Apparently his costume was some character that was a demonic creation from some level of a version of Final Fantasy. How silly of me not to know! His friend came as a wolf. Didn't ask, buy it hopefully was too obvious...
One person came as a banana. Another, as Hello Kitty.
I followed into the centre, a guy dressed as Morpheus, from the Matrix Trilogy. Black leather coat, bald as a coot, armless glasses, the lot.. VERY cool. Later saw him and a Neo posing for a professional photographer. They also had The Mother Alien from the Alien movies. He's quite common. There was also another guy dressed as an Alien with a more pronounced dome of his head. There was also a Predator. I might post shots of them later.
Another bunch I shot was of Power Rangers, with an absolutely amazing Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer version). There was also a Halle Berry version of Catwoman. No signs of Eartha Kitt-style Catwoman, but that WOULD be expecting.. Or Julie Neumar.
Glug, Glug...
Friday, another trip to the City. This time to stay in the Islington/Kings Cross area for a consumer show. The London Wine Show. Held at the Islington Business Design Centre, it's where wine merchants and producers can flog their wares to the public, either by mail order, or internet.
Once inside the hall, you pass by offices for various companies like the Dyson Airblade dryer, and wander round tasting the vino. It was quite busy, and reasonably smartly dressed. On the Friday, quite a few looked dressed to go out for dinner later, especially the girls.
Oz Clarke was set to do a tutored tasting, sponsored by Sainsburys, but had to be replaced due to ill health, by another TV wine Expert, Olly Smith. It turns out that Oz had food poisoning, or so he said on the Saturday, when he made it it.
The exhibitors were mainly from New Zealand, Australia, and the Iberian Peninsula. Quite an impressive showing by the non-Port Portugese producers. Price points from a fiver up to 20 quid.
Discovered a wine producer from New Zealand, who is imported by a guy from Peterborough, who plays golf at a nearby Golf Club. I asked for a case to be delivered, and the guy said he'd deliver it personally, because he plays nearby! Also a South African producer with a quite extraordinary Pinot Noir wine. What appeared to e the entry-level wine was more memorable than the signature cuvee.
On the Saturday afternoon, after a repast of McDonalds the previous evening, and a quick breakfast at the b&b, I made a quick visit to Leicester Square to pick up a programme for the Film Festival. Quite a few details of screenings etc had changed since going to press, but it was a nice reminder and guide to what's hitting the big and small screens in the next few months.
Back up to Islington, and I got a cheap ticket off a woman who had bought a set of 5tickets to get a discount, and had an extra one for her group, which included the Oz Clarke tasting. He was there in body, if not spirit. Quite often you could see him gulp as if trying to get past feeling nauseous. Despite him sitting all the time, and not bouncing around like on TV, it was quite interesting. During this sitting, I tasted more wines, including Portugal, New Zealand and Australia, including a fizzy Shiraz. In all the tastings, apart from the Sainsburys (OZ Clarke) one, the measures barely covered the bowl of the glass.
Once inside the hall, you pass by offices for various companies like the Dyson Airblade dryer, and wander round tasting the vino. It was quite busy, and reasonably smartly dressed. On the Friday, quite a few looked dressed to go out for dinner later, especially the girls.
Oz Clarke was set to do a tutored tasting, sponsored by Sainsburys, but had to be replaced due to ill health, by another TV wine Expert, Olly Smith. It turns out that Oz had food poisoning, or so he said on the Saturday, when he made it it.
The exhibitors were mainly from New Zealand, Australia, and the Iberian Peninsula. Quite an impressive showing by the non-Port Portugese producers. Price points from a fiver up to 20 quid.
Discovered a wine producer from New Zealand, who is imported by a guy from Peterborough, who plays golf at a nearby Golf Club. I asked for a case to be delivered, and the guy said he'd deliver it personally, because he plays nearby! Also a South African producer with a quite extraordinary Pinot Noir wine. What appeared to e the entry-level wine was more memorable than the signature cuvee.
On the Saturday afternoon, after a repast of McDonalds the previous evening, and a quick breakfast at the b&b, I made a quick visit to Leicester Square to pick up a programme for the Film Festival. Quite a few details of screenings etc had changed since going to press, but it was a nice reminder and guide to what's hitting the big and small screens in the next few months.
Back up to Islington, and I got a cheap ticket off a woman who had bought a set of 5tickets to get a discount, and had an extra one for her group, which included the Oz Clarke tasting. He was there in body, if not spirit. Quite often you could see him gulp as if trying to get past feeling nauseous. Despite him sitting all the time, and not bouncing around like on TV, it was quite interesting. During this sitting, I tasted more wines, including Portugal, New Zealand and Australia, including a fizzy Shiraz. In all the tastings, apart from the Sainsburys (OZ Clarke) one, the measures barely covered the bowl of the glass.
Wednesday 14 October 2009
The Fantastic Mr Clooney
Another night, another trip to London, another Movie Premiere. This time it was the Times/BFI London Film Festival Gala Opening Night. The film opening the Festival was Wes Anderson's animated adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Fantastic Mr Fox. Most of the cast were expected. Sadly Meryl Streep had gone down with flu, so had to drop out.
Instead we had to put up with, as he mockingly titled himself at the Oscars in 2007, 'Sexiest Man Alive, Oscar winning Actor' George Clooney. Mr Ocean himself!
Whereas last week the barriers were pretty lightweight and not exactly fixed, this time, they were higher up, and weighted so you you stand on the base, and the barriers would require more force to shift.
George Clooney's standard 'Premiere' Autograph is a GG in capitals, could be a GC, with a tail, but looks like a GG. Guys I was standing with before the event were comparing autographs they had got from earlier brushes with 'The Man Who Killed Off the Batman Franchise (before Christian Bale injected some life into it)'. Apparently to their eyes, the tail on the second G made it a 'proper, fuller' signature.
As per usual at these things, Celeb gets out of Mercedes car to screams from girlies. Then either hits a few folks for autographs, or, if they're Cruise or Wil Smith, or seemingly Mr Clooney, walks along the lines, signing more or less anything in front of him. Tom Cruise will apparently do this for AGES, in some kind of a bid to make his signature worthless to dealers and scalpers.
Whilst this is going on, Celeb's date for the night tends to stand around watching, chatting with event security, or what looks like a PYT from film company.
George's date for this appearance is Italian Supermodel Elisabetta Canalis..
Considering the Old Hands at the thing, I'm surprised no one made a fuss of her, but then, they all had photos to get signed, and didn't bring any of her. And I forgot who his girlfriend was...
Monday 12 October 2009
Hello Mr Pickles
Rachel, my sister, has just bought a new kitten. Pickles the Ginger Tom. I went down for Sunday lunch, and to be introduced to the new addition to their menagerie. They already have 2 Choc Labradors, a mother and daughter, and a bowl of assorted guppies.
They chose the name Pickles, and then recalled someone had something called Mr Pickles. I reminded them that Daily Mail favourite, Jonathan Ross named one of his pug dogs, Mr Pickles.
He, Ross, likes to dress his dogs up. The latest incarnation was 'Dogs dressed as Barbara Streisand Movie Characters'.
Unwanted Anniversaries
Last week was the third Anniversary of my Dad getting diagnosed with his Neuro-Endocrine Cancer.
Some stage this week, it might be said I celebrate my 1-year Anniversary being diagnosed with my Diffuse B-Cell Lymphoma, and in early November, it's the anniversary of me being committed to hospital.
Some stage this week, it might be said I celebrate my 1-year Anniversary being diagnosed with my Diffuse B-Cell Lymphoma, and in early November, it's the anniversary of me being committed to hospital.
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Premiere
Ok, not blogged in yonks, lots to catch up on.. but first..
Last night, at the Empire Leicester Square, London, I joined a few thousand movie fans and passers by in observing the Red Carpet for the UK Premiere of the new Terry Gilliam movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. This is the movie that was nearly scrubbed when Heath Ledger overdosed in his NYC flat during a break in filming.
Heath's roles were then taken up by Colin Farrel, Jude Law and Jonny Depp. none of these three were expected, as Law was opening as Hamlet on Broadway, and who knows what Depp and Farrel were up to. Those who did show up from the film included the director, Terry Gilliam, model/actress/student Lily Cole,
Also showing up from the film, were Verne Troyer, who plays the dwarf, Percy, and the films co-writer Charles McKeown, who was also in Time Bandits, which was regularly screened in my days at Buckfast Abbey School.
Big surprise of the night was LaToyah Jackson, who, as written elsewhere, looked like she'd been poured into a black strappy number. She was apparently there to support Verne, but signed quite a few autographs. My catch of the night was Rock God Nick Mason, AKA the drummer in Pink Floyd, and classic car collector par excellence. One of those next to me thought he was Michael Palin, or was it Eric Idle, but realised his mistake. We still managed to beckon him over to signed a few things.
Also showing up from the film, were Verne Troyer, who plays the dwarf, Percy, and the films co-writer Charles McKeown, who was also in Time Bandits, which was regularly screened in my days at Buckfast Abbey School.
Folks not involved with the film, but showed up, included Tamara Ecclestone, (Reality Star, Socialite, and daughter of F1 Supremo Bernie), Entourage/Old School star Jeremy Piven, who was surprised at being recognised.
Big surprise of the night was LaToyah Jackson, who, as written elsewhere, looked like she'd been poured into a black strappy number. She was apparently there to support Verne, but signed quite a few autographs. My catch of the night was Rock God Nick Mason, AKA the drummer in Pink Floyd, and classic car collector par excellence. One of those next to me thought he was Michael Palin, or was it Eric Idle, but realised his mistake. We still managed to beckon him over to signed a few things.
Also showing up was music star Paloma Faith, who showed up with two friends. Paloma is in the film, but I don't think her friends were. One was dressed as a bright version of Elsa Lanchester/Bride of Frankenstein, and the other, a drag version of a lion, I would guess. He was pretty tall, and quite a sight, I must say.
Sunday 24 May 2009
Biopsy test results
Wed AM. Go with Mum to City Hospital, Nottingham. This is the first of my monthly checkups. Turns out it could be the last but one too, as Dr Macmillan suggested that in future I could do 3-monthly checkups after next months visit.
3 weeks ago, I had a bone marrow biopsy, and the week before, CT scan. Today, get told how badly the disease had got into the marrow (50%), and shown images from the scan. Everyone's very pleased with the results..
One of my fellow inmates during my hospital stay, Ted, is there with his wife and daughter. We tend to have similar scedules for hospital trips.. He comments that his hair is growing on parts of his scalp that hadn't seen life for ages!
3 weeks ago, I had a bone marrow biopsy, and the week before, CT scan. Today, get told how badly the disease had got into the marrow (50%), and shown images from the scan. Everyone's very pleased with the results..
One of my fellow inmates during my hospital stay, Ted, is there with his wife and daughter. We tend to have similar scedules for hospital trips.. He comments that his hair is growing on parts of his scalp that hadn't seen life for ages!
Week at Burghley?
On Sunday, there were a few thousand women walking/jogging round the deer park at Burghley House, Stamford. This was in aid of Race for Life, Cancer Research UK's breast cancer fund raising event.
Car entry was via the Bottle Gates at the far end of the park. Then, after parking up, you walked to the arena set up as a gathering point. Heart fm were somehow involved, and they had a brekkie DJ trying to get excitement going. Any such luck was dissolved quickly at the arrival of 'The Nivea Boys'. Four fitness freaks in tshirts with 'Nivea' on them prancing around wit pom-poms... Very Eurovision... Sadly laughable too.
Eventually, the girls set off. Havana and Rachel were running 5km, along with a few others. 10km runs and 5km walks were also available. Havana and Rachel did the 5km in 45 mins official timing, but who knows really how long they had to wait for their chance to cross the start line.
Post prandial picnic was partaken, followed by ambling round Burghley's Sculpture garden, and 'Garden of Delights', AKA garden with lots of fountains and sparkly bits. Kids got SOAKED!!!!
Out the front of the house, was setup a load of tents and Marquees ready for this weekends country game fair. Before then, they were also hosting BBC Antiques Roadshow on Thursday. The BBC hadn't set themselvesup yet..
Thursday came, and Mum and I head back to Burghley for aforementioned Antiques Roadshow.
The venue was the Rose Garden, a usually private area on one side of the House. Nice long queues to get seen. That was to get to the front reception area, then split off into relevant sections. Then another shorter queue.
2 rainshowers later, during which we got a free poncho, we got to the front. We weren't presenting items worthy of recording.. but did see a few segments being shot. In official literature handed out at the start of the queue, it was requested that we not ask the experts for autographs... Although I did see one guy brandish a signed Antiques Roadshow bag with a Fiona Bruce tag on it...
Car entry was via the Bottle Gates at the far end of the park. Then, after parking up, you walked to the arena set up as a gathering point. Heart fm were somehow involved, and they had a brekkie DJ trying to get excitement going. Any such luck was dissolved quickly at the arrival of 'The Nivea Boys'. Four fitness freaks in tshirts with 'Nivea' on them prancing around wit pom-poms... Very Eurovision... Sadly laughable too.
Eventually, the girls set off. Havana and Rachel were running 5km, along with a few others. 10km runs and 5km walks were also available. Havana and Rachel did the 5km in 45 mins official timing, but who knows really how long they had to wait for their chance to cross the start line.
Post prandial picnic was partaken, followed by ambling round Burghley's Sculpture garden, and 'Garden of Delights', AKA garden with lots of fountains and sparkly bits. Kids got SOAKED!!!!
Out the front of the house, was setup a load of tents and Marquees ready for this weekends country game fair. Before then, they were also hosting BBC Antiques Roadshow on Thursday. The BBC hadn't set themselvesup yet..
Thursday came, and Mum and I head back to Burghley for aforementioned Antiques Roadshow.
The venue was the Rose Garden, a usually private area on one side of the House. Nice long queues to get seen. That was to get to the front reception area, then split off into relevant sections. Then another shorter queue.
2 rainshowers later, during which we got a free poncho, we got to the front. We weren't presenting items worthy of recording.. but did see a few segments being shot. In official literature handed out at the start of the queue, it was requested that we not ask the experts for autographs... Although I did see one guy brandish a signed Antiques Roadshow bag with a Fiona Bruce tag on it...
Thursday 14 May 2009
bowel fluid hitting the revolving supporters..
Hmm, are you loving the current panic in Westminster over how they are defrauding constituents of thousands of pounds for such vitals as moat cleaning, chandeliers and horse shit.
I sure am!
Best radio clip so far must be Lembit Opik trying to defend a 2.5K tv for his London Shag pad, and having to 'make do' with a mere 700 quid budget one instead. Oh and the 40 quid claim to pay the courts for not paying his council tax.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kctks/Victoria_Derbyshire_13_05_2009/
The question has to be, why should a man whose USP is, if you look past the celebrity eye-cendy of varying qualities, a penchant to try to get HMG to cough up to proterct us against miscreant asteroids be after a 2.5k tv?
I sure am!
Best radio clip so far must be Lembit Opik trying to defend a 2.5K tv for his London Shag pad, and having to 'make do' with a mere 700 quid budget one instead. Oh and the 40 quid claim to pay the courts for not paying his council tax.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kctks/Victoria_Derbyshire_13_05_2009/
The question has to be, why should a man whose USP is, if you look past the celebrity eye-cendy of varying qualities, a penchant to try to get HMG to cough up to proterct us against miscreant asteroids be after a 2.5k tv?
Wednesday 6 May 2009
Thursday 30th April.
I returned to Cambridge for the second time in a week. Lovely place nowadays..
The reason for this quick return was to hear BBC Business Ed Robert Peston do a talk on his favourite episodes of Star Trek..Or as you could say, the UK Economy, as it 'boldly goes, where no economy has gone before..'
Quite worrying figures were posted in his presentation.. Basically debt both Private, Public and Corporate had reached 300%+ of UK GDP, and as such, couldn't continue at such a growth rate. Debt had ballooned since 2001, especially, and so sort of needed a correction at some point, its just that the correction was pretty fast acting, and widespread.
It would appear that most of the figures came from another piece he wrote at the turn of the year.
He did ridicule the thoughts of some from no doubt previous years of Union hacks, who wanted to be Hedge-fund managers when they grew up.. and asked if there were any in today's crop. Just the one...
He did plug his book, but didn't hang around to sign any, unlike Clare Short had years ago.
I returned to Cambridge for the second time in a week. Lovely place nowadays..
The reason for this quick return was to hear BBC Business Ed Robert Peston do a talk on his favourite episodes of Star Trek..Or as you could say, the UK Economy, as it 'boldly goes, where no economy has gone before..'
Quite worrying figures were posted in his presentation.. Basically debt both Private, Public and Corporate had reached 300%+ of UK GDP, and as such, couldn't continue at such a growth rate. Debt had ballooned since 2001, especially, and so sort of needed a correction at some point, its just that the correction was pretty fast acting, and widespread.
It would appear that most of the figures came from another piece he wrote at the turn of the year.
He did ridicule the thoughts of some from no doubt previous years of Union hacks, who wanted to be Hedge-fund managers when they grew up.. and asked if there were any in today's crop. Just the one...
He did plug his book, but didn't hang around to sign any, unlike Clare Short had years ago.
Skeggy is soooooo.... 'bracing'...
Went for a day out to the Great British Seaside (East Coast version) on Friday. The uber colony known as Skegness. The site of the first Butlins.
We went by train from Grantham, via Sleaford and Boston. When we got there, the horde of returning travellers was quite large. Apparently the 11.15 from Skeg was over subscribed, and later on the board was still suggesting that stations down the line advise people to choose a later train..
Considering it was still term time, there were quite a few kiddies around. Quite a few OAP version of quadbikes too. Walking towards the pier, we took the High St route. Not a normal looking High St.. all those tourist shops.. not really that many 'normal' shops at all.
We walked up to the Pier, and let the sand get in our shoes. Whatever wasn't brill about Skeg, the sand was, to quote the guy from Twin Peaks, was 'mighty fine'. Last time I did Skeg was 2 years back, and it was surprising then how high the sand had become against the sea defences even then. Only at the very end of the Pier can you now walk under it, 75% of it you'd need to be a 2 yr old to be able to fit, if that. I left Mum for a bit to take a 'comfort break' as them Yanks call it, and walked the length of the unercover part of the Pier. Pretty much deserted apart from uniformed folks spraying the glass on any one-armed bandit they could find. Shiny Shiny!
We walked up the left side of Skeggy, past Natureland, and the boating canal on that side, and back down to the mass carparks, boating lake and the pitch&putt. Past the Imperial and the Grand Hotels.. somehow the Grand Hotel, Skeggy didn't look much like its Brighton namesake...
I'd taken my camera to get some shots.. ended up with a shot of some kids setting off on a donkey ride..
We managed to fill an entire 4 hours in Skeggy.. Next time, we'll do Ingoldmels, and Butlins... *cough cough*
We went by train from Grantham, via Sleaford and Boston. When we got there, the horde of returning travellers was quite large. Apparently the 11.15 from Skeg was over subscribed, and later on the board was still suggesting that stations down the line advise people to choose a later train..
Considering it was still term time, there were quite a few kiddies around. Quite a few OAP version of quadbikes too. Walking towards the pier, we took the High St route. Not a normal looking High St.. all those tourist shops.. not really that many 'normal' shops at all.
We walked up to the Pier, and let the sand get in our shoes. Whatever wasn't brill about Skeg, the sand was, to quote the guy from Twin Peaks, was 'mighty fine'. Last time I did Skeg was 2 years back, and it was surprising then how high the sand had become against the sea defences even then. Only at the very end of the Pier can you now walk under it, 75% of it you'd need to be a 2 yr old to be able to fit, if that. I left Mum for a bit to take a 'comfort break' as them Yanks call it, and walked the length of the unercover part of the Pier. Pretty much deserted apart from uniformed folks spraying the glass on any one-armed bandit they could find. Shiny Shiny!
We walked up the left side of Skeggy, past Natureland, and the boating canal on that side, and back down to the mass carparks, boating lake and the pitch&putt. Past the Imperial and the Grand Hotels.. somehow the Grand Hotel, Skeggy didn't look much like its Brighton namesake...
I'd taken my camera to get some shots.. ended up with a shot of some kids setting off on a donkey ride..
We managed to fill an entire 4 hours in Skeggy.. Next time, we'll do Ingoldmels, and Butlins... *cough cough*
Tuesday 28 April 2009
A Little Less Conversation
I'm not intending to have the blog as JUST a retrospetive diary of my treatment for Cancer.. A bit of levity, perhaps, politics, showbiz, whatever takes my fancy.
The Long and Winding Road
At last I can do a blog..!
I've just spent near 4 months cooped up in hospital in Nottingham more or less unable to do a blog, because most of the main blogsites are blocked at the base thanks to their filters.
Even political ones like Iain Dale's blog were barred, not due to some left leaning filter admin, but because it's hosted on this site.. it might, might link to 'PornAgraphic material'. (Their spelling, my emphasising)
The reason I was in there was because in October 2008 I was diagnosed with Lymphoma. It wasn't til the end of Oct, start of Nov that I was diagnosed with 'Diffuse B-cell Lymphoma', a version of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, that I could start getting my chemo. I was then starting to think about setting up a blog to chart the treatment. That idea has gone by the wayside, as I really only logged a few weeks worth in mid Decembe. The rest of the time, I just couldn't bring myself to do the text file I would, so I hoped, use as blog material.
My initial stay in hospital started at Grantham General, on Nov 9th 2008 with a temp at 40.6C. They were so successful in bringing down my temperature that I was then covered by a bear-claw. This was a transparent lilo with a hot-air blower attached to the side that acted like a blanket.
I was there for just over a week, during which time I had a biopsy where they removed 3 lymph glands. As we didn't do lymph glands in biology at school, I asked the nurse for a look. Reminded me of Butterkist popcorn, with bits of red on them. I was then transferred to Lincoln Hospital.
I was there given a choice of treatment... Either the current gold standard treatment, with a cure and no reocurrence rate of 55%, or take part in a trial of a treatment for another version of cancer, but to see if it works on my variation. This hopefully had a success rate of 80%. The trial would be operating out of City Hospital, Nottingham, with trialists across the country from Edinburgh to Plymouth. I took the gamble and so far it's paid off. I could have the normal treatment from Grantham on an out-patients basis, or do the trial in situ at Nottingham.
After another week, I was transferred from Lincoln. Then after a week there, a bed came up in Nottingham. I was installed in Toghill Ward, in the Clinical Haematology Dept at City Hospital....
The dirt track to full health had just been upgraded to 'A' road..
I've just spent near 4 months cooped up in hospital in Nottingham more or less unable to do a blog, because most of the main blogsites are blocked at the base thanks to their filters.
Even political ones like Iain Dale's blog were barred, not due to some left leaning filter admin, but because it's hosted on this site.. it might, might link to 'PornAgraphic material'. (Their spelling, my emphasising)
The reason I was in there was because in October 2008 I was diagnosed with Lymphoma. It wasn't til the end of Oct, start of Nov that I was diagnosed with 'Diffuse B-cell Lymphoma', a version of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, that I could start getting my chemo. I was then starting to think about setting up a blog to chart the treatment. That idea has gone by the wayside, as I really only logged a few weeks worth in mid Decembe. The rest of the time, I just couldn't bring myself to do the text file I would, so I hoped, use as blog material.
My initial stay in hospital started at Grantham General, on Nov 9th 2008 with a temp at 40.6C. They were so successful in bringing down my temperature that I was then covered by a bear-claw. This was a transparent lilo with a hot-air blower attached to the side that acted like a blanket.
I was there for just over a week, during which time I had a biopsy where they removed 3 lymph glands. As we didn't do lymph glands in biology at school, I asked the nurse for a look. Reminded me of Butterkist popcorn, with bits of red on them. I was then transferred to Lincoln Hospital.
I was there given a choice of treatment... Either the current gold standard treatment, with a cure and no reocurrence rate of 55%, or take part in a trial of a treatment for another version of cancer, but to see if it works on my variation. This hopefully had a success rate of 80%. The trial would be operating out of City Hospital, Nottingham, with trialists across the country from Edinburgh to Plymouth. I took the gamble and so far it's paid off. I could have the normal treatment from Grantham on an out-patients basis, or do the trial in situ at Nottingham.
After another week, I was transferred from Lincoln. Then after a week there, a bed came up in Nottingham. I was installed in Toghill Ward, in the Clinical Haematology Dept at City Hospital....
The dirt track to full health had just been upgraded to 'A' road..
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