Sunday 9th March 2008

Jane went to see the oncologist at the end of last month. Her tumour markers have fallen again! She is now down to 75. Last year about this time it was close to 2000. Apparently the average count for people unaffected by cancer is about 30. This is great news. She doesn't need to see the oncologist again until April and no more treatment in the meantime. That means that she will have had 6 clear months without requiring chemo. Of course, she still needs painkillers and a lot of rest for the damage already done but this is still wonderful news.

We will keep this site going for the time being and post once a month at least until April when we shall review. As always, thanks to you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Friday 15th February 2008

Life is so normal at the moment that we quite forgot to update the blog. Apologies to anyone who wondered whether we are still here. First, the important part. Jane is well. She is still taking quite a lot of painkillers and she gets tired and achy but apart from that things seem pretty good. She has another apointment with her oncologist at the end of this month and we will report again after that.

Family news isn't hugely startling but; Lydia has finished her probationary period at the Playhouse and has had a pay rise. She is due to take her driving test in a couple of weeks. Leo is now doing documentary film at Newport and enjoying it far more than the previous course. I am about to leave the Regular Army after nearly 33 years and will then serve in civilian clothes doing a personnel job. The work is close to Salisbury and will provide the stability we need at the moment.

We'll update a bit more at the end of the month. Best wishes to you all and thanks for all the encouragement and prayers.

Saturday 5th January 2008

Happy New Year!! We started this blog almost a year ago when things seemed really quite bleak. Since then, as most of you know, Jane's tumour markers have dropped by about 95%; a miracle by almost any measure. We went to the hospital in mid-December and will go back again at the end of February. For the time being Jane requires no more treatment unless something unexpected crops up. She is still taking quite a lot of painkillers in the form of Fentanyl patches and paracetemol but things look so much more rosy than they did a year ago.

I apologise for the random arrangement of photographs on this blog. My inexperience in this medium is well and truly exposed. However, Lydia's graduation (1st Class Hons from the Central School of Speech and Drama) was a big milesone for all of us but especially for Jane. We are proud parents of a clever girl who is now in full time employment (hurrah!!). The other photograph is of St Ives harbour taken on New Year's Eve but it seems to have lost some quality in transfer. I found myself there early in the evening searching for fireworks (a story too long to tell here) and my camera was in my pocket.

We had a quiet Christmas here in Salisbury with Jane's mother. On Boxing Day we headed for Canterbury to see the rest of Jane's family. It seemed as though the whole of Southern England was on the move as we travelled bumper to bumper along the M25. It has been a very different kind of Christmas this year without Jane's father; he has left an enormous hole that will never be filled.

On 3oth December we re-packed our bags and headed for our beloved Cornwall. We stopped in Truro with Uncle Ralph and Marilyn before heading down to Marazion to see Dick and Sarah Reynolds who are in the midst of restoring a fantastic property with truly wonderful views of Mounts Bay. From there we headed up to Nancledra to spend New Year's Eve with Graham and Jenni. Jenni's son, Giles, provided some rockets for us to set off at midnight and from their garden we could see the light of the fireworks in St Ives and Penzance simultaneously - it's magical up in that part of West Penwith at any time. Thanks, Graham and Jenni.

Thank you, to all of you who stay in touch and encourage us to keep the blog going - we will. Terry, thank you for getting in touch - we'd love to know more about the family link!!

Well, we will write again in a few weeks to keep the site relatively current and to renew our thanks to you all.

Sunday 23rd December 2007

Well, we end the year with so much more hope than we when we started. Jane went to hospital last week and had another very positive session. Some more tests early in the New Year but the prognosis is good. As for all of you life is now hectic as we prepare for Christmas; Perhaps we all work too hard at this time of year at the wrong things much of the time but still....

It's great to have both Lydia and Leo here and Jane's Mum. We have friends coming for supper this evening and we are off to the carol service at the cathedral.

We wish you all a very peraceful Christmas and a Happy and healthy New Year. Once more we thank you for the prayers that have done so much to restore Jane's health.

Friday 16th November 2007

I tried to post this last Sunday but I lost my draft and ran out of time. So here goes again. We had a great holiday in the Oman and Jane showed enormous energy and seemed to need less naps and more shopping!

Marianne and David Price were great hosts and I also managed to catch up with Mac McCourt whom I served with in Cyprus. The kindness these friends showed us was icing on the cake of a great holiday in a very beautiful and friendly country. We arrived home a week ago today. I have been on a course this week and Jane has been with her Mum down in Kent.

Jane hasn't been feeling so great since we returned and today she saw her GP. She is on anti-biotics but there are no signs of any major issues. On the positive side, she is using less pain relief and she has gained a little weight - so, reasons to be cheerful!

Once again, we thank you all for your continuing prayers.

Thursday 25th October 2007

Jane and I leave for the airport in less than an hour for our holiday in the Oman but there is breaking news. Jane was at the hospital this morning for routine stuff and results. Docs are so pleased they have said no more treatment of any kind until January. It's a great start to the hols and many thanks again for all your prayers that have helped to make this so.

Sunday 14th October 2007

Jane has started another course of chemotherapy and will finish it in about 10 days' time; just before we plan to take belated summer holidays in the Oman with Marianne and David Price. The chemo is making Jane feel very tired and achy so, naturally, we hope that some warmth and sunshine will help to cheer her up.

Jane's father's funeral took place last Tuesday on a very wet afternoon. It was a wonderful service. Jane's brother, Jonathan, delivered a wonderful homily that really got to the essence of 'Dear Bill'. Jane read the lesson; word perfect. Many thanks to all the friends who sent cards and codelences.

This photograph was taken at the Louvre on our recent visit to Paris. As always, thank you for your continuing thoughts, prayers and good wishes.