Sunday 29th April 2007

We have had a really busy weekend. Jane is now on her second cycle of chemo and the dose has been increased to about 75% of what she was having last summer. We think the higher dosage added to the cumulative effect of the first cycle is taking its toll. She is much more tired now and aches a lot. She is also suffering swollen ankles and fingers. That's the bad news but we have had a really good weekend.

We left Salisbury on Friday evening and were in Lostwithiel (Cornwall) in time for dinner with Andy and Jenny Barclay - preceded by a pint in the Globe! On Saturday morning we went on to Falmouth to spend the day with Leo. After a stroll in Falmouth we went on down to Perranuthnoe to see Jenni Gilbert in her new venture running a beach cafe - it's highly recommended (just 1/2 a mile off the Helston -Penzance road) and doing a roaring trade.

Jane samples Jenni's baked potato

In the afternoon Jane took a nap in Leo's room while Leo and I had a stroll on the beach. We had an early pub supper overlooking Falmouth Harbour before giving Leo a hug and returning to Lostwithiel. We started late on Sunday morning but Andy produced excellent scrambled eggs, bacon and coffee followed by Sunday papers in the garden.

Andy and Jenny smiling at the thought of peace at last

We stopped for lunch with Geoff and Maureen Albert on the way home in Crewkerne. It was Geoff's birthday so we had the added treat of gooseberry birthday cake in the garden. You won't be surprised to learn that Jane is taking a nap while I type this!

Maureen's gooseberry birthday cake

Monday 23rd April 2007

Some say that no news is good news but on this occasion we have an exception to prove the rule. When Jane was in hospital today the oncologist informed her that her tumour markers had dropped by about 75%!!!! We have been saying that miracles are to come!

Sunday 22nd April 2007

Jane is going to start her second cycle of chemo on Tuesday. She is at hospital tomorrow for her normal dose of intravenous gunk and the Doc will probably check, and may adjust, dosage of chemo at the same time. She has been pretty tired over the past week; I think the cumulative effect of the drugs was starting to show. She has been achy and tired but everything is relative and the impact is nothing like as bad as it was back in January.

Despite the fatigue Jane has been quite busy. I am back at work pretty much full time in Upavon so Jane is doing more at home and venturing out for the shopping. On Friday evening Mike and Janet Kerley swept into the drive in their rather lovely convertible Mercedes for dinner - Jane cooked a delicious fish pie!! At 11pm I was out with Mike collecting tadpoles under torchlight for him to take back to Hawley for his garden pond!

On Saturday I had a trip to London so Jane prepared to receive more guests in the form of Ken and Verity Jackson who ventured out of deepest Wales to stay a night (Ken tells me they can't be found on SATNAV). No sooner had they arrived, we deserted them to go and have dinner at the invitation of Nigel de Foubert in Amesbury. It was great to meet up with Nigel and Beatrice again and he had also invited Andrew Postance and Julia (not seen since he left Idmiston). My dear cousin Mike and lovely Nicky were also there and it was a pleasant surprise for Jane. Nigel is a brilliant cook and a generous host (we owe him countless dinners!). We had a really good time and enjoyed too much food but we probably stayed longer than we should - Jane was past her "sell by" date by the time we got home - thanks, Nigel, we will get you here eventually! Despite the tiredness, we all got to St Paul's this morning and managed a good lunch before K and V set off back to Wales.

Next week, apart from the chemo there isn't much planned but we are hoping to go down to Cornwall next weekend to see Leo. Looking further ahead, we have booked flights to visit Martin and Tina Leggett out in Orvieto in June - that's great news in terms of Jane's improved health and an opportunity to see Martin and Tina in their natural habitat!!

This is all pretty routine stuff and I had thought about letting the blog lapse but, on balance, I think we'll run on for a few weeks and see how things go. Thanks to all of you who phone and those who comment on the site - particularly lovely Sally C out in Ontario.

Sunday 15th April 2007

Jane has almost completed her first cycle of chemotherapy. It has been a much easier process than last Summer. Of course she is on a lower dose but she has stayed pretty well throughout with the exception of some tiredness and a little nausea.

Leo and I went to Twickenham today for the EDF rugby finals with our good friends the Barclays who very kindly gave him a lift back to Cornwall afterwards - College starts tomorrow.

Jane went to church at St Pauls this morning and this afternoon she visited Heale Gardens with Bob and Lynn Kershaw. She will have a week off the chemo from Tuesday and then she will start a second cycle.

I return to working a normal week from tomorrow at HQ AG in Upavon.

Sunday 15th April 2007

Jane has almost completed her first cycle of chemotherapy. It has been a much easier process than last Summer. Of course she is on a lower dose but she has stayed pretty well throughout with the exception of some tiredness and a little nausea.

Leo and I went to Twickenham today for the EDF rugby finals with our good friends the Barclays who very kindly gave him a lift back to Cornwall afterwards - College starts tomorrow.

Jane went to church at St Pauls this morning and this afternoon she visited Heale Gardens with Bob and Lynn Kershaw. She will have a week off the chemo from Tuesday and then she will start a second cycle.

I return to working a normal week from tomorrow at HQ AG in Upavon.

Sunday 8th April 2007

Easter Sunday - Christos Anesti!! Jane is doing well on the chemo - much better than last summer. We were up at 4am today so that she could wash her hair before going to the 5am Sunrise Service at the Cathedral.

We started outside with a bonfire and birds singing the dawn chorus before entering the cathedral with candles - darkness into light. The service lasted 2 hours. Jane did really well, but we did have a nap when we came home before Easter breaksfast with Lyds and Leo.

Monday 2nd April 2007

Well, we had the results of Jane's CT scan today. The good news is that there does not appear to be anything going on in her lungs. The bad news is that about 6 small lesions have been identified in her lungs and the tumour count in her blood has risen again. You may recall that this not a complete surprise because the oncologist had hinted at this some weeks ago. Still, miracles are to come!! Jane is going to start a course of chemotherapy tomorrow. It will be of the same type that she had last time - it comes in pill form and avoids the requirement for intravenous injections in her poor veins. We know it had a positive effect last summer and this type of chemo also means that Jane will not lose her hair.

There's not a lot more to say really, except, of course, that Jane is being as brilliant as ever and to ask for your prayers - especially for Jane's liver!! We'll let you know how the chemotherapy goes next week.

The photograph was taken just before Christmas with Lottie Pennell (daughter of Bruce and Brenda)