Monday 29 November 2010

Lesley Roley and Tears for Hamada

Been a busy old week. The bathroom still looks like the proverbial bomb has hit it, but at least the electric wiring is now sorted. We have spent today doing all those delightful pre-mot checks that the hospital feels are necessary. Personally I keep wondering if they would ever turn round and say "sorry you ain't fit enough."

As some of you may remember, back in May, just before Mike decided to go all wobbly and spend the month searching for his very own tea tray, we went off to see Don McLean. http://lornaandmickyour-loma.blogspot.com/2010/05/its-finally-here.html

We reported how we had had a wonderful time and also how we had discovered a fantastic new talent,Miss Lesley Roley. Well with a bit of encouragement, that wonderful new talent appeared at a local club last Tuesday and of course Mike and I bought our tickets the day they were released. We also managed to drag along someone who recorded some of the songs which he uploaded to You Tube.

As Lesley played this song written by her dad for her, I burst into tears, I reminded me of Susie and her love for Hamada

Sunday 21 November 2010

Bathrooms by "Beirut"

I wasn't going to share this in case you all got worried, but as Paula has been talking about her new bathroom I thought I might as well.
A few weeks ago, while Mike was off relaxing (OK he was having his line put in), the nice men came to put in our new central heating. Just as well as the weather was starting to get a bit nippy and our boiler broke last April. Our new system which includes a solar panel (rubs nails on jumper in a how smart are we kind of way) means that the hot water storage is now in the loft and so we no longer had any need for an airing cupboard. The old tank and it's surrounding cupboard were duly taken out leaving us with a bathroom that looks like this:

Did I mention that all the plaster and tiles fell off the wall into the bath?

Funnily enough, Mike had been going on and on at me about wanting a sunken soap dish, but I had always said "You are not knocking holes in my bathroom walls." As you can see, it looks like he might get his own way. Did I mention that the tiles broke the bath?

Not to worry, Mike fixed it with his "Hard and Fast"......

We have chosen a new white bathroom as we were reliably informed that Pergamon was no longer available. (I've got a real sulk on about it too!) ;-)

Friday 19 November 2010

Awkward or what?

Is Mike normal in any way at all? (Well you must all know by now that he isn't!)

As previously posted we were told when we arrived this morning that people virtually never EVER produce more stem cells on the second day. Well in true Mike style he produced 2.2 million today, bringing the grand total to.............. 4.06 million. (They must have asked him to push while I was in the loo.) The nurse we spoke to said they need 2 million for each SCT, so maybe, just maybe they will manage to sort it so there is enough for 2, yes TWO SCTs. Fingers crossed that when we speak to PM on the 30th she is of the same opinion.

Awkward

I've got a brand new combine harvester, Day 2

Mike managed to collect a measly 1.8 million stem cells yesterday. He's back on the machine today, but we have obviously been told that while it will be enough for 1 SCT there won't be enough for a second bite of the cherry. We are told that although extremely difficult, it isn't completely impossible to collect stem cells for a second SCT after the first one. As the doctor said "we don't have a crystal ball." Thanks? I feel like running around the playground screaming "IT'S NOT FAIR!" I want my ball back.

Wednesday 17 November 2010

Solidarność

I probably won't ever win a Nobel Prize like Lech Wałęsa, but I like to think that my act of Solidarity may be appreciated by some. "What is she talking about?" I hear you cry. Let me show you:My impression of Cousin IT. Hang on Mike says I can't use that photo.


This is me at 09:30 GMT.
This is me at 11:00 GMT. Can you spot the difference?
Why? Well when we found out about Mike's little illness I told him that when his hair fell out I'd have mine shaved off so we could walk around looking like a pair of skittles or maybe the bowling balls. Since then the weather has turned a little too chilly so instead of shaving my head I've had my hair cut, now I just need to weave or knit the hair into a wig for Mike.

Tuesday 16 November 2010

Muppet Babies

Well it's been a long nine months for us, but finally labour has started and Lorna and I are looking forward to the imminent birth. With a bit of help from medical science, man is able to create new life. Yes in this case "MAN GIVES BIRTH". Now before you all start knitting, bootees, hats and little jumpers, I'm not talking about the pitter-patter of tiny feet, more the whooshing of millions of tiny stem cells. I have to say that given the pain I'm in,(Co-Codamol 500/30mg x2 has little effect) it had better be worth it!
All the pain, but none of the fun though. Lots of throbbing but no pleasure. I'm sure you girls have probably said that a few times over the years, and it is probably like meat and two veg to you all, but I'm really worried that when I go for my line care on my expertly fitted Central Line on Wednesday, the nurses are going to ask me to PUSH!
It is the dreaded G-CSE....ERM..... G-CSF sorry, (although to want it, you do need your head EXAMINING.) On Sunday I started the 4-a-day injections of Neupogen that will hopefully encourage the birth of 6 million or so baby stem cells that will be used to reboot me after the mustard gas attack planned at Cancer Operational Headquarters, QE., Birmingham on December 6th.
The pain of this war on Myeloma has really come to the fore this week. My bones are throbbin in time to my heartbeat," BOOM BOOM shake ya bones" for those who teen'd in the 70's. Child of the 50's,60's,70's,80's,90's and naughties is what I am. Lorna says I've never grown up. I reckon those stem cells will be more responsible than me, given a week or two. I'm halfway through my course of injections so there will soon be an extra shelf in the fridge again for the cheese to mature on. Lorna wanted it for wine, but I've told her there is more than enough whinin already. 

Tuesday 2 November 2010

Has Buddy moved house?

As reported in The Express and Star (Wolverhampton's local evening paper.)

Pipe chewed by dog

A dog which chewed through a water pipe after it was spooked by fireworks, caused a severe flood at a Black Country pensioner's flat.

The pensioner, believed to be in his late sixties, called fire crews to his ground floor flat in Wellington Road, Dudley shortly after 6pm, to make the electric safe.

The pet had bitten through a water pipe in the bathroom of the flat above. Owner Colin Cooper aged 56 said 13 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Mollie always panicked at loud noises, including thunderstorms.

He added: "I was around my girlfriend's house for dinner when I got the call. She had bitten the pipe under the sink right out. I think she was panicking and trying to hide behind there."