Most of these entries have been by Jane or Jane and me (or should that be Jane and I?).

Anyway, while Jane is busy, I wanted to say that a few weeks ago we were in Malvern and we bought a couple of raffle tickets for Macmillan Nurses. The "little old lady" who sold them said how kind we were and as we walked away I said to Jane "Little does she know what help I've had recently from them".
Anyway, the other day I found a voicemail message at home saying I'd won a prize in the raffle ("A rather nice silk ladies scarf"). Wow!
Now, I need to escape from Jane (who still watches over me) and get it to give as a surprise birthday present for her.
(Or there again, if really good quality she may be shocked at me spending so much?!)

Better go and get on with something useful??!!

...well the sunny bits at least! After visiting the Consultant last Wed we decided to have a relaxing few minutes at the Worc Wildlife reserve at Upton Warren (near Webbs of Wychbold). We enjoyed seeing three pairs of Great Crested Grebe - one with chicks, lots of Avocets and chicks, a pair of Little Ringed Plover and their lonely chick, a pair of Arctic Terns, and lots of other gull "likes"! OK for you birdies out there - not much I know, but we enjoyed it.

On Thursday we enjoyed seeing a friend from work whom Colin hadn't seen since he'd been taken ill. So it was good to catch up. And on Friday, we were "cheered up" by some friends from Ledbury - some locals might know who this is! In the early evening we enjoyed very much a lovely strawberry tea and wine event at Barnards Green House in aid of Malvern Community Hospital. For those of you Malvern based who didn't go, you missed a treat - and even the rain held off until the very end.

Saturday saw a bit of a break in the weather which was useful, as we decided to go down to Pool House in Upton to hear our friends in their Jazz band. This was lovely - sitting by the river and COLIN enjoying ANOTHER cream tea. Colin won't say whether it was the cream tea or the music which attracted him to go there!

Been catching up with paperwork and the over-grown garden in between the rain this week!

Have heard that Colin has an appointment for an important Ophthalmic examination on 19 July and we're hoping to hear about an MRI in August before the visit to the Consultant Oncologist on the 30 Aug.

Apart from that promised important blog, we're going to try to update this blog maybe weekly unless there is something else to report which is more timely.

Colin & Jane

The merry-go-round of appointments continue! Today it included a long wait to see the Haematologist in Worcester to hear the latest results from the blood test from Monday. My Creatinine levels have now dropped to 94 (normal is between 60 and 100 but mine were 64 before the Chemo started) and I'm still slightly anaemic - Haemoglobin of 10 - should be 13 apparently. Also my neutrophils are still on the low side - that means that my immunity to bugs is still not where it should be. But platelets are OK it seems. So.....have another appointment to look forward to at the beginning of August.

My next appointment with the Consultant Oncologist at Cheltenham is at the end of August and by then I will have had another MRI and an Ophthalmic examination too - this is because Primary CNS Lymphoma are likely to reappear in the ocular regions - this consultant had seen this before in other patients. However, if I or Jane notice any extra other symptoms then I will get an appointment straight away as PCNS-Ls are nasty aggressive beasts!

Sorry to those of you who have been looking at this blog and finding no updates - we finally managed to get away on the holiday which we had booked before Christmas, and at many points along the way didn't think we'd ever manage it!

....that aforementioned important blog is coming....watch this space!

Colin

...for that all important information promised last time, but...! Well actually we've had a bit of a bitty week all told and both of us feel we need to concentrate and focus on the right information rather than providing a hurried post. We shall try to deliver on our promise in a week or so. Colin is due to see the Consultant Haematologist at Worcester on the 20th June so we'll post something as soon after that appointment as possible.
In the meantime it's been Jubilee time  - we attended our local street party on Monday, ably organised by Mike and Lynda, which was good fun! And....something which Jane really did think at one point that Colin wouldn't see! This followed the Churches Together Jubilee service at the Priory on Sunday which we were able to attend also - and glad that we were able to. Jane thought the choir did rather well - especially the sopranos with those high notes! We've been trying to enjoy the 'summer' weather for the rest of the week - ha!
We are still trying to catch up with all of you who have been supporting us both through the difficult times over the last few months. We've got a long way to go with that but want to say we really appreciate what you have done and continue to do.

Colin & Jane

Having had last Friday's 'good news' we thought we'd make the most of the good weather and get out and about, rather than catch up on weeding the garden!
This all started on Sunday with an invite to see Mrs Nicholls for afternoon tea. How splendid! We had a lovely time with Colin and Mrs N sharing memories of 30+ years ago and rounded it all off with a private tour of the spectacular garden.
On Monday we set off for the Water Parks at South Cerney and had a walk in the very warm weather by the Thames and Severn Canal following a light lunch. From the size and state of the locks, we won't be offering to help restore them! Another cup of tea and we headed for home.
Tuesday was obliterated with visitors - the Telecare person installing a new alarm (altho' we'll have to see how long we really need this with Colin's progress) and the Carers' worker explaining what other help can be obtained.
We made a trip over to West Malvern on Wednesday to visit Colin's 'colleagues' at the Regents College. It was lovely to meet up with them again, enjoying their hospitality (and cakes!) in the sunshine. Whilst it was a progress update of a sort it was also good to see if there was a possibility of Colin returning to some of his volunteering again in the library.
Thursday saw another visit to the GP and then on to Upton to visit an 'old' friend before going on to the Map Shop to purchase another (yes!) OS Map.
The week was well rounded off with a (last?) visit from the District Nurse to remove the stitches put in last week. What a sad(?) day - the last remnants of the Chemo finally taken away! Then in the afternoon we both enjoyed good company of friends and their delightful cooking (yes more cakes - see any pattern?) in Powick. It was lovely to see them again in more restful surroundings - the last time it was in a hospital.
Very soon we shall post a more important update with our findings of the condition which afflicted Colin - so keep watching.

Colin and Jane.