Finally, I Get to go to Oral Surgery

Today I finally had my appointment at the Oral Surgery, at the Royal Oldham.  It's a good job that this front tooth has not been giving me to much pain the length of time I have had to wait for this appointment.  I have been spoilt be the Christie staff.  Although the consultant that looked at my teeth was not unpleasant he could learn a lot from the way cancer patients are treated by the Chistie.  Before I went in to see him I had to fill a form out about my medical history including a list of my current medication.  After a preliminary examination he stuck an X-ray film in my mouth.  I protested at this saying that I had just finished radiotherapy.  He hadn't looked at the form I had filled in even though it contained relevant information to the procedure that is required.  Anyway they were going to send me to sit in the waiting room while they developed the film but as I was going to the Royal Exchange theatre for the matinee performance of Victoria Woods 'That Day We Sang' I made another appointment.  I don't think he was too pleased with me.

The play/musical was based around Manchester Schools Choir recording 'Nymphs and Shepherds' with the Halle orchestra in 1929.  It was full of Victoria Woods brilliant rhymes e.g. grapple with a pineapple.   Great fun and a joy to watch.  A great way to lift the spirits.

xxxx

Stoodley Pike

My latest venture into High Definition Range photography has taken me to Stoodley Pike.  A monument to the Napoleonic Wars (I think).  The area is rough moorland that is now in Yorkshire but was once in Lancashire.  These were taken before 2:00 p.m. I had forgotten how quickly the Sun goes behind the hills at this time of year.  I love the moors that straggle the Pennines.  They always seem so untameable and ageless.  They are another of my spiritual homes.

I have been reminded this week of just how fragile our existence here is and I am trying to live my life with this in mind.  So enjoy every minute.  Love one another and don't make work the be all and end all of your life. 

My love to you all.

xxxxx

Canal boats,Doctors and bums

Although the weather has been somewhat inclement I have been able to get out with my camera and in pursuit of more HDR shots I went Scarsbrick which is officially on Merseyside about 7 miles from Southport.

When I was on my way to Southport last I noticed that a new marina had been built on the Leeds Liverpool Canal along with a cafe and thought that this may be a good place to take photos.  As it turned out access to the boats in the marina was quite restricted and the cafe didn't have a great veggie choice.  Despite this we had a pleasant day and did manage a couple of HDR photos.

At four years old I went into hospital with a severe burn.  That would be 1955.  How different things were then.  I remember spending my birthday screaming Oldham Royal down and no one giving me any comfort and of course parents were only allowed in during strict visiting hours.  Then at 13 I spent a few days in Oldham & District Hospital in the care of Mr Steptoe, him of the test tube baby fame.  I wasn't having a test tube baby but was in his women's health clinic.  Both of these experiences put me in fear of doctors and hospitals, so I am reluctant to go to see my GP.  So, the pain must have got bad when I mentioned to him on Monday that I had a pain in my bum.  It would be more precise to say that the pain was around my hip.  I seriously thought this was serious.  He soon diagnosed it at bursitis which is damage to the the cushioning around the joint, if you get it in your knee it is "Housewives Knee".  He has given me some exercises which seem to be working well.

Perhaps cancer has given my more confidence in doctors and hospitals.

Enjoy your weekend and look forward to a well earned break.

xxxx

Southport

My efforts to charge my van's battery took me to Southport on Merseyside on Friday.  I went dressed for a very cold day at the seaside only for it to turn out sunny and calm.  

OFSTED in your dreams

Having gone through surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, six days in hospital and more you would think that I would be having nightmares about breast cancer.  I fact I wish I was having nightmares about breast cancer.  However, last nights dreams consisted of me teaching science to a year 8 class in a very animated way.  They decided that they had had enough of this and walked out.  The man from OFSTED wasn't impressed and went for the head of year.  There is a a school of thought that says every player in a dream represents ourselves.  That may mean then that the lesson is the cancer and I am the one that leaves while Mr OFSTED is me going for the treatment in the form of the Head of Year.  What ever the interpretation is, frankly, I have had enough of this and want some nice hairy, fairy entertainment in the night time. 

My general anxiety doesn't help, I suppose.  As I write a man from Dynarod is examining the soil pipe outside as this is leaking.  Just calling someone out is a big deal, plus the fact that I might get ripped of, plus the fact that I think I am hopeless and should be able to deal with every day problems like an adult.

My Suzuki van refused to start again yesterday.  It's not surprising as it doesn't get driven much at the moment.   So I bought a jump starter so that I am not calling the RAC out every five minutes.  It has worked fine so I took the van to Kwikfit to get a new battery.  They said that I didn't need one-it just needed a good charge.  You see how this works-if I was better at things none of this would happen-I know it's crazy. Despite taking antidepressants (which help with anxiety as well) I find that I am constantly expecting my life to collapse.  I think one of my hopes was that I would find the smaller things in life would be easier to cope with and would have a smaller profile than they have had.

So Mr Dynarod has now gone and they will get back to me to tell me when they will do the job. Phew first hurdle over.  So now it's a fry up and some photo taking somewhere.
And for everyone that has to put up with OFSTED, 'Fascinating Aida' interpret it as 'Overpiad Fuckers Shafting Teachers Every Day'.

Enjoy your day.

xxxx

I didn't meet Alan Partridge

The three mile walk to Tandle Hills Country Park has not really changed in the 55 years that I have been doing it.  There are some new houses and of course there is the motorway link A627M but, the puddles that were there when I was 9 or 10 are still in the same spots.

On Thursday evening I went to the pub with a friend from my last place of employment and had a good couple of hours together.  On Wednesday lunch time I went to the same pub with a friend from my probationary year school.  Two completely different people but two really good friends.  If cancer does anything it does make you appreciate the essential parts of your life and friendships are just that.

So, Now What Do I Do?

Here are two videos with inspiring titles-Before and After Last Radiotherapy.

As you can read today was the last radiotherapy session.  There has been one particular radiologist that I have really liked having and I was glad to see her on the last day.  I have never really liked terms of endearment used on a casual basis but when this woman called me darling it seemed to make the whole process go easily.  She asked me how my skin was feeling and although it is intact it is a bit itchy.  So she has given me some hydrocortisone (to use sparingly).

Again, I have met some astonishing people.  Today I sat next to a man that had had throat cancer and was enjoying his life.

In the past week I have been with several friends old and new and will be meeting up with at least one long term friend next week.  I am really lucky to have you all in my life.

Enjoy the coming weekend.

xxxx