Visitors and out and about.

On Monday eve I had some very welcome visitors from Kent.

As the schools are on a break, Darren and Bev drove up to see me for a few days. You may remember Bev and Darren helped tremendously when I was vacating my bungalow prior to moving onto Bracken so it was really great to see them again. As they didn't arrive till around 5.30 Jenny invited us all to her house for dinner. They're staying at a Travelodge off the A38 which is only a 15 minute drive from the Marina so yesterday they drove over to me and we went into Lichfield and round the town. Darren lifted my electric buggy out of the boot of the Polo and assembled it for me as its a bit heavy for me to lift yet, then we were off and mobile. 

As a boy, I grew up in Lichfield so although the city has grown since then, there are numerous places I remember 'as a lad' so to speak.

As a visitor, a look round the cathedral is a must, lots of information on this link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichfield_Cathedral

 Bev and Darren are centre of picture.

view down central nave

After Breakfast (for them), lunch, (for me) we had a look round the cathedral and the town and the local park where we met up with Jenny, Jemma, (my neice) and Jemma's two lads, all out for a stroll, after which we popped over to Jaq's as it was her day off and had a quick coffee and natter.

By now I was pretty shattered so we came back to the boat, and I chilled out for a while whilst Bev and Darren went off to do their own thing. they came back later in the evening for a coffee and chat but didn't stay long as it was obvious I wasn't going to be able to stay awake long!

A grand day.

Today, (Wednesday) I think they've gone shopping somewhere so I've had a lay in, done some washing and brought the blog up to date. This afternoon we're going to pop in on Jenny at the garden centre where she works and then this evening its a chippie night at Graham and Jaq's, busy busy!

bfn people.

Each day, a little stronger.

Sunday 26th Oct.

Greetings people, although it's only been 5 days since coming out of hospital, I am feeling so much better. 

For the first few days I was feeling extremely delicate, tired, sore and uncomfortable however I sat or laid down. Gradually though, as the swelling went down, and the soreness abated, (especially the pressure sore at the base of my spine), I started to feel more 'human'.

In hospital, I was told that I was on the operating table for 9 hours! So no wonder I had a pressure sore, and no wonder it takes a few days to feel 'human after being on anaesthetic for so long. Just wish I could lose the sore throat, but give it time.

Friday I had a review with the consultant surgeon who did the work on me, and also had the stitches and staples out, (ouch! ouch! that stings)! Jenny drove me over to Derby hospital as I didn't think I was ready for the Madhouse of the A38 dual carriageway yet. 

Mr Laughan was pleased with my progress, and also the lab results from the tumour he'd removed. The phrase he used was, 'Cautiously optimistic that he'd removed it all' ........ Time will tell.

I had a better nights sleep Friday night, and woke up Saturday with more energy and a bit more 'get up and go' so I started a few little jobs. After showering, (gently) breakfast, rake the fire out and relight, I decided to top the water tank up.Taking my time, its an easy job anyway as the tap is on the pontoon adjacent to the stern of Bracken so its an easy job to run the hose the length of the roof and into the filler in the well deck.

It took a while to fill the tank so I must have been getting low. I know the capacity is around 100 litres.

Next job to empty the elsan whilst it was only about one third full so not too heavy to lift, I chucked the cassette in the car and drove it round to the emptying point.

Feeling somewhat knackered after all this activity, I sat for a while and chilled before making my way over Morrisons at Lichfield as the cupboards were looking kind of bare. Just some essential supplies to tide me over the next few days.

Shopping done, I popped over to Grahams house as i'd not seen him for a few days. They are up to their ears in  preparations for  house moving, hence my not seeing them for a while. I didn't stay long as I'm about as much use as a chocolate fire poker!

Back on Bracken, I spent the rest of the day/eve relaxing, reading, and generally doing very little.

I did feel I'd accomplished a lot that day and hope I continue to improve.

I 'll leave you with a picture of Sam and Peter who went to a Halloween party last night.

Scary or what!!

And a cute one of Jenny and Grand kids (hers)

Bfn people

Sore, stiff, tired, but so happy to be back home on Bracken.

Its Wednesday 22nd Oct.

I know it is because my laptop says so!

Actually if I didn't have the date and day on screen I wouldn't have a clue!

I came out of Derby hospital yesterday, during torrential rain and gale force winds. Full marks to my little sister for braving the elements and driving up and down the A38 to fetch me home, her knuckles gleaming white as she clung on to the steering wheel of her little roller-skate which was being buffeted around by other traffic.

It is sooo good to be back home.

Surgery went well I'm told, the tumour, along with neck muscle, flesh, and the right jugular vein was removed which left quite a cavity. So they took a piece of chest muscle, flesh and skin from the right breast area to make a flap to close off the cavity. This has resulted in my right nipple going south an inch or so but hey it could have been worse. They could have moved the flesh AND the nipple up to my neck!

I have a number of stitches and staples holding me together and a number of nerves have been damaged/removed so parts of my face and neck are numb, this may or may not improve in time. Also the nerve that runs across the shoulder that controls how far you can lift your arm up is also gone. How much mobility I'll be left with in the right arm remains to be seen, but at the moment its pretty good We'll see.

I suppose the 64,000 dollar question is Did they get it all out ??? The answer being - don't know yet.

Time will tell, The next few weeks will be spent recovering, so I may not write the blog as often, I tire easily, and any physical effort leaves me knackered, so its a case of slowly and easy does it till my strength returns.

My family and friends have been incredibly supportive to me with messages, running errands and visiting even whilst up to their ears in their own lives, ie working, house moving, matrimonial problems etc etc and one friend even went to the point of a hundred mile detour in their journey to visit me in Hospital. I count myself very lucky. And also thank you to the readers of this blog who have expressed concern and interest in my well-being and have contacted me by various means. 

I'll write more when i feel up to it.

Bfn.

Busy weekend, a good deed, and some very welcome visitors.

Monday 13th October.

What a lovely weekend I've just had!

Saturday started much as normal, filling water tank, cleaning out fire, stocking up on logs etc.

It was very damp and foggy in the marina first thing so I lit the fire to warm the boat through.

Lately I've been letting the fire go out overnight as its quite warm in the bedroom with a small oil filled radiator on for a couple of hours. (one advantage of being in a marina and connected to the 240 volt mains).

Beth, a very dear friend from years gone by, came to visit me for the weekend. She moved to the Midlands some years ago so it was lovely to meet and catch up on our respective family news. 

After the proverbial cuppa we popped down to the farm shop for some bread and also popped in to say hi to Jenny as the garden centre is in the same area.

On returning to Bracken the mist had cleared and the sun was trying to put in an appearance so we decided to have a mini voyage down the canal for the afternoon. 

Turning left out of the marina along the Trent and Mersey there are 9 miles before you reach the first lock at Colwich should you wish to go that far.

As we had arranged to go to G & Js for a takeaway in the evening we only went as far as the winding hole (turning point) at Handsacre, a distance of approx 2 miles where we winded, and then moored up at a nice spot for some lunch and a coffee/tea. and a chat.

As we approached this property I was thinking this would be perfect for John and Dee, 'cos i could moor up at the bottom of their garden............

.....and there's room for their mini!

Whilst having lunch several boats passed us, some slowly and some not so slowly, Thank you to those that did slow down, its suprising just how much difference it makes to the way the boat sits in the water when moored.

Continuing on the return journey back to the marina we came across a narrowboat  well and truly stuck in the shallows. With the bows pointing out into the centre of the canal the stern was well and truly stuck in the mud .There was just room to squeeze past his pointed end (bows) so as we crept past, the man passed us his bow rope and we very gently took the strain. and pulled him free. So that was our good deed for the day! As soon as he was free we chucked his rope clear and with a wave we continued on our way.

Saturday evening we went to Graham and Jaqs where Jenny joined us for a chinese takeaway and we all ate too much, but a good night was had by all.

Beth stayed overnight at G and J's, while I returned to the boat. 

Bracken is not really geared up for overnight visitors yet, maybe when I get a new loo 'cos at present there is only a portapotti, which may be adequate for just me, but not really adequate for guests.

Sunday morning I picked Beth up and as G & J had plans we drove to Bromley Hayes for breakfast.

This is a garden centre with a restaurant and although not the cheapest around they serve a good sized Full English, after which we had a wander round and I was fascinated by the spiders webs, - nearly as good as the ones on Bracken!

Bromley Hayes.

Bracken.

They also have a 'bits and pieces' area at Bromley Hayes which is basically a second hand shop full of bygone treasures, (junk), that I never get tired of looking at.. (probably because its all from my 'era')

Beth left around 2 pm and text me around 4 to say she was home ok. It was great spending time catching up and putting the world to rights (as you do) and I look forward to our next get together :)

My next visitors arrived this morning. John, (oh great one) Dee, and Phil popped in to say hi before heading back to Kent.

They'd been up for the weekend visiting their eldest son Steve who lives in the Midlands, (in fact John, Phil and Steve did pop in to see me on Friday, but I foregot to take any pics)

As always, great to see you all.

This will be my last post for a week or so. 

I go into Derby hospital tomorrow for Surgery on Wednesday so Ive really no idea when ill be able to blog again. Big thanks to those people who have sent their wishes, and I hope it wont be long before 'normal service will be resumed' 

Happy cruising!!

update and more rain.

Tuesday 7th October.

More rain this morning! Just for a change, haha.

I saw 'the man' yesterday afternoon. 'The Man' being Mr Laugharne, of Derby Hospital  Maxillofacial dept. He's the surgeon who is going to attempt to remove as much as possible  of the tumour that is growing on the right side of my neck. The Radio and Chemo treatment I had earlier this year seems to have nailed the Primary cancer in the tonsil area, but not the secondary tumour on the right side of my neck. Therefore surgery is the next step. This will entail also removing a quantity of skin, flesh, muscle and would you believe, the jugular vein !! I always thought the jugular vein was pretty essential, but it seems that as you have two, one each side, you can function ok with only one. I'll take his word for it! 

I'm due to see the anaesthetist team next Tuesday so they can decide which type of anaesthetic to use as previous medical conditions complicate matters. ( personally speaking,  anything other than a lump hammer is fine with me)! Naturally there will be some re-constructive surgery afterwards to fill in the missing bits, so they may well 'borrow' some skin/flesh/muscle etc. from 'other 'areas in order to maintain my youthful good looks. I've been told to expect a stay in hospital for 5 to 7 days. So, fingers crossed things things are starting to happen. There is obviously a lot more to this, but I've tried to just give you the summary of what's happening

Had a lovely stew at Jenny's last night when we got back from the hospital, very tasty indeed. Then, after watching Emerdale I spent all evening on the phone talking to friends and family who are all being very supportive.

Bye for now.

Gardening, an Indian takeaway and movie night.

Monday morning, 6th October.

View out of back window across stern deck. Tiller arm is turned 90 deg.

Its raining! it's chucking it down! It's also blowing a gale out there! I know this because I ventured out this morning to the shower block.

Although its quite sheltered in the marina the wind is certainly moving the boat around on the mooring. Not an unpleasant movement, but enough to remind you that you are most definitely afloat!

Aboard 'Bracken' I am comfortably warm and dry. I lit the fire this morning after i'd had some breakfast, and washed out a few 'smalls' in the sink before hanging them to dry on the rail over the fire. (i'll spare you the photos of my 'smalls'). 

So it's quite warm and cozy in here and i'm attempting to bring the blog up to date before my meeting with my consultant oncologist later today.

I did some gardening last week, by visiting my sister at the Garden center where she works I was able to buy some grit, compost, and plants to fill my first tub. 

Looks nice I think and draws the eye away from the scabby roof!

Saturday evening was spent at Jenny's where we enjoyed an Indian takeaway, (very yummy) before watching one of my favourite dvd's - Despicable Me 2. Thats only the 4th time i've watched it!

Yesterday morning, (Sunday) I popped down to Graham and Jaq's and we treated ourselves to a cooked breakfast at a cafe on the A5 just outside Cannock. Super!

I spent the afternoon and evening just chilling out and reading in front of the wood burner aboard Bracken. Very lazy day for me :-)