This is what 'I' look like.

I had some lovely compliments about how gorgeous I look in my new suit....Unfortunately I have had to come clean and admit to being a fraud...The picture below is one of me a few months ago when I used to ride the beast that is Miranda...Unfortunately too cold and dangerous to ride with chemo head so she is locked in the shed nice and warm for the winter! The other bloke was a chap in the catalogue where I brought my new suit from!

Much Love

Tony xxxx

Definitely Me :-)

Definitely Not Me!

What a fool!

I suffered greatly all last night and started the pattern again this evening with the nuclear waste.

Why did I put myself through all the pain, when there is the Loperamide!

I have so many Loperamides as when I first had the colostomy I had to take 40 per day to try and slow down the fluids output.

I have taken the emergency two and will await the next couple of hours after which 1 tablet every 2 hours.

I have a plan and so far so good, I feel better already!

Much Love

Tony

Still awake (2)

And now the opposite from last time...

Diarrhoea = Pain = No sleep = hours of quiet contemplation

Seriously, it is10.30am on Friday morning and I have a planned trip to town to pick up my prescription, do a bit of shopping and post off a package...what with the nuclear fall-out I wont be doing any of it.

I did utilise some of the time awake in a more constructive way by buying a suit...When I became ill, when all the test results were in and I had lost about 5 stone, some through exercise and diet and some through the cancer, I had some really nice clothes including a dinner suit and a couple of reasonably new business suits. I was quite proud that I had given them away to a big bloke somewhere close to Matlock.

I returned to work at RR Donnelley LTD in the spring 2010 (If I recall correctly) and had to leave again a couple of months later. I'd brought another suit under false pretences.

My niece Emma's wedding is fast approaching in several weeks time....I have the enormous honour to do a reading, 1 Corinthians and thereabouts. I tried the suit on late last night and for some reason the suit has shrunk to the size of an old Norman Wisdom suit.

Luckily time is on my side so ordered a nice 3 piece suit (not a sofa and two armchairs). It also has an unusual lilac lining, which actually looks really nice. I will get you all a picture of me at the wedding - I'll bet you can't wait...LOL

Yesterday, I ventured into Matlock to do some shopping from 3 different shops at opposite ends of the High Street. Usually my walking or even driving pace would have completed the tasks in under 10 minutes. My new slow pace of life had my tasks completed in just over 90 minutes. Also due to the slow pace I bumped into Barbara D where we had a quick chat. I plodded across the road and round the corner came Barbara N who's husband John has advanced cancer so was able to give her a Tony hug and ask how she was.

I turned the corner and bumped into Grayden D who's wife Barbara D I had seen only moments before...they both invited me separately to the Peli Deli for a coffee which I unfortunately had to decline due to a pain in the arse and fatigue from the slow plodding!  My final resting place was the Co-op where whilst plodding past the veggie counter I bumped into David W...as a bearer of bad news he informed me that his lovely wife Marie was again in hospital after suffering from another stroke. David and I spoke for sometime and then went our separate ways to complete our shopping.

I finally got home after plodding around Matlock Town centre and thoroughly enjoying the slower pace of my life as it is at the moment...Without the greatly reduced speed I wouldn't have met those lovely people as no doubt I would have been too busy to see them let alone stop and chat!

Time to try and get some rest.

Much Love

Tony xx

Insurance!

Hello blog and readers!

Some of you may be aware that my eldest daughter Catherine is planning to get married to Mark in the Dominican Republic in October, this year.

I have just called a company that someone noted on Cancer Research Chat....I spoke with Harry (http://www.insurecancer.com/) who took down a full history and I have ascertained the following details...

1) As the wedding is in October 2012, there is much that can happen between now and then. As I am just restarting my chemotherapy treatments I will have to demonstrate 'fitness to travel' nearer the time.

2) An assessment will need to be carried out by my oncologist around September 2012 after which a decision will be made whether they can give me a quote for travel insurance.

3) We have just paid a minimal deposit, however the balance of the holiday will need to be paid in July 2012.

4) Whilst not a formal quote Harry advised that I would have to prepare myself for a quote of above £1000 due to the fact I am on active treatment and at such an advanced stage.

5) Harry did say that Barcelona would be a cheaper option but not quite the same...

So, if anyone has any further advice on the above points especially the catch 22 dilemma between 2) & 3) or maybe some alternative Insurance Companies that specialise in Cancer Travel then I would be grateful.

Much Love

Tony xxxx

Still awake!

One of my worst situations is being awake at 03.30am and not being able to sleep...I know how much better I would feel if I slept well!

Constipation = pressure = pain = morphine and no sleep = quiet time for contemplation...