A New Year

So,  as we enter a new year. I only trust and hope (and pray) that 2019 is better than 2018. There will be a very big hole in my life, left when Carol passed away. We had an amazing marriage. 11 years of total joy. We did so much together, we visited so many places, discovered so many new things as a couple. The battle with cancer was very difficult. We had hopes that it could be won. Carol got through 12 cycles of chemotherapy without too much trouble. Then she got the infection which lead to her being in hospital for several periods, until the final stretch which eventually lead to her going into Willen Hospice for them to deal with the awful pain she had to endure. They managed to find the right combination of medication to relieve the pain and then she had to move out of Willen (because they could only allow her to stay for no more than 5 weeks.) which eventually lead to her moving to Castlemead Court where she eventually died barely a week later.

Carol had her sights set on going back to work. She loved her job as a science teacher. It was very stressful but that didn't put her off. I was able to support her by being at home, looking after the house, shopping, cleaning and making sure she had a meal when she got home in the evening. She was almost alway at work before other members of staff, usually by 7.15. It's only a short walk from our home to the Academy, so I could go and meet her as she left in the afternoon. She will be sadly missed by her colleagues and pupils. How many times we would be out in Milton Keynes, shopping or doing nothing in particular, when we would have one of her students come to see her and tell her that they had to thank her for helping them gain whatever qualification so they could achieve their ambition, for example, get to university. Or she would find a former pupil working somewhere, probably on a supermarket checkout or similar. Quite heartening to think she has left a legacy like that. But, as the cancer took hold it seemed unlikely that she would ever return to work. The pain she experienced was too much.

When we first got the diagnosis around 18 months ago, it was a terrible shock. I told Carol then that I would be with her all the way along the journey, however difficult. And it was. The worst thing being that, however much pain and suffering she had to endure, there was nothing much I could do do help. All I could do was be at her side and watch. I managed to be with her every day she was in hospital, and at every consultant and doctor's appointment and every single chemotherapy session. We did manage to visit some interesting places in the early days after the diagnosis, but there were times when it was obvious that Carol was in intense pain. It was extremely difficult for me to see someone who was so lively, had a degree in earth sciences, went on to become an extremely popular and successful science teacher, who enjoyed reading, playing games on her Kindle, sometimes playing Scrabble with me when she was in hospital, and then, over a relatively short period, doing none of these things, just laying in bed, in excruciating pain, and doing nothing, spending long periods asleep, and drugged to the point that she could barely tell what the time of day was or what was going on.

Carol Discharged From Hospital . . . At Last!

Yet another hot and uncomfortable day. The weather is becoming somewhat monotonous, to say the least.

I've been attempting to sort out the tenancy agreement we have with our landlord to give to the Housing Benefit department at Milton Keynes Council. I have sent them an email, as I thought I'd attempt another tactic. Several years ago we had problems with the gas boiler in this house. We attempted to ring the landlord, but we couldn't get through. We then went through the council, because it would be obvious that they would have his details because of paying Council Tax and one thing and another. It worked and we eventually got the boiler replaced. So I thought of using this again and wrote the email and sent it. I even rang and got through quite quickly, considering how long it can take. I was then told, after explaining all about how they'd contacted the man over the boiler I was told, rather annoyingly, that they couldn't do that, 'because of data protection.' So, this  is because of the confounded new E.U. legislation called the General Data Protection Regulations 2018, which came into force in May. We're back were we started. I have left a message on our landlord's voicemail, but no response seems to be forthcoming. Where is the man? Does he not realise that this is important? It's not just us that need the paperwork to finish the Housing Benefit claim. He won't get his rent paid without it etc etc etc.

We spent a long day on the ward. We knew at some point Carol would eventually be discharged, but when, we couldn't say.

At 11.40 Carol had an appointment in the Macmillan Unit with Doctor Saka, the Lead Cancer consultant. Carol was taken down in a wheelchair by a porter. It's not far from Ward 22, but she clearly couldn't walk that far so it was best to be taken in a wheelchair. We have to wait a long time in the waiting area. They never seem to run to time in these units. Perhaps they don't give enough time for consultations, there's a lot to discuss. Eventually Carol's name is called and we go into the office of Dr Saka. It's the main man, not one of his minions. He asks Carol questions, about why she has been in hospital for four weeks. He came to Ward 1 when she was there, but didn't know she was on Ward 22. It seems as if there's a communication problem. Why wasn't he informed? This seems to be a problem with some N.H.S. departments, a lack of joined-up care you might say. He spends ages looking at the scanned imaged that came from the various scans Carol has had over the past few weeks and months, the M.R.I. and C.T. scans. We sit in silence. It's quite scary. We wait with baited breath. We're here to hopefully find out what the plan is for Carol's care. We are told that the liver and bowel cancer has been shrunk considerably by the chemotherapy, but they've found some cancer in her bones. It's a bit of a blow. How will all this be treated? He tells us that he will make a report and contact the cancer unit at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford and they will make some sort of decision. We feel we're no further forward. We haven't had the answers we need. The heat and the fact Carol's been ill and in hospital for near enough five weeks is really telling. We leave the consolation room and go back to the reception desk to make an appointment for four weeks hence and then the porter comes and Carol goes back to Ward 22.

Carol has quite a few visits from people different from N.H.S. departments at the hospital, the nurse about the stoma; someone from ophthalmology. The lady came with various lenses and glasses for Carol to try to help make reading easier for her because she's having problems with her eyes. A rather weird sort of pair of glasses with double lenses which had a knurled device on their frame which helps them focus a sort of domed glass magnifying glass that you move across a page of text, another which was a   squarish magnifying glass on a handle. Carol didn't get on with the strange glasses, which made me think of the sort of specs that someone who does close work, like a clock-maker might use. Or the character of Professor Brainstawn from the books I was read when I was at school and later read myself. He had around five pairs of glasses which were perched on the top of his head and he was always loosing.  written by the author Norman Hunter and Illustrated by W. Heath Robinson. In the end Carol chose the magnifying glass with the handle because she found the strange glasses to complicated. She will have an eye test so she can have proper prescription glasses. Then another lady arrived, from the diabetes team. She bought a bloodsugar testing monitor so that Carol can do the necessary blood tests to keep on top of her levels. We were looking into buying a new one, so, with this model, together with the lancets which go in a separate gadget to prick her finger, that's a definite saving. She also gave us a list to take to our doctor so all these bits and pieces which need replacing can be re-ordered on prescription because at the moment we have to pay for all these things. Hopefully, Lloyd's in Sainsbury's will be supplying all of this when the time comes for a repeat prescription.

Around 2.30 Carol eventually went to have the P.I.C.C. line put in. A nurse came to take her down, walking there, not in a wheelchair with a porter. It's not far to the scanning department. I had to wait in the waiting area, as you'd expect. The whole procedure took around an hour. After which we returned to the ward.

Carol had ordered supper (do they call it supper, dinner or tea in hospital? Whatever it's called, her evening meal.) It came around 5 o'clock. I could make myself a meal of some sort when I got home, go and get fish and chips or cook one of the individual meals I'd bought in Morrisons's a couple of days ago. She had a baked potato and baked beans. It would mean that she wouldn't want a meal when we eventually got home.

Someone arrived from the pharmacy department with all the medications that Carol would need when she got home. A couple of large carrier bags full of stuff together with all the bits and pieces needed by the community nurse who would be coming each day to give Carol the antibiotics. That is what P.I.C.C. line is for.

The nurse in charge had done the relevant paperwork, the discharge stuff, the official paperwork which gave a description in clear language of why carol had been in hospital, together with a couple of pages of all the medication she as being sent home with. We had to go through it all and check it off. All I can say is, thank goodness for the N.H.S. and the fact that we don't have to pay for any of this as it would cost us a considerable amount of money.

Nearly 6 o'clock and by this time I'd taken one load of things out to the car. Several carrier bags which would make the final exit a good deal easier. One of the nurse came and pushed Carol in the wheelchair out down in the lift and out through the double doors where the ambulances pick up and drop of patents. This is where we got on the ambulance which took Carol and I to the Churchill Hospital in Oxford all those months ago, before she had her chemotherapy, and was so uncomfortable, basically because the driver drove so fast and it was just plain unpleasant.

The nurse got Carol as far as she could in the wheelchair. The road surface going the rest of the way to the carpark is far too uneven for a wheelchair, so I went to fetch the car and drove it back to the ambulance entrance so that Carol could get in and the rest of the luggage put in the boot of the car. So, she was at last discharged and we drove home. Alfie was excited to greet Carol when we got in the house, having unloaded the car. I think she was glad to be able to sleep in her bed for the night. By the time we got home it was gone 7 o'clock but we knew that it was likely to take several hours for Carol's discharge to be completed.

It's Far Too Hot!

Thursday. I've taken Alfie for another of his early-morning walks across Eaglestone Park. I am particular about picking up any dog mess. I know it's not something to talk about or write on here, but we are supposed to dispose of it in the red dog-waste bins dotted around the park. It seems a lot of people who also have dogs don't do the same, I can see they don't. It's the same with litter in general. Empty beer and fizzy drinks cans, all around the benches where no doubt youths congregate. I'm also shocked to see piles of Red Bull cans in the verges along the Redway within the hospital campus as I walk in to see Carol on Ward 22. Quite often I come across groups of staff standing on the Redway, smoking, sitting on the grass, drinking Cokes or Red Bull. A litter of fag ends. I know I've discussed this in other blog posts, but it really isn't pleasant to see this rubbish. They have a 'No Smoking' policy within Milton Keynes University Hospital, but they should make allowances for smokers. Even patients. Where the ambulances come in near the Macmillan unit, I see a young man who must be a patient, from oncology, with his drip on the wheeled stand, along with the pump mechanism, a similar contraption which Carol had when she had her chemotherapy. Anyway, he was outside smoking. I don't think if I had to have chemotherapy I would smoke. I have never smoked. I was told, when I had my heart attack, that had I smoked, I would have had a heart attack five years earlier than I did. People do have a choice, to smoke or not, but if it's bad for your health and you are warned of the consequences, why continue with it? Or make an effort to give it up. I think it's also the mess that is left, the cigarette-ends, ash and also the smell that cigarettes make is really unpleasant and must affect your taste.

One of the female doctors visited Carol on the ward this morning. Usually there are at least 6 of them  who do the ward rounds at around 10.15-10.30, so it was odd that she came on her own. She told Carol that the P.I.C.C. line should be done tomorrow afternoon. Does that mean they've found cover for the lady who usually does this, but who is currently on holiday? I presume so. I would imagine that she would be back at work on Monday, because it doesn't make sense having a holiday and coming straight back to work on a Friday, or is that just my thinking on the matter? Perhaps she hasn't gone away for a week, just a few day's leave and she came back on a Friday after all. Anyway, let's hope that all goes well and Carol can come home. She's really chomping at the bit, particularly as severe other patients on the ward have already gone home and they haven't been there as long as Carol.

I was walking back along the Redway within the hospital grounds, when two women were walking towards me. Then, as they got closer, one took out something from her bag and just tossed it onto the grass. I was really annoyed. I looked when I got closer to where she dropped her litter. It was an empty cigarette packet and used box of matches.  On second thoughts I wish I'd had the courage to tell her that she was littering and she shouldn't throw her rubbish away on the roadside, but I didn't. Just a disgusting act. People just don't care. There's enough litter already so I imagine people think, if others do it, I can too, but that doesn't make it right.

I came out of Ward 22 just before 2 o'clock this afternoon, and the heat hit me. It was baking, almost like opening an oven door. I like it when it's sunny and bright, but at the moment the weather is far too hot. We are desperate for some rain to cool things down. I don't think people are used to such heat in England. None of our houses are designed for this sort of temperature, no house has air conditioning. Electric fans alone don't really cool the house, they merely push the hot air around.

Hospital Life Continues

There is one thing we'll have plenty of in a couple of weeks, and that's blackberries. On my early-morning walks with Alfie around Eaglestone Park, the bramble bushes which grow around the periphery of the park and in large clumps in the middle, the berries are ripening quickly. They will have had ideal growing conditions, enough rain early on in the season and now, bright, sunny days. You can't but notice them or else get caught in the sharp thorns that are on some of the over-hanging branches. Some are in real need of cutting back.

Unfortunately some people don't seem to care for the environment in which they live. The amount of litter I come across is appalling, particularly where it's obvious some youths presumably gather, usually around the benches and in some corners of the park. I have seen Council workmen picking up litter, which could easily have been deposited in the bins which are provided all around the park and along the Redway. If you walk along the Redway which leads towards Milton Keynes Academy (which I haven't done in quite a while because Carol hasn't been working there for well over a year now.) the path is strewn with all manner or litter. Near the Academy gates there is a rather unpleasant pile of cigarette ends. This is where staff members who smoke have to go because the Academy, in line with anti-smoking legislation, they are not allowed to smoke on the premises and if they wish to smoke they have to go outside the school grounds I've often walked past when several people are standing there puffing away. It's just a pity that they don't dispose of their cigarette ends in a more sensible fashion. This is also the case in and around Ashfield Medical Centre. If you park your car in the carpark at the rear of the centre you come across a similar pile of cigarette ends, mostly in the gutter. It may not be just Ashfield staff who go there to smoke, as there are other businesses in the same area, a dentists' surgery as well as Cox and Robinson's chemists, but it's still rather an unsavoury aspect of smoking that remains. No one has thought to provide some sort of receptacle to put these cigarettes in. I don't know whether there is a risk to the environment with a build-up of cigarette ends, feeding into the sewer system, or what is in the filter tips of cigarettes, particularly when they get wet when it rains. Still, it looks very untidy and unpleasant and spoils the look of the place, as it does when you walk past the Academy. It doesn't reflect well on either the Academy or Ashfield Medical Centre, unfortunately. I had a probably innocent idea that most people cared enough for the environment and as a result would not make such a total mess of their surroundings, particularly this generation of children. I imagine, with so much in the media about plastic pollution that they would be more considerate, or am I just being naive? Some walk along eating crisps or sweets or drinking from cans of drink and merely throw the empty can or packet into the bushes or on the ground, expecting someone else to pick it up. How difficult can it be to either put it in a waste bin or take it home with them to put in a bin there?

I arrived on Ward 22 in plenty of time to go with Carol to the ophthalmology department. Carol thought it was at 9.30, but on asking at the reception desk on the ward I was told it was 10.00. Also, I had to make sure that a porter came with a wheelchair to take Carol. I'm beginning to feel as if I'm still working as a Support Worker because this is exactly the same sort of thing I'd have to do for those I cared for. A porter came in good time and we were whisked off out of the ward through the 'secret door' into the corridor which links into the rest of the corridors in the hospital. (Not really secret. It's only accessed by staff. It is long and used, it would appear, as a place to store all manner of things which obviously don't have a home elsewhere in the hospital.)

On arriving in the ophthalmology department, Carol was soon checked in. It wasn't long before she was called in to a darkened room (!) and had to do a test, which I think I had to do when I had my eyes tested at Spec Savers about a year or so ago. You had to sit and put your chin on a special rest and peer into a screen which had a series of lights inside it and I think it was to check your peripheral vision. Carol got a good score. They did each eye separately, putting something over the opposite eye each time, doing left and right eyes.

We had to go back and wait in the waiting area. Carol's wheelchair was next to a chair which had been taken by a man, who did at least move so we could sit together. She was then called in to another room to have drops put in her eyes which made her pupils open and it stung to start with. Then she came out with me to wait again. It was supposed to be around 20 minutes, but as she was 'fast-tracked' through the system so she could return to the ward.

Another test. I'm not sure for what. I think they may have taken a photo of the back of her eyes, but I'm not sure. It was over very quickly.

Waited again in the waiting area. Not as many people as there were the other day we were in this department.

Then Carol was called in to see a doctor. It turns out her eye problems are related to her diabetes. The doctor used another device which looked vaguely similar to something they use when you have your eyes tested. It looked incredibly complex, which, no doubt it was, unless you were trained in it's use. Some sort of medieval torture device. You had to rest your chin on a special chin rest and stare into a light whilst the operator fiddles with a lens and a light is shone into your eyes. This is why they put the special drops in your eyes, to make your pupils dilate. I'm not sure whether a photo was taken. Someone said they might take a photo of the back of Carol's eyes. I think I had this done when I last had my eyes tested. Then the doctor explained. Quite clearly and precisely.  The amount of sugar in her system effects her eyes and it will eventually right itself, thank goodness. I went to ask the reception for a 'porter.' The woman said, 'go to the 'something or other' by the door', or something indistinct. I couldn't make out what she said clearly. What she thought I said was 'water' and not 'porter.' Crazy, really. The basis for a lot of comedy, when there's a mistake with a message or someone hears something different to what was actually spoken. Eventually, a porter did arrive and Carol was whisked back to Ward 22.

No sooner had we arrived back at the ward than the doctors arrived. I didn't stay as I wanted to go to the shop to buy something for lunch. On my return, Carol told me that, even though her temperature had stabilised, the doctors wanted her to have yet another M.R.I. scan, something that Carol doesn't like particularly. This is so they can access whether whatever it is that is causing the infection has changed since she started on the antibiotics. So it now seems likely that she won't be discharged until at least Monday. It will then be four weeks since she arrived on Ward 1.

I forgot to mention that Carol had the P.I.C.C. line removed from her arm the other morning. When her  12th chemotherapy cycle was completed the nurses weren't sure whether she would have it removed, just in case she needed further chemo. Carol said that the nurse who did one of the scans a few weeks ago was somewhat harsh when she was given some of the dye that was put in her arm trough the line and it hurt and wondered if it wasn't that which started the infection which caused her temperature to soar. Not clear whether that was the case, but she did wonder. Anyway, apparently she caught the line on a piece of thread or something which lead to the line begin to come out, so the nurses decided it would be best to remove it completely. Carol's pleased, because it's difficult to wash, have a bath or shower with it in place, she wasn't supposed to get it wet or the tube bandage which it was covered with to protect it.

When I got home, just before 2 p.m., I decided that Alfie would really appreciate another walk. Well, I say 'walk.' With him it's more a trot around the park with me following. I had left him in the kitchen. He seems to have got used to the idea of me leaving him on his own. I know he doesn't like it much, but he goes in the kitchen willingly. He has water and food left for him and his own bed in the corner.

Another Few Days In Hospital

We were hoping that Carol might be discharged from hospital today. I usually make sure that I'm on the ward when the doctors do their rounds. They usually arrive between 10-10.30. Carol's temperature is still causing concern. But her blood sugar level is now at a safer level. The results of the blood tests to show up signs of infection seem somewhat ambiguous. The doctor said that she would need to remain on the ward until at least Monday. Not something that either of us wants to hear, but it is better that Carol remains in hospital where she can be observed and have a better chance of this thing being resolved than going home and the infection getting worse and then having to rush back into hospital and the whole sequence of events being repeated. She has numb hands. She has problems holding anything. She says that she can hardly feel anything and it can be difficult to even grip some objects, finding it difficult to do simple things like opening packets or holding a pen. The doctor said it is most likely a side effect of the chemotherapy, even though the 12 cycles were completed almost three weeks ago. The doctor said that a specialist oncology doctor would know exactly what was going on as she didn't have the expertise requited to know what all this meant.

We're having to rely on benefits until Carol gets back to work. Carol has already got what is called a P.I.P. (Personal Independence Payment) and we're in the process of applying for Housing Benefit and what is called E.S.A. (Employment Support Allowance). We got a form (it takes a lot of patience and time and effort to fill these in. Most of them are done on-line. The Housing Benefit one was, as well as the others. What happens to those who don't have a computer or internet access?) which required a cancer specialist to sign the back page. I went to the Macmillan unit first, as I assumed that they would be able to help, but no. Not their fault, but I was then sent to the nurses's desk within the unit, they couldn't help. I even asked at the nurses desk within Ward 22, but they couldn't sign it without the whole form being signed. I even asked one of the doctors who came on the ward round yesterday, but because they're not cancer specialists, they could oblige. By now I was getting annoyed. I had been told by the stoma nurse who came to see Carol yesterday and she had said that any doctor could sign the form, but as I found out, this wasn't the case. In the end I went to the oncology department, where Carol had her 12 cycles of chemotherapy. One of the nurses, who hadn't been on duty when we'd been in there, made the effort to look at the files they had and managed to fill in the form and sign it so, at last I could get it posted off.

On top of all this we got a letter from the D.W.P. (Department of Work and Pensions) that they needed a new medical certificate as the old one is about to expire. So I rang Ashfield Medical Centre. Now, you would think that it would be a simple matter of getting the doctor to sign the relevant form and date it accordingly, but we have to wait for him to ring on Monday morning for me (or Carol, if she's at home then) to explain what we want and THEN go and collect the wretched form, probably on Tuesday afternoon and THEN post it off to the relevant department. WHY couldn't this be done on Friday when I rang? It seems they are making things more difficult than is completely necessary.

Carol Moves Wards

Friday began fairly mild and not a great deal of sun, but as the day progressed, the sun came out and we were back on hight temperatures. The heatwave doesn't look as if it's going to end soon. As much as I like sunshine, I don't like it this hot. Just doesn't suit me.

I drove the car to the hospital, the same as I did yesterday. My thoughts were that possibly Carol would be discharged and we could at last go home, but, unfortunately, the issue of her blood sugar level and her temperature is still causing problems. It is odd that her temperature was around 37.5 only a few days ago and shot up to dangerous levels over a very short space of time as well as her blood sugar levels, which seem to have shot up also. 

The doctors have decided that she needs to remain in hospital for a few more days, to make sure the temperature and blood sugar levels are reduced considerably before she can be allowed home. She was to be moved on to Ward 22 during the afternoon when a bed became vacant there.

Carol had an M.R.I. scan booked for 12 noon. When no porter arrived a before the time, we began to wonder whether she would be going for the scan or not, but by around 12.20 a porter did arrive and she was whisked out of the ward and a short distance along the corridor to the imaging department and around to wait outside the M.R.I. scanner room. I sat in the waiting area outside the doors which had warning signs to 'Not Enter. High risk of radiation.' The whole process took a little under 15 minutes. When the scanning was progressing, the doors automatically locked themselves and lights came on, rather in the manner of when they were filming for television and you got 'Red light and bell' before a 'take.' She soon reemerged and we returned to the ward.

There was a lot going on in Ward 1, during the morning. Lots of patients leaving and new ones arriving. It must be quite difficult for the staff, because they bring new patients in on their beds and there is little enough space to manoeuvre beds around, beds having to be taken out first before new ones can be bought in.

Finally, after a couple of days waiting, Carol was informed that she was going to be moved to Ward 22. We began clearing up her belongings, but we still weren't given an exact time. We just sat and waited, and waited. Bur eventually we were given the go-ahead and   a porter arriving on  the Ward1.

Ward 22 is where we had to go to get the pump removed at the end of one of Carol's chemotherapy cycles, so it was at least familiar to us. Compared with Ward 1, it differs in that the 'bays' are separated into male and female and each 'bay' has only four beds. As a result there's a good deal more room for each patient and each 'bay' has separate toilets and shower rooms. The first thing you notice is how quiet it is. Which makes a change from the constant noise on Ward 1, although, having said that, that ward was relatively quiet compared with some of the other wards we've been on. But on Ward 22 there isn't the constant coming and going of the patients being brought in and taken out. And the patients we came across seem eager to at least chat to you.

Saturday morning. It's started out sunny and bright. I'd decided a few days ago that Alfie needed a treat. He's been locked up in the house every day this week when I'v been to the hospital.  I wanted to take him for a walk before leaving the house. But with one thing and another I forget, but this morning I got myself organised and managed to get him on his lead. Even then he made a great deal of noise, barking and generally getting excited. We got out into the road outside the house and made for Eaglestone Park, where I let him off his lead and he bounded off, running like a little hare. I couldn't see any problems with his back leg which he has previously had a problem with, none of the holding it in the air or anything. Barking madly as usual. We did a complete circuit of the park but when we came down the Redway section near the shops I saw glass in the path. It might well have been as a result of an accident, but the way it looked, with a large and rather nasty larger piece of glass in the centre it looked like it had been put there deliberately to puncture some passing cyclist's tyres. I don't know what sort of idiot would brazenly set up this sort of thing, some mindless fool who should have known better. Even if you were to accidentally step on it with trainers, as I was wearing, it could cause a really nasty accident, with cuts to the soles of your feet, or if you fell on it, you'd need to go directly to the A and E department of the hospital. Also, all around the bench I was hoping to sit on and rest with Alfie during our walk, no end of litter, mostly drinks cans and cigarette butts. How disgusting are people? There is a great deal of litter around the park and it just shows that there is a certain element who live in this area who simply don't care about keeping things clean and tidy, regardless of the fact that there are no end of water bins to put there rubbish. A couple of squirrels running for cover as we walked on, but fortunately Alfie didn't notice them, otherwise he'd have run off in hot pursuit.

I've been up to the One Stop shop at Garraways in Coffee Hall. Just after 7 a.m. once they'd opened. I had to top-up electricity and gas. There's an A.T.M. machine outside so it's easy to check both bank accounts. A few extra bits bought, sandwiches and drink to take with me to the hospital ward which will mean I don't have to go to the shop at lunchtime. From Coffee Hall I drove to the Shell filling station in Grafton Street and put in £40-worth of diesel. One thing I can say about the Renault Captur, it's easy on fuel. The road has been resurfaced , which might explain all the  yellow diversion signs around the area. No road markings, but I suppose those sort of things put back at a later date. They are slowly managing to resurface most of the grid roads in and around Milton Keynes.

Carol In Hospital

This is a continuation of the previous post. Read on . . .

Carol hasn't been feeling well for at least a week now. She's been complaining about not being able go walk properly, feeling extremely tired as well as having a severe thirst and having absolutely no appetite. She's been drinking a lot of fruit juice to try to relieve the thirst. Maybe, with the current hot weather, it's not such a bad idea to drink plenty. You don't want to get hydrated when the weather's so warm. Not just her, but also myself. She hasn't been able to eat properly and has only managed to eat breakfast cereal and had some of those protein drinks I managed to buy in Sainsbury's. As mentioned in the last blog post, we tried to get an appointment at Ashfield Medical Centre, first attempting to ring but then I drove there at gone 9 o'clock this morning (Monday) and managed to get a 'ring-back.' We had to wait several hours before the doctor rang and spoke to Carol and gave her a 5 o'clock appointment with one of the practice nurses.

When we went into the nurse's room, the nurse took Carol's temperature and found it was about 38.2. Carol had been told that if it went over 36C she would need to go to the A and E department of the hospital because she was going to be prone to infection, as she was on chemotherapy. At the same time as doing all the usual observations (blood pressure, temperature, heart rate etc etc.) she also did a blood test and it showed that Carol's blood sugar levels were hight. Since Carol has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, she has been on medication to keep it under control, but since she has been on chemotherapy since before Christmas, she hasn't been taking the medication, basically because they gave her a glucose solution as a drip before giving her the chemotherapy as the glucose acts on the chemotherapy. The glucose would therefore give a high blood test result so she stopped taking the diabetes medication.

The nurse rang the hospital. I'm not sure which ward or department. She described the symptoms that Carol had and immediately she was told that Carol needed to go immediately to Ward 1, the Acute ward at Milton Keynes University Hospital. She printed off the information gathered from the tests at the surgery and we immediately drove to the hospital, deciding it was best to go through the Accident and Emergency department. Fortunately the carpark had plenty of spaces and I was able to park virtually directly opposite the A and E entrance. On arriving in A and E we were directed straight through to Ward 1 by the receptionist and checked in at the ward's nurse's station. We soon went into a side room off the day-room and a nurse came and took down notes and did more obs and took blood for testing before a doctor came to talk to Carol. It took some time for a bed to become ready on the ward and Carol and I went through to the ward. It seems that most wards in modern hospitals are arranged in the same way, smaller eight or six bed 'bays' with beds facing one another, with their own chairs and cabinets in for the patients to put their belongings, also, with curtains that can be drawn around the bed so that they can be more private when the doctors and consultants do their rounds. Unfortunately Carol didn't have a cupboard or cabinet for her to use, although one of the nurses said that if one became vacant she could have it.

After a while a doctor came to see Carol and looked at some notes, listened to her heart and so on and it was decided that the problem she had, the fact that she was thirsty and generally not well was possibly down to her not taking her diabetic medication. They needed to keep her hydrated and to give her insulin to stabilise the diabetes. This would take a couple of days, as no doubt they would need to keep her in hospital for observation to see how things developed. They also needed to make sure there was no infection as a result of the chemotherapy, so there are quite a few things that need sorting out before she can be discharged.

I had to return home to collect some things for Carol. First I had to make sure I knew exactly where the ward was, which may sound crazy, but if you know Milton Keynes Hospital, you will have some idea how complicated the layout is and finding your way around is quite difficult. Once you realise that each department is within a colour coded area it is actually quite straightforward. I had to walk all the way round the site and back to the carpark and fortunately found that the barrier was raised so I didn't have to bother with payment. I soon got home and managed to find the items Carol needed as well as feeding Alfie, who must have wondered what was going on, why we had gone out and left him alone in the kitchen. Having gathered the items together in a holdall, I drove back to the hospital and no sooner had I got there and was again with Carol than the doctor came in to speak to Carol.

By this time it was near enough 9 o'clock so I went home, expecting to return at around 8-8.30 with the hope that we will get further answers when results are back from the blood test so they can get the diabetic problems resolved.

A Sunny Day (or not)

It's bright and sunny this morning (Thursday). Just hope it doesn't pour with rain after I've put washing out on the line. It's quite gusty so the washing should dry quickly. The garden still needs lots doing to it, cutting back the brambles at the bottom of the garden. They are incredibly tough to cut through and really cut into your hands with their thorns, so I use gloves.I've put the bits I've managed to cut into our one and only wheely bin. It's not really big enough for all the garden waste I'm putting into it We only get the wheely bins emptied once every two weeks which is making things more difficult, slow and steady. We don't have a side gate which we could use to take the bin round to the front of the house.  I have to take the bin through the house and out through the front door. Not exactly convenient, but how else is it to be taken out for the bin men? What gate we have was sealed up when the fence was repaired. It's really up to our landlord to spend out and have a new gate installed, but he's not going to spend out on anything he doesn't want to. So the bin remains in the garden (Garden? What garden?) 

We went to the Council offices yesterday as we're going to have to apply for benefits. There's really no choice as Carol has been off work for almost a year. I managed to park outside the offices, not too difficult, and payed the £2 required for an hour. Going in to the reception area, it's all changed since we last were here, must be at least 8-10 years ago. All bright paintwork and large photographs of places in Milton Keynes. A bit like the set for a breakfast television show. Low desks in sort of pastel shades. The lady on the reception desk (not a desk. More like a tiny IKEA coffee table. Nowhere for her to sit.) standing and welcoming people as they came in. Took our request for a form to start the application process. They don't have paper forms, it would seem. To get a reduction of Council Tax we need a reference number. We are given a ticket with a number on it and have to wait in the waiting area. Lots of people waiting and coming and going. Our number shows up on the digital screens, in the 'Triage' section. Other people seem to get called by the computerised voice, one in particular called several times, but no takers. We are eventually called by the female computer voice and we go to 'Desk Number 2.' Each desk has a red digital read-out. When we get there we have to prove our identity so I have to go back to the car to get my wallet and return to show my Driving Licence as well as Carol's. Which means the lady on the desk can get into the data-bank and she gives us the reference number we require on a small slip of paper which I store in my wallet for later use.

We return to the reception area where there is a row of three computers on desks and start the process of making our application. The application goes well enough, but by 2 o'clock I realise I'm going to have to put another £2 worth of parking ticket on the car, but, as I have no change, I go to the NatWest next door (fortunately our bank.) and take out £10 and then go inside to get change from one of the tellers. I then return to the car and pay the required sum into the machine and put the ticket inside the car's windscreen and the return to Carol who is continuing to fill in the on-line application.

It seems so obvious that the Council are attempting to run the benefits department with very few staff. The lady on the reception seemed to be doing the job of at least three people, attempting to help those with their on-line application as well as signing in new people as they entered reception. Usually they would have several people behind a reception desk. Also, no doubt they are trying to cut down on paper if you apply on line. Which a good idea because if you fill in a paper form that information has to be transferred onto a computer at some stage in which case another team of people would be required, so to have that information fed directly onto a computer system must surely save money in not having to employ more staff to do the job.

All the effort to do the application at the Council offices was a waste of time because there was so much information we needed which we didn't have with us. So we went home and did the application on our own laptop.

We went to the oncology department at around 10.45. The actual time we were supposed to be there was 11.20, but Carol wasn't seen until 11.35. She was having the pump removed and this was the last time, after the completion of the 12th chemotherapy cycle. 

Oncology Error

For some reason or other, Carol didn't have an appointment arranged to have the pump removed, which she has as part of each chemotherapy cycle. Usually which ever nurse is in charge of her care when she's in the oncology unit arranges the appointments and writes them in the book she has which she takes to all her appointments. Probably it was forgotten because the staff are so busy. It would be easily done. I suggested we ring up and find out what time was on the system at the oncology department. Carol said we should just turn up, but it wasn't such a good idea because we could just find we sit and wait for a long time otherwise. The first number I rang was to get a bleep number, but when the operator answered I was told it was for emergencies only, so if so, why was it in the book I was given? Then I rang the direct line into the department and the lady who answered couldn't find Carol on the system, so it would appear we would have wasted our time without Carol being on the system. The receptionist said she'd speak to another nurse and then ring back. Which she did within the hour, by which time it was around midday. We could go immediately. Which we did. Of course, there were one or two things necessary before leaving in the car, such as Carol getting dressed.

Parking wasn't a problem, fortunately and the oncology department was almost deserted. The nurse who dealt with Carol said that when she'd come to work that morning it was difficult to park. Even the brand new multi-storey carpark which has just been opened especially for staff to park their cars was full to bursting. It's what you would expect, no sooner there's a new place to park then it's going to be full and then there's nowhere else to park. You would imagine the opposite, but that's not the case. Crazy. This same nurse was telling us how her husband had an accident and fell down stairs and broke his arm. He had to go to Accident and Emergency. It sounded like a really horrible accident. Seems amazing that you would break your arm.

I was speaking to another patient in the oncology department this morning and he was telling me that a Conservative MP, Robert Halfon, Member for Harlow, has introduced a Bill to scrap hospital parking charges. I am so glad that someone in Parliament has thought this important to have these wretched charges removed. Not for just patients, but it seems amazing that the staff who run N.H.S. hospitals have to pay to park their cars for work. We don't have to pay, and get our parking tickets clipped in the Macmillan unit at Milton Keynes Hospital which means wee don't have to pay. Although it does annoy me that usually the barrier at the exit of the carpark is usually raised which means you can leave without having to put a ticket in the machine which raises the barrier. I shall follow the progress of this piece of legislation with interest and will report on it here.

Alfie Hurt and More Oncology Problems

Alfie has hurt himself. He's currently limping around the house. We think he hurt himself when he jumped off the bed. On Sunday night he came downstairs and slept in his bed. It's in the corner of the kitchen by the patio doors into the garden. Perhaps he feels safe and secure in there, it's virtually draft-free. He's currently sleeping on the sofa in the lounge (Sunday, 6 20 a.m.) I'm not exactly sure what he's done to himself, but I think he's twisted his back or his hip. He keeps on limping and finds it difficult to jump on the sofa and has to be lifted on. Even coming up the step into the house through the patio doors from the garden seems a bit of a struggle. He's found it almost impossible to get on our bed and has to be lifted up. When we've taken him out for a walk he runs off like a little hare, so perhaps it's that which has sparked this off. I put some of the remaining liquid ibuprofen in his food last night, left over from when we went to the vet a few weeks ago. I think it might be easing the discomfort for him.

We've been to the oncology department this morning as Carol had to have blood taken to be tested before the next chemotherapy cycle could begin. As the weather was fine we walked. It saves on the stress of finding a parking space and it's no more than ten minutes stroll. On arrival in the department it was really warm. Infact it's been quite humid for the past couple of days. They had to open the windows and the door onto the garden area to cool the place down. There were further problems with the compute system the nurses use to check in patients and input data so we had to wait quite a while before Carol was seen. I feel sorry for the staff having to deal with this new computer system which seems to cause so many problems. They have enough stress in that department, what with staff shortages and it seems to hold up patients' treatments because they can't access the new system. If it's like this in oncology, no doubt it's the same throughout the whole hospital.

The chemotherapy cycle will presumably go ahead as planned as we didn't get a telephone call to say it couldn't go ahead which has happened on two occasions. They usually call between 5-6 p.m., once they get the blood test results back. We don't have to be at the oncology department until around 11.30 this morning (Tuesday.) Let's just hope we manage to find a parking space when we arrive at the hospital and it's close to the oncology department.

Tenth Chemotherapy Cycle

So, we didn't get a telephone call from the oncology department yesterday evening, so Carol's tenth chemotherapy cycle will begin today, thankfully.

We've put two bags of bark chippings on the weed-resistant material. It's fairly easy to spread, but it won't cover as much as we thought so we'll need to get several more bags to finish the job, so it's another outing to Bunnings.

We went to the oncology department for 11.30 this morning. They'd managed to sort out the problem with the computers. It was just as well we decided to go early because when we got to the usual carpark behind the cardiology department, there was no space, so we thought we could park in the new multi-storey carpark, but when we drove round it appears to be just for staff at the hospital. Considering that there is a street level carpark behind the main block you'd have thought that if staff used the new facility there would be more than enough space for visiting patients. We drove right round the inner ring road and tried to find a space in the carpark at the front of the hospital, but it was entirely full so we drove back round to the oncology department, with the intention of me dropping Carol off and then going on my own to find a space, even considering returning home and then walking back into the hospital campus, but fortunately we found that someone  was driving out of the first carpark and we were able to take their vacated space.

There's not a great deal else to record about the day, which was fairly uneventful.

Potting, Wool, Coffee and Hospital

A really weird collection of different elements to today's activities. We've now managed to re-pot the Christmas tree and the fuchsia plant, a job we've been meaning to do for some time. The fuchsia was relatively easy, but the Christmas tree posed something of a problem. It wasn't until I removed it from the pot it came in that I discovered that it was actually in another one inside, which had to be cut, being made of tough plastic, with the loppers. The Christmas tree and the fuchsia were given good waterings and both seemed really relieved to get a good drink. Not surprising, considering how hot it's been over the past couple of days.

Carol has been busy with crochet so we went to Hobbycraft at Rooksley to buy some woo. We went into Costa, just a few doors along within Next and I had a tasty mango and passion fruit cooler whilst Carol had latte. I also had a cheese and chicken toast. When we sat down to have our drinks Carol was chatting to a lady at the next table who was knitting and made a comment regarding the balls of wool Carol had with her. Her friend turned up and it came out that she was a hairdresser. Carol mentioned that she was in need of having her hair cut and styled and the lady was a travelling hairdresser so Carol booked an appointment.

We were in actual fact wasting time; there was no point in going home because by the time we'd crossed Milton Keynes to get home, we'd only have to go out again to visit the hospital for Carol's blood test in the oncology department. We had a quick browse in Pets At Home, glancing at the rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals they have in there in cages. It was after this that we drove towards the hospital. There was always the hope that, if we got there in good time, Carol would be seen earlier. But this didn't happen.

Fortunately we were able to park in the carpark near the cardiology department. There were actually few spaces but a car was coming out so we grabbed the opportunity and took their vacated space.

The oncology unit seemed busier than usual. The nurses seemed to be working harder than ever, probably due to staff shortages. We waited for a good twenty minutes past the time Carol had been booked for her blood test.

Later. At around 7 o'clock this evening we got a telephone call from one of the nurses in the oncology department to say that Carol's next chemotherapy cycle would have to be postponed yet again because she wasn't producing sufficient blood cells to fight of infection. So hopefully the next session will be next Monday (blood test) and Tuesday (Chemotherapy.) Getting somewhat frustrating, particularly as we're getting to the end of the 12 cycles of chemotherapy.

Tenth Chemotherapy Cycle Postponed

It's another really beautiful warm spring day. We've been to the oncology suite so that Carol could have the usual blood test so that she can have the tenth chemotherapy cycle beginning tomorrow morning (Wednesday), depending on whether the test is as it should be.

As it happened, at around 6 o'clock on Wednesday evening we had a telephone call from oncology to say that there were not enough neutrophils in Carol's blood, which are the blood cells that fight infection. Which now means the tenth chemotherapy cycle has to be postponed until next week. This happened a couple of weeks ago and the next chemotherapy cycle was postponed for two weeks because Carols parents came to visit for a couple of days (see earlier blog post.)

So, I'm a bit lost as to what to write to make this blog post worthwhile. Well, we've been watching more episodes of 'The Woman In White', the current BBC1 classic adaptation. It seems to have really taken off after the third episode (of 5) but there's so many plots overlapping and so much going on it can be somewhat confusing. I don't think it will be particularly clear what's going on until we've seen the final episode (which was shown on May Bank Holiday Monday.)

I'm currently reading 'White Heat' by Dominic Sandbrook, part of his mammoth cycle of books tracing British history from Suez in 1956 up until the election of Margaret Thatcher. It's an extremely detailed account of the period, this particular volume covering the '60's, Harold Wilson, The Beatles, Mary Quant and other personalities.

It's been a really warm night. As a result, it's difficult to sleep, particularly when you have to keep the bedroom cool with the windows open.  You get the sound of cars along the A5 making a lot of sounds, racing, revving their engines. A lot of loud noises. During the day, then having bees and other flying insects buzzing in and out of the house.

Later. The Christmas tree, which is currently in the garden, in it's original pot from when it was bought in Dobbie's garden centre two Christmasses ago, is growing rapidly. It desperately needs re-potting before it dies off, which usually happens when we buy a 'live' Christmas tree. We have been meaning to find a suitable size pot so it can be transferred so that it can happily grow. In the current plastic pot it's likely to get pot-bound and then the roots will start to rot which will end with it dying which would be a shame since it's growing so successfully. We've seen suitable pots but hadn't got round to actually buying one, so this morning we went to Bunnings (which has taken over the Homebase branch in Winter Hill.) They had a quite spectacular selection of very suitable pots, one of which we purchased, along with a fuchsia  plant which Carol bought, along with potting compost and gravel to put in the pots. We had to use a trolley to convey our purchases to the till to pay and then out to the carpark, but the thing proved quite difficult to manoeuvre through the store and, once at the car, it took some effort to fit the various items in the interior of the vehicle.

We drove home to unload the posts, plants and bags of gravel and potting compost and then went out, first to drive through Woburn park, which is one of our favourite 'go-to' places when the weather is fine, searching out first rhododendrons which have begun flowering along the side of the road leading up to the cattle grids you have to go over on entering the open spaces of the deer park. We could see a few deer straggling across the road ahead of us, with one car stopped, no doubt to get a close-up view of these animals. Unfortunately we hadn't remembered to bring either of our cameras with us, because we might have got some really good shots had we got them with us.

We had to decide on somewhere suitable to have lunch so decided on Dobbie's at Bletchley, which has a good restaurant and we  had lattes, baguettes, panninis and cake. Carol had a rather nice slice of chocolate cake and I had a really tasty lemon frangipani tartlet, absolutely delicious. One of the best cakes I've had in a while. We must return at some time in the not-too distant future to partake of such delights again. We bought some plants which Carol wants to use in a bottle garden which she intends to construct in the former fish tank we have sitting in the garden.

Having finished in Dobbie's we drove back into Milton Keynes, to go to Marks and Spencer's at the football stadium where we bought milk and garlic bread which we needed.

My least-favourite job has to be done, mowing the grass. The grass seems to grow at unprecedented speed once we get any sun. It was cut a few weeks ago, and was somewhat difficult as I'd let it get too long and the mower, not really designed to cut such tough grass, really struggled. I think it's intended for those gardens which possess nice, neat turf and not the type of grass we have to contend with, more suitable to be eaten by horses, sheep and cattle and perhaps not mown at all.

Eighth Chemotherapy Cycle

A rather cold and overcast day. Some slight rain.

On Saturday Carol had a scan appointment at the hospital. At first, when the letter came, we thought it was to be at the M.R.I. place she'd had an earlier scan at, called In Health, just behind Sainsbury's in Witan Gate. It was as well Carol queried the location, as she rang and was told that it was actually within the hospital campus. I think I had an idea where it was, as I'd walked past on several occasions when Carol had been on Ward 19. The appointment was on Saturday and it meant that her parents would be able to come with us. The appointment was at 2.20, but we got there in plenty of time. Well over an hour in total. She got a second letter, telling her that she'd been given yet another scan appointment, at the same place, for this Wednesday. She queried it, because if her chemotherapy cycle went according to plan, she would have the pump with her she would be given as part of the treatment and it would be possible to have she M.R.I. scan with it in situ. She was correct as it was to be re-booked for 18th April, during the week between chemo treatments and when she didn't have the pump.

On Sunday Carols mum and dad went back to Bournemouth. We went over to see them at the hotel in Newport Pagnall. By now the weather began to change. Rain, although not heavy. We'd had the best weather when we'd visited Waddesdon on Friday.

Today Carol had to be at the oncology suite for a blood test, at the beginning of the seventh chemotherapy cycle. As it was gone 10 when we arrived in the hospital campus, it was quite difficult to find a parking space, but there was one available, fortunately.

In the oncology suite it was clear that there was a shortage of staff, particularly the fact that there was no receptionist. We had to wait quite a while before Carol was signed in. One of the nurses had to do this, which meant she had to leave off another job elsewhere. Quite a lot of patients waiting, coming and going. Carol didn't get taken into the room for her blood test until well past 10.30.

We left and drove to Rooksley because Carol wanted to go to Hobbycraft. We had a look around but couldn't find what she was looking for. We went into Costa in Next and had lattes, really nice cheese and ham toasties and chocolate tiffin. I was ready for something to eat as I was hungry by this time. We then drove over to Westcroft to go into Morrison's, to buy something for our evening meal and for the next couple of days.

Under normal circumstances Carol would have had the bloodiest on a Friday and then have the chemotherapy begin on a Monday. We were expecting the seventh cycle to start tomorrow (Tuesday) but thankfully Carol checked her paperwork to learn that this cycle will begin on Wednesday, so it was as well the M.R.I. scan she had booked was rescheduled. We trust that the bloodtest will allow the seventh chemotherapy cycle to go ahead as planned.

Blood Test and Consultant's Appointment

We had to go to the oncology department at the hospital for 9.20 this morning as Carol is about to start the 7th chemotherapy cycle on Monday. Fortunately there wasn't a problem parking although the barrier was raised so we had to take a parking ticket. Those barriers seem to be effected by cold weather. A considerably warmer day, though. It was a good thing we got to oncology early because Carol was called in for the usual blood test and weighing as well as all the obs they do before the chemotherapy begins.  Arriving early does have an advantage. We walked down to the Friends shop for something to drink and eat, as Carol was saying she had a nasty taste in her mouth (part of the side-effects of chemo.) We got a Fry's chocolate mint and orange drink and then walked back to the Macmillan unit. Carol was due to have a consultant's appointment at 10 o'clock but we had quite a considerable wait. It was full of other patients. She was eventually called into the office at about 10.20. The scan she had about two weeks ago shows the cancer is shrinking considerably. A very positive response. The chemotherapy will continue (as we've reached half way. Meaning there are six more cycles to go.) The surgeons will meet next Thursday and then decide what options are open as regards surgery. We walked back to tell one of the nurses in oncology the news. They are so lovely and helpful in there. Generally, everyone we meet in the hospital, from nurses, doctors, surgeons and so on, so friendly and positive. You really can't fault them. They do a really amazing job, considering the work-load they have to endure.

We left the carpark and intended going to Waitrose for a coffee and cake as a sort of celebration. On arrival, we saw a long queue in the café, so didn't bother with the coffee and cake. We did some shopping and then came home.

Later in the evening we got a phone call from the oncology department. Apparently the blood test has shown something (which I don't understand properly) which shows up that Carol isn't producing something which will mean Monday's chemotherapy session will need to be cancelled and shifted to the following week, no doubt once whatever it is has been detected in her blood. A bit of a disappointment, but it's not a problem. It would mean that if the chemotherapy went ahead, any bacteria or whatever wouldn't be destroyed if she was to become ill. Which, at this half-way stage of the treatment would be quite dangerous.

Irate Car Driver

Carol had a rather nasty reaction to her chemotherapy this morning. She said it made her feel really peculiar. The nurse in charge of her said she had to keep warm, to put a scarf or something over her mouth. I had to make her a cup of tea and she was swathed in a blanket. The actual chemo session seemed to go fine up until the final hour or so. Fortunately she began to improve and the session was ended as usual and she was fitted up with the pump to take home. As we got outside she said she didn't feel well so waited near the cardiology department where we usually enter and leave the hospital, and I walked over to fetch the car from the carpark. As I drove round to collect her there was a taxi cab waiting and another car coming the other way round the central island. Carol got in the car but the woman driving the other car wouldn't move out of the way and got really irate, waving her arms about. No doubt frustrated by the fact she couldn't find a car parking space. If she's gone to the ground level carpark at the front of the hospital or to the multi-storey carpark no doubt she would have found plenty of spaces. Some people love to blame others when they can't get their own way. She was determined she wasn't going to move out of the way to let us out. This seems to be a trend at the moment. People with no patience, being just downright nasty on the roads. If you get in their way they don't like it. Coming up close behind you on the roads. I've mentioned this before in these blog posts. Being cut up on roundabouts. Generally just not nice to have to put up with it.

Been a mild day, but wet and miserable. Perhaps, on second thoughts, it might be the wet weather that got to that woman and got her so irate.

S'now and then

I have to use a pun for my blog post title. Just can't resist something or other. It was originally entitled 'No Snow,' but as I continued to write, there was some snow. So I have changed it as I've written more.

We're still expecting drifts of snow. Again, we woke this morning to find a mere sprinkling of the stuff when we drew back the bedroom curtains. BBC Breakfast is making a real meal out of the weather. It seems they think the average Briton can't cope with a few centimetres of the stuff. We can cope. It's pathetic. Then the BBC see fit to send out reporters to remote corners of the country, and then stand in freezing conditions beside a motorway or some North Yorkshire Moors village and make vacuous comments about conditions there. Why not just do the report in a nice warm studio? It was the same about the time of some flooding, when they had to send some poor reporter out into the cold and then, to cap it all, stand, ankle-deep, in some water. What on earth is the sense of this? What difference does it make if the report is from a studio or from a far-off location? It wouldn't just be the reporter, but there must be a camera man, assistant of some sort and someone to operate the satellite  disc thing that sends the pictures back to the television studio.  Why do people insist on driving in such poor conditions and then complain when they get stuck in a drift or in a huge traffic jam on a motorway? Just stay at home and wait for the weather to improve. Just phone in to work and say you can't get there and have a day off work. Simple.

Standing at the kitchen sink doing some washing up. The rubbish is out, as it's a Wednesday. I put it out at around 6.30. even though it was freezing cold. But at around 11 o'clock the bin wagon appeared, having gone into the close opposite. It came out into the road at great speed. I just hope nobody is in it's way, or a car, because the weight of the thing would totally flatten a car or squash a human if they just happened to be in the way. Being driven far too fast in my opinion. It stopped momentarily and a workman picked up the three bags of refuse from the grass at the front of our house and hurled into the back of the vehicle. I had always assumed that the pink bags were taken in a separate vehicle to be taken for recycling. I didn't think it was all put together in the back of the refuse lorry. Or am I being naive?

Later. There's a surprise! It's snowing. I'm in the sitting room, working on this post and I can see a fine fall of snow through the window and into the garden. Very wispy, to say the least. Infact it's very undecided and I think it's stopping.

We're undecided as to whether to go into the oncology suite earlier than the time which is scheduled, at 4 p.m., as Carol is to have the pump disconnected. It has been snowing quite heavily and Carol was concerned that it might get difficult to drive into the hospital, as well as being very cold, which is made worse because of her chemotherapy. I ring the telephone number, and have to give a bleep number before I'm put through to the oncology department. I'm told that, as it's busy today, we might have a long wait before Carol is seen. As I write this, the snow has ceased falling. We seem to have avoided most of the snow, compared with what we've seen on the news on television, for example, most of East Anglia and the North East of England, both areas of the country which appear to have had the worst of the weather.  We will wait and see what the weather does, but as it's sunny and bright without any snow falling, we're more likely to go in to the oncology suite as scheduled.

So, we drove to the hospital and managed to find a parking space and went into the hospital as we usually do, through the cardiology department. It was reasonably busy in the oncology suite and we had to sit and wait before Carol was called into one of the rooms to have the pump disconnected. We were back out and walking back to the car. No sign of any more snow, although it's likely we'll get a fall of the white stuff over-night. It was bitterly cold as we went outside to return to the car.  We needed to top up our gas, as we pay by top-up key and so went to the shop in Eaglestone on the way back from the hospital. So, by the time I'd managed to put the top-up on the gas meter we managed to get the house warm.

Sixth Chemotherapy Cycle

It's a bright and sunny morning, but the weather is forecast to become really cold with snow in some areas of the country. So, there's really no excuse for the trains to be delayed, the motorways to become blocked and the country to, generally, grind to a halt. I think it's going to be considerably colder than it has been of late. The car is ice-free when I looked out of the kitchen window earlier.

We had to drive to Ashfield Medical Centre to collect the revised medical certificate for Carol. It was busy as I queued at the reception desk. It took a relatively long time before I actually reached the desk and got what I'd come for. Then, at the point when we were about to leave the carpark outside there was a blockage because someone insisted on not moving out of the way to make my exit straightforward.

Then we drive straight to the hospital and the oncology suite. The carpark immediately behind the unit is full, so I have no choice but to drop off Carol and the drive back towards the front of the hospital and park in the ground level carpark there. I'm fortunate in finding a space immediacy inside the carpark and then walk back around the hospital campus to join Carol in the oncology suite. We've become well organised with each visit, bringing a bag from Waitrose (one of those 'for life' bags.) which contains the MacBook Air which this is being written on, as well as a couple of books and snacks. Carol is ensconced in a corner, and by 11.15 she has had her blood pressure taken. A perfect reading. It is relatively peaceful and there aren't that many other patients in the unit this morning. Carol says she's hungry. We eat a couple of Club biscuits. Those rather nice treats which have a thick layer of chocolate on them. These have a slight minty flavour. I make Carol some frothy coffee. We bought her Waitrose reusable coffee mug with us along with a sachet of Nescafé latte which I take to the kitchen in the suite and make it up using hot water from the drinks trolley. You can make your own tea and coffee as required, although we often go to the hospital restaurant to have Costa coffee or at the Costa shop near the hospital entrance., although it's a long walk to visit that.

I've finished the book 'Watling Street' by John Higgs. A bit of a disappointment. Something of a curate's egg. Good in parts. Then I read one of the Sherlock Holmes short stories from the annotated set. This one was 'The Naval Treaty,' and then 'The Final Problem' which is the one where Conan-Doyal 'kills off' Holmes at the Reichenbach Falls. It's written in such a way which leaves it unclear as to what actually happened. Did Holmes die, having been in a struggle to the death with Professor Moriarty? It's definitely inconclusive. Actually a bit of a disappointment. Conan-Doyle obviously wanted to be done with Holmes. He had other irons in the fire with other writing. But it's left open at the end, no doubt with the intention to possibly bring back Holmes in more stories, which he does after around eight years.

Carol is now on the first drip, which is glucose, which takes an hour, and then the actual chemotherapy which lasts two hours.

I've started reading Alan Bennett's latest book, 'Keeping On, Keeping On.' Having read his earlier books, it seemed a must to read the latest work. I've been a fan or his work for years, first coming across his plays on BBC television in the 1970s.

I went to the Friends' Shop to buy us both rolls for our lunch. These rolls are wrapped in such a way that they are virtually impossible to get into. The iced buns in such a way that the icing comes of on the inside of the very noisy cellophane wrapping. But they're a necessity as we get quite hungry as we sit in the oncology department for around three hours or so.

It's generally quiet in the oncology suite today, apart from the pumps which deliver the chemotherapy and the occasional 'bleeping'of their alarms which is to alert the nurses to the fact that one or other of these machines needs attention, a blockage or something wrong. Little green lights that appear to move along to show the machines are working, but then the bleeping noise and red lights to indicate that these things are working as they should.

I'm writing this as I sit with Carol in the oncology department. One of the advantages of having free wi-fi within the hospital campus. It means that what I write is more what I'd term 'free-form' as I'm writing 'live,' rather from memory, which this blog post would be if I wrote it later and from memory.

Carol eventually set up with the chemotherapy, so it's a good two hours as it goes through. Then, at the end, they do a flush to clear the line she has in her arm and then she's set up with a pump which she has for a couple of days and then comes back on Wednesday to have to removed.

When we had got home there was a card stuck in the door. We'd had two parcels delivered. I knew one had been delivered because I'd had an email which I had read when we were in the oncology suite and I had the laptop connected to the wifi. I had ordered a brand new Kindle from Amazon and it was due to be delivered today. It had apparently been received 'by the resident' as the email said. I couldn't have been, as I wasn't at home. It had been put in the bin cupboard. Rather precarious, even though the door was well and truly shut. There was  second card, which was on the floor inside the house near the letter box. Carol has a subscription to an art part-work and several of the books, on various artists, had arrived and had been left in the bin cupboard along with the Amazon parcel. Both parcels were opened and the contents either read, or, in the case of the new Kindle, set up and charged.

Weather Turns Chilly

Just when we were expecting the weather to warm up, we wake this morning (Friday) to find it's really cold. The car has a frozen windscreen. I've been out with the defrost spray to melt it off. We have to go out this morning, to the hospital,  for 9.20, as Carol has to go to the oncology suite to have a blood test before her sixth chemotherapy cycle and then a consultant's appointment at 10 o'clock in the Macmillan unit.

When we got to the hospital carpark at around 9.15 there were plenty of spaces and the barrier was raised so we couldn't take a ticket. Whoever collects the money from the car parking must be loosing out if the barriers are raised and nobody is paying. Do I feel sorry for them? Absolutely not. I'm sure if you read these blog posts regularly you will know quite a bit about my views of hospital parking and the adventures I've had with the ticket machines in and around the Milton Keynes hospital campus.

We walked in to the Oncology Department, entering the hospital building where we usually do, at the Cardiology Department. It's actually handy, thinking about it, considering I had a heart attack and Carol needs the oncology department which is just over the corridor. I never thought of this before. On arriving in the Oncology Suite we find it virtually devoid of patients. I think there is one other person. It is also cold, which Carol mentions. The chemotherapy makes heat and cold very difficult for her to bear. We turned the heating up considerably when we left the house as a result of this fact.

We have to wait quite a while before Carol goes in to have a sample of blood taken by one of the nurses. She is gone longer than it usually takes and it turns out that the nurse was unable to take any blood through the P.I.P. line, for whatever reason. We will have to return in an hour to have another go. The line needs flushing before a sample can be taken. I'm not entirely sure of why this will not work.

We then leave the Oncology Suite and go to the restaurant to have coffee. I'm glad that it's not too far and that we can use the time in there before heading back towards the Macmillan Unit where Carol is due to be seen by one of the Oncology consultants. Not the lead doctor, Dr Saka, but another of his team. It would appear that the chemotherapy is working. We have no direct evidence of this, as we have to wait for a report on the scan Carol has to have after the next chemotherapy cycle, which begins on Monday, but the consultant we spoke to seems very positive about the treatment. Whatever the results are of this scan it will then be decided on whether to perform an operation to remove whatever cancerous growth there is that can be removed and how much more chemotherapy Carol will need. But it certainly seems a good deal more positive than it was several months ago.

We return to the Oncology suite. It's been gradually filling up with patients since we were last in there. It seems one of the regular men has missed several of his chemotherapy appointments. Carol says she overheard a conversation. To be honest, if you have something you don't want others to hear you should at least keep it private and go into a room away from the main area of the unit. It would appear that this man was more concerned with his business than his health. Which would you put first if it was a choice between the chemotherapy which would possibly help you recover or your business or work?

The taking of the blood sample was completed and so left the unit. The next chemotherapy cycle begins on Monday morning.

We left the hospital and went to Waitrose to do some shopping. It was either there or Sainsbury's but chose Waitrose for a change.

I had to go to Ashfield Medical Centre earlier in the week to get a medical certificate for Carol to give to the H.R. department at Milton Keynes Academy. I went to collect this yesterday (Thursday) and then took it in to the reception desk. But then we got a call from the H.R. department to say that the dates given on it didn't tally with the previous certificate, so we had to go in to the surgery to get a fresh one produced. So, more running about all over the place. They rang this afternoon to say it was ready to collect, but I'm leaving it to collect until Monday.

Hospital Appointments and Alfie Does A Runner

We had to go to the hospital for three appointments this morning.  Once we had ourselves organised, we had to put Alfie in the kitchen, but he determinedly refused to move off the sofa. He went into pathetic mode, so we decided to leave him where he was, with the television on.

Fortunately there was no problem finding a parking space in the carpark. 

The first  appointment was in ward 20 as Carol was seeing the stoma nurse. It was interesting to go back after all this length of time as this was the ward Carol was on before she had her operation. We then went to Oncology as Carol had to have a blood-test before her fourth oncology cycle began on Monday morning as well as having the line in her arm flushed out. The next appointment was with one of the cancer doctors in the Macmillan unit about 45-minutes later, so we went into the restaurant to have coffee. Not having been in there before, we'll have to try it again if we are in need of food or drinks. We then walked back towards the Macmillan unit and waited in the lounge-area before the appointment-time.

Carol was then called in by one of the doctors. He wasn't a doctor we've seen before. He came out and looked around the lounge-area where we were waiting. He then said Carol's name and we followed him into one of he offices. It seems that Carol was supposed to be seen by one or other of he cancer doctors after each of her chemotherapy cycles. So how has she managed to get missed 'off the radar' in this respect, and who has been prescribing the chemotherapy material she's been having in the oncology department? All appears to be going well. Carol will need to have a scan after the sixth cycle. The doctor has put in a request for this and it should be at the beginning of March. She also does not have to take the steroid medication she has been on for a while.

Having finished the appointments we walked back to the car. As we were about to drive out of the carpark, we saw a car in the way so we couldn't just drive away through the barrier. A woman was at the barrier, looking as if she was speaking to the machine where you put your ticket which raised the barrier. It was clear she was the driver of the car and it was her car which was stopped in our way and that the barrier would not raise when she attempted to put her ticket in the machine. I'm not sure whether she was speaking through the machine to someone who was able to tell her how to raise the barrier and so drive out of the carpark. Suddenly the barrier raised and she was able to drive out in her car and we could then leave ourselves, but we had to use the ticket machine as the barrier then lowered after the woman left in her car. As I've mentioned in many of my previous blog posts, there have been quite  few instances of the carpark barriers failing, or being raised so you don't need to use your ticket.

On arriving home we couldn't decide on what to have for lunch, but we then thought of having soup but there was no bread to have with it. So it was up to me to drive somewhere or other to purchase such a loaf of bread. As I opened the front door, Alfie shot past me and into the road outside. I was taken completely by surprise by this, and my immediate reaction was to shout at him. As he has absolutely no road sense, it would be so easy for him to get run over by a passing car, but he soon came back to me, looking totally frightened. I picked him up, and he was shaking like a leaf. He isn't very brave, or else not when he chooses. He doesn't like being out in the big, bad world on his own so it was clear that he wouldn't go far and always comes back when I call for him. He's fine when he is with us whenever we take him out for a walk, but he gets upset if he's own his own.  He's not a brave little dog, especially when he's outside on his own. Perhaps he was thinking I was going to take him out for a walk when I left the house, but he would never have gone out without having his lead well and truly connected to his collar. Perhaps all this was as a result of us leaving him on his own when we went out this morning.