Sunny and Warm

Goodness gracious! What's this? The sun is out. It's really warm. The past few days have been dull and overcast. On Wednesday it was foggy early and we had rain.

Wednesday we had to be at the Oncology Suite at Milton Keynes Hospital because Carol had the  beginning of the eight chemotherapy cycle. She wasn't due there until midday so we had time to take things slowly which was pleasant, not having to get up too early. We drove over to Rooksley as Carol wanted to visit Hobbycraft as she wanted to buy some crafting materials. As we parked the car near the store and got out to walk down to the entrance, Carol shrieked as she had seen a large rat. I looked down into the flower bed and saw the tail of a large grey rat scuttling away. I've seen several rats in Milton Keynes and had Alfie, or little Yorkshire Terrier, had been with us I'm sure he would have known how to deal with it. They say that you're always no more than six feet from a rat wherever you are. I can well believe that, considering how untidy people are, dropping litter and food which only attracts them. Not a pleasant thought.

The oncology suite was busy when we arrived. Unfortunately the carpark at the rear of the hospital, where we usually park, was full so I had to drive back to the front of the hospital and park in the ground-level carpark and walk back to the oncology suite. There seemed to be a shortage of nursing staff in the unit and again there was no receptionist on the reception desk as there was a few days ago when Carol had her blood test. The nurses are on the go all the time we are there. They never stop. I can never praise them enough as they do an amazing job and always do their jobs efficiently and exceptionally.

We had to go back to the oncology suite on Friday at around 4 p.m. so that Carol could have the pump she has removed. All seems to be going well and she has another M.R.I. scan on Wednesday and then a consultant's appointment on Friday so we should know what the next stage of her treatment is going to be.

I recently bought a Kindle Fire tablet, the HD 10 inch model. Considering the price, it is a really good piece of kit. Carol bought one a couple of years ago and she has been pleased with it, although by now it might be considered somewhat out of date, as all computing equipment has a limited life, when they keep on up-grading the operating systems they run on. I have downloaded the official Scrabble app and played this game on my own, versus the computer, but now Carol has the app on her Kindle and we have managed to play a game or two using both our Kindles. This will be good as a way to pass the time the next time we go to the oncology suite.

As I write this, it's Saturday afternoon and looking out of the lounge window I can see the sun is shining. The trees at the back of the house, all along the Redway, are beginning to come out in leaf. There is plenty of almond blossom coming out all over Eaglestone estate. The bird-feeder is busy with a wide variety of birds visiting, but I'm not so sure I want squirrels eating the food which is really intended for them. We've had two competing squirrels on the thing, doing their usual acrobatics. I think I'm going to have to buy a baffle to go on the upright to deter them.

Second Chemotherapy Cycle

The weather is wet and windy as I write this at 6.30 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The rain has since  turned into snow, which was a bit of a shock when I peered out of the bathroom window a little later. I've been out to clear snow from the car windscreen as we're off to the oncology department at Milton Keynes Hospital for Carol to have her second cycle of chemotherapy. She has a blood test at 9.30 and then, if the results of that are positive, she can begin the actual chemotherapy at around midday. So what exactly are we supposed to do between whiles? Twiddle our thumbs? Just wait in the department? Come home and then go back? You ask me. If it hadn't been for the Christmas holiday, no doubt we'd have been there on Monday so Carol could have the blood test and then the chemotherapy would have begun on Tuesday. But never mind. Our main concern is not being bored as it's quite a long time sitting and doing virtually nothing as the treatment progresses. I've been looking for a Travel Scrabble set as we like playing Scrabble, but my searches have not managed to find a set. None of the local stores, Toys R Us, John Lewis or Smythe's have it in stock. It appears that everyone wants computerised games (which we don't) and a travel version would be easiest to pack up and set up in the oncology department. I just hope that the carpark at the hospital as well as all the paths and other outdoor walk-ways are clear and relatively slip-free as the last thing we need is either of us slipping over. Just doesn't bear thinking about otherwise.

A bit later. We've been to the oncology department and Carol has now had the blood test as well as blood pressure taken. It was busy when we arrived and as a result had to wait some time before there was room for all the tests to be done. We have to be back in the department by around 12.30 for the chemo to continue. Although it depends on the blood test results.

It was raining as we left the hospital to drive home. But now (11.25) it's snowing quite heavily. I just hope it doesn't settle and make life difficult.

Fortunately the snow fizzled out. Probably not the best way to describe snow that doesn't amount to much. A cold description rather than one for possibly something hot, such as a firework.  Given the go-ahead for the next stage of the chemotherapy and as a result it was quite a long afternoon, and we didn't leave the oncology department until about 6.15. Be back there on Friday afternoon. Carol has another pump for the next couple of days as she had at the end of the last chemo cycle.

I have to laugh about the parking. All that effort to get you to pay (it is annoying, but as we get our parking free if we go to the macmillan unit and get the ticket punched.) The barrier at the carpark was raised at the exit. No doubt it can't cope with the freezing temperatures, so drivers can leave without the need to put their ticket in the machine which would normally raise the barrier. I am appalled to learn that N.H.S. hospitals across England make £174 million out of car parking. Just another money-making scam.