I had a problem with my last email address. Now you can contact me on @outlook.com
I use this for emails and the blog one only for the blog.
We went to Yell and saw a peewit with a young one. It was just a ball of fluff with a dark mark on its head and long legs.
The thing is, what do you call a young peewit. We have tried, split pee, half wit and something else which currently eludes me.
I am looking out of the North Window or for those of you who watch television, the square window. There is a small house we were offered when we decided to move from the old manse. There was a lot to do and we decided against it. The people who bought it worked on the roof, the insulation, painted it and it now looks quite pretty from a distance. It is going to be auctioned as a two bedroom cottage with services and some land. There may be an acre or so but there are two buildings that could be repaired. One a barn needing quite a bit of work, the other a store shed if a roof was added. The guide price is £30,000 to £40,000. The auction will be held in Glasgow. I don't think people in Glasgow will think it worth going to Shetland to check it out or people from Shetland go to Glasgow for the auction. I wonder if the Fetlar Development people are interested.
By early July it will all be over.
The South/West window is interesting because there is always a view of Papil Water and the beach to the South of it. Sometimes this is just a lovely view and sometimes it is decorated by ducks, waders, terns, skuas etc.
In the winter we will have Whooper swans a variety of passing ducks and dramatic weather.
Now I am going to plan what to eat today. It is probably going to include smoked trout, or salmon, or mackerel or..........
Monday, 16 June 2014
Saturday, 14 June 2014
A year
I mentioned planning 2015.
As a Shetlander I think the year starts with Up Helly Aa. There are a number of things that come up in sequence, The Boat Race, The Grand National, The Cup Final,Henley, Ascot. Wimbledon. I'm getting lost with order and items. /if anyone has ideas (I may be busy in August) pleae let me know.
I will then try to monitor each one.
There is always crunching dead leaves in the autumn and roast chestnuts in the autumn too. When I have a long list, possibly with meteor showers included, I will publish it here.
Spent today on Yell with Dave today and we are just about to have a Chinese meal to celebrate our return home.
Thank you Michael for the smoked Father's Day presents. We will celebrate this tomorrow.
I have to go now for discussion about something or other and food.
As a Shetlander I think the year starts with Up Helly Aa. There are a number of things that come up in sequence, The Boat Race, The Grand National, The Cup Final,Henley, Ascot. Wimbledon. I'm getting lost with order and items. /if anyone has ideas (I may be busy in August) pleae let me know.
I will then try to monitor each one.
There is always crunching dead leaves in the autumn and roast chestnuts in the autumn too. When I have a long list, possibly with meteor showers included, I will publish it here.
Spent today on Yell with Dave today and we are just about to have a Chinese meal to celebrate our return home.
Thank you Michael for the smoked Father's Day presents. We will celebrate this tomorrow.
I have to go now for discussion about something or other and food.
Friday, 13 June 2014
Third Chemo
There appears to be a cumulative effect. So I am not looking forward to the next one.
Because of the problems I have agreement from my doctor to spend the first night after each of the next sessions in Aberdeen. Also to have an escort on all future visits.
If they were able to get rid of the cancer I would still need the wheelchair, sticks etc.
I was told today that they would not get rid of it. My doctor says they are trying to shrink it or at least stop its further growth. How long they can do this I don't know. My hope is that it will be a substantial time.
The problem with bone cancer is that it creates the anaemia. I then need a blood transfusion, I am then able to face the next chemotherapy. It could be that going six weeks without another transfusion is good news. I must be stronger than I was.
Friday - so one week since the last session. I kept thinking I had recovered but I hadn't. Now I feel I might have. So I am wondering whether I am on a slow recovery.
Every session is likely to set me back more but the three weeks between will see my gradual recovery.
I spoke to the MacMillan nurse about my online chess. When I told her that I lost a queen every three weeks she said, "Chemo brain."
Evidently it is a regular thing. Someone told her one day they had forgotten to take the children to school after a session.
Christina is going back to the states this month instead of next.
Dave is here for a while but he has to get home too.
We look forward to Michael and Tamsin coming when we will get more work done.
The blinds for our new house arrive tomorrow. I may try to go with Dave to pick them up. It will mean a few hours on Yell and a trip to Mary's shop. We will be collecting the blinds from the Ulsta shop. If they arrive. Have to check with Alasdair to see how things are going.
We got three 4ft by 4ft windows today. They are part of a plan to have cold frames behind the house.
There is probably a bit of usable wood still in the ruin. There is also a floor covering of sheep manure we may be able to use in the composting.
When we find the fencing hammer we may be able to free some old fence posts and use them for the cold frames.
I think I am now on an even keel and will start planning 2015.
Because of the problems I have agreement from my doctor to spend the first night after each of the next sessions in Aberdeen. Also to have an escort on all future visits.
If they were able to get rid of the cancer I would still need the wheelchair, sticks etc.
I was told today that they would not get rid of it. My doctor says they are trying to shrink it or at least stop its further growth. How long they can do this I don't know. My hope is that it will be a substantial time.
The problem with bone cancer is that it creates the anaemia. I then need a blood transfusion, I am then able to face the next chemotherapy. It could be that going six weeks without another transfusion is good news. I must be stronger than I was.
Friday - so one week since the last session. I kept thinking I had recovered but I hadn't. Now I feel I might have. So I am wondering whether I am on a slow recovery.
Every session is likely to set me back more but the three weeks between will see my gradual recovery.
I spoke to the MacMillan nurse about my online chess. When I told her that I lost a queen every three weeks she said, "Chemo brain."
Evidently it is a regular thing. Someone told her one day they had forgotten to take the children to school after a session.
Christina is going back to the states this month instead of next.
Dave is here for a while but he has to get home too.
We look forward to Michael and Tamsin coming when we will get more work done.
The blinds for our new house arrive tomorrow. I may try to go with Dave to pick them up. It will mean a few hours on Yell and a trip to Mary's shop. We will be collecting the blinds from the Ulsta shop. If they arrive. Have to check with Alasdair to see how things are going.
We got three 4ft by 4ft windows today. They are part of a plan to have cold frames behind the house.
There is probably a bit of usable wood still in the ruin. There is also a floor covering of sheep manure we may be able to use in the composting.
When we find the fencing hammer we may be able to free some old fence posts and use them for the cold frames.
I think I am now on an even keel and will start planning 2015.
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Second Chemo
I know some of my friends and relatives around the world are waiting for my next bit of news.
So here goes....
I went to the second session but they said that as it was a Friday there would be no-one there on the Saturday to give me the boost with the hypodermic I had last time. We took the stuff home and one of our nurses plugged me with it on Saturday. Each following session will go the same way - dash home and get a fix.,
I was rather run down, but the journey alone could do that and I decided in the end that the only real difference from the first round was the tenderness in my mouth. If I am careful with drinks and food so that it is warm rather than hot when I eat it I should get by. It may be that later chemotherapy sessions will cause other problems or more sensitivity in the mouth. I have been advised to prepare a mouth wash and use it immediately after the next session.
I went out for a drive with Mark and Penny day before yesterday. That was my first time out of the house since session two. We saw 26 different birds and it was rather misty so next trip we may see more.
Today Hnefi got out of his field. Everyone went out to try to wrestle him back in. I was pushed up in the wheelchair and first of all I made a fuss of Hiedi. Next I approached Hnefi with the head collar and some apple. He let me put the head collar on and walked back with Mark. Poor old Heidi thought she was being deserted and we had to follow her round the ruin to get her in her collar. She finally understood and then Sruart led her.
The two of them are now back in their lower paddock. This leaves the upper paddock for the dogs to exercise in. There are so many lambs and besting birds about that this is one of the few places they have a degree of freedom.
There is a lot of bustle in the kitchen. We will have Margaret and Christina here at lunch time so that makes eight of us. Normal roast beef and roast spuds and parsnips.
Until today I have kept away from people as the therapy gives the immune system a smack. Living dangerously today.
One more week for Mark and family. They have moved a lot of furniture from the house, started building a windbreak at the north side of the back gardern and retrieved the trailer so that we can use it if required. He brought plants in pots from the old house and there are more to come. We will talk to people with vans (two have already volunteered) and then clear the house. I use the royal we nowadays, It means someone else will do it but I will shout at them.
Anyway it is a busy day so I'm off for lunch and then a siesta.
Thanks for you comments and kind thoughts.
So here goes....
I went to the second session but they said that as it was a Friday there would be no-one there on the Saturday to give me the boost with the hypodermic I had last time. We took the stuff home and one of our nurses plugged me with it on Saturday. Each following session will go the same way - dash home and get a fix.,
I was rather run down, but the journey alone could do that and I decided in the end that the only real difference from the first round was the tenderness in my mouth. If I am careful with drinks and food so that it is warm rather than hot when I eat it I should get by. It may be that later chemotherapy sessions will cause other problems or more sensitivity in the mouth. I have been advised to prepare a mouth wash and use it immediately after the next session.
I went out for a drive with Mark and Penny day before yesterday. That was my first time out of the house since session two. We saw 26 different birds and it was rather misty so next trip we may see more.
Today Hnefi got out of his field. Everyone went out to try to wrestle him back in. I was pushed up in the wheelchair and first of all I made a fuss of Hiedi. Next I approached Hnefi with the head collar and some apple. He let me put the head collar on and walked back with Mark. Poor old Heidi thought she was being deserted and we had to follow her round the ruin to get her in her collar. She finally understood and then Sruart led her.
The two of them are now back in their lower paddock. This leaves the upper paddock for the dogs to exercise in. There are so many lambs and besting birds about that this is one of the few places they have a degree of freedom.
There is a lot of bustle in the kitchen. We will have Margaret and Christina here at lunch time so that makes eight of us. Normal roast beef and roast spuds and parsnips.
Until today I have kept away from people as the therapy gives the immune system a smack. Living dangerously today.
One more week for Mark and family. They have moved a lot of furniture from the house, started building a windbreak at the north side of the back gardern and retrieved the trailer so that we can use it if required. He brought plants in pots from the old house and there are more to come. We will talk to people with vans (two have already volunteered) and then clear the house. I use the royal we nowadays, It means someone else will do it but I will shout at them.
Anyway it is a busy day so I'm off for lunch and then a siesta.
Thanks for you comments and kind thoughts.
Saturday, 26 April 2014
1st. Chemo
Had to go to Aberdeen for my first chemotherapy. They said I was borderline when I got there but decided to give me a couple of blood transfusions so that they could go ahead with the chemotherapy. It seemed a long time in the ward, about 8 hours all together. They asked me to go back the next day to get an injection to help boost my immune system. I was then able to go back to Shetland with a few additional tablets to take.
They have given me a red book to show all the things that I must look out for. These appear in green amber and red in answer to questions down the page. If the answer is red I have to phone the hot line. Presumably they send out a helicopter for me. Is that safer than wrapping up warm and hoping for the best?
There are aches and pains today, partly from being marooned in the car on Yell. partly from walking too far after the blood transfusions and partly from the hard bed on the Aberdeen ferry.
The worst thing at present is the taste of water. Because of the tablets I suppose, they include antibiotics. I am doing my best to maintain my appetite. I may have to resort to curries and chillies to ensure I taste the food.
A three week course of new tablets will keep me going until the next visit to Aberdeen. I wonder
whether to sail or fly next time. I will try to establish which will be least traumatic.
The thing is that all the things I am warned about will be likely to be met with later in the course rather than earlier. Infection could be more likely on the plane than the boat. Hair loss doesn;t matter it could happen anytime anyway.
I will decide in a week or so depending on how I feel.
I was surprised to be feeling washed out after the meal tonight. I expected to feel full of energy.
Anyway nothing drastic has happened so far. So here's to the next time.
They have given me a red book to show all the things that I must look out for. These appear in green amber and red in answer to questions down the page. If the answer is red I have to phone the hot line. Presumably they send out a helicopter for me. Is that safer than wrapping up warm and hoping for the best?
There are aches and pains today, partly from being marooned in the car on Yell. partly from walking too far after the blood transfusions and partly from the hard bed on the Aberdeen ferry.
The worst thing at present is the taste of water. Because of the tablets I suppose, they include antibiotics. I am doing my best to maintain my appetite. I may have to resort to curries and chillies to ensure I taste the food.
A three week course of new tablets will keep me going until the next visit to Aberdeen. I wonder
whether to sail or fly next time. I will try to establish which will be least traumatic.
The thing is that all the things I am warned about will be likely to be met with later in the course rather than earlier. Infection could be more likely on the plane than the boat. Hair loss doesn;t matter it could happen anytime anyway.
I will decide in a week or so depending on how I feel.
I was surprised to be feeling washed out after the meal tonight. I expected to feel full of energy.
Anyway nothing drastic has happened so far. So here's to the next time.
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Onward & Upward
I am less feverish, seem to have thrown off the infection and no longer talk to the clock. In fact I don't remember doing this so maybe it was Janet having a dream.
Anyway they are willing to see me in Aberdeen next week and my chemo may start then.
One of the nurses came today to look at my bedsores and take an arm full of blood.
If Aberdeen like the blood they will go ahead. If my local expert in Lerwick is unhappy with it he will give me a blood transfusion.
Meanwhile the daga of the lack of telephone continues. A little man came yesterday to say he would connect the telephone wire bt people did not like him digging on their land so we would need to dig the cable in. Janet told him she did not mind him digging on her land and why did he carry a spade. Had it got the ferry times written on it? She then started to tell him the story of our telephone. He realised that there were only a limited number of ferries each day and if he waited for the end of the story he and his spade could be marooned overnight on Fetlar.
He agreed to dig in the cable. When it was done he said she needed a man with a screwdriver to do the technical bits. He only had a spade.
She let him go, hotfoot and warm handed to the ferry.
The second mattress for the bed arrives courtesy of Kate tomorrow.
We will then be able to return the one we borrowed for Janet.
There is a Russian grandmaster talking about the women chess championship in Siberia so I will go and listen to him now. He has a terrific accent.
Anyway they are willing to see me in Aberdeen next week and my chemo may start then.
One of the nurses came today to look at my bedsores and take an arm full of blood.
If Aberdeen like the blood they will go ahead. If my local expert in Lerwick is unhappy with it he will give me a blood transfusion.
Meanwhile the daga of the lack of telephone continues. A little man came yesterday to say he would connect the telephone wire bt people did not like him digging on their land so we would need to dig the cable in. Janet told him she did not mind him digging on her land and why did he carry a spade. Had it got the ferry times written on it? She then started to tell him the story of our telephone. He realised that there were only a limited number of ferries each day and if he waited for the end of the story he and his spade could be marooned overnight on Fetlar.
He agreed to dig in the cable. When it was done he said she needed a man with a screwdriver to do the technical bits. He only had a spade.
She let him go, hotfoot and warm handed to the ferry.
The second mattress for the bed arrives courtesy of Kate tomorrow.
We will then be able to return the one we borrowed for Janet.
There is a Russian grandmaster talking about the women chess championship in Siberia so I will go and listen to him now. He has a terrific accent.
Wednesday, 9 April 2014
Early Easter News
Things ain't what they used to be.
Margaret and Janet got back from Aberdeen after Margaret's chemotherapy. She must not have contact with me because her treatment means her immune system is less effective and I contracted an infection while they were away.
Although she had nurses coming in she collapsed one day and it was decided that she should go back to hospital to be safe.
Meanwhile I had nurses coming in to see me. They told Aberdeen that I was infected.
Aberdeen says that I need to be fitter before I become ill enough to have chemotherapy.
Meanwhile BT and Outreach are trying to find the meaning of the word liaise. BT took our old number when they should not have done. They then took days to give it back but it was a different number without the facility to leave messages. They did not tell us we had the phone back nor that it was a different number. We picked it up one morning and thought we had everything back to normal. Next the builder sent his daughter to see us to say he could not get through. We rang him and he sais his mobile showed a different number. We phoned BT and told us they could give back our original number but it would delay the installation of that number in the new house. We decided to bite the bullet. They did not come to put in the phone on the appointed day.
We rang them./ They swore blind that the little man was on his merry way. We asked which ferry. They checked and said the job was booked to be done but they had not allocated an engineer to do it.
They told us not to worry it would be done forthwith or some such time. They sent us an email saying that they were unable to contact us. Hardly surprising as they had not given the line the facility to accept messages. They gave us a new date by which they would have arranged something. (This email address does not accept messages.) They did not give name email or telephone number where someone could be reached. Next we got another email saying that something would be arranged by a later date. During this time Margaret was in and out of hospital and back in again.
We are not holding our breath. We are working out ways we might send smoke signals.
If I became a Trappist monk I would nt need the phone.
The trouble is we do need to phone nurses, doctors, MacMillan nurses and Occupational Therapists.
We also get calls from Specialists in Aberdeen and Lerwick and their secretaries. We also need to arrange accommodation in Aberdeen before we get there for treatment.
Stop Press.
I have just received a letter from Aberdeen.
The new date for treatment is 22nd. April 2014. Then 14th. May, 4th. June, 25th. July and 6th. August.
These dates will be kept if I supply an arm full of blood before each visit , subject to it being mine and fairly healthy.
Also, if I start picking up more infections they may have to put me in hospital and drip antibiotics into me.
So I may be ready for next football season.
I think my treatment in Aberdeen has been synchronised with Margaret's but I'm not sure. If it has then we will all go by plane. This could be a bigger risk of infection than the boat but Janet will have to run after us to make sure we don't wander off whichever way we go.
I am creaking and so on now so will leave the stage.
Barbara is feeding and watering the ponies and me as well as packing books for the move. Janet has started the rally drive to Lerwick to see Margaret. Michael is not far short of the Aberdeen ferry.
Now watch this space.
Margaret and Janet got back from Aberdeen after Margaret's chemotherapy. She must not have contact with me because her treatment means her immune system is less effective and I contracted an infection while they were away.
Although she had nurses coming in she collapsed one day and it was decided that she should go back to hospital to be safe.
Meanwhile I had nurses coming in to see me. They told Aberdeen that I was infected.
Aberdeen says that I need to be fitter before I become ill enough to have chemotherapy.
Meanwhile BT and Outreach are trying to find the meaning of the word liaise. BT took our old number when they should not have done. They then took days to give it back but it was a different number without the facility to leave messages. They did not tell us we had the phone back nor that it was a different number. We picked it up one morning and thought we had everything back to normal. Next the builder sent his daughter to see us to say he could not get through. We rang him and he sais his mobile showed a different number. We phoned BT and told us they could give back our original number but it would delay the installation of that number in the new house. We decided to bite the bullet. They did not come to put in the phone on the appointed day.
We rang them./ They swore blind that the little man was on his merry way. We asked which ferry. They checked and said the job was booked to be done but they had not allocated an engineer to do it.
They told us not to worry it would be done forthwith or some such time. They sent us an email saying that they were unable to contact us. Hardly surprising as they had not given the line the facility to accept messages. They gave us a new date by which they would have arranged something. (This email address does not accept messages.) They did not give name email or telephone number where someone could be reached. Next we got another email saying that something would be arranged by a later date. During this time Margaret was in and out of hospital and back in again.
We are not holding our breath. We are working out ways we might send smoke signals.
If I became a Trappist monk I would nt need the phone.
The trouble is we do need to phone nurses, doctors, MacMillan nurses and Occupational Therapists.
We also get calls from Specialists in Aberdeen and Lerwick and their secretaries. We also need to arrange accommodation in Aberdeen before we get there for treatment.
Stop Press.
I have just received a letter from Aberdeen.
The new date for treatment is 22nd. April 2014. Then 14th. May, 4th. June, 25th. July and 6th. August.
These dates will be kept if I supply an arm full of blood before each visit , subject to it being mine and fairly healthy.
Also, if I start picking up more infections they may have to put me in hospital and drip antibiotics into me.
So I may be ready for next football season.
I think my treatment in Aberdeen has been synchronised with Margaret's but I'm not sure. If it has then we will all go by plane. This could be a bigger risk of infection than the boat but Janet will have to run after us to make sure we don't wander off whichever way we go.
I am creaking and so on now so will leave the stage.
Barbara is feeding and watering the ponies and me as well as packing books for the move. Janet has started the rally drive to Lerwick to see Margaret. Michael is not far short of the Aberdeen ferry.
Now watch this space.
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