13 November 2009 - Getting up to date

Our cottage at North Huish, Devon

Another fine day on the beach at Burgh Island, Devon

I know, I know. I haven't posted a blog for a couple of months. Its our new kitchen - its taken over my life. Do we need a separate oven and hob? What type of sink? What are the disadvantages of solid wood worktops? Where do I source the fridge/freezer? Its never ending. But it is all coming together and next week it will be fitted - anyway that's the plan

In brief, to bring you up to date:

1. 2-9 October - Holiday in a cottage at Horth Huish, Devon. (Awful weather. Cottage good. Overall 6.5 out of 10)

2. 12-17 October - Wall between kitchen and dining room knocked down, downstairs loo extended to form utility room - all preparation for the new kitchen.

3. 19 October - Deb's monthly trip to QE Hospital to have blood tested and see consultant. Saw Dr J Sheriff, Senior Registrar not Dr Sanghera. It was agreed that Deb could try again to reduce steroids from dose of 3 mg per day to 2 mg. This has proved a success. Deb had 2 weeks of alternating days of 2 and 3 mg and then moved permanently onto 2 mg. She has not had any severe headaches or other symptoms as with previous reductions in steroid levels. If she continues to be OK on this dose she may try for a further reduction in the new year. Blood test results were good and Deb is prescribed chemotherapy and preventative antibiotics for a further month.

4. 26 October - Further meeting with Dr Mheera Shah, Psychologist. Most of her patients have had cancer and are recovering. So they have a goal, an end point. For instance a woman with breast cancer may have had her breast removed and Dr Shah would work with her to get her to accept this and feel good about her body again. With Deb it is different. She is not going to get better. This disease is permanent. So all our chats with Mheera are about strategies to make life a bit better. Still we both come out feeling it has been a useful experience, so it must be doing some good.

5. 2 November - Took over an allotment with Patrick my friend down the road. Have started to dig it over. Had our first harvest -potatoes left by the previous owner. Now looking for about 4 tonnes of good manure.

6. 10 November - In a bid to stop the dogs killing one another, took Flynn to the vet's to be castrated. Afterwards, he (can I still call him 'he'?) looked forlorn and sorry for himself. A red sore looking empty sack where his balls used to be. Up to date (one week later) this has not worked. Dogs are still at each others throats.

7. 11-12 November - Visited Sam in Scarborough. As part of his degree course he had designed and installed an installation in Scarborough Museum. A touch screen enabled you to access information on various exhibits - charms used in witchcraft. He wrote the software, added the pictures and sounds. Saw Sam's lecturer who was impressed with what he had achieved.