Southampton

Arrived safely in Southampton on Tuesday and spent the night at the Ibis Hotel. Large comfy bed but room very cold. 

Got to the Ocean terminal just after 12.00, Wednesday. got through the paperwork quickly and made our way on board.Had a meal then made our way to our cabin, found our luggage and put our clothes away in the ample storage. The room size is very generous being almost twice the size of our bedroom at home. Strangely only 2' 6" beds though.

Thursday, the sea is quite choppy today and Mum a little queasy. Took a couple of her pills and was able to eat a small baguette after a couple of hours. NB now raining ! Both os had a good dinner though.

Friday, have cleared the Bay of Biscay and ships movement seems easier to me! Have now had two acupuncture session for my head pain, seems to be working ? Quiet day in cabin today, tomorrow we arrive in Lisbon

Love Mum & Dad

Weather

Grey day in Tilgate. 

This and that

Lets start with the fact that the car had a service in South Somercotes [because it's cheaper]. Nothing major just needed a new tyre and new glow plugs to cure a starting problem. Garage said for it's age car is is good condition.

The tree photo was taken in my daughters garden here in Lincolnshire. The bare twisted branches backed by a blue sky looked interesting. Being early January not much greenery to see but the open views of the flat countryside surrounding her home are always interesting.

The Consultants Verdict

Had an appointment with my consultant urologist today. The mass on my left kidney was Renal Cell Cancer but this was completely removed by the Nephrectomy in October.
There will be a review in June 2013 following another CT scan a month earlier.

Time to get back to normal methinks

Peter

Whose got a nice Bacon Collar joint for sale ?

So Christmas is just around the corner and the stores are telling us the benefits of shopping with them. Aside from presents Xmas would not be the same without our traditional foods. Individual traditions may vary but most I suspect go for the Turkey dinner although Chicken, Duck or Goose are also favourites as is Roast Beef.

We usually go for the turkey but on Boxing Day boiled bacon is a must. Not any boiled bacon mind you, it must be a collar joint as pictured below. However this is where problems arise, the standard superstore offering all year is Gammon. An Internet search will produce a Collar joint at a price but one should not have to go to these lengths for what should be a standard offering.

Fortunately, I did find a Collar joint at Morrison's last year. Hopefully they will have some this year. Can anyone tell me where all the collar bacon goes.

Survivor

A lot has happened in the last six months, but I am still here.

To recap, in May it was found that I had a mass on my left Kidney and a lesion lower right Lung. Despite assurances about being on top of a list, the wheels of the NHS ground very slow, punctuated by absent papers at consultations and, an apparent reluctance to operate due to my COPD.

Finally, my consultant supported by his anaesthetist agreed to operate and a full left Nephrectomy was performed on the 17th October. Keyhole surgery permitted a swift recovery and I was back home in 6 days with lifting and driving bans for three weeks or so.

Awaited is the next appointment with my consultant to determine the results of the biopsy on the removed mass,