QUICK CATCH UP...

Ciao Tutti,

Cant believe a week has sped by since I last wrote a blog entry.  Life beginning to turn with a bit of a pace...

I didn't have to go back in over last weekend for rehydration. Phweeee. Managed to swallow enough water just to keep the figures low enough for the hospital to say I could stay at home. But still having to try to drink 2 - 3 litres of water  a day, which is virtually impossible. So always running a risk that they may  call me back in for "fluid input".  Last Friday my bloods dropped rather dramatically, everything falling to below the plimsoll line (well, at least thats how I envisage it). So spent a fretful weekend stressing that the leukaemia had come back and the bone marrow had failed... Bad dreams. Oh dear. Still so very fragile emotionally. One small chink can set me off!  Anyway, Tuesday came and bloods had bounced back up again (lets hear it for Baby Number One...) and my bone marrow result from 3 weeks ago showed completed remission. So I buzzed out of HOP clinic.  The sun was out, the sky was blue and Luigi and I shuffled along to Ruskin Park (to be fair, Luigi walked and I shuffled) and sat on an old wooden park bench, deeply carved with names and dates. Everything just on the edge of bursting into flower or leaf. I just drank it all in. It was one of those "good to be alive" moments.

I am still struggling with fatigue. The hospital tell me I will do for quite some time to come. Getting up is still extremely hard work. And doing virtually anything can knock me for six - from making a sandwich for myself, having a bath, even getting dressed. I am slow and grey. A bit like a sloth I guess.

But, slowly slowly catch your monkey. I have seen some more friends. Tea time visits are good. I am at my most alert then. And seeing people really helps me to climb out of my hamster wheel. Very good medicine.  Thanks to everyone who has come round - bearing wonderful gifts: smoked salmon bagels, french macaroons, home made scones and marmalade, bunches of flowers. I am spoilt.

Today I managed three times round the roundabout. Decked out in wellington boots and raincoat, as there was a massive downpour earlier. Then clean spring sunshine. Blackbird singing as I walked around (walked, not shuffled, this time). I can manage the stairs a bit better now too. Some days easier than others.

HOP clinic again tomorrow, so I need to swallow some more water to keep my kidneys flushing through. Don't want a bad result.

Your messages of support have been fantastic. So great to know you are all out there and still on the journey with me. I wish I could respond to all of you individually. My apologies that I don't. I would be tied to this computer. But you know how much it means to hear from you. Keeps my (sometimes flagging) spirit going - and for that I thank you all.  For those of you not in London - we are about to hit spring big time. Magnolias are budding and ready to burst forth. Mad pink cherry will soon be lining almost every street. Armies of daffodils are standing proud.  I hope we are blessed with a brilliant bright spring. We all deserve it. Wherever you are reading this, hope the sun is shining for you.

A presto! High fives! And a whole lotta love round the globe.

Back soon tch xxx