Update No 10 - 30th January 2012

Here we are back in the Guildford Nuffield for chemo week 4.  Colin and Alison - I have let you down by not blogging last week - I'm sorry.  It is all a bit manic although that is not a good excuse.  Only one more chemo to go now and 10 more radiotherapies, the treatment is skipping by quickly.

Emma did not have her chemo last week because her white cell count was too low.  The chemo knocks your bone marrow's ability to generate white blood cells so it is a common side effect.  Dr Illsley, the oncologist was pretty laid back about it and recommended a week off the chemo and a quiet week.  Those of you who know Emma will know that my wife and a 'quiet week' are uncomfortable bedfellows.  However, she did have several afternoon naps and did not stay up too late.  We are just now waiting for this week's 'bloods' so fingers crossed.  I'll let you know in a minute!! Just got them and they are still not great but they are going ahead with the chemo anyway.  So another quiet week is beckoning.  Apparently the radiotherapy can also slow white cell production.  

The Kinnifam programme is still running at full tilt (feeding the starving children of Headley Down) which is fantastic.  Thank you so much Lisa, Jo, Caff, Ali and Kezza  for your continued help.  The food is delicious and it is such a help to us.    

I was going to say we have been pretty quiet but it is simply not true.  A top 21st birthday party (ahem!) at Taylor Towers, an excellent Noel Coward concert (for the St Mary's Church roof appeal that I am involved with) and a BRA party (my invite obviously got lost in the post).  Despite multiple offers from the boys to hold clothes and help with the measuring, our services were rejected.

We have also gone slightly mad and got terribly decisive all of a sudden.  We bought a kitchen last weekend (yikes) and then this weekend we bought a 12 day all inclusive holiday in Mauritius (double yikes!!).  We have decided that we all need a break once Emma's strength has recovered a bit.  Europe and North Africa simply couldn't cut the mustard when it came to temperatures for Mrs K.  So come the 18th March we are off to paradise.  Then we have another trip to an island paradise in May half-term when we visit the Isle Wight.  I'd better get my skates on with my business interests.

On the domestic front we were driving to church on Sunday morning and somehow got onto the ten commandments - I realise this makes us sounds hideously sanctimonious.  Emma asked the children if they knew any of them - Hannah and James reeled off a couple and then Rebecca came up with a less well known one - 'you must not stroke frogs'.  I think this might have just slipped through the net when they were drawing up the top ten.  Anyway love to all in the meantime and God Bless.