Hello again. Rather shabby again as I realise this is my first blog of 2013. Time flies past in a blur and we have arrived at Emma's next check up in the blink of an eye. Emma had a CT scan on Friday and we got the results today from Dr Illsley (considering a new nickname of Dr Crapsecretary but I am not sure if will catch on). Basically the news is the same as the last check up. Slow moving and still pretty small secondary cancers in Emma's lungs. It is now a year since her last treatment which is a decent enough time to observe the behaviour of the disease and so it is now time to consider the next steps.
The immediate new step is to conduct another PET scan (this continues the search for the elusive hamster which frankly neither of us believe is there). This is a whole body scan which is checking for any other disease apart from Emma's lungs. Depending on the results of this scan then there are a variety options that the multidisciplinary team (Oncologist, radiologist and thoracic surgeon) will consider, including surgery, localised radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Whilst it would be difficult to dress this up as fantastically good news, the disease has continued to be pretty slow and steady for 12 months which opens up options for treatment - this is good news.
Life on the home front continues to be pretty hectic. There was the massive dump of snow which led to an EPIC (Hannah's favourite word) day of sledging. Photographic evidence below. We saw a fantastic panto with James Dinsmore as the fabulous Captain Hook and Mr Darling (such versatility). He is now appearing in Darling of the Day at the Union Theatre in Islington - miss this one at your peril (www.uniontheatre.biz). Kinniburgh Taxi services continue to be busy every day of the week except Sundays. I am still based largely at Army Headquarters in Andover and have the great pleasure of having at least a fortnightly lunch break with my oldest pal Pete (Major Manson RM to you lot though). I leave there in April as does Pete (good luck old friend). I am starting with a new consultancy business in April and we shall see how that progresses.
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| Sledging at Hindhead Golf Club in the January snow - outstanding day. Rebecca lasted about 30 seconds before deciding she was too cold and wanted to go home - GRRRRRR and BRRRRRR.... |
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| Pre-Midsummer Night's Dream at Shakespeare's Globe on the Southbank in the company of my gorgeous wife, and the also rather gorgeous Alex, Andre, Fran and Anne-Marie. Mr Dinsmore was sitting down on account of his great age and infirmity. We were there to see Ms Sarah Barron tread the boards as part of her Masters at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire dontcha know and very fine she was too. |
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| Rebecca and Hannah with a raven in the background at the Tower of London |
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| James being stabbed with a large axe by a knight at the Tower of London with Tunbridge Wells Grannie and Papa |
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| At Rosie and Al's hoose for tea, The same day that England got beaten 30-3 by Wales! Rosie, Emma and Sue were having tea and champers at the Ritz dahling. |
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| Unfortunately for Al (right) he forgot when he asked us round to watch the game and to kindly give our children tea that Justin was half Welsh and that I am totally Jockanese therefore were both bellowing for the Reds throughout Wales's trouncing of the English girls rugby team. Did I mention the score 30-3................ |
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| James (E's brother) and E in a rather flattering distortion shot courtesy of my phone. James and I had a quiet evening out in Twickenham after the Calcutta Cup (no photos available!). England played well, unlike the 30-3 loss to Wales this weekend. |
That's all for now - run out of steam.. We send love and best wishes to all in the meantime and wish God Speed to Ben Wrench for the remainder of his tour in Afghanistan and to his safe arrival home in Edinburgh. We also send love to Elisabeth and the children. Finally we hold the Kendall family in our hearts and in our prayers for the shocking and tragic death of Krystyna.
