As you can see, Carole is looking well which is a great relief to us all.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Celebrating success
Our friend Carole was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and was quickly admitted and operated on. The news that the operation was a complete success deserved celebrating so the four of us, Suzie, myself, Carole and Giuseppe went out to the Denby Lodge Steak House for an evening meal. So here are some photos from that evening...
As you can see, Carole is looking well which is a great relief to us all.
As you can see, Carole is looking well which is a great relief to us all.
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Health check
Today I had my annual check-ups for asthma and diabetes with Julie & Marion (respectively) at OMC and that in all measures except one I am fitter and healthier than this time last year.
Blood pressure 140 / 68 (down from 168 / 83 just 3 weeks ago and from 164 / 80 last year).
Glucose 6.4 (down from 6.7, over 7.0 is a cause for concern).
Platelets 171 (healthy is 150 – 450, normal is 170+, last reading 3 weeks ago was 127).
Cholesterol down 0.3 to 4.3 (normal healthy is 5.0 or less)
All other blood readings showed a similar improvement across the board (i.e. a shift of 0.3 for the better) and my weight is down from 15st 9lb to 14st 13ld, a loss of 10 pounds, and the biggest change they have seen in my weight since I had Sarcoids back in 2004/5. Marion checked my feet – healthy verdict.
The only poor reading was my breathing capacity (lungs) at 360 cms which is down from 450 cms last year and which should be over 600 cms for a healthy person, but, Julie’s notes show that last year I was on the brown Beclazone inhaler which I haven’t used since I last saw her. No need to restart using it unless I feel significantly more breathless than I usually do now.
All things considered, I am one happy chappy.
Blood pressure 140 / 68 (down from 168 / 83 just 3 weeks ago and from 164 / 80 last year).
Glucose 6.4 (down from 6.7, over 7.0 is a cause for concern).
Platelets 171 (healthy is 150 – 450, normal is 170+, last reading 3 weeks ago was 127).
Cholesterol down 0.3 to 4.3 (normal healthy is 5.0 or less)
All other blood readings showed a similar improvement across the board (i.e. a shift of 0.3 for the better) and my weight is down from 15st 9lb to 14st 13ld, a loss of 10 pounds, and the biggest change they have seen in my weight since I had Sarcoids back in 2004/5. Marion checked my feet – healthy verdict.
The only poor reading was my breathing capacity (lungs) at 360 cms which is down from 450 cms last year and which should be over 600 cms for a healthy person, but, Julie’s notes show that last year I was on the brown Beclazone inhaler which I haven’t used since I last saw her. No need to restart using it unless I feel significantly more breathless than I usually do now.
All things considered, I am one happy chappy.
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Where does time go?
It has been over a month since I last posted on this blog - no I haven't lost interest but time has flown by and myself and the family have just been so busy.
First, we have all been so busy at work. I've been settling into my new role, my manager has resigned and moved on and new managers mean new ideas on how things should be done. Sue has had her role confirmed as permenant (it was 2 year fixed term) and is undertaking a number of site visits in her attempts to make significant cost savings for Derby City Council. Mark got promoted after just 6 months at BMI and that has brought added duties and responsibilities. Andy has been working long hours and hard to achieve maximum bonus, trying to boost his savings for when he joins Rolls Royce in September on their apprenticeship scheme (when the money will drop significantly).
Outside of work - well I went off on my motorbike touring across France to the annual European meeting of Honda Deauville owners at Riegel in Germany (a full write-up is underway and will be posted on my website sometime). At the same time I had to arrange for a joiner/carpenter to sort out a soft patch of flooring in mother's entrance hall, resolved with additional noggings. We have had a scare with mother having to be checked for cancer of the colon which thankfully hasn't returned (she had it back in 2005) and she has been given the all clear (next check-up in 5 years time). We have had to do the reseach in readiness for Dad going into a residential nursing home - he's on the list and gets a place when one becomes available. We have also had Sue's sister Janice up to stay with us for a few days so that the two of them could sort out some respite day care for their Dad and he now goes into a care centre each Thursday (which he loves) so that Sue's mum can have a break (there's nothing wrong with him, they are both just old). Sue has/is been helping our friend Carole who has just had a successful operation to remove a breast cancer tumour and her nymph gland, but thankfully that was a total success and she now has to take a course of pills (instead of chemotherapy) so she will be off work for a long time.
On top of that, we've had the decorators in and the master bedroom has been completely re-done with new paint, paper, carpet, curtains, bedding and lighting. Also took the opportunity to dispose of some of the clutter both in the master and 4th bedroom (now my office). Still got some trips to do to both the amenity tip and the local charity shop but I've got to get that room cleared and sorted so that it is properly my office - don't hold your breath.
Following a recent trip to my dentist I went down with a rather nasty case of Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) which resulted in a sunny Sunday afternoon being wasted on a trip to the local emergency, out of hours clinic, followed by a trip to see my GP and 2 days off work (no work = no pay). Thankfully I am now just about over that, but it was rather painful at the time.
Andy has today flown out to Lanzarotte with his girlfriend and her family for a week in the sun. Mark has just found out that he has to take 3 weeks leave by the end of September and Sue and I are hoping to get away for a week in September - we were planning to go on holiday with Carole & Giuseppe but that is going to depend on Carole's recovery. Sue has got a long weekend this weekend as she's taking Friday & Monday as leave and is hoping to spend time with Carole.
Add to all that the usual household chores, gardening, shopping and socialising and it's been a busy few weeks and really does make you wonder where does time go? It's not until you look back like I am in writing this blog post that you start to realise how much we cram into our lives these days.
First, we have all been so busy at work. I've been settling into my new role, my manager has resigned and moved on and new managers mean new ideas on how things should be done. Sue has had her role confirmed as permenant (it was 2 year fixed term) and is undertaking a number of site visits in her attempts to make significant cost savings for Derby City Council. Mark got promoted after just 6 months at BMI and that has brought added duties and responsibilities. Andy has been working long hours and hard to achieve maximum bonus, trying to boost his savings for when he joins Rolls Royce in September on their apprenticeship scheme (when the money will drop significantly).
Outside of work - well I went off on my motorbike touring across France to the annual European meeting of Honda Deauville owners at Riegel in Germany (a full write-up is underway and will be posted on my website sometime). At the same time I had to arrange for a joiner/carpenter to sort out a soft patch of flooring in mother's entrance hall, resolved with additional noggings. We have had a scare with mother having to be checked for cancer of the colon which thankfully hasn't returned (she had it back in 2005) and she has been given the all clear (next check-up in 5 years time). We have had to do the reseach in readiness for Dad going into a residential nursing home - he's on the list and gets a place when one becomes available. We have also had Sue's sister Janice up to stay with us for a few days so that the two of them could sort out some respite day care for their Dad and he now goes into a care centre each Thursday (which he loves) so that Sue's mum can have a break (there's nothing wrong with him, they are both just old). Sue has/is been helping our friend Carole who has just had a successful operation to remove a breast cancer tumour and her nymph gland, but thankfully that was a total success and she now has to take a course of pills (instead of chemotherapy) so she will be off work for a long time.
On top of that, we've had the decorators in and the master bedroom has been completely re-done with new paint, paper, carpet, curtains, bedding and lighting. Also took the opportunity to dispose of some of the clutter both in the master and 4th bedroom (now my office). Still got some trips to do to both the amenity tip and the local charity shop but I've got to get that room cleared and sorted so that it is properly my office - don't hold your breath.
Following a recent trip to my dentist I went down with a rather nasty case of Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) which resulted in a sunny Sunday afternoon being wasted on a trip to the local emergency, out of hours clinic, followed by a trip to see my GP and 2 days off work (no work = no pay). Thankfully I am now just about over that, but it was rather painful at the time.
Andy has today flown out to Lanzarotte with his girlfriend and her family for a week in the sun. Mark has just found out that he has to take 3 weeks leave by the end of September and Sue and I are hoping to get away for a week in September - we were planning to go on holiday with Carole & Giuseppe but that is going to depend on Carole's recovery. Sue has got a long weekend this weekend as she's taking Friday & Monday as leave and is hoping to spend time with Carole.
Add to all that the usual household chores, gardening, shopping and socialising and it's been a busy few weeks and really does make you wonder where does time go? It's not until you look back like I am in writing this blog post that you start to realise how much we cram into our lives these days.
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