On Books and Radiotherapy

But not both together! I read about 50 books last year which is much higher than the year before. I didnt keep a record towards the end. Cant think what was distracting me!
My favourite books were definitely Henning Mankells Wallander series. They were dark aswell as telling a good detective story. I got into wallander by watching the Swedish series on BBC 4 I loved following the subtitiles whilst listening to the Swedish language as you can pick up English sounding words and find the root to alot of our own language in there. of course scandanavian/norse language came over with the Vikings so it makes sense. Then I started reading the books and got wholey hooked on them. The character of Wallander is depresive and an ordinary bloke/anti-hero really. I then watched the Kenneth Brannagh version. They're more brooding than the Swedish version and what annoys me is that the English version has tried to get the Swedish pronunciations correct for names of places and people yet they continue to mis pronounce Wallander which is actually pronounced Vallander. Just a small mater but it irks me!

Anyway back to books. I also love medieval history and was thoroughly engrosed in Sussanah gregory's mathew bartholomew tales of murder in medieval Cambridge. A month ago I discovered Bernard Knights Crowner John series about the life of one of the first coroners appointed by Richard the Lionheart in 1393. The character is fictional but his peirs and surroundings are real.

And now onto Radiotherapy. The therapy itself is fine. its litterally 2 blasts of about 20seconds from the machine. But as I go by ambulance to Christies I have to be ready 2 hours before hand and can wait up to 2 hours to be brought home. The waiting around is long and very tiring. its also awkward as I go in my wheelchair. Well sometimes I have the energy to push myslef to the loo or coffee bar,other times I cant. Mr Cinders is working and cant accompany me and I hate having to ask to be wheeled to the loo at my age. Still I'm very grateful to the ambulance service therwise it'd be a £60 round journey in a taxi every day!
£ sessions down-12 to go. This week is going to be hard as its 5 consecutive days. I tired after 3 days now so heaven help me!!
I'm also very grateful to have a wonderful cancer centre like Chrisites on my doorstep. its so busy there. You see some heartbreaking sites Like I saw a young woman wearing a wig, with her chemo drips attatched saying goodbye to 3 small boys and a husband one day. I also saw a teenager in a wheelchair. I just think thank God mine was caught so early and the radiothrapy is really just an extra insurance policy so the cancer has less chance of returning.

KNITTING
Yes I'm still doing it slowly. I've finished Knitting the February Ladies jacket . it needs the hems sewing over and buttons going on it. I'm trying to finish a V nck I started 2 years ago now and I have a peppermint lozenge sock on the go for my hospital visits. I should photograph them really but ...

Business is O.K I am not re-stocking the shop as I havnt the energy to dye any more yarn at the mo but I'm taking orders from existing stock and I've had a few orders on which is nice.

CARPE DEUM

Crickey I havnt blogged for ages. Mind you I think September/Oct and November were kind of taken up a bit. I think possibly learning that I had breast cancer then having the op and recuperating might have sidetracked me from the blogosphere for a few months!!!

So lets take a look back at 2009.
The Positives-
1-Josh's Barmitzvah-a fab time was had by all.
2-A short holiday in Norfolk. A place I've always wanted to visit. beautiful but a little too flat!! I like my hills.
3- a couple of days away whils rachel had her intevieew at Cambridge Uni. A great break for Mr Cinders and myself. a beautiful town. I'd like to see more. lets hope Rach is offered a place.
4- The wonderful, continuing love and support I get from Mr Cinders.

5-Of course my kids have mostly been positive!!!

6 My Yarn business has been small but steady

The negatives
1-the continuing struggle wih fibromyalgia, pain, exhaution and disability. Even now 6 years later its often very hard to swallow.
2- Being diagnosed with Breast cancer 2 days before my birthday!! Thankfully it was caught very early and has been totally removed.
3- My Mums continuing battle with cancer and her getting more weak and frail.

actually there are less negatives than I thought!!!

And so onto 2010. My new motto after having had a brush with cancer and having had an operation and awaiting radiotherapy which starts tommorrow,5th Janis seize the day!, It gave me a jolt. I realised that I was stuck a bit in the mire of Fibro and disability. I've decided that I'm going to make the most of every day. Although today my body demands a rest before the onslaught of the next 3 weeks.