Andys Life

Its 2012

2012-01-21T22:13:00.002Z

of course it is..silly me!

Anyway I had an appointment at the Royal Marsden yesterday. I have completed the 6 months of the trial chemotherapy and despite a few hic ups on the journey all is well.

I am pleased to say that everything is stable. As for the future I am going to have a course of radiotherapy to ensure that the tumour stays stable, have to see a different consultant to discuss how things are going to progress.

As for the weather, firsts its sunny and mild than its sunny and frosty than its wet and windy!

Still I suppose its better than snow!

Andy

Its Christmas- well nearly!

2011-12-17T22:31:00.002Z

This time next week it will be about one and a half hours away from Christmas Day, another year has just flown by!!

I do not intend writing a 'review of the year' as I have always believed that the past has to be respected and the future looked forward to.

So what will 2012 bring? I hope lots of good things for you all but for me I hope my health improves and that a lot of personal things improve. I suppose the highlight of the year must be the London Olympics although that means a lot of work at work (does that make sense?). We are not allowed any leave during the Olympic period. On the subject of the Olympics I have a ticket for the cycling event for the last time the Olympics were held in London in 1948, this belonged to my father who was an ardent cyclist himself.

Otherwise I hope 2012 brings you good health and fortune.

As a professional railwayman my thoughts and prayers go out to the ticket inspector on the Southend line who was stabbed in the back by someone avoiding apaying a fare. Words fail me about the attitude of people who do this kind of thing. About 20 years ago I was on the wrong end of a 14 inch carving knife, fortunately his aim was not good! Even so the thought is always in my mind.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Andy

Looking Back

2011-11-29T21:47:00.003Z

Today I reached the age of 60 and its been interesting looking back at some things in my life.

My father died 50 years ago in 1961 when I was 9 and in those days there was not the back ups in place that there is now and my Mother had to go out to work to support us and at times it was tough for her to work, run a home and look after my brother and myself but she managed it. Even so I have to say I had a happy childhood, we were always warm and well fed even though at times I know my mother struggled to make ends meet. Sadly she died in 1997 but if she can read this I just want to say one thing, THANK YOU.

School life was pretty normal and like any self respecting school boy I got up to the usual japes. One I will briefly mention is that part of the school cross country run was part of the route used by the local council refuse lorries going to the tip and many is the time that they went up the road with a group of school boys hanging on the back! Anyone who knows me now will probably find it strange that I always enjoyed cross country running, it would probably kill me now!

In September 1968 I joined what was than the South Eastern Division of the Southern Region of British Rail. At the time I did not realise it but joining the railway was like gaining a second family. Over the years I have worked my way up from working at station level to my present job of Internal Auditor. On my way I have made lots of lifelong friends. In fact the rail industry has always supported each other and looked after there own. Staff are keen supporters of charity and support our own old peoples home, Dr Barnados, several local hospices and a charity called The Railway Children which supports underprivileged children. I feel very honoured to have worked for such an organisation for over 40 years and the support I have had with my health problems has been fantastic.

In June 1990 my daughter was born and added a new element to my life, she has progressed through the education system and is now in her second year at Hull Medical School = one proud Dad!

In December 1998 my life was brought to a sudden halt when I was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma something which I have been fighting ever since. In May 2009 I was told that I only had months to live which caused me much distress. I read an article in a newspaper the other day which said that the life expectancy of people diagnosed with Non Hodgkins was 520 weeks, thats 10 years in old money. However 12 years on I am still here but I must admit to having some very black moments at times and believe you 3 in the morning is a very lonely time and many is the time I have wondered if I am on borrowed time. I would like to say a special thank you a very special friend whose love and support has and still does mean an awful lot to me.

As to the future - well I do not think I will be around for another 60 years but I have no intention of giving up the fight, and one chapter and book will be closed and another one will start.

Andy

Some good news!

2011-11-25T20:02:00.002Z

Have just come back from the Royal Marsden Hospital with the results of the latest scan. I am pleased to say that the tumour has not spread but more importantly there is no evidence of any new tumours.

I find the weather at the moment incredible. Its my birthday next week (my 60th yes I am getting old!) and this time last year we were walking through snow. This year it seems that November will be the warmest on record and December seems to be going to follow the same pattern.

Wonder if there is any truth in the old saying 'In like a lamb out like a tiger, in like a tiger out like a lamb' only time will tell.

Andy

Another month!

2011-11-01T21:36:00.004Z

Another month has flown by since my last entry!

The only excuse I can give is the very unseasonable warm October we have had, although we have had two slight frosts.

Have just started the next course of Etoposide at the Marsden. However it is a slightly reduced doseage as my kidney function test is not as they would wish it to be, also my blood pressure is elevated.

This is (or could be) a momentous month for me as I reach 60 on the 29th, now do I retire or stay working until I qualify for a state pension as well as a company one? Do I want to stay living here or move? If I move do I move up north to be near my daughter in Hull or do I go west to be near a very special and much loved friend?

Decisions decisions ............

Andy

Time is flying by!

2011-10-03T21:46:00.002+01:00

Have just looked and it was the 23rd August that I last made an entry in here!!!!!

Time just seems to be flying by at the moment. Mind you quite a bit has happened.

My daughter managed to pass her driving test and has got her self a car and drove herself back to medical school in Hull. It certainly made the journey back easier as we were able to split the load between two cars. Its only when you do this thing that you realise just how many things a student needs to have.

On a personal level I have now had two months of treatment with Etoposide and the only side effect has been hair loss. Not complete hair loss but quite considerable so I now practice constructive brushing! More importantly though I am pleased to say that my tumour has shrunk so thinks are looking good - at least for the moment.

My mind has also been active trying to decide if I should retire when I reach 60 (this November) or soldier on until I reach 65. At the moment I think the pros and cons sort of balance so no decision has been made.

Andy

Half Time!

2011-08-23T21:34:00.002+01:00

Well its not a month since my last entry just two weeks hence half time!

Following the football theme (well sort of theme) I am pleased to say that my team are so far unbeaten in there first season in the Championship and in a brand new stadium as well!

Have finished the first two weeks treatment and now have two weeks off, so far no problems.

Some of you may be aware that I am not a great lover of TV and prefer listening to the radio. Since the local comercial stations have all morphed in to a bland radio station called Heart the only local radio worth listening to has been the BBC ones. Sadly however this could be just about to change due to funding issues. The BBC Trust are due to anounce a proposal on September 21st to end local broadcasting after 7 pm on Mondays to Fridays and 2 pm at the weekend to be replaced by a pan england sustaining service which may well sound just like Radio 2. At the moment my local station (Kent) provides a very good range of programmes during the whole day including the legendary Roger Day in the evening and the world will be a lot sadder place if that was to end. In fact if I lived in a town not that far from here I could sign a letter of protest as 'Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells' but I will have to make do with just 'Disgusted'.

On the subject of 'Disgusted from Tunbridge Wells', a saying that has passed into newspaper folklore. There never actually was such a person! Aparently one week the local paper had very few letters to print so the editor asked staff to invent some and one journalist rather than make up a name came up with the disgusted tag.

Andy

Another month has gone by!

2011-08-12T19:48:00.002+01:00

Time seems to be flying by this year with hospital appointments and with my daughter home from medical school it seems like only yesterday it was Easter!

Anyway thats no real excuse for not updating this blog but its the only one I have got so it will have to do! There was also the matter of having to go to work!

The PET scan and both biopsies showed nothing that was not already known so treatment started on August 8th. As I am on a randomised trial the computer chose the drug for me or to be precise the choice was either Lenalidomide (trial drug) or another one of the physicians choice. As I was selected to have physicians choice I have been given Etoposide in oral form as it is very difficult for me to have anything by IV as I have very deep and hidden veins which also makes blood tests extremely difficult, the record is 12 attempts so far.

As I said treatment started last Monday and I had to be at the hospital by 9 in the morning. The day started with a blood test followed by a wait of several hours for the result and to be seen by the doctor. This was than followed by another wait of several hours waiting for the drugs to be dispensed! The doctor prescribed the medication on a 14 days on and a 14 days off basis but the pharmacy said no its 21 days on and 7 off! This caused even more delay but it has now been resolved as the 14 on and 14 off basis.

One of the possible side effects of this drug is hair loss but I had a hair cut on Tuesday but it seems to be growing again so what will be will be! Last time I lost my hair it grew back curly which everyone seemed to like, every one except me that is.

A very special friend has been in hospital this week for a knee operation and to say I have been worried is an understatement but she is home now but I am still worried for her.

Anyway I promise I will try and do another entry soon but I have a team meeting and a finance directorate meeting at work next week so its going to be another long week.

Andy

One month on!

2011-07-13T20:48:00.002+01:00

Its exactly one month since my last blog entry.

A lot has happened or seems to have happened in that time.

As you are aware my cancer has been in remission for the last 18 months thanks to a drug called ofatumumab. You can therefore imagine how gutted I felt when I was told that my cancer was beginnining to spread again. I was offered two choices, the first was to have repeat treatment with ofatumumab but that would mean going cap in hand to the governments cancer fund. There is no guarantee that they would agree to fund it despite it now being a licenced drug for the treatment of NHL.

The other option was to go to the Royal Marsden Hospital where they are undertaking a trial of a drug called lenalidomide and I am hoping to be included in this trial. This drug is a derivitive of thalidomide and I have been reassured that it is safe and there will be no chance of history repeating its self.

I am having a PET scan next Wednesday as part of the acceptance procedure.

Sorry if I have not commented on any blogs recently but as I said earlier I feel completely gutted.

Andy

Thats my contribution!

2011-06-13T19:53:00.002+01:00

For more years than I care to remember, well 40 anyway I have been a member of the Co Operative. This is mainly due to the fact that its the nearest food store to here.

In the post today I received my yearly statement of profits and this year I earned the amazing sum of £8.06! On this I paid the princely sum of 4p tax!

Apart from the fact that it probably cost more than 4p to collect, is this my contribution to the national debt? If so I expect a good return on my investment!

Pony Express

2011-05-29T21:12:00.002+01:00

You have probably seen the story recently in the press about the man who tried to take his horse on a train in Wales.

This reminded me of an incident a few years ago when I was asked by a customer how much it would cost to take a sheep in a wheelbarrow on a train. Not one to be thrown by customers strange requests I replied that the standard Acompanied Animals and Articles fare would apply. I did not even think the question was genuine.

I was therefore amazed the following morning when the customer returned and what did he have with him-yes a sheep in a wheelbarrow. I never did find out the reason why they wanted to take a sheep on a train, but than there are some strange people out there............

Andy

The ages of man

2011-05-05T21:14:00.002+01:00

or I suppose to avoid being sexist this should really be called The ages of men and women-oops should that not be women first but thats a sexist remark in its self!

Anyway when we were young children we all played games pretending to be a grown up. As the years went on we grew up and pretended to be older than we actually were to get to see x rated films and enter that inner sanctum of human life-the pub. None of this however stopped us from trying to get child fares on public transport did it!

As the years went on a lot of us lived by the maxim of that well known advert 'act your shoesize not your age', if that were true I am still in puberty---if only!

Even to this day it still goes on- I had my hair cut today and was given a pensioners discount! This caused me to stop and think (extremely fleetingly) should I be honest and tell the truth or should I celebrate my good fortune and spend the balance in the pub. Not going to say what I chose but lets just say that it quenched my thirst!

However it did give me time to ponder this- I am not 60 until November but please tell me I am not that old-----------someone please!

Andy

You could not make this up-honestly!

2011-04-28T19:38:00.002+01:00

Whats just over a metre tall, bright red and can be seen in streets throughout the country. if you dont know sorry but I can not tell you!

Oh ok then I will tell you-its a post box! There was an article in todays Metro newspaper saying that someone had rung Royal Mail to ask where his nearest post boxes were only to be told that they would not tell him as 'this would undermine their commercial value'. Surely telling people where they were increases there use rather than diminishing it!!! Surely if anyone wanted to know the location of a postbox a quick look on Google earth at the desired location will show them!

In my mind I have the vision of men wearing dark glasses, hat pulled over the eyes and a trench coat saying something like 'Psst want to post a letter, I will get Luigi and the boys to deliver it..'

Sounds like another example of the inmates running the assylum to me.

It appears that summer is over at least for the time being and whilst not being a fervent royalist I think the happy couple deserve some sunshine on there big day. There will be plenty of time for the storm clouds to gather over the years but lets hope they don't.

Took myself of to Rye in East Sussex today to have a look at the market there and must admit to being favourably impressed especially when compared to Maidstone market. Thought I might get some lunch at the famous Mermaid Inn but the cheapest lunch on offer was £21! So settled for a can of Coke and a packet of crisps-shere indulgence! Took some pictures which I have not downloaded yet.

Andy

Its been ages....

2011-04-13T19:30:00.002+01:00

Well it has been ages since I last posted. Life seems to be dragging its normal way although we have had a couple of warm spring like days recently, however true to form its now turned much colder again. I was very happy last night. I do not remember if I have mentioned it on here but I follow Brighton & Hove Albion football club and last night we beat Dagenham 4-3 so that we have reached 90 points and are promoted to the Championship next season. We also move in to a brand new stadium at Falmer in July so things are looking good! I have also been very concerned about a proposal by the BBC to replace most output of there local radio stations with a relay of Radio 5. I realise that there are good and bad BBC local stations but in this area we are lucky to get BBC Kent which is one of the best. In the evening they broadcast 3 hours of the best radio around with Roger Day- its a brilliant show. The rest of the output is very good as well and the line up includes Dave Cash (DC on the BBC). Health wise everything is going well, well almost. My right hand and arm are swollen and having seen three doctors and taken three lots of treatment it is still no better. It seems to go down for a couple of days and than swells up again. The good news is that The Marsden did a scan on it and the lymph glands are all normal so its not a return of NHL. I managed to get a bargain pair of shoes on Amazon the other day. Since going through chemo my feet have become larger, I now take an EE fitting. I saw this pair at a sale price of £15 so I thought I would go for them. When I ordered them I got a discount of £10 so I have a new pair of shoes for £5 which I think is rather good value! Andy

Some good news

2011-03-17T20:36:00.002Z

I have the result of my latest scan and I have been told I am in complete remission!!!!

Sometime ago I mentioned that the 5 year old daughter of one of my facebook friends has aplastic anemia. She is now undergoing bone marrow transplant at Bristol Hospital and her mother says she likes receiving cards. If you would like to join me in sending a card to is
Daisy Meely
Level 7 BMT Ward
Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
Upper Maudlin Street
Bristol
Avon
BS2 8BJ

I am sure she will apreciate it, if you wish to read more there is a facebook group called Daisy Meely Trust. I have been very lucky with my treatment and I sincerely hope that Daisy has the same luck

Andy

A cure for cancer?

2011-02-06T18:11:00.002Z

It is not often that I feel the need to buy a Sunday newspaper or on any other day come to that as there are plenty of free newspapers uch as The Metro and Kent On Sunday as well other media sources.

However today whilst browsing in the supermarket today I noticed the headline in the Sunday Express stating that in the next 15 years cancer deaths will be the exception rather than the rule and it will be controlled in a similar way to diabetes etc.

The article went on to say that there are some 500 new cancer drugs coming on to the market and the future looks bright, however they did sound a note of caution that whereas the treatment may be there the funding for it might not be. This is something that concerns me greatly as you may remember that back in 2009 I was only given months to live but thanks to treatment with a trial drug I have been back at work for 15 months now. This drug has now been licensed for treatment but the NHS will not fund it! Who are the people who make these decisions that money is more important than someones life.

It is a sad fact that 1 person in 3 will be affected by cancer and have recently lost two friends and have heard that 2 people I know at work are in the early stages of cancer. Whereas I consider myself very lucky to still be here thanks to a trial drug and the love and support of friends. Sadly not everyone is going to be so lucky.

Andy

Sad News

2011-01-30T21:06:00.003Z

I am sitting here reeling from the very sad news of the passing of one of my fellow bloggers.

Angie Marshall has passed away just three weeks after celebrating her 60th birthday. Her blog was like a breath of fresh air in these troubled times, and Angie if you are reading this I can hear you at the back! As well as reading each others blogs we did exchange occasional e mails about things which amused us.

RIP Angie xx

Sad news

2011-01-22T20:19:00.002Z

Have just heard the sad news that one of my fellow bloggers and Facebook friends Daria Maluta passed away today after a courageous fight against cancer. My thoughts are with her family and friends.

Andy

New Year

2011-01-10T20:21:00.002Z

Well we have finally made it into 2011!

I have to say that the Christmas and New Year period has been very traumatic for me and if I needed proof that the decisions I have made are the correct ones than it certainly has been.

At the moment I am not going to say any more but those I have chatted to over the holiday period know what is going to happen this year and I would like to say a big thank you for your love and support it has meant rather a lot to me.

Healthwise I am pleased to say that I have no symptoms but the three monthly cycle of CT scans and consultant visits starts again on 14th February at Maidstone followed on the 18th with a 6 monthly check up at the Royal Marsden. Only I could spend Valentines day having a scan and not with someone special... oh well theres always next year--I hope.

Andy

Merry Christmas

2010-12-23T21:52:00.001Z

Just to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and hope 2011 brings all that you wish for.

Andy

Christmas Eve 1910

2010-12-15T21:24:00.002Z

Yes 1910!

In the early morning of Christmas Eve 1910 the Scottish Sleeper train from London St Pancras collided with two locomotives in the high Pennines just north of Moorcock tunnel north of Hawes Junction & Garsdale station.

Fortunately the loss of life was mercifully small and the basic cause of the accident was a mistake by the signalman at Hawes Junction but the underlying causes are also a major factor in the incident. It was reading about this accident that gave me an interest in human nature and how life in general has improved over the years and also how even the most modern technology can be defeated by circumstance and human fallability.

It will take to long on here to explain all the circumstances of the accident but by following the links on the Railway Archive web site the full investigation and report can be read. In this day and age we take for granted things like ambulances both road and air but back in 1910 the only way to get medical help was to send a train down the branch line to Hawes to summon the local doctors. Survivors and casualties were also removed on another train. The whole report is a fascinating insite in to life 100 years ago.

Things have certainly changed in the last 100 years and on a personal basis there are going to be some major changes in my life.

Andy

30 Years

2010-12-08T20:14:00.002Z

Its funny how time slips by isn't it.

Its thirty years today since John Lennon was killed in New York. Like the day JFK was shot its one of those events which becomes ingrained in your mind and what you were doing when you heard the news.

In my case I was working an early turn and heard the news on the car radio and I simply had to stop and listen to the news, apologies to the people in Crockenhill village where I stopped if I woke them up but some things are so important that you just have to do what you have to do.

People of my age (I was born in nineteen hundred and frozen to death) will remember the great impact the Beatles had on the music scene. I remember having to queue to see there films whose release somehow always seemed to coincide with when I was on holiday, so I saw there films in places as diverse as Weymouth and Plymouth. On the subject of the cinema in Plymouth at the time it was a brand new state of the art cinema but now if it still exists its probably a bingo hall.

I was going to be clever and put a link to a classic Beatles track on here but somehow I could not do it, old age creeping up on me! We are so used to having such a wide choice of music on the radio but back in the 60's apart from the BBC Light programme the only pop music station was Radio Luxembourg which in our infinite wisdom we called Radio Buxomgirl! The BBC were very restricted as to how much recorded music they could play so they recorded groups themselves, a friend of mine has a copy of the Beatles session recorded at Maida Vale for Saturday Club. Think I should go and borrow them. On the subject of Saturday Club it was presented by the legendry Keith 'cardboard shoes' Skues a must listen every Saturday morning.

Returning to the Beatles I wonder how many people remember there original name? I wonder if they would have been so succesfull if they did not change there name. I can never remember the name of the 5th Beatle.

Andy

Its good news

2010-11-30T19:58:00.002Z

Went to the hospital today and I am pleased to say that the news is good.

The cancer is still there but is not spreading!!! Have to go back in three months time.

I do not really understand why I worry about it so much, well I suppose I do really but when there is so much trauma in my life it just seems to be the straw that breaks the camels back.

Hope you are managing to keep warm and safe in this atrocious weather, when I left the hospital it was snowing heavily and now 4 hours later it still is. They are forecasting more snow overnight and a wind chill factor of minus 8 in the morning. Not surprisingly hibernation seems like a great idea!

Andy

Brrr

2010-11-29T16:36:00.004Z

In the words of the song 'Baby its cold outside'.

Its the time to snuggle up in front of the fire.

As its my birthday today who would I like to snuggle up with, could it be******************.

Now that would be telling wouldn't it.

Andy

Fearing the worst

2010-11-25T21:42:00.002Z

Hello

I have recently had both a PET and a CT scan and have to see the consultant this Tuesday the 30th. This is the day after my birthday and good results would be a very nice present I fear the worst.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a born worrier but this time I really feel that things are going to be bad. Last year I was told twice that I only had months rather than years to live. Was also told that last Christmas would be my last and that I would never see my daughter go to medical school and I have proved both those predictions wrong, my daughter started at Hull Medical School in September.

The date of 30th November is also significant in that I returned to work on 1st December last year even though I was told by the medics to take my pension and have a good time. Glad I didn't take there advice on that one!

If I do need further treatment it may include stem cell treatment which involves a stay of 3 months in hospital and in all honesty I do not think I could tolerate this especially as the success rate is only 30%. May be I should just let nature take its course, I am so worried I do not know what I will do. Hopefully it is going to be good news but my mind is certain that it wont be. As you can imagine this along with a lot of tension at home is causing many sleepless nights.

I have also updated my will which includes my funeral arrangements which is also playing on my mind. In a similar context we were discussing funerals at work the other day (another friend has passed to the great railway station in the sky) and the conversation turned to epitaphs and I said I only wanted two words-'He cared'.

On the subject of caring I would like to say a very special thanks to one of my fellow bloggers who is a tower of strength to me. All I will say is that I want her to find that special happiness that seems to elude me.

Andy

Daisy Meely Trust

2010-11-16T21:19:00.002Z

The five year old daughter of one of my Facebook friends is suffering from Aplasic Anemia which is a condition where the bone marrow does not make enough red blood cells and is quite serious.

Like the Antony Nolan trust they are apealing for bone marrow donors so please if you can consider becoming a donor it would be much apreciated. At the moment Daisy is under the care of Bristol Childrens Hospital and I am sure they would love to hear from you.

More information can be found by searching for Daisy Meely Trust on Facebook

Andy

Oxshott

2010-11-05T19:57:00.004Z

My thoughts are with those injured in the crash at Oxshott this afternoon. A cement mixer fell of an overbridge and landed on top of the 15.05 Guilford to Waterloo via Effingham service. Fortunately there seems to be no fatalities but several serious injuries.

Andy

By request!

2010-11-03T21:12:00.004Z

Several people have asked me to carry on relating my railway memories so here we go again.

Certainly over the years there have been many varied and good times, however there have been times when it has been anything but fun.

Over the years I have had a sweet and sour poured over me and believe me that is hard to get out of your hair! Also been subject to a prolonged snowball fight but the worst thing that ever happened to me was being robbed at the wrong end of a 14 inch carving knife. Despite all the training you get that you just hand the money over when it happens to you you feel so incensed that its happened to you, you do things that no sensible person would. When I was robbed I was so furious that I gave chase, fortunately for me he got away as god knows what would of happened if I had caught him.

Fortunately I have never been involved in the kind of incident that happened on a train a month or so ago. There was a fight on the train which involved multiple stabbings and a shooting! When the injured people arrived at hospital ther asailants followed them and started spraying acid around. The police closed the station until lunchtime the following day leading to comments on the lines of typical railway cant organise a p**s up in a brewery even though it was on police orders. A day on Southeastern can be an education and an eye opener!

The other thing that crops up from time to time are fatalities. They say that the first one you see is the worst but having seen 7 now it still turns my stomach but you have to get on with the job in hand but afterwards it can give you sleepless nights to say the least. Mind you thats nothing to what a train driver goes through as ther is nothing they can do to avoid the situation. Fortunately we have a good chain of care procedure in place for staff involved in this kind of incident.

Anyway thats the 'bad' parts dealt with, happier times next time.

Andy

An open letter

2010-10-22T19:09:00.004+01:00

An open letter to David Cameron (and other politicians)

Dear Dave

Now I realise that you have to balance income against expenditure, in fact that's what we have all been doing for many years.

In this so called civilised society I thought that it was incumbent on every member of society and that includes the government to look after the less fortunate members of society.

I realise that you do not know me personally but I suffer from incurable Non Hodgkins Lymphoma which is cancer of the lymphatic system.Luckily enough I was treated with a trial drug called Ofatumumab which has put me into remission. However I have been saddened to read that this drug will not be licensed as the powers to be have decided that it is not value for money. I was wondering if you could perhaps tell me the value of my life?

In todays paper it is also reported that free prescriptions for those suffering from serious illness will no longer be available and that you will no longer be honouring the pledge to get cancer test results back within a week. Excuse me but its bad enough to be told that you have a life threatning illness without any delay in getting the results before starting treatment. Have you any idea just how many drugs you need to treat cancer for example and having to find the money for multiple prescriptions is added stress when you are ill and probably on a reduced income.

In conclusion please please remember that money can be replaced but people can not.

Yours Sincerely

Disalusioned

Updates

2010-10-17T21:22:00.003+01:00

Hello

With the passage of time and other commitments it has become all to easy to lose the thread about some of the things I have written about and threatened to continue but never did.

Firstly I did start to tell you about my life on the railway but I suppose you could say it has run out of steam! If anyone is interested let me know and I will add some bits and pieces at intervals in the future.

Some of my longstanding readers (or should it be long suffering) may remember me writing about the ghost on the road over Bluebell Hill between Maidstone and Chatham. It has long been an assumption that it was related to a fatal road crash in 1965 when three women were killed including a bride to be. I have been reading a book that claims the sightings go back to 1934 which tends to rule out the 1965 crash theory! This was put down to a murder which took place in 1916. However what I can not understand is the fact that sightings are not consistant. I have always thought that such sightings were consistant, for example on the anniversary of the incident but in this case the sightings have not followed this pattern. The most recent recorded sightings were in the late 70s and early 80s but none have been reported since and I can not understand why as the road the A229 is a very busy road and surely there must of been some sightings or are people frightened to come forward and say what they have seen?

Will put up some more pictures from Le Touquet next time including some picture of some lovely French pastries!

Some of you may be aware that I had a very important personal decision to make, now I have made that decision I feel a lot happier in myself.

My old school has started an old boys site that sends messages out on Twitter so I have had to open an account there, if any one wants to 'follow' me on there you can find me at andchafri

Andy

Hello

2010-10-09T19:28:00.003+01:00

Hello

It seems ages since I last posted but my life is changing in a way which it should of done ages ago.

I can only say that it is not to do with health related issues and i am not prepared to say any more than that but i am sure that any one who knows me will understand why.

I have been trying to upload some photos from Le Touquet but every time I try and add a picture it will not let me publish the entry. Grr and multiple Grrs! I will try again in the week and if that fails tell you about it in words!

Andy

Le Touquet

2010-10-09T19:02:00.010+01:00

Hello
It seems ages since I last posted but I have a lot of personal issues at the moment, fortunately not health ones. Will tell you more when things are resolved. In the meantime a couple of pictures from Le Touquet, hope to do some more soon and tell you about it but that must wait for the moment.

Jaws spotted in the fish market

How could I not include this one!

The Beach

Eat where the locals do-fixed price menu €14

Doing what I like most-nothing!

Andy

France

2010-09-20T20:01:00.006+01:00

Hello

Well I am back from my French 'adventure'. To include pictures I am going to spread it out over a couple of entries. One of the problems of having an incurable disease is getting travel insurance but fortunately as my bank provides free travel insurance I was able to convince them that I was fit enough to travel and give me cover.

The outward journey went very well, at least until Calais station. On SNCF (French Railways) you have to 'composte' your ticket before boarding your train. In reality this means you have to insert your ticket into a machine to date and validate your ticket but the instructions are slightly less than clear. When you walk onto the platform you are greeted with a big sign that says All tickets must be composted. After a bit of head scratching I worked out how to do it and probably just as important why. French rail tickets are valid for one month as opposed to the British system of a specific date and to prevent fraudulant use the stamp indicates the specific date of travel.

The journey from Calais to Etaple Le Touquet took less than an hour and was very comfortable, in fact nearly as comfortable as what I consider to be one of the best British trains the class 375 Electrostars used on Southeastern but that would be a biased opinion!

After a short taxi ride to the Hotel Windsor it was time for a quick wash and brush up and than lunch..... more about that next time.

On the subject of health I have an appointment with the oncologist on Tuesday afternoon to get the result of the latest scan. It is now a year since I had any treatment and I still feel very well in myself so fingers crossed.

Bus from Dover station to ferry terminal

White Cliffs of Dover as seen from the P&O ferry Pride of Kent

Double deck train at Calais Ville station

Journeys End Etaples Le Touquet station

Andy

Please please its far to early!

2010-09-11T20:47:00.002+01:00

Its September now not December!!

Drove past the Wateringbury Hotel today and guess what? They had two fully decorated Christmas Trees!!!! I realise that people have to arrange functions etc in advance but surely this is far far to early.

As my Mother used to say 'You know when its Christmas, the Easter Eggs are in the shops'!

I have just returned from a couple of days staying with friends in Dorset and had a great time and found the peace and sanity I needed to make some important decisions. I now know what I have to do and why I have to do it.

On a more positive note if you are ever in West Dorset and feel hungry visit the Weld Arms in East Lulworth the food is out of this world and the portions are huge. By huge I mean huge, imagine a plate 12 inches by 12 inches with one third of it taken up by chips another third with salad and the final bit a home made burger topped with bacon and Mozarella cheese. You will be pleased to know that I managed it but I felt the weight going on!

The name Weld Arms is nothing to do with welding but Weld is the family name of the people who own the Lulworth Estate.

On Monday I am off to France on Monday for a week, Le Touquet to be precise. I was going to fly from Lydd but there was no availability on the dates I wanted and the price at £149 was rather prohibitive so I am going to get a train to Dover, ferry to Calais than a local train to Le Touquet for a total return price of £12. There is some advantage of being a railwayman!

Andy

Worlds Largest Coffee Morning

2010-09-02T21:56:00.002+01:00

September 24th is the date for this years largest coffee morning organised by Macmillan for cancer research.

May I ask you to support this worthy cause as cancer affects more than one person in three and I know from my personal experience what wonders the medics can now do but they still need all our support.

Thank you

Andy

It was muddy!

2010-08-31T18:50:00.002+01:00

After all her hard work at school my daughter and a group of her friends spent the weekend at Reading Festival.

She has shown me the pictures and it looked like a complete mudbath! And the way she described the toilet facilities is probably best left unsaid.

Still at her age these things are not quite so important-me I would rather go and see someone like Diana Krall in concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Must be getting old

Andy

Major Celebration and Major Disappointment

2010-08-23T19:36:00.002+01:00

Hi

As you are probably aware last Thursday was the day the A level results were published. After a couple of jittery days I am pleased, no delighted to tell you that my daughter obtained an A* in Chemistry an A* in physcology as well as a B in physics. This means she leaves school with 12 GCSE's and 7 A levels which makes her poor old dad feel like a has been! She has also obtained a place to study medicine at Hull York Medical school and as you can imagine I am very proud of her.

To celebrate I thought I would take her to Jamie Olivers Italian restaurant at Canary Wharf in London's Docklands. We have been there before and you do not need a reservation so you can imagine our bitter disappointment to find that due to a computer problem the could only take people who had booked and were on there list. We asked if we could book for later in the day and were told in a very defiant way NO. The restaurant was deserted with only about three tables occupied but they still maintained that they could not take any orders, have they never heard of pen and paper. A very disappointing end to what should of been a very special day.

Andy

Not going anywhere!

2010-08-16T21:19:00.002+01:00

Hi

Several people have asked me if i am going to close this blog following my last entry, well the answer is a very positive NO! Over the years starting with the old AOL blogs I have made many friends, indeed some have become close friends so I am not going to walk away.

Some of you may know that I had a check up at the Royal Marsden on Friday but as the consultant was running some two and a half hours late I could not have any blood tests done as the laboratory was closed. Pleased to say that the physical exam showed no problems. Went back to the Marsden after work today for the blood tests and it was the usual set of problems. In my family we have a history of deep veins and this coupled with lots of chemotherapy treatment has made getting blood from me very difficult-today only took 20 minutes to find a vein! Why is it that you feel fine when you go to a hospital but an hour or so after leaving you seem to develop every symptom imaginable!! This coupled with the fact that recently I have been sleeping badly does not bode well for tonight.

Actually the title of this entry is slightly misleading! In September I am going to Le Touquet in France for a week. I originaly wanted to fly from Lydd as they only use 9 seat planes and promised to be something different but sadly they were fully booked and expensive(£149) so I am going to go by train/boat/train at a total cost of £4 each way. There are some advantages of working for the railway! Incidentally the £4 is the port tax fee for using the ports of Dover and Calais similar to an airport tax.

This trip will also allow me to try out my new camera. This has not cost me anything as a friend gave me a carrier bag containing various ink cartridges which I have managed to sell on e bay and use the money raised for the camera! I have never sold on e bay before and never realised how easy it is, if I carry on I might become a millionaire by the millenium after next.

Keep your fingers croosed on Thursday for the A level results, my daughter needs to get an A* in chemistry to get the place she wants at Hull York Medical school but she does have an unconditional place at Peninsular but her heart is set on Hull

Andy

I have finally given in!

2010-08-15T19:27:00.002+01:00

Hi

One of the ex pupils at my old school has for many years maintained a web site about the old school at CVTHS.com. This is a fascinating site for us 'old' boys as it contains a wealth of information about the school, pupils and masters and gives many an hour of reading and catching up with people.

However times move on and now messages are going to be sent out by Twitter!!! For ages I resisted both Facebook and Twitter but joined FB some time ago and now I can be found Twitter-pating (is there such a word?).

As for the old school I am sad to say that it now appears to be a mere shadow of its former glory.

Andy

Ouch

2010-08-09T22:38:00.003+01:00

Hello

The year seems to be simply slipping away, here we are in the second week of August and i still have not managed to get away for a holiday yet. Must rectify that. After the coldest winter for years we now have one of the warmest and driest summers- what rain there has been has been negligble. I dont know if its the heat/humidity but just recently I have not been sleeping at all well and I feel absolutely exhausted.

Unusualy for the summer months we have had several power cuts recently.

A couple of weeks ago a new family moved in to the road and the other day they managed to reverse into my car! Fortunately they have accepted liability as my car needs a new wing, front bumper and headlight!

Andy

Well I never knew that!

2010-07-24T17:18:00.003+01:00

This year is the 100th birthday of the humble OXO cube.

What I did not know was that it originated here in Kent. Having lived in Kent all my life I had never even heard of the developer or knew that he lived in nearby Hawkhurst.

Charles Gunther was the owner of the parent company that developed the cube and his house is now a private school.

The name of the company just trips of the tongue, 'The Liebig Meat Extract Company'

Off to have a cup of Bovril!

Andy

Upstairs is the new Downstairs

2010-07-17T20:37:00.003+01:00

I think we all know of the signs allegedly displayed abroad saying things like 'Ladies come and have a fit upstairs'. Well it is nice to know that such customs are alive and well in the UK as this picture taken at a shop in Gabriels Hill in Maidstone shows. Sorry about the picture quality but it was taken rather quickly on my mobile phone

Andy

History continues

2010-07-08T16:18:00.003+01:00

In todays age you often hear about compulsory purchase schemes etc in conection with road improvements. But did you know that this was happening in the 19th centuary only for railway rather than road construction.

In the mid 1880's when the London Chatham and Dover Railway wanted to open a branch from its main line at Herne Hill to the City of London it decided to build the line entirely on viaduct rather than an embankment to save on land costs. When the parliamentary bill for the line was being discussed in Parliament the LCDR offered to run trains at cheap prices for the workmen and artisans displaced. This they did and they ran trains at Workman's times and charged minimal fares. Needless to say other companies were forced to follow this example and trains were shown in the timetable as 'parl' for parliamentary.

Even today the railway is forced to run trains under similar conditions although with out the cheap fares. Todays examples are more to do with keeping lines open with just a token service. An example of this can be seen in London where Cross Country trains withdrew there Birmingham to Brighton service. We now have to run a daily train from Wandsworth Road to Ealing Broadway which carries no passengers whatsoever! The reason for running it is to keep the Latchmere South curve open for passenger traffic and not have to go through the statutory closure procedures which are very long winded and even if accepted causes problems if it was decided to re open the line at a later date.

I wonder if any other industry has to put up with this kind of idiosyncrasy?

Andy

It aint half hot.......

2010-06-28T20:01:00.002+01:00

Well there is one thing that can be said about the British climate-we are never happy with it!

My office is at Gravesend where the temperature was a sizzling 30.9 degrees and that is hot! I was working at an inner London location today and with all the buildings, people and traffic it was insufferably hot. Still I suppose we can not complain, six months ago we were struggling through nearly a foot of snow and we moaned about that.

Typical Brits never satisfied with anything are we, and as for the World Cup-just don't mention it.

Hope you are managing to keep cool

Andy

Visual Counterpoint

2010-06-20T19:51:00.002+01:00

For some time now I have been following a blog by Liz called which is called Visual Counterpoint and can be found at http:visualcounterpoint.blogspot.com/. She has written some very impressive words and posted some wonderful pictures which have left me in awe.

However today she has a particularly bad day and I would encourage you to drop by and offer her some support and read some of her entries.

Andy

The Result

2010-06-15T22:02:00.002+01:00

I am delighted to say that the CT scan showed no change to the state of the disease. I asked the consultant if they had licensed the drug Ofatumumab yet and the answer was no, I than asked if I needed any more treatment what than. His answer was they would get hold of some Ofatumumab in that case.

If the result of the next scan in September is the same it will be a year since I had any treatment, might just be cause for a small celebration!

Many thanks for your kind thoughts.

Andy

No news is good news???

2010-06-10T21:18:00.002+01:00

About an hour before my appointment on Tuesday i had a phone call from the consultants secretary, no one had reported on my scan so could I postpone my visit for another week!!!! Why make the appointment if the hospital can not have the results!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a personal basis it has been quite a sad couple of weeks for me. Apart from the sad news of Jane Thompson's passing I have attended two fatalaties in a work capacity and last night I received news that one of my old school friends has succombed to cancer.

Andy

Now where were we?

2010-06-05T22:21:00.002+01:00

With such a lot going on recently I seem to have lost the thread of my rail memories!

After Sole Street I was appointed to the exalted position of Divisional Relief based at Swanley. As the job title implies you covered leave, sickness and vacancies. This meant that you never knew from one week to the next what or where you would be working. It did not do wonders for your social life as you can imagine as you could be working in London late one night and be on the coast the following morning. In fact it did cause the break up of my relationship at the time and in many ways I still bear the scars of her betrayal which hurt me very deeply at the time. The plus side of course was that there was always lots of overtime which added to scale expenses and a 15% allowance for not working regular shifts led to some rather pleasant pay days!

The other plus was that I met many people who 40 years on are not only fellow railwaymen but good friends as well. It must be remembered that the railway than was very different to that of today and after work it was not unusual for the last one in the pub to buy the beer!

During my time on relief one of my favourite stations to cover was Orpington and when the chance came up to apply for a job there I did and I was succesfull but that can wait until another time.

On a personal note I had my regular 3 monthly CT scan on Thursday and get the result on Tuesday. Although I am certain nothing has changed there is always that nagging worry..........

Andy

Jane

2010-05-30T21:12:00.003+01:00

This is not quite the entry that I was planning.

It is with great regret and sadness that I have to say that Jane Thompson passed away this afternoon.

Her fight with renal cancer can has been a long struggle which she fought with immense courage and determination. Even though we never met and comunicated only through blog entries she gave me such determination to carry on with my own fight against cancer I feel at a loss to put in words my devastation at her passing. My thoughts are with her husband and children there loss is imense.

Andy

Return to Sole Street

2010-05-21T16:06:00.007+01:00

Hello

Today I went back to Sole Street to undertake an audit. I was pleased to say that the station is in good condition and still retains most of its london Chatham and Dover railway heritage. It brought back many happy memories and I took a couple of photos on my phone.

Station entrance

Looking towards Rochester

The original LCDR waiting shelter on the down side

Networker class 465074 arrives with a semi fast service from Victoria to Gillingham

Andy

TWO WEEKS!

2010-05-20T19:02:00.002+01:00

Well its actually nearly two and a half weeks since I last posted!

In this time we have a new government and a fairly historic one to boot! History alone will tell if the Conservative- Lib Dem coalition will be succesful but I think another election will be called possibly as early as this October once the honeymoon period is over but again only time will tell.

Work is rather hectic at the moment but I did manage to escape to Hastings the other day but my plans to have fish and chips for lunch were scuppered by a fatality on the line. Hastings probably has the best fish and chip shops in the UK and lunch is a highlight of a trip there, at times I think life can be extremely unfair!!!!

Andy

Great Balls of Fire

2010-05-03T19:03:00.005+01:00

Excuse the slightly humerous title but it reveals a serious and worrying situation.

Here in Maidstone we seem to have an arsonist on the loose. It started last week when fires were started in the toilets in Sainsbury's, Chequers Shoping centr and McDonalds, This was followed by a fire in a flat in Durham Close.

Worse was to come on Saturday, a fire was discovered in the lighting department at B & Q in Larkfield which fortunately was quickly dealt with. Half an hour later a serious fire was discovered in the Homebase store at South Aylesford. This started in the middle of the store in the timber department and as it is a DIY store it was full of flammable materials, paint white spirit etc it spread rapidly. The store has been completely destroyed and at one stage the temperature inside reached 600 degrees centigrade.

Fortunately no one has been injured in any of these incidents but I only hope the authorities catch the person responsible sooner rather than later.

Another piece of sad news has reached me about one of my fellow bloggers Jane. She has been suffering from kidney cancer for some time and unfortunately her condition has deteriorated over the last 24 hours. You can visit her blog at A Journey of another kind. Her fight against cancer has been truly inspirational and has been a great strength in my own fight.

Andy

Yummy

2010-05-01T21:16:00.003+01:00

Hello

You know those competions in free newspapers and you wonder if anyone ever wins them? Just before Easter just for devilment I thought I would enter one wher the prize was a 1 kg Belgium chocolate Easter Egg- well guess what turned uo today!

It is almost to good to open!

Andy

York Pictures

2010-04-21T21:32:00.014+01:00

A few pictures from York (I will not bore you with those museum!) Have not forgotten to continue with my memories and they will return soon!

The Famous Betty's Tea Rooms

City Walls

They don't build them like this now-The Shambles

The Shambles again and yes the chocolates were nice!

The Shambles

Birthplace of Guy Fawkes (reported to be the last man to enter parliament with honourable intentions!)

Gillygate

Andy

The road to hell----

2010-04-15T15:59:00.002+01:00

is paved with good intentions.

I have been meaning to do an entry for ages but one thing and another has meant that I have not got round to it. At least spring seems to have returned with blue sky and sunshine today.

I did mean to do an entry on April 9th to coincide with Isambard Kingdom Brunels birthday after reading an article that Network Rail have spent money on cleaning up the entrance to Box Tunnel in time to celebrate the Great Western Railways 175th birthday. Box tunnel at the time of its construction was the longest man made tunnel in the world and on April 9th it is possible to look through the tunnel and see the sun rising at the other end. Some say that this was done by Brunel on purpose others that it is just a happy coincidence!

I am off to York for the weekend fortunately by train and not air! Having been to Iceland I can testify that the volcanoes are certainly impressive, in fact the whole country is rather impressive. It is very expensive and is not a beach/shopping kind of holiday but if you are interested in the natural world it is awesome. Imagine swimming in an outdoor lake where the water is as warm as your bath water!

Will do another entry next week continuing my memories.

Andy

Expensive but it was nice!

2010-03-29T20:00:00.002+01:00

To be honest nice is an understatement!

Last Saturday I took a couple of friends to lunch at Jamie Olivers Italian restaurant at Canary Wharf in London's Docklands. This is an area of London which is not in my normal orbit, in fact last time I was there it was docks with ships and dockers! Now I do not think I could even afford to live there!

Anyway the lunch was rather awesome, nothing special just a main dish, desert and a couple of drinks and the bill came to £55. However the quality of the food was rather fantastic, you wanted to eat it slowly and savour every morsel. In fact one of my friends wanted to lick the plate (don't worry we did not let him)! For me the highlight was the chocolate, raspberry and amaretto brownie served with Bourbon ice cream mmmmmmmm

Yes it was expensive but worth every penny!

Tomorrow afternoon I get the result of my latest scan so as usual I am getting rather worried about the result. I am sure it will be fine but at 3 in the morning you have doubts.

Andy

My second family

2010-03-22T20:13:00.002Z

It was always said that when you joined the railway you were either there for 3 months or you stayed for life. The latter is most certainly true in my case!

I do not know about any other industry but the railway is like one big family, yes we have our disagreements but they are soon pushed out of the way for the benefit of the whole railway community but likewise there are lots of good times. a lot of people probably do not realise it but we run our own old peoples home as well as convalescent homes- all paid for by voluntary contributions from the staff. At one stage we even had our own orphanage! The vast majority of staff also make contributions to organisations such as Dr Barnardos and here on Southeastern staff choose two charities each year for the company to support.

All this is very worthwhile but what makes a true family atmosphere is the staff themselves and we will always do our best to support each other. Also I suppose its almost a requirement to have a weird sense of humour. An example of this is how we change place names to literal wording eg Canterbury becomes fast funerals and Catford become pussycar! This sense of humour is contagious, years ago I worked with someone who liked there toast rather well done and one day we popped into a cafe for breakfast and when the chap behind the counter saw George he called out to the kitchen 'two slices of burnt and buggered please'.

All in all it has been a very happy 42 years in the industry as I hope my ramblings show and will continue to do so.

Andy

Newspapers, Stamps and Postal Orders

2010-03-03T20:23:00.002Z

Firstly I must record my sadness about the decision of the BBC to close 6Music. It is about the only national radio station that I can listen to. Otherwise I restrict myself to either BBC Kent or BBC Sussex, I certainly can not listen to the comercial network which has morphed in to Heart. I have added my name to the on line petition to save 6Music however as it only broadcasts on DAB its listnership is always going to be lower than an FM station.

Anyway after a year at Beckenham Junction I was on the move again, this time to Sole Street. The only reason that there was a station at Sole Street and the subsequent establishment of a village there was that when the London Chatham and Dover Railway built ther London extension Lord Darnley of Cobham Hall refused to have the railway any where near Cobham Hall his residence. As a result the line was built to the south even though this involved a steep climb out of the Medway Valley on which in past times many a steam train has come to grief. As a result of this the station was one of only three on South Eastern to run its own post office. The station staff at that time was quite large-two signalmen, two railmen and myself. (Now its just one part timer). We also sold papers on behalf of a newsagent from a neighbouring village- to this day I do not know how he ever made any money as everytime we tried to give him the paper money we were always fobbed off with comments like 'can't take it now' or 'give it to charity'!

The Post Office also did a roaring trade as in those days pensions and benefits were paid in cash and cheques were comparatively rare so there was always a demand for postal orders. As a result of this we got to know every one in the village and it was a lovely atmosphere to work in, you knew all your customers by name and they knew yours. It was a result of this that I met my first serious girl friend a relationship that lasted about 4 years long after I left Sole Street.

One strange thing about Sole Street was that the telephone box outside the station shared the same number as the ticket office so you had to be cautious about using the phone. As Cobham Hall had now become a girls boarding school we also had the joy of the girls arriving at start of term and departing at the end. You have never seen so much luggage, we used to have to get the 12.14 train from Victoria strengthened on the first day with a motor luggage van and the same on a return trip. Road transport was provided for the journey from station to school.

Even though I was happy there I thought that it was time to move on and in British Rail days a national vacancy list was issued every week and when I saw an advert for a job on the divisional relief I applied but will tell you about that next time.

As a matter of interest the other South Eastern stations with post offices were Pluckley and Martin Mill. It has also been suggested that I amplify my memories and write a book but you are probably completely bored by now.

Andy

Exeter

2010-02-22T19:46:00.008Z

As this is the 101st post you will be pleased to know that I am going to resist the temptation to make any remarks about dalmations!

I will go back to memories next time but on Saturday I was in Exeter. In one of my favourite books (The Withered Arm by T W Roache) he describes Exeter as a friendly poised place ideal as the capital of the West Country. The Withered Arm by the way describes the former Southern Railway system in Devon and Cornwall most of which has been consigned to history.

The day got of to a bad start as the train I was on came to a halt at Borough Green due to a major points failure at Otford. This resulted in missing the 09.06 train from Paddington and having to wait for the Cornish Riviera at 10.06. The return journey was not much better either as the up Royal Duchy 17.02 from Exeter was running 12 minutes late as a person decided to walk in front of the train at Tiverton!

Anyway Exeter certainly lived up to its promise and is a great shopping centre which gives you scope to increase your overdraft! The city centre suffered from the ravages of the second world war but has been rebuilt and offers everything you could want. In fact I enjoyed a very nice pub lunch which was an absolute bargain at £4.95. The purpose of going though was to look at the medical school there which was very impressive.

Peninsular Medical School Exeter

Outside Exeter Cathedral

Andy

100 Not Out!

2010-02-17T18:38:00.003Z

No its not the sound of leather against willow! I was never able to enjoy cricket when I was at school and today I still do not enjoy watching it. Football however is another matter and I am sad that my team Brighton and Hove Albion have slipped in to the relegation zone. Mind you there are a couple of months to go yet so hope springs eternal.

The figure 100 means that i have just noticed that this is my 100th entry since moving over from the AOL blogs. In this time I have made many new friends and at least one has been with me since my first entry on AOL! I feel so honoured that so many of you have given me so much support with my health problems that the simple words thank you do not seem enough but I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

Anyway back to September 1968. I had passed my medical and entrance exams and on my first day I was sent to Swanley station. I lasted exactly a day and a half there! The powers that be realised that I should not have been there at all I should have been at Longfield. It was there that I met a man who through his kindness and generosity taught me more about the railway than any training course ever would. To this day I can still hear George Black's measured tones explaining the difference between OS and IWD items of account.

After a pleasant 6 weeks or so I was sent to the Regional Training School at Beckenham where the training course lasted 13 weeks, now its 12 days! After that it was back to Longfield to get some proper hands on experience. Than at short notice I was told that I was going to work in the parcels office at Beckenham Junction. I have to say that parcels are not that interesting and the highlight of the day was the coal train. In those days most stations had a coal yard with bulk deliveries by rail. Computerised wagon control was light years away and it was part of the job to collect the labels from each vehicle and record it in a register along with the amount of coal received. After that it was a case of writing labels up for the return trip the following day to Totton near Nottingham. However if there was any defect they had to go to Brent in North London. If the coal merchant kept the vehicle for more than 24 hours we had to raise a demurrage charge against them.

6 months of this was more than enough for me and I applied for the job at Sole Street but will tell you more about that in Newspapers, Stamps and Postal Orders next time.

I am off to Exeter this weekend as my daughter has been offered an unconditional place at the medical school there and I am considering moving there.

At the moment I am listening to Judy Collins live with Roger Day on BBC Radio Kent, radio as it should be!

Andy

Wait for it, Its.....................

2010-02-12T20:03:00.002Z

Good News!

On Wednesday I had a PET and CT scan done at the Royal Marsden hospital at Sutton in Surrey. They had the usual problem with me, because I have had so many sessions of chemotherapy and asociated blood tests they struggle to find a vein they can use. Coupled with the two hours travelling each way and that you can not eat anything for a couple of hours before each scan it meant that I had nothing to eat for nearly 20 hours from 10 on Tuesday night onwards.

Today I went to the Marsden in London for the results. The CT scan showed that the mass in my abdomen has remained static but more importantly the PET scan showed that there was no active disease! Now I realise that things may well change in the future but at the moment I feel quite euphoric, indeed if we were in the local pub I would buy you all a drink!

Andy

ps Why do local bus routes go on such a roundabout route, as the crow flys Sutton station is just over a mile from the Royal Marsden but the bus goes via Carshalton!

Keep your fingers crossed

2010-02-09T16:58:00.002Z

Tomorrow Wednesday 10th I go for my scans at the Royal Marsden at Sutton and on Friday I see Professor Cunningham at Fulham Road so keep your fingers crossed.

I wonder if there is any significance in the fact that every time I go to the Marsden it snows. The forecast is for 6 inches by the weekend!

Andy

More memories

2010-02-07T03:10:00.002Z

I am writing this at 3 in the morning as I can not sleep for various reasons.

As I said in my previous entry my interest in railways was sparked by the major rebuilding works in Kent and this led on to undertaking many trips by train with a very good friend of mine. We ventured far and wide, the longest trip being to Edinburgh and back for the day. Of course by the time I was a teenager the country was in the midst of the Beeching cuts which were the first attempt to run railways profitably and we travelled many miles on soon to be closed lines and on one occasion we were actually on the last train and saw the ritual coffin being loaded on to the train. This was common practice to indicate that the line was being laid to rest.

One other thing that came out of these 'last' journeys was an understanding of the history of the lines and the reason that they were built. The most common reason was for freight traffic especially perrishable food stuffs, until the advent of the railways it was impossible to buy fresh fish in Manchester for example. They also enabled local populations to travel to major towns to visit markets. In a lot of places there was a duplication of lines by competing companies.

A good example of this is the routes to Scotland, the two main routes to Scotland were the East and West Coast routes but ther was another competitor in the form of the Midland railway who fed up with the delays to ther traffic on other companies lines built the Settle and Carlisle railway which became known as The Long Drag due to the fearsome gradients. It was also the last main line railway to be built purely by manual labour. Despite numerous attempts to close this line it is still going strong today. Sadly it was on this line that the accident at Hawes Junction occured on Christmas Eve 1910, the story of which should be compulsory reading for anyone interested in human nature and frailties.

Over the years I have built up a collection of railway history books, the first one I purchased was History of The Southern Railway all 3500 pages as well as lots of historical timetables which give a fascinating insite into live in previous years. I also read accident reports from the RAIB where incidents on the railway are thoroughly investigated and it can take over a year to be published.

I think that now brings us up to 7th september 1968 the day I joined the South Eastern division of British Rails Southern Region.

Sorry if this has been a rather long (and probably boring) entry but I can not sleep probably because I have a nuclear scan and consultants visit next week and its rather playing on my mind.

Sadly over the years I have lost contact with my friend but if by any chance anybody knows Peter Crouch who was last heard of living in the York area, I would love to make contact again.

Andy

My kind of shopping!

2010-02-04T20:30:00.002Z

I had cause to visit a local supermarket today-you probably know it as the one where every little helps.

Well it certainly helped today, I spotted a packet of flaky pastry mince pies reduced from £1 to 40p and being a sucker for mince pies into the basket they went. When I reached the checkout they went through at the original price of £1 and when I queeried the cashier voided the transaction and gave me a refund of £1.20!

As they say every little helps!

Andy

This is rather worrying!

2010-02-01T20:30:00.002Z

Have just heard that one local authority in Kent has arranged for taxi driver application forms to be printed in braille. Think I will get the bus!

Andy

Back to the past

2010-01-31T12:15:00.002Z

To explain my interest in railways I must go back many years.

In 1956 I was living very close to the Kent Coast main line which was in the process of being electrified as part of the 1955 modernisation scheme. What made a lasting impression on me was the section of line between Bickley and Swanley was being quadrupled. This involved massive earthworks and major bridge rebuilding including a five arch viaduct. This was akin to building a motorway on top of an existing road which was still open to traffic.

Not for me was there any interest in collecting engine numbers which I think must be a pretty boring pastime. Instead I developed an interest in the reason why railway lines were built where they were and the impact on the community and also the politics behind them. For instance in Kent there were two major railway companies the South Eastern and the London, Chatham and Dover who were in fierce competition with each other and led to many duplicated routes, even to this day there are 12 routes between London and Dover but try and get from Faversham to Tonbridge is a complicated journey to say the least!

I hope this makes sense and I hope it will help you understand future memories.

Andy

The Royal Marsden

2010-01-18T19:32:00.002Z

Hello

I went to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Friday. When I left I was in quite a euphoric mood as they said that depending on the results of a CT and PET scans they could offer me some treatment. On the way home I sent text messages to various friends saying that it was good news.

However what I did not expect was the feelings and emotions I was going to go through over the weekend. For whatever reason I woke up about 1 on Saturday morning convinced that I was going to die soon a feeling that stayed with me the whole weekend. Even this morning I was awake about 3.30 and had a pain in my right side that did not want to go away. Fortunately by the time I got up at 5.30 it had gone and has not come back.

Over the last year I have never had feelings like this and I was struggling to cope with them. I have always tried to stay positive but I can truthfully say it was the worst couple of days I have ever known.

I will continue with some more memories next time but at the moment I am listening to Beth Nielsen Chapman being interviewed by Roger Day on BBC Radio Kent.

Andy

Memories

2010-01-12T19:04:00.003Z

Now that the big freeze seems to be relenting if only for a short while it seems to be as good a time as any to start reminiscing.

To understand my memories and attitudes I suppose you really ought to know something about me!

Well I was unleashed on an unsuspecting world at the unearthly time of 5.11 on the morning of 29November 1951. Like a lot of people I can not say that I remember anything of my childhood before starting school. I can even remember my first teachers name-Miss Williams. Life at home was I suppose fairly ordinary with one major exception. My father ran his own cycle repair shop and even in those days small traders were struggling and my parents spent a long time deciding to sell the shop and take a paid position as a manager therefore ensuring a regular income. In the end they decided to sell. My Mother even delayed buying the Sunday joint until after 4 on Saturday afternoon when the local butcher reduced the cost by a shilling.

Money might not have been plentiful but two things were, love and respect. These two things have stayed with me all my life and they are still very important to me. Love is a strange thing to describe, I never use the word with anything but the utmost sincerity.

Sadly my Father died in 1961 and in the last year of his life he could not manage to climb the stairs and he slept downstairs and many mornings I would wake early and go downstairs just to talk to him. Despite his illness he was adamant that life should go on and not stop just for him, an attitude that I have followed during my illness. Probably every body says this but my Father was a great man and in those conversations he taught me a lot of life skills especially on an interpersonal basis.

After my Father died we spent every Christmas with my Grandmother and I well remember Boxing Day 1962 and when it started snowing in the evening one of my Uncles said 'it will turn to rain by the morning'! Well as history records it did not and it snowed every day until March.

In those days the benefits that are available now simply did not exist and my Mother must have struggled to bring us two boys up. This was something that I was aware of at the time but only realised the enormity of it in later years. Again I have learnt another lesson here- people are more important than any possession. Even to this day my philosophy has been to try and help people be happy and content.

I hope this explains something of my attitude to life and even though my life is fragile due to cancer With all sincerity I hope that part of my legacy will be that I spread just a little love and care.

On the subject of health my appointment at The Royal Marsden is this Friday.

Andy

Hi Ho and a very Happy Birthday

2010-01-08T20:01:00.002Z

Hello

First of all a very Happy Birthday to the King. Elvis would of been 75 today!

Went back to work full time today since February last year, and it has left me in a rather contented mood. It has had some good moments when I have been at home and feeling well but I think it has been good for me to get back to some routine and meet up with colleagues at work with all there news and gossip. I must admit that all I really did today was chat and catch up with some e mails, I had 173 messages about train running in the snow alone! That delete button got hit several times!

In fact I feel so positive at the moment I am thinking about making someother changes in my life which I had thought about last year but were put on hold when my life was put on hold!

The forecast for South East England is for more heavy snow and sub zero temperatures over the weekend but as I went shopping this afternoon for two large boxes of tea bags and 4 pints of milk I think I can withstand the pressure. As a typical 'Brit' and a railwayman as well I have a prodigeous capacity for drinking tea! A few years ago when I was working at Canterbury on the old South East Divisional Relief there were three of us on duty one Saturday morning, two tea drinkers and one not so keen. Merv and myself left poor Barbara agog with the amount of tea we got through, the kettle never got cold!

One of these days I will have to start writing down some of my memories of working on South Eastern. Some of it would make interesting reading especially the time (also at Canterbury) when I was propositioned by two women.....but will tell you about that another time.

As for the title-- Hi Ho of to work we go!

Andy

Thanks

2010-01-05T17:31:00.002Z

Thanks is such a small word but has great meaning. So I would like to say a very big THANKS to all of you who have commented on my blog, I can not tell you how much your kind thoughts meant to me.

Went to Maidstone hospital today for the scan result and I am pleased to say that the result showed that the tumor had marginally reduced. What made this result so special was that it was an agressive tumor. I fully realise that this may only be a temporary respite but after the agony of thinking about the result over Christmas and New Year I feel so relieved.

Hope you are all coping with this ice and snow.

Again my heartfelt thanks to you all.

Andy xxx

Hopes for the new decade

2009-12-31T16:42:00.002Z

First of all a Happy New Year to you all and of course Happy New Decade as well.

I had a CT scan at Maidstone Hospital on December 21st and have to see the consultant for the result on January 5th. As I have been told several times that I only have months to live you can imagine that Christmas was rather a worrying time, and as it gets nearer to January 5th I am becoming more aprehensive. At the moment I feel perfectly well but I am preparing myself for the worst possible result. Lets just hope its not as grim as I fear.

I would also like to say a big THANKYOU to all my friends for there support during the last 12 months and to a very special friend whose friendship and support has meant the world to me, I am so happy that you have found happiness.

Andy

Defeated

2009-12-18T16:16:00.002Z

Well the weather won today. There were no trains from Maidstone and the roads that were not blocked were gridlocked. So I missed my appointment at the Royal Marsden. Fortunately have been able to rebook it for January 15th.
Andy

So much for digital!

2009-12-06T20:47:00.002Z

As you are probably aware the UK government wants us all to switch to digital broadcasting in the next few years and drastically reduce the amount of broadcasting on FM.

I have had a DAB radio for the last couple of years and to be honest the quality is only as good as FM. This morning I tried to tune in to one of my favourite radio stations Jazz FM which despite its title is only on DAB and on line. The only stations that i could pick up were the BBC national ones which are broadcast from there own multiplex. Even the BBC locals were off air (still on FM though) which is rather a disturbing thought as it is these stations that we rely on in an emergency, this is what happened in the recent floods when BBC Cumbria slaughtered the comercial opposition with there news and information.

After about an hour DAB came back, the reason being that there had been a failure with the UBS line at the Croydon multiplex causing loss of DAB throughout the South of England.

In this instance UPS stands for unbreakable power supply! What would happen if there was an emergency as in Cumbria and there was no AM/FM backup? I think someone somewhere needs to do a rethink!

Andy

12 months

2009-11-28T20:45:00.003Z

On Sunday November 29th it will be my 58th birthday. So what you might say we all have a birthday every year!

Well this time last year I did not imagine what the next 12 months would bring including a week long spell in intensive care when they thought I would not live longer than 24 hours. My disease has now been classed as incurable but I am actually going back to work on Tuesday 1st December. Mind you I have 31 days holiday to use up by the end of the year! On a five day week that is going to be interesting......

I am pleased to say that I feel very well and even my GP says I look disgustingly healthy so instead of sitting round at home vegetating going back to work was an easy decision to make.

As it is my birthday I thought I would take the opportunity to say a very big thank you to all my followers and say a very large THANK YOU to you all. Your support has has been very important to me and has helped me through some black times.

As a professional railwayman the news of the train crash in Russia saddens me especially as it appears to have been caused by an act of terrorism.

I do not know if the person who left an anonymous comment a couple of weeks ago about the Bluebell Hill Ghost entry I made back in February is reading this but I am not certain if he is interested in just that incident or ghosts in general. If it is in general I have recently been reading about a ghostly apparition following a railway fatality in Northern England.

Andy

If you do not like the word....

2009-11-21T22:17:00.002Z

I am slightly amused by a news item today.

One of the leading insurance companies has just launched a competition to replace the word pension as apparently the younger generation consider the word has connotations with getting old. The prize is £4953 the amount of state 'pension' a single person receives! Why change a word that surely everybody knows and understands. No matter what you call it you should start saving for it about 10 years before you are born to enable you to retire in a modicum of comfort in your old age.

Mind you certain words in the English language conjure up images which are not strictly true. For example the word spinster means an unmarried woman but can conjure up images of a Miss Havisham kind of character.

On a personal note I saw the consultant at Maidstone Hospital the other day and he is suggesting that I return to work. As a result I am seeing the company doctor next Tuesday. The consultant said that I look very fit and healthy and am not exhibiting any symptoms of NHL there is a good chance that the Ofatumumab is still working on the tumour. Time alone will be the answer to that one I think. I have a CT scan booked on December 21st and see the consultant on January 5th.

As for going back to work it sounds like a good idea as I have 30 days leave to use up by the end of the year!

Andy

The Ghost of Bluebell Hill

2009-11-14T21:48:00.002Z

Back in February I did a blog entry about the ghost on Bluebell Hill. I have just received an anonymous comment on that entry so I am going to reply through here in the hope that the reply reaches the right person.

I must first of all point out that I have only lived in the Maidstone area since 1990 some 25 years after the fatal road crash which is supposed to have caused the haunting. Therefore the only information I have about the incident is what is freely available on the internet and I have no pictures other than those that are available on the websites. In my original posting I did cast doubts if this crash was the cause of the haunting especially as the sightings vary from a 10 year old girl through a young woman to an elderly person.

Sorry that I can not be any more help and I hope you manage to pick this message up.

Andy

High speed, fireworks and football!

2009-11-03T20:29:00.002Z

A strange combination maybe but thats whats happening.

On Saturday I went up to London and back on South Easterns new high speed train. It travels at 140 mph and the journey from Ashford to London takes 37 minutes as opposed to the hour plus taken by conventional trains. As it was only a preview service the train was not full but when full service starts on December 13th it should attract a lot of custom. Not being full I was able to sit back and enjoy the ride which was very smooth and quiet.

This coming Sunday I am going to the firework display at Leeds Castle advertised as the loveliest castle in the world. It always amazes me that some people think that the castle is situated in Leeds Yorkshire but it is actually in the village of Leeds in Kent. The only other thing Leeds in Kent is famous for is the regularity of HGVs getting jammed together when trying to pass on the road, it is time that Maidstone had another bypass with east/west and north/south links.

As for football despite drawing 3 all with Hartlepool my club Brighton and Hove Albion sacked there manager who had been there for all of eight months. I will be the first to admit that our results this season have been lacklustre to say the least and at the moment we are only one position above the drop zone. However as a small club with a limited budget and no proper home ground we can not go out and get the players we want like Manchester United et al can do. Lets hope the new manager whoever he (or she) is can work miracles. Incidentally have you noticed how few women are involved in football management?
Andy

A simply brilliant evening

2009-10-30T20:50:00.002Z

Well the evening was as good if not better than I expected.

Diana Krall was her usual fabulous self, in my opinion she is one of the best pianist/vocalist around at the moment.

The support act was the saxaphonist Yolanda Brown who I had never heard of but she was very good indeed. Very similar to Candy Dulfer.

A lovely evening thoroughly enjoyed.

Andy

Jane

2009-10-24T18:42:00.002+01:00

I know this has already been mentioned on the 'Call for support' blog but please look at Janes blog http://a-journey-of-another-kind.blogspot.com/2009/10/janes-had-brake.html and send her your best wishes and remember her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Jane is one of the most courageous people I know and a perusal of her blog will show so please please send her your best wishes.

Thank you

Andy

Ray Moore

2009-10-22T21:40:00.002+01:00

It does not seem possible but it is twenty years since the legendry broadcaster Ray Moore passed away.

To call him a DJ is an understatement he was the ultimate broadcaster and his sense of humour and play on words was fantastic. For examble when the Americans launched the space shuttle he referred to it as the 'space shuffle' It is not often that I can say this but the man was an absolute genius. Waking up and hearing him on Breakfast Special on Radio 2 made certain that every day was a good day.

Sadly I do not think that any recordings of his radio broadcasts exist but his TV interview with Terry Wogan is on You Tube.

Sadly as I say Ray passed away 20 years ago with throat cancer.

Andy

A fabulous night!

2009-10-18T20:22:00.003+01:00

Well it certainly will be.

My daughter has given me an early birthday present. Tickets to see the fantastic Diana Krall in concert at the Royal Albert Hall on October 28th. I am counting the days and hours already so you can assume that I am very much looking forward to it!

Andy

Words are not enough

2009-10-15T09:32:00.001+01:00

Words are not enough to say thank you for all your kind thoughts and messages. They reall do mean a lot to me so all I can say is thank you.
Andy

Sad News

2009-10-09T19:27:00.002+01:00

I saw the consultant at Maidstone Hospital yesterday.

Unfortunately the treatment with Ofatumumab has done no more than slow down the growth of the cancer. As it is only a trial drug they can offer no more treatment with it and the consultant told me that the future looked bleak, possibly I have no more than a couple of months.

To say I feel gutted and devestated is an understatement.

Andy

Sad News

2009-09-26T22:03:00.002+01:00

I have just heard the sad news of Mary Travers death. She was one third of the 60s folk group-Peter,Paul and Mary. I have very fond memories of them including the classic Leaving On A Jet Plane

Andy

Happy Birthday

2009-09-24T20:25:00.002+01:00

Today was Gerry of Gerry and the Pacemakers fame 67th birthday. It just shows that old age catches up with us all. They were probably best remembered for the somg Ferry Across the Mersey.

On a sadder note today would also of been Linda McCartneys birthday.

Andy

The River Thames is missing!

2009-09-17T22:03:00.002+01:00

Not literally of course but the powers to be at Transport for London have removed it from the latest tube map! However the esteemed Mayor of London has ordered them to put it back on the next print.

People have been making a fuss because the London tube map is a brilliant piece of publicity and of course information. It was first introduced in 1933 and was based on an electrical circuit and is a masterpiece of simplicity.

It is slightly incorrect to call it a tube map however. The term tube only refers to the deep level lines which were built using a boring machine. The rest of the system is known as the Underground and was built on the cut and cover system where a deep trench was dug, the railway was than built and covered over.

Andy

Another week in hospital

2009-09-15T19:17:00.002+01:00

Yes I spent last week in hospital with a blood and urine infection.

2009 in the words of the Queen has become 'Anas Horribilus' and I can not wait to see the back of it. I still try and be positive but there are frequent 'dark' moments.

Having a scan on October 5th and see the consultant the following day. Good news hopefully but time will tell......

Andy

Seven down-one to go!

2009-09-03T20:50:00.002+01:00

Yes only one more treatment with the trial drug Ofatumumab to go!

Apart from the e coli infection (which I can not attribute to the drug or treatment) there have been no side effects at all. In fact I feel very well in myself apart from a severe case of boredom.

Still I suppose I should not complain, back in June a 'horrible' consultant at a London hospital told me that I only had a couple of months to live. By horrible I really mean HORRIBLE.

I have been reading bits about the health reforms in the USA and all I can say is thank god we have the NHS in this country and do not have to pay up front for treatment. Apart from the person mentioned above I have no complaint at all either about the treatment or the staff-in fact the staff have been exceptional.

Andy

Have you missed me?

2009-08-23T11:28:00.002+01:00

Well I have missed you!

Thanks to those who e mailed me but my absence was caused by serious computer problems, £110 worth to be precise. Sadly I have lost all my music and photos as well as some documents.

Think I am getting accident prone as I am getting older, I managed to trip over a sheet of chipboard the other day and managed to badly cut and bruise my toes forcing one of the nails back.

Andy

I nearly died

2009-08-04T22:23:00.002+01:00

Rather a dramatic title I know but sadly its true.

As you know we had our family get together on Saturday 25th July and I felt fine and enjoyed myself. I will post some pictures later.

Anyway woke up on Sunday morning still feeling ok but by the afternoon was begining to feel breathless but put it down to the heat and having to much to eat the day before. Went to bed about 11 on Sunday and dosed off but woke up about 2.30 shivering violently enough to shake the bed! This was followed by a period of profuse sweating. I rang the chemotherapy help line at the hospital and was told that it was sun stroke and to take a couple of paracetamol.

I was no better in the morning so I took myself to hospital and they discovered that my blood pressure had dropped to 70/42 and my body was slowly closing itself down and risking chronic kidney failure as I was suffering from an e coli infection. They admitted me to Intensive Care where I stayed until Saturday night when I was transferred to an ordinary ward coming home this evening.

I can not praise the staff in Intensive Care and Lord North Ward at Maidstone Hospital enough but suffice to say that it was an experience I do not wish to repeat and its thanks to there efforts that I am still here.

Andy

I am back!

2009-07-24T15:06:00.002+01:00

What you did not even miss me!

Have been without the computer all this week as somehow Windows had become corrupted, how I am not sure but it still cost me £55.

Had the third session of the clinical trial of the new drug Ofatumumab yesterday and so far so good. No side effects and my hair is growing back. They dont do a CT scan until week 11 of the treatment so I just hope its working. I certainly feel better in my self than I have for a long time. Ofatumumab is not chemotherapy but is a monoclonal antibody.

Saturday is our yearly family get together and there will be about 40 people there so a good chance to catch up with one and other.

Take Care

Andy

Reflections

2009-07-12T20:08:00.002+01:00

Today July 12th would of been my Mothers 85th birthday. Sadly she passed away in August 1998 with heart disease. I know every one says this about there parents but I was blessed with two of the best. My Father passed away when I was 9 in 1961 and my Mother had the job of bringing my brother and myself up on her own. She never complained or moaned although I am sure we must have caused her grief on more than one occasion. In those days state aid was practically non existant, when my brother started secondary school she was offered the paltry grant of half a crown (2/6) which would not even by the school cap!

Some how we all survived though and looking back I realise what a struggle it must of been for her. If somehow she is reading this all I can say is 'Mum thank you'.

Monica Ishbell Friend 1924 1998 RIP

Changing subjects tomorrow the 13th sees the release of the latest CD 'All the Ghosts' by the delightful Gwyneth Herbert. My name is already on a copy at HMV. If you have never listened to her I recommend her wholeheartedly, she is a wonderful singer/songwriter who deserves a lot more recognition.

Andy

One of Eight

2009-07-09T22:38:00.002+01:00

Well had the first session of the new treatment today and all went well-apart from the fact that it went on for half as long again as the four hours it was supposed to! Have to back for further sessions of treatment every Thursday up to 27th August.

At least they through in lunch and I had a really nice sandwich salami, turkey and salad with mayo. Not a combination I had ever tried before or even thought about but it was extremely yummy.

Andy

All well...so far!

2009-06-26T21:21:00.002+01:00

Went to hospital today to sign the consent forms for this new treatment. All went well in the usual pre treatment tests-blood pressure, ecg etc.

Have to back next Tuesday for a bone marrow biopsy, that is something to look forward to!

If everything goes to plan I start the new treatment on july 8th and is an injection once a week over a period of eight weeks followed by a whole series of checkups.

One good thing about this kind of tratment is that it does not involve any hairloss, its only just starting to grow back after the chemotherapy.

Another plus is that it does not involve any overnight stays in hospital--I think I have had my share of hospital food this year!

Andy

Bad News followed by Good News!

2009-06-24T10:04:00.002+01:00

As you are probably aware I had an appointment at Kings College hospital last week to discuss stem cell transfer. Well all I can say is that I have never ever been treated in such a rude way before. All the doctor said was that as the tumour had not shrunk enough for stem cell treatment there was no treatment he could give and that I would probably die within a couple of months. He did not even say it in a kind or sympathetic manner.

After a very miserable week I saw Mark Hill at Maidstone Hospital yesterday and he said that there are plenty of treatment options available. He has booked me in for treatment using a new drug called Ofatumumab which involves a weekly injection over a period of 8 weeks with regular blood tests and CT scans. This is followed by regular monitoring over a period of 5 years. If this treatment does not work there are other options available including a different chemotherapy regime and/or radiotherapy.

The dark clouds from last week are rolling away fast but whatever happens I am not giving up.

Andy

A Brain Teaser for you

2009-06-20T22:10:00.002+01:00

I was listening to Paul Millers late show on BBC local radio for the South East last night and he was asking people to ring in with names of famous people who had first and second names starting with adjoining letters of the alphabet. Heres what I came up with, can you add any more?

AB
BC Bryan Chalker
CD Charles Dickens, Celine Dione, Charlie Drake
DE Dave Edmunds
EF Ella Fitzgerald
FG
GH Gwyneth Herbert,George Harrison
HI
IJ
JK John Kennedy
KL Ken Livingstone
LM
MN
NO
OP Oliver Postgate
PQ Pauline Quirke
QR
RS Ringo Starr
ST
TU
UV
WX
XY
YZ
ZA

Andy

Not counting my chickens just yet

2009-06-10T21:38:00.002+01:00

I saw the consultant at Maidstone on Tuesday and got the result of the latest scan.

The good news is that the tumours have considerably reduced and he thinks the residue may be scar tissue. I am having a PET scan on Thursday to confirm this so keep your fingers crossed.

Seeing the consultant at Kings on the 17ih about the stem cell transplant.

Andy

As Expected

2009-06-06T21:10:00.002+01:00

As expected the local government elections here in the UK gave the Labour party a thorough drubbing.

Here in Kent the Conservatives have a large majority on the County Council. One of the basic principles of democrocy is to have an effective oppposition that challenges decisions by the ruling group. Sadly this is now lacking and policies will be followed without any challenges being made.

Nationally there are calls for a General Election but I disagree with this. MPs belonging to all the major political groups have become embroiled in the expenses debacle and if an election was called now people would be tempted to vote either for a fringe party or not at all allowing one of the lesser known groups come to power.

I have the utmost respect for people who wish to stand on an anti sleaze ticket but with due respect to them what knowlege do they have of issues such as health, education or defence? All issues that are fundamental to the running of the country.

Maybe we should wait until the expenses issue has been resolved and than call an election with politicians we can trust. Or as an alternative to that maybe, bearing in mind the financial situation a government of national unity where all the political infighting is put to one side and the welfare of the country is put first.

Andy

Life

2009-05-28T14:50:00.002+01:00

When I first started writing a blog on AOL it was meant to be a reflection on life and all its tribulations.

Leaving my health issues aside the last couple of days have certainly full of tribulations! my central heating/hot water has been supplied from a back boiler located behind a gas fire in the lounge. It has been functioning day in day out for the last 17 years with no problems but every British Gas engineer who has been out to service it for the last three years has muttered dire threats about it not meeting present day standards culminating in this years visit when they threatened to turn it off and stick 'Do not use' stickers all over it. So I thought I had better get it replaced but aparently you can not have a back boiler now as they are reckoned to be inefficent and unsafe. In the end I decided to go for one of the new style condensing boilers which I am told is going to reduce my gas bill by as much as 40%-we will wait and see though. Another advantage is that you dont need any water tanks with the system.

They arrived just before 8 on Tuesday morning to fit it and were here all day, the day turned out to be cold to say the least. I was sitting here wearing two jumpers and a coat and I was still frozen. Just after 6 the installation was complete and they left. Shortly afterwards I needed some hot water and there was none. Rang the installer and he said to check the water pressure in the boiler, it should be between 1 and 2 bars (whatever happened to PSI!) and if it was less to open the inlet valve and let the pressure build up. Once I had done that everything worked, I even had a lovely hot shower. Everything was OK, well at least until 5 the following morning when yet again I was on all fours under the boiler letting more water in. I should explain that the new boiler is in the airing cupboard and the site of the old back boiler has been bricked up.

Again at 8.30 there was no hot water or heating so called the installers out who thought that the problem was caused by a leaking pipe somewhere in the system. They managed to configure the system so that I had hot water but no heating. They came back this morning and found the leak behind the newly bricked up fireplace, which has now been opened up again to repair the leak and let it dry out. As a result this is the third day without heating and yes I know its nearly June but once you get cold its very difficult to warm up.

Amongst all this kerfuffle my mobile phone charger has vanished. I was lucky enough to find one on Ebay for 99p which I ordered on Tuesday and arrived today. I think this was brilliant service and even allowing for postal charges extremely good value. In fact everything I have had from Ebay has been of similar ilk. On Sunday I successfully bid for a colour ink cartridge for my printer and it was delivered yesterday. Again I got it for 99p plus £1.50 postage and packing a little different from the £18 plus they want in the shops.

Talking of feeling the cold did you read in the news about the 83 year old woman who had kept her Mothers body in the freezer for the last twenty years. It happened in Sidcup which is about 20 miles from here and I am not going to make any jokes about the 'That's why Mums go to Iceland' adverts.

Anyway I suppose its all part of life's rich tapestry

Andy

Home again

2009-05-25T21:27:00.002+01:00

Well it was quite an uneventful session of chemotherapy this time with no side effects apart from loosing a bit more hair. I think the local hairdresser will be out of business soon!

I was originaly told that I would be having the bone marrow biopsy this Wednesday but they have now decided that it will be to close to the last lot of chemo. I have a CT scan next week which I hope will show some good news with a further reduction in the size of the tumours.

The original proposal was that I was going to go to Kings College Hospital for stem cell harvesting after the biopsy and scan, guess what the appointment for Kings has come for June 1st and has had to be cancelled as no new date for the biopsy yet. I think its just a breakdown in communication between the hospitals but Hello Right Hand meet Left Hand!

If you have not already visited her blog please drop in and visit Jane at http://a-journey-of-another-kind.blogspot.com/ . She has kidney cancer and is at present in Brazil seeking spiritual treatment for cancerand thats after having a TV crew follow her for a week. She is a very brave and determined person and I am sure she would appreciate your support.

Tomorrow is going to be one hell of a day as I am having my old gas central heating back boiler replaced by one of these new condensing boilers. Apparently there are very very few circumstances now that you can have a back boiler so I am going to be left with a gaping hole in the chimney breast that will need filling and I suppose the rest of the room will need redecorating but at the moment I certainly don't feel in the mood for that.

Well its been a typical Bank Holiday Monday here in Kent- showers this morning and quite heavy rain with thunder this afternoon. Should really know better than to expect a good bank holiday weekend shouldn't I.

Take Care

Andy