It’s been a varied couple of weeks during which we have enjoyed temperatures warm enough to require a shorts & t-shirt; wet enough to drown several rats; and busy enough to feel that there’s not enough hours in a day!

We made the most of the good weather whilst it was here with several lovely walks around our new home… we’ve seen our first Kingfisher darting along the river just metres from our home (seen it a couple of times now) and a lovely Dipper too… how cool is that!

We’ve seen and spoke to a few people free camping down by the river which reminded us that most of Scotland is covered by the “Right to Roam” legislation where the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 established the right to responsible access to most land and water, including camping on most unenclosed land.

Most people for whom I actually have a postal address (can’t believe how many people I don’t have one for – so reliant on tech for contracting people these days!), should have by now received details of our new address… it been nice as it’s led to us receiving some calls, cards and even flowers from one of Pete’s brothers (thanks Tony & family!).

One call was from my pal Marie who only lives about an hour away from us now. We are looking forward to catching up with both her, Merle & the mini- Schnauzer gang soon!

On the 10th September (last Wednesday) we were up reasonably early to pack some bags for the journey back down to Yorkshire so that Pete could attend an appointment to have his PICC line put in on Thursday morning ready for his chemotherapy to start on Friday.

Not ideal for someone who doesn’t really like needles but, as they say, needs must! The good news for Pete is that, because we are between hospitals at the moment (whilst his treatment is, eventually, transferred up to Carlisle…), he gets to do this all again in 3-weeks time as they will not leave the PICC line in when we are so far away from the team in Airedale! 🤣🤣🤣

Obviously, this is something Pete agreed to, despite his aversion to needles, as there is obviously quite a high risk of infection with a PICC line which usually stays in for the duration of someone’s chemotherapy.

As it turns out, Pete found getting the PICC line sorted was OK. The person doing this procedure was from Romania so it gave him something to talk to her about seeing as we’ve visited brother Andy and his family there a few times and are planning to complete our cancelled, lock-down road trip there one day soon… She was a bit baffled about why Pete would be getting the PICC taken out again after the treatment but, as I said to Pete, she wouldn’t have been fully aware of all the conversations that others would have had about this and the rationale!

Friday morning (12th), I took Pete down to the Hospital for his treatment which was due at 10.15am… Having dropped him off, I headed into Keighley to collect some bits and bobs from Boots / Holland & Barrett where I was looking for something herbal to help Pete sleep – fortunately, the assistant in H&B was on the ball and advised, before parting with any cash, to check with Pete’s Oncologist. Glad she mentioned this as, apparently, you do need to avoid a few things when you are on Chemo (live cultures and stuff like that…).

After heading home for a coffee, I went back to the hospital around midday thinking that Pete would be nearing the end of his treatment so we could head back up to Scotland as planned and be home by 4ish… But no! Pete called me at 12.30pm (I know, a miracle that he has actually started using a mobile phone now! Hurray!!) when I was sat in the cafe, to say that he was sat with a couple of other patients (“lovely ladies”) still waiting as there had been an issue with the supply of the chemo drug… I thought he would be getting edgy seeing as he had been sat waiting for over 2 hours but he was quite enjoying quizzing those around him about what to expect and asking lots of questions – both ladies were waiting for their last cycle of treatment and one of them was a GP so were able to give him lots of advice!

After dodging the heavy rain showers in order to buy Pete something to read from the local Co-op, I headed back home again for something to eat (at least he was getting fed in the clinic – ham sandwiches, crisps and biscuits all available along with copious amounts of tea / coffee and water if you wanted it!) and to await his call… apparently the delay was caused due to the pharmacy at Airedale having one of it’s regular “deep cleans” so the drugs needed to be delivered from Bradford… just unfortunate timing that it was the day that Pete’s treatment was due to start… Pete’s new cancer buddies confirmed that they had never experienced it before.

Anyway, it got later and later but each time Pete called to give me an update, it seemed like some progress was being made – for instance, they would have started his pre-meds, given him some new tablets to take home etc. We made the decision that, whatever the time was when he was finished, we would still head back to Scotland so that we were at home and comfy!

The final call came around 7pm and, at last, the treatment had started… I was able to pick him up at 8.30pm and we were home in Scotland house just after 11pm – what a day! But at least the journey has started and that is good! Pete said that the staff were amazing – they had all been on shift from around 7am and, after receiving an offer to be relieved by a manager, had all refused saying they would stay with their patients, who had also been hanging about all day, until their treatment was completed – that’s dedication! Pete said, as soon as everyone had had the treatment, you could see all the staff getting their coats and preparing to go home!

Pete has a date for his 2nd cycle of treatment to take place at Airedale in 3-weeks time unless we are, in the meantime, contacted by Carlisle. One of the staff in the unit confirmed that he could see all of the letters from the consultant to our new health practice etc on the system so I guess it’s just a question of waiting to hear from the local team. To be honest, if we needed to keep going back and forwards, that would be fine – just hoping that next time there is no delay with the delivery of the drugs!

What else? We have been enjoying the new countryside around us in the Scottish Borders. Our weekly trip up to Hawick is very picturesque and, although we have not really had the opportunity to stop and have a walk along the way yet, it appears to be full of interesting places… for instance, along the road from Newcastleton, you can view part of the “mysterious Catrail, an earthwork running about 50 miles delineating a no go tribal boundary” which forms part of the “Merlin Trail” (https://merlintrail.com/the-merlin-trail/).

I always thought that Merlin was Welsh but apparently he’s Scottish and, according to this website, Welsh was the language in Scotland before it got replaced by English… so, you live and learn!

Our new bed has arrived along with a new dining table for our sun room. Pete has been trying to get loads of odd jobs done just in case he doesn’t feel too good following the chemo – that said, he’s also said that he is going to feel absolutely fine and that the treatment WILL work! So there – that’s the cancer told!

I managed to get to see Mum whilst we were in Yorkshire – she seemed in good spirits but am not 100% sure she recognises me as well as she used to… sad but inevitable I guess. She definitely enjoyed the Millionaire shortbread I made for her! One funny thing, I was showing her some photos on my phone and there was one of Pete at the park in Hawick and she exclaimed “Ooo, what a lovely looking old man!” – 🤣🤣🤣 The brain cells were definitely not firing and she just couldn’t find his name in there – it made me literally laugh out loud – 🤣🤣🤣

What else… despite only living here for a month, we have both sent off poo samples for bowel cancer screening (they do this for anyone over 50 in Scotland so it was my first – what a treat!) – glad to say, mine has already come back with the all clear! I’ve also had a request from NHS Scotland to book my breast cancer screening so that’s my next treat… I know it’s a good thing to go get screened but, having experienced it a few times, it bloody hurts! Maybe that’s just because I have enormous boobs..? Joke 🤣!

So, that’s all the news I can think of apart from one last thing…

We heard of the sad loss of our friend Pete’s Mum earlier this week after her own short battle with cancer. Rest In Peace Annie Willsher – forever the original mad cat lady, and feeder of men ❤️ (in our eyes). Pete has never got over waking one day in the family home to find a cat watching him from the open chest of drawers next to the bed! Condolences & much love to Pete, Dad Reg, sister L, & grandkids H & D – we are thinking of you all at this sad time xxx

Right – I’m off to watch a bit of World Athletics and maybe take a walk – Ooo, and Rugby quarter finals too – loving all this sport on the telly! TTFN all xxx