Not Another Cancer Blog!

I hope not.

Buit it's looking that way.

Taken ill on a train 3 weeks ago - everybody saying that it was just an age/diet/stress thing. Took advantage of my Health Insurance ( wouldn't we all actually?) and saw the consultant tonight. Found a growth - gobstopper size.

Bowel cancer? Could well be. MRI scan ( check for other growths) and CT scan ( if it is, has it spread?) next week. Colonoscopy the week after.

Called my mum. Felt the need to protect her from this - she wants to talk to my middle brother about it - they're close - but I don't want a flood of sympathetic calls. And I want to tell my younger brother with whom I'm close. But not yet. No-one else yet.

Except J. My best friend and lover. I told her.

She was great. Tough and loving.

Had some toast later - and some red wine. And this Elbow song came on:

Puncture Repair

I leaned on you today
I regularly hurt but never say
I nearly wore the window through
Where was air sea rescue?
The cavalry with tea and sympathy
You were there
Puncture repair

I leaned on you today
I regularly hurt but never say
You patched me up and sent me on my way
I leaned on you today


Going to go in to work tomorrow. Nowt else to be done.

(This theme now moved to http://cancerblogamoi.blogspot.com)

Self Portrait

Self Portrait
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi.

I've got a new camera! Just messin about and I came up with this. Quite pleased with it. But I should get out more...

Day Fifteen in The Big Bearpark Hoos

Day Fifteen - finished!
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi.

The last bit of paving and the washing line hole cemented in and my back yard conversion is finally finished!

That'll be £12,000 please...

Mississippi Goddam!

Tonight I gave £ 200 to the Red Cross Katrina appeal ( like I did with the tsunami). Had resisted for ages ( Mainly due to dubya – he should afford it) but then realised that it was like giving to any underdeveloped country. Just this one is Mississippi.

On Reading Andrew Waterhouse

On Reading Andrew Waterhouse’s Second Collection After Receiving My Fourth Rejection Letter From “The Rialto”



He carves deeper


Follows lines I can’t see

Knows his tools

His trees

His roots


Better


Even with his hand guiding mine

I’m only scraping the surface


Scrawling my initials

Off to Greece!

Test upload from my mobile phone before my Greece trip
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi.

Well - here I am. All packed up - lists completed. Off to stay with friend Sheila and her family for a week.

See you when I get back.

Mum, Owen and Moi

Mum, Owen and Moi
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi.

In The Plough at Stoke Lacy. A lovely evening with ( most of ) my family.

The Pumphouse

Saturday night - a really nice meal out with my dad and stepmum. Loads of unspoken issues between him and me but we try hard with each other. It was a nice weekend. And they bought two of Sandy's pictures!

We ate at The Pumphouse in Durham. A great place - do try the Miniature Dessert. It's not.

Sandra Haney at the Botanical Gardens in Durham

My friend Sandy's exhibition in Durham is on till the end of the month. Go and see it! Buy a picture!

Sunset over Bearpark

Sunday evening. Just sitting at my PC. Suddenly the light just came through the window. I dashed to get my camera - and went up to my attic room. Managed to catch this. If I'd been a moment quicker I'd have got Durham cathedral in the sunshine too. Another time.

Still learning about this digital camera stuff.

As well as my ixus i5 stills camera - the original lost on the Falls Road in Belfast ( Another time - ed) I've just got a digital video camera ( an even longer story ) and Adobe Premiere Pro 7 to edit it. I have the feeling that APP can do marvellous things but I can't work them out.
Need to find a course.

Not that I'll be able to deal with being taught that is...