"Calmer"

Firstly, well done to Super Frank and Little John for their sterling efforts in completing the London Marathon today.

Super Frank, whilst you are whooping it up out on the lash, I do feel a certain sense of satisfaction in parting with my hard earned cash for you worthy charity cause.  You will note that your time is just outside 10 minute mile pace (I'm afraid that is an earlier "running" gag covered on the page leading up to diagnosis), so I trust that you enjoyed your leisurely stroll through London :-)

Seriously though, well done to both of you.  It is worth mentioning that whilst Super Frank did the marathon based on a well-executed and arduous training program, Litte John hasn't been able to train for the last seven weeks due to leg problems.  Part of me wishes that he crawled over the line and he has the DVD to watch, but I can't see it as he is a resolute man.

Whilst I cannot claim to have headed to the giddy heights of running over twenty six miles today, I can lay claim to doing a bit of proper exercise. Teach's gentle ribbing about rollerblading with the Boogle prompted me to go ice-skating with her this morning and hopefully get back into some sort of regular routine.  We enjoyed our time on the ice and it is one of those activivies that you don't notice how much energy you are expending.  Being five days into a chemo cycle probably plays a part too.  Whilst Little John was running in the marathon his wife ("Fifteen - Love") and children were spotted and engaged at the latter end of our skating session.  It was good to see them before they headed to London to offer support to the man putting his body on the line.

That lunchtime activity paved the way to the end of my energetic outbursts this weekend but it was an articulation of a decent attempt to see out the first wave of this cycle, which has gone well.  Sunday, afternoon I was allowed to fade into the background with a visit to Notoplip's and Sushi's for a BBQ.  It is a great benefit to be able to chill without taking any responsibility for the kids for a couple of hours.  Kitten will tell you that I do that all the time, but it is different being able to do that when you are out.

Not all aspects of being ill are unwelcome and one of the better things is that I am slightly removed from a life of getting up in the morning, jumping on a train, hiding in an office, jumping back on a train and going to bed.

I am still working but there is a little more time around the edges and just stepping into the garden in the morning to do some Chi Kung brings me closer to nature.  On Saturday morning I had the family cat "Cookie" for company.  He was sitting on top of the wooden frame of the childrens' swing, which is below our apple tree.  He had been there only for a moment before he was joined by one magpie and then another.  Watching the interplay between the magpies and Cookie passed the time, especially as it was a bit early for "my hoverfly" to put in an appearance.

Saturday, was a busy day for me and it was good to get out and about.

All in all, I am in a good place at the moment and the sadness that seemed to hang over the female members of my clan a couple of days ago has lifted.  The energy returns quickly and with it the smiles.

I see the second phase of chemotherapy as being the most beneficial of the three pre-operative cycles. This is simply because the first is an acquaintance and the last is en-route to the big event.  The second is the place to find the soul of this experience and crystallise it.

There cannot be a judgment on whether the future will dictate that reflection on these times will eventually reveal joy or sorrow, although the odds are stacked much more favourably with me now.   I will stay as I am, happy and hopeful and will let nature exactly her ruthless and truthful judgment over the coming weeks, months and years.

After all, that is what she does.