Opposites

This last week has been one of opposites – opposite views, opposite feelings, opposite personalities, opposite approaches, opposite reactions. If there is one moment or image that sums it all up, it is this – the smashing of a glass at the end of a wedding. Let me explain.  My little brother got married last…

Bridget Jones

Remember that scene in the film “Bridget Jones’s Diary” when she is taken away on a romantic mini-break to a big country house hotel? That’s me at this very moment – sort of. I haven’t been whisked away (I organised it) and, unlike in the film, it’s not turning out to be a series of…

SIRTainly, Madam

Yesterday afternoon, I had an appointment at the Hammersmith Hospital with a doctor specialising in SIRT. SIRT stands for selective internal radiotherapy. It is a specialised form of radiotherapy which has been developed to treat cancer that has spread to the liver. It involves putting special radioactive beads up inside the artery that lead to…

Happy Mothers Day

We have never really celebrated Mothers Day in my family. It’s a bit of a “Clinton Cards” event – in other words, it seems to have mushroomed in recent years because of the cards and gifts retailers’ efforts to push their sales. And my Mum, having somewhat of a stubborn streak, has always quietly insisted…

Quality and quantity

In life we are frequently told that the quality is more important than quantity. When it comes to life itself, I’m not sure that the same holds true. This all stems from a couple of conversations I have been having in the last 24 hours. Last night I had a catch up appointment with my…

Behind closed doors

Today three of my closest friends came over for lunch, bringing food and cheer with them. On the initiative of my dearest and oldest friend, they organised the shopping and co-ordinated diaries to arrange a Sunday lunchtime treat for me. It was just lovely.  As you would expect, we chatted about all sorts, including my…

Oy vey

It has been quite a week. It took me really quite some time to get over the liver biopsy. The only way of dealing with the severe referred pain in my shoulder was to keep myself topped up on codeine. But the codeine had some seriously unpleasant side-effects. And I was only just getting over…