Good start..

Saw Prof yest and initial results were ok, although the main ones won't be back until Thursday this week.

So all we really know is that my haemoglobin is the highest its ever been (a good thing) – go, those little red blood cell suckers, go! Which might mean that other blood results will also be behaving, but I suspect that is the sort of conclusion that a hopeful linguist draws, rather than a scientist…

Told him about the kidney infection on honeymoon and he didn't seem that worried, which was a bonus as I thought he might say it could be a sign of creatinine levels misbehaving – an element in blood I had never heard of pre-myeloma, but which is apprently one of the biggies to track and keep under control as its linked to kidney failure. And calcium, they always seem to like calcium – must be because your bones break and crumble without it, not such a good thing. And albumin – they fuss over that one too – what the cock is albumen/albumin? I thought that came in egg whites but I'm pretty sure I haven't got any of those stashed in my system… Come on, answers on a postcard you smart people, you.

Told him about the 3 sites of bone pain too (oh it was a day for honesty), and got despatched for a full skeletal survey as anticipated – basically means being x-rayed from top to toe, but not in one nice smooth go where you get to lie on a bed (I wish) – rather its 'stand up at the screen and twist your arms at an uncomfortable angle while digging your nose into the edge of the screen and hope no-one's snotted on it before you' then go through every other individual body part, laying it on the bed for flat x-rays, breathing ridiculously etc etc for about 40 mins. I just wished I'd moisturised my feet as I was sure the lady was avoiding touching them….

Still, Parkside is bloody good – you see Prof, get the necessary sheet for whatever test it is this time, toddle off to the next building,  go straight in, have an amusing conversation about 'are you Miss Scott, Mrs Scott, Mrs Hawkes – or someone else entirely?', as I'd just changed my name in the Oncology unit and confused everyonbe as a result. And then we came back to the 'Cancer Centre London' as Parkside Oncology Centre has just been re-named – nothing like saying eactly what it does, right on the tin, is there? And scoffed three ratehr nice Hummingbird Bakery cupcakes and brownies each as its Myeloma Awareness Week this week (did you know that? are you 'aware'? have you put them on your monthly charity donations list yet??!), and there was a tea & cakes fundraiser on.

Very funny trying to work out what was the approriate amount of raffle tickets to buy when in a private hospital surrounded by loaded toffs – H pulled out a fiver first which got frowned back into his wallet by me, and I think the tenner we then coughed was borderline still!

And then we nipped home for ten minutes before coming back at 6pm for H's knee inspection – by a very nice chap, bone man to the Queen, who's sent him for the expected MRI today, but who seemed less ken to operate immediately (hurrah!) as 'if I do it now, you'll need your knee replacement even sooner. Oh, and you will be seeing a lot of us Mr Hawkes – hopefully not for the knee replacement though until you're 55'. Which sounded a nice long way off, but is less than 10 years I realised!!!!! Blimey I married a creaky old fella. Good job he's lovely too, and makes great 'comfort burgers' to ease a day like yesterday, when we finally made it home for dinner.

Only to then watch Nursey's girlfriend Hannah's sister Emily Webley-Smith go out of the tennis – boo! Yes, for those at the wedding, Hannah was the very blonde and gorgeous one (god I hope she doesn't read this) who works for Liz Earle – the only bit of sponsorship sweetly pinned on her sister's tennis top, as she sadly went out in the first round in true British contender style. Bloody good effort though!

So – the wait continues till this Thursday, although I'm feeling a lot more hopeful, as Prof's story seemed to have taken a different tack about the implication of the results. I asked 'so what if the score is say ten (much more than I think it will be) – would I have to go back onto treatment then?' And he seemed to be saying that its only if the Paraprotein is causing other issues, e.g. kidney problems via creatinine, that we'd need that discussion. And booked me in for a next appointment – 2 whole months away!!!!

Which for you uninitiates, is the longest stretch you ever get. We chatted to some other myeloma patient buffer over the tea who looked very envious at the 2 months, saying he'd never got past 6 weeks and was now back on 4 weeks – which itself is better than you get when in the throes of treatment and have to come more often than that.

So for now, banking the 2 months as a bonzer bonus and hoping Thursday's results don't mean a diary change and something to dampen the spirits.

Off to Holland tomorrow as Uncle Jan is not very well, so taking Mum (and lucky H) to see him, and bore him with the 1700 wedding photos. Lucky old boy! It's also Lily Rose's 3rd birthday (our little flower girl) so am hoping she's going to love the pink & purple Trunki we've got her. If not, I'm having it.

And then back on Sat to go see Elton John at Sussex County Cricket Ground of all places with Janine & Ross. So – nice weekend awaits and only a BUPA debrief to write this morning about Care Homes – something I know lots about these days (weird how life changes!) so it's going to be extra long and dull as a result.

Happy Wed peeps, Sx