Blasted rangefinder has gone off again. I am now convinced this is a Friday camera.
Will have to send it back again when we get home.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Provincetown
Day 5 Monday 6 June
Decided to head north and visit Provincetown at the very end of the Cape.
Arrived at around 10 and parked next to the moment to the first New England settlers. This is the tallest granite structure in the US and looks out over the harbour from the top of a hill over the town. Climbed to the top and could just see Boston through the haze on the horizon.
The attached museum is very interesting and tells the story of how the Plymouth brethren landed here first, before heading off to the "mainland".
Wandered into the town. What a difference from Hyannis. This is a charming place, with narrow streets and a really good atmosphere. Lots of interesting shops and people - it has a very large gay community - and everyone was friendly and helpful.
Went down to the docks to check out the whale watching tours. There was one boat which was just loading that seems very popular but others which seem more "personal". Overhead the woman taking the tickets for the large one say that they had seen a couple this morning - they way that the trips are sold one would think that sightings of dozens is just about guaranteed...
You can hire a boat to yourself if you want. And have $700...
Had lunch of a foot long dog and a coke and then A went in search of a cap to keep the sun off. Although it's not very hot ( yet ), the sun is strong and the Factor 30 is only just about keeping the lobsterness at bay. Found a shop selling nice caps, but a small cat logo on, but the seller advised that there is a "dog" shop further down e street. A bought a little sleep suit for the nee baby next door, due in August.
The shopkeeper also advised to go to the library opposite where some nutter had built a half scale model of a whaling boat inside the library. They wanted to put it in the museum but can't get it out of the first floor... 12 years it took him - you'd have bought he'd have worked that out. Good model though.
Opposite the library is a house with what is alleged to be $1m worth of modern statuary in the from garden. All very odd.
Left P-Town as it's known and drove round to Race Point, where there is another beautiful beach and then onto Truro and the lighthouse there. This one looks like it might be the best from a photographic point of view, but need to be there early in the morning, so need to get backside in gear a bit earlier than am doing at the moment.
Finally, dropped down to Wellfleet on the west coast of the lower Cape. This is a nice little town, with another working harbour, but not much else. It does have a theatre, though, right on the shore.
Supper at home.
Spoke with B via Skype. She's very keen to leave Japan and get to Australia, as she's fed up with being illiterate. Her flight arrives Tuesday pm our time - must be Wed am hers - so we don't expect to hear from her for a day or so as she gets settled in.
Decided to head north and visit Provincetown at the very end of the Cape.
Arrived at around 10 and parked next to the moment to the first New England settlers. This is the tallest granite structure in the US and looks out over the harbour from the top of a hill over the town. Climbed to the top and could just see Boston through the haze on the horizon.
The attached museum is very interesting and tells the story of how the Plymouth brethren landed here first, before heading off to the "mainland".
Wandered into the town. What a difference from Hyannis. This is a charming place, with narrow streets and a really good atmosphere. Lots of interesting shops and people - it has a very large gay community - and everyone was friendly and helpful.
Went down to the docks to check out the whale watching tours. There was one boat which was just loading that seems very popular but others which seem more "personal". Overhead the woman taking the tickets for the large one say that they had seen a couple this morning - they way that the trips are sold one would think that sightings of dozens is just about guaranteed...
You can hire a boat to yourself if you want. And have $700...
Had lunch of a foot long dog and a coke and then A went in search of a cap to keep the sun off. Although it's not very hot ( yet ), the sun is strong and the Factor 30 is only just about keeping the lobsterness at bay. Found a shop selling nice caps, but a small cat logo on, but the seller advised that there is a "dog" shop further down e street. A bought a little sleep suit for the nee baby next door, due in August.
The shopkeeper also advised to go to the library opposite where some nutter had built a half scale model of a whaling boat inside the library. They wanted to put it in the museum but can't get it out of the first floor... 12 years it took him - you'd have bought he'd have worked that out. Good model though.
Opposite the library is a house with what is alleged to be $1m worth of modern statuary in the from garden. All very odd.
Left P-Town as it's known and drove round to Race Point, where there is another beautiful beach and then onto Truro and the lighthouse there. This one looks like it might be the best from a photographic point of view, but need to be there early in the morning, so need to get backside in gear a bit earlier than am doing at the moment.
Finally, dropped down to Wellfleet on the west coast of the lower Cape. This is a nice little town, with another working harbour, but not much else. It does have a theatre, though, right on the shore.
Supper at home.
Spoke with B via Skype. She's very keen to leave Japan and get to Australia, as she's fed up with being illiterate. Her flight arrives Tuesday pm our time - must be Wed am hers - so we don't expect to hear from her for a day or so as she gets settled in.
Monday, 6 June 2011
Another postcard from the Cape
Day 4 Sunday 5 June
Woke at about 4:30, but properly at about 6:30, so clock getting back to normal.
Really must stop having eggs for breakfast, but had a poached egg and some very nice bacon picked up yesterday in a roll, plus some Tropicana juice and English Breakfast tea. Not at all like home...
Headed off to Hyannis this morning via the road which runs along the south of the Cape - further than we thought. Everywhere is further than you think.
The south of the Cape is much busier than the northern side, with pretty grotty ribbon development along the whole length. It's almost impossible to tell where one "town" starts and another ends. Lots of small malls, restaurants and loads and loads of motels. As close to Florida as we have seen so far.
Hyannis isn't much to write home about, but A did pick up a couple of pairs of shorts and another short sleeved shirt. He wouldn't want to look like an English man out of his comfort zone, now, would he? ;-)
Walked down to the harbour and persuaded a girl in a small restaurant to sell us two cups of coffee so that we could use the restrooms. On leaving, walked past the public restrooms about 50 yards away and found information about the ferry to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Lady in the shorts shop recommended the former over the latter, as there is more to do and lunch won't cost you $90. After visiting another JFK memorial on the beach, we returned back to the cottage via a small town called Harwich, where we bought a sandwich for lunch. We won't need any dinner tonight - proving very difficult to eat "light"...
On our return, our landlord was next door and he offered to set up the wifi for us, which he has done. So, now, we can leave Skype running so that we can speak with Rebecca when she goes on line. Japan is about 13 hours ahead of here. It's 15:40 here now, 04:40 tomorrow in Tokyo, so maybe she might call later this evening.
Postcards written. Stamps cost 29c, even to the UK. Ridiculous.
Might go for a walk along the old abandoned railway later. It's so much like being at home.
Pause....
Well, we did walk to the beach, having bought a beach bag on the way. The first access road we found turned out to be private, but the lady in the bag shop told us of a road which gives full public access. Very nice beach with good clean sand. The tide was just starting to go out and more nice sand is obviously out there. One can see right along the inner forearm of the Cape to Provincetown at the end, about 30 miles away. Will go back when the tide is out.
Drove up the Cape for a few miles to see a lighthouse ( will be better dawn, or in a storm ) and then onto the spot where Marconi set up his masts to make the first broadcast across the Atlantic. Not much left there now, but again, the beaches along the east coast of the Cape are beautiful.
Downloaded "Scrabble" and played a couple of hands of cards. Must be on holiday.
Hardly taken any photographs. The light is very harsh here. Not sure why I'm surprised, it is June and we are on the same latitude as Barcelona. I need to get out more in the evening and early morning. The sun rises later and sets earlier than at home, so it shouldn't be too difficult...
Woke at about 4:30, but properly at about 6:30, so clock getting back to normal.
Really must stop having eggs for breakfast, but had a poached egg and some very nice bacon picked up yesterday in a roll, plus some Tropicana juice and English Breakfast tea. Not at all like home...
Headed off to Hyannis this morning via the road which runs along the south of the Cape - further than we thought. Everywhere is further than you think.
The south of the Cape is much busier than the northern side, with pretty grotty ribbon development along the whole length. It's almost impossible to tell where one "town" starts and another ends. Lots of small malls, restaurants and loads and loads of motels. As close to Florida as we have seen so far.
Hyannis isn't much to write home about, but A did pick up a couple of pairs of shorts and another short sleeved shirt. He wouldn't want to look like an English man out of his comfort zone, now, would he? ;-)
Walked down to the harbour and persuaded a girl in a small restaurant to sell us two cups of coffee so that we could use the restrooms. On leaving, walked past the public restrooms about 50 yards away and found information about the ferry to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Lady in the shorts shop recommended the former over the latter, as there is more to do and lunch won't cost you $90. After visiting another JFK memorial on the beach, we returned back to the cottage via a small town called Harwich, where we bought a sandwich for lunch. We won't need any dinner tonight - proving very difficult to eat "light"...
On our return, our landlord was next door and he offered to set up the wifi for us, which he has done. So, now, we can leave Skype running so that we can speak with Rebecca when she goes on line. Japan is about 13 hours ahead of here. It's 15:40 here now, 04:40 tomorrow in Tokyo, so maybe she might call later this evening.
Postcards written. Stamps cost 29c, even to the UK. Ridiculous.
Might go for a walk along the old abandoned railway later. It's so much like being at home.
Pause....
Well, we did walk to the beach, having bought a beach bag on the way. The first access road we found turned out to be private, but the lady in the bag shop told us of a road which gives full public access. Very nice beach with good clean sand. The tide was just starting to go out and more nice sand is obviously out there. One can see right along the inner forearm of the Cape to Provincetown at the end, about 30 miles away. Will go back when the tide is out.
Drove up the Cape for a few miles to see a lighthouse ( will be better dawn, or in a storm ) and then onto the spot where Marconi set up his masts to make the first broadcast across the Atlantic. Not much left there now, but again, the beaches along the east coast of the Cape are beautiful.
Downloaded "Scrabble" and played a couple of hands of cards. Must be on holiday.
Hardly taken any photographs. The light is very harsh here. Not sure why I'm surprised, it is June and we are on the same latitude as Barcelona. I need to get out more in the evening and early morning. The sun rises later and sets earlier than at home, so it shouldn't be too difficult...
Sunday, 5 June 2011
New England
Day 1 Thursday 2 June
Having got back from a day at work, we left home to drive to Heathrow. The M56 was busy until about Runcorn, but cleared after that. The M40 was a different matter, and we were delayed by over an hour behind a lorry fire at Warwick. Arrived at the first Holiday Inn at about 10pm and the correct one at about 10:20. After getting a non-smoking room rather than a smoker, we had a club sandwich at about 11:15.
Typical Holiday Inn room, but very quiet considering it's location on the main A4
Day 2 Friday 3 June
The shuttle bus took us round several other hotels on the airport and eventually to T5. Surprised at the lack of lifts to get to departures, we arrived at exactly the right time to check-in. Unfortunately, the auto machine let us go through the whole process and then claimed that that there was an error. Still, the woman at the desk sorted things out and took the bags.
T5 isn't a bad place to hang around. Found that Dixons really do sell cheap M9s but not as cheap as before.
Had to wait an extra hour for the plane to leave after smoke was found in the hold. Zara Phillips and her fiancé were on the flight.
Economy seats really are pretty tight on a BA 747. The woman in front of me reclined her seat back so that her seat was about 10" from my face. The guy behind me got up several times and was a "lean on the back of the seat in front" kind of guy, so that wasn't great either.
Food poor.
Got through immigration without too much hassle (Ann was frisked twice on the way out) and found car hire place. As expected, what you thought you were going to pay is about half what you actually pay, but we did get a Jetta as opposed to a Yaris, with no power steering or windows...
Boston traffic is terrible. They should tell you that the first thing you will come across is a toll booth, and the signage is rubbish. We ended up heading out west before getting on the ring road and eventually heading south. Arrived at Plymouth at around 5 pm
Radisson Hotel isn't that bad - definitely not as bad as TripAdvisor would have you believe. Big bed. Comfortable. Quiet. A bit hot, but then again, it IS a hotel.
Walked around town for half an hour and then got the last table at Patrizia's Restaurant, an Italian place that is very popular with locals and with good reason. A cichetti to share, pasta and canollis, with a bottle of $30 wine was less than $100, excl tip. Total cost was about £70, and one of the nicest meals we have had for years. Recommended.
Room quiet and bed at about 9pm local time.
Having got back from a day at work, we left home to drive to Heathrow. The M56 was busy until about Runcorn, but cleared after that. The M40 was a different matter, and we were delayed by over an hour behind a lorry fire at Warwick. Arrived at the first Holiday Inn at about 10pm and the correct one at about 10:20. After getting a non-smoking room rather than a smoker, we had a club sandwich at about 11:15.
Typical Holiday Inn room, but very quiet considering it's location on the main A4
Day 2 Friday 3 June
The shuttle bus took us round several other hotels on the airport and eventually to T5. Surprised at the lack of lifts to get to departures, we arrived at exactly the right time to check-in. Unfortunately, the auto machine let us go through the whole process and then claimed that that there was an error. Still, the woman at the desk sorted things out and took the bags.
T5 isn't a bad place to hang around. Found that Dixons really do sell cheap M9s but not as cheap as before.
Had to wait an extra hour for the plane to leave after smoke was found in the hold. Zara Phillips and her fiancé were on the flight.
Economy seats really are pretty tight on a BA 747. The woman in front of me reclined her seat back so that her seat was about 10" from my face. The guy behind me got up several times and was a "lean on the back of the seat in front" kind of guy, so that wasn't great either.
Food poor.
Got through immigration without too much hassle (Ann was frisked twice on the way out) and found car hire place. As expected, what you thought you were going to pay is about half what you actually pay, but we did get a Jetta as opposed to a Yaris, with no power steering or windows...
Boston traffic is terrible. They should tell you that the first thing you will come across is a toll booth, and the signage is rubbish. We ended up heading out west before getting on the ring road and eventually heading south. Arrived at Plymouth at around 5 pm
Radisson Hotel isn't that bad - definitely not as bad as TripAdvisor would have you believe. Big bed. Comfortable. Quiet. A bit hot, but then again, it IS a hotel.
Walked around town for half an hour and then got the last table at Patrizia's Restaurant, an Italian place that is very popular with locals and with good reason. A cichetti to share, pasta and canollis, with a bottle of $30 wine was less than $100, excl tip. Total cost was about £70, and one of the nicest meals we have had for years. Recommended.
Room quiet and bed at about 9pm local time.
Friday, 27 May 2011
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Excellent news from NICE
After what I thought to be a false start back in February (previous blog posts refer), NICE have today issued "draft" guidance on the use of Rituximab for maintenance therapy in first remission cases of follicular NHL, such as mine.
I look forward to discussing same with my haematologist at my next session on Thursday. Maybe I will be able to have my treatment during normal hours now.
I was interviewed by the BBC about this yesterday morning, so I need to have a look and see whether I have made the cut or been spiked under an Icelandic Ash Cloud... :-)
I look forward to discussing same with my haematologist at my next session on Thursday. Maybe I will be able to have my treatment during normal hours now.
I was interviewed by the BBC about this yesterday morning, so I need to have a look and see whether I have made the cut or been spiked under an Icelandic Ash Cloud... :-)
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Leica Akademie, Lymphoma Association AGM and more
Well, it has been a couple of weeks, now...
Lots has happened, since 6th May.
Firstly, we appear to have a new dog. Well, she's not quite with us yet, as she was born on Good Friday and will be ready to join us when we get back from New England. We have named her Betsy and she's a Jack Russell. Here's a photo of her trying to steal some grub from her mum.. "Ahh..."
Lots has happened, since 6th May.
Firstly, we appear to have a new dog. Well, she's not quite with us yet, as she was born on Good Friday and will be ready to join us when we get back from New England. We have named her Betsy and she's a Jack Russell. Here's a photo of her trying to steal some grub from her mum.. "Ahh..."
She is from a litter of three boys and three girls and looks like a proper little cutie. We have spoken with Pippa about her and she's fine ;-)
Rebecca has set off on her round-the-world trip and, as I write this, she is between China and Japan, having already ticked off the Great Wall and Xian terracotta warriors. She seems to be enjoying herself, on the one occasion when we have spoken with her, but we do get the odd email every other day, so that's OK!
I attended a very good day at the Leica Akademie last Wednesday. The man on the Vespa is the result of that outing. I have to say that Will Cheung was an excellent host and good fun to be with - a really nice guy. Thanks have to go to all at Leica UK for helping to make this happen.
Yesterday was the AGM of the Lymphoma Association. I went to last year's at Reading University; this time it was at Nottingham and as usual it was very informative. There are a lot of new treatments coming through - the GA101 "grandson of Rituximab" looks very interesting (one of the fellow members of the Manchester Support Group has had this treatment and her lymphoma has all but disappeared), as is some of the work that the Germans are doing with a drug called Bendamustine, yet another chemo-therapy based upon mustard gas. I have probably said this before, but what a debt we owe to our Great-Grandfathers... The Association are putting my name forward as a possible "patient member" attending a meeting of NICE in Manchester in August. They are discussing the use of Rituximab and the Association feel that I may have something to contribute. I have said that I am happy to help them in their work in any way, of course. The only way that we are going to get to a better place with this is if we all play a small part.
So, now we are in that "ground rush" period before going on holiday. Only one weekend left (Sunday we have to go and see the puppy again...), and an awful lot to do at work. Just need to keep an eye on that bloody Icelandic volcano...
Oh, and I bought some tickets to go and see Roger Waters "The Wall" this afternoon. Something to look forward to in that "post-holiday-blues" period :-)
Friday, 6 May 2011
Into my third year
It was the second anniversary of me discovering that I have a problem this week. Time marches on, but with the fantastic support and help of those around me, I am currently "well", which is a great thing. My haematologist spoke of 5 years as a typical prognosis when I first saw him in 2009. I fully expect to get more than that, but I know that as the years tick by, this is going to press on my mind more and more. I mustn't let it.
I have come through radiotherapy and chemotherapy pretty much unscathed and the maintenance regime that I am currently enjoying is not affecting my life at all, really, apart from having to go and receive the treatment.
I do get a lot more tired than I used to though. If I didn't know I was ill, then I would pout this down to getting older, but I am not so sure that's the reason. Having cancer, even in remission, must take it out of you.
It's "always there", in the back of your mind. It never goes away. This is quite difficult sometimes, as to all intents and purposes, I look perfectly healthy, and those around you either don't know that you are ill at all, or have forgotten. While, that's a good thing, sometimes it would be nice for those that do know (not immediate family, of course, but colleagues and acquaintances) to ask after your health once in a while. Some people do, but most people that do know have either forgotten, or just don't feel it necessary or appropriate to talk about these things.
This is a purely selfish rationale, though. It's nice to think that other people are thinking about you, but they have their own lives and worries etc. What I have promised myself, is that I will try to remember when people I know have similar problems, and I will ask after them. It's a nice thing to do.
So, things could be a lot worse. I could have been born twenty years before, in which case I would be looking at a very different future. I could have been born somewhere else - ditto. I might not have had the benefit of a supportive family, friends and employer and I might not have been able to benefit from private medical insurance. I am a lucky man and, sometimes, it's necessary to remind yourself of that fact.
Now, all I have to do is think of a third year title for this blog. Adding "Still" was fine for the second year, but something needs to be done moving forward into the third.
Answers on a postcard to the usual address, please.
I have come through radiotherapy and chemotherapy pretty much unscathed and the maintenance regime that I am currently enjoying is not affecting my life at all, really, apart from having to go and receive the treatment.
I do get a lot more tired than I used to though. If I didn't know I was ill, then I would pout this down to getting older, but I am not so sure that's the reason. Having cancer, even in remission, must take it out of you.
It's "always there", in the back of your mind. It never goes away. This is quite difficult sometimes, as to all intents and purposes, I look perfectly healthy, and those around you either don't know that you are ill at all, or have forgotten. While, that's a good thing, sometimes it would be nice for those that do know (not immediate family, of course, but colleagues and acquaintances) to ask after your health once in a while. Some people do, but most people that do know have either forgotten, or just don't feel it necessary or appropriate to talk about these things.
This is a purely selfish rationale, though. It's nice to think that other people are thinking about you, but they have their own lives and worries etc. What I have promised myself, is that I will try to remember when people I know have similar problems, and I will ask after them. It's a nice thing to do.
So, things could be a lot worse. I could have been born twenty years before, in which case I would be looking at a very different future. I could have been born somewhere else - ditto. I might not have had the benefit of a supportive family, friends and employer and I might not have been able to benefit from private medical insurance. I am a lucky man and, sometimes, it's necessary to remind yourself of that fact.
Now, all I have to do is think of a third year title for this blog. Adding "Still" was fine for the second year, but something needs to be done moving forward into the third.
Answers on a postcard to the usual address, please.
The wanderer returns...
My birthday present is on its way back from the factory, having been adjusted as it should have been in the first place. It will probably get here early next week.
Which is good news, I suppose. :-)
Which is good news, I suppose. :-)
Sunday, 1 May 2011
So, the Royal Wedding has been and gone
And so has the camera.
After putting a roll of film through on the Saturday, I had thought that it was much more difficult to focus than either of my other two Ms. I put this down to the reduced magnification viewfinder. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. The viewfinder is actually mis-aligned in the vertical plane, and will never give a coincident image, until it has been adjusted. The camera is now back in Germany, being sorted out. I have been in contact with various people there, courtesy of great assistance from Jenny at Leica UK and Andreas from the Forum, and I am hoping that it will have been returned by next weekend. It definitely arrived in Germany before this weekend just gone, so fingers crossed.
Watch the wedding in Rebecca's flat in Edinburgh with a lot of other "young people" - a good morning actually. I thought that the wedding was a great spectacle and I enjoyed watching it more than I thought I would. After that, we drove all her stuff back home, ready for her to head off round the world next week.
I also met Luke, her boyfriend, for the first time - a thoroughly decent and nice guy, if first impressions are anything to go by. I would expect nothing less!
Now, tomorrow, Bank Holiday Monday, we are off to see a new puppy, born on Good Friday. It's from a litter that belong to a niece's husband's brother, and we have been receiving photos via text messages for several days now. It looks like "Betty" is the chosen name, after some deliberation, it has to be said. Audrey was right up there for a while... I suspect that she will be the one - it's not possible to go and visit a week old puppy and not buy it. She will be ready to pick up when we get back from the US, so that's all working out quite well.
She's a Jack Russell... going to be an interesting summer.
After putting a roll of film through on the Saturday, I had thought that it was much more difficult to focus than either of my other two Ms. I put this down to the reduced magnification viewfinder. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. The viewfinder is actually mis-aligned in the vertical plane, and will never give a coincident image, until it has been adjusted. The camera is now back in Germany, being sorted out. I have been in contact with various people there, courtesy of great assistance from Jenny at Leica UK and Andreas from the Forum, and I am hoping that it will have been returned by next weekend. It definitely arrived in Germany before this weekend just gone, so fingers crossed.
Watch the wedding in Rebecca's flat in Edinburgh with a lot of other "young people" - a good morning actually. I thought that the wedding was a great spectacle and I enjoyed watching it more than I thought I would. After that, we drove all her stuff back home, ready for her to head off round the world next week.
I also met Luke, her boyfriend, for the first time - a thoroughly decent and nice guy, if first impressions are anything to go by. I would expect nothing less!
Now, tomorrow, Bank Holiday Monday, we are off to see a new puppy, born on Good Friday. It's from a litter that belong to a niece's husband's brother, and we have been receiving photos via text messages for several days now. It looks like "Betty" is the chosen name, after some deliberation, it has to be said. Audrey was right up there for a while... I suspect that she will be the one - it's not possible to go and visit a week old puppy and not buy it. She will be ready to pick up when we get back from the US, so that's all working out quite well.
She's a Jack Russell... going to be an interesting summer.
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