SOS - "Save Our 'Soles" !

Tonight's TV supper of Goan Fish Curry à la Waitrose was prepared for me by my loving wife Geraldine; a dab hand with the microwave (She's gonna kill me for that, and at this minute is now probably fronting up Goliath in the queue) To quickly make amends I will have to admit to the fact that we both know her skilled use of the absorption method of cooking tonight's accompanying rice, produces a far lighter and fluffier result than my 'boil-it-to-smithereens-in-a-full-pan-of-water-for-10-mins' quick fix. And the whole meal was very, very tasty. Before sitting down, actually at the table for the first time in ages because sofa slumping is now off menu in the interests of easier digestion - take heed folks!, I had a long bath and soaked my aching body. After which, and having already built an 'iglü' in my mouth, I liberally coated various parts of my anatomy with; dermatological  E45 cream (feet), Tesco After Sun 'soother' (face and neck - and in mid October too; that can't be bad), and finally I had Vera up my bottom!!! Now before you all start jumping to conclusions and wagging fingers in protest about me having deviant sexual proclivities regarding the use of strap-ons (which immediately puts me in mind of the Lavelle girls Anne Summers' parties from which I was always excluded - can't imagine why, other than they were 'hen' and I suppose it would have cramped their lascivious antics), I hastily point out that the Vera in question is of the 'Aloe' variety rather than the 'Hello' variant. So it would seem that the next phase is for me to suffer my variation on the theme of a 'plague of boils': Goliath naturally lost the  intial pain skirmish and is now throwing soreness into the ring! 


So with a seamless link it brings me on to the point of today's title: Yes indeed to the question of saving my 'soles. Sole A) as you will have absolutely no hesitation in guessing by its positioning in the alphabet if nothing else, is that much mentioned derriere of mine which is at the root cause of most of my recent discomfort, and as a constant topic of conversation needs no further elaboration. Sole B) however is a much more serious matter and has only entered the fray in the last 48 hours. Knowing from briefings that there was every good chance my feet were going to be in the firing line eventually, I took, if you remember some little time back, the initial precaution of booking a home visit session with a chiropodist. Because I do not have a love affair with my feet and have only ever paid them scant attention in the past and because they now, in view of a serious threat (and I don't exaggerate), they needed  more in the way of TLC than TCP. So it has come to pass with the relatively sudden onset and well defined symptoms of Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesiamar, or as Goliath would call it, through his complete lack of basic intelligence, Hand-Foot Syndrome. For all our sakes, I will pander to the factor of  his common lowest denominator status, because I can't pronounce it anyway. With a history of Spina Bifida, and a couple of nasty operations as a child to straighten my feet out at one stage, lurking in the background I am finding it extremely difficult not to take this condition very, very seriously. There are two good reasons for this: Namely the fact that though not deformed, my slightly misshapen feet contain a number of enhanced pressure areas which are now beginning to showing their vulnerability, and I cannot start to contemplate a degree of disability which would deprive me of my most relaxing pastime; that of walking Chaka in the local countryside. Panic was averted by a swift phone call to Sarah Oakes, my Clinical Nurse Specialist on the research team, who reaffirmed what I had already learned from the literature, viz, "Your Guide to Xeloda (capecitabine) in combination with chemotherapy for advanced oesophagel cancer". To that end it can be easily treated when caught early and the important thing is to hit it fast with whatever precautions and remedies exist, and also be aware that, on the trial treatment levels of the relevant chemical intake can be adjusted. Also beneficial to my emotional stability is trying not to dwell on the perceived strategies for overcoming the difficulties should it prevail - as ever that aspect is always easier said than done. Though on the plus side the thought of rushing around the Minley Estate on a rugged, off-road quad bike type of disability vehicle quite appealing as long as Chaka runs along side rather than typical to his character wanting to bum a lift!


In summary I need to acknowledge that the stakes weighed up against me in the form of the side effects from the ever more cumulative amount of  toxins, are becoming not only more numerous but also more intense. But are we down heartened? Of course we bloody well are! but not for long remembering today's visit from Karen, the Patient and Family Adviser from The Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice who amongst other kind gestures sorted my applications for DLAand a Blue Badge. So it looks like I can afford NZ next year after all and, into he bargain, I get a reserved parking lot into which I can throw up after a match and a night on the piss with my brother and the other England rugby supporters. I went straight down to the post office's photo booth for the mug shot which now resembles a 'wanted' poster, and then enjoyed a shortish, by my standards, brisk, chill walk under bright blue skis and radiant sunshine (hence the earlier reference to sun lotions). Managed to, apparently, lose yet another mobile phone while photographing fungi, but that's another long story and i need some rest soon. So I may have a few more problems to deal with, but on the whole it's been another good day. And let's face it a sore arse and painful, cracking feet pale into insignificance when I think about poor Suzanne, an old friend of the family in more ways than one, who, into her 80's with lung cancer, is in Northwick Park Hospital today having her leg amputated. I wish I knew the appropriate Jewish term of sympathy, but my thoughts are with her regardless.


Tomorrow I have an acupuncture session at St Lukes to 'look forward to' -  do I really need more needles sticking in me? And Geraldine, having been sent home from work sick today went to bed feeling well enough to contemplate keeping her simultaneous appointment for more reflexology. If Julie fancies a foray we may well have lunch at the C&C and a stroll through the woods afterwards.


It's not just tomorrow's weather forecast that's looking good! So do as I do and just smile even though feeling a little sorry for myself