Who or what knocked the stuffing out of my Turkey?

Not that for the last ten years there has ever been much evidence of Turkey on our Christmas menu, preferring to prepare more exciting fare such as venison, wild boar and ostrich, but here we are in 2011 and as I look back on the dying embers of last year I have to admit things are not starting off too well at the moment. Just before Christmas on the advice of the research team I paid a visit to my GP to raise the level of my pain killers as the paracetamol/ibuprofen meds were having little effect on the increasing amount of pain in the areas between my shoulder blades and through to my sternum. Tramadol was prescribed as that which would be less likely to trigger any bleeding of inflammmation and the first thing I noticed was the onset of nausea and sickness especially early on Boxing Day morning (though I did put this down to a certain amount of general over indulgence and particularly over familiarity with a bottle of Drambuie the day before). However as the sickness was presenting before and after this event it became another problem to sort out (more Metoclopramide from the doc), together with excessive fatigue, the return of laryngeal palsy and loss of appetite brought about by losing the edge to my taste buds and everything having the same dull flavour and texture.


As I contemplate Wednesday's next cycle of chemotherapy and the approach of the end of the Real 3 trial my positivity is waning and to restore a balance I have to reflect on what was in the event a remarkably good Christmas spent at my daughter's house in the bosom of my family; my brother Mike and Tersia having made it to the UK from Jo'burg on the second attempt and at the eleventh hour.

William, Jennie and Ellen on Christmas Day

After a session down at Jennie's local pub, I thoroughly enjoyed cooking the Christmas Day lunch - a fully matured 5lb Rainbow Trout, stuffed with fresh herbs and wild mushrooms then oven baked in white wine and vermouth; served with new potatoes and salad (there were traditional veg options which Andy had cooked to accompany his fabulous nut roast)


On Boxing Day we were joined by Valerie (Jennie's mum) and John, and Sarah and Phillip and, mainly for Valerie's benefit as she and John had not managed to make the event in South Africa, were treated to a viewing of Sarah and Phill's wedding video (the highlight being Mike's epic speech) whilst snacking on hot mince pies and leftovers etc. Unable to tempt anyone else into the fresh air Mike and I went for a walk with Chaka in Windsor Great Park

Windsor Great Park, Boxing Day

In the afternoon we all (except Jennie and Valerie and their partners) returned to Yateley where Geraldine prepared another meal - roast 3 bird (chicken, turkey and duck) crown and all the trimings while Mike anticipated watching the Spurs match against Aston Villa on the telly before they left for Sarah's home in London. Between New Year and Sarah's 30th bithday on the 8th, Mike and Tersia planned a trip to Las Vegas where soon, no doubt, will be watching his annual bonus disappearing into the coffers of the casino magnates (.....money magnets????)

Mike, Sarah, Tersia and Phillip at Yateley on Boxing Day

Our own New Year celebrations at Ken and Christine's brilliantly organized party was abbreviated at around 10pm by my queasiness and fatigue......but I did wake up in bed as Big Ben chimed and the firework display in London started. And as Chaka is allowed to sleep in our bedroom only on this one night of the year, when the local fireworks scare him, I did get more than one kiss at midnight!


Happy New Year to all my family and friends and I hope it will be as pain free, physically, emotionally and financially, as possible.


With love and light
David xxx