Nordic Walking Poles

My Reno friend reminded me yesterday that back last spring I had been really interested in Nordic walking poles. I watched a section of Country File (BBC programme on Sunday mornings...my favorite!) which talked about the sport and gave you some advice for starting. I'm not well enough at the moment but as soon as I am I'm going to buy some sticks and get going. Surrey (the county I live in) offer some inexpensive beginner classes. If you are interested in learning more, click here.

Today has been difficult and a little demoralizing. How easily one forgets the past! If I had been on the more toxic of my two drugs, I would have been in a great deal of pain right now instead of just feeling sick and being very tired. I should be grateful for this but instead, I've simply forgotten all about it. I suppose it's this same amnesia that allows mothers to suffer the pains of childbirth and then have another.

I'm hoping to go in to work tomorrow but I think that I'll tell them that I won't start till 11.

A conversation with Canada

I had a phone call from a friend who lives on Manitoulin Island (please excuse spelling mistakes)tonight. I haven't seen her or her family in years and would love to be able to visit them this summer. I thought perhaps that we could take the train up from New york and then take another train to Sudbury. Unfortunately, it takes nearly 8 hours on the train to Sudbury. I had forgotten how big a country Canada was. I then thought that we could fly to Sudbury. It would cost nearly $250.00 each, can you imagine. Obviously Canada doesn't have low cost airlines or I haven't found any yet. So, it looks like Manitoulin is out of the question and that's a shame. I'd love to see Pat and Ken and find out how their move north had treated them. Well, there are a few months to go so perhaps something will work out.

We're watching the final episode of MASH as I write. I had forgotten how moving that show was. It is also amazing how it hasn't aged. In so many ways, it is still relevant to what is happening today. War never changes and neither does the suffering.

Nerve Damage

Did I mention that I had nerve damage in my hands and feet. This morning I woke up and my right hand was numb. Three of my fingers felt better after a while. Two of them were like that until about 1:00p.m. I phoned the hospital at 9:00a.m. and they said it was part of the nerve damaged caused by the stronger of the two chemo drugs. I'm off that one at the moment but the damage may take up to a year to be repaired by my body. I must admit to having a little cry but it was just a momentary lapse. I am positive about this treatment and I know I'll get better but I think that I'm allowed a little wobble once in a while.

My department took me out for lunch. We had a professional development day so we actually had an hour to eat. It was really nice to be able to go out and talk with them out of the school environment. However, school did seem to dominate the conversation.

After chemo again.

I know that I haven't been writing as consistently. Sorry to those who are checking here to see how I am. A lot has been going on here other that me feeling sick (but not as much as before!) so I haven't really had the time or energy to write. School went well both Wednesday and today. However, I did decide not to teach my afternoon classes. I knew that I wouldn't have enough energy.

Cliff and I have been trying to decide what to do as far as our living space goes. We have approached our landlords (who live in China) about buying the house we are living in. We've also thought about getting something a bit bigger and further away from traffic noise. Probably I shouldn't be thinking about this at the moment. It's just another thing that might cause stress and I really don't need much more of that right now.

I'm really getting rather excited about our trip to New York. It's something to focus on and look forward to. I ought to find a poster of the boat and put it up somewhere. Does this sound silly? Ah well, I don't really mind about that.

Day one of the 4th chemo treatment

Three cheers! Not only have I had treatment number 4 but they decided to give me only one of drugs (the least potent) so I am looking forward to being a lot less ill this time!!

An exhausting weekend

I haven't really done a lot this weekend but I've been exhausted nonetheless. I suppose when I say that I haven't done anything that isn't entirely true. I've marked papers, listened to 30 or more French orals (students manhandling the French language, oh dear), prepared lesson plans, got the house ready for when I have the chemo, organized meals for this coming week and been shopping. I should have gone to school and done report cards too but I just wasn't up for it. Now I know why I'm tired! I do hope I'm ready for Tuesday but I suppose in the end it doesn't really matter because someone will do whatever I haven't been able to do.

I was feeling rather low yesterday and then my friend Mary Jane from Reno phoned. We didn't talk about anything in particular but it's amazining how a chat can boost your spirits. Today I'm watching Audry Hepburn in Funny Face. It's having the same effect on me. What does it for you?

Another uneventful Saturday

I would really like to have the energy to do something on the weekend but keeping up with work during the week means I have nothing left. I did go grocery shopping this morning but I would have liked to go for a walk this afternoon. I know that I need to rest and that eventually I won't have to spend Saturday and Sunday on the sofa. It doesn't help right now though. I'm probably feeling this way because next Tuesday I have my fourth chemo treatment. By this time next week, I'll be too sick to do anything but lie on the sofa. Alas! To get ready for all that, I have to finish marking exams and do my report cards as well as prepare my classes for the supply teacher by Monday at 3:15. I think I'm feeling rather sorry for myself. I should get over it. I might try for a half hour in Windsor Great Park tomorrow. That shouldn't be too taxing.

I don't mean for this blog to be one long moan. Sorry if it may seem that way.

Well, Hillary is going to run for president. We've had a woman leader in the UK but it seems too great a leap for the United States. There is so much history with Hillary. she's an intelligent and charismatic women but a lot of people (especially woman)still think that she should have left her husband. It's funny that people would consider that when deciding on a leader. Will Bill be an asset or a liability?

In the UK we have our own leadership race coming up. Will Gordon Brown take over from Tony Blair or will Labour go for someone else? Will Labour survive no matter who takes over? I used to be a Labour supporter but not since the last election. The war finished that. Though I suppose it wasn't just the war. The state of education and the health care system in the UK was and is another factor.

On another note, In Our Time (link on the left side of this page) has an interesting programme this week on the Jesuits.