Jane's Blog

James, Michael and I had a couple of days together last week, and made the most of it by going climbing and walking.

We had hoped to go climbing outdoors so that I could show the boys how to set up a belay on the rocks, but, having reached the crags at Buckstones last Thursday, we realised that it was far too cold (the ears were suffering!) so we went for a walk instead. I had been on Google the evening before and found some crags quite close to home, so we decided to go exploring. And the views over Huddersfield were stunning when we got there.

The following day, we packed all the climbing gear into the car and headed for the Sports Centre. The boys have both been climbing since they were very young, but haven’t done any leading (which is when you climb without the safety of a top rope to hold you if you fall, but rather place the protection as you go up the wall). I showed them what to do – and they both took to it like ducks to water!

Then, having had my PICC line removed two days earlier, it was my turn to do some ‘real’ climbing. It is 15 months since I was able to climb properly, so I took full advantage of my new-found freedom and scrambled to the top of the climb. Then I set up a hanging belay – just because I could!

After that, the boys both had a go at climbing up and down a rope using just two prussik knots and two slings. Hard work, but they were able to prove that it was possible in practice (I’d only been able to describe it in theory to them).

It proved to be a great day’s climbing!

When I spoke to Michael just before he came home from Japan, one of the things he said he really wanted to do with me was to go climbing. Never one to shirk a challenge, we made our way to the Sports Centre Climbing Wall yesterday morning.

James had organised a few days off work so that we could have a bit of quality ‘Mum and sons’ time together, and he came with us as well. I took my blue Disabled Badge with me, on the off-chance that Kirklees Council were feeling beneficent when it came to carparking and, bless them, they were! Mind you, the sign posts in the carpark didn’t make it at all clear that I didn’t have to pay, and it took a phone call from the lass on reception to sort things out for me (I’m learning never to assume that parking is free with a blue badge). And we were still mightily relieved to come out ninety minutes later to find that the car had neither been clamped nor crushed.

We got to the climbing wall and discovered we had the place to ourselves, rather than having to share it with a group of pre-teens and their teachers. Bliss! So, having changed, I grabbed a chair and sat down to belay the boys rather than standing up – something I have never done in the past (unless I was sitting with my feet dangling over a crag at the top of an outdoor climb, bringing up another climber). But, I’m not quite as strong these days as I once was, so it was either sit on a chair, or don’t belay (I was exhausted simply walking to the Sports Centre, changing into my gear, and belaying!).

The last time we went climbing was in June of last year, just before I went into hospital for my operation, so various muscles and tendons screamed in annoyance as the boys tried ever more tricky climbs. James had a driving lesson at midday, so he left us, and Mike carried on climbing. Normally, I would be climbing as well, which would give him a rest as he belayed, but Dr Hofmann has put a stop to that, so Mike got quite a bit of climbing done before his fingers gave out. I did do one small traverse (don’t tell Dr H!), which left me utterly shattered but entirely happy

After lunch, we set off for Yateholme, a favourite walking area which nestles just below the Pennines. The sun was shining and it was a balmy 10°C, but the snow – which fell over 3 weeks ago – was still very obvious on the slopes of the hills. I ambled slowly after the boys as we made our way through the woods. It was idyllic, only spoiled by the fact that a major reservoir reconstruction prevented us from getting all the way round the paths. But it was good practice for me, as we do the SportRelief Mile on the 21st, and I need to know that I can walk that far without falling over, even whilst undergoing chemo. And the good news is, it appears that I can…

Michael is home from Japan!

I drove over to Manchester Airport last Tuesday to collect him, and we had a very joyful reunion in the Arrivals Hall (along with about 50 other people all waiting for their nearest and dearest to walk through the door). He is here until the 30th, and James has already organised a few days off work so that we can spend some quality mum-and-sons time together. If the weather is good, and I am feeling well, the plan is that we will go climbing (indoor) and walking (outdoor!) together.

During the drive home from the airport, Mike said he wanted to have his hair cut, so it was off to the barber’s the next day. It’s a very, very long time since he had short hair (or walked about the house hatless!).

So, having the lad home and having the whole family together has given me a tremendous boost prior to the next 2-week cycle of chemo, which starts in about 5 hour’s time.

December 21st, otherwise known as the winter solstice: the shortest day, and the longest night, of the year. But as far as I was concerned, this was the day Michael came home after 3 months in Japan.

The previous day had seen me sending him ever more frantic emails as the snow blizzards increased in intensity, and we worked out contingency plans in case we couldn’t get to the airport to meet him. Common sense then overtook my desperate desire to meet him off the plane, as I realised that I couldn’t afford to get stuck in the car in the cold weather (my hands and feet are badly affected by the Oxaliplatin, and I can experience tingling in them even whilst sat in the warmth at home – the pain when out in the cold is something else…). Then Paul took one look at the weather forecast the following morning, and decided to catch the train to the airport rather than risk taking the car on the M62.

After he left I sat at my laptop, constantly refreshing the ‘Flight Stats’ homepage to keep an eye on Michael’s flight as it progressed across Europe. He finally landed at 12.30pm, after which I got the car out, slithered in a controlled manner to the main road, and drove to the railway station to meet them. The reunion on the steps of the station was wonderful.

We then had a very special Christmas Day together. The sun shone out of a cloudless blue sky as we made our way down to church for the morning service. We sat at the back, so that I was part of the service, yet away from the vast majority of the congregation due to my immunosuppressed status. Then it was home to open our presents (and thanks to the boys for my WiiSports, which was totally unexpected – now if only I could get on the TV to play it…), and to have our Christmas dinner. Michael had told me that he was looking forward to this whilst in Japan, and he certainly made up for lost time and small portions by tucking in with gusto!

Whilst home, Michael celebrated his 20th birthday on the 29th of December. As this unfortunately clashed with my next round of chemo, we went out for a family meal together two days earlier instead. Thankfully, the weather didn’t prevent us getting to Cubley Hall, and we made sure we all did justice to their superb carvery.

Then, after 3 weeks at home, it was time for Michael to return to Japan. Many, many thanks to him for making the long 24-hour journey home, and to the rest of the family for making it a very special and memorable Christmas and New Year

Having been gently reminded that the blog is still here, and I have been failing in my duties as a blogger of late, a bit of good news after the grimness that was September.

Paul and I were presented with our first great-niece, Seren, on October 2nd. Daughter to Kirsty and Rich, and first grandchild for Jayne and Alan (Paul’s brother).

We raced up to Yarm to see the happy family the day after she was born, and the photo shows Seren (with her very proud great-aunt!) at less than 24-hours old.

And in case you were wondering about the title of this blog, Seren means ’star’ in Welsh

Last Thursday afternoon was James’ Graduation ceremony in Sheffield. Prior to the event there was a Reception for family and friends in the Computer Science department, to which James and Michael were invited. I knew there was no way I’d be able to attend – the day promised to be long enough without going to a mid-morning Reception as well.

So, the boys left at the crack of dawn to catch the train to Sheffield. Paul had heard James telling Mike the previous evening that it was ‘a suit and tie event’, meaning that they both looked very smart as they left for the station.

Although my health is improving, I’m no good at standing for any length of time at the moment and, knowing where the Graduation was to be held (having been there on previous occasions), we knew there was nowhere to sit prior to going in to the Hall. So, it was a case of go in a wheelchair, or don’t go at all. No choice really…

We borrowed a wheelchair from church, I swallowed my pride, and Mike had the honour of trundling me to the Hall whilst Paul parked the car. Then we watched as almost 200 graduands received their degrees, and returned to their seats as graduates.

Needless to say, Paul and I were very proud parents

James nipped back to Sheffield briefly on Monday to meet with his personal tutor. He was told that he gained a 2:1 in his Masters (averaging over 70% in his final year which, considering what has been going on these past 6 months, was a credit to him), and will graduate in 4 weeks – which just gives me enough time to progress from shuffling to walking!

As he’s the only one in the household at present with a Masters degree, I greeted him on his return with my version of ‘Master of the House’ from Les Mis.

I have now spent my first week at home, and am grateful to the All England Club for organising Wimbledon to coincide with my return. I think the last time I watched so much tennis was in my teenage years, although I had to draw a line at the lass who shrieks like a banshee.

Here’s hoping the jolly lad from Dunblane can do us all a favour and win the Men’s title on Sunday