Another up-date on Ian

It was back to the hospital yesterday, for the monthly MOT with the Consultant. Ian has been suffering with very bad heartburn and indigestion after the weekly chemo sessions and wanted to mention the problem to see if anything could be done. Unfortunately its just one of those side affects that has to be endured and the Consultant is pretty sure it is the steroid injection that causes it. Gaviscon has been Ian's life saver recently and our cupboard is now stocked with the stuff. Still the news is positive and as far as the consultant can tell, the visual appearance of the tumour looks the same and maybe has even shrunk slightly. Only another MRI will confirm his opinion. This has now been scheduled for May with the hope that our 'chemo' holiday will start in June. I raised concerns about his pic line. It has to be flushed once in every 7 - 10 days so that no blockage will occur. If we decided to go off boating ( which is still our aim ) then the thought of trying to get to various hospitals along the way just to flush the line would be quite a challenge to say the least. And that is, of course, if the Oncology nurses at each hospital would have been prepared to do it! If the wards  were the same as Nottingham City Hospital, then they would be rushed of their feet. Luckily the Consultant agreed that this was not an option and therefore Ian will be able to have the line removed before we leave. Seems like its the result we wanted. Now all we need is for the MRI to be positive too!

On another note we have once again booked our other boat Merlin for a 5 day cruise on the 6th March. Not only will it get us away from here but it will give us a good opportunity to check on the winter maintenance that was carried out from November. The fridge door needed replacing ( hirers had broken the plastic container where the milk would have been stored and Anglo Welsh couldn't get a replacement part.) There was also a very bad gas leak coming from the boiler ( which we reported but seems no hirer had! ) Also the shower was totally unusable as no water apart from a trickle emerged from the shower head. (again no hirer had mentioned this. Not sure if I believe that!) Anyway a list was made out and given to Anglo Welsh, all of which they are happy to sort out with no extra cost to ourselves.  I must say the interior and soft furnishings are all of an acceptable standard and even though the boat has been hired now for over 8 years, there is no apparent sign of any damage ( other then the fridge! ) So we are now really looking forward to the beginning of March and hopefully, with Spring just around the corner, good weather too.

 I walked part of the Erewash towpath today from Pasture Lock to Sandiacre Lock Cottage. Ian was working in the Cottage and to give Jade and myself a change of scenery he dropped me off at the White House. I took these on route.

Hybrid Aylesbury perhaps?

Shame about the feather!

Looking through the bridge ole

Sandiacre lock cottage