Thursday 2nd June-already!
Well , I completed the Race For Life last week.Was very exhilarating for me , and also a very emotional time , as I haven't been able to do it for a couple of years because of the C that stands for cancer. I still have cancer , but at least I am ( or it is !) stable enough to get out and about and do normal things-depending on your definition of "normal"! My "normal" has changed over the years , but , if this is my "normal" from now on , I am quite happy with that!
Anyway , Race For Life was great fun ! Rosie , Claire , and Chloe did the route with me , although at one point I wondered who the sick person was supposed to be ! They were  asking "are we there yet?"  " is this not the end here?" . Still , well done them ! Bill came along to support as well , but wasn't allowed to go round the route with us-maybe next year ! It started off as a sunny Sunday morning , but we got lots of rain and hailstones , but we struggled through ! I managed to raise a total of over £1,500 online from very kind sponsors - some of them were anonymous and said they follow me on Twitter - Others were family and friends - I am so grateful for every penny donated - it goes straight to CRUK , where I am sure it will be put to good use.

Claire's message xx

Before the event started

It was my niece Bethany's 18th birthday last week and a few of us went for a meal at The Bothy in Glasgow's west end . I had never been before , but was very impressed with the service and the meal . I had scallops and Stornoway black pudding as starter and Chicken stuffed with black pudding for the main course . I learned something - too much black pudding is not good if you have an ileostomy -makes it look like you have melaena , although , I suppose , technically , that is what it is ! I didn't have a dessert , but had a piece of the delicious birthday cake that Sophie had made . Sophie is my nephew Matthew's fiancee - They are getting married in August , so that is another wedding to look forward to ! Was

lovely to see everyone , as we don't get a chance to be together very often . Beth is now on her way to New York with Aunt Mary for a break-hope they have a good time.She is starting at Glasgow University in September , so , good luck Beth ! The top photo is Beth , the middle one is Sophie and Matthew and the bottom is the clan ! For some reason , I can't label the photos -will need to look into that !

Our Paul is away to Poland for a holiday , and Claire, Paul , and Chloe are in Orlando -was it something I said ? I will post photos soon , but am starting to feel that maybe it is time that Bill and I had a holiday ! Not so much for me , but Bill has been by my side for over thirty years and the past few years have not been the most pleasant ! I know that travel insurance for cancer patients can be ridiculous , but I know of a few good companies who take in to account your condition . Hopefully We will be able to book a holiday soon . My PET scan is on Monday next , so , as long as it doesn't throw up any nasty surprises , surgery will go ahead on 15th June - gutted that I won't be able to go and see Barry Manilow , but the tickets have gone to a good home !
Talking of concerts.....ok , we weren't ! Bill and I went to the Glasgow Royal Concert hall on Saturday to hear the RSNO perform Beethoven's 9th symphony - great stuff ! There is a link to the concert on their website , if anyone is interested .

Saturday 21st May 2016
I always say I am going to be more active on the blog circuit,but life sometimes gets in the way-that's my excuse and I am sticking to it!
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy all complete-have had the six weeks "recovery" period from it,and have had MRI and CT scans. Went to see my new surgeon two weeks ago,and he showed me the 'before' and 'after' scans.It is actually the first time than I have seen scan results-was a wee bit daunting to think that this beast is growing deep in your body,waiting to do its' worst.
Anyway,the 'after' scan did show a definite shrinkage in the tumour,so the surgeon said that he could probably operate if the results of the PET scan are favourable-ie. no signs of disease anywhere else.He said that the operation is fairly major and it would be unfair to put me through it if there was other disease lurking in the body-fair enough! A bit of a deja vu feeling there-been through this last year!
The surgery involves total clearance of any organs in the lower pelvis-including the bladder.That would mean I would have a urostomy as well as an ileostomy-at least I will be well balanced!
I don't have a date for the PET scan as yet,but it will need to be soon as the surgeon has pencilled me in for the operation on 15th June! He says he needs to gather a team together-two colo-rectal surgeons,a urology surgeon,and a plastic surgeon to repair any deficits made from the clearance.
I have never had plastic surgery before,but I am quite sure it is not in the same league as that of the Kardashian clan, and I shall certainly not be posting any selfies!
The family continues to thrive and Chloe can now walk-there may be trouble ahead!
Bill and Paul and his dad ,Bob,went  to hospitality at the football a couple of weeks ago,so the WAGS(Claire,Maureen,Chloe and I) decided to go for afternoon tea-something I had never done,but had always wanted to do!It was really lovely-we went to a place called Cup in Merchant City in Glasgow.Would definitely go again!

Chloe with her two grans,Maureen and Anne

Claire and Chloe

eyes straight towards the cakes!

I have decided to to the Race For Life for CRUK this year,as I owe my life to them (and my surgeons,of course),because some of the chemo I have had over the years was developed by them.That takes place tomorrow,so I am hoping that the rain will stay off for at least an hour-should be fun!People have been very kind,and I have raised over £1,000 in sponsorship-wonderful!

Had a really lovely Christmas and New Year.It was a wee bit different this year,in that we all went to Claire and Paul's house for Christmas dinner.Everyone had a lovely time , and the meal was terrific ! Chloe was the centre of attention, as usual!

Little Miss Chloe

It's January 21st 2016 , and I have had nearly two weeks of my latest treatment regime. I get connected up to the chemo pump on a Monday and that gets changed every Monday for five weeks.I attend the Beatson every week day for radiotherapy.The chemo is 5fu,which I have had several times in the past.The radiotherapy machine is called a Linear Accelerator -Impressive piece of kit.I just lie on the table and let it do its' work.The radiographers are very thorough,and check your details and check that you are always in the correct position for treatment. So far,I am feeling well,and not suffering any nasty effects.I might not suffer any at all-everyone is different!.
I am getting on with life as normal.Bill and I went to see the new Star Wars movie-it was very good-a few hours of escapism.We also went, along with Rosie, to see the Chieftains ,who were performing in the annual Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow.It was a great concert,especially as a couple of their guests were Eddi Reader and Kris Kristofferson.Great night, although it was a bit surreal hearing Kristofferson singing "Me and Bobby McGee", accompanied by the Chieftains and the Glasgow Gaelic choir

Kris Kristofferson ,Glasgow Gaelic choir,and the Chieftains