All work and no play …

We never got away in Doris, in the end. Things just got on top of us. C’s chemo came as regular as clockwork every Thursday (throughout which she was fabulous), we had a couple of issues with the Focus (a broken ignition coil and, an as yet unfixed, high pressure fuel pump), we spent some time with Jen and James, and the weather has been so good we weren’t enticed away. So Doris got her alarm fixed (the habitation door reed-magnetic switch needed replacing) and we pottered about.

C’s chemo is done. Six sessions of having her insides washed out with some form of acid has been remarkably incident free. She has a check up in 6 weeks, at which point we will find out if she has the all clear. Throughout we have tried very hard to keep active, walking most days with a figure of 5kms in mind which, on occasion, has made it to 8km. And we have sorted lots of stuff (popping down to C’s middle sister’s to help her out), made the garden pretty (‘we’ doing a lot of heavy lifting here – it’s mostly C, although I have abstractly planted some potatoes from ones which have seeded before we could eat them from Sainsbury’s), and visited more people.

Two Army pals of ours have been under the cosh. It’s not my place to articulate their woes, but C and I have done our best to visit, resplendent with metaphorical grapes. We have also met up with Mike and Anne, on the other side of the Seven, as well as popping over to see Daren and Karen, who always make us laugh. 

and we did Easter

I have got some comments back from my beta readers for ‘The Machines Came Too. I hope to incorporate those any moment now and then wing the manuscript over to Julia (my professional proofreader, who is fab), before we go to print – so to speak – sometime in July. Book sales, with limited Facebook marketing, has been better than – but not much better than – flat. I’m selling between 30 and 60 books a month, which is fine, but there’s no organic growth. I am going to share the latest script with a couple of publishers and see if I get any interest.

Along similar lines, I have had a chunk of work with a school in the southwest, helping with strategic planning. Most middle-ranking public schools are struggling with the VAT rise and the business rates knock. I am trying to provide some horsepower here. As always, I am helping more than I’m being paid, but I see it as giving something back, if you see what I mean. 

weather has been fab

But it’s not all work and a dull boy. I’m writing this in Rhodes. After C’s last chemo, we rushed straight to Tui and took the first all inclusive on their list. Bizarrely 11 nights was cheaper than 10, so here we are – hire car ‘n all. It is a tonic – the weather is ‘scorchio’ and the rugged coastline is pretty perfect. You’ll be pleased to hear we’re still walking (and I’m still running), and we’re trying hard not to drink the taps dry – they literally serve wine from taps in the dining room; Chateau-Neuf-Du-De-Pape it is not … but it’s all inclusive, so why not? To be fair the place is lovely, the staff welcoming, the room massive, the sea swimmable and food tasty. What’s not to like (4 days hire car for 90 Euros … beat that)?

And then, after a week at home, we’re off to Dubai to meet up with R, S AND HENRY! They have a short break and asked us if we wanted to join them? Dubai has always been on my list, mostly because of the architecture. Throw in Henry and you have the perfect long weekend. Fabulous.

loving Rhodes

That’s us. For the record I put new front brakes on the bikes and C went over the handlebars and broke her wrist the other day. In my defence I did warn her. But that’s all being fixed. And I’m fine. Sinuses are still rubbish and I am not getting any younger. I tend not to wander topless poolside, in case I put anyone off their free pina coladas. Mind you …

Stay safe.