Oh Hark all thee NHS

Hello supporters,

In the week I took hubby to our school's carol service. Selfishly I wanted to go to see our girls, to have a sing song but most of all I wanted to get Man out.  And we had a lovely evening - carols, mince pies and intros to some of my work colleagues. 

I haven't been inside a church for a couple of years but - a carol service takes me back to being in the choir and a chill in the air, a serene reminder of the reason of why we celebrate Christmas.

The chamber choir, the orchestra, the arrangement was wonderful. I struggled to hit the top As but the descants still came naturally to me. I thank my mum for choosing a church school - whether or not I appreciated it at the time, my sister and a I had a well rounded education and an appreciation of music. Christmas brings music alive.

I was proud to introduce my husband to my work colleagues. He met influential people and made them laugh (to my expense). He wore his body armour which was conspicuous and hence a talking point about his 'injury', as to why he couldn't sit at the front, and why we needed to be near a column  (to lean on).   And so we sang, sort of, we listened in awe of the soloists and the orchestra. I have huge respect for the students who dedicate time to rehearsals; it was a pleasure to sign them out of of school and see them pop off to the church to rehearse. Again, a throw back to my childhood, waiting in the wings whilst listening to dad tuning up and relishing the band warming up.

And so, an introduction whilst wearing a body armour is a talking point. I've got the patter down and say that 'hubby has a blood cancer which has eaten his pelvis'. And everyone we've said that to has been kind and thoughtful and sympathetic. And a wonderful friend, JC (not THE JC but near as damn it) has given us practical advice and a promise to pray for us. We'll take that.

Hubby has decided that his response to those awkward questions will be ' I'm recovering from cancer'. Wow, what a hero - he doesn't want to upset strangers or make friends feel awkward. And yet, the celebration that he's recovering is so positive - again, myeloma can do one and I'll take the recovering story.

This weekend my amazing dad has visited - he joined me at work on Saturday and celebrated Christmas with some wonderful, talented children. It was an honour to introduce my dad to friends. The fact that he took his recently restrung guitar in and them promptly forgot it was not a bother - my friends and some students will remember Mr Butterfly for being part of the Shiney Christmas celebrations).

I digress - yesterday, a lovely man from the NHS came to deliver and install some OH aids - two leaning stools and an aid to assist man getting out of bed. The OH therapist also prescribed a lift to help  raise the bed to assist Man getting out but that's yet to arrive.

We have an appointment to go to UCH on Friday - but we don't think it will be beneficial as they don't have Man's records. There's lucid talk about stem cell harvest but we'll know more in the next few weeks - bear with us.

In the meantime, hubby will attend the funeral of a very gorgeous man - a man whose wedding we attended only 3 three years ago.  Our thoughts and love are with his wife.

Time is precious - I hope we spend it wisely xx