I have just got in from a 5 mile bike ride along the Basingstoke canal. Bloody gorgeous!
It is such a fabulous evening and it was so peaceful. My legs are working well but my bum is distinctly lacking padding. I was almost tempted to sit on you know what.
I did my first full day in the office today and it went really well. I managed to get a lot done and the concentration has returned.
It will be 8 weeks on Wednesday and time is flying by now. I see my consultant on Thursday and on Saturday we are off to London to see another play which this time is a Greek tragedy. I guess my absence of a bum would be described by the Greeks as a tragedy. Filthy buggers.
I will update you all after my consultants meeting.
Much love,
Jon ; x
Monday, 29 June 2009
Thursday, 25 June 2009
All's well that ends well
My first big outing last night. Marilyn and I went up to London and had a lovely walk along the Thames in glorious sunshine. We then had dinner at the National prior to seeing “All’s well that ends well” which is apt. It was a fantastic production which I enjoyed and a fairly straight forward story line made it easy to follow. I thought the conclusion was a bit unsatisfactory as he tied up all the loose ends in about 2 minutes. I suspect his tea was ready. I am generally not a huge fan of Shakespeare as it needs to be done well in my opinion and unless you are familiar with the play you do not have time to appreciate the intricacies of the language and the plot. It was bloody long and I wasn’t up to sitting down for 3 hours and had trouble getting going when we left. We got home about midnight and I was very tired so we won’t repeat that just yet. None the less it was great to be out and about and being normal.
I have been working in the mornings this week which has gone well and I am enjoying being back and using my brain again. My staff have all buggered of on holiday so I will have to do a fairly full week next week otherwise no one will be in. I will still come home for a lunch time nap though.
Progress is still good and I am looking forward to my consultants meeting next Thursday.
Love, Jon ; x
I have been working in the mornings this week which has gone well and I am enjoying being back and using my brain again. My staff have all buggered of on holiday so I will have to do a fairly full week next week otherwise no one will be in. I will still come home for a lunch time nap though.
Progress is still good and I am looking forward to my consultants meeting next Thursday.
Love, Jon ; x
Saturday, 20 June 2009
Bag Review
Now that things have settled down I have been able to try different types of bags. Here are a few of my reviews to date.
String Bag 0/10
The name says it all. Useless
Golf Bag 1/10
Cumbersome but a handy compartment for the balls
Gladstone Bag 3/10
Very comfy but I am left with this inexplicable hatred for Disraeli
Hoover Bag 8/10
One of my favourites, particularly at the dinner table.
Sleeping Bag 6/10
Excellent capacity but causes drowsiness.
Hand Bag 2/10
Convenient but leaks through the fingers
Love, Jon ; x
String Bag 0/10
The name says it all. Useless
Golf Bag 1/10
Cumbersome but a handy compartment for the balls
Gladstone Bag 3/10
Very comfy but I am left with this inexplicable hatred for Disraeli
Hoover Bag 8/10
One of my favourites, particularly at the dinner table.
Sleeping Bag 6/10
Excellent capacity but causes drowsiness.
Hand Bag 2/10
Convenient but leaks through the fingers
Love, Jon ; x
Friday, 19 June 2009
I have just joined twitter and posted my first tweet!
I am looking for followers and people to follow so please look me up.
www.twitter.com/jonbeale
I am looking for followers and people to follow so please look me up.
www.twitter.com/jonbeale
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
This and that
I am now back at work in the mornings after a leisurely post rush hour start and then home again in time for lunch and an afternoon nap. I could get very used to this. I have also started driving again locally and it is great to be independent. I even managed a site meeting on Tuesday.
What a great time to have off with all the sport that’s on at the moment. There is the 20/20 cricket (yes, Australia were in it in case you blinked), tennis, rugby and now the US Open golf followed by Wimbledon and then the Ashes.
I can’t believe it is now 6 weeks since the operation. On one hand it seems ages ago as I am quite used to life with the bag, but on the other hand I am aware just how recent it all was and I mustn’t rush the recovery. I am still making very good progress and I am looking forward to seeing my consultant in 2 weeks to plan the way ahead. With each passing week and I can see a big improvement on the previous week. Life is good.
Love, Jon ; xx
What a great time to have off with all the sport that’s on at the moment. There is the 20/20 cricket (yes, Australia were in it in case you blinked), tennis, rugby and now the US Open golf followed by Wimbledon and then the Ashes.
I can’t believe it is now 6 weeks since the operation. On one hand it seems ages ago as I am quite used to life with the bag, but on the other hand I am aware just how recent it all was and I mustn’t rush the recovery. I am still making very good progress and I am looking forward to seeing my consultant in 2 weeks to plan the way ahead. With each passing week and I can see a big improvement on the previous week. Life is good.
Love, Jon ; xx
Monday, 15 June 2009
Another Photo
This is another family photo where I must agree with brother Bob that there is a family likeness. Thanks for the photo Bob, I know Jennifer will be particularly delighted and perversely, I have never fancied Marilyn more.
Jon ;
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Perfect Day
A lovely family day today. Jen came down for the weekend and Oli came home for the day. We all walked to our local gastro pub for a Sunday lunch which was my first outing to a restaurant since the op. Oli and Jen ordered a bottle of champagne as a surprise and we all toasted good health followed by a Sunday roast. We walked home again in beautiful sunshine and sat in the garden chatting and reminiscing. A perfect afternoon.
Jon; xx
Click on photo to enlarge.
Jon; xx
Click on photo to enlarge.
Friday, 12 June 2009
Braces
Today I discovered braces (although I prefer the word suspenders). I love them. I have been struggling with belts that have been really uncomfortable and Marilyn pointed out that the booklet I had been given on my ileostomy suggested braces. What a comfortable revelation.
Britain still treats braces as underwear and considers they should not be seen. They were popular for a 100 years before the first world war until uniforms, which used belts, changed the fashion. After the war waistcoat,s which hid the braces, also went out of fashion and braces went with them.
I could be converted and would love a matching braces, cardigan and slippers set.
They are also very handy for catapulting my used bags into next doors garden. His tomatoes are coming on a treat.
Jon;
Britain still treats braces as underwear and considers they should not be seen. They were popular for a 100 years before the first world war until uniforms, which used belts, changed the fashion. After the war waistcoat,s which hid the braces, also went out of fashion and braces went with them.
I could be converted and would love a matching braces, cardigan and slippers set.
They are also very handy for catapulting my used bags into next doors garden. His tomatoes are coming on a treat.
Jon;
Boring
It's official…..I am now at the boring stage!
I was warned that progress would be very slow for about 6 weeks followed by a rapid improvement. It is now 3 weeks since I joined the escape committee and tunnelled out the ward. I am getting a bit fed up with not feeling a 100% and pooing out of my stomach. Just to jolly me along I also have a urinary infection which is also par for the course.
On the plus side I can see a significant improvement when I look back to day 1.
I am managing to walk 2 miles a day now and even manage a couple of hours office work a day which is my limit. I am eating well and can touch my toes although I was disappointed with the achievement. The toes are not a particularly attractive or sensitive part of the anatomy so I wish I hadn’t bothered really.
Growing up in Australia and New Zealand we never wore shoes as boys and were always bare footed. As a consequence we had soles as leathery as Sir Chris Hoy’s scrotum. When I first came to England at the tender age of 18 I lived with my uncle and aunt in the tiny village of Jacobswell. To my amusement I was stopped by the local bobby on his bike and grilled about being a suspected vagrant. The reason, as it turned out, was because I was bare footed. I thought this was the most ridiculous thing ever. Fast forward about 30 years and I was as equally horrified as that poor bobby by Oli. We picked him up bare footed at Heathrow on his return from Thailand on the first of 3 separate gap years. He still had half of Koh Samui between his toes. He said someone had stolen his trainers 3 months previous and he didn’t have any money to replace them!
I see my consultant in about 3 weeks by which time I should be back to my old self. I can do 3 weeks standing on my head. On second thoughts, this is probably not a good idea with the bag.
Love, Jon; xx
I was warned that progress would be very slow for about 6 weeks followed by a rapid improvement. It is now 3 weeks since I joined the escape committee and tunnelled out the ward. I am getting a bit fed up with not feeling a 100% and pooing out of my stomach. Just to jolly me along I also have a urinary infection which is also par for the course.
On the plus side I can see a significant improvement when I look back to day 1.
I am managing to walk 2 miles a day now and even manage a couple of hours office work a day which is my limit. I am eating well and can touch my toes although I was disappointed with the achievement. The toes are not a particularly attractive or sensitive part of the anatomy so I wish I hadn’t bothered really.
Growing up in Australia and New Zealand we never wore shoes as boys and were always bare footed. As a consequence we had soles as leathery as Sir Chris Hoy’s scrotum. When I first came to England at the tender age of 18 I lived with my uncle and aunt in the tiny village of Jacobswell. To my amusement I was stopped by the local bobby on his bike and grilled about being a suspected vagrant. The reason, as it turned out, was because I was bare footed. I thought this was the most ridiculous thing ever. Fast forward about 30 years and I was as equally horrified as that poor bobby by Oli. We picked him up bare footed at Heathrow on his return from Thailand on the first of 3 separate gap years. He still had half of Koh Samui between his toes. He said someone had stolen his trainers 3 months previous and he didn’t have any money to replace them!
I see my consultant in about 3 weeks by which time I should be back to my old self. I can do 3 weeks standing on my head. On second thoughts, this is probably not a good idea with the bag.
Love, Jon; xx
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
My Dad
My lovely father, Big Bob, died a year ago today aged 91. He was a remarkable man in many ways most notable of which was a keen sense of humour. All of us 4 boys inherited it and it is a wonderful gift to pass on to your children. Just as well he passed something on as he achieved his life’s goal which was to die owing your children money!
He was the eldest of 4 children and was brought up in a modest police house in Westminster. His father was a PC in Vine Street police station and excelled himself with 20 years service without promotion. Dad was an exceptional student and won a scholarship to Westminster School where he excelled in both the arts and science.
University was not an option financially so he successfully studied for his BSc and PhD in Bio Chemistry part time. By the time he had completed his PhD he had 4 small boys to support.
During the war he was sentenced to 2 years in prison for refusing to be conscripted into the armed force and he served 8 months before an appeal saw him released.
We emigrated to New Zealand in 1953, Australia in 1956, New Zealand again in 1957 and back to Australia in 1959 where we all (except me) stayed becoming naturalised Australians. He never lost his love of Westminster and we placed half his ashes in the Thames opposite Big Ben.
He was always singing and remembered the words of every song and poem he heard. He was fluent in French and Latin and was one of the few people who could still speak old English.
At his 80th birthday party I confessed that when I used to get cross with him as a child I would wee on his tooth brush in retribution. He thought we might be onto something as he still had all his own teeth.
He loved my mother deeply and they were married just short of 70 years. She died 2 weeks after him which says it all. I am certain they are both up there pulling strings for me. I love and miss them both.
Jon; x
He was the eldest of 4 children and was brought up in a modest police house in Westminster. His father was a PC in Vine Street police station and excelled himself with 20 years service without promotion. Dad was an exceptional student and won a scholarship to Westminster School where he excelled in both the arts and science.
University was not an option financially so he successfully studied for his BSc and PhD in Bio Chemistry part time. By the time he had completed his PhD he had 4 small boys to support.
During the war he was sentenced to 2 years in prison for refusing to be conscripted into the armed force and he served 8 months before an appeal saw him released.
We emigrated to New Zealand in 1953, Australia in 1956, New Zealand again in 1957 and back to Australia in 1959 where we all (except me) stayed becoming naturalised Australians. He never lost his love of Westminster and we placed half his ashes in the Thames opposite Big Ben.
He was always singing and remembered the words of every song and poem he heard. He was fluent in French and Latin and was one of the few people who could still speak old English.
At his 80th birthday party I confessed that when I used to get cross with him as a child I would wee on his tooth brush in retribution. He thought we might be onto something as he still had all his own teeth.
He loved my mother deeply and they were married just short of 70 years. She died 2 weeks after him which says it all. I am certain they are both up there pulling strings for me. I love and miss them both.
Jon; x
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Video response from my bothers Bob and Mark.
My brothers are never ones to turn down a challenge!
This is best in full screen if you can manage it(middle button, bottom right on clip screen. Press Esc, top left keyboard, when finished). Bob is in the true Aussie porn star style by leaving his socks on.
Well I did promise you full frontal nudity at 3,000 visits!
Great video boys.
Jon xx
Saturday, 6 June 2009
A few of my favourite things
Favourite Supermarket:
Waitrose, because of their 10p bag for life campaign.
Favourite actor:
Timothy Bottoms
Favourite number:
Number 2
Favourite Book:
“Gone with the wind”
Favourite Food:
Bubble and squeak
Favourite General:
Colon Powell
Favourite Bridge Bid:
No trumps
Favourite songs:
“Poop Jon B” Beach Boys
“Baggy Trousers” Madness
“Papas got a brand new bag” James Brown
Waitrose, because of their 10p bag for life campaign.
Favourite actor:
Timothy Bottoms
Favourite number:
Number 2
Favourite Book:
“Gone with the wind”
Favourite Food:
Bubble and squeak
Favourite General:
Colon Powell
Favourite Bridge Bid:
No trumps
Favourite songs:
“Poop Jon B” Beach Boys
“Baggy Trousers” Madness
“Papas got a brand new bag” James Brown
Thursday, 4 June 2009
London Olympic Blog
I have have another blog site which I have been running for some time now purely for my own amusement as Oli seems to be my only loyal fan.
Please have a look at it if you are bored, suicidal, drunk or constipated. Don't believe a word of it as it is just my weird sense of humour. Please don't feel obliged to flog through it all or leave a post.
The site is londonolympicblog.com
Jon;
Please have a look at it if you are bored, suicidal, drunk or constipated. Don't believe a word of it as it is just my weird sense of humour. Please don't feel obliged to flog through it all or leave a post.
The site is londonolympicblog.com
Jon;
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
More good news!
I met my oncologist earlier this evening and it is good news.
She explained that my tumour had not broken through the bowel wall and had not reached the surrounding blood vessels or lymphatic system. It had however got into the bowel muscle. It was classed as a low grade class 2 tumour which is good. There is an 80% chance that I am completely cured and a 20% chance the cancer will return. If it returns it is likely to affect the liver or lungs. Chemotherapy will only increase the odds to about 82% and whilst it is my decision, she felt because I was low grade it would not make any real difference. I haven’t made my mind up but there seems little sense in putting myself through 6 months of chemo, which would have to start in 4 weeks time, just to chase an extra 2% chance.
I will be screened every 3 months for 2 years with scans, blood tests and chest x rays which should pick up any cancer should it return. It can then be treated by surgery and/or chemo. If after 2 years, I am still in the clear, then my chances are very very good and after 3 years I am virtually in the clear. I would then be screened only every 5 years. The message was that if it was coming back then this will happen early not late and the longer I am in the clear the better it will be. Regular screening will allow it to be nipped in the bud.
The oncologist left us with the impression however that due to the low grade nature I fell within the 80% fully cured band.
We are all confident that I am cured and are happy that we will have the comfort of regular screening.
I can now get on with recovering from the operation, without having to worry about chemo, and hopefully prepare for the ileostomy reversal in a couple of months time.
I can’t believe it is only 4 weeks today since the operation and 6 weeks since diagnosis! So much has happened to get to where we are today. It has been made bearable by the love and support of my family and all of you you lovely bunch of bloggers.
Love, Jon; x
She explained that my tumour had not broken through the bowel wall and had not reached the surrounding blood vessels or lymphatic system. It had however got into the bowel muscle. It was classed as a low grade class 2 tumour which is good. There is an 80% chance that I am completely cured and a 20% chance the cancer will return. If it returns it is likely to affect the liver or lungs. Chemotherapy will only increase the odds to about 82% and whilst it is my decision, she felt because I was low grade it would not make any real difference. I haven’t made my mind up but there seems little sense in putting myself through 6 months of chemo, which would have to start in 4 weeks time, just to chase an extra 2% chance.
I will be screened every 3 months for 2 years with scans, blood tests and chest x rays which should pick up any cancer should it return. It can then be treated by surgery and/or chemo. If after 2 years, I am still in the clear, then my chances are very very good and after 3 years I am virtually in the clear. I would then be screened only every 5 years. The message was that if it was coming back then this will happen early not late and the longer I am in the clear the better it will be. Regular screening will allow it to be nipped in the bud.
The oncologist left us with the impression however that due to the low grade nature I fell within the 80% fully cured band.
We are all confident that I am cured and are happy that we will have the comfort of regular screening.
I can now get on with recovering from the operation, without having to worry about chemo, and hopefully prepare for the ileostomy reversal in a couple of months time.
I can’t believe it is only 4 weeks today since the operation and 6 weeks since diagnosis! So much has happened to get to where we are today. It has been made bearable by the love and support of my family and all of you you lovely bunch of bloggers.
Love, Jon; x
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Oncologist
You are a smutty lot! Blog visit numbers soared yesterday, presumably just because my arse was on show. I know what you all like. You are not into life/death struggles, divine intervention, surgical miracles or emotional turmoil. No, what you really like are poo jokes and naked bums! Roll on 3000 visits and perhaps another naked treat?
The oncologist phoned yesterday and I have an appointment with her tomorrow (Wednesday) evening. Finally I can get information on the type of cancer I had, how advanced it was and a prognosis for the future. I am a little nervous as on one hand my surgeon is saying I am cured and on the other he has arranged for me to see an oncologist and is hinting at chemo. I will update you tomorrow after the meeting.
Love, Jon; xx
The oncologist phoned yesterday and I have an appointment with her tomorrow (Wednesday) evening. Finally I can get information on the type of cancer I had, how advanced it was and a prognosis for the future. I am a little nervous as on one hand my surgeon is saying I am cured and on the other he has arranged for me to see an oncologist and is hinting at chemo. I will update you tomorrow after the meeting.
Love, Jon; xx
Monday, 1 June 2009
Ramblings
I hope you enjoyed the video. Within 5 mins of being on youtube it had 40 hits! Thank God I didn't turn around.
I have had a really good weekend and I am making steady progress.
I am now getting a regular stream of visitors to the Lodge who are most welcome.
Jen called in today with Matt on their way back from a weeks holiday in Wales. As usual it was great to see them both. Jen just exudes confidence and joie de vivre. I am constantly proud to be her Dad.
When I was four we emigrated from central London to Rotorua in New Zealand where we lived for about 4 years. It was a tiny country town built in an extinct volcano crater. We therefore had an abundance of geysers, boiling mud and a permanent smell of rotten egg gas. The town was on the edge of a large lake with living Maori villages, built in traditional ways, around the shore. At the other end of town was Whakarewarewa another Maori village set amongst a very active thermal area. We lived half way between the lake and Whaka and it was a huge adventure playground for us boys. I particularly loved the boiling mud pools which gurgled and burped mud with a strong sulphur smell.
I wonder why I am now suddenly reminded of those days!
Much love to you all and a warm welcome to our new bloggers the Boyds.
love,
Jon; xx
I have had a really good weekend and I am making steady progress.
I am now getting a regular stream of visitors to the Lodge who are most welcome.
Jen called in today with Matt on their way back from a weeks holiday in Wales. As usual it was great to see them both. Jen just exudes confidence and joie de vivre. I am constantly proud to be her Dad.
When I was four we emigrated from central London to Rotorua in New Zealand where we lived for about 4 years. It was a tiny country town built in an extinct volcano crater. We therefore had an abundance of geysers, boiling mud and a permanent smell of rotten egg gas. The town was on the edge of a large lake with living Maori villages, built in traditional ways, around the shore. At the other end of town was Whakarewarewa another Maori village set amongst a very active thermal area. We lived half way between the lake and Whaka and it was a huge adventure playground for us boys. I particularly loved the boiling mud pools which gurgled and burped mud with a strong sulphur smell.
I wonder why I am now suddenly reminded of those days!
Much love to you all and a warm welcome to our new bloggers the Boyds.
love,
Jon; xx
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