I'm Off Again!

Day 54 - Every Brilliant Thing: Long Bike Rides!, a photo by Menage a Moi on Flickr.

This time Land's End to John O 'Groats in July 2012! :-)

Another Birthday!

Day 48 - Every Brilliant Thing: My Birthday!, a photo by Menage a Moi on Flickr.

And still fit and healthy! :-)

A Sign of Hope

Day 6 - A Sign of Hope, a photo by Menage a Moi on Flickr.

Happy New year! :-)

Day 342 - Year 6

Day 342 - Year 6, a photo by Menage a Moi on Flickr.

The sixth anniversary of my diagnosis. Thinking of those who weren't s lucky as me....

The Reports of My Demise....

No - this isn't me. It's a guy called Adrian Dewey who did the Vatternrundan with me over the summer. Adrian was the same age as me - and like me, was recovering from cancer. Unfortunately he had a recurrence of his Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in August and he died last week. My sympathies to his family - Adrian and I chatted on the ride a couple of times as we were amongst the oldest and slowest in our group! He was a nice guy. Cancer sucks.

The other upsetting thing that happened was that one of the other guys on the ride mistook Adrian for me ( you can see the resemblance) and thought I'd died! He wrote the following:

"He was a lovely bloke and was so overjoyed with his achievement that he was taking pictures left right and centre. I think we can say that he brought something to our lives, but am equally certain that we accompanied him on one of the absolute highlights of his life, too. So I guess we get a pat on the back for that... "

When I first read this I was furious that someone could be so crass and stupid (he has since apologised) but I also felt invaded in a way. Someone I hardly knew had chosen to do this assessment of me and my life. How dare he?!

I've calmed down a bit now and can accept that it was a mistake. But it has made me think about how I would want to be remembered. Hopefully this won't be for a long while and for something more than this....

Breakfast Show!

Day 255 - Breakfast Show!, a photo by Menage a Moi on Flickr.

Up early to do an interview on BBC Radio Tees about the latest Beating Bowel Cancer campaign. Thanks to reporter Katie Cole for agreeing to be in my SP :-)

Day 169 - Personal Best!

Day 169 - Personal Best!, a photo by Menage a Moi on Flickr.

And - some five and a half years after my diagnosis, I rode The Vatternrundan! :-)

Newspaper Cutting!

Newspaper Cutting! , a photo by Menage a Moi on Flickr.

:-)

Discharged!

So - almost 5 years to the day from my diagnosis, I went to the hospital today and got my Discharge Letter! Of course there will still be 3-yearly colonoscopies but that's only what any person over 50 should have.

And yes - I feel suddenly lighter.

Too many people to thank individually for their help, love and support over the last 5 years but I must mention three:

Mr Bain - my amazing, bluff bright tender and talented surgeon.

Jo - my dear dear friend who has been with me through all of this.

and

My mum Jean who sadly didn't live to see today - but I know somewhere she's smiling..

xxx

A Life Less Ordinary

Day 342 - A Life Less Ordinary
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi

On this day five years ago I was told I had bowel cancer. The following year was one of the most difficult of my life as I underwent surgery and chemo but it would have been impossible without the love and support of family and friends. And I know that not all of us who get the diagnosis make it.

Today I'm fit and healthy and looking forward - never back.

I had all sorts of ideas for the photo for today but in the end I just took a photo of a walk with Alfie near the Bike Centre in Swaledale where I spend so much of my time.

Because every day is somehow less ordinary...

Social Climber

Day 229 - Social Climber
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi

Still doing well - keeping myself fit on the bike.

Just back from a week mountainbiking in the Pyrenees - this is me at the top of the Port de Bales hill climb - one of the ones they do in the Tour de France! :-)

Checking In

Day 185: Apres Moi le Deluge...
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi

Still doing well - really into my mountain biking now. As you can see - the rain doesn't put me off!

Hemlock!

Day 30 - Hemlock!
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi

Just checking in.

Still doing well - feeling a bit under the weather at the moment but that's just something fluey I think.

Really enjoying my Mountain Biking at the moment so I've just bought a rather lovely Cotic Hemlock, custom-built by the equally lovely people at Dales Bike Centre. ( Other photos here)

Here's to a great year of biking!

Colonoscopy

I came back from a lovely holiday in the USA to an appointment letter for my next routine colonoscopy. So - yesterday was spent on the loo and Nil By Mouth and today I went in for it. All done kindly and gently but nonetheless always a bit nervewarcking.

They told me that all was clear and that my next one will be in three years which is just what any man of my age should have - irrespective of having previously had cancer.

I can't say I was expecting any other result - I've been feeling great - but given how life can sometimes kick you in the er... arse, it's still a relief.

While I'm updating - I've also just gone part-time at work. A bit more time to spend on photography, writing and of course, on the bike.

Once my bum's recovered of course....

Coast To Coast!

Tynemouth!
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi

Well - I'm still doing fine. My latest exploit was a sponsored cycle ride ( for Cancer Research...) from Whitehaven to Tynemouth - 150 miles in 3 days! Wet and cold and windy - but a real achievement and some great lads to ride with.

Think I'll have a bit of a sleep now... :-)

Great North Bike Ride!

Journey's End!
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi

Hi

Just to let you know I'm still doing well. I completed a 60 mile sponsored bike yesterday!

Hospital

Intermission
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi

I had a brief stay in hospital over the weekend with suspected appendicitis!

I'm out now, having narrowly avoided surgery due to :

* their unwillingness to operate on someone with my medical history unless they really needed to

* morphine ;;))

* and a promise to rest for a few days and take all of my antibiotics...

One positive thing to come out of it was that they also checked my CEA markers and they're still normal.

Fifty!

Fifty!
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi is Fifty today!

It's good to feel that I only have to report in here occasionally now.

So - I made it to fifty! Many of us don't - I never forget that.

Lekhayim!

Another Year Ends...

Day 366 - I Thank You...
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi

...and I'm still healthy - if not so wealthy or wise....

Here's to 2009!

Weird Scenes Inside...

Day 343 - Weird Scenes Inside...
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi

Today is the third anniversary of me being told I had bowel cancer. I'm holding the original CT scan.

I might not have thought about it specifically today had I not also got a letter in the post from my consultant confirming that my latest test scores are all completely normal!