Hi everyone. So sorry that I haven’t done an update for so long. Various people have nagged me in Xmas letters so I thought I’d do a swift update and then write a little more in the next week or so. I am fine at the moment, and not due back to see the consultant until very early Feb. Also, I have just been told that my retirement to ill-health has been approved, which frankly I wasn’t expecting. It won’t be much, but will remove me from this strange limbo state and make me officially retired. I can move into the retired teachers’ section of the NUT!!
It is a bit sad in a way, but I will have to move on and make a new life for myself. I have been very active with my TU and political work, but can’t spend all my time in front of the computer and sending angry letters to the paper! So I must find other creative outlets which I do for my own pleasure (or so says my psychologist, and I think she’s right).
BTW, there was a very good article in the Guardian the other day by a guy who is a journalist, left-winger, my age and myeloma sufferer. I wish I could have written something as good. It’s about the constant use of war imagery in the fight against cancer and the need to empower patients: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/29/war-fight-cancer-empowering-patient. Please read it if you have time.
There are lots of family issues to keep me occupied too, with Tom and Jem getting married in Feb, Bob’s Nan reaching 100 shortly and sadly, the illness of his dad (asbestosis).
I haven’t got time for more right now, but will try to write more soon. Keep well and have a good 2010!
