33. Queens View

Photos: Matt & Dawsie on TheHerald Magazine; Scotland Newsagent Billboards; Nina & Anthony Wedding Party; Dawsie, Jen & Beautiful Bride Nina; Bridesmaid Kas and friends; Matt & Anthony the Groom; Skipping stones under the Forth Road Bridge...

What a fortnight! As you may already know, I signed up for the next month's Conquer a Corbett challenge in the bonny Scottish highlands...a Corbett is a mountain between 2,500 & 3,000 feet for the non-walkers and non-scots among us. It's planned to be a good day out on May 26th, we can raise a few quid for MacMillan Cancer Research and get fit in the process - it was funny to hear that the papers wanted me and my mate Dawsie to represent the cause and pose for a few snaps. The location was chosen to be up at "Queens View" with a great view looking over Loch Lomond with the sun setting over our shoulders. Our ignorance really shone through when we had to ask the photographer questions about what and when these pics will be used. So you can imagine the laughs we caused when we woke up last weekend to every Scottish newsagent advertising The Herald with a photo of us boys posing on the front. Gold!

It was the same day we woke to the newspapers, that we had woken after a great day and night out. Kas' best friend since 4 years old, Nina, got married to another Aussie bloke (and younger too...) Anthony on the Friday. We spent the previous night at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh before heading off to the stunning venue in South Queensferry. This place seemed to have a real Aussie feel to it and it certainly welcomed all of the guests for the day perfectly. Nina looked gorgeous, just like a porcelain doll and big Ant looked pretty good too in his Scottish skirt, the bonny kilt. Such a good day to leave all my CML issues back at home and a chance to burn the dance floor up without too many worries...

So then in the midst of the hype and gearing up for Kas's brother Gav and Nat's wedding next weekend, the Aussies playing well in the Cricket World Cup, mum and dad arriving in a few days time...I was pulled way back to earth yesterday with an email from my consultant. It seemed that when I didn't see him personally last visit, the registrar who I saw took a PCR test and I was just given the details yesterday. Not too good, but not too bad either...it's another result exactly the same as the previous three - 2.7%. I'll be seeing my doc this Wednesday, so from there I think we now have enough ammunition to present a pretty good cause for me getting off these meds and onto one of the new drugs - preferably Nilotinib or "son of Gleevec". It'll be a very important catch up as far as I'm concerned...I know by now my CML counts should have come down way below the mark it's currently at. I'm also a tad worried that they recommend the Bone Marrow Transplant route now as we have a little one due in September...not very good timing as you can imagine. It'll be a tough call as I am feeling so good right now, fitter than I've ever been and looking extremely, extremely handsome ;) Fingers crossed for the new meds...

So now it's onto the next countdown and something I've really been looking forward to over the past few months...my folks arrive back in Scotland for a holiday on Wednesday. I can't wait to see them - let's just hope the good run of sunny weather continues while they are here.

Well done to Ali who completed the London Marathon last weekend for me and The Anthony Nolan Trust. Such a gutsy effort in pretty hot conditions!! He's raised almost two grand and still has a small way to go to reach his target of £2,500 - check out his site at http://www.justgiving.com/ajtb

For more info on our Conquer a Corbett Challenge in May, check out our site at : http://www.justgiving.com/conqueracorbett

So until my appointment this Wednesday... thanks for the messages and emails! Keep them coming in...

32. Spring has Sprung

Photos: 2 x My 29th Birthday last week; Spring has arrived in Scotland; The boys to climb the Corbett (bottom of page)...

Finally things seem to be slowing down a little and giving us time to catch our breath, see each other for more than one day and start to think about the year ahead. Just trying to get our head around everything that’s going on right now is a slight struggle. Then there’s the news of Karen’s pregnancy…this will inevitably curb our somewhat selfish lifestyle. No more trips for two to Europe anymore, there’ll be three soon… And I can’t say I’m at all disappointed about the addition to the Sinclair Clan later this year. I’m still over the moon and looking forward to September more and more…

Then there’s the CML. It’s been great that it has been forced to take a back seat lately. I doubt there will ever be a day I don’t think about it…I always seem to be summing up options, checking new therapies and keeping involved with the Leukaemia charity work. Although I’ve never let it get the better of me and consume me, I can say that I do think about it less each day. And it’s great to witness others who are close to me do the same.
As for my doctor appointment two weeks ago; I’d got myself very ready and prepared to talk to my Consultant about the not-so-good PCR results. I felt I needed to talk about other options and determine what the next route I will take. However, I was met by another registrar who told me my ‘usual’ doc was on hols and if it was ok to see her instead. I wasn’t too concerned as she looked like a supermodel but I was felt slightly let down as I had so many questions still hanging over me…and a few Karen made me ask too. So the diagnosis was anti-climax and the remedy was to see my ‘usual’ doc in a 4 weeks time (cheesy I know…)

So that was that…the quiet time has come and it has now gone. I celebrated my 29th birthday last Friday in Glasgow’s West End with a bunch of mates. We kicked off proceedings with a few beers and then later that night we headed out for an Indian curry. Love it! This weekend is Karen’s friend’s Nina and Anthony’s wedding (best friends since age 4), so it’ll be time to don the Sinclair Tartan kilt once again and burn up the dance floor with my highland free-flowing dance skills. I really am terrible with the bagpipe tunes but I’ll do my best to represent the Aussie’s and make them proud.
Then not long after, my folks will arrive back on the bonny shores for their holiday; I can’t wait for the catch up and show them around the ever greener country-side. I love seeing Spring liven up everything and breathe life back into the world after a long north hemisphere winter… They’ll also be here for Karen’s brother Gav and Natalie’s wedding in early May.

So there’s plenty to keep me busy, entertained and my mind off the up coming doctor’s appointment in two weeks time. I’ll admit that I’m slightly apprehensive and a tad nervous about seeing him – not too keen on any bursting my bubble just yet. But life must go on…unfortunately that includes a few trips to the oncology ward to sort out these dodgy Leukaemia cells. I’m just so pumped and positive to knock these cells down to a manageable level, gain a good PCR result and to keep all my energy for Karen and ensure she’s doing well with her pregnancy. I do hate giving her any added stress and worries; and that’s why the docs have agreed to give Kas a 20 week scan to make sure everything is going well.

So until my next appointment in a fortnight…check out our ‘Conquer a Corbett’ site. My mates Darren, Dawsie, Nic and I will be climbing Beinn Luibhean for MacMillan cancer research. They’re hoping to conquer all the Scottish Corbetts (mountains between 2,500 and 3,000 feet) in the month of May. If you’re in Scotland, pick up a copy of The Herald this Saturday to see myself and Dawsie posing like a couple of amateur climbers… http://www.justgiving.com/conqueracorbett

Also, Gav’s best mate Ali is running the London Marathon on 22nd April for me and the Anthony Nolan Trust. If you’ve got 5 minutes, support him by checking out his site at… http://www.justgiving.com/ajtb

Keep the emails and messages coming in…