tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-192530372024-03-14T03:46:30.793+00:00CML DiaryMy name is Matt Sinclair and I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia on 19th October 2005 at the age of 27.
I have written this diary to keep my family and friends informed how things are going with me in Scotland.Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-25892683644765772772014-07-23T13:02:00.003+01:002014-07-23T13:15:52.272+01:0062. Still Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe at Dee Why</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly holding our new nephew Noah</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe and I at Dee Why Beach</td></tr>
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I'm not quite sure where to begin...it’s only been 3 years and 2 months since my last update. First things first, life is good! As I look back over my posts that began nearly 9 years ago, it’s a nice relief to be able to say that. Sitting in an eerily quiet haematology ward and hearing the dreaded, and very unexpected, news from a nervous registrar, seems a lifetime ago. Those words however, still ring as clear now as they did in 2005... Life hasn't all been good however during these past 3 years, 2 months but I'll elaborate on that later. It's mid-Winter in Sydney and there's a distinct night-time chill in the air - it's funny how we've acclimatised since moving back to Australia nearly two years ago. I would definitely have a lot less clothing on if I was still in Scotland! We made the call to move pack up our life and move to Australia as my CML was stable, with my PCR seemingly resolute on staying at 0.01%. Timing was also good due to the kids ages of 5 and 1 (just short of 2), with this being such a great opportunity for our girls to make good use of their Aussie passports. Whilst we have never regretted the move, you can never underestimate what stress a move like this can put on your body - I'm not sure if it was sheer coincidence following the stress of the move, or a genuine side-effect from my ever reliable medication Dasatinib, however my first appointment with a highly respected CML specialist in Oz didn't go as planned. We came here for the life I knew growing up...sun, sun and sun! The lifestyle is awesome and very easy to slip back to the old way of life. I didn't exactly anticipate being told by the specialist that he had picked up a slight heart murmur and that he will need to refer me to his old mate, the Cardiologist. Shortly after squaring up my bill (I'm missing the NHS already!!) I was hooked up for an ECG, followed by a echocardiogram - exactly 2 months after moving back to Australia, thankfully provided due to my CML stability, I was being told I had Pulminary Hypertension. This small, benign murmur had now morphed into a complicated disease, very difficult to treat (lung transplant being the final option apparently...) - and following up my old and new CML Specialists, there can be a rare side effect from Dasatinib that causes this increase in pressure from the lungs to the heart (hence causing a murmur). Clearly, these Meds had to stop immediately and then applications were made for me to move onto my third line of defence, having already tried and failed on Imatinib many years ago. The good news is that I was granted access to Nilotinib and within weeks, my follow echocardiogram showed a waning presence of Pulmonary Hypertension, then again a month later, it was gone. It seems Nilotibib and I work well together and since then, the PCR's dropped away from the familiar 0.01%, all the way to 0.003% after 10 months - however, my latest result just came in and its back at 0.009%. You try to train yourself to manage these fluctuations of results, but I still can't seem to unfortunately. So whilst I'm not happy that the PCR has 'spiked', it’s still lower than 12 months ago...and I've been reassured by my Consultant that 'this is just the same result, don't worry'! I'd be keen to hear other theories on these spikes...Kas and I believe that the harder I push my body physically, the less effective my meds prove to be - this is probably the only theory that has upheld since diagnosis. Whilst I could swear that I had no known side-effects whilst taking Dasatinib, my change to Nilotinib gave me an enormous boost of energy. Since Christmas, I've regularly ran approx 8km (5 miles) three times a week, played tennis every Wednesday, surfed with my mates when I could on a weekend and went to the homemade, downstairs gym three times a week. I easily feel the fittest I have ever felt, however the pre-empted PCR spike that coincides with this activity has occurred once again. This could be a coincidence as I've said, however the only real thing that has proven true in my limited medical experience! Sydney has changed a hell of a lot! The beaches are just as clean and the sun, just as hot...interesting to see however, that Australia is now one of the highest consumers of champagne, high end aged whisky and craft beer. Yep, I am still in the booze industry and love to see how countries change over time. We are having an awesome time since moving back and the girls are absolutely loving it - with their very own backyard pool, a dozen jaw-dropping beaches within a 15 minute drive and plenty of good weather to make the most of the outdoor adventures on offer, what’s not to love. And whilst we'd love to be in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games starting today...as I said earlier, life is good! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe and Holly at Port Douglas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen and Nina</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Family - from Curl Curl Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter holidays in Port Douglas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bushwalking with Holly</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen with the girls overlooking Palm Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen and her Mum Anne</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thumbs Up from Chloe and Holly at Shelly Beach<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-64577450785325682682011-05-16T16:56:00.022+01:002011-05-16T20:47:44.555+01:0061. InspirationOur New Family<br /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHpaI9n-UDZXsVlRCmdpLjsXYEn5KQ5rbR-o8cQwVKSHWJJMnXcJCTkxc-4Uu_qB9s969fHDYTdYQhq_pb09uPiqNiWKpZXAnnj5dI7pCq85dtVpAMvtlqBbcY_oqclUqOjIN5Q/s320/DSC_0382.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607360220777876626" /><div>Holly's birth<br /><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojmhW38r4DpGxVr9BDO3M6-pg19DzCokjKgvNLAzdw66o3m7AZRJIjiPyM4UDUb8nZHTaeOOhsGGqGRZOcaEz64fq7PdmviGg5-ayqD_Vmksk4WGHcDDcwtsLEF1l99oYVNriOQ/s320/IMAG0046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607362340363715250" /></div><div>Holly - 1 week</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODaYbNc1BHHFLiU5iP0K4MIpP-9fRmMj9Q9iUVkEU_Mr2hAJsbe0c1M3xtSYkCNI0xGXHGAvxiYa6ia96PJTFIldyuaezpqux3gxDdUlC1_-ouupX5gfOY01DZW7kU0X6GZVzNg/s320/IMG_0424.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607395783934678114" /></div><div>Holly - 4 months</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAk2Jv7t9Rrq66yH2cKSBWubwkH64nWMFUuDS8F4VjZmDQGBTSZhF0hSiT8yi5FPBvOh71qHX2i6xF2zxuvtgVzTS8biBrQoUrsXDvc33dEVSfslpCDam0d8ghQQeyfg8HxwJJg/s320/IMG_0581.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607360225968286002" /></div><div>Mum and Olivia our new Niece</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqLRyD-FxY8iyxRCnm3e-IKPB5iT63JbdfulzR5_BOz-ODC8cVEEZbS2g4JQ_XQcBVaSZongdKF4YzjXV_AlM9j8UwJIMbAvOw_l9F5c25XTejSrRQ0ESlCIzr43HDTj1zm88jg/s320/Mum.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607392694886185922" /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Rebecca</span> our new Niece</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnmrE7TO0Bi79zO1WwFAAOZodULY1tofE1IDA8W1309AFHMPcKNuYkGqBCWXz9EYj_jEuSD2E3zDjfbhLFU2wLHCxUCIvfRxNOrssCe4lZ1G0M1ga7S-wgL0RcY9O1LW8LK3IyQ/s320/Rebecca.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607393656214826610" /></div><div>Me and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kas</span> on our Med Cruise</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLwOITI3KVtIRaBElmMPbl9-XYzpr8CAQN_1bavwUbD9mOj1ie0uelZ42vWpCC6AqUK3SSgMAZAF7aRlAVjq0toNpa15VRRa-98HShnSIQUkYooL5DJ_GMUaMxyFAzBOcH33JNg/s320/DSC_0319.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607362155219678386" /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kas</span> and Chloe chilling on the Deck</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZDIp8mFcsU4z0HkWh5RLeEnKpgwcrapJcjodB8osa867E9Ui7EK_44DQcMQGKvcbdZeBmkCdvzcjX0uXMriFMPchPz3fg_9RamPzSJl11y6RytEZkOoQdvx-I8tWKDVYE4TxNg/s320/DSC_0270.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607362144985160754" /></div><div>Me in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mykonos</span></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7K1mgT7Zli-3-5Pf8LMIZxZrdBvSVTda9Pp3AgbAiirtFa_cNU-3gOhraFA93WB7-_K8KPWBpVm_TBFpcEdiU_30DqIuVnvCWkAvZJIqg-4tyn1r_cSXhL7QwRcITZdwJaA0IA/s320/DSC_0391.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607361832957607426" /></div><div>Chloe off for a Dip</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mx-cVynWv1GGjnaW1Nklwnpy-kBh9GNLvANNMdII1rMq1FWRyWyHqMusLbpbU5zcR5jUXV3QImGEw6rVmrhqmoy4L0Fd21gT_fBbLTAVgA9Vy4yLtDDLlfXndPN5oz1tSzFZjg/s320/DSC01761.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607361669726972034" /></div><div>Colin, Eva, Chloe and I in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Il</span> De Re, France</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk7yCVn2HkoFKvCwqtzF_w2vVG0upjMf0VX2OrO5juZCjOFB-8GwjTFHJIdE54Ur4D-fBL8fnMNsldePGXV8kZh_qPFnxjT92fcPVn40S6y0QVJmYdaBC0kIA0OEwM3k04VarNA/s320/DSC_0200.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607361456032317234" /></div><div>Chloe and Eva</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoNWFWChVgPlOU5-OtXjjCPRgGjaBKfINnsgRW9ESMjG7-TjI7sJr_G9ORaRPSrqwm_OnyJv9JgkDqPL_5UTKg8ZgsTQK5vQpPHJF9pTsDdukj5HDimLuwM58w0qTCsfQ2kvMBg/s320/Chloe_Eva1colour.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607394361862161298" /></div><div>Papa Tom and Chloe in the Snow</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSNO7tk09YHa1Fur6wO40yzFQZvzsl007u2w1kM3s_zSZVg-NNzQVo6EZVeEb9GmmYI9mDk5Q0C8ObASy3UEqrpj_mrAa9WfsqzGkwKfLCJVioBXKqZIsLh3kIabs9puYPABdwA/s320/DSC_0442.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607362656874953490" /></div><div>Chloe making a Snow Man<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaQ07CMbPHydW-4ho7AXvbRy-eC_0KDqYKDtbSmWmfd_MBJ_F-CUazyHkZU-AzDGpyhfYmuiffDLWYxR3-9ZMHQJXgTpcKg23MIEly1DwduYg_3sr7yM4jgxAk0JbNliskc-7gA/s1600/DSC_0429.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaQ07CMbPHydW-4ho7AXvbRy-eC_0KDqYKDtbSmWmfd_MBJ_F-CUazyHkZU-AzDGpyhfYmuiffDLWYxR3-9ZMHQJXgTpcKg23MIEly1DwduYg_3sr7yM4jgxAk0JbNliskc-7gA/s320/DSC_0429.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607362650900225794" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaQ07CMbPHydW-4ho7AXvbRy-eC_0KDqYKDtbSmWmfd_MBJ_F-CUazyHkZU-AzDGpyhfYmuiffDLWYxR3-9ZMHQJXgTpcKg23MIEly1DwduYg_3sr7yM4jgxAk0JbNliskc-7gA/s1600/DSC_0429.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>At <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Centreparcs</span><br /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6xkeFfKFXcTJely7QF30Jm4MebS71h5d3gVfDHm9qvghBFyxWVL7V7WEkJi0ncTI43C1sIczJDn0db8E-93SdK_-5YFj3s8uBCMTSJ6GUqEIU2a3vKc6vwSbvATpTL-SJ8s1aw/s320/DSC_0409.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607390328192138834" /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div>I've been inspired again...<div><br /></div><div>I know its been an incredibly long time between posts, my longest ever actually, but a few recent events have made me realise that I have a responsibility as a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">leukaemia</span> patient, to go on and continue my story.</div><div><br /></div><div>Firstly, a friend of mine who was diagnosed with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">CML</span> at roughly the same time (October 2005), Dave Cox, recently passed away. This came as a pretty big shock to me as we had both been prescribed the same <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">meds</span> initially, however his body was unable to tolerate them and he had no other option but to take on a risky bone marrow transplant. He was a real fighter and his blog gave hope to loads of people who were lucky enough to meet him or to read his blog - his legacy will continue to live on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">undoubtedly</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div>And secondly, the Leukaemia fundraising committee that I am a member of sent an email two weeks ago to say that no-one showed up for a recent meeting. A no-show to a charity meeting...! So after attending this latest meeting, and my first one in over a year (partly through guilt and also a free diary), I feel a boost of energy and an overwhelming sense of responsibility to help out where I can. My fundraising challenges have been somewhat less strenuous than the 3 Peaks Challenge in 2008, where 15 of us hauled our bodies up the 3 highest mountains in the UK within a 24 hour time frame, however we still raised well over £3k with a Wine Tasting night a few months ago. Much more my style these days...</div><div><br /></div><div>There are quite good reasons I might add as to why I've been so quiet....none more important than the birth of my second wee daughter, Holly. She's another little beauty just like her older sister Chloe....lucky she looks like her mum! Two girls make being a dad very much a full-time job.</div><div><br /></div><div>I still remember the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">PCR</span> result I received in November 2008 of 0.29% (my best result in a long time - anything under 0.1% is considered the 'safe haven') and it's this that made me realise I now have an opportunity to push my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">CML</span> swiftly to the side and make 'life' a real focus for me. Since then, I would argue that very few people at my work know anything about my on-going condition....apart from my balding head, they wouldn't have a clue. I just say my head is just too big for my hair. So, since this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">PCR</span> result, I've dedicated copious time to my work and in February 2009 I was awarded with a decent promotion. Since then I have kept the foot down and again been promoted which just shows that if genuine commitment and energy are directed towards anything, anything can be achieved. I am not saying that I am at the top of my game just yet but I certainly have no intention of slowing down until I reach lofty levels at work.</div><div><br /></div><div>My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">CML</span> condition continues to puzzle the medical professionals, as I very slowly continue to achieve better <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">PCR</span> results - my latest was 0.011% from last month, so things are looking good for me. I honestly feel the less time I have spent on worrying about what might happen, the better my body has adapted to digesting my strong <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">meds</span>. I know that I am lucky as I have no real side-effects and manage to keep up a 'normal' standard of life. When I re-read my blog posts from 4-5 years ago, I never would have envisioned getting to a stage in my life where I am happily married with two beautiful daughters and a good quality of life. I certainly have been patient and know I deserve this, for as long it shall last, and that is where I realise that I still have a story and a story others with a similar condition could learn from. I really have to remind myself that there are people every day being diagnosed with leukaemia and that means there are people every day shit-scared of what life has thrown their way. So, I shall continue to fight, share my experiences, albeit not as frequent as I would like due to life commitments I can only be proud of, and help those who need some support when the chips are down.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>And one final piece of good news, actually two, is the birth of our new nieces (yep, more girls). Nick and Claire had their 3rd called Olivia and Gav and Natalie had their 1st called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Rebecca</span>. Awesome!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-40258521168618394792010-03-20T11:16:00.017+00:002010-03-21T12:10:06.966+00:0060. The Right Direction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DCmzMO1C9zCr5fcWZU-KCn3Bwix3tSynne4BVk9KE8GRe52lfFAmmSmLrTIXdTgd0GZEf_kYrBucrvu3GVCd6PXD8Z7zqZXRr17JBskL3rx6yQEC-N06fnjK1tMdPXC7JsdxWQ/s1600-h/DSC01678.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DCmzMO1C9zCr5fcWZU-KCn3Bwix3tSynne4BVk9KE8GRe52lfFAmmSmLrTIXdTgd0GZEf_kYrBucrvu3GVCd6PXD8Z7zqZXRr17JBskL3rx6yQEC-N06fnjK1tMdPXC7JsdxWQ/s320/DSC01678.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451058165781868242" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DCmzMO1C9zCr5fcWZU-KCn3Bwix3tSynne4BVk9KE8GRe52lfFAmmSmLrTIXdTgd0GZEf_kYrBucrvu3GVCd6PXD8Z7zqZXRr17JBskL3rx6yQEC-N06fnjK1tMdPXC7JsdxWQ/s1600-h/DSC01678.JPG"></a>Welcome to Oz!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBLATLOqdjhs7J9TOCFaikEjxCF8-OXji0HJiG6GkF4oLAtIhmHt0rIirN9bkrll891UciagripJl9WgfNB7wyYOEuZFQ3TfP4GKyH_G5NQy2Sg5PgtFOzINHxdlpUpJYM4EJuw/s1600-h/IMG_0142.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBLATLOqdjhs7J9TOCFaikEjxCF8-OXji0HJiG6GkF4oLAtIhmHt0rIirN9bkrll891UciagripJl9WgfNB7wyYOEuZFQ3TfP4GKyH_G5NQy2Sg5PgtFOzINHxdlpUpJYM4EJuw/s320/IMG_0142.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451057002646188818" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBLATLOqdjhs7J9TOCFaikEjxCF8-OXji0HJiG6GkF4oLAtIhmHt0rIirN9bkrll891UciagripJl9WgfNB7wyYOEuZFQ3TfP4GKyH_G5NQy2Sg5PgtFOzINHxdlpUpJYM4EJuw/s1600-h/IMG_0142.jpg"></a>Manly Beach<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOKcFxtCHMaXUl6_13U5AvE24PQZ8Yj1B-DN1mLZj_I0u3DzCOwkYiwzvBt5WQ48-9C1ADDXTzltWtwdCS1-C_o3KBGts6Lm2z4gxr_QY7op4h2qp0F2OYXqecBuHDskvfAqqKg/s1600-h/DSC01370.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOKcFxtCHMaXUl6_13U5AvE24PQZ8Yj1B-DN1mLZj_I0u3DzCOwkYiwzvBt5WQ48-9C1ADDXTzltWtwdCS1-C_o3KBGts6Lm2z4gxr_QY7op4h2qp0F2OYXqecBuHDskvfAqqKg/s320/DSC01370.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451053866885336882" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOKcFxtCHMaXUl6_13U5AvE24PQZ8Yj1B-DN1mLZj_I0u3DzCOwkYiwzvBt5WQ48-9C1ADDXTzltWtwdCS1-C_o3KBGts6Lm2z4gxr_QY7op4h2qp0F2OYXqecBuHDskvfAqqKg/s1600-h/DSC01370.jpg"></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tash</span>, Dad and I at the South Coast<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_WXb9GxjQAJOM6ZJl-5dqU2H9L-ColrQfCd3mgxb7I6yiSSAakDCcASW0Q67BU6WVH5I0UJteS-QnKiRJVXNB9SBVNxHPKkvyYC6CMmdiaSCFC7gEhMeozKHPdrk3CPvpxbMJQ/s1600-h/24202_406315969477_507469477_5177870_3886744_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_WXb9GxjQAJOM6ZJl-5dqU2H9L-ColrQfCd3mgxb7I6yiSSAakDCcASW0Q67BU6WVH5I0UJteS-QnKiRJVXNB9SBVNxHPKkvyYC6CMmdiaSCFC7gEhMeozKHPdrk3CPvpxbMJQ/s320/24202_406315969477_507469477_5177870_3886744_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451052650549835122" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_WXb9GxjQAJOM6ZJl-5dqU2H9L-ColrQfCd3mgxb7I6yiSSAakDCcASW0Q67BU6WVH5I0UJteS-QnKiRJVXNB9SBVNxHPKkvyYC6CMmdiaSCFC7gEhMeozKHPdrk3CPvpxbMJQ/s1600-h/24202_406315969477_507469477_5177870_3886744_n.jpg"></a>Family at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Minnamurra</span> Falls <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Rainforest</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93hZKFcz81PGIqTBfHyYnMeVYslrPUIWu9vX7ms7OZetG1pICCqZOZ6hJrwtcuzxGhnDrmKe5nX6C0BxrbVNpj0uv9V6yK1yWnve1TwqUSxnk-rrHKrJIE7XpWEDG2-cJP8kLBA/s1600-h/24202_406315814477_507469477_5177853_150262_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93hZKFcz81PGIqTBfHyYnMeVYslrPUIWu9vX7ms7OZetG1pICCqZOZ6hJrwtcuzxGhnDrmKe5nX6C0BxrbVNpj0uv9V6yK1yWnve1TwqUSxnk-rrHKrJIE7XpWEDG2-cJP8kLBA/s320/24202_406315814477_507469477_5177853_150262_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451052648760535810" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93hZKFcz81PGIqTBfHyYnMeVYslrPUIWu9vX7ms7OZetG1pICCqZOZ6hJrwtcuzxGhnDrmKe5nX6C0BxrbVNpj0uv9V6yK1yWnve1TwqUSxnk-rrHKrJIE7XpWEDG2-cJP8kLBA/s1600-h/24202_406315814477_507469477_5177853_150262_n.jpg"></a>Nick, Dad and I in the Pool<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jege9bZHE-3Wb02C__8VY1wHIFpKBp08zypgmvSiZSu4Bfp1cobGW3wCcXJJn-AxtMU3hC_7B6aTBuB6WXu0EBuxqtKnXxTdFF_TmecHY_Lq7DB0zmvflDOC0SoKB1ZsTN3KgQ/s1600-h/24202_406315954477_507469477_5177867_5550884_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jege9bZHE-3Wb02C__8VY1wHIFpKBp08zypgmvSiZSu4Bfp1cobGW3wCcXJJn-AxtMU3hC_7B6aTBuB6WXu0EBuxqtKnXxTdFF_TmecHY_Lq7DB0zmvflDOC0SoKB1ZsTN3KgQ/s320/24202_406315954477_507469477_5177867_5550884_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451052642944267426" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jege9bZHE-3Wb02C__8VY1wHIFpKBp08zypgmvSiZSu4Bfp1cobGW3wCcXJJn-AxtMU3hC_7B6aTBuB6WXu0EBuxqtKnXxTdFF_TmecHY_Lq7DB0zmvflDOC0SoKB1ZsTN3KgQ/s1600-h/24202_406315954477_507469477_5177867_5550884_n.jpg"></a>Nick, Hayden and Chloe on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Rainforest</span> Walk<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGazD3cPSQV_H1Pb5Id_Ewfj3HZHlKOgC5_3UaLLDYq8cOIaYffxpyl0i3tYYgMX2dIF20R6Sj9mvO_98aAT9zMuLnNPDP6zNdhWmQNPshthzYOKr7kVoRlPlaiBy_HG61N6AL-Q/s1600-h/DSC01560.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGazD3cPSQV_H1Pb5Id_Ewfj3HZHlKOgC5_3UaLLDYq8cOIaYffxpyl0i3tYYgMX2dIF20R6Sj9mvO_98aAT9zMuLnNPDP6zNdhWmQNPshthzYOKr7kVoRlPlaiBy_HG61N6AL-Q/s320/DSC01560.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451049957142629874" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGazD3cPSQV_H1Pb5Id_Ewfj3HZHlKOgC5_3UaLLDYq8cOIaYffxpyl0i3tYYgMX2dIF20R6Sj9mvO_98aAT9zMuLnNPDP6zNdhWmQNPshthzYOKr7kVoRlPlaiBy_HG61N6AL-Q/s1600-h/DSC01560.JPG"></a>Circular Quay, Sydney<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6ScK7xpzomfmHxHTbMGYw9ljaMGwltMM-bgV-lXmTs7PnnNWjEkP1wph2aSJ0zEfqcXPNxT8sYdcLgerYhLOC_OW_atv1vY66GFD5S78IpYex1WP87dDPuE14WWiIEfNTSWoKA/s1600-h/DSC01386.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6ScK7xpzomfmHxHTbMGYw9ljaMGwltMM-bgV-lXmTs7PnnNWjEkP1wph2aSJ0zEfqcXPNxT8sYdcLgerYhLOC_OW_atv1vY66GFD5S78IpYex1WP87dDPuE14WWiIEfNTSWoKA/s320/DSC01386.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451049953736387714" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6ScK7xpzomfmHxHTbMGYw9ljaMGwltMM-bgV-lXmTs7PnnNWjEkP1wph2aSJ0zEfqcXPNxT8sYdcLgerYhLOC_OW_atv1vY66GFD5S78IpYex1WP87dDPuE14WWiIEfNTSWoKA/s1600-h/DSC01386.JPG"></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kas</span> and Cathy in Hyde Park, Sydney<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rVbNyDP5hmqynvauzIy0SLjJ2r82DMlCOisOuojrif3JMY3fV58I_8wGTZ74Ahumkd52yzqKthb7D7RALWmvajtGSfqacyeSVaYqyLVOi2ECHSkqev-4I8D-Os4IZXYG8dFw2w/s1600-h/DSC01543.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rVbNyDP5hmqynvauzIy0SLjJ2r82DMlCOisOuojrif3JMY3fV58I_8wGTZ74Ahumkd52yzqKthb7D7RALWmvajtGSfqacyeSVaYqyLVOi2ECHSkqev-4I8D-Os4IZXYG8dFw2w/s320/DSC01543.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451048643232979522" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rVbNyDP5hmqynvauzIy0SLjJ2r82DMlCOisOuojrif3JMY3fV58I_8wGTZ74Ahumkd52yzqKthb7D7RALWmvajtGSfqacyeSVaYqyLVOi2ECHSkqev-4I8D-Os4IZXYG8dFw2w/s1600-h/DSC01543.jpg"></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kas</span> and Chloe at Circular Quay<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKK7COjyo3RFf4O9KEd-Yfy2fygrqv4c02g8brOH5BNCNuBNCtwgMfz4dsydgjBXa6F4IoYGBjGTBX0Wh0j53divLXXEutcQ0zMs1spb-0UP_w61VI56RBRCTQpiMFatyt2C8Wg/s1600-h/DSC01216.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKK7COjyo3RFf4O9KEd-Yfy2fygrqv4c02g8brOH5BNCNuBNCtwgMfz4dsydgjBXa6F4IoYGBjGTBX0Wh0j53divLXXEutcQ0zMs1spb-0UP_w61VI56RBRCTQpiMFatyt2C8Wg/s320/DSC01216.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451048630996366898" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKK7COjyo3RFf4O9KEd-Yfy2fygrqv4c02g8brOH5BNCNuBNCtwgMfz4dsydgjBXa6F4IoYGBjGTBX0Wh0j53divLXXEutcQ0zMs1spb-0UP_w61VI56RBRCTQpiMFatyt2C8Wg/s1600-h/DSC01216.JPG"></a>Nick and Eliza<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofICoaHpUYx9gu326dPsjlPjC_4QoS-24BlXFuqItFRxMXKNkAsqMEOYf-TrosMkXLlDCk3CsklOdtIx7tO63S6ugunzdCXDxh_BIHJHCZmfC6HcAuXiuP9Dipl_1i1bY5bCWvQ/s1600-h/DSC01646.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofICoaHpUYx9gu326dPsjlPjC_4QoS-24BlXFuqItFRxMXKNkAsqMEOYf-TrosMkXLlDCk3CsklOdtIx7tO63S6ugunzdCXDxh_BIHJHCZmfC6HcAuXiuP9Dipl_1i1bY5bCWvQ/s320/DSC01646.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451048621994844194" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofICoaHpUYx9gu326dPsjlPjC_4QoS-24BlXFuqItFRxMXKNkAsqMEOYf-TrosMkXLlDCk3CsklOdtIx7tO63S6ugunzdCXDxh_BIHJHCZmfC6HcAuXiuP9Dipl_1i1bY5bCWvQ/s1600-h/DSC01646.JPG"></a>Drinks at the Opera Bar, Sydney<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccc1HB1HEvq6PGIp9ON44DnqlV66D-GungGs5HjXJvpTi-5Ku07tP3Pb_yLrs7GDEBHE0iowqOAAU1JtQqES49kJHKtyKCBiwHZ5dJkGhd7JdLsWranrUo0YXp5YlPM3No699Yw/s1600-h/IMG_0124.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccc1HB1HEvq6PGIp9ON44DnqlV66D-GungGs5HjXJvpTi-5Ku07tP3Pb_yLrs7GDEBHE0iowqOAAU1JtQqES49kJHKtyKCBiwHZ5dJkGhd7JdLsWranrUo0YXp5YlPM3No699Yw/s320/IMG_0124.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450692537250471314" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccc1HB1HEvq6PGIp9ON44DnqlV66D-GungGs5HjXJvpTi-5Ku07tP3Pb_yLrs7GDEBHE0iowqOAAU1JtQqES49kJHKtyKCBiwHZ5dJkGhd7JdLsWranrUo0YXp5YlPM3No699Yw/s1600-h/IMG_0124.jpg"></a>Hayden, Claire and Eliza<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lgZ_ESQRivNKtBunkLjzHx4FDL44slHdnjvmBZxuRlfEusvWbe9tgWaOlwjv7QN0XC2MdHp_CRGOX869kqNzS2v7T2FGUc9YXiBW6Fvk3ALkKVGFyS5zSmiZ8QUS1V2V8NCclQ/s1600-h/IMG_0107.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lgZ_ESQRivNKtBunkLjzHx4FDL44slHdnjvmBZxuRlfEusvWbe9tgWaOlwjv7QN0XC2MdHp_CRGOX869kqNzS2v7T2FGUc9YXiBW6Fvk3ALkKVGFyS5zSmiZ8QUS1V2V8NCclQ/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450691213720780258" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lgZ_ESQRivNKtBunkLjzHx4FDL44slHdnjvmBZxuRlfEusvWbe9tgWaOlwjv7QN0XC2MdHp_CRGOX869kqNzS2v7T2FGUc9YXiBW6Fvk3ALkKVGFyS5zSmiZ8QUS1V2V8NCclQ/s1600-h/IMG_0107.JPG"></a>The Business Class upgrade<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1dzNFIjIHmaiX8d-_07qmVp29bih5rJ7e34utH6AS5HZTiKCH-mkn22cBNHS43B4G_-OpbJ-X7ce_EW6hhD11_1fAgoCH1Aok-BwrCdoRiuvglTFwpkQKSVD-zZkOjT-oqOT0g/s1600-h/DSC01620.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1dzNFIjIHmaiX8d-_07qmVp29bih5rJ7e34utH6AS5HZTiKCH-mkn22cBNHS43B4G_-OpbJ-X7ce_EW6hhD11_1fAgoCH1Aok-BwrCdoRiuvglTFwpkQKSVD-zZkOjT-oqOT0g/s320/DSC01620.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450691208619379602" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1dzNFIjIHmaiX8d-_07qmVp29bih5rJ7e34utH6AS5HZTiKCH-mkn22cBNHS43B4G_-OpbJ-X7ce_EW6hhD11_1fAgoCH1Aok-BwrCdoRiuvglTFwpkQKSVD-zZkOjT-oqOT0g/s1600-h/DSC01620.JPG"></a>Me and Chloe near the Opera House<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXF7X96TTKPqVNoXXqB_8PW2JJAB2zLDrbbsbO1JdXrB0WJiJkKM8Yvfymyp6on6VY5Mw_NJS-YyuRP0RFKAFSaPTsSjP1BJfJ_OSvpKe-PZvu9nEzEoyAYQqFRlyVM6lFM3DeEg/s1600-h/DSC01519.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXF7X96TTKPqVNoXXqB_8PW2JJAB2zLDrbbsbO1JdXrB0WJiJkKM8Yvfymyp6on6VY5Mw_NJS-YyuRP0RFKAFSaPTsSjP1BJfJ_OSvpKe-PZvu9nEzEoyAYQqFRlyVM6lFM3DeEg/s320/DSC01519.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450691198311054946" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXF7X96TTKPqVNoXXqB_8PW2JJAB2zLDrbbsbO1JdXrB0WJiJkKM8Yvfymyp6on6VY5Mw_NJS-YyuRP0RFKAFSaPTsSjP1BJfJ_OSvpKe-PZvu9nEzEoyAYQqFRlyVM6lFM3DeEg/s1600-h/DSC01519.JPG"></a>Chloe, Milly and Sean<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQfsf7yL1ukzXy1bFOO7NP3LQncDlwzVyMJvlAlY-M54EXLvHt8Wf7ydkF8rWdeOkQ2KjRy2-wsYGJsXrG_hhfbY2qzf3o1Mx9waEzVPxsif5HwfzSeIUkmRmg3EqOsEBUzDQ4A/s1600-h/DSC01529.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQfsf7yL1ukzXy1bFOO7NP3LQncDlwzVyMJvlAlY-M54EXLvHt8Wf7ydkF8rWdeOkQ2KjRy2-wsYGJsXrG_hhfbY2qzf3o1Mx9waEzVPxsif5HwfzSeIUkmRmg3EqOsEBUzDQ4A/s320/DSC01529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450691197509341874" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQfsf7yL1ukzXy1bFOO7NP3LQncDlwzVyMJvlAlY-M54EXLvHt8Wf7ydkF8rWdeOkQ2KjRy2-wsYGJsXrG_hhfbY2qzf3o1Mx9waEzVPxsif5HwfzSeIUkmRmg3EqOsEBUzDQ4A/s1600-h/DSC01529.JPG"></a>The Boys in Canberra<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoSUjWuJEFNKfgj3EMpN6SNN9EJzPBEAvfGGkWN8F4bUBBY1eTRTYgiLpsXDLWJLigN8s65WEtaT6Zo5maY49VE6S4IQ8t_xFyiX9WQwx2FGI9usoxp2yA6Bbn1tJ90Cu4uIHdg/s1600-h/DSC01514.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoSUjWuJEFNKfgj3EMpN6SNN9EJzPBEAvfGGkWN8F4bUBBY1eTRTYgiLpsXDLWJLigN8s65WEtaT6Zo5maY49VE6S4IQ8t_xFyiX9WQwx2FGI9usoxp2yA6Bbn1tJ90Cu4uIHdg/s320/DSC01514.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450691185893050210" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoSUjWuJEFNKfgj3EMpN6SNN9EJzPBEAvfGGkWN8F4bUBBY1eTRTYgiLpsXDLWJLigN8s65WEtaT6Zo5maY49VE6S4IQ8t_xFyiX9WQwx2FGI9usoxp2yA6Bbn1tJ90Cu4uIHdg/s1600-h/DSC01514.JPG"></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Breens</span> Family BBQ<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXJiOS8p1gB8429hhRfL6sGw1DrlrX649o7AXFGyVX6_RQHi3e8PwGG89esyKruAUuAf_FwsNm_rbW93wXIWii65Ep8wHjGdJ1cDctL47C2KApOdMXn6uGQG6hp3DrarZPxGbiA/s1600-h/DSC01416.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXJiOS8p1gB8429hhRfL6sGw1DrlrX649o7AXFGyVX6_RQHi3e8PwGG89esyKruAUuAf_FwsNm_rbW93wXIWii65Ep8wHjGdJ1cDctL47C2KApOdMXn6uGQG6hp3DrarZPxGbiA/s320/DSC01416.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450688227260982338" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXJiOS8p1gB8429hhRfL6sGw1DrlrX649o7AXFGyVX6_RQHi3e8PwGG89esyKruAUuAf_FwsNm_rbW93wXIWii65Ep8wHjGdJ1cDctL47C2KApOdMXn6uGQG6hp3DrarZPxGbiA/s1600-h/DSC01416.JPG"></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kas</span> and Claire with the babies<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5WAk8dGXqBrVbJw3HezpdDiZEivF8xs7W6r9-s4oF2UHirH-WHGaJiLE27CW681dDYpPqxSDGIVNp8KyckgYfhhCmuXLcfFNj9tibiduFzl2mUSklIfroZt0x-Wb6bfsZboacg/s1600-h/DSC01348.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5WAk8dGXqBrVbJw3HezpdDiZEivF8xs7W6r9-s4oF2UHirH-WHGaJiLE27CW681dDYpPqxSDGIVNp8KyckgYfhhCmuXLcfFNj9tibiduFzl2mUSklIfroZt0x-Wb6bfsZboacg/s320/DSC01348.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450688223156119842" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5WAk8dGXqBrVbJw3HezpdDiZEivF8xs7W6r9-s4oF2UHirH-WHGaJiLE27CW681dDYpPqxSDGIVNp8KyckgYfhhCmuXLcfFNj9tibiduFzl2mUSklIfroZt0x-Wb6bfsZboacg/s1600-h/DSC01348.JPG"></a>Mum and Dad at Wollongong Lunch<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-XeIgsq8wgyza2KaC1QRmZNkXoKv7dInfTapMHDMAdvAtGCoYr6OmiyPPGZshyphenhyphenDTLeWj4FOO14kUVo3NzHpqthqfg0pwvdgMwtZEHerXCFjrimQL9svl-cMIDDd9Fj-dwohvAw/s1600-h/DSC01251.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-XeIgsq8wgyza2KaC1QRmZNkXoKv7dInfTapMHDMAdvAtGCoYr6OmiyPPGZshyphenhyphenDTLeWj4FOO14kUVo3NzHpqthqfg0pwvdgMwtZEHerXCFjrimQL9svl-cMIDDd9Fj-dwohvAw/s320/DSC01251.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450685892703339890" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-XeIgsq8wgyza2KaC1QRmZNkXoKv7dInfTapMHDMAdvAtGCoYr6OmiyPPGZshyphenhyphenDTLeWj4FOO14kUVo3NzHpqthqfg0pwvdgMwtZEHerXCFjrimQL9svl-cMIDDd9Fj-dwohvAw/s1600-h/DSC01251.jpg"></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Kas</span> and Chloe taking a dip<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaK-e-a_uS5_QntBN52vbyI8E6j7rmGWGXGacTHG3qMIogelh3QVIYdclViDDODjlKYvjL7uZr9V89-5QdyHJ_Z-IHbjX6wgxZSfziRgug6bF8LgDEGHoCmdBr2-hKqVkTo_8mA/s1600-h/DSC01234.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaK-e-a_uS5_QntBN52vbyI8E6j7rmGWGXGacTHG3qMIogelh3QVIYdclViDDODjlKYvjL7uZr9V89-5QdyHJ_Z-IHbjX6wgxZSfziRgug6bF8LgDEGHoCmdBr2-hKqVkTo_8mA/s320/DSC01234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450682694501850114" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaK-e-a_uS5_QntBN52vbyI8E6j7rmGWGXGacTHG3qMIogelh3QVIYdclViDDODjlKYvjL7uZr9V89-5QdyHJ_Z-IHbjX6wgxZSfziRgug6bF8LgDEGHoCmdBr2-hKqVkTo_8mA/s1600-h/DSC01234.JPG"></a>Nick, Dad and I posing in the Pool...<br /><div><br /></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I genuinely have had intentions to update my blog as even I know it’s been far too long. As usual, there are so many other things keeping me busy and what’s more important as far as I’m concerned, my thoughts have been far away from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">CML</span>….and that can only be a good thing.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I continue to tolerate my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">meds</span> well – the 140mg of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Sprycel</span> I swallow each night is the only real reminder that I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">ve</span> still got some unwanted Leukaemia cells lurking deep in my body, attempting to hide away from this unrelenting drug. When ever I’m asked about side-effects, I really don’t know what they are anymore as I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">ve</span> been taking <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">CML</span> medication for so long. I definitely feel well enough to work, exercise and play…so whilst I’m sure I do have side-effects, I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">ve</span> just managed to get on with life and treat this as the norm. I think it’s absolutely brilliant that I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">ve</span> been given the opportunity to take these pills and get on with life…it’s a far better option than what was available only 5 years ago.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Major Molecular Remission (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">MMR</span>), or the safe haven as my docs call it, finally arrived after 4 years post-diagnosis. My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">PCR</span> results were stuck at around 0.15% and then finally I cracked the 0.1% barrier in December last year with a result of 0.04% - gold! The next one arrived via an email whilst I was basking on a beach in Australia only two weeks ago – this one was 0.05%. According to European guidelines, I can now be seen 6 monthly rather than 3 monthly. Again, time to crack open a few extremely cold beers – the timing was perfect as we were on holidays with my family! So, all in all, it just shows that patience really is a virtue and that whilst a lot of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">CML</span> specialists are keen to move from drug to drug quite quickly when there are signs of intolerance, a little persistence in this case seems to be working. I’m not getting carried away but after so many rubbish results, I’m not going to let a good result slip by without having a well deserved celebration.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Australia trip last month was a great time – I felt the wrath of 300 fellow passengers as they passed the business class seating and they saw my two year old daughter Chloe lounging back, her legs barely even stretching to the end of the seat. Somehow we were both chosen for an upgrade where we were able to join <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Kas</span> at the front of the long-haul flight, as she was already there on a work-paid ticket. The sun, the sand and the surf were just as awesome as the last time I saw it. We spent a full week on the beach with my family…it was great to get my pasty white scotch belly out and soak up some much needed vitamin D. It’s always a busy time when we head back home for holidays and there are so many family and friends to see but it’s all worth it – it’s always good times when we catch up with everyone and also pretty tough when we constantly have to say our goodbyes.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My work is storming along and gaining momentum which is brilliant – the busier I am, the better I feel. They were generous enough to donate a few boxes of wine for me to host a wine tasting event in Glasgow. The event was last night and it was hosted at the Clydesdale Bank, which is a beautiful new building in the centre of town. The huge rooms were donated, as was the food….so it was over to me to give some boring wine chat and let the 100 paying guests get on the booze. The night was deemed a huge success and we managed to raise over £2,500 for the Paul O’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Gorman</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Leukeamia</span> Research Centre. A great cause and a great night! What got me thinking about updating this blog though, happened after I met a young woman called Laura and her family – she is in her mid-20’s and recently diagnosed with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">CML</span>. That immediately took me back to that first year where I struggled to understand how my life now had to be. She reminded me a lot of myself when I was diagnosed…Laura has a positive attitude, she’s already back at work and she’s helping to increase awareness of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">CML</span>. It’s people like Laura that drive the public’s perception, understanding and keeping the momentum swinging in the right direction. I wish her all the best.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So the blog has now been updated, my results are good, my brother-in-law Gav’s prognosis is great after being diagnosed with testicular cancer last year, the family are good and well, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Kas</span> and Chloe are great, I’m busy and we’re raising cash for some pretty decent causes…life’s good!</span></p></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-25383254231819089612009-08-06T17:44:00.009+01:002009-08-06T21:59:03.008+01:0059. Majella<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptjs6-R7ir0MlhVl2vswOp11sZTPmsKygtkJKbibkL03ef5L3AMPYnLeKERqk3G2KQYTvJ_Ekft0FVx5vr18TUGvkJTkeSy-V5adBdifnI7BhgwrItggeOF-OqqtcMffB8AAbyQ/s320/DSC_0748.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366949093549418258" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1a-k_XczE_-QWvAmrVA9iwpTLujA0QDrBFVRt6tv98m1UpCZlwVDv_Lez-fOxu6yISXp31HTPSBzhIPuwDOJ7N_Sy9-CnyyNeaTLI4lQXG9cm_ot_bHDUPGsn9013pwJVkyhAzg/s320/DSC_0780.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366949094601591522" /><br /></span><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPM5lRmJMT5ip4YSxzK_DlEFZjmZfSR1J254rJgf0RYm4hXh-LCx9fVv-9xhmOzWTRBgKThyphenhyphenuE_aMl_oFFSdOfEf21F3zI0K7uDU8sFO8JCpjzkLImDJumwojz5rGetNN9SEFoQQ/s320/DSC_0695.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366954684822820690" /><br /><img style="cursor:pointer; 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text-decoration: underline;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DT07ifeLo1iGG4fuu25iZ-c-EF1wPWccpDIb1CPLUrK5ys6VS2r9f112JP8ZQCoNCJXNxrTifQX6npKq3RWxbiY654y_mRwXUq00LZP1TbNNP0wxvN-rgEYwdgVGLUPnk9w_aQ/s320/DSC00605.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366954675671643858" /><br /></span></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzlLve7M5CY9ai3f1Ktf5Y5JJbjXw48Oa9t_Q6bXJv6xMe6NkX0B7G3h222I1LDFiarg479QISippMF2CkqUBqnO9hRvQ7iD02jWG3rru4L_enalb_9wP7_3V8o0h0K6ruh2xdA/s320/DSC_0759.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366953104662179554" /><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSe91QUklCsiywqWCpsuwsl5Q9EAjqHlvDJW3grC18az-0qpfe1wn816Vy3FOA5vpkLuA0tTa9kUwzaDljpQWuI-ulvqtIEGa4KmbvEiNBQbbnv_RDuvF9yJtiABe4jfyL60M3eA/s320/DSC00608.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366953082662336290" /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJocgkfOGFqU6XFYbnI8whX4kvJL3A0MaKcsqKFhPQeYp4uU8bImjlQfyCQtGRjZ4z79tEmuD6Fq12HHs5HH4xlYSe27jblbtH30jsg1wGEJC6K9pDcZXRqV_KWm0oLqOX_Qokg/s320/DSC_1110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366949105528236226" /><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUYIChMOKtS3j6Odn8sqRUyDNgYxmn_cCHJT6RpZjpCtY3HZfEaoOwKx6QIJ-6Os9EABxbPif75k_ShG31LBXJ0tW8dxfLW2qMYUY_NAjDrqDKOe70_kzUfzpLa9nG52Ovw4W9g/s320/DSC_0728.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366894425245865730" /><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM30hBRmiPs952V6PoFbZpJNyGIx9sdLq5f7XXxaSLDcx8aM39gYI7YOecVsFdm9ofkHF82BE4tHP5Y2piKCzYVs4DMCemSxqapV_stVWY0egOBPXablGVk4Zmn-EJtBW8DVDbA/s320/DSC00708.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366951249755087186" /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwdxaQPFvnOkMa22u-UN1WhHiO9gt8Fv1FUPWHcbezo-venGQ-MvnY56z5lp7JEydQeuMBhGdHLsMjyhQ-b374G30HaChtOQ_Yxrg_fu6jaq6Yjq5quQVsATsgj82BJRvfB1K9g/s320/DSC00742.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366951254607716642" /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot7SA-0QhICjt3wdn6H0RSTqY8E9YQF6dVoNAPoJO2m7FNliviz1N2uw6Cv3BsUCzX-JXLChwRpKHyoNCsZuBmleMXx52eQy_IY6F6zZYtLZeoA10Lgfx9qeZ01Vgo8lc2DeoJg/s320/DSC00760.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366951266765051986" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PoeiP1oDtK_rVX67IkWRbsfw28gi8yW5vZsQrf4CnUibPlHH1hQ4bJosixmaCp32n-A6pyPCb33l2gSFTGYFS_ujt5SoxVrwEraHrTH5-mro94nx8ISxdOlHa705QqnyoxhlFg/s1600-h/DSC00776.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PoeiP1oDtK_rVX67IkWRbsfw28gi8yW5vZsQrf4CnUibPlHH1hQ4bJosixmaCp32n-A6pyPCb33l2gSFTGYFS_ujt5SoxVrwEraHrTH5-mro94nx8ISxdOlHa705QqnyoxhlFg/s320/DSC00776.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366951270796019010" /></a><br /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDwC5Pu6dm6Gd-X2HgJ0wdjN_GA4HgoBlLsz-41Md0Jg_IwUXteH_IRXoRgd2fG_yD1KvgvYUIp-P2GM0YdqfbEuOCdlq8xJaWkcLrhlFAH7y0SPkubvSqv2sbfklRBhQ_7CTtg/s320/DSC_0696.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366951243819996946" /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">PHOTOS - Julie & John's Wedding Day; Julie and the Girls; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kas</span> and I at Church; The First Dance; Cycling through the French Vineyards; Cheesy Colin & Lorna; Me at the Harbour; Lorna, Eva, Chloe and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kas</span> out for a Walk; Dinner in the Villa; The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Edington's</span> by the Water; Eva & Chloe; At the Villa by the Pool; Paul's Deep-Sea Fishing Adventure; Sea-sick and having a Beer; Stag Do Dress-up Day that looked far too real; Paul meeting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Benfica</span> mascot; Happy Chloe...</span><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It’s only just hit me after reading through my latest post, how much has occurred since April. It was never my intention to let my blog updates slip; it’s really just a matter of circumstance than laziness. After I finally got used to penning my thoughts on a regular basis, I actually found it therapeutic as more often than not, it took me to actually write it down first before I could understand it. But now, thankfully, I find myself in a pretty good position on a personal level with regards to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">CML</span> and most other things in my life manage to dictate rather than the opposite. However, it’s only when I get the best news I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ve</span> had in terms of prognosis, that the trend continues. The good with the bad…</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The customary email from my doctor arrived, 2 weeks and 2 days after my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">PCR</span> test, and with usual trepidation, I opened it to reveal my latest result. This one however, read that unfortunately my test had become “lost” in the system and for me to book in another appointment and re-start the process. So, again, after 2 weeks and 2 days from this second test, the email again popped into my inbox…this time there was a result and along with the words “getting there!”. This new result showed a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">PCR</span> of 0.125% - slightly down from the last one of 0.149% but nevertheless, it was the best result I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ve</span> had to date and now achingly close to the “safe haven” of 0.1%. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The same day however, whilst celebrating with a glass of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Majella</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Cabenet</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Sauvignon</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Coonawarra</span> in South Australia (unreal stuff!!!), we were informed of some awful news about Karen’s brother Gav. My mate and brother-in-law.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He had just been diagnosed with testicular cancer. At 29. Shit.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gav’s now undergone a major operation to remove the tumour and now undergoing chemo, in the same cancer hospital as I go to, and is mid-way through the first round of two. That <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">shouldn</span>’t even be in the same sentence – “same cancer hospital as I go to”! He’s a tough bloke and although he’s going through hell right now, I’m sure he’ll battle on through and come out the other side a stronger person. It just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">doesn</span>’t seem right for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Kas</span> to have a husband and brother attending an oncology ward.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kas</span>, Chloe and I managed to get away with our mates to France in June, 3 couples and each of us with a child under 2. It was an unreal place – we were in an amazing island called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Il</span> De Re on France’s west coast. The weather was perfect, as was the wine and food. Within the French village, we were spoilt with a daily marketplace bursting with seafood, cheese and all things French. I managed to stack on a few kilos that week, but it was well worth it.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then to follow, it was off to Lisbon in Portugal for my mate Paul’s stag weekend…organised by my mad mate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Ish</span>. It was an unreal and surreal weekend – it was great to catch up with the boys and carry on like old times. The deep-sea fishing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">wasn</span>’t well received by a few, as sea-sickness got the better of them. The next day, it was time to dress up and don the gear that was requested of us…<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Reservoir</span> Dogs outfit (black suit, white shirt, black tie, black glasses). Then Paul was dressed up in an authentic A<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">rabian</span> sheik outfit, where we were then transported to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Benfica</span> Football Club for a stadium tour. It was only when we arrived, did the reception we receive make us aware how truly realistic it looked. A sheik (dubbed Sheik Ali Bin Drinking) surrounded by 5 guys dressed up as security. Within 5 minutes we were ushered into the secret tunnel to get a private tour by a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Benfica</span> official, photographers, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">groundstaff</span> and even the football club mascot, a massive bald eagle. I think this was sparked by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Ish</span> when he said “the Sheik wants to buy this club”. Overall it was a great weekend, plenty of banter and plenty of tourists caught up in the royal tour from the “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">aussie</span>” boys from Saudi Arabia…</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We've also been to two unreal weddings - John and Julie & Chris and Ros. Both absolutely brilliant days!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My work is still very busy, although we are currently undertaking a restructuring process – I don’t think there are many industries that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">aren</span>’t affected by the economic slowdown. I still absolutely love my new job but there’s quite a lot of travel involved, London every two weeks, and the toughest thing is not seeing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Kas</span> and Chloe, especially seeing Chloe is changing almost daily - her new words are "toast", "daddy took it" and my favourite, "magpie". In between all these trips to London, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Kas</span> has also spent a week in Australia on a busy work visit setting up some medical drug trials (Chloe and I may even tag on her next one if she goes back in January). But it feels great to push <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">CML</span> aside and put my head down and get on with building my career and getting on with life. Because <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">CML</span> medication is now so advanced and it offers such a great quality of life, a big issue with this disease is the mind-set and mentality (is that the same thing?) of the individual. If you want to lead a “normal” life, then you can certainly give it a try. In the majority of cases, the only thing stopping you is you.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’m back at the docs in a fortnight, where I’ll have my three monthly catch-up and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">PCR</span> test taken. My folks will be visiting in 5 weeks time, so they'll probably be here when the result comes in. Please keep the emails and messages coming…even though I’m rubbish at updating. Best wishes also to Gav, who I’m sure will kick some cancer arse!</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-53227849322453150702009-04-08T15:28:00.007+01:002009-04-08T17:18:09.410+01:0058. Viva La Cigar<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOFBHv3bnsvf5JgJ0dLcaR0tM6dpQ2Y4-MWf3AzmZyV1kpaXNWOaxU4tPQC6Dj0HFXei8OgKe-g8De2LRfQONkHmdujebJ0HrJHQ5aV_f7O1-3xUCthT-LI13AZVNQYACeI2otQ/s320/DSC_0628.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322329484754763890" /><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRGsNHQQYrm6o7gUJxOKwHmGyUxIhQKZs3q71oFMrqgT-bwJ0IdX_gzIUmkZ7dOwWiCsLdiUcMP8oUyd1pdP2k2MBiQ4AV0CT2BYyI62Z1QHac1HqVXxEc3pOOvIIzJWCS-YQ0A/s320/DSC_0621.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322329482572260834" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBRUbsM_7XGrBfEbGAD54XuUJgvf9e-prZzyL7T5kFMEMsGchjL37RWV_z0GHnNtYGFt6aG1M_e3TD913nQhPppe-kXqU2PR6Cx_lCvIEwLkuCrNSFzj0xQOGUDgqrDCO4MCqJA/s1600-h/DSC_0636.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgfhkQJEnt7UlQxj4NCbzJcrGD58BR5yA6iL1TX_yMSJxtuAwuT4KyfGo2FFU8MTrO2zCbfGAUZUoUw6zUL0UeGrshSzNMulLLLgn9IAdw10QV0Rz9LyIXFBZ9WbkitbTtkh7PA/s320/DSC_0622.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322329474339291922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5ZRuislMaHZbtvRaHwpyM6jx46-P5n5LvA2dU3gQPp41xKmZ6-p2U-W0_BCjiyQWd7wG1Ol2jTY9QagFlSoZATx4v0b_FGOtI0w8LEHKqbwZT39500jIe8rsosA9KUyiPJDNWg/s1600-h/DSC_0613.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5ZRuislMaHZbtvRaHwpyM6jx46-P5n5LvA2dU3gQPp41xKmZ6-p2U-W0_BCjiyQWd7wG1Ol2jTY9QagFlSoZATx4v0b_FGOtI0w8LEHKqbwZT39500jIe8rsosA9KUyiPJDNWg/s320/DSC_0613.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322328472627623698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXJQ9AikOYTdgQR-BKtHgbPRrDjpSGfvsC06RUjXEVPVxG3mS7ALr5nXM6E6h2n-XAk51tWxvtIRnurO4iCsTz0ZuAWiU8cPfXQVHBaz8mpuf60SJyDXKu17_esfzCdAemMuTug/s1600-h/DSC00058.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXJQ9AikOYTdgQR-BKtHgbPRrDjpSGfvsC06RUjXEVPVxG3mS7ALr5nXM6E6h2n-XAk51tWxvtIRnurO4iCsTz0ZuAWiU8cPfXQVHBaz8mpuf60SJyDXKu17_esfzCdAemMuTug/s320/DSC00058.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322328472021556050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvy4ZVISiXy_umJeN6x1LbdTsGWrRb2ybFCgeoOMISc9SblVxzj8YcC5IHAxbr-VGtBxUR_t6G-GVFkxkbaqkUIwYlxrHW29qY0w_m15JVmCp3n83hwr4Cqsh8YVMgH0Hn3wp-Kg/s1600-h/DSC00030.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvy4ZVISiXy_umJeN6x1LbdTsGWrRb2ybFCgeoOMISc9SblVxzj8YcC5IHAxbr-VGtBxUR_t6G-GVFkxkbaqkUIwYlxrHW29qY0w_m15JVmCp3n83hwr4Cqsh8YVMgH0Hn3wp-Kg/s320/DSC00030.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322328459459023330" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuc02fVhl5OF75O3a9_Lhi9-IzUNz12N7rl0teyVpwXQdXLTPlBhKm9wjL9YKMOHvlfYYm6XOOBD1aMchoX_-GtVI6cK8NRc1Wt5h8blhzr3gIcO0qwJxAhM9TkVEH4fEFyVwzA/s1600-h/DSC00016.JPG"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuc02fVhl5OF75O3a9_Lhi9-IzUNz12N7rl0teyVpwXQdXLTPlBhKm9wjL9YKMOHvlfYYm6XOOBD1aMchoX_-GtVI6cK8NRc1Wt5h8blhzr3gIcO0qwJxAhM9TkVEH4fEFyVwzA/s1600-h/DSC00016.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuc02fVhl5OF75O3a9_Lhi9-IzUNz12N7rl0teyVpwXQdXLTPlBhKm9wjL9YKMOHvlfYYm6XOOBD1aMchoX_-GtVI6cK8NRc1Wt5h8blhzr3gIcO0qwJxAhM9TkVEH4fEFyVwzA/s320/DSC00016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322328453284489730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_vv9rzcB2-l4MGvqv9Dw0R-J2jJm70Andpb-4rk-ptn2YPzNRwaiBUBn81U3rAt1Bw5ZryyszF2PD5ytIJtAeVLTnY5IhyphenhyphenuKzDPK07PQNH-M87-d0Qfn2CBwf_QVluUpISybxg/s1600-h/DSC00013.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_vv9rzcB2-l4MGvqv9Dw0R-J2jJm70Andpb-4rk-ptn2YPzNRwaiBUBn81U3rAt1Bw5ZryyszF2PD5ytIJtAeVLTnY5IhyphenhyphenuKzDPK07PQNH-M87-d0Qfn2CBwf_QVluUpISybxg/s320/DSC00013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322328449600764818" /></a><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61W8sUA5SY0jMpGsxdIJDrgjOfj7GGQOfeeo_QbSphCyGRPSBrM6i0uNWUphYBCZ2Hu-LGev27z5EtnQdLzxHJ7pVmcBtGnIn8ErsOjwrdTmsb1Ct5vJyPZOI6BAQQNZjDWScIg/s320/n501357020_1839173_389.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322329736965005298" /><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">PHOTOS: </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Kas</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> and Chloe in the Park; Playing on the Slide; Me and Chloe hanging out; </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Dawsie</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> and new arrival Freddy; Chloe in the house; Winter's final snowfall; Me in Havana; At the Havana Club Tour; </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Chevy's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> at Revolution Square; Cuba!; Me and Jon with the Havana Club Maestro, Don Jose Navarro...</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">A recent comment that was left by a visitor on this </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">web page</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> asked ‘why haven’t I updated my blog yet, or have I now passed?’ </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Seeing my last update was back in January, I thought now was the time to switch the laptop back on and start typing once more…even if it’s just to let you know I’m still here…</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Since travelling back to Australia with </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Kas</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> and Chloe in January, there have been plenty of changes in our lives, and whilst touching wood, things are the best they’</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> been in a long time. My last </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">PCR</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> in December 08 was 0.29%, a nice drop from the previous 0.6% - well only two weeks ago I got my three monthly email from the Doctor’s secretary to say that it had changed again and it was my lowest to date. 0.14% - gold! It’s now so close to the ‘safe haven’ of 0.1%, tantalisingly close. My appointments have now been moved to three monthly also, which leaves me in an interesting position – I now have much longer between visits that I almost forgot about </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">CML</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> and then there’s the downfall when I do attend the Oncology Clinic, it’s a hell of a reminder.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Since completing the 3 Peaks Challenge in June last year, I’</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> been considering plenty of options suggested by friends on how we can top our last fundraiser. I’</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> been asked to join the Leukaemia Research Paul O’</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Gorman</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> Centre committee and help with ideas and suggestions on how to keep the money coming in during this tough economic period. Funding, donors and research grants have almost halved in the past year, so the charity industry certainly is competing with each other for much needed cash. Hopefully we will have a plan on what we will do next – Kilimanjaro, Everest, a stair case?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Not long after arriving back on the frosty shores of Scotland in mid-January, I was then off on a work trip to Havana, Cuba – we had achieved a company incentive to hit our targets. What a holiday, I mean, work trip! For anyone who has travelled to Cuba, I’m sure agree it lies somewhere in the middle of beautiful and crumbling chaos. One street will be falling apart, lined on either side with a mixture of 1950’s </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Chevy's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> and Russian </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ladas</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, and the next road along will be an impressive building, completely covered in Revolution or Fidel transcript. In 1962, the US imposed an embargo on Cuba and not much has changed since then, however it was great to see that some of the UN’s cash was being spent to restore these deteriorating buildings. The trip to the Havana Club factory, cigar factory and the copious amounts of 7 year old rum consumed was a definite highlight. Although </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Kas</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">wasn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">’t best pleased that I came home with a box of Monte </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Cristo</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> fat cigars in my hand luggage…</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Soon after our work trip, I was interviewed and subsequently offered a promotion to Field Sales Manager. It was mark of achievement for myself as I had not too long ago deliberated what Leukaemia diagnosis would mean in terms of a career. I snipped the end of one of my Monte </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Cristo</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">’s, lit it up and celebrated that no matter the hurdle, you can still find ways to overcome them.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I’</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> just got a call from my mate </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Dawsie</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> – his wife Jen has delivered a little baby boy! Freddy Charles Dawes at 6 pounds 14 was born on April 7</span><sup><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, only 10 hours after my birthday – great news. This box of cigars is starting to come in handy!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I’</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> been in a few articles lately, mostly publicising fundraisers or leukaemia research and I’</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> noticed twice I’</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> been referred to as an ex-patient. Not exactly accurate journalism. In some ways I feel like I’m in the middle of a fight with Leukaemia and I’m doing everything I can to get in front and there are other times that I feel completely normal, that I have a normal life and that I seem a normal, healthy person. But I’</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> never thought of myself as being cured or an ex-patient, actually I’m very far from feeling that way. The insurance companies look at anyone with </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">CML</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> as an extreme risk (questions like ‘how long do you have left to live?’, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">aren</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">’t uncommon), they see me as a patient and nothing else. I guess what I’m trying to say is that for all the struggle and fight anyone does when they have a life-threatening disease, it’s hard to ever get on with life as it was or as you’d like it to be. It really is like having two personalities.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Enough contemplative chat, I’m off to visit little Freddy and get down to the level that I converse with so well. I’m not too sure when is the best time to sit him down and tell him to stay away from Chloe though.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Thanks again for the messages and emails (except the cheeky lady asking if I’</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">ve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> passed). </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Kas</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> and I are off to Mar Hall this weekend where we will celebrate our 3 year wedding anniversary in style. Bring it on!</span></p></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-66089044800908969062009-01-28T19:23:00.004+00:002009-01-28T19:44:11.116+00:0057. Australia and Back<div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKMkT2qAQZ9H6mRbw5C3_UYgnNPfeY8-vqoJOKu05pZHkqPm2y_BQSNiGEH1dFykJsEJNHEc_fVgOO2T86kRB1gh_pzce4s8_7M-mUY1L8kZ_gSATOL0a_Iar2MRLKfX-bD-bVg/s1600-h/Matt,+Kas+and+Chloe+on+Harbour.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296428236572808642" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKMkT2qAQZ9H6mRbw5C3_UYgnNPfeY8-vqoJOKu05pZHkqPm2y_BQSNiGEH1dFykJsEJNHEc_fVgOO2T86kRB1gh_pzce4s8_7M-mUY1L8kZ_gSATOL0a_Iar2MRLKfX-bD-bVg/s320/Matt,+Kas+and+Chloe+on+Harbour.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq99-J8QM9Je2ApbF1UHLg-gfjcR9-X5KugYR6PLrKPtv5f9oRoNpPn4aw0ZrSsMyIL6ydYirNiBp8A0eVIdZcmMqr6ujqNyjt6uZKn2SHyXvMH06jigXHih5MurUF7LSsy2fF9Q/s1600-h/Chloe+on+her+beach+towel.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296427886384530194" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq99-J8QM9Je2ApbF1UHLg-gfjcR9-X5KugYR6PLrKPtv5f9oRoNpPn4aw0ZrSsMyIL6ydYirNiBp8A0eVIdZcmMqr6ujqNyjt6uZKn2SHyXvMH06jigXHih5MurUF7LSsy2fF9Q/s320/Chloe+on+her+beach+towel.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09jUDbq2DGINsEtqPjDFXKyYagrkyTNv9B2Ml-4_tCh5h5nbUnj_mp16AbkrRbf6BDP-NVFLlFAcHojZ4u16FWSpjfPgVpUNGDOSmyc0QYoNI_TB2dIRsxfzaQOZluVjjEzlcoA/s1600-h/Mum+and+Matt+with+Pram.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296428773797874962" style="WIDTH: 214px; 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CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstZsgUx8GHqmLUnPY2A1zCpWPiYpVlAzt-KgcFxLJrbuMQOQdiIyeChgbmVtpNjiS5fz0GVWY-bENocaF9yapZi799e8mih7ph_d8rX7dkpAhPhX7YN957MvAA2vArvtmO86Bzg/s320/Drew+and+Chloe.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9z-lX9LbQnZZzSU94ojiLzT8xseEeI252v6a0Rw6AHmBijqi17ECAjt2EWW0Z9f9B_0IiDHDsuaxfClS8rvMJiAUBy5_T18Qybrm0_83qy0ZNdzrBv9PL4gQ5T3xQsEVpzmYaA/s1600-h/Chloe+Leading+Dad+in+Park.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296427886675011842" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9z-lX9LbQnZZzSU94ojiLzT8xseEeI252v6a0Rw6AHmBijqi17ECAjt2EWW0Z9f9B_0IiDHDsuaxfClS8rvMJiAUBy5_T18Qybrm0_83qy0ZNdzrBv9PL4gQ5T3xQsEVpzmYaA/s320/Chloe+Leading+Dad+in+Park.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyD6zD24gPbPdGYxaZIF2KB5X43ZwTyr2FkSK9OOPv-kupWr3gliHxFMEuAIhSRgMAizCJIzQoHRiVZUWNsfddIJ4Gc8ZXaSULm2CKCbtI5WCOaRpKSOsWPXvHfv0rofRlHs_sPQ/s1600-h/Hayden+kissing+Chloe.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296428223220688130" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyD6zD24gPbPdGYxaZIF2KB5X43ZwTyr2FkSK9OOPv-kupWr3gliHxFMEuAIhSRgMAizCJIzQoHRiVZUWNsfddIJ4Gc8ZXaSULm2CKCbtI5WCOaRpKSOsWPXvHfv0rofRlHs_sPQ/s320/Hayden+kissing+Chloe.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirS5vg6Ac1pUN_6SIlZ5l-zTNsYVBEQjMiqpbnbBGo-6kmlkH2E6bhy_1ntZoZFKAq-dSXU8b1eNRvB-2gf4dNQyM5gfwa0VThUBJS4-kBFV3459SffhBmFudjh-B6bnFh7CZI0Q/s1600-h/Chloe+and+Snake.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296427879444237730" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirS5vg6Ac1pUN_6SIlZ5l-zTNsYVBEQjMiqpbnbBGo-6kmlkH2E6bhy_1ntZoZFKAq-dSXU8b1eNRvB-2gf4dNQyM5gfwa0VThUBJS4-kBFV3459SffhBmFudjh-B6bnFh7CZI0Q/s320/Chloe+and+Snake.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsggS2mJs6HBj-STT6R_crBlHAc7ELkU9crlV3lhM7Ic3nHg1ZYzqnIX3MNBxI4bmz4AQA7-oPXQs3AbUmyfAdlE8RcjuoO_2852A2BEzjZ01c0O9xIugGozyIIRxJI3cDepTxQ/s1600-h/Spider+in+the+Flash.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296428783555528834" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsggS2mJs6HBj-STT6R_crBlHAc7ELkU9crlV3lhM7Ic3nHg1ZYzqnIX3MNBxI4bmz4AQA7-oPXQs3AbUmyfAdlE8RcjuoO_2852A2BEzjZ01c0O9xIugGozyIIRxJI3cDepTxQ/s320/Spider+in+the+Flash.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div><strong>PHOTOS: Me, Kas and Chloe on the Taronga Zoo Ferry; Chloe on her beach towel; Mum and I walking the Pram; Family day out at the Zoo; Kas and Chloe on Stanwell Park Beach; Dad and I; Kas, Tash and Chloe at the Zoo; Paragliding at Stanwell Tops; Tash, Claire and Nick going out to dinner; Giraffe in front of Sydney Harbour; Drew and Chloe in Cowra; Chloe leading Dad; Hayden sharing the love; Chloe touching an Australia python; Spider caught in the flash...</strong></div><div> </div><div>Once again, it’s been a while since my last update. No news is good news in that sense I guess. Eight weeks ago I was enduring the busiest period at work, counting the days down until Kas, Chloe and I boarded a plane to an Australian summer and also a PCR that was to determine so many things in my prognosis and treatment. Where to start!<br /><br />Only three days before we backed the boardies, zipped up the cases and headed for Glasgow Airport en route to Sydney, an email appeared in my inbox entitled ‘Matt’s PCR’. I’ve never been one to sit back and contemplate what something of significance will mean to me – instead, I opened it up and read it before I even got my email alert. To me, it was a great result of 0.29%. The lowest result I have ever got and more convincing that the previous one of 0.67%. A nice present before we head on holidays. And that’s how I left it, a nice result even though it wasn’t at the gold standard 0.1% that the consultants were hoping for but a good result none the less. I had my consultation booked in the diary for the day after I arrived back from holidays, so at least there was one thing less to worry about.<br /><br />Anyone who has ever travelled longhaul with a one year old will know pretty much how our trip went. I’m not going to moan about the plane journey because in truth, there were some times that I thoroughly enjoyed myself (the free business class champagne from a air hostess that loved Chloe wasn’t bad – even though she never witnessed Chloe running into business class and pouring water on a man fast asleep on his flatbed…) The stopover on the way there was good and bad depending on how I looked at it. Dubai gave us a chance to charge our batteries and breakup the trip but it also meant a whole day longer until we were back on Aussie soil. Finally we arrived after the 15 hour second leg and it was back to Cowra for two weeks to soak up the rays with my family – gold!<br /><br />Seeing the kids all play together was priceless and it was great how much they all got on. It was the first time since I’d seen my mum since she had a tumour removed from the thyroid last year and I was very pleased to see how well she was looking. I think there was a smile on my face the entire trip. Then we all piled into the cars and headed down to Stanwell Park, an hour south of Sydney on the coast, where my folks had organised a beautiful beach house for us all. With the fish markets nearby, we were rarely short of fresh seafood and with the beach so close, we were rarely dry. With the temperature hovering anywhere from 26 to 41 degrees and not one drop of rain the entire holiday, the water was the only place to seek refuge – a lot different to the winter temps back in Scotland. All in all, it was an amazing trip back home to see my family (seeing Chloe’s cousin’s Hayden and Eliza growing up was unreal) and my mates and a trip I’d like to make far more often. The only downer was seeing the Aussies lose to South Africa in the cricket on home soil, a first for 16 years! I’m ready for that call up to the national team…<br /><br /> …25 hours on a plane later, we were back in Scotland where it was time to head back to the real world and back to the Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow. I saw my Consultant pretty swiftly and we must have chatted for over an hour. She is still desperate to get my PCR below 0.1% because they are now referring to this level of residual leukaemia as a ‘safe haven’. Although 0.29% isn’t very far away and in actual fact, I’m doing very well on the meds, she’s still desperate to try different things rather than sit back, waiting to see what happens. She’s happy to observe for another 6 months but if there’s sign of budging, there’s a good chance I’ll move onto the new Novartis drug ‘nilotinib’, the sister drug to Gleevec. It can only be a good thing to have one of the most respected CML specialists in the world with my health at the top of her mind. We were also discussing what our next adventure to raise money for the Leukaemia Centre may be? My next PCR is scheduled for 4 weeks time, so this will be the first of three to determine what the next steps are.<br /><br />Thanks again for the emails, please keep them coming in. Fingers crossed for my next PCR in one month…</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-51109485138167105012008-12-02T19:20:00.005+00:002008-12-02T19:45:13.986+00:0056. The Dance-Off<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ebvDjXYr0ng8dMabpmzK3XtGJjoy1wpJjghQk36mUGliPqTsQch61nUHtxa1m-yUz5Ft2fPTLzqxsj0SEmQEj7IUtxL20o__X1un-20tLSM9EhoRK_zuAGG4PR52JKOcdh4tlQ/s1600-h/Ladies.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275276229343984514" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ebvDjXYr0ng8dMabpmzK3XtGJjoy1wpJjghQk36mUGliPqTsQch61nUHtxa1m-yUz5Ft2fPTLzqxsj0SEmQEj7IUtxL20o__X1un-20tLSM9EhoRK_zuAGG4PR52JKOcdh4tlQ/s320/Ladies.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFbJ6ILXG0_JgRkQuaPky7SBwS7sPZODZiiZF2ZfnROpLUWnLp51SAl-APzdYrQqSpzbIyu1Wsu8Y3iQWmG0ykuB-acJvjGQw6A24jT_p1JE-BzOyLHxeBNuipa2_pMTaHXMdLQ/s1600-h/Prize+Winner+Johnny.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275276901806800306" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFbJ6ILXG0_JgRkQuaPky7SBwS7sPZODZiiZF2ZfnROpLUWnLp51SAl-APzdYrQqSpzbIyu1Wsu8Y3iQWmG0ykuB-acJvjGQw6A24jT_p1JE-BzOyLHxeBNuipa2_pMTaHXMdLQ/s320/Prize+Winner+Johnny.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-T7nKEQO5oZhFQXDWFZMkysSWU5-IVFc1mks4CzI9pmKrgEkCgvjnPGlojBvoqopnvlTnG0HEL6klrkQD9l2KP9nUVM49uF3z9ZkezZAvbTtqaR4OmuFKuTNiKz0ldgUAy1w8sQ/s1600-h/Chloe+in+Backpack.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275275599132816434" style="WIDTH: 214px; 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CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuswHQ46_ZbNuBLnFB0tkwX-PUbueZHSKMePJrzqfqDobC9iZUBLhM8nT1H0WfFOu9cey5PlPi8WvJFXj9-pYJ9gHBTDN9u3OgvKLdy0y2dMjR_h4rTU0c5Yr6tb5pBpkpUPUluw/s320/Dawsie+Shooting.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXG-xWboRJ5op8SYci7ODi5RbHoECB2GJDAjoglv34x68g5NjklRfRtv668NyDWaQ7JlQuUavd-JziNeOd9D5pjpjoIwnkQXqPH9_P4caHtQNDL_I8gULqIFft72b-qPmCtPH4A/s1600-h/Frozen+Pond.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275276220344738274" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXG-xWboRJ5op8SYci7ODi5RbHoECB2GJDAjoglv34x68g5NjklRfRtv668NyDWaQ7JlQuUavd-JziNeOd9D5pjpjoIwnkQXqPH9_P4caHtQNDL_I8gULqIFft72b-qPmCtPH4A/s320/Frozen+Pond.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigblfYdj_14MeAlbPkWuSCWa1XtO4sbvVKMlpXzCEn5tVeGMRnP2ncSvMTYBnfUEwJTgiVP15baMsJsI79IdkpJkEscsSFATXGqbRcBDBhLcmtkbkvESikSZQgDaEMIABuoQQiIg/s1600-h/BMW.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275275581544588498" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigblfYdj_14MeAlbPkWuSCWa1XtO4sbvVKMlpXzCEn5tVeGMRnP2ncSvMTYBnfUEwJTgiVP15baMsJsI79IdkpJkEscsSFATXGqbRcBDBhLcmtkbkvESikSZQgDaEMIABuoQQiIg/s320/BMW.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><strong>PHOTOS: The Girls at the Ball; Johnny the Prize Winner; Walking Chloe to Gran's in the Morning; Snow at Gran's House; Sunrise over Glasgow; The Snow is Falling in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Milngavie</span>; Taking Chloe and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kas</span> to see Santa; Newborn Amelia, Vicky, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kas</span> and Chloe; Proud Dad Graham; Chloe will the Pigs; BBQ in Winter; Matt with his Shotgun; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dawsie</span> missing another Clay; Ice over our back Pond; the drunken BMW purchase...</strong></div><div><strong></strong> </div><div>I don’t know how long it’ll take to acclimatise but the cold crisp days in Scotland to the arid lands of Australia <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">couldn</span>’t be more of a contrast. The days are among the nicest I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ve</span> seen them on this side of the globe, with plenty of blue skies, thick frosts and crunchy white snow. I reckon we might be cowering under the air conditioner for the first few days in Oz and only when I’m brave enough, I’ll test my white skin in the sunlight. With only four weeks left until we head back home to Oz, I’m starting to get very excited…<br /><br />I should be getting my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">PCR</span> result back pretty soon as I was with the Doctors last Tuesday – my bloods are still looking completely normal but this time around, I’m not expecting a great deal of change with my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">PCR</span>. It’s been stuck the past four tests, so I’ll be perfectly happy to be emailed a similar number. I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ve</span> been on my new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">meds</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Sprycel</span> for 18 months now, so if there’s not been a significant change in that time, then anything from 0.3 – 0.8% will be good. Anything over 1% won’t be well received. We spent most of the consultation talking about ways we can raise cash in the future and what new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">meds</span> are being tested and trialled – I’m assured it’s looking pretty good as far as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">CML</span> is concerned. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Kas</span>, a few of the 3 Peaks gang and I were invited by the Lord <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Provest</span> (who ever this bloke is?...) of Glasgow to the official opening of the new Leukaemia Centre we raised £16k for, at the City Chambers. It’s good to see that the 3 Peaks effort in June is still being recognised as a pretty decent fundraiser. We’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">ve</span> even been dedicated the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Gel-doc</span> machine or the ‘work horse’ as the scientists call it, with a plaque sitting proudly on top. As good as the 3 Peaks Challenge was, I still haven’t been any where near a mountain since then. Maybe it’s time to dust down the boots as get back on hills.<br /><br />My work is currently in the midst of the busiest time of year, so it’s been pretty tough to get too much else done. For some reason, the booze industry defies the predictions and continues to power on with no signs of decline – maybe everyone is drowning their sorrows in this economic doom and gloom? Anyway, it’s good for us and because of this, the whole company is off to Cuba in February, a few weeks after I get back from Oz. Bring on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">mojitos</span> - gold!!<br /><br />My mate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Dawsie</span> celebrated his 30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">th</span> the other week and we celebrated with in a nice rented chateau in the Scottish borders. Very nice and a highly recommended neck of the woods! Then the weekend following, it was time to head along to our annual shindig that is the Anthony Nolan Scottish Daisy Ball. It’s our third ball in a row and it keeps getting better and better – the fact that I sponsored a booze hamper prize which was then won by Johnny on our table, helped get us going after consuming a bottle of whisky in record time. The entertainment was unreal as usual and the venue was stunning…after many more drams of the good stuff, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Dawsie</span> got the party going by having a soccer competition with the ex-Dutch Football Captain, I tore the skin off my knees with a monster knee slide to win a dance-off and Colin having a monster dance-floor stack that made the whole crowd turn and look. After that got out of hand, we left the premises late into the night with snow falling around us. It <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">wasn</span>’t until the next morning that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Kas</span> reminded me of my purchase from the silent auction the night before and when I went downstairs, I was greeted by a children’s electric BMW car that I bought for Chloe. It <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">wasn</span>’t until later that we read she can’t even use it until she’s three. Very funny! Anyone keen to come along next year, just let me know and I’ll sort out the tickets…</div><div> </div><div>The next day, our friend <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Mhairi</span> left for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Mumbai</span> in India for a work trip until Christmas. She arrived in the morning to her hotel, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Oberoi</span>, and thankfully she went out for dinner on her first night as her hotel was attacked by terrorists. As you can imagine, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">everyone's</span> thoughts were with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Mhairi</span> and her colleagues and she spent the night on the restaurant floor praying the shooters didn't enter, as only two doors down, tens of people weren't so lucky. She is now back safely in Glasgow and it's very good to have our mate back!<br /><br />The baby boom is continuing with Karen’s family friend Graham (or Alexei <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Sayle</span> as my brother calls him) having a wee girl called Amelia. And shortly after, Karen’s cousin Emma also had a wee girl called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Niamh</span> (pronounced <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Neave</span>). All babies and mum’s are doing very well. I can’t wait now until Jen and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Dawsie</span> have their baby in April next year!<br /><br />I think this hill-walking thing is growing on me now, as every time I look outside to the snow and blue sky, I’m tempted to don the gore-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">tex</span> and get outdoors again and again. Chloe’s commute to her Gran’s in the morning has been via the backpack on her dad’s back for the past few days. Wish me luck that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">PCR</span> sends me on a nice holiday and I hope everyone has a great Christmas and New Years!! Keep the messages and emails coming in…</div><div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-88498321572545662672008-10-18T11:59:00.007+01:002008-10-18T14:07:39.946+01:0055. Birthday Girl<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe6KRSBimbSwj8FiNKMtvciM379rr54sPRPMctb6k2jQaH3yt4AgmUvzqWiE14N3ajjT3TEc_HSX8z0gN6Y8wLmILCG0bJGyq3yZl-ftyPz3TR7ydMWeuQOzCe2q7fM0pJ_jObg/s1600-h/Chloe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258477627745954946" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe6KRSBimbSwj8FiNKMtvciM379rr54sPRPMctb6k2jQaH3yt4AgmUvzqWiE14N3ajjT3TEc_HSX8z0gN6Y8wLmILCG0bJGyq3yZl-ftyPz3TR7ydMWeuQOzCe2q7fM0pJ_jObg/s320/Chloe's+Cake.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuxhJvKu3yUa4uteorkzF2Ws8MhQtQk1nfAaiGP3EzYu0MUwd42fW3jJVlkRpbRRdPTG5wfdIS1hQ7st89N3J3Xe7fHkt0A8bnBEH8X-rU2ed5bNTm-l0BnUbvVp-xcEctBg-9w/s1600-h/Chloe+with+Giraffe.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258447337513566210" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuxhJvKu3yUa4uteorkzF2Ws8MhQtQk1nfAaiGP3EzYu0MUwd42fW3jJVlkRpbRRdPTG5wfdIS1hQ7st89N3J3Xe7fHkt0A8bnBEH8X-rU2ed5bNTm-l0BnUbvVp-xcEctBg-9w/s320/Chloe+with+Giraffe.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQORMxTXAXn4NjQHIAaUgIAE4insO_9oxIVLCpUIEqX2YOoKqidK5O7JQhjIav-412OIfuqAvxydokh_xnuS3Fev3OaFQrgRzQjmsuyC1ghTWpKmZ4w6Qs9acSgp-PR6quIpMug/s1600-h/Beer+Girls.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258477625057886706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQORMxTXAXn4NjQHIAaUgIAE4insO_9oxIVLCpUIEqX2YOoKqidK5O7JQhjIav-412OIfuqAvxydokh_xnuS3Fev3OaFQrgRzQjmsuyC1ghTWpKmZ4w6Qs9acSgp-PR6quIpMug/s320/Beer+Girls.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qDDmt09rPG9d4yIObXyGEx_TJO0aI7tKXmvEKCMYESLAVpZJ5oSxeakx0bRrbHxM4u-8sAGTwqff0HlsTXmjIl0YfhigRjMuyd1XGJ6WRFXBbbWSN3zWbfs0rNzWg-hU8A8z9A/s1600-h/Ish+and+Bobby.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258447930367968290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qDDmt09rPG9d4yIObXyGEx_TJO0aI7tKXmvEKCMYESLAVpZJ5oSxeakx0bRrbHxM4u-8sAGTwqff0HlsTXmjIl0YfhigRjMuyd1XGJ6WRFXBbbWSN3zWbfs0rNzWg-hU8A8z9A/s320/Ish+and+Bobby.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxdwwj3q02OphknuWMkh6iAG_pIoaqZPNfoNWwGqTpWzOoSYrvDzzyIaEROProS_2Z5d-uEHhGlAtrwVmtIAq6FImRcbSjBpheTD0RRs2Rm_OEUKisZxdi2Ai7Ok8qLVitgL4pA/s1600-h/Boys+and+Beers.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258478688698193842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxdwwj3q02OphknuWMkh6iAG_pIoaqZPNfoNWwGqTpWzOoSYrvDzzyIaEROProS_2Z5d-uEHhGlAtrwVmtIAq6FImRcbSjBpheTD0RRs2Rm_OEUKisZxdi2Ai7Ok8qLVitgL4pA/s320/Boys+and+Beers.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPv1Gejn-CUl2A3W_xQTdj6ThPD6xeP4T8jmN-UZs_fGZwI2NIz333LXNbLESxI-HIxQSgiB82Xd6e2GtSSw06OVyblfF9C9cvh_6KiF_QfJNtg9_tyrZ4STqkSNn7jdENnz8Lw/s1600-h/Tom,+Chloe+and+Amy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258479260023341442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPv1Gejn-CUl2A3W_xQTdj6ThPD6xeP4T8jmN-UZs_fGZwI2NIz333LXNbLESxI-HIxQSgiB82Xd6e2GtSSw06OVyblfF9C9cvh_6KiF_QfJNtg9_tyrZ4STqkSNn7jdENnz8Lw/s320/Tom,+Chloe+and+Amy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfvtx5MFjI3aGXrdHZI9SP82ZEcpQofNMeua8xFusC3ai0yLqLk3jQCqHk-L8-MHqDOTDPigNj-yUd5p34a7Hto2Z5yiaBe7pYubljDihGDVwpGe4g9UQ-Dm7eG7y6B3mf7zb1g/s1600-h/Chloe+Feedtime.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258448409771696818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfvtx5MFjI3aGXrdHZI9SP82ZEcpQofNMeua8xFusC3ai0yLqLk3jQCqHk-L8-MHqDOTDPigNj-yUd5p34a7Hto2Z5yiaBe7pYubljDihGDVwpGe4g9UQ-Dm7eG7y6B3mf7zb1g/s320/Chloe+Feedtime.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X09WXQX5aS4uSefBOxcSiU8jMEadKczaaYfZnR12VLTgmE0Bwg-kPHOr5V5c3U1zO0hleZHtrv92NeVHZ1_rkkfrNrJxrmRWVNIlKE0zU4tfOolHTKfoukgZsYe83mzzW02uUQ/s1600-h/Kas+opening+Chloe"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258447338787628146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X09WXQX5aS4uSefBOxcSiU8jMEadKczaaYfZnR12VLTgmE0Bwg-kPHOr5V5c3U1zO0hleZHtrv92NeVHZ1_rkkfrNrJxrmRWVNIlKE0zU4tfOolHTKfoukgZsYe83mzzW02uUQ/s320/Kas+opening+Chloe%27s+Present.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>PHOTOS: Chloe's 1st Birthday Cake; Opening her Presents; Girls enjoying the Party; Bobby and Ish; Fellas on the Beers; It's my Party and I'll cry if I want to; Feeding the little Lady; Kas Opening Presents...</strong><br /><br />I’ve been unsure of what to think of my PCR result I received a few weeks ago. This time last year, I was getting tested every few weeks – I was just moved onto the highest possible Sprycel dose, so the docs wanted to be assured that they were doing the right thing. One year on and I’m only heading back to see the consultants every six weeks and having PCR taken every three months. More emphasis on each one now as you can imagine! So with everyone so keen to finally see how well I’m coping with the high dose, it was with an email I found out that the rollercoaster was set to continue and it’s still not time to get off…<br /><br />0.67%. Three months ago it was 0.45% and the previous was a record breaking (for me anyway) 0.3%. I was sure this was bad news and only desperate measures could be put in place to avoid any further damage. I felt I was getting more susceptible to viruses and that maybe my immune system was being jeopardised by something of my own wrongdoing. I felt totally fine, healthy and fit, so I certainly had no explanation on why there is an upward trend. Too many Christmas mince pies already?<br /><br />After a few weeks of deliberating, mainly about hounding the docs for an explanation, I held my tongue and awaited my appointment last Tuesday. I usually get seen by either one of two main consultants, so I was slightly taken aback when another haematologist grabbed my notes and loudly called out my name in the waiting room. I wandered into her consulting room and as she flicked through my notes, I couldn’t help being nosey and sneak a peak at the notes. All I could make out was “reconsider bone marrow transplant if PCR was above 0.5%”. I could feel myself tighten up and when she said that maybe my other consultant should see me as she needed to “talk” to me about something. I already knew what about…<br /><br />Talk about a case of over-imagination. Professor Holyoake apologised that I never received the email from her to explain that she is quite happy with the results and not to worry. She looked at my previous 12 PCR results and grouped them into 3’s – the first batch had an average of 2.6%, the next batch was 1.6%, then 1.2% and then finally 0.45%. It’s all about perspective! She would only ever worry is there was a definite 10-fold increase ie; 0.3% to 3% and slightly concerned for a 3-fold increase. As long as my next PCR is under 1%, everything should continue as normal as it has been.<br /><br />19th October will be three years since diagnosis – I definitely fought hard during the initial few months and year, and since then I’ve pushed on to make life as normal as possible for my family and myself. But even three years on, I still can’t help getting dragged into worrying about my future from time to time. Most of my time is spent living as though I don’t have Leukaemia and it’s not even a conscious decision. Of course there are side-effects from my meds but if I treat them as normal, then everything else in my life will follow suit. I’m aware that I don’t update my blog as often as I used to but revisiting this, forced me to deal with issues that I’ve put to the back of my mind. I live as though everything is fine but I’ve got to realise that I’m treading pretty close to the edge and that my PCR’s are far from optimal. A risky transplant will continue to be the next option, so let’s hope I can keep on this same road for a lot longer.<br /><br />One of the main things that will keep me going strong is Chloe. She celebrated her 1st birthday the other week and what a party that turned out to be (more booze available than at a 30th!). She had her party frock on proudly and loved all the attention that everyone gave her. Such a spoilt little lady! Somehow we squeezed most of our friends and family into our house, along with 12 babies. The singletons and newly weds hid safely in the kitchen, probably one the best forms of contraception was to see the carnage by these wee people created. Our mates Ish and Amy even made it back over to the UK to help celebrate Chloe’s birthday and our first year as a mum and dad. Gold!<br /><br />Unfortunately we’re going to miss their wedding in Oz this December as it’s my busiest time of year but we will be leaving the shores of Scotland on Boxing Day and heading back to Australia then for a nice three week jaunt. Not long to go now until we visit my folks in Cowra then off to the coast, just south of Sydney, for a week and I’m getting really pumped about arriving back home with my daughter on show. As much as I’m looking forward to baring my white chest on the beach, it’ll be great to watch Chloe playing with her cousins in the sand. We will literally be travelling from 4 degrees to 40. Not sure how my pasty skin will endure and handle this foreign climate though…<br /><br />I will, however, be here in the bonny lands for when my mate, best man and fellow “aussie living in Scotland with a Scottish misses”, Jason and Jennifer are expecting the arrival of their first baby. Unreal - bring on the baby boom!<br /><br />Thanks for the emails and messages – keep them coming in. I’m currently updating this as I get rocked from side to side on the Belfast-Stranraer ferry on my way back to Glasgow. A city that has just been voted in the Top 10 destinations for 2009 in the Lonely Planet Guide:<br /><br />“Forget about castles, kilts, bagpipes and tartan. You come for the cocktails, cuisine and designer chic (plus the legendary native wit) ... Scotland's biggest city has shaken off its shroud of industrial soot and shimmied into a sparkling new designer gown." Glasgow is the only British city included in the top 10, an accolade embraced by Steven Purcell, leader of the city council. He yesterday helped to unveil plans by the Dubai-based Jumeirah hotel group to build the UK’s first "six-star" luxury hotel in the city - a 26-storey tower which will boast 160 guest rooms and suites and 85 serviced apartments.”<br /><br />The sun is shining and the temperature is crisp. Beautiful!</div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-56840130899618394412008-09-03T17:16:00.004+01:002008-09-03T17:43:01.503+01:0054. Paella Munching<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR4RX4HX299o3GJwD0PCr8pztFesC0uRmOO07zpn_A0Etw-CesbTTckz1ICbmQl3lJF3HJN2VhIVrhGjyRfLlA-27igMS0OVhGx1N_T8BKQhQDCwT5YCROwEKKG0ysYjSxghyphenhypheniw/s1600-h/DSC_0066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241831825727956018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR4RX4HX299o3GJwD0PCr8pztFesC0uRmOO07zpn_A0Etw-CesbTTckz1ICbmQl3lJF3HJN2VhIVrhGjyRfLlA-27igMS0OVhGx1N_T8BKQhQDCwT5YCROwEKKG0ysYjSxghyphenhypheniw/s320/DSC_0066.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz6wMf625v-p8Gl-Eh-H4-vNKQ5IRXRMlKe5MxkZ9dIsDAq36MMvmscRXVGS7JCqb7qYj07T5QsrWXsSC9f9jfFo2hQ9xDINE61JMrAe_5UHREdQLDF8BW2yI3TraviXFI-Oevw/s1600-h/DSC_0052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241831821412547266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" 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src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_TKZOapS_q-afbDZyP0vAq1tRMZjz1mhpKQebvIH2HW_6oy6cxusQ22Zwvh5prLs5mcIv-MhdQbkbcQL1SjHgBqQO_-T0yXoRZwIzfIld0XIXFmZvIGrbmMCT_uLaihL7P3cHA/s320/DSC_0281.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiBqK71E3TWSZxzf-mIgcsRRhdZEECdLRqdOnOrRh2Ym48bfbgS5HKrFchiVVRW-mAMI4d3uNsUjV876yoB74tqRGUN5AeE_kb3-bI-YKPGxXgS_iVeoVDg8z59P3ckBiRvZCvA/s1600-h/DSC_0323.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241834031794073394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiBqK71E3TWSZxzf-mIgcsRRhdZEECdLRqdOnOrRh2Ym48bfbgS5HKrFchiVVRW-mAMI4d3uNsUjV876yoB74tqRGUN5AeE_kb3-bI-YKPGxXgS_iVeoVDg8z59P3ckBiRvZCvA/s320/DSC_0323.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPLwPGLfpXx0MPgTWDLdS-cA-dibxAhoL_4hGhVi5PkVSh8mdD-ZdN78H1JKbJkopH5HTFaTaXt9VaTuZVmXZfb3OxGl-vn4muhRNlrtHRsQWisAo0vgL0_KPvwakmiuM_vk_gw/s1600-h/DSC_0874.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241834036936152578" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPLwPGLfpXx0MPgTWDLdS-cA-dibxAhoL_4hGhVi5PkVSh8mdD-ZdN78H1JKbJkopH5HTFaTaXt9VaTuZVmXZfb3OxGl-vn4muhRNlrtHRsQWisAo0vgL0_KPvwakmiuM_vk_gw/s320/DSC_0874.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>PHOTOS: Me and my little lady in Majorca; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kas</span>, Chloe and I on the Beach; Majorca; Tom, Anne, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kas</span> and Chloe eyeing up the Boats; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kas</span> and Anne at Dinner; Dressed up for the Hotel; Chloe in her highchair; Back home feeding the Ducks; Chloe leading the way; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ish</span>, Amy and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kas</span> in Royal Exchange Square...</strong><br /><br /><div>That’s certainly been the longest spell between diary entries. I never planned to take a break from jotting my thoughts but it’s been a nice time to take a step back and evaluate life over the past three years. There certainly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hasn</span>’t been a shortage of events worthy of commentating but as the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">cliché</span> goes, a change is as good as a holiday. I guess that depends on the change…<br /><br />During the balmy Scottish summer we’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ve</span> just endured, I think I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ve</span> managed to get my head around my rising 0.43% <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">PCR</span> result, organised our family trip back to Australia this Christmas, been visited by some very good <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">aussie</span> mates <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Ish</span> and Amy who are now working and living in Kuwait, travelled successfully to Majorca with my two girls, thought I’d suffered a heart attack, stacked on a few kilos after munching fourteen metric tonnes of paella whilst in Spain and been shocked of some news of a fellow Leukaemia sufferer. As per usual, it feels as though I’m piloting a plane through the eye of a tropical thunderstorm…we’re not short of a few ups and downs.<br /><br />In my last post in June, 0.43% was the new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">PCR</span> result. It had gone slightly up from the previous 0.3%. At my six-weekly doctor appointment yesterday, the consultants felt as though the two results were the same. It’s not great for them to move up is any way but there has to be trend of three-in-a-row to make any detailed evaluations. After three separate needles to fill up ten vials of blood, I now have the pleasure of waiting another three weeks for the result of this one. The more I get used to being a dad, the more I get desperate to hear good result for myself and get to the 0.1% gold-standard target. Fingers crossed for September! Since commencing my new med <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Sprycel</span> in May last year and about the time when Chloe was born, I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ve</span> been a little more susceptible to infections – no one really knows what the reason for this is, as all my blood tests show some pretty healthy results. Anyway, my Doctor has also requested a test to see whether my immune system is being jeopardised in anyway because of my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">meds</span>. It’ll be interesting to hear these results too.<br /><br />Our recent trip to Majorca with my two girls and my in-laws was a huge success. Just what the doctor ordered – literally. It was just so good to have a healthy dose of a soft, white beach and some heat once again and enjoy the time seeing Chloe, who evidently started walking properly while we were away, playing in the sand and bullying all the little boys who advanced to close. That’s my girl! It was my first sun-seeker trip ‘abroad’ and as it’s only 2 ½ hours away, it’ll be a regular destination for the future. We arrived home on the Wednesday night and before I knew it, I was back on another flight to London getting back into work, filling myself to the brim with caffeine. The next day I spent too much time in some notorious areas of Glasgow that left me feeling pretty tense and uptight – that was the catalyst to start the heart palpitations that lasted a full three hours…long enough for me to get myself to the docs and get a worthy witness to this incident. Before <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kas</span> and I knew it, we <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">didn</span>’t depart the hospital until 11pm after receiving ECG’s, a chest x-ray, blood tests and some waiting room entertainment from some boozy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">neds</span>. Thankfully they ruled out side-effects from my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">meds</span>, confirmed I had a healthy ticker and that I needed to spend more time in sunny Majorca and less time indulging on frothy cappuccinos.<br /><br />I feel my body has just got over the shock I forced it to endure on the 3 peaks challenge – the Paul O’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Gorman</span> Leukaemia Research Centre and the University of Glasgow were stoked to see so much cash coming their way and because of the £16k donation, they’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">ve</span> dedicated a cell sorting machine in our name. Apparently it’s a work-horse in the labs and a piece of kit that is essential. Since then, I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">ve</span> also cycled in the 13 mile Glasgow <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Bikeathon</span> and for some unknown reason, put my name down to cycle in the Pedal for Scotland 50 mile ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh in a fortnight’s time. I really need to get fat belly back on the saddle and start clocking up some miles before lobbing up with my mountain bike on the 14<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">th</span> September…<br /><br />On the news of a fellow Leukaemia ‘sufferer’, it’s that Adrian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Sudbury</span> passed away aged 27 years old recently. He was the man behind the very popular ‘Baldy’s Blog’ website and the man who was extremely unlucky to be informed he was diagnosed with two forms of Leukaemia at one time. He fought tirelessly for two years, gallantly promoting the cause for more bone marrow donors to come forward and even receiving a call from the Prime Minister a few weeks ago. He did some great things and I’m sure his legacy will live on – it’s also another chance for anyone to join the bone marrow registry that has thought about it but not yet signed up and give blokes like this a fighting chance.<br /><br />Wish me luck for the upcoming <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">PCR</span> result and the Pedal for Scotland - I’ll try not leave the blogging for so long next time…<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-3995985881208346482008-07-12T15:18:00.003+01:002008-07-31T16:51:47.352+01:0053. The 3 Peaks Challenge - Movie<strong>Follow this link to see the 3 Peaks Challenge Movie - it's a large file but definetly worth the wait!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><a href="http://www.miraclepictures.net/">http://www.miraclepictures.net/</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-39213265491636293402008-07-08T14:54:00.011+01:002008-12-08T22:18:43.743+00:0052. Finally, The Challenge<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91FnnDBqAHLfSYkalWRO5vYSLQ4O6-Qiam-HFViRLsalDNgd7E8BD7ohobbDKBuWjAL8yrpdVnSwGpf1P9qZezdgrrbheSNbuo7r7CB2ZJpUi_WQ2FYPV9mw111nQwsbwlNg1lA/s1600-h/Raring+to+Go.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220641572056264242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91FnnDBqAHLfSYkalWRO5vYSLQ4O6-Qiam-HFViRLsalDNgd7E8BD7ohobbDKBuWjAL8yrpdVnSwGpf1P9qZezdgrrbheSNbuo7r7CB2ZJpUi_WQ2FYPV9mw111nQwsbwlNg1lA/s320/Raring+to+Go.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsQnAvK3ilzp4o6PNSsqNirSbFkUp8zN0oV_eS4XNEFd9MqnzGHiohBMB9Uz-XngXr2hi-nd9SZW46UP_wFiItk-WRe8BlGPdu1jCyDWAPfNUGRYL1x16c6TofvimhiRG3n8g0Q/s1600-h/Ready+to+GO!.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220642215929470034" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" 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src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVvNpC5GMkoeJUo1A_JlWavAXngRLp5K96-_yABNtFnqnjtDLx-x6mPCl53pExHRPfnPJRUvxYg819Qe8cV-V_CvNt5zAjN80m4m9dP4K_Vbtyvo3T1j0fIFA8bAdt87C3nN9JA/s320/Chris+Snowdon+Summit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzC7Yo8ogvqtmO0nhjoHnzWit2mPkpcpdM7WiveTcsb8xonnNd1kCHEV0ELUz6BBpmopWIrMwxZfkOQSegky6HCkW4kgoIx_IctLENXsbCSPpoqx8_EJZ4wzDbfq_BtuIi4fYUAA/s1600-h/Battered+by+Wind+-+Matt+and+Tessa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220641577910067522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzC7Yo8ogvqtmO0nhjoHnzWit2mPkpcpdM7WiveTcsb8xonnNd1kCHEV0ELUz6BBpmopWIrMwxZfkOQSegky6HCkW4kgoIx_IctLENXsbCSPpoqx8_EJZ4wzDbfq_BtuIi4fYUAA/s320/Battered+by+Wind+-+Matt+and+Tessa.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizv6-PzMsyAh8FUmvblIl1MjJYi65ljXQ2hiB71OJGllBaJJkTpWzvYHUjYBa30KpCU9b9yt-U-2_mPz83ujTe_sABO9iwMmTNQIIwUzlyYb6yur3WgdxJK9lWDbzjRr1HYgvU6Q/s1600-h/Matt+with+the+Mumm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220641889540235426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizv6-PzMsyAh8FUmvblIl1MjJYi65ljXQ2hiB71OJGllBaJJkTpWzvYHUjYBa30KpCU9b9yt-U-2_mPz83ujTe_sABO9iwMmTNQIIwUzlyYb6yur3WgdxJK9lWDbzjRr1HYgvU6Q/s320/Matt+with+the+Mumm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EN64Wf7htGEKHAMRq_Vdd7ut51kz-jYI9aO-jJNAsAVEog0q1OJhxcmFaaTrHJgee1S_z_J5mYjveoj0-Wkzv1wikv_QgesNHevKFvWaZ6AXv9pgK4_KwOAI0mwQCQR7fmZ_iA/s1600-h/DSC_0843.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220690978469534098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EN64Wf7htGEKHAMRq_Vdd7ut51kz-jYI9aO-jJNAsAVEog0q1OJhxcmFaaTrHJgee1S_z_J5mYjveoj0-Wkzv1wikv_QgesNHevKFvWaZ6AXv9pgK4_KwOAI0mwQCQR7fmZ_iA/s320/DSC_0843.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /><strong>Photos:</strong> <strong>3 Peaks Challenge, Ben Nevis base with the Bus; Stop-watches starting on the Nevis Bridge; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dawsie</span> and Chris Nearing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Nevi's</span> Summit; 3am Climb up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Scafell</span> Pike; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Scafell</span> Summit with the Team; The Water Crossing; Chris Leading the Charge on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Snowdon</span>; Big Chris on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Snowdon</span> Summit (someone crawling up the final section in the 70mph wind); Me and Tessa struggling with the Wind on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Snowdon</span>; Celebration after completing the Challenge; Chloe...</strong><br /><br /></div><div>There were definitely a few points during the 24 hour challenge that I questioned whether I could even go any further. The hurt I was feeling at one stage felt like I was carrying a rucksack full of bricks, my lungs were desperately gasping for anything resembling oxygen and my legs felt as though they were made of rubber – I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ve</span> never felt anything like it before. And then as if my magic, I had managed to push through that pain and hurt, albeit with a little help from the boys and the occasion jelly bean induced sugar-rush. My mind was regularly wondering, occasionally thinking of reasons of why I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">couldn</span>’t possibly go any further, but then I had to keep refocusing and remind myself of why I’m here and why I could keep going. On a mountain, over a mile high, in the pouring rain and gale force winds, we were forced to keep ourselves company as we had no chance of conversation due to the incredible noise the stormy weather made on our ears. You’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ve</span> got no choice but to get lost in thought. I saw some incredible efforts that weekend and it was something I’m very proud I was able to be a part of…<br /><br />It all started out so nicely, crisply ironed fresh clothes were the choice of many – the sun was shining as the buses turned onto the windy roads to the east of Fort William in the Scottish highlands, nearing the start of the first climb up Ben Nevis. We were all excited but there also a feeling of nervousness surrounding the team. We all donned our Paul O’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Gorman</span> Leukaemia Research t-shirts, lined up energised for the photos, the stopwatches started and then we were off – 4,500 feet of hill was awaiting us. The steepness of the path caught most of us unaware and within ten minutes we were already pealing off layers of clothing. This was tougher than we anticipated. After two and a half hours of a constant steep walk, we were nearing the summit – the views were incredible as the snow on top of Ben Nevis sat there enticing us to leave the path behind. That feeling of elation captured us all as we reached the top of the first mountain…one down, two to go. Now we just had to get back to the bottom safely.<br /><br />The drive down from Scotland to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Scafell</span> in the English Lake District was the like looking into the future – our bus was literally getting battered by the storms and giving the drivers very little visibility. Somehow we even managed to drift off and get an hour or two of shut-eye (depends who you ask!). The weather never subsided the whole way through the quiet country roads and upon arriving at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Scafell</span> Pike at 2:30 in the morning, the mountains were nowhere to be seen. I could barely see my hand in front of my face. Getting out of a warm, comfy bus into 10 degrees of cold, cold rain and wind was up there with the hardest things of the weekend – we all quickly got changed into our new gear, donned the head torches and followed our trusty guide up the side of a hill that was engulfed in water. The only thing visible was other head torches bobbing away in front of you. That smile Pete our driver gave us before jumping back in his warm bus stuck with me for at least an hour…about until we all had to cross a creek that had swollen and created its own furious rapids. We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">didn</span>’t see any real light until we reached the 3,100 feet summit of number two at around 5am. We all quickly munched on our soggy sandwiches before turning around and heading back down the mountain that is renowned for its steepness and hidden cliffs.<br /><br />Upon returning to the buses absolutely saturated, Jo our driver informed us that there were severe weather warnings reported on the radio. We quickly derobed, dried off and got on our way towards <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Snowdon</span> in north Wales, listening to the radio for any further reports. After a few more major reporting of this ‘deep depression’ and ‘gale force winds’ in north Wales, we decided to pull over and start up Jo’s laptop to give us a more in-depth overview of what was awaiting us, six hours away down the motorway. It <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">didn</span>’t sound or look good! Reports of sheds losing theirs roofs and trees blowing down in winds of up to 75 mph (115kph) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">didn</span>’t sit too well with some of us, forcing a discussion among the team on whether we should continue or abandon this Challenge. Was it all over?<br />The conversation was about general safety and whether we’d simply get blown off <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Snowdon</span> – with all in favour of the decision, we started up the buses once again and continued our journey to Wales to make the decision there. We were wasting valuable time discussing alternatives anyway…<br /><br />The chief Park Ranger informed us over the phone that he could not close the mountain, but he could issue a strict warning of not to climb – if I remember correctly, I think his words were “I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">wouldn</span>’t be seen dead up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Snowdon</span> today!” After no further discussions based on whether we tackle mountain number three, we were dressed once again in our climbing gear and making our way up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Snowdon</span>’s path – we had four hours left exactly before the 24 hour time limit was exceeded, so all 13 of us were on our way.<br /><br />The scenery I’m sure would have been unreal! We were in the clouds within thirty minutes of walking, so visibility was pretty ordinary. Those gusts of wind were starting to become noticeable as we neared the half-way point up this beast of a hill…the wind galloping down the side of the hill above us was so loud, we had roughly two seconds to brace ourselves before the turbulent air hit us and tried to toss us over the edge. The further we went, the harder it became. When I started to wonder whether the wind could get any worse, a man on his descent told us that the wind here was nothing compared to the top. Thanks for the inspiration buddy! The higher we got, the more we had to scramble and use our hands to get up from one ledge to the next. The 24 hour time limit was ringing in my ears, so we pushed on. Finally, the path evened out again and we were left with a 400m walk up a section of the hill that was about 20m wide and only 5m at some points. We were completely surrounded by cliff edges but the clouds prohibited our ability to see them. The final push and we were there…the wind was absolutely howling like a coyote on heat! The summit was marked by a cabin-like structure that we felt obliged to foolishly climb. This could only be done by crawling to the top or else we would have definitely fallen victim to these 75mph winds!<br /><br />A few high-fives and we were on our way down again thankfully. We’d just about survived this ascent, now we just had to skilfully manoeuvre our way back down too.<br /><br />I finished the Challenge with my Leukaemia consultant, Tessa <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Holyoake</span> and one of her scientists <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Vignir</span> by my side. Tessa was unbelievable throughout this event, putting all of us twenty-something blokes to shame with her far superior fitness.<br />The rest of us meandered off the hill and registered total times of 23 hours onwards – with four minutes remaining, we were only two down from the full 13 who started this hill. And then as if by some dramatic finale, big Chris and John were seen bounding down the hill in order to complete the Challenge within its allotted time. All the gang stood at the finish line, cheering the boys off the hill and they finished with an overall time of 23 hours and 58 minutes. GOLD!<br /><br />Maybe this weather made it more adventurous? Some may argue that it was adventurous enough…but all in, as much as I hated it at times, I’m very glad that we took on this tough Challenge and made it. That'll be my last one for a very long time. My legs certainly felt pain for the following week but because of this Challenge, £15,750 will now go to the new Paul O’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Gorman</span> Leukaemia Research Facility in Scotland, where people with Leukaemia all over the world will benefit. A big thanks to all who participated, drove, organised and to Pete for decking his bus out with "Leukaemia Research" and "3 Peaks Challenge" artwork!<br /><br />The one thing that made this event much harder that it should have been for me was the news of my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">PCR</span> results the day before we started. All the docs and I were confident, it would finally drop below the amazing 0.1% mark, as the previous few had gone down and finished at 0.3%. Unfortunately I was told it’d gone back up and was 0.43%. Not a huge jump but after the levels I’d been achieving, this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">isn</span>’t anywhere near the result we were hoping for. I’ll keep taking my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Sprycel</span> medication (140mg a day) and hopefully the next <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">PCR</span> test will bring better news…<br /><br />Our fundraising page will be open for a few more weeks – <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk">www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk</a><br /><br />Thanks again for the support!</div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-55495158294510757032008-06-12T20:58:00.004+01:002008-12-08T22:18:44.969+00:0051. The PCR and the Climb<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWfZmngyHx7Shf40ooJZYOd5NaQuWNLgZPOCifntGOiFd_eCohYFQUtgn_ouisqnOri5CCgrmRqL8SDMAxWr9UEWzNiqRQAiG49elguJoTizSv5lTXGUh7S7atnOVaJNq_8KS7A/s1600-h/Kas+Chloe+in+Tent.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211087374987845266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWfZmngyHx7Shf40ooJZYOd5NaQuWNLgZPOCifntGOiFd_eCohYFQUtgn_ouisqnOri5CCgrmRqL8SDMAxWr9UEWzNiqRQAiG49elguJoTizSv5lTXGUh7S7atnOVaJNq_8KS7A/s320/Kas+Chloe+in+Tent.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtivVtVu08EPA1WXZsvKHmBzTXaiMRH_tNZZIt8KxyJnzYAI35s97X4bmgAtzhQxts6aTBm78UNc2-sbOJ0K3AvdzNZG7bt9IWz4-NTl4i7SR4MM54GBSON58GINJldDguYxc9PA/s1600-h/Matt+Chloe.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtivVtVu08EPA1WXZsvKHmBzTXaiMRH_tNZZIt8KxyJnzYAI35s97X4bmgAtzhQxts6aTBm78UNc2-sbOJ0K3AvdzNZG7bt9IWz4-NTl4i7SR4MM54GBSON58GINJldDguYxc9PA/s1600-h/Matt+Chloe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211087375050176114" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtivVtVu08EPA1WXZsvKHmBzTXaiMRH_tNZZIt8KxyJnzYAI35s97X4bmgAtzhQxts6aTBm78UNc2-sbOJ0K3AvdzNZG7bt9IWz4-NTl4i7SR4MM54GBSON58GINJldDguYxc9PA/s320/Matt+Chloe.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCDpzxr3HVE_DZl6CC3M6RSvsvA_ptfiYzIi6OXH0yXnhgcDdXfd3sIxgsK17wEaZDGevvGRmVS2luTjW8n7-OYue_jy3EN9nmjMAykjjq-yQKNRnyUBcUVHtzZSshIvQUY1fOw/s1600-h/Tent+in+Backyard.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211087640840123650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCDpzxr3HVE_DZl6CC3M6RSvsvA_ptfiYzIi6OXH0yXnhgcDdXfd3sIxgsK17wEaZDGevvGRmVS2luTjW8n7-OYue_jy3EN9nmjMAykjjq-yQKNRnyUBcUVHtzZSshIvQUY1fOw/s320/Tent+in+Backyard.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWfZmngyHx7Shf40ooJZYOd5NaQuWNLgZPOCifntGOiFd_eCohYFQUtgn_ouisqnOri5CCgrmRqL8SDMAxWr9UEWzNiqRQAiG49elguJoTizSv5lTXGUh7S7atnOVaJNq_8KS7A/s1600-h/Kas+Chloe+in+Tent.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioY52YUVfpOyjj-HLNfysz-sJE42DU7RiIo9TxR392QQhvBzP_tRSZERCxk1ApSYD5Q-JrsaV0j6FwcPRl8ulkgmBq0IbnqWcIpByWomYY4B73BtMJ2GdSW-zuOGruHcivPbX2jw/s1600-h/Chloe+-+Yellow+Dress.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211087363253308930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioY52YUVfpOyjj-HLNfysz-sJE42DU7RiIo9TxR392QQhvBzP_tRSZERCxk1ApSYD5Q-JrsaV0j6FwcPRl8ulkgmBq0IbnqWcIpByWomYY4B73BtMJ2GdSW-zuOGruHcivPbX2jw/s320/Chloe+-+Yellow+Dress.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ozf_Ll6FmO0qiTbVSOkvSrtjLjcYPK1Cu4x9-P4sV6EtBRiAxW17hf-X5ZnzTdQrUcQ3TLQs2pWVPn2lViPCC25zrwNluDvn_2h0NsW62HLfAJGwVplfBbtrWPzpMtQAyyHzMg/s1600-h/Matt,+Jas+Ben+Lomond.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211087641251135938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ozf_Ll6FmO0qiTbVSOkvSrtjLjcYPK1Cu4x9-P4sV6EtBRiAxW17hf-X5ZnzTdQrUcQ3TLQs2pWVPn2lViPCC25zrwNluDvn_2h0NsW62HLfAJGwVplfBbtrWPzpMtQAyyHzMg/s320/Matt,+Jas+Ben+Lomond.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xUuxlkkUq9t98rOuSL3iez-y620k84UOG30GZVEBSgQm39Bi7K26b2vf2Uj0tnMTrxC8FJaEz-bcxySV-BzmYzDLiwgXM-cblXLX9kC6DaUdG5r36lxZxxD60VqzM1pcEYpNWQ/s1600-h/Colin+Ben+Lomond.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211087364838173298" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xUuxlkkUq9t98rOuSL3iez-y620k84UOG30GZVEBSgQm39Bi7K26b2vf2Uj0tnMTrxC8FJaEz-bcxySV-BzmYzDLiwgXM-cblXLX9kC6DaUdG5r36lxZxxD60VqzM1pcEYpNWQ/s320/Colin+Ben+Lomond.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBle563RtW2Lz0oHr0HB9gO2_n7RTy5TvQSAn56Wq-_jubwy7DezluW68jxB7gosHRRmCq_k38hLYrIxhHyXxRa7ztcu7GiBTbWE8_imfIsiWuRS-oX_s9StaZNGDj68nrFvBFA/s1600-h/Dawsie+Ben+Lomond.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211087367945138386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBle563RtW2Lz0oHr0HB9gO2_n7RTy5TvQSAn56Wq-_jubwy7DezluW68jxB7gosHRRmCq_k38hLYrIxhHyXxRa7ztcu7GiBTbWE8_imfIsiWuRS-oX_s9StaZNGDj68nrFvBFA/s320/Dawsie+Ben+Lomond.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>PHOTOS: Me and Chloe; Kas and Chloe in Sun Tent; Playing in the Tent; Chloe in her new yellow dress; Me and Dawsie on Ben Lomond for a Practice Climb; Thumbs Up Colin; Dawsie and his Poles...</strong><br /><p>The countdown timer is ticking louder and louder as we turn into the final home stretch of the Three Peaks Challenge build-up. We’ve reached our monetary target of £6,000, managed to shed a few kilos after spending so much time trouncing over the Scottish hillside and the group of 17 are ready to roll. There’s no doubt I’ll be sick of the sight of a mountain once next weekend passes, so I’m making the most of it while I can. The Adventure starts on Saturday 21st June and it will be at the foot of Ben Nevis at 4pm sharp where we take on the first Peak. The climb up the second Peak in the English Lake District should be commencing around 3am and then the final assault up Snowdon in Wales will be around midday on the Sunday – and the main goal is to finish them all in 24 hours! The energy levels are pretty good right now and my medication isn’t knocking me around too much, which is thankfully leaving me feeling pretty confident. I should also be getting my PCR results back on the Friday afternoon, the day before we climb. We are all hoping for this one, Doctors included, to finally drop below the 0.1% mark and give me a “major molecular response” – a level of response that demonstrates a much greater survival rate. It’ll be a big couple of days regardless…<br /><br />I’m in a privileged position to be breathing a nice sigh of relief right now, and it’s got nothing to do with my CML. Obviously with my situation, I know too well about counting your chickens before they’ve hatched when you’re referring to cancer survival but it’s just great news to hear that my mum has had some very positive news following her thyroid cancer diagnosis. She went under the knife at the end of May where the surgeons sliced a six inch gash across her throat…an area of the human body that almost seems far too delicate to taken to with a scalpel. The operation was deemed successful and it was the following week in a follow-up consultation that they confirmed that they had extracted the cancer and it hadn’t spread to any other parts of the body. Gold! She’s at home now getting a well earned rest and putting her feet up. Also, to follow on from the “lucky” Sinclair stories, by bro Nick also went under the knife on his spine the very same day my mum was cooped up in hospital – three hours apart from each other. It’d been a mixture of injuries he copped during in the line of duty whilst being a policeman on the quiet Sydney streets that eventually led him to have something done about it. The big fella is recuperating well and he should be well on the road to recovery and back to being an active dad as he was last year.<br /><br />The days are almost at their longest now in sunny Scotland – we recently did a practise mountain walk and we couldn’t set off until 11pm when the sun was dipping below the hilly horizon. As the temperatures rise, you can literally see everyone’s faces growing happier. It’s almost hard to imagine that I’ve been living in Scotland’s bonny shores now for over three years and its weirder thinking that I’ve spent most of that time with Leukaemia. I originally began writing this blog to keep my friends and family in Australia updated on my progress as they were so far away from me – it’s great to see people reading from all corners of the world now. But now, as time goes on and my CML moves from phase to phase, a bizarre feeling overwhelms me as I put pen to paper and jot my thoughts down from the past month. How long will I be writing about Leukaemia? I’ve purposely removed myself from most of the Leukaemia sites and only immersed myself in information that is directly relevant to me. My doctor appointments are spanning out further every time and these catch-ups are quite specifically about me and how I’m getting on. Most of the people at work wouldn’t even know that I have Leukaemia and I have to admit I struggle with that fact sometimes. Not because there is any lingering denial but because I carry on with life as though nothing is wrong with me and I do a pretty good job of just getting on with things. I’ve come along way since diagnosis but I also know there’s a long way to go too. It’s tough sometimes when I’m so absorbed in my family and work that maybe I don’t give enough attention to CML and what prognosis is awaiting me. Only this time last year I was writing about a potential Bone Marrow Transplant and my baby that was due in October…now I’m on the verge of attaining MMR. It’s been quite a year to say the least! This impending PCR result has really got me thinking as you can probably tell… Let’s just hope it’s a good one and I can continue to write about my adventures, amazing BBQ skills, current food cravings and only give the occasional CML update…<br /><br />Thanks again for the well-wishes for my Mum and Bro. And remember, it’s not too late to sponsor us for the 3 Peaks Challenge! Wish me luck for the PCR and the climb – we’ll be needing it!</p><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk">www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-48500414580172516972008-05-16T15:25:00.005+01:002008-12-08T22:18:46.984+00:0050. Sunny France<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFlAz1YUePPmcGnj2KVknBIH1Q6JyTY4NHUkCS69IoJ_3AeQ8cNHOrbhyKN4i0q2HBDX0NoHrDYTzSso5jURvc5SPCW9H0kPO9Otjn86Et-wkarSSIC0t1Gl1Y_3lvpds8uGMCw/s1600-h/Kas+Walking+Pram.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200983208584051490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFlAz1YUePPmcGnj2KVknBIH1Q6JyTY4NHUkCS69IoJ_3AeQ8cNHOrbhyKN4i0q2HBDX0NoHrDYTzSso5jURvc5SPCW9H0kPO9Otjn86Et-wkarSSIC0t1Gl1Y_3lvpds8uGMCw/s320/Kas+Walking+Pram.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTvsQqlFqOnFrQrVyuIzIdK_dGE-P65WupUgepowTCEB8NiIxezQAKW_6cHWfhK3yfCQyY70qnY0f14ekEkGhiDHrbHNiT4cl1g3EluMYDxA0VbZmlnnm_isvxByq9sXImxHacQ/s1600-h/Chloe+on+Bed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200982285166082706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eQd58MY93SkgtDcbIOvzT1wm55yyUCAQv4h2MoShy7dFYa-NY2h70VMCYr8JytPfKzpGWlifuYXrdamT2H3a8gz76RBBKTNakx_YmHfE-1lybwDUwp_APRSxKpgro-acoWRxEQ/s1600-h/Building+BBQ.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200982280871115394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eQd58MY93SkgtDcbIOvzT1wm55yyUCAQv4h2MoShy7dFYa-NY2h70VMCYr8JytPfKzpGWlifuYXrdamT2H3a8gz76RBBKTNakx_YmHfE-1lybwDUwp_APRSxKpgro-acoWRxEQ/s320/Building+BBQ.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ37kdLz9UY7s-ExZyR9Hx1j_2BsrdJZeQ20rXU07iqfjuzFl2ASSens72l921IqPPAaNcGwOPtghoXYpZ6c-ZI0UlRz2NkRN8mvGp-z0JPvk1kAWXIgnDp2dJuQTj9AcS10RJLQ/s1600-h/Dawsie+and+Lucy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200982289461050034" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ37kdLz9UY7s-ExZyR9Hx1j_2BsrdJZeQ20rXU07iqfjuzFl2ASSens72l921IqPPAaNcGwOPtghoXYpZ6c-ZI0UlRz2NkRN8mvGp-z0JPvk1kAWXIgnDp2dJuQTj9AcS10RJLQ/s320/Dawsie+and+Lucy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>PHOTOS: French Resort; Chloe on first Holiday; Jules and John stocking up on French Rose; Sinclair Clan relaxing at Restaurant; Provence Vineyards; The Holiday Girls; The Golfing Boys; John Teeing off over the Water; Colin struggling to hit past the Ladies Tees; Mhairi & Gerado walking the Babies; Kas and Chloe; The Mums, Lorna and Kas; Dave and John building the BBQ; Dawsie Practicing for the 3 Peaks...</strong><br /><br /><div>I can still recall watching people at an airport a few years ago. I’ve always been an avid people watcher, not anywhere to the extent of Kas where I feel she may even introduce herself to strangers because she listened in on their interesting story, but more of an enjoyment to watch life go by. Thinking back, the ones that stood out most to me were the young parents, trying as hard as they could to look after their baby and still keep an eye on their piles and piles of luggage. I wondered what on earth they could be taking with them? I would chuckle under my breath and promise to myself if I ever had a baby, I would keep things to a bare minimum and not turn into one of these flustered, sweaty parents. To my disbelief a few weeks ago, I turned into one myself…<br /><br />I still can’t really say why we had so much gear. We were leaving Glasgow the next morning at 3am on a trip to southern France to see our mates from Scotland and Australia; thankfully, one other couple Colin and Lorna also had baby Eva joining us. I'm sure we couldn't have been the only couple with a baby! We each turned up with seven items of luggage plus a two piece pram...and I’m sure if Kas could have her way, there would have been an eighth full of toys and more nappies, just to be on the safe side. Instead of just leaving two hours before the flight in the pre-baby days and queuing with the regular mob, this thing had become an operation! It was my first time I’d had to apologise for my baby after Chloe grabbed hold of the ladies freshly permed hair who sat in front of us. I knew I couldn’t relax until I had arrived at my destination and the bags were emptied from the hire car – lucky for us, we did arrive at a stunning resort in the middle of the Provence wine region not too far from Nice. Nice! I know I’m always banging on about how busy things have been, but for the first time in a long time, we did manage to relax and we tried hard to keep our minds away from the Oncology ward back in sunny Scotland. It was great to see the wee girls Chloe and Eva play with each other the whole week on their first holiday away.<br /><br />My sister Tash, who was also living in Glasgow, has left the bonny shores of Scotland and has just arrived back in Australia after her travels through Europe. She had planned to stay on much longer but unfortunately the bad news from back home has kept on coming our way.<br />We never lived near a nuclear power plant when growing up, certainly never under power lines, eaten fish with more than two eyes, lived near landfill, an airport or anywhere that could have any been deemed as radioactive. I’ve put my Leukaemia diagnosis down to luck, a series of cellular failures that have gone wrong at some point in the past three years and something that could have happened to anyone. But the news from my Mum has left us with a more than a few questions. She has just been diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. As you can imagine, it’s not the best news for us. Surgery is planned to go ahead on the 30th May, so please have her in your thoughts on that day. Lucky for our family, she’s a very tough lady and someone who I’m sure will put up a huge fight. I’ve never been one to say “I’m so unlucky” and those sort of people who are negative can really grate on me – there’s no doubt the news is rubbish but I do believe that life doesn’t put things in front of you that you are unable to handle. My mum told me that. We’ve also had too many good things go our way to consider us unlucky; my daughter Chloe and my brother’s kids Hayden & Eliza and the news that my PCR levels are dropping at a great rate. It's a tough situation once again on whether I board a longhaul flight and get home to see my family. It's leaving me feeling pretty far home right now and the fact that I will miss two of my mate weddings later this year as well, is sure making it harder. Thankfully the sun is shining on bonny Scotland right now.</div><div><br />The 3 Peaks Challenge that we have planned for 21st June is really gaining momentum now. The training has been going pretty well, we have a practice night climb sorted out for next week and that’ll give us a chance to don the head torches and see how hard walking up a hill in the middle of the night can really be. Our target fundraising total of £6,000 is doing quite well but we still have another grand to go. All the boys are feeling the excitement already, so I’m sure our adrenaline will get us through the gruelling 24 hours.<br /><br />Thanks for the emails, updates and comments – I’ll be back in with the docs in three weeks time for my PCR testing. This one will hopefully show that it’s dropped below the golden 0.1% mark. It’s currently hovering at 0.3%, so there’s not too far left to travel. They’ve asked that I only see them every 3 months after this visit, so fingers crossed it all continues to go well… </div><div><br />*Congrats to Nina and Anthony on the arrival of their baby boy Brodie! Nina and Kas have been best mates since they were 4 and it's funny to see how similar their lives have been.<br />**Congrats to Ish and Amy on their engagement – gold! About time big fella…<br />***Please support our 3 Peaks Challenge at <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk">www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-69970428521619436752008-04-07T16:19:00.006+01:002008-12-08T22:18:48.788+00:0049. Down Under<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimggdF8U57eme67zkARRTXZLuBil7420clfOAjFNJ9soMJA-zx-BNU8wMJUI01NDdFpb78CmY2XM8b7DhG3x6kME_Gxqknghg_1_J0hyphenhyphenCSH9W9EQTV0llC3aAvP1QXL1f6qbkhGw/s1600-h/Bottle+Brush.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186530644579326306" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimggdF8U57eme67zkARRTXZLuBil7420clfOAjFNJ9soMJA-zx-BNU8wMJUI01NDdFpb78CmY2XM8b7DhG3x6kME_Gxqknghg_1_J0hyphenhyphenCSH9W9EQTV0llC3aAvP1QXL1f6qbkhGw/s320/Bottle+Brush.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJniCgT4VfanKpg2hOPF8FnJTOnDLQRbeFQjtPgs3omLqGunLOWfqWHFN0rkbqjOtBeThNeoAneDu-jlJ7UN08Ms4rDKy3bUYxHiTjQya3jMPOj44CXaSTbazGrrJ_3prkCqJ1Gg/s1600-h/Nick+&+Hayden.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186531756975856066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" 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src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVbQHOrcI3Rrqw6CPWRMfCFnszIyoXIaXsGAgU4DHl3aF2GgZRfbgv22gpCai43Rih1hW3hToTXRQPvBYdSxo1TmsdXqN4wxDeBq0H76Oslm2gd1DMPe2xbfrz_gfcmQoLprBhw/s320/Family+Picnic.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgesQzoqXQ_CYmV-yuTG-tKZM6S-yrd6ejQ99W5eHej5dAHebwMGhGxfDSdCIBpeeS0Sle_DzK893zFQWY3Yk8uEJonZBbnvlY-RaGrw7PVZG_BCceWTibqGaFyqDyXQtLYWb_qQ/s1600-h/Nick+and+Dad.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186531756975856082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgesQzoqXQ_CYmV-yuTG-tKZM6S-yrd6ejQ99W5eHej5dAHebwMGhGxfDSdCIBpeeS0Sle_DzK893zFQWY3Yk8uEJonZBbnvlY-RaGrw7PVZG_BCceWTibqGaFyqDyXQtLYWb_qQ/s320/Nick+and+Dad.bmp" border="0" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK19kKRDgADfYPNW-XaUybTJcnpBjwW-BvV_Qe-qSSS_IBi1gKP6dK64E6g-3VgBBlN0mkMJGtPpjGgT7t8jGNAqaWPalGHUHJ7DXEkm-l3yV5RBj9LWn2VbhKEVU8s1j1496JQ/s1600-h/Kas+and+Chloe.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186531761270823394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK19kKRDgADfYPNW-XaUybTJcnpBjwW-BvV_Qe-qSSS_IBi1gKP6dK64E6g-3VgBBlN0mkMJGtPpjGgT7t8jGNAqaWPalGHUHJ7DXEkm-l3yV5RBj9LWn2VbhKEVU8s1j1496JQ/s320/Kas+and+Chloe.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzMx7yBnepKovhJJ6fPYOBAMxrc9dwnBfNAVM5pKZowH8xX8xVk33aZ8vJMa78QeXzy_NGiNmAj_6XPTFKT5fnen7PAK3XpwPbfOtDlOt5Gcq0vGRzCaMaOUuh3f1PZccEwuI-A/s1600-h/Chloe+and+Eva.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186530644579326322" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzMx7yBnepKovhJJ6fPYOBAMxrc9dwnBfNAVM5pKZowH8xX8xVk33aZ8vJMa78QeXzy_NGiNmAj_6XPTFKT5fnen7PAK3XpwPbfOtDlOt5Gcq0vGRzCaMaOUuh3f1PZccEwuI-A/s320/Chloe+and+Eva.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-JT2d0N2BYwFK96dRp9HDo-F5Y3aczGqG3keSWX5V3EYuRiUNErWTB1D6wwJA5WCU76xvxd88GA6hVVoDzrYd4Gt1PzMpqi7u7X6pxmfZAJ1K0lD7c21HHZDptQ5FmJLbV2aNA/s1600-h/Matt+on+Water.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186531752680888754" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-JT2d0N2BYwFK96dRp9HDo-F5Y3aczGqG3keSWX5V3EYuRiUNErWTB1D6wwJA5WCU76xvxd88GA6hVVoDzrYd4Gt1PzMpqi7u7X6pxmfZAJ1K0lD7c21HHZDptQ5FmJLbV2aNA/s320/Matt+on+Water.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>PHOTOS: Bottle Brush in Sydney; My brother Nick and Hayden in the Blue Mountains; A Couple of Pelicans; Me and Hayden on the Beach; Family Picnic in Cronulla; Dad and Nick; Kas and Chloe; The two girls Eva and Chloe; Me on the Caringbah Waters...</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />It’s so close now I can just about taste it and with big beak of mine, I can certainly smell it! I’ve been munching my anti-leukaemia pills now for the past 29 ½ months - that’s a combination of around 1,581 tablets of Gleevec and Sprycel at various doses. For the best part of that time my PCR was stuck somewhere between 2-3% and this, in view of the doctors opinion, was far from good enough. If that sort of PCR didn’t budge, then it’d mean I’d have to travel down the bone marrow transplant road. However… since the introduction of Sprycel to my daily diet, my PCR has slowly come down and heading towards this huge 0.1% goal. 2.5% was the norm, then 1.7%, then 1.0%, 0.75% a few weeks later and now I’ve just got my final results back in. 0.3% - gold!! I know it’s not quite at the 0.1% mark but this latest result has more than halved since the last one only three months ago. With that news, I felt I had a pretty good reason to pop open the champers and have a good night in…<br /><br />On the flip side, most of my good news seems to come with the bad news. When anyone asks me if I want the good news or the bad news first, I’ve always opted for the former. My grandpa had been battling hard after his operation on bowel cancer but it spread pretty quickly soon after – unfortunately he passed away a couple of weeks ago. Without thinking too hard about this situation, I was onto the phone with the travel agents and before I really knew what was going on, I was sitting on a 24 hour journey Down Under. It was a really bizarre and surreal feeling to be walking around Sydney, when not so long ago I was saying goodbye to my girls at Glasgow Airport. I had mixed emotions about being home too – I felt I was being disrespectful when the huge smile appeared on my big head when I looked up and saw the sun (first time in a long time!). Obviously it was great to see my family, meet my niece for the first time and see my nephew again, see a few good mates and enjoy a few beers by the beach but it was also a pretty tough time to attend the funeral for my grandpa and also be so far away from Kas and Chloe. The service was very good – full of lots of happy memories and stories. I only had a few days back there anyway and before too long, I was sitting on the 14,000 mile long haul flight to Scotland. I arrived back on the weekend and the next day I was sitting at my desk and getting stuck back into work. Crazy, crazy week!<br /><br />The time finally came yesterday – the big 30 has come and gone! I’d been clinging onto my 20’s for a few months now but there’s nothing left to do now but accept the inevitable. I’m a 30 year old family man now with a mortgage, a company car and have friends who have also left the city for the suburbs…that in itself makes me chuckle – when did I grow up?! We had a good party at our house on the weekend however and I proved that I’m still a kid at heart. With the news of my 0.3% result, a new decade to celebrate and some good mates, I decided that I could throw the straight and narrow philosophy out the window and have a good night. I can’t remember the last time I’ve partied ‘til the sun came out…<br /><br />The lead-up to the 3 Peaks Challenge is still going well, besides the fact that I need to get my big body (I’m not fat, I’m just big-boned) into gear and up the training levels. It did freak me out slightly when a friend (who happens to guide climbers up Ben Nevis 30-40 times a year) said that there’s no chance he’d try and climb all three mountains in 24 hours. We’ve already raised just over £3,500 now and nearing our £6k target but there’s still a lot to do before we hit that total.<br /><br />On the good news front, my mate Dave Cox has just been given the clearance to go home after his bone marrow transplant to cure his CML late last year – he’s just spent 126 days awaiting the news if the procedure was a success and now he can proudly say that his blood is 100% B negative although he used to be A negative. He will still be closely monitored but I’m stoked to hear that it’s all going so well for him after his CML meds didn’t work too well in his body. His website is this and it’s definitely worth a read - <a href="http://cml.davidrobertcox.com/">http://cml.davidrobertcox.com/</a><br /><br />I’ll add a few of my party photos next time but until then, keep the emails, messages and sponsorship coming in. My next visit with my Consultant is in two weeks so it’ll be interesting to get her take on what’s been going on…<br /><br /><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk">www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk</a><br /><br />*Unreal to see that this site gets regular visits from the following countries: Australia, USA, Great Britain & North Ireland, Taiwan, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Czech Republic, Bosnia, Chile, Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia, Ireland, The Netherlands, Indonesia, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, China, Brazil, Turkey, Germany, Israel, Egypt, Austria, Singapore, Tunisia, Hungary, Belgium, South Korea, Finland, South Africa, Japan, Kuwait, India, Denmark, Bulgaria, Serbia & Montenegro, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Jordan, Falkland Islands, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Norway, United Arab Emirates, Martinique, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Sri Lanka, Poland, Cuba, Latvia, Luxembourg, Sweden, Thailand, Argentina, Romania, Antigua & Barbuda and Ukraine…<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-63153541470448119792008-03-17T17:05:00.006+00:002008-12-08T22:18:49.844+00:0048. Eleven Eiffel Towers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcEHg8-6KBv8NeJyiCVyvrwRAVlwmYZpdzzF39afQFtUbkkzCI2Zl08s-lUKSGoD-fchSFlqEPruLyfXd3dbPddfdaHBzE-Igb6vBMSOADovpNxSxum6jo7aL_tEEn9OzOMgNMA/s1600-h/Chloe+on+Seat.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178769689744586642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcEHg8-6KBv8NeJyiCVyvrwRAVlwmYZpdzzF39afQFtUbkkzCI2Zl08s-lUKSGoD-fchSFlqEPruLyfXd3dbPddfdaHBzE-Igb6vBMSOADovpNxSxum6jo7aL_tEEn9OzOMgNMA/s320/Chloe+on+Seat.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6jRdwldkoGusDzmykyJcTJldIWbA4tk3nlGel-BRyKHu9O1hyphenhyphenZoq9PkMAfyg9QU7OzmW51xan_NspZN5iGgLfznbQtBWqZne3DD7GB-t7eGhr1_aKHKzoYFm_tlycFznYftjIg/s1600-h/Kas+Walking+Pram.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178771197278107586" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6jRdwldkoGusDzmykyJcTJldIWbA4tk3nlGel-BRyKHu9O1hyphenhyphenZoq9PkMAfyg9QU7OzmW51xan_NspZN5iGgLfznbQtBWqZne3DD7GB-t7eGhr1_aKHKzoYFm_tlycFznYftjIg/s320/Kas+Walking+Pram.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1oBcVo9mQ3rVg8Yyf7PoDao8isViJ9F2HTH5iWh-V_Dl7UyijJzSsieVC_zL1wM2IRXJv-SmEuavwMk5_hH7BbfdHKpkU5qMcqiHRALDoWo0DXqOIijjH4fR069I-fkCrfLKfA/s1600-h/Grandparents+and+Chloe.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178769934557722530" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1oBcVo9mQ3rVg8Yyf7PoDao8isViJ9F2HTH5iWh-V_Dl7UyijJzSsieVC_zL1wM2IRXJv-SmEuavwMk5_hH7BbfdHKpkU5qMcqiHRALDoWo0DXqOIijjH4fR069I-fkCrfLKfA/s320/Grandparents+and+Chloe.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgq2ztj0YXbSvIIP1KRsQ4VSE2H4WXmmRRNo1quDH6A4CRdUXQAq-PJPjD1vHWSVC-JrSW55ZW_JM6yRBCDT2wo5vl9rcD3RdoC5rcNADx5JQhMciN_P3a3jiWygVWQyYTm8veQ/s1600-h/Wrestling+Kangaroo.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178771704084248546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgq2ztj0YXbSvIIP1KRsQ4VSE2H4WXmmRRNo1quDH6A4CRdUXQAq-PJPjD1vHWSVC-JrSW55ZW_JM6yRBCDT2wo5vl9rcD3RdoC5rcNADx5JQhMciN_P3a3jiWygVWQyYTm8veQ/s320/Wrestling+Kangaroo.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp3AHf_yJOncrGSGYB8XcyOUscbmtV7ccSQLJJuYAaNKaiE20RlbtKQe__wXYre9OMxvaj7A7XPnPOUWt7ot35Bwc7gE8XPWrXZhxVf8uuSWz4FOROmuV0GTQs7E12BD4aMEbEA/s1600-h/Matt,+Snow+and+Pond.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178771442091243474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp3AHf_yJOncrGSGYB8XcyOUscbmtV7ccSQLJJuYAaNKaiE20RlbtKQe__wXYre9OMxvaj7A7XPnPOUWt7ot35Bwc7gE8XPWrXZhxVf8uuSWz4FOROmuV0GTQs7E12BD4aMEbEA/s320/Matt,+Snow+and+Pond.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpoKApkpMISq3KruFmbRSjf7e8X6AVC0zAruMxIRCdH2eqDX9XbgTqHLdc1xjpI2856YxNO5KzQEiPzCP-fQlewBGvgqqw7FaueWu5Tecfsbcl9xIgOzyEG22oGh21Wq5PRFTXw/s1600-h/Ice+is+Melting.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178770780666279858" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpoKApkpMISq3KruFmbRSjf7e8X6AVC0zAruMxIRCdH2eqDX9XbgTqHLdc1xjpI2856YxNO5KzQEiPzCP-fQlewBGvgqqw7FaueWu5Tecfsbcl9xIgOzyEG22oGh21Wq5PRFTXw/s320/Ice+is+Melting.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div> </div><div><strong>PHOTOS: Chloe sitting in Karen's Chair; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kas</span> out walking in the Snow; Karen's Nana & Papa bonding; Wrestling with a Kangaroo; Me in the Snowy Pond; The Ice is Finally Melting...</strong></div><div> </div><div>I’m pleased to say that the training for the event that many people doubt is going well. I don’t blame them – at first I thought the idea of climbing three peaks of the UK will be a relatively easy challenge, they can’t be that high surely. But then after some discussions from previous climbers, some research and even viewing the shear size of these mountains in person has brought me back down to earth, slightly. I’m still extremely keen and positive that we can do it; it’s just the knowledge that we will be climbing well over 11,000 feet in under 24 hours, equivalent to eleven Eiffel Towers stacked on top of each other and also walking back down (I’ll have buns of steel after this). I don’t think I’d be doing it unless it was for a very worthy cause, so the £2,400 out of the targeted £6k we’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ve</span> managed to raise so far is managing to spur me on. I’m really not sure on where I’m getting this energy from but it’s definitely there and coming from somewhere deep inside, figuratively. For those who haven’t sponsored us yet, there’s only three months left until our big event in June – the longest weekend of the year, literally…<br /><br />I’m also encouraged that I’m doing this event for the right reason every time I attend the Oncology Clinic in Glasgow’s West End, an event that my Consultant and Director of the new Centre, Professor <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Holyoake</span>, is joining us on. I can’t help it, I drive right by the new Paul O’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Gorman</span> Leukaemia Research Centre that we’re fundraising for every time I have an appointment. To witness all different types of groups of people turning up to the clinic can be pretty harrowing even to the hardiest of person. Kids with scorched heads from the harsh chemo they’re receiving, closely followed by their parents who are trying their hardest to stay positive. The elderly, this time accompanied by their children. The young adults, sometimes alone or with their young family; I fit in this group, so I can empathise with their situation. No matter who they are, they are all hoping for a miracle. That’s where this new centre comes into play. So, yep, I’m stoked we are doing this Event in June for a pretty good cause.<br /><br />We’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ve</span> just booked our trip back to Oz at Christmas this year – I know it’s still a long way off and we have plenty going on before this trip but I’m just so excited. I’ll get to meet my niece and see my nephew again, watch the kids and Chloe playing together, catch up with friends and family, get a much much much needed dose of Vitamin D in the form of sunshine and chill out with a BBQ on the beach. It’ll also be great to see my grandfather; he’s having a pretty rough time at the moment as he’s fighting some pretty aggressive cancer. He’s a real fighter, always has been, and the kind of man who will make us proud by battling away - so it’ll good to catch up with him. Did I mention the sun as well?<br /><br />Everything else seems to be ticking along quite well. We’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ve</span> found ourselves really enjoying our time as a family and making the most out of what we have right now as Chloe’s just growing so fast. We’re definitely spending less time going out and spending more time outdoors; what used to be a night of beers on the town has turned into a quiet catch-up with friends…I know it sounds like I’m an old man already and acting beyond my 29 years but I can reassure that the beers still as important as they were before. Helps you cope with the lack of sleep! We’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ve</span> got our first overseas trip planned with a group of mates not long after my birthday to the south of France. No doubt it’ll be a real tester but I’m more than reassured as we’re not the only couple with a baby. Ah, how life changes...<br /><br />I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ve</span> now got another 2 weeks to wait until I get my latest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">PCR</span> test results back from the labs, fingers crossed for the third one going in the right direction. Any number under 0.7% and I’ll be stoked! If it is lower, we’ll all be assured that after 2 ½ years of munching Leukaemia medication, my body has finally started to get rid of the dodgy cells that are trying to call my body ‘home’. The ultimate goal is to get to 0.1% - that’ll mean I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ve</span> achieved a 3 log reduction from the 100% starting point and also my survival stats will be dramatically improved. Now <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">wouldn</span>’t that be worth a celebration? My 30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">th</span> birthday is in less than 3 weeks time – besides my requested Nintendo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Wii</span>, any number under 0.7% will be the best present I could hope for…<br /><br />So, until the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">PCR</span> results end up back in my hands, we’ll just continue to enjoy the changing of the seasons – spring has sprung! The Mountain climbing training starts this weekend on the 3,000 foot monster of Ben Vane, so I need to make the most of it.<br /><br />If you feel that we deserve your cash on the huge event we are undertaking soon, please check out my link. And thanks heaps to those who have already sponsored us!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk">www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk</a></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-81861816275513666532008-02-21T15:59:00.011+00:002008-12-08T22:18:51.115+00:0047. Ripe Old Age<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2OqmU2Urnk0gXnTpaaY9Cp9UZtP66Y1GlNlxp992UChMUvSDrwbnRLfcFJtQTi3DRvcfK4t9VD06m7czRr3iqkjC4hyphenhyphenyBQGiNA3MMDnqr6_amN5YqiG4Uf5VEeze-FG07HZrUw/s1600-h/Matt+and+Ouso.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169490388100908194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2OqmU2Urnk0gXnTpaaY9Cp9UZtP66Y1GlNlxp992UChMUvSDrwbnRLfcFJtQTi3DRvcfK4t9VD06m7czRr3iqkjC4hyphenhyphenyBQGiNA3MMDnqr6_amN5YqiG4Uf5VEeze-FG07HZrUw/s320/Matt+and+Ouso.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTC5bB10q5KZh4EvUtqj3r_k0xBc1chzB5HfQtGkYE85Id1Q8N6vIdvNStGn5569PDREAKjz-HqGCKbLRBLxsFYny3NfqOT_U6FgoTVXwZOTFnkvhg0zFqD8qjFhkFfMqfPJOkkg/s1600-h/Arrived+at+the+Peak.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169486788918314066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTC5bB10q5KZh4EvUtqj3r_k0xBc1chzB5HfQtGkYE85Id1Q8N6vIdvNStGn5569PDREAKjz-HqGCKbLRBLxsFYny3NfqOT_U6FgoTVXwZOTFnkvhg0zFqD8qjFhkFfMqfPJOkkg/s320/Arrived+at+the+Peak.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgYDoHlWCfKV-Nav1OWMf3cnA_qBVrm2IldSzdJzeSGHDLAJcy8hiOUGifiHfZNpMUYmWm92HDciev1ZciKl0EQrDeF1jwUjaMlFw6XdNeqDY2sSN8BYT620iaYUpvG_7IZZVDA/s1600-h/Ouso+Leading+the+Way.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169489456093004946" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgYDoHlWCfKV-Nav1OWMf3cnA_qBVrm2IldSzdJzeSGHDLAJcy8hiOUGifiHfZNpMUYmWm92HDciev1ZciKl0EQrDeF1jwUjaMlFw6XdNeqDY2sSN8BYT620iaYUpvG_7IZZVDA/s320/Ouso+Leading+the+Way.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_CWpLWg3G8cNBjZ7iIO3dYN7Q7n27XPBcUWz9k1KrCklputtH6lPRpzVr75csVgw5YWM9nPYAzTiEDoNAovxrf3Eye6cbVvJuavLl043Cc7vuY_Gla3EocJETZd4gR0tBVl6TA/s1600-h/Slowly+Down.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169488549854905474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_CWpLWg3G8cNBjZ7iIO3dYN7Q7n27XPBcUWz9k1KrCklputtH6lPRpzVr75csVgw5YWM9nPYAzTiEDoNAovxrf3Eye6cbVvJuavLl043Cc7vuY_Gla3EocJETZd4gR0tBVl6TA/s320/Slowly+Down.bmp" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmNa7a467qxf3lAQ_yVQtZwpwp-6z9K5BOCj8Eu58XvlHZCDUnb9QQ5NnZoONYjJlJYfVYUZnMANiN7OOZ1b1qs-KjcAql8sSKOCbwEbC01iGTA88ErZTwihUvzOO2MOtN7b_iA/s1600-h/Chloe+in+Denim.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169465984096732178" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmNa7a467qxf3lAQ_yVQtZwpwp-6z9K5BOCj8Eu58XvlHZCDUnb9QQ5NnZoONYjJlJYfVYUZnMANiN7OOZ1b1qs-KjcAql8sSKOCbwEbC01iGTA88ErZTwihUvzOO2MOtN7b_iA/s320/Chloe+in+Denim.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkjtl-WPwywyFfLfyvNcROru8BsGMoDt4SSeatrGhcOAwRXbpIr3B4GnTRhTKp12ff-fXPgM0-O5TZpYyexWdGpQ2B5vALPmQ44BHcPsYo7n2ZECQbnR5WCgAS08D0vFepmSJZw/s1600-h/Pram+Pushers.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169473895426491426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkjtl-WPwywyFfLfyvNcROru8BsGMoDt4SSeatrGhcOAwRXbpIr3B4GnTRhTKp12ff-fXPgM0-O5TZpYyexWdGpQ2B5vALPmQ44BHcPsYo7n2ZECQbnR5WCgAS08D0vFepmSJZw/s320/Pram+Pushers.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywhKtEb2IYzsDsjxfTq0-6xRaDSG0DhgxsPj7SvIBd47mbC4Y8ZvvScp3mOgs5eXrdu6ftU_IExL00YoAzfl8ZWtm245_wgGwiwlNGoZLWIiIBCYCbK_nmM2T5UcNfDZ3WdIDtg/s1600-h/Sunny+Glasgow.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169474939103544370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywhKtEb2IYzsDsjxfTq0-6xRaDSG0DhgxsPj7SvIBd47mbC4Y8ZvvScp3mOgs5eXrdu6ftU_IExL00YoAzfl8ZWtm245_wgGwiwlNGoZLWIiIBCYCbK_nmM2T5UcNfDZ3WdIDtg/s320/Sunny+Glasgow.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><strong>Photos: Me and Birthday Boy Ouso; Reaching the Peak of Beinn Narnain; The Boys Walking Down; Steep Hill; Chloe in her new Denim Dress; Sunday Walk in the Sun with the Prams; Walking in the Country Park...</strong></div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong></div><div></div><div>How life changes! I’m not sure if it’s my impending 30th birthday, but lately I’ve been thinking, and having a laugh, at how life changes as you move through the years. I’m loving this feeling of being able to clutch tightly at still being in my 20’s, even though I probably look way too old to still mix it with the young fellas.<br />The first year of your twenties is a bizarre feeling; I still remember a lady telling her child to “ask that man”. As a kid who spent a fair bit of time in my teens with a combed mullet, a nice pair of Reebok pumps and a pair of age-defying acid wash jeans, being called a man was a pretty big step!<br /><br />Before you know it, you find yourself celebrating your 21st birthday; this is usually accompanied with plenty of booze, partying, hanging out with your mates and then displaying an uncanny ability to wake up feeling fresh as a daisy the next morning.<br />The next few years are fine, although I distinctly remember my feeling of turning 24. That sounded like I was old and ready to sort myself with a steady job and buy a house. I knew I was never that right person, so I threw in my job and headed overseas on my first international adventure. No surprises to hear that Scotland was the destination.<br /><br />Mid-twenties was a fun time - more money seemed to be coming in the pay-packet, clothes got better, hair got thinner, the nights out were still a necessity but places that were a little less loud and easier to have conversations started to take precedence over the nightclubs. More time was spent with my lady friend than with my mates, as were most people who were steadily moving from courting (do they still use this word?), to dating, and then to taking the plunge and moving in with each other. The big step!<br /><br />Then it’s time for late twenties. You’ve probably lost contact with a lot of people you went to school with and then picked up new ones from uni, sporting clubs and jobs. Kas and I got together when I was 24 years old; I then got engaged at 26, married at 27 and a father at 29. Not a bad pace I’ve set.<br /><br />I’ve also spent the last two and a half years of my life living with Leukaemia. I’ve certainly loved my twenties and there’s nothing I would have changed – I’ve got my two girls by my side! Now, it’s almost time to continue living with Leukaemia in my 30’s… not dying from it.<br /><br />I’ve only been into see my Doctor once since Christmas and that to me is a great feeling. We get along great at the consultations but there’s such a feeling of freedom to know that my appointments are getting further apart. On the flip side of this, it also makes the actual appointment day a pretty bit deal. Much bigger than it ever used to be! The day at the Oncology Ward feels so far away from what I’ve been getting used to lately. A huge emphasis is placed to ask the right questions, check the right results, organise the next PCR and keep up to date on any medical issues I should know about. My next PCR will be taken in two weeks time and it’s one I’m having mixed feelings about. The last two have been moving in the correct direction (1.7% then 0.7%); the sign of the medication working in my body is to have three consecutive tests heading the same way. I’ve got my fingers well and truly crossed for another great result but it’s also a scary feeling to know what I’m about to face. I’ve never been one to place too much emphasis on any particular test but the more time I spend with Chloe and Kas, it makes me twice as determined to beat this. I guess only time will tell.<br /><br />The training for our upcoming 3 Peaks Challenge is going very well, so far. A few mates and I set upon conquering Beinn Narnain on the Scottish west coast highlands last weekend and it turned out to be a decent challenge. Not one to be scoffed at. It was only when we were taking on the final assault on the peak. We were there for my mate Ouso’s birthday. I started thinking that this mountain was only at a fraction of the height of Ben Nevis, Scotland tallest peak, and the first mountain to be climbed in our challenge this June. We need to get training hard and get our bodies in some form of shape that would be able to endure the 24 hour event that climbs well over 11,000 feet and takes place in 3 countries. Bring on the stair-climber at the gym…<br /><br />Chloe continues to thrive which is great to see. She’s been snoozing the whole night long for the past five or six weeks and we’re probably getting more sleep now than we’ve ever had. I’m only saying that as it makes a huge difference when dealing with an oral chemotherapy every day; the meds can make you a bit drowsy, so that’s why I take it at night. Her whole body keeps growing and I can see a change in her every day – new things she can do, like rolling over and giggling. I know I’m probably a boring, doting dad but I just love this time with her. I can imagine it goes from being quite nice, to running around after them and making sure they don’t get into everything. I’ll savour this part for the time being anyway.<br /><br />Thanks for the emails and messages, wish me luck for my PCR test and keep in mind that I’ll be turning the ripe old age of 30 in about six weeks.<br /><br />We’ll be kicking off our official 3 Peaks Challenge Fundraiser in a week’s time, so please don’t forget to sponsor us on the link at the top-right of this page! It’s for a great cause – the new Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Building in Scotland.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk">www.justgiving.com/3peakschallengeuk</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-65380828404040848442008-01-30T17:09:00.000+00:002008-12-08T22:18:52.270+00:0046. Super Sunday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vB-R4rxUdfT2pKGHyNnG0Q0KN41hopmVbZYg0FFlXpAymKLfy3JVLyDTHDrZShrT_vHkgnph52GhElg8EJsEl-Ek19l0P7wa8uUwRXKKpdDGAveuY1J0TgPSeItWgQaQXdWJUA/s1600-h/Kas+and+Chloe+on+Computer.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161324840362622370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vB-R4rxUdfT2pKGHyNnG0Q0KN41hopmVbZYg0FFlXpAymKLfy3JVLyDTHDrZShrT_vHkgnph52GhElg8EJsEl-Ek19l0P7wa8uUwRXKKpdDGAveuY1J0TgPSeItWgQaQXdWJUA/s320/Kas+and+Chloe+on+Computer.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_JzY7tbOGKl5OzvezN3VkN_rnH_8roGapTcYCO_dTG0TriHwUkoukHpLKgIVX3EhhkCKa_qDeKomhzePWQSCcN7t9wDRT3g7bMU8gOKLVLkohO4I39fERatHCdfkxHeLdLE2Zw/s1600-h/Mum+&+Dad+Queens+View.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161325252679482818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_JzY7tbOGKl5OzvezN3VkN_rnH_8roGapTcYCO_dTG0TriHwUkoukHpLKgIVX3EhhkCKa_qDeKomhzePWQSCcN7t9wDRT3g7bMU8gOKLVLkohO4I39fERatHCdfkxHeLdLE2Zw/s320/Mum+%26+Dad+Queens+View.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzTIhMbwvFecq8XqGArCEc2k3xfOmz5f8nAm4-M53lADnfbxA-G-vMkuw85HfPxbLf0a3vFa1xnxH-OzbdmKFq6iSJHMf1DAWpIearMcjc9zdAS08dw2poIBiGjm1w0hHMu0GSA/s1600-h/Snowy+Road.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161325591981899218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzTIhMbwvFecq8XqGArCEc2k3xfOmz5f8nAm4-M53lADnfbxA-G-vMkuw85HfPxbLf0a3vFa1xnxH-OzbdmKFq6iSJHMf1DAWpIearMcjc9zdAS08dw2poIBiGjm1w0hHMu0GSA/s320/Snowy+Road.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu34FKsDmXddMgY1UJDNjHZLL6WhsLDxxb1mbdC2iOB4BsFuRnB5Vnf9JVZshZD0eTFBL6yCvEyC9hIdg7jnizKTttYmX4gNPZcehbcbjKG3O45M63qD3O8qkSIaGdux99UlQBA/s1600-h/Matt+Walking+Mugdock.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161324960621706674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu34FKsDmXddMgY1UJDNjHZLL6WhsLDxxb1mbdC2iOB4BsFuRnB5Vnf9JVZshZD0eTFBL6yCvEyC9hIdg7jnizKTttYmX4gNPZcehbcbjKG3O45M63qD3O8qkSIaGdux99UlQBA/s320/Matt+Walking+Mugdock.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFcRm12hSlYn6USianpe500_H0YK93m7-6VZR9orV2HDm1Xux1Nx9yP2cB8JT-3iI4_qHXUkjum1K7uu7HNUZx2D0xzuPsbHeXTemhHyr6y9GNKgmxpg4Doggu09l6N-XvnoyYw/s1600-h/Inverary+Hills.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161324372211187090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFcRm12hSlYn6USianpe500_H0YK93m7-6VZR9orV2HDm1Xux1Nx9yP2cB8JT-3iI4_qHXUkjum1K7uu7HNUZx2D0xzuPsbHeXTemhHyr6y9GNKgmxpg4Doggu09l6N-XvnoyYw/s320/Inverary+Hills.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbzPmXeU4rK7HXAFOzWgnhDrmK-SDv0eV_HU19qdvkjSUXYMMuYE5e6NpyehEhJuJyHgBqlnvJOTnMxVd-FY9oXRoNHvjwwIw14KPZqKBTb5GavAMncvGrBDvOvadTbnDjvE0GA/s1600-h/Chloe+in+Seat.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161323899764784498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbzPmXeU4rK7HXAFOzWgnhDrmK-SDv0eV_HU19qdvkjSUXYMMuYE5e6NpyehEhJuJyHgBqlnvJOTnMxVd-FY9oXRoNHvjwwIw14KPZqKBTb5GavAMncvGrBDvOvadTbnDjvE0GA/s320/Chloe+in+Seat.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuK6kGkpOQygEhuKk0nwZKOtbKyr6qLe-hPMTfKPr_Y9q1o2gEMFMqNNHb1U2KrPpBshKPwOKglyKf8nk_Rdd_ft-sawZ0gAzBY1TwuNyLJdeG6Zs8GGhV5j7Y8VS5iKp5hY_Xw/s1600-h/Boat+&+Hills+Inverary.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161323792390602082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuK6kGkpOQygEhuKk0nwZKOtbKyr6qLe-hPMTfKPr_Y9q1o2gEMFMqNNHb1U2KrPpBshKPwOKglyKf8nk_Rdd_ft-sawZ0gAzBY1TwuNyLJdeG6Zs8GGhV5j7Y8VS5iKp5hY_Xw/s320/Boat+%26+Hills+Inverary.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKD6pCe14gIq1TZblj0nU53PThUvVeNwWlFg65v2lPFgJKdCFiWy_maUPKbiqwMaMjFwqko4rKwhfRtVDHz8DdiI6NIDS-8nIkMT1vi5p_Hg511LYNIzu3Wg-SuUtArLNPp_pfKg/s1600-h/Bagpiper.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161323324239166802" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKD6pCe14gIq1TZblj0nU53PThUvVeNwWlFg65v2lPFgJKdCFiWy_maUPKbiqwMaMjFwqko4rKwhfRtVDHz8DdiI6NIDS-8nIkMT1vi5p_Hg511LYNIzu3Wg-SuUtArLNPp_pfKg/s320/Bagpiper.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><strong>Photos: Kas and Chloe on the Computer; Mum & Dad on Queen's View; Road to Aviemore in the Highlands; Hiking in Mugdock Country Park; Hills over Inverary; Chloe in her Seat; Boat Docked in Inverary; Bagpiper in the Highlands...</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div>It’s hard to know where to start this one off – I’m feeling surprisingly energised and enthusiastic about so many things right now, so instead of placing them in any order, it’ll probably just come out in an incoherent mess. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s fresh new year that makes me feel as though I’ve got a blank canvas to work with or that I’ve just had a holiday for the past three weeks but I’m trying to make the most of this while I can. And to top it off, the sun is shining in winter UK right now…love it!<br /><br />My last major catch up with Super Doc was on the 18th December, just before my folks arrived from Australia and when I finished up work for the good part of a month. The long time between doctor appointments eases the mind and let’s you concentrate on other things that would normally have been seen with more importance. I had my PCR taken then and we also discussed a range of things from side effects and fundraising for the new Leukaemia Research Centre – I didn’t want to let the catch up be dominated by bad news and trying to stay optimistic. It’s a tough day on the body and mind walking into the Beatson Oncology Centre, Kas has always noticed a sense of stress that I emit before my appointment. I’ve only noticed I’ll have cold hands, a rarity for me, and that it makes it harder for the vein to bulge and offer a decent supply of blood to be extracted and tested. Obviously the place is full of cancer sufferers, most with a determined face as if they’re trying to show that they can beat these nasty cells that have taken a liking to their cells – I often wonder what they are suffering from, hoping that they will all conquer their illness and get rid of the head scarf that have been forced to don. The ones that shake you up are when a whole family will exit a room with swollen teary eyes, evidently with bad news. Although I’ve had a mixed bag of appointments and thing to deal with, it does however open your eyes up to the reality of what’s going on to others. Witnessing the silent killer at work! And it’s definitely not all bad news either. News of someone’s remission is equally easy to read on the people’s faces who have been obliged to attend the clinic full of people in the same cancer boat. To hear that someone is on the mend is very hard to top…<br /><br />So, on the back of my observations and outcomes from the Oncology clinics, I’ve finally joined the group who “seem” to be on the mend…my PCR result came back last week. It’s been a fairly bumpy ride on the PCR front – these extremely accurate tests of Leukaemia levels are the deciding factor of your treatment. Since changing from Gleevec to Sprycel last July, my PCR have continued to hover around the 1-2% mark. Good, but not quite good enough. When Chloe was born it jumped from 1.2% to 1.7%...quite scary feeling when I had finally started my family. I then had my meds increased from 100mg to 140mg per day – it seemed quite obvious as the docs were treating someone with a healthy love of burgers or just “big boned”. That did the trick – the PCR dropped from 1.7% to 1% and then the latest result has finally placed it at a very good 0.7%. This now puts me in a tough predicament. I’m pretty stoked that it’s cracked the 1% mark…unreal. But I’ve got to be mindful that it’s gone up in the past after a low result. I’ve had a few champers to celebrate the good result as they don’t come by too often without getting too carried away – stay positive and optimistic is the key! My next PCR test is not planned until around April, my 30th birthday could coincide with news of my dodgy cells moving extremely close to remission. Bring it on.<br /><br />My Annual Fundraiser is gaining momentum and we’ve just locked in a date for participation - put Saturday June 21st in your diaries because we’re going to need everyone to dig into their back pocket and dish out some cash for a very good cause. The Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research building is due for an imminent opening, very exciting stuff as the building will be home to some of the world’s best Researchers, Bone Marrow Transplants, Leukaemia treatments and my Super Doc consultant is the Director. Me and a few Aussie & Scottish mates have decided to take on the 3 Peaks UK Challenge on the longest day of the year – climbing the highest peak in Scotland (Ben Nevis 4,409 feet), Wales (Snowdon 3,560 feet) and England (Scafell 3,210 feet) - 11,180 vertical feet in 24 Hours. Anyone keen to join us, you’re more than welcome…there’s no choice on the donations though ;) The Sunday Mail are running a story this Sunday, funnily enough, about our optimistic venture where we’re hoping to get to a £6,000 total, so it’ll be very good to spread the word.<br /><br />I’m still waiting patiently to be asked to continue my public speaking on the CML Tour, a nice trip to Oz would go down very well. We just got emailed the feedback from the recent CML Conference held in Edinburgh and I’m stoked to see that I’ve topped the list in the speaker’s rating – 4.8 out of 5…gold! I had made a few gags about my big bald head that must have gone down well on the day…<br /><br />My folks are now heading back to Australia after a successful tour of the bonnie lands – it’s been great to see them with my wee girl Chloe who changes almost daily. Also good for me and Kas having a few extra babysitters around! The last couple of visits from the folks have been littered with bad news and illness. It was only last June when they were here when they had to see me lying on a hospital bed with Pneumonia. It’s priceless that they got to see me looking better and the PCR heading in the right direction. It makes such a huge difference.<br /><br />Wish me luck for the appointment next week – my mind should be fairly clear this time as I’ll be having a few beers at Murrayfield watching Scotland play France in the Rugby 6 Nations on Sunday. Thanks for the emails and messages, keep them coming in…</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-7138253662460478652008-01-03T18:46:00.000+00:002021-12-04T20:16:52.608+00:0045. 'Tis the Season<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEo5272GbUy2JRyynduvZ0oR9bfZ6shu2FeTTkUqGJtIeOQAriqjhDH-w0NlHe9zH-SVv7yiLElfb8qJa6SCt3w4Id_oUs_MnGJFQljdqXmpfgfoWUueqZIQL4KsOzOXiLIFN6g/s1600-h/DSC_1044.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151334534919391586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEo5272GbUy2JRyynduvZ0oR9bfZ6shu2FeTTkUqGJtIeOQAriqjhDH-w0NlHe9zH-SVv7yiLElfb8qJa6SCt3w4Id_oUs_MnGJFQljdqXmpfgfoWUueqZIQL4KsOzOXiLIFN6g/s320/DSC_1044.JPG" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcfDE8TeJ9SqlGxW3onp2XUlESroBFcz_IORrHT29ybDyr6ElA__bThwwdZF-mJD7CoNexxN6Kyo5JZ515cjzQXmm92e23AsiJLcQ2b4zHQmh94O8LEQwvD35hesGw0AQ5wct9Q/s1600-h/DSC_1073.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151335140509780338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcfDE8TeJ9SqlGxW3onp2XUlESroBFcz_IORrHT29ybDyr6ElA__bThwwdZF-mJD7CoNexxN6Kyo5JZ515cjzQXmm92e23AsiJLcQ2b4zHQmh94O8LEQwvD35hesGw0AQ5wct9Q/s320/DSC_1073.JPG" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlp2v4ndFqmNCWZEkflaeLBOYs3_AmASJjhyphenhyphenZB5bScyGp4eZHTilTjsWntG5NN7-OMLD33JNoO__5jgxVVd6spdtlhY90Lw5_zN6F29q12gj03MO_3O0Tv-TauenFzbV0WeFYO7A/s1600-h/DSC_1062.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151337945123424674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlp2v4ndFqmNCWZEkflaeLBOYs3_AmASJjhyphenhyphenZB5bScyGp4eZHTilTjsWntG5NN7-OMLD33JNoO__5jgxVVd6spdtlhY90Lw5_zN6F29q12gj03MO_3O0Tv-TauenFzbV0WeFYO7A/s320/DSC_1062.JPG" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8dLPtjqeGzQiV027J-KOg7g3nIVx5axAVgkI-bn7GT3Gm3124HvxUF_u3pDY0eGos_x7lSNwvjYtQ8YYbvsGC-9Yo5Pc9kJPs-GnDrtvO8LFw-534NksqSR8dz7jVwWy2lvU7A/s1600-h/DSC_1091.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151336523489249682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8dLPtjqeGzQiV027J-KOg7g3nIVx5axAVgkI-bn7GT3Gm3124HvxUF_u3pDY0eGos_x7lSNwvjYtQ8YYbvsGC-9Yo5Pc9kJPs-GnDrtvO8LFw-534NksqSR8dz7jVwWy2lvU7A/s320/DSC_1091.JPG" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtaZ2b_cNPwe2K9WBAe132GGonFUNzr9ap5ls0XQtwChvPSXNyksIx61LdD-ImYWfHASv6k7NseFJvx2Bso5YwG2VvEzuzBKaFfr642h6Nk7YJqkcuJFHAbQJa9KOc_80SZ3OqA/s1600-h/DSC_1082.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151331077470718242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtaZ2b_cNPwe2K9WBAe132GGonFUNzr9ap5ls0XQtwChvPSXNyksIx61LdD-ImYWfHASv6k7NseFJvx2Bso5YwG2VvEzuzBKaFfr642h6Nk7YJqkcuJFHAbQJa9KOc_80SZ3OqA/s320/DSC_1082.JPG" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQy9s5QLm6iYwAdcvWB-foI4mmrpL0E_gXT4dTW8ClyWvXXwq0cezrTgJohkdtS5whqPkmwnEvq9J4CRv8dm29zG6cabGjqrdFENgpnHnxM8Sg7xLA90n_HyY56VYWTlHfv8U8g/s1600-h/DSC_0866.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151335947963632002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQy9s5QLm6iYwAdcvWB-foI4mmrpL0E_gXT4dTW8ClyWvXXwq0cezrTgJohkdtS5whqPkmwnEvq9J4CRv8dm29zG6cabGjqrdFENgpnHnxM8Sg7xLA90n_HyY56VYWTlHfv8U8g/s320/DSC_0866.JPG" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh3jmtV_YUwZuMS8gdzGXSWbTtDNJpJhRx7cAeR02mRuXxfpp994Ia86JlZF9OydOuI3x3iSmJduM0q9Drz7vPwR6lpr_546SXMe5GfWBDMJANX2YnNV2Mgyw9UZXx-yA95V0wQ/s1600-h/DSC_0784.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151333912149133650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh3jmtV_YUwZuMS8gdzGXSWbTtDNJpJhRx7cAeR02mRuXxfpp994Ia86JlZF9OydOuI3x3iSmJduM0q9Drz7vPwR6lpr_546SXMe5GfWBDMJANX2YnNV2Mgyw9UZXx-yA95V0wQ/s320/DSC_0784.JPG" style="cursor: hand;" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38gj3E85HWntJpcLGu31SKo5QenoTqfoHDNdT552qJItTUkDM-LRWNCY7yOWgl55tC6fYxbgnMlkrMtycPO_ICgLdKWZPdRUgDEg_bq1rHwnAKiE2QefawnEDNUCoA3o00LVsOg/s1600-h/DSC_0072.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152010266419038642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38gj3E85HWntJpcLGu31SKo5QenoTqfoHDNdT552qJItTUkDM-LRWNCY7yOWgl55tC6fYxbgnMlkrMtycPO_ICgLdKWZPdRUgDEg_bq1rHwnAKiE2QefawnEDNUCoA3o00LVsOg/s320/DSC_0072.JPG" style="cursor: hand;" /></a><br /><div> </div><div><div><div><div><strong>Photos: Me and Chloe; Mum and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kas</span> at Loch <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lomond</span>; Chloe; Dad, Mum & Chloe; Snowing on the Scottish Hills; Four Generations of First Born Daughters; Me and Chloe out for a Walk, Church in Killearn...</strong></div><br /><div>I’m not really a big boozer anymore…haven’t been able to put much alcohol into my system since I was diagnosed two years ago (and also after a few stern words from my doc...). But as I write this, I’m quietly sipping a nice malt whisky for a couple of reasons, well it’s snowing outside right now, so I’ll make that three reasons. Firstly, it’s still officially festive time so I’ll cheers to another year down and to how good it was to spend another Christmas and New Years with my family, our new daughter Chloe included. Secondly, it’s been a pretty rough time for our friends Colin and Lorna who had their baby girl Eva just three weeks ago. For the past week they’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ve</span> spent most of their time by her side in hospital as she was rushed in with a suspected very serious illness. The news came through yesterday; she’s been given the all clear. That’s more than enough reason for me to dust down the crystal whisky glass and top it up with a generous measure of the nectar the Scots are blessed with engineering… And while I’m merrily raising my glass, I’ll also pass on a huge congrats to my brother Nick and Claire who has their second child Eliza recently. ‘<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tis</span> the season to have babies it seems…<br /><br />Finally I have a small window of opportunity to kick of my shoes and have a well earned rest…holiday time! We’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ve</span> just spent the day driving carefully through the beautiful Scottish countryside and taking photos in awe at the snow. The sights around this neck of the woods really are stunning. My folks have been given a good show while they’re over here visiting from the scorched land of Australia…a slight contrast.<br /><br />On news of my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">meds</span> and current condition, it all seems to be still <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ok</span> and heading in the right direction. I know I use the word “seems” quite a lot but without many definite answers, it’s hard to know anything for sure when it comes to Leukaemia. On one hand I had been given the report of my lowest ever <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">PCR</span> reading of 1% - the last one taken was 1.8%. It “seems” like it’s going down and heading in the right direction but as the trend of my last ten or so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">PCR</span>’s confirm, it could go back up at any time. All my Consultant could confirm was that it could be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ok</span> if it hovers anywhere between 1 and 2% - she will keep me on this dose and medication <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Sprycel</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Dasatinib</span>) until at least next July/August. That’s when the real decision will be made; persevere on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">meds</span> or opt for the Bone Marrow Transplant. With this knowledge of my Consultants timing, I’m going to try and put it to the back of my mind and keep going with everything as normal and make the most of watching my wee girl Chloe grow. It’s happening right before our eyes, so I really don’t want to miss a thing. I should get my latest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">PCR</span> test back within the week – let’s hope for another 1-2% result. Anything below this would give me reason to top this whisky glass back up, right to the brim…<br /><br />Everything with Chloe continues to go very well – my mum and dad finally got to meet her which was amazing to see them bond. She’s a little angel and most people seem to think she’s already got me wrapped around her little finger. Not sure whether to admit that or not! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Kas</span> is really blossoming as a mummy. It’s great to see how they get on and really rely on each other. They both have extremely busy schedules and manage to spend a lot of their time with other mums and babies, sipping coffees, swapping stories, singing songs and changing a monumental amount of nappies. A couple of ladies of leisure!<br /><br />I’ll try and keep the positive theme to this post flowing and give an update on my mate Dave (everyone “seems” to have a mate called Dave…) that’s just undergone a Bone Marrow Transplant in the USA. He spent a few weeks in hospital enduring the chemotherapy treatment, copious tests and needles, new donor stem cells, isolation time, time away from family and a little bit of acute <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">GVHD</span> thrown in – after all this, he managed to make it home to his wife and family for Christmas and is also enjoying good results post-transplant. He’s a real inspiration and I really wish him all the best for his further treatment and recovery.<br /><br />Visit him and leave a message of support at - <a href="http://cml.davidrobertcox.com/">http://cml.davidrobertcox.com/</a><br /><br />On other news of fellow Leukaemia people (“sufferers” and “patients” seem too negative to use), I was watching Channel 5 on UK television last night and saw that a guy had won the International Best Blog award for his Leukaemia Diary – Baldy’s Blog was written after he was diagnosed with two separate types of Leukaemia. Another inspirational read…<br /><br />So now I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">ve</span> got the next three weeks off work to just spend time with my family and try to relax. Keep the messages and emails coming in, they always give you a reason to put pen to paper, so to speak, and keep this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">CML</span> Diary rolling on. As someone close used to say, never underestimate the impact you can have on other people…<br /><br />I’m off to top this empty glass back up.</div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-1676221585329887282007-12-04T16:03:00.000+00:002008-12-08T22:18:55.302+00:0044. Silly Season Again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOtdG5l_27hvP3bGXf8vpukBGd1P8T_eCziXT7YTy1KchxNJZmDVuYcw0rNecu999p9lRUXhvRcrh6icOnRPGLgGrBoOgZDt6Z7Bw1QcWAAzo7emmk57uzDzrPf9-cNjvbDOM6A/s1600-h/DSC_0047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140156054531259602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOtdG5l_27hvP3bGXf8vpukBGd1P8T_eCziXT7YTy1KchxNJZmDVuYcw0rNecu999p9lRUXhvRcrh6icOnRPGLgGrBoOgZDt6Z7Bw1QcWAAzo7emmk57uzDzrPf9-cNjvbDOM6A/s320/DSC_0047.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinW7Z9ZaEbFIDwMveE9TMYQ3cYmwExg0FHdllCOG6OrRsNr_XD4VuDmCruCSsE-CKYCDOQrm9Tx-bRf9NunuYHz3oqyPY46vT5vekXGCgQZuFU93vyl-1dvNIPjq4_1D_Cpf1rWw/s1600-h/DSC_0250.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140158799015361778" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpubtqpejS9HdK2ivVH6HInGTADUpkLzfj79I_E0Hc1owlN-CAQkHQpaaqSdnoP1bJvHPi0d7Hlq4MSwqqMe4yStVaUl45eON3DXW1B-7Ej0AymvjgsNzJRoPMbSGs90Ep5EB38A/s1600-h/Facc+and+Neil.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140169497778896242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpubtqpejS9HdK2ivVH6HInGTADUpkLzfj79I_E0Hc1owlN-CAQkHQpaaqSdnoP1bJvHPi0d7Hlq4MSwqqMe4yStVaUl45eON3DXW1B-7Ej0AymvjgsNzJRoPMbSGs90Ep5EB38A/s320/Facc+and+Neil.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3culnqSlv33sUNYhAdEeOyiwyXlh3Ll_si3r_k0ZFPZAKoyam6sAUs9tCXqnsoeWO6S0AHPkRDCr5oFGZTDzapgK_8P8M7Gnkmpf6OjDG43XKSjqYBrujyOaBBnWOJm9HwPT-w/s1600-h/Ali+&+Caroline.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140169317390269794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3culnqSlv33sUNYhAdEeOyiwyXlh3Ll_si3r_k0ZFPZAKoyam6sAUs9tCXqnsoeWO6S0AHPkRDCr5oFGZTDzapgK_8P8M7Gnkmpf6OjDG43XKSjqYBrujyOaBBnWOJm9HwPT-w/s320/Ali+%26+Caroline.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>PHOTOS: The Happy Family; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kas</span> out walking with Chloe; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kas</span> and my sister <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Tash</span> setting up the Xmas Tree; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tash</span>; Wee Chloe; <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kas</span> and Chloe; Chloe playing; <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Squirrel's</span> in the Backyard; The Anthony Nolan Ball; Peter mocking Neil and Ali & Caroline...</strong></div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div></div><div>I'm loving this new family life. I'd be lying if I said it didn't take a while to get used to... I used to be a real advocate for 8 hours of snoozing per night and my whole spur-of-the-moment attitude (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kas</span> called it impulsive) has even had to take a backseat. Chloe has really guided most attention away from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">CML</span> and our time is now spent looking after the wee one and getting on with life - no time to sit back and wallow in self-pity, never really been my style...</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>As usual there's been quite a lot to deal with over the past month, nothing strange there...I love this festive period where everyone tries to cram so much into the final months of the year. Silly season has arrived! My work in the booze industry is at an extreme high and I'm enjoying being so busy. The next few weeks will leave very little time for anything else so I better make the most of it. I have, however, made some time to keep spreading the word for Leukaemia Research and the Anthony Nolan Trust - as promised, I managed to squeeze my big head in front of the BBC News camera and do an interview for the recent Anthony Nolan Ball. A famous artist, Peter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Housen</span>, has donated one of his John Lennon paintings to the charity and it was my job to describe what the £20,000, that was raised in an auction, would mean to people in need of a bone marrow transplant. I'll upload the video clip as soon as the BBC send it to me.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>The Ball was a great success - after all costs and expenses, they raised well over £100 grand! We all had a great night, easily the best Ball I've ever been to. 10 of us went last and this year there were 30! A man who had donated bone marrow to a 4 year old <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">American</span> girl was interviewed by the Speaker...they then played a video clip of the girl, who was now 10 years old, and she described how much the transplant meant to her and her family and how she owes everything to him for his generosity. There wasn't a dry eye in the place when the Speaker announced that they had flown the young girl into Scotland to meet her donor - she walked on stage and gave him a huge hug. After that pertinent reminder, it was then time to get on the booze and get the party started. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Apologies</span> to the Thistle hotel for smoking up their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">dancefloor</span> two years in a row...<br /></div><div> </div><div><br />The following weekend was time for the Annual <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">CML</span> Conference and this year it was held in Edinburgh. There were over 400 attendees on the day and my daunting task was kick off <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">proceedings</span> with my patient presentation. Luckily I had met with the other speakers the night before, all leading <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">CML</span> Consultants from around the world, and had been given a few insider tips for my talk. The presentation went down quite and the patients, carers and doctors all seemed quite happy - I even got asked by one of the leading Consultants if I would join them full-time to speak at conferences. Food for thought. Anyway, the day was as I'd imagined a Bio-chemistry uni lecture to be...very technical and extremely scientific. There are plenty of things to look forward to for newly diagnosed patients - the talks were about vaccines, new therapies, new transplant styles and new tests. A very informative day and I was glad that Chloe could have been of assistance during my presentation...a little reminder to anyone with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">CML</span> hoping to have a family.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kas</span> continues to shine at being a mum and seems to have everything under control. She's beginning to meet up with other mums from our area and making the most of the coffee and lunch outings. It's great to hear that wee Chloe is making a few friends...even though she's not really conscious of her own actions it's funny to hear all the babies hanging out together. My sister arrived a few weeks ago and has been employed as our nanny...an unpaid nanny. It's great having her around and it's great to see her with her niece. She will be starting work tonight at the same place I worked when I lived here 6 years ago. Any touch of Australian Chloe can have is a very good thing! On Boxing Day my folks will also arrive and they'll have their chance to have a well earned cuddle...with Chloe, not me. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Well my latest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">PCR</span> test was taken 2 weeks ago and the results should be back with me in the next week or two...I'm trying not to get my hopes up this time and getting myself ready to hear the same result again. It's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">definitely</span> not a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">pessimistic</span> attitude...more like a realistic one. I really need to be prepared as I will be happy if it stays the same and not going up. Fingers crossed for the coming weeks...</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>On other news I'll say good luck to my grandpa in Sydney who's just been diagnosed with bowel cancer. They've also found tumours in his liver but after tests, it seemed they may be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">benign</span>. He's going in for surgery in the next week so please keep him in your thoughts. My thoughts are also with my dad who is driving back and forth to Sydney to look after him.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So until I post my BBC news report and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">PCR</span> result, keep the emails and messages coming in - also check out my mate Dave's blog who is currently going through a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">BMT</span>....</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://cml.davidrobertcox.com/">http://cml.davidrobertcox.com/</a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-36187680208290833592007-11-08T16:30:00.000+00:002008-12-08T22:18:56.301+00:0043. Two Years On<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDS3YDF7-JaqHhlJbAi4c2xwoiRWc5bTZpKtArD0c7AoXGgl08cq3H1UdGSzsjnzJYw3vbzyZaIwQycSwuIy1gM9PZZXNYIAxGuJkHORCAnKP0F0JpwMul9pO2qVziPhGk-Oi6w/s1600-h/DSC_0031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130878444985121234" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDS3YDF7-JaqHhlJbAi4c2xwoiRWc5bTZpKtArD0c7AoXGgl08cq3H1UdGSzsjnzJYw3vbzyZaIwQycSwuIy1gM9PZZXNYIAxGuJkHORCAnKP0F0JpwMul9pO2qVziPhGk-Oi6w/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHQWSm7yVsbyiQ5vNGVz6Kvn6UtqezSCCr8DE47X83oLnb87cvrFHmpK4pFE9k-mspEFo9S4hwCfCSecSFukrQgdE6Jmc2Ksh7asyIMiKptyYsvWzQMdgJwzMr3WWoXggWBEe1w/s1600-h/DSC_0069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132675758227428898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHQWSm7yVsbyiQ5vNGVz6Kvn6UtqezSCCr8DE47X83oLnb87cvrFHmpK4pFE9k-mspEFo9S4hwCfCSecSFukrQgdE6Jmc2Ksh7asyIMiKptyYsvWzQMdgJwzMr3WWoXggWBEe1w/s320/DSC_0069.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KQ7qoC8HiLnXApwc-sujNdROsA-ZEiS8iblpIxXd0lOstocmc9-Ju_sb2HF8Q7QgmwwjZEs7asoft0gzbd9U-4HXZIHAPjFr97mwLTCRNMdkjQKZGrwN9VOJg8O9QS9kLtdODg/s1600-h/IMG_0929.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130877062005651890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KQ7qoC8HiLnXApwc-sujNdROsA-ZEiS8iblpIxXd0lOstocmc9-Ju_sb2HF8Q7QgmwwjZEs7asoft0gzbd9U-4HXZIHAPjFr97mwLTCRNMdkjQKZGrwN9VOJg8O9QS9kLtdODg/s320/IMG_0929.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByjUHpddiF8Z4T8d1brvmeZ10CFXXY0MRJzZxJsnFfUSb126q8EN2yHQEFBERuaMyvWFNtPu-EScPLAE_rEL1_wlo7JXjwOjcmUnDL1_aXoRc4bkGueDxzLsMKVeYD1DNVIddxA/s1600-h/Tash+&+Chloe.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130876705523366306" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByjUHpddiF8Z4T8d1brvmeZ10CFXXY0MRJzZxJsnFfUSb126q8EN2yHQEFBERuaMyvWFNtPu-EScPLAE_rEL1_wlo7JXjwOjcmUnDL1_aXoRc4bkGueDxzLsMKVeYD1DNVIddxA/s320/Tash+%26+Chloe.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKO_x54KJX0LK92xiw7NVPawxEE4eg9EcP3F08Gr-c-zHepFb-Gh6rl8ytkCTwfIslgKZpdrY-7EHIvmd8-G3wOqSJGvPrcrN4Wii-Fcw_VkpsDYZZh7QGwnZKfy3enqKxTxtyZw/s1600-h/Chloe+in+Bouncer.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130876069868206482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKO_x54KJX0LK92xiw7NVPawxEE4eg9EcP3F08Gr-c-zHepFb-Gh6rl8ytkCTwfIslgKZpdrY-7EHIvmd8-G3wOqSJGvPrcrN4Wii-Fcw_VkpsDYZZh7QGwnZKfy3enqKxTxtyZw/s320/Chloe+in+Bouncer.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTcxqnTZg2IIiuwM4LIMQeaecCkljXUln_Qi2GJ_FIr8BFc7zDXo7vVK-KsvEeQ8pGCHMtfHuLBzgVRiWXEXk5uMBrzLjyo7OTm_Ry0DQeJ-yQeGSjSP7y_DFm8HNyBsqfa0k2Q/s1600-h/Kas,+Tom+and+Chloe.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130875627486574978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTcxqnTZg2IIiuwM4LIMQeaecCkljXUln_Qi2GJ_FIr8BFc7zDXo7vVK-KsvEeQ8pGCHMtfHuLBzgVRiWXEXk5uMBrzLjyo7OTm_Ry0DQeJ-yQeGSjSP7y_DFm8HNyBsqfa0k2Q/s320/Kas,+Tom+and+Chloe.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jzHXVeoFzpTxHAPgdwtULKO55t39doSJnduaVz98G1JCzjmUIgTtBa7DmdjQHVBA5b_9YTRYcmNv5U_jt5aWNGdjyzv9CHUur7663bWLkKn1vCY-sCvf_4cCtFpQ2Vpj-22YOA/s1600-h/Matt+&+Chopper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130877332588591554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jzHXVeoFzpTxHAPgdwtULKO55t39doSJnduaVz98G1JCzjmUIgTtBa7DmdjQHVBA5b_9YTRYcmNv5U_jt5aWNGdjyzv9CHUur7663bWLkKn1vCY-sCvf_4cCtFpQ2Vpj-22YOA/s320/Matt+%26+Chopper.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>PHOTOS: Chloe; Karen who visited from Canda, Kas, Julie, Nina and Chloe; Auntie Tash and Chloe; In the Bouncer; Kas, Papa Tom and Chloe; An Old Photo of Me, Jacko and Chopper...gold!</strong><br /><div><div><div><div><br /><div>I don't think anyone would be surprised to hear that the past month has been particularly busy. Chloe has just passed five weeks old and that's just about how long it's been since anyone has had a real snooze. She's growing very fast which is great to see - she's loves her grub just like her old man, already growing out of most her clothes and also loves socialising. I'm loving being a dad! Kas is doing a great job of looking after the wee one, as are her folks Anne and Tom - with the booze industry at it's peak time, they've done an unreal job of helping out Kas whilst I've been away making sure there's plenty of alcohol available across Scotland. A brave job!<br /></div><br /><div>We slowly seem to be getting things under control. The 2 year diagnosis date just cruised on past on the 19th Octover - such a weird feeling all day. Not sure whether to celebrate or commiserate! It took Kas a little longer to deal with my latest PCR result as she was also getting used to looking after a baby...I had slightly more time to try and get my head around it and work out what this means to us. The timing wasn't the best. Chloe is always top of mind but there has definetly been a distinct CML cloud hanging over me - I guess it just makes you think more about your future and really makes you metaphorically grit your teeth to get through the next lot of bumps and dips (I say metaphorically gritting my teeth and not literally - I wouldn't have any teeth left with what we've gone through over the past 2 years!) With the impending Doctor visit at the end of the month and also the Bone Marrow biospy, mutations test and PCR, I'm lucky I've had my girls to keep me focused and my mind on the job at hand - positive thinking. I've always known there are other drug options to keep me ticking over...a higher dose or another med on the market. At 140mg Sprycel per day, it doesn't go any further than this...<br /></div><br /><div>Next weekend it's time to don the Sinclair Kilt once again and get ready to tear up another dancefloor - the Anthony Nolan Trust's Annual Scottish Ball is on! We had an amazing time last year at The Thistle Hotel with games, auctions and dancing to keep you entertained. There were 10 of us last year, this year there's 30. We may take over next year? Kindly, my work Pernod Ricard have agreed to support and put on the Drinks Reception - unfortunately, it coincides with the Scotland vs Italy soccer match, a must win game for the Scots! Hopefully we'll have a few takers on the free drinks? I've also been asked to support the big day by doing some interviews on BBC Radio and maybe also on the BBC News. I'll tape it put it on my blog for those who are unlucky enough to miss my smooth baratone voice cascading through the British airwaves...everyone will be talking about the Aussie yobbo instead! In any case, it's a great opportunity to get more support for a good cause.</div><br /><br /><div>The week after the Ball is the Annual CML Conference and this year it's to be held in the Bonnie capital, Edinburgh. For those people attending, I apologise as I'll be one of the first to kick off procedings and do my talk. I better get to work on it! I know the UK Consultants will be attending a Conference in sunny Australia next year -I'd better do a good job and throw a few hints at being included on the world tour...<br /></div><br /><div>It's was so good to see my wee sister Tash and Justin who visited us last weekend - all the way from Oz! I was so looking forward to seeing her hold Chloe and get her first cuddle as a Scottish auntie. They'll be back up for Christmas and that is also when my parents will arrive in town - it'll be my first Christmas with my family in a few years. Can't wait!! Just a shame my brother and his family couldn't make it. Maybe one year they can swap their hot day with a BBQ lunch for a White Scottish one?<br /></div><div>So for now, I'd better get back to my work and keep the Scots well lubricated with our finest booze. Thanks again for the emails and comments - especially regarding my beautiful wee girl! My appointment with the docs in on the 20th November, fingers crossed...</div><br /><div>* Glasgow just won the right to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games...GOLD!!</div><br /><div>Please check out my mate David CML website. He was diagnosed shortly after me and unfortunately the drugs haven't gone too well for him - Dave will undergo his Bone Marrow Transplant in the coming weeks. If you get a spare minute, wish him all the best...</div><br /><div><a href="http://cml.davidrobertcox.com/">http://cml.davidrobertcox.com/</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-61386885515556853242007-10-11T14:05:00.000+01:002008-12-08T22:18:57.521+00:0042. It's a Girl!!<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH1xGNf3E4zzQ2F14OdYCnFw3FG2fx-SPqnsBEdAWNjKJeysTVdFXOVEAU5OPIOS-sDzq2Buxm6xyJfkIixcCyWM0kEUgYwqvE-55bhpH7hZLMYWURlxjAsxKCOhJkrCuGu2guw/s1600-h/Chloe+-+First+Snooze.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120065751842991618" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH1xGNf3E4zzQ2F14OdYCnFw3FG2fx-SPqnsBEdAWNjKJeysTVdFXOVEAU5OPIOS-sDzq2Buxm6xyJfkIixcCyWM0kEUgYwqvE-55bhpH7hZLMYWURlxjAsxKCOhJkrCuGu2guw/s320/Chloe+-+First+Snooze.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiou9luYFbiRRsOrYqnQRMa9S045YndKsv0dYcHGaueYPZEDoBNNRcwRk0TzGxrH-ZYmimXDXPHDdNYpzxZs-OcJ_av7weH6t6y0zhq19kCq3BMP4Wy9fkiBESqw1NRu8k4WmW69g/s1600-h/IMG_0707.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120069063262776914" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiou9luYFbiRRsOrYqnQRMa9S045YndKsv0dYcHGaueYPZEDoBNNRcwRk0TzGxrH-ZYmimXDXPHDdNYpzxZs-OcJ_av7weH6t6y0zhq19kCq3BMP4Wy9fkiBESqw1NRu8k4WmW69g/s320/IMG_0707.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaBJgmllcXGzA12l684yN1THYgdVzpwVRr9e-gZyhUIT2V35YowgGoL2c5XHkHW146sn3-h92I-X1pC2ERH0jSE9tIH9oqpw_bkBOCA6oxCEmM7LI9sIk3-Qx6wzOoVQgWUPaJQ/s1600-h/Matt+&+Chloe.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120068367478074946" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaBJgmllcXGzA12l684yN1THYgdVzpwVRr9e-gZyhUIT2V35YowgGoL2c5XHkHW146sn3-h92I-X1pC2ERH0jSE9tIH9oqpw_bkBOCA6oxCEmM7LI9sIk3-Qx6wzOoVQgWUPaJQ/s320/Matt+%26+Chloe.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPcuK9It3jnGRmLZDYGZHJhbirjcT9veG7kaXZBbOXytyLoUbXnMne6-PBBBLxoGJ3WW3GOoRc05bao4O6XImbcN3G8UZod9OPRNNnaXCRc6RDachU4xXS-D5vYAcml19yF7KKQ/s1600-h/Matt+and+Chloe+leaving+Hospital.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120066146979982866" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPcuK9It3jnGRmLZDYGZHJhbirjcT9veG7kaXZBbOXytyLoUbXnMne6-PBBBLxoGJ3WW3GOoRc05bao4O6XImbcN3G8UZod9OPRNNnaXCRc6RDachU4xXS-D5vYAcml19yF7KKQ/s320/Matt+and+Chloe+leaving+Hospital.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZsl3alcWU1F6h9ndzXJ1RgeDASk2_PLf6c9zY4Nf4Wdp9PBtnWAqsb5jvp8yZ9H_BjA1_k_sKTza3ixAvBT4xUwTZ6WH0yYnDJ5ALGobN_Hcr14Msn8XaKe3OqZKffMgT7Za2g/s1600-h/Chloe+getting+in+car.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120065528504692210" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZsl3alcWU1F6h9ndzXJ1RgeDASk2_PLf6c9zY4Nf4Wdp9PBtnWAqsb5jvp8yZ9H_BjA1_k_sKTza3ixAvBT4xUwTZ6WH0yYnDJ5ALGobN_Hcr14Msn8XaKe3OqZKffMgT7Za2g/s320/Chloe+getting+in+car.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120066460512595490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYHGVtEZocBk7S3TzMyklcMayVq6KabK9Q5G9CwFHJhLSgfCc7bBE4hPcLh-mBy5XrjX4ju0CGATeGYHVKKue7DR9-dG7QRhDwTm0H3c4cTp9QDbSZqRngD5DKGpTP4kCMM2Upg/s320/Karen+and+Chloe.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1wfstb6OuHcqPB9NLkjW1Yyl56WxQtM_0wz7zeSZAFF9BxH2es_OXQDBQ69_iKsZMQeiZkCDn-BODCuOMRoNJuFCcY8cQYLN96-GtKUkNFYQ9vOsinXlE-oj744Kfod_qf1uHg/s1600-h/Kas+near+pond.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120066975908671026" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1wfstb6OuHcqPB9NLkjW1Yyl56WxQtM_0wz7zeSZAFF9BxH2es_OXQDBQ69_iKsZMQeiZkCDn-BODCuOMRoNJuFCcY8cQYLN96-GtKUkNFYQ9vOsinXlE-oj744Kfod_qf1uHg/s320/Kas+near+pond.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIl6ZnjcMBArsePvKpGEbu_S6d8OG18DVqxwoJ7uGkfYFQeT12Jbeh7vXHiVdxYCJ-aMOMfJtKCDKRZonFXTVZEMq_Kj7X-__VbWdRTP7wRuQDkrMgZZLS1ZesAkLClnoojpuX1w/s1600-h/IMG_0679.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120087020521041538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIl6ZnjcMBArsePvKpGEbu_S6d8OG18DVqxwoJ7uGkfYFQeT12Jbeh7vXHiVdxYCJ-aMOMfJtKCDKRZonFXTVZEMq_Kj7X-__VbWdRTP7wRuQDkrMgZZLS1ZesAkLClnoojpuX1w/s320/IMG_0679.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0XuDJ9EJm5bLqxhJZ9G2gaFyRV2Vn9EIOZbWCLN2Cc6srTaaelslWejp6NKJ9XnPvIBDteiUXTeMlSez1X3dkT38C8jsEWithxGSS8ZxOK1lLoAn_JCiKzFejYYZBVVCmODd_w/s1600-h/IMG_0667.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120086719873330802" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0XuDJ9EJm5bLqxhJZ9G2gaFyRV2Vn9EIOZbWCLN2Cc6srTaaelslWejp6NKJ9XnPvIBDteiUXTeMlSez1X3dkT38C8jsEWithxGSS8ZxOK1lLoAn_JCiKzFejYYZBVVCmODd_w/s320/IMG_0667.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div><strong>PHOTOS: Chloe Anna Sinclair's first snooze, Skin to Skin to Kas; Matt (Dad) and Chloe; Leaving the Hospital; Struggling with the Car Seat; Kas (Mum) and Chloe at Home; Kas with Chloe in Pram; Kilted Boys; Jason and Jen's Wedding...</strong></div><br /><div>Whoever said "once you have a baby, you don't have time for anything else" wasn't kidding! What an eventful few weeks that have just passed - finally I can now proudly announce the arrival of our wee gorgeous daughter, Chloe Anna Sinclair. I've still got a smile from ear to ear as I type this! She came into the world last Tuesday at 5:10pm (the exact same time I was born) and weighing in at a hefty 7 pounds 1 ounce. It'd been a pretty long labour for Kas, one that started on Sunday night when her waters broke...incidentally one day after my duty as Best Man had passed. Very good timing if I do say so myself. Kas did very well and somehow managed to pass the time for over 40 hours, spending most of that time confined to the small walls of her hospital maternity room. Eventually after some slight persuasion from the docs, she made her entry and it wasn't too long until she was putting her lungs into good use and letting out her first cry - such an amazing experience (even though I never ventured to the "business" end") and one that made me the proudest dad in Scotland. Luckily she takes after her mum with the good looks, even though she's got about as much hair as her old man...<br /></div><div>After a few eventful days at the Queen Mothers in Glasgow, we were finally allowed to take our wee bundle home. I must have driven like a little old lady that afternoon as I manoeuvered the car back to our house, managing to avoid every pot hole and dip so as I never woke Chloe up. So far she's been a very good baby and not done too much else besides eating, sleeping, damaging her nappies and getting spoiled by everyone - not a bad life. We even managed to take our first family trip yesterday when registered her birth...I was in stitches laughing when I realised how badly I had dressed her (pink, blue, white and yellow were all thrown in the mix). Anyway, the wee lass has arrived and we're even wondering now what we did with our time. Let the good times roll!</div><br /><div>As I'd mentioned, my duties as Best Man for Jason and Jen's wedding were slightly strained as we hoped the baby would arrive late and allow me to attend the big day. Even though Kas was due that same day, it was unreal that her brother Gav brought her up to the amazing venue and witness what was to be a very special day. Jas managed to survive the Bucks Event from the weekend before and was now ready to marry his girl, Jennifer. We all met up near stunning Dollar in Scotland. All the boys, including Jason's old man Allan, Drew and Darren all the way from Australia, donned the tartan skirt and prepared to get Jason to the beautiful Solsgirth House (castle!) on time. Jen looked absolutely stunning as she walked down the aisle - I'm a sucker for weddings! After the ceremony, photos on the spectactular grounds (trying not to run out of superlatives), champagne, speeches and a very good feast and wine, it was then time for me to do my stuff and tear up my next dancefloor. Once again I burned the leather sole off my shoes! The night was so good and everyone had a ball...I was very lucky and happy that I was there to be at my best mates side as he married his lovely lady friend and also catch up with all the Aussie crew that ventured over to the sunny Scotland. Let's hope their marriage will be young enough to survive the times, yet old fashioned enough to last forever - I'm sure it will.</div><br /><div>On the flip side to the happy news of babies and weddings, it was during the Monday as Kas was dealing with yet another contraction that I knew I was due to receive my latest PCR results - this was the one that would determine so much including prognosis and future management. As I'd received my previous two results that has gone from 1.5%, down to 1.2%, we were all quite positive that the next one would follow the trend. When I did leave Kas for one minute to quickly peruse my Inbox, the email I read from my Doctor probably wasn't the one I should have read to keep me in high spirits... 1.7%. I was stunned. My first thoughts were always with Kas and the baby, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. Why did it go up? What does this mean? I can't tell Karen! Leaving Karen that night at 11pm was the hardest drive of my life. Not being sure how long I will being seeing my wife and daughter poses some pretty tough questions to answer on your own...<br /><br />I somehow snuck out of visiting times to pick up my new increased dosage of Sprycel medication - I would now be taking 140mg once per day instead of 50mg twice per day. I then caught up with Professor Hollyoake on Tuesday to discuss what this latest result means and what we should do. Luckily she is the best doc in the world and managed to get opinions from other leading CML Specialists around the UK on what they feel should be my next step. They did vary, as we expected, but it was felt that I will commence this increased dose, do a repeat PCR test at the end of November and then redo a Bone Marrow sample and Mutations Test to clearly see what is going on inside my body. They also feel that 1.5%, 1.2% and 1.7% are actually the same result and they would only feel a better result would be if it dropped down to 0.15% - if only! The reasons behind this goal of 0.15% would mean a much better long term prognosis and potential of just continuing the tackle CML with medication. However, the final alternative would be the risky Bone Marrow Transplant route but this will take some thinking about as I now have a gorgeous wee girl on the scene. Once given any news from the docs, it always takes Kas and I a few days to digest what is going on and then get on with it. We've never been ones to really dwell. However, as I've only shared this latest info with Kas yesterday, it's only now I feel I can begin to understand and cope with the current situation. I can't imagine what things would be like without her.</div><br /><div>Thankfully they've also given me 6 weeks between hospital visits as my blood results continue to be optimal. If only we could have this brilliant result on my Stem Cells!<br /></div><div>So until my next visit, I will continue to keep positive, work out my role as being a dad, change nappies and help out where I can. Well done to those who voted for "GIRL" on my poll. Keep the messages and emails rolling in...the Sinclair Clan has arrived!</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-51623928057008695742007-09-26T20:42:00.000+01:002008-12-08T22:18:58.229+00:0041. Eagerly Anticipated<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114601140449421026" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOyh5CJl-W1znhGnlEDErebmPrWiQ5mbdf5X-fn2oLTb59m6zQLH6s3-M3-1YTY91Jr11MIfBZe9n3rRZL3GItJgUL7pza5K3DMP7mfnl2boTOHOVU0BAT4bNkIg8G0Vl-YtQUA/s320/IMG_0599.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMJ9LbWz-_R7E5kpFbDcl_3uj4bejWzBUY0Bk5yYfjjrdZQGCl_quNGZeVYpuxYx2X8xJCtLfK8u8T_uslVS5cX8Y3NfT9gD_wMddyEb1O1z4GdeoGt1Q3RkEYeWqvG3-DYS7pg/s1600-h/IMG_0561.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114602806896731922" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMJ9LbWz-_R7E5kpFbDcl_3uj4bejWzBUY0Bk5yYfjjrdZQGCl_quNGZeVYpuxYx2X8xJCtLfK8u8T_uslVS5cX8Y3NfT9gD_wMddyEb1O1z4GdeoGt1Q3RkEYeWqvG3-DYS7pg/s320/IMG_0561.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwg7kUpSiYkBpO0DsiDrczTY7g2w1KhucYNvQiymac956EgYAgU7SPINZ1nkBFSGI_m4MYykMO2HXB9PegsaXZhdemOSMMnFVdG2ZDxidK0VBcOcjlBMZfVWG-p8jSoS3Nkr1bg/s1600-h/IMG_0575.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114602385989936898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwg7kUpSiYkBpO0DsiDrczTY7g2w1KhucYNvQiymac956EgYAgU7SPINZ1nkBFSGI_m4MYykMO2HXB9PegsaXZhdemOSMMnFVdG2ZDxidK0VBcOcjlBMZfVWG-p8jSoS3Nkr1bg/s320/IMG_0575.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-sjaqkgyg8kQ5uFamBBeSRYxXl2C7wLvN9CRGdjZjmMqqxCuqG683NE_84x1Gvwjaq6s5HiNYQ6Vo6AatZbHaj26CtuBao2PV64dgaj9eud0-ftTUC8avX5e44TdDNWkKDSdEQ/s1600-h/IMG_0593.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114601591420987122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-sjaqkgyg8kQ5uFamBBeSRYxXl2C7wLvN9CRGdjZjmMqqxCuqG683NE_84x1Gvwjaq6s5HiNYQ6Vo6AatZbHaj26CtuBao2PV64dgaj9eud0-ftTUC8avX5e44TdDNWkKDSdEQ/s320/IMG_0593.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOB_ZfECFLYYQZMdqQgy7UH3EBi0fi6mjCi0-Nq6sQKhmkdee2W_T-HUmHkYoj5-7L2qOndfiG9GY4ervIUffr3EatOp0IgxyO1a18oQzOqRafLrFXL1oQq_oTcPqRUKP1bHkdQ/s1600-h/IMG_0629.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114603395307251490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOB_ZfECFLYYQZMdqQgy7UH3EBi0fi6mjCi0-Nq6sQKhmkdee2W_T-HUmHkYoj5-7L2qOndfiG9GY4ervIUffr3EatOp0IgxyO1a18oQzOqRafLrFXL1oQq_oTcPqRUKP1bHkdQ/s320/IMG_0629.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><strong>Photos (Dawsie's Bucks Weekend) : Malcolm, Dawsie (Borat) and Me; Drew; Me and Dawsie; Passed Out with the Horses; A few of The Boys dressed as 70's Pimps...</strong><br /><br />Still no news as yet...<br /><br />I didn't realise how tiring it can be when you're anxiously waiting on something you find important! Kas is doing really well, still keeping active, no yelling at me (just yet...) and generally keeping positive about everything. There is only the odd occasion that I see it all building up inside her and she releases very calmly and gets back to the job at hand. That's my girl!<br /><br />The official due date is this Friday and they say it can happen anytime now. Hard to believe that my next blog post will be of the new arrival. I'm hoping that I don't become the baby bore, so I'll stop with the baby chat now...at least until it arrives anyway...<br /><br />I've also got the eagerly anticipated PCR test due this week as well. It's all happening. As you can imagine, my fingers are still crossed in the hope I can continue the downward trend and have a result that drops below the 1% mark for the first time ever. This next blog post will be a busy one indeed!<br /><br />Then if that wasn't enough on my plate, I've just come back from my mate Dawsies' Bucks Weekend to the Lake District in sunny England. Such a good time had by all the 20 blokes who all dressed up at "70's Pimps"! After confirming with the House we were staying at that their definitely is mobile phone coverage, we set off from the bonny lands and off to England to live the weekend that I organised months before. When I arrived, I was very thankful to see that I did indeed have the promised mobile coverage - I was on call for baby duty! As most people are aware, 'what goes on tour, stays on tour' is the Bucks Weekend motto so I won't be sharing any stories....only that Dawsie was fast asleep by midnight and we literally had horses from the surrounded paddocks munching bread from his Borat swimsuit that he was only permitted to wear...<br /><br />The big day is this weekend - Jason (Dawsie) and Jen's wedding at Solsgirth House, Scotland. It's a beautiful, old, family owned place and somewhere I cannot wait to visit tomorrow night when I head up there for the rehearsal. Again, I am on call for baby duty if the wee one hasn't arrived by then. Hopefully I will at least be able to get through my speech and give the oldies in the room a few horror stories from when he was a young fella growing up with me. Kas is hoping to get up to the House to at least see the ceremony - she hates missing out on anything!<br /><br />It's just been great to be able to see my good mates Drew & Alana while they're over here for the wedding - nothing like catching up with your old friends! It's been good to see them again and getting on with things as though we only saw them yesterday. My other mate Damo from Australia is also over here as well...to get a piece of Oz when you're living in another country is priceless and something I definetly don't take for granted. I've always been one to make the most out of every day and every situation. Let's just hope the Wallabies keep up their good form in the Rugby World Cup!<br /><br />The next update won't be far away - what goes on between now and then will be some of the biggest weeks of my life! To be kept update on this blog without having to keep check up from time to time, just add your email address on the right of the screen in the 'Email Subsriptions' section. Easy...very nice!<br /><br />Thanks again for all the emails of support and best wishes - to see visitors from all around the world checking out this blog is gold. G'day to those checking out my site from Australia, USA (incl Alaska), UK, Ireland, Taiwan, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Czech Republic, Bosnia, Chile, Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Indonesia, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, China, Brazil, Turkey, Germany, Israel, Egypt, Austria, Singapore, Tunisia, Hungary, Belgium, Korea, Finland, South Africa, Japan, Kuwait, India, Denmark, Bulgaria, Serbia & Montenegro, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Jordan and the Faukland Islands...</div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-19012471189756631442007-09-04T18:08:00.000+01:002008-12-08T22:18:59.987+00:0040. Three Log Reduction<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvybnaQJPQS9mvIlRQ-JIZaFhnzTXFc-r5J8nXQdT098Ua_tWVpdOyOJosTC_xHL5AJQSIYXzYPsiRFh8ObN6UsjQJWpTfQKMsDJsuAPxV-xddOWdgRAsGOVTGmIc3R5kWV-yMSw/s1600-h/IMG_0558.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107400233268511426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvybnaQJPQS9mvIlRQ-JIZaFhnzTXFc-r5J8nXQdT098Ua_tWVpdOyOJosTC_xHL5AJQSIYXzYPsiRFh8ObN6UsjQJWpTfQKMsDJsuAPxV-xddOWdgRAsGOVTGmIc3R5kWV-yMSw/s320/IMG_0558.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSiyCEq5IIdqbyYn64OkZ9B9sYg5TzRMVtf5K9eOlYknU56rQye_pE7UnrCipgzj9vXZdPYXNnmL8q3CKyt7jzExPHVwZ4AEqQV96dqfHm6zpJXniJ3WXZ7RrvbW_V7eRow_ZHw/s1600-h/IMG_0522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106398092844302914" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSiyCEq5IIdqbyYn64OkZ9B9sYg5TzRMVtf5K9eOlYknU56rQye_pE7UnrCipgzj9vXZdPYXNnmL8q3CKyt7jzExPHVwZ4AEqQV96dqfHm6zpJXniJ3WXZ7RrvbW_V7eRow_ZHw/s320/IMG_0522.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-XTHhD8svtQwy74RjOb746gs2yWeFs9mT9R7WuvvQXHxPQZyHdQr4tQPUo61Ari39fnW2YZHB8twF6H75J6zX59m1k6tE5ZMgHdrDbD2s4-50dkmfGi-2GGS7OlIdcdE2BaTIw/s1600-h/IMG_0528.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106398410671882834" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-XTHhD8svtQwy74RjOb746gs2yWeFs9mT9R7WuvvQXHxPQZyHdQr4tQPUo61Ari39fnW2YZHB8twF6H75J6zX59m1k6tE5ZMgHdrDbD2s4-50dkmfGi-2GGS7OlIdcdE2BaTIw/s320/IMG_0528.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSiXN5hqt7YXYD0iQuqOEfCV8J9jBc9po1X230Up8DjBhfFVCEXqOTb8CLmFj8BOaJW9cKmMljphJmHxptvMbymLTQiCATz9UDdjfIrb9S21Mb6vsp2QjgXYczA-iF_hG8UcsaQ/s1600-h/IMG_0529.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106398655485018722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSiXN5hqt7YXYD0iQuqOEfCV8J9jBc9po1X230Up8DjBhfFVCEXqOTb8CLmFj8BOaJW9cKmMljphJmHxptvMbymLTQiCATz9UDdjfIrb9S21Mb6vsp2QjgXYczA-iF_hG8UcsaQ/s320/IMG_0529.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-3W7IDV06Hbj_cWdvPwkZRwRJBmwES9tCq8Cseepfo7XzSWdb2WdHZHNSLh2d2Ua5JksTWC84yzWwr8atQFYbwO8BPlQjsK2es-PQ027ppV3LBR3FxxoJdtneL6GbutUqgynfg/s1600-h/IMG_0539.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106398951837762162" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-3W7IDV06Hbj_cWdvPwkZRwRJBmwES9tCq8Cseepfo7XzSWdb2WdHZHNSLh2d2Ua5JksTWC84yzWwr8atQFYbwO8BPlQjsK2es-PQ027ppV3LBR3FxxoJdtneL6GbutUqgynfg/s320/IMG_0539.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnyVV8CjF_yEg1qUeHWYj05ADKT8lp7EUXbOwEMDXkgxqFi14n6KNrinpFMEWfysgM2NGMuQuYZV616ESS4Aou_-d7ZyUrjHEgvUKw5rgSxmbeIZqQBs8KMguAz6GaJEAtZDy4A/s1600-h/IMG_0538.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106400021284618882" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnyVV8CjF_yEg1qUeHWYj05ADKT8lp7EUXbOwEMDXkgxqFi14n6KNrinpFMEWfysgM2NGMuQuYZV616ESS4Aou_-d7ZyUrjHEgvUKw5rgSxmbeIZqQBs8KMguAz6GaJEAtZDy4A/s320/IMG_0538.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufKT5eppcU-SpwRUR9eazXLTUeSVMojCPQL1A6dNkBFGxJQKHYRc7xVO-sBnlsJgAa7u92iFrAPb3OdUyPuWJjWzCyYfDtuiQbyUuVSPnATyYtQV7Bto9ULVGOcbQz8ngAD3UVQ/s1600-h/IMG_0541.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106400343407166098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufKT5eppcU-SpwRUR9eazXLTUeSVMojCPQL1A6dNkBFGxJQKHYRc7xVO-sBnlsJgAa7u92iFrAPb3OdUyPuWJjWzCyYfDtuiQbyUuVSPnATyYtQV7Bto9ULVGOcbQz8ngAD3UVQ/s320/IMG_0541.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzhFo9Jw2HhTICuNMPh1zS5gmxklneKCkdyNQYLJUSiwNZLYv0INdydXcKRaCk_pFjGQ4X2TWA_BCbv2huK4Dm46XSrAV5TQaf5RI5Q3IZC3XyJlSl93Bawz0NIzDybXftf68JA/s1600-h/IMG_0543.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106400601105203874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzhFo9Jw2HhTICuNMPh1zS5gmxklneKCkdyNQYLJUSiwNZLYv0INdydXcKRaCk_pFjGQ4X2TWA_BCbv2huK4Dm46XSrAV5TQaf5RI5Q3IZC3XyJlSl93Bawz0NIzDybXftf68JA/s320/IMG_0543.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Photos: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kas</span> nearly due; Start of the climb up Ben <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ime</span>; Up the Steep Part Through the Fog; Huddled at 3,100 feet; Back down the sun comes out; Gav soaked; Waterfall after the Rain; Back at the Bus...</strong><br /><br />It took a few encouraging words from the doctor for me to realise that I had a good result in my hands. In my head, I had somehow convinced myself that if I felt good it would mean my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">PCR</span> had dropped down quite low and that I had erased even more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">CML</span> cells from my system. I’m obviously aiming for total eradication. After ten full months of a consistent 2.5% result, worries from the docs and a few fears of my own thrown in, it is great to see it now heading in the right direction…<br /><br />My first <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">PCR</span> after starting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Dasatinib</span> in June this year was officially recorded at 1.6%. The latest one received from my consultant last week was 1.2%...six weeks after the 1.6% came through. It shows a few things, positive and negative, depends on how you look at it – I’m heading in the right direction but quite slowly and the other is that it has more than halved since being stuck at 2.5%. If it continues to drop slowly over the next few months, then I may finally achieve an acceptable and very stable result. I guess there is so much emphasis placed on these tests because of the Drug Company’s 5 and 6 year long term survival data. They say that if you can achieve a 3 Log reduction (100% at diagnosis to 10% = 1 Log Reduction; 100% to 1% = 2 Log Reduction; 100% to 0.1% = 3 Log Reduction) you will have a much higher rate of survival than those who fail to achieve this goal. It’s sad to think that even 5 years ago, most patients would only have 4 or 5 years to live if they never had a fully matched bone marrow transplant. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">CML</span> has certainly come a hell of a long way since those days of harsh treatment and chemo – the majority of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">CMLers</span> can now lead a relatively normal life. I say ‘normal’ but who really knows what this means?<br /><br />So the goal is to obviously reach the goal of a 3 Log Reduction. I’m trying to think of a relevant metaphor to place more emphasis on it but I think you get the picture on the importance for me…<br /><br />Now back to the ‘normal’ life chat. It’s great to see that Gav has continued to inspire the team and send us up more mountains to conquer. The latest one had me acting surprisingly negative! We decided to take on Ben <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ime</span> in the Scottish West Highlands last weekend, a day that started out pretty wet, too wet for an Aussie I thought! As we neared the Munroe, the rain had increased in intensity and completely blocked our view of the surrounding Loch <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Lomond</span> and scenery. It <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">wasn</span>’t much better when we arrived there either…it took us at least an hour just to make it up a few hundred metres, over a fast-flowing river and a few pit-stops to sort out our saturated gear. I was ready to throw in the towel then but thought I was just being a precious Aussie, afraid of the wet weather. After a few hours of trudging through the water-logged ground and up a pretty steep rocky and slippery embankment, it was then that the dense fog decided to join in the fun. Finally we reached the peak where we huddled in tight, munched our soggy sandwiches and took the picture of us looking thoroughly pissed off. Then it was the descent. The dense fog had by then become so thick I could hardly see my feet, the wind had also picked up so much I thought I was walking in the eye of a tornado and then I saw something that defies all laws of physics – hail stones were blowing up the side of the hill! Thinking of the BBC news reporter that morning talking about teenagers that were lost in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Cairngorms</span>, I turned back to be met by a huge blanket of whiteness and not a person in sight. My thoughts then turned to calling a rescue chopper to get us off the mountain. Eventually we all met up again, yelled a few random words of abuse at the hill and then slipped and fell our way back down to the mid-point of the Munroe, where we then saw the fog and mist being completely blown away. The views were pretty spectacular but I was far more focused on getting my cold arse back into a heated car and back home for a hot shower. We all made it back thank god, peeled off our drenched walking clothes and headed home for Glasgow – it was only when we arrived home that the sun decided to show its face…<br /><br />Everything else seemed to be cruising just fine. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Kas</span> has commenced maternity leave now and is trying to get in a few weeks of rest before we endure the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">sleepless</span> nights that everyone insists on telling me about. Actually, that’s pretty much all I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ve</span> heard about – getting through the babies first 6 weeks of life. It does sound pretty tough I’ll have to admit but I really can’t wait now. Feels like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Kas</span> has been pregnant for years! I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">ve</span> also heard about this ‘nesting’ thing that women go through – I’m sure <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Kas</span> has been like that since I met her (5 years ago on the due date incidentally enough).<br /><br />Gav’s wife Natalie also organised the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Ball that was held on the weekend – I was so stoked to hear that she was doing it all for the Anthony Nolan Trust. Unfortunately we <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">couldn</span>’t make as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Kas</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">wasn</span>’t too keen on bopping the night away with big pregnant belly. From what I hear, the Ball went extremely well and they even managed to raise over £5,500 for the charity. Unreal!! The official Anthony Nolan Trust Scottish Daisy Ball in Glasgow is almost on too – we attended the Ball last year and it was so good! This year my work, Pernod Ricard, are backing to the Drinks reception and chipping in some booze for the event. It’s great to see so many people backing the enormously worthy charity!<br /><br />So I’ll be back to see my Consultant at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Beatson</span> Oncology Centre again next Tuesday – this is the 3 month <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">PCR</span> test since commencing my new drug <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Dasatinib</span>. The big one (I know I keep saying they’re big!). This one really needs to be under the 1% mark! Fingers crossed anyway….<br /><br />*Sad news today in the UK is that Jane <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Tomlinson</span> has died. She’s the woman who was diagnosed with Breast Cancer seven years and since then, raised £1.75 million for Cancer Research including Marathons, Iron Man Triathlon UK and even the huge 4,200 mile ‘Cycle Across America’ campaign…<br /><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/6976050.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/6976050.stm</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-66528151957159895512007-08-16T17:16:00.000+01:002008-12-08T22:19:01.814+00:0039. Ben Lomond<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9jKC_umkz5il8D7LaIgMZDbFxFP7JibO3GnQz8aeVr3iwcbP-CR2WNnSR4Qkv8toC9pO1GpaKG4APWWh587LdYXR3gvLr0Ix5bus7vNZxWM8Sme7zPsEbDMUz-NOD50xw9ovwA/s1600-h/IMG_0460.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099334293276557730" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9jKC_umkz5il8D7LaIgMZDbFxFP7JibO3GnQz8aeVr3iwcbP-CR2WNnSR4Qkv8toC9pO1GpaKG4APWWh587LdYXR3gvLr0Ix5bus7vNZxWM8Sme7zPsEbDMUz-NOD50xw9ovwA/s320/IMG_0460.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0LVLWwfc9nMdTEyu7An9EiO5HmkeSeD-BLZigMPkg8nUff2G_3SXoGPpp94VGt1kb-JGOTtBF54s_9-LE5KXw34Z5Xr4xCGRG4UfqNPHHASQOTeGKSGPwNk8PJyAvgb0YANT3g/s1600-h/IMG_0475.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099334636873941426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" 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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPlfy5Sn5XYI4fEEzfnxO9WwE-WZWcc4VnntPfI5fjzV4e1GxRgk_yF_glPOeDdHk-c0CEQ1-RhG4joVX93xSKPI-ntQheNDHoE3U6un-OVlEiT3yMc_yZULkATR1WOxVsavByw/s1600-h/IMG_0496.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099343497391473170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPlfy5Sn5XYI4fEEzfnxO9WwE-WZWcc4VnntPfI5fjzV4e1GxRgk_yF_glPOeDdHk-c0CEQ1-RhG4joVX93xSKPI-ntQheNDHoE3U6un-OVlEiT3yMc_yZULkATR1WOxVsavByw/s320/IMG_0496.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPOdDSgJZxfyVbOQawcAx6XHmM14fWPC3F2G1F20vxfmq9RGn1DEtIlbWyFWLf0yuMmnkZGjvwP_kYSxURcSkBByhJQliI22gnZr-_TvAC39YpXZHiZhHZpmmNRQ2Tm7Br6z_1w/s1600-h/IMG_0500.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099343875348595234" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPOdDSgJZxfyVbOQawcAx6XHmM14fWPC3F2G1F20vxfmq9RGn1DEtIlbWyFWLf0yuMmnkZGjvwP_kYSxURcSkBByhJQliI22gnZr-_TvAC39YpXZHiZhHZpmmNRQ2Tm7Br6z_1w/s320/IMG_0500.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9jxUCrt-5qOyzrH36VjhfieTkK9yvuQCUyUXOJVcXhRI95XzIiNTfCap7EsrjFQwEvkeT3HRn9sCO_5VjHVMsQvIvMt2_6VpGsxUYnc8IdLPE5wpECORd9MSMyfggL-NLVQWJA/s1600-h/Jas+Asleep.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099687781969920562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9jxUCrt-5qOyzrH36VjhfieTkK9yvuQCUyUXOJVcXhRI95XzIiNTfCap7EsrjFQwEvkeT3HRn9sCO_5VjHVMsQvIvMt2_6VpGsxUYnc8IdLPE5wpECORd9MSMyfggL-NLVQWJA/s320/Jas+Asleep.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><strong>Photos: The Boys at the bottom of Ben <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lomond</span>; View over Loch <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lomond</span>; Getting higher; Getting Steeper; Reaching the Top; Quick bite to eat at the Top; Gav enduring the wind; Back Down for a Pint and Curry; Dawsie after he fell asleep at the recent Annual Golf Day...</strong></div><br /><br /><div>Waiting seems to be the main thing to ever happen lately. I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ve</span> always made the most out of using waiting time wisely, just get on with normal life and playing the hand I’m dealt. It’s hard to stop being dominated by the next bit of news or something you’re looking forward to – what’s that saying again, life is a journey not a destination? While I really have been making the most of my time, there are still plenty of things to keep me focused and aware of what lies around the corner…<br /><br />The latest blood tests continue to see improvements from the dodgy ones I received in hospital a couple of months ago. On paper, my blood results look healthier and more normal than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kas</span>, who is just short of 8 months pregnant. Besides my pale Scottish-looking skin and my ever-thinning hairline (my head must be too big for my hair), I don’t think much would give away the fact I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ve</span> got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">CML</span>. The only thing that will tell me for definite how I’m really going is my latest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">PCR</span> test, taken last Tuesday. This is the big one – 6 weeks on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Dasatinib</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Sprycel</span>). As I touch wood, I can say that I do feel so much better and that I am expecting a better result that last. That may be the kiss of death but one must remain confident. In a fortnight’s time, only the result will tell me for sure.<br /><br />And if there’s news of me getting a sub-standard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">PCR</span> test, the docs have just told me of a life-line in the form of another potential bone marrow donor. They’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ve</span> done the investigation (thanks to all of those who joined the register) and the computers have searched the world wide databases – of the 8 million listed, there seems to be one other person with a 10/10 match to me. Another Matt Sinclair somewhere on this planet…what a blessing, there’s a very lucky lady out there! The docs haven’t said much yet about this donor but I’m sure they’ll have more information for me in two weeks time<br /><br />Thanks for the well wishes regarding Karen’s Papa Andy who passed away last month – the family are doing really well but obviously still missing him. I was impressed with my brother-in-law Gav’s (sounds too formal – he’s just my cheeky mate) attitude after the sad news settled with him. He rounded the boys up and inspired them to stay out of the pub for the weekend and to climb up one of Scotland’s highest hills – Ben <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Lomond</span>. Unreal! The mountain that stands proudly over Loch <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Lomond</span> and looming at well over 3,000 feet was to be the destination for the boys. If the drive up the east of the Loch <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">wasn</span>’t stunning enough, the walk that met us was phenomenal. Most of the Mountain Guides recommend a 5-6 hour round trip, so with that in mind we set off cautiously through the winding tracks and gained altitude at a very rapid pace. Within twenty minutes, we were all working up a healthy sweat and starting to reach a height that could deliver some decent photo potential. We pushed on through the gusty winds and managed to stay on the designated pathway towards the summit (funny, it sounds as though I’m climbing Everest)…anyway, regardless of the mountain height difference, it was a gutsy effort to the top where we met by some views that could only be described as extraordinary! It really annoys me when people say “words just can’t describe it”…the Oxford Dictionary contains over 170,000 words, I’m sure a there are a few words they can use. Enough of my gripe…the scenery that is visible from Ben <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Lomond</span> is so good and well worth the effort to the top. I may have to write a strongly worded letter to all these Mountain Guides, as we all managed to conquer this peak in four hours exactly – not bad for a bunch of us pint swigging amateurs. Bring on Ben <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Ime</span> in the southern Scottish highlands next weekend! </div><br /><div><br />As the Scottish summer (don’t think we had one, I think it’s a myth) comes to an end and the Edinburgh Festival draws towards it’s final day, it’s a stern reminder that next month we’re due to have our first child. I really can’t wait! I’m also realising how precious this last month of pregnancy is to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kas</span> after she had a few scares in the past week – I will certainly be breathing a huge sigh of relief when she finishes up with her work and commences her maternity leave.<br /><br />Then it’ll be the arrival day – this will mean a completely new way of existence and living. Maybe I’ll have to slow down a bit and stop roaming the Scottish highlands…well at least until our kid can fit into some walking boots and join me. I’m really keen to see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Kas</span> as a mum as well. With the creation of our very own family just around the corner, it’s more inspiration than anything else to keep positive and continue working hard to beat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">CML</span>. We’ll pretty much be non-existent socially as we will be looking after a baby for the first couple of months, we’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">ve</span> then got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Dawsie</span> and Jen’s wedding (and Buck’s weekend), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">CML</span> Conference I’ll be speaking at in November, my sister arriving in the UK and then it’s off to the Anthony Nolan Trust Ball the weekend after. Bring it on!<br /><br />I’ll also add the part about our Annual Golf Event that was held last weekend in Edinburgh – twenty blokes, a new location every year, one charity shop green jacket awaiting the winner, one pink cardigan awaiting the loser and a second round of golf filled with so much booze, it’s amazing anyone was standing after the day. Actually, not too many were. A great day enjoyed by all, even though it felt like we were playing somewhere near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Artic</span> Circle, and even better to know that I evaded the pink cardigan once again after a Tiger like round from myself (Tiger when he was four). Already looking forward to next year…<br /><br />Until the big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">PCR</span> and Donor results that I’ll be receiving in a fortnight, keep the emails and messages coming in.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19253037.post-42297689211105878862007-07-28T16:16:00.000+01:002008-12-08T22:19:02.572+00:0038. Sun Dance<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVLtxbqDIj5H5Q_om_NSlb5v5LGQ7wJOHUhVtePHJ4jXaAIRaMZcXVVVIQfy0lFeeO4ABROj8oJ_HCq3ZDmxwmv-vJZN4swXbp3EcEin_h6FTvL0J1h5Gkdkl-6cEKouxmYvDig/s1600-h/IMG_0165.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092285539602046274" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVLtxbqDIj5H5Q_om_NSlb5v5LGQ7wJOHUhVtePHJ4jXaAIRaMZcXVVVIQfy0lFeeO4ABROj8oJ_HCq3ZDmxwmv-vJZN4swXbp3EcEin_h6FTvL0J1h5Gkdkl-6cEKouxmYvDig/s320/IMG_0165.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0SxhtwcEl11EDBpR_wbmAxAu75n35r7gklZPDJn7vGiekGbxrGkqiz2lMcuS9WiitxN3dBjEBg4unxACHSN1Wnb8J0fo44hvyIB7urGCV0qc2GSyXatyf8hjUGPeaR5EAXHGQw/s1600-h/IMG_0423.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092283855974866210" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0SxhtwcEl11EDBpR_wbmAxAu75n35r7gklZPDJn7vGiekGbxrGkqiz2lMcuS9WiitxN3dBjEBg4unxACHSN1Wnb8J0fo44hvyIB7urGCV0qc2GSyXatyf8hjUGPeaR5EAXHGQw/s320/IMG_0423.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0UwzSpvnbdQa6QRiwxRrJELt3oeTr-RdqJver_1_-7NJQVjAB6LL2DhABD8hNiCnQMhyphenhyphenrn6cRG2BtalUUnElbArQPb604ZggESyc3p0bBVP-oLaZBX7T3_CwE8LBIRs0d592eQ/s1600-h/IMG_0227.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092284530284731698" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0UwzSpvnbdQa6QRiwxRrJELt3oeTr-RdqJver_1_-7NJQVjAB6LL2DhABD8hNiCnQMhyphenhyphenrn6cRG2BtalUUnElbArQPb604ZggESyc3p0bBVP-oLaZBX7T3_CwE8LBIRs0d592eQ/s320/IMG_0227.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghB5zkxCqIkRsrPR1ML4u_224BIQRpIR3z82yGTpgBTZ1Ny6dJL3sF-14WMMyEt0h-i9HnqpUREBTSCcFBm6yseeOQNuWDW7AAqgXMltf1F3O5n6pykrc-0y74fZ_mVA6fBRe7jg/s1600-h/Gav+Wedding+&+Amalfi+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092282150872849682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghB5zkxCqIkRsrPR1ML4u_224BIQRpIR3z82yGTpgBTZ1Ny6dJL3sF-14WMMyEt0h-i9HnqpUREBTSCcFBm6yseeOQNuWDW7AAqgXMltf1F3O5n6pykrc-0y74fZ_mVA6fBRe7jg/s320/Gav+Wedding+%26+Amalfi+015.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div><strong>Photos: Newly pregnant Lorna with Colin and myself; My mate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ish</span> with the world's largest coffee; Karen and her Papa Andy; Karen's mum Anne and Andy...</strong><br /><br /><div>What a month. As usual, we’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ve</span> had to keep on our toes and ready to take on the next challenge that’s thrown at us. Most months we’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ve</span> dealt with things quite well, taken it on the chin and got on with it as soon as possible. I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ve</span> never been one to dwell on things too long. But this one seems to have been more emotional than others.<br /><br />It’s easy for people to feel their own problems to be more important than the next – that’s just human nature. It’s so easy to get caught up with what’s in front of you and you could be forgiven for losing sight of what others have to contend with. I know I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ve</span> been guilty over the past couple of years of this…it’s only occasionally I have to be reeled in and be reminded that there are others in a much more precious and worse off situation. It’s also fact that everyone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">doesn</span>’t deal with similar situations in the same way. For a few good reasons, this month has been a bit of a learning curve and an eye opener…<br /><br />I’ll start off with the news of my latest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">PCR</span>. I never expected anything from my test – the blood was drawn only after I’d had 2 weeks on my new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">meds</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Sprycel</span>) and a week off as I was in hospital. If anything, I was expecting a steep rise that we would have to catch up with. But, surprisingly, the news was pretty easy on the ear. After being “stuck” at around 2.5% for 10 months, it was great to hear that this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">PCR</span> test came back at 1.5%. I knew the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">meds</span> were 400 times stronger than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Gleevec</span> but I still <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">didn</span>’t expect a change! And it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">wasn</span>’t me thinking in pessimistic ways, hoping for a good result so as I don’t get disappointed…I genuinely thought we’d have a battle on our hands. I was, however, sternly warned by my Consultant not to get carried away with this result and for me to continue to keep my eye on the ball. She wants to see a bigger result than this (obviously)…so we need the 3 month <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">PCR</span> test to be back at 0.9% or lower. The levels are heading in the right direction, which is great but I also need to keep willing it even further down.<br /><br />As my last post mentioned, the docs will be conducting another search for a suitable bone marrow donor in case I don’t fair too well on the new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">meds</span>. Since then, I received a great email from a guy in the Orkney Islands who had organised for the Anthony Nolan Trust to come up to them and host a Donor Clinic. They would have been happy with 20 people…but they managed to get well over 100! Such a great result for a small community. I’m in awe of work like this – as I said before, it’s very easy for other’s to get caught up in their own issues and feelings. This guy did this event off his own back – at least now I’ll have another 100 potential donors for my search. I’m stoked at some of the things people have done my cause since diagnosed in 2005…(even my father-in-law who went to collect a pizza yesterday, ended up giving blood at the local “Blood Bus” while he was out).<br /><br />I’d hate to be left without a donor, not do well on my new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">meds</span> and miss out on any precious time with my wife and my wee one due in September. A thought I push to the back of my mind quite well but still a thought that can surface occasionally. With work like this, hopefully I can lose this thought all together…<br /><br />On top of all this, Karen’s Papa Andy unfortunately passed away last week. Such a great man – with a big friendly smile, a glass of whiskey in his hand and a lot of love to give for a “hard” man, there <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">wasn</span>’t too many people that he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">didn</span>’t get on well with. Only two months before, he was the “go-to man” burning up the dance floor at his grandson Gav’s wedding, more than me (only just!)…and it was very sad to see that his time was up. I’ll always remember Andy for a Scottish accent thicker than any I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">ve</span> ever come across and the way he sang “Waltzing Matilda” at any family event to prevent me from home sickness. So heartbreaking to see him miss the birth of his first great-grandchild by only a couple of months – I think that is what has hit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Kas</span> pretty hard. She had a lot of love and respect for him. What a legend…he will be sorely missed by the many people who attended his funeral yesterday…<br /><br />So, as you can see, it’s been month to keep us on our toes. I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">ve</span> also managed to keep myself busy with my work, getting my fitness back and doing the Scottish sun dance. After playing tennis a week ago, I know I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">ve</span> got a bit of work to do to get anywhere near where I was before Pneumonia (fitness that is…not waiting for the clouds to part). My fortnightly appointment has also thankfully been moved to every 3 weeks. I’ll be back to see the docs on August 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">th</span> for my very important 3 month <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">PCR</span> test – the big one! Hopefully by then, they’ll also have some news on the worldwide donor search. I may even get matched up with an Orkney Islander now…<br /><br />Thanks again for the messages and all the emails! Well done to my good mate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Ouso</span> too, who completed the London <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Bikathon</span> for Leukaemia Research last week. Good effort mate! Happy Birthday also to my sister <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Tash</span>...27 last week, she's catching up! Happy birthday wee sis.<br /><br />* Never too late to be a Bone Marrow Donor – they’re all desperate for young fit blokes (sounds like a few girls I know…) Check out the links on the right of the page!</div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script language="Javascript" src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><iframe width=180 height=120 frameborder=0 src="http://www.feedblitz.com/pubroll.asp?dbec3de7a6291b95dd593243308a5d292674309/html"></iframe></noscript></div>Matt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531571350549274534noreply@blogger.com4