Nile Rodgers

I have just watched Nile Rodgers from Glastonbury whilst imbibing my chemotherapy.  Who would have thought, in 1976, when I was an angry young man, that the technology would exist for me to watch such a performance, on a wireless device I held in my hand.  I remember discovering disco music.  I had been bought up on rock and roll, prog rock and most recently punk.  We were sat in Ollie Bennet's front room in De Freville Avenue, someone had a copy of an album by The Commodores, we played Brickhouse continually for nearly an hour.  That was the start of a quest of discovery, possibly culminatiing in Chic, Le Freak.  It remains one of my all time favourite pieces of music. 

So whilst I bopped along to the Glastonbury performance I googled Nile Rodgers.  I know he is on tour and I thought there might be the remote chance of a performance that isn't sold out.  What was the first thing I found, this.  So he has cancer, he writes a blog.  Looks like he could well be on a final tour.  Look at his hits, in his own name, for others and as a producer.  Look at the film soundtrack and video game credits. What a man.  The Glastonbury performance has a rhythm section like a steam train, brass beyond belief and such a great variety of great tunes.

Wednesday Week2

Week 1 slayed me.  I slept at some point every day.  This week with just the one drug is easier.  Kept going all day yesterday, thanks to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee I suspect.  Struggled to sleep last night.  Back to decaff again today, hopefully that will give a better nights sleep.

Got through The Brodey Centre in 90 minutes this morning.  I was supposed to be in at 1:00 pm, they rang me yesterday and asked if I could get in for 8:30am.  It was a struggle poking a leg out of bed at 7:25, but I did it, I was home byu 10:00 and I feel pretty good considering.  It is bright and sunny here now so I think I might take a ride out at lunchtime and catch some fresh air.

I have booked a Caterham 7 for next week to give Ian his birthday treat.  It is a shame he won't be able to drive, insurance companies!  The hospital say I will be fine by next week, the poisons will clear over the weekend and I should have a fun week.  Only on the poison this week, no steroids, no anti-emittics, no pain killers.  Feeling good.

Sharon  found some pictures from our recent escapades, I like these ones:

It's a conspiracy

Chemo was swift and efficient this morning.  Got the drugs in quick and the bloodtests underway.  I would be having very serious thoughts about the value of it, if I had to go to Oxford everyday. Thank heaven for The Brodie Centre.

Then the worlds of hospitality and finance started to conspire against me.  All I wanted wa a nice hotel, for a couple of nights, near or in Brighton. Tripadvisor turned some up, all full, Visitbrighton found some, over £500 for 2 rooms for 2 nights, several small b&bs were answerphones, Premier Inns were all full or very expensive at Gatwick.  So, off to Travelodge.  Found what we needed within a reasonable price, made the booking, credit card refused.  Call from credit card people telling me there is too much fraud from this website so I needed to clear the payment.  Cleared, tried to rebook, no rooms!   Called Travelodge, confirmed no rooms as system was holding them waiting for my payment to clear, wait a while, call back.  Rang credit card company to ask them why I can't spend any money and moan about possibly losing the rooms.   Their answer was a polite "tough shit we are protecting you".  They protected me with the initial website, they protected me with their verification software and they protected me by phone 3 times.    Shame they don't protect me from cancer. 

Anyway, rant over, rooms booked, Bluebell line here we come.  Thanks Snook.  I need targetsand prizes to get me through this.  Have set some motorsport targets for September and October, need to create a chemo schedule to see how it fits.  Must sort out some fun for August. 

Chemo not so good day

Had to do mum's shopping and ended up doing washing and sorting out bedding for her too.  Then we had to do our shopping too.  Got a food craving on the way to Sainsburys and walked round the store eating a falafel wrap.  I paid for it first, not like those snotty nosed kids whose mothers stick a donut in their face to keep them quiet.  

Saw the start and end of the grand prix either side of shopping and then fell asleep on the sofa.  Out like a light for a couple of hours.   Felt quite down when I woke up, wondering if the chemo will be any easier or better with just the one drug this week.  Cheered up now as Simon has been round for a couple of hours, I have had a nice summery meal and it's time for bed.

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Good Chemo Day

Week one of regime 2 behind me.  We have been to Bloxham steam fair today.  Sharon and I have been going since we moved to Banbury, most of the family have joined us at some point.  Norman and Lesley joined us today.  I wasn't expecting to last long as chemo has got the better of me every day this week at some point. But apart from a food craving and a sugar craving I have been fine all day.

When Martine told me, last year, to listen to my body, I didn't really understand.  During regime 1 I had milk cravings and knew exactly when to sleep. Today about 12:30, I had to eat, something spicey, something filling and quick.  Fortunately we were close to a thai curry provider and sweet potato and carrot curry did the job.  I went from wreck to fine.  About half an hour later I needed sugar, bag of fudge and I was fine.   Weird, but I know what Martine meant now.  It seems a whole new level of communication exists in my body, if I can just use it to get rid of the cancer I will win.

I have just watched The Strypes from Glastonbury on the beeb.  How can ones so young produce such blues?  Check them out.   Lee Brilleaux had to smoke 40 number 6 a day for 20 years to get a voice like that.  I have come to the conclusion that souls are re-encarnated, no way could they do it in so few years.  

Chemo head

Wel it is the end of this first week of chemotherapy and it is taking its toll.  I have been able to get on with some odds and ends, but it has made me really tired and a bit nauseas.  Managed a couple of governor's meetings and some phone calls and paperwork but haven't had the energy to achieve the things I hoped.

It hasn't been helped that my 30 minutes of chemo requires a pre-chemo injection ad 30 minute wait.  So far it has been between 2 and 3 hours each visit.  Could be worse, I could have a 2 hour car journey to Oxford for it.  The Brodie Centre is great, fantastic staff, good atmosphere and so far I have only encountered nice patients too.

Struggling to write this as chemo head has taken over and I am watching Seasick Steve live from Glastonbury on BBC 4.  Concentrating on one thing with chemohead isn't easy, trying to do two is almost impossible.  But I think I have made it.  Seasick Steve has finished and it has taken me an hour to post a blipfoto and write this much blog.