Monday rolls round again and I’ve had a bad nights sleep, not sure why, I guess there are just some nights that are restless. I take my vitals and they are all good, I check my messages and socials and they are all benign so eventually I get up as my partner goes to the gym. I take my morning meds, which today includes my atomic bomb size dose of vitamin D and then head for the garage and the rowing machine. Given that I did an hour yesterday I thought a short half hour was my best option today. So I set myself up and set off. Half way through the session my ear buds stopped feeding me music and I had to continue to the sound of the rowers creaks and my own occasional grunts of effort. By the end of the session I was tired but also discovered that my fitness monitor band had got low on energy and had not recorded all the data it should have done. As a result my PAI (Physical Activity Intelligence) score had barely moved from yesterdays level. The session was acceptable as I reached 6+Kilometres, what I consider to be my normal standard for the time and level set for the session.

I record the session and have breakfast before going for a shower. Although always a gratifying series of activities it is heavy on my spoon reserves and I take a breather before driving off to the chiropodist. I have said it before and I will repeat it, that going to the chiropodist every two to three months is a real pleasure, it makes my feet sing. The serious reason is to contain the damage that has been done to my nails by chemo and dropping heavy weights on at east one of them that has killed he nail bed and results in thick nails. It is a real joy to walk out of he foot clinic with a sense of well being that starts with my toes and get as far as my ankles.

I drive back quickly as there is a Tesco order to receive but I find my partner has already taken in the early delivery and is busy working out future plans. After a short time I gather up my picture hanging tools and set about putting screw eyes in the frame of the picture my partner was given by our youngest daughter to mark her retirement. All goes well until its time to put the hook into the wall. Being an older house it has solid walls and the picture hook nails are not up to the challenge so I have to doctor one to make it work, but work it does. So having discussed where it should go it is now hung between the Jay Nottingham’s in the lounge where we are able to see it properly. Its by the artist Nellie Hearn an ex dancer who now does all sorts of stuff including very colourful shirts.

With all the picture hanging gear away I settle down to draft the blog aware that I have few spoons left. I am trying to be diligent in my hand recovery exercises and massages but when busy doing other things it can be a bit tricky, but I am trying my best. I am hopeful that by the time I see the recovery therapist in a months time my hand will have improved greatly. There is one post operative ridge across the inside of my first joint on the ring finger that bothers me as it stops me being able to make a full fist, combined with the joint that is still enlarged from the operation I sometimes worry that the scar tissue will pull my finger back down but all can do is keep doing my exercises and applying Nivea crème as instructed. I am sure I will get there.

My evening is full of distant singing, and reading before my partner and I return to our binge watch of Pennyworth and ultimately my routine of night meds, splint and magic latex application t my hand and finally bed. Tomorrow is another trip into town to collect my next three months of the current chemo tablets. It sometimes feels that a great proportion of my life is spent managing my medical calendar and doing things that hopefully prolong it. Import that I break out occasionally and go off-piste.