Well, just when I thought things were looking up, I got a real knock-back. That's cancer for you. It has a habit of reminding you once in a while that it's still there.

Here's the shortened version. Two weeks ago I posted my last entry onto here from Prospect's Day Hospice with Andrew, the communications manager here, and we had a great time just talking about my week, including going to the Wildcats game (thanks for the comments, by the way!).

The next day I felt a bit nauseous. Usually, if I feel that way, it's an effect of the chemo, but this time it felt different. This time it lingered, and I felt rough all weekend, and on the Monday the missus suggested I went to the doctors. As you know, I'm determined to be independent and upbeat, but when Jackie suggested it, I knew I wouldn't be able to get myself to the surgery. I called the doctor from Ridge Green Practice (they're all excellent, by the way), and he came out to see me.

He recognised pretty quickly that I'd got an infection in my stomach. Really, he was confirming what I suspected. This was no man-flu! This had its grip on me. He put me straight on a course of anti-biotics and said that if my temperature went up, I was to call an ambulance.

I took the pills, started feeling better, but still very dehydrated. That prompted me to make the call. I spoke to Sue Dunne, my nurse at the Hospice, because my preference would've been to be admitted here for a few days. Well, I'm not the only person in need of the Hospice's care, and there wasn't a bed for me at the time. I rang the hospital, and they said they could admit me, and they took me in last Friday afternoon (I'd had to miss my Day Hospice session).

So my weekend was spent in hospital. They gave me fluids and pain relief, and put me back on my feet. I appreciated their support, but I was happy to get home on Monday.

Since then I've felt knackered, even more than I usually do when I've had chemo. I've rested a lot, just to get my strength back ready to come back to the Hospice today, from where I write the blog. Needless to say I'm taking it easy for the rest of the week.

The last two weeks have been a sharp reminder of my illness for me and the family. Lee, the youngest, wasn't happy that we didn't tell him, and told me so. I apologised, but I only wanted to protect him.

I had been looking forward to meeting Steph Tye from the Adver last week. She was interested in doing an article to promote the blog, and I was sorry that I was unable to make it. I hope we can pick up again soon in the weeks ahead.

And that's it for this week. I'm having to preserve my strength, and shortly I'm going home. Hopefully next Thursday I'll have a bit more to say.

In the meantime, thanks for reading.

All the very best to you, Paul