Catch UP

Well guess what?? "We" passed!!! Mad Dog Summer is now the proud owner of a colourful Kennel Club Bronze Award complete with certificate and rosette!

On Wednesday morning, I did my usual "wear dog out before training" in order that the "mad" wasn't MAD. And she was as good as gold! My biggest worry was her "down (lie down) and stay" where I would command her to lie down, stay and then walk away from her. Usually she is hot on my heals as she trotts after me....but today....she stayed....in fact she didn't just stay for a minute (the minimum period to pass)....but a minute actually became a minute and a half. I shook the whole time! Sadly not all the dogs passed but SUMMER did...lol...

After the dog exam, I raced home to drop off Mad Dog and left her with A. Then I dived in the car and drove to Roehampton to the Bank of England Sports Ground, where LISTEN are hosting their Charity Mid Summer Ball at the end of June. It was a lovely day - the sun was shining and it was great to check out the area and discuss and put to bed, any issues we had from last year. A very productive couple of hours, I'd say! I drove home via Richmond Park, with the deer lazing on the grass in the sun and families cycling along the narrow roads.

Thursday (27 May) saw my return to King's not only for follow up blood tests but also to mentor at the King's liver transplant group session held on the last Thursday of each month. There was a very good turn up from both patients on the liver transplant list and those transplanted within the last year. I can never help but be humbled buy the stories people tell about what they are going through or have been through, and it really puts life into prospective. There were tears and there were smiles - there was contemplation and friendly, helpful advice. But mainly there was support and compassion. Not for me - I'm an old hand now and it was my THREE YEARS FIVE MONTHS anniversary (to the day)...

After "Group", I went to Out Patients Clinic - two weeks since my last visit. I already knew that my blood results were coming down again (diagnosed with the return of AIH auto immune hepatitis in April), but it was my chance to see if my drugs could be reduced further and follow up on my return as an "in" patient to have my 2nd bile duct stent checked out. I was lucky to see one of my lovely consultants but whilst I was given the opportunity to possibly reduce the steroids, I had to agree to increase my immunesuppresant drugs. Unfortunately I get quite intense tremours if the Tacrolimus is increased to 2mg twice a day, and light induced migraines (not good when police cars and fire engines are about) if the MMF is increased to 2g twice a day - so I decided to keep the tac at 2&1, the MMR at 750g twice a day and the steroids at 30mg - even if I do look like a growing blow fish!! LOL... I met lots of transplantee friends in the clinic and it was a very jovil visit - followed by a coffee with the lovely J (friend & specialist liver unit social worker).

On Friday I was rather tired. Two very busy days but I got to catch up on some work although I had to sleep for a few hours in the afternoon. Just as well really, as I then had to go to Horsham in the evening to timekeep at the athletics track there for Crawley AC. A good evening - very relaxed - and I got to discuss my forthcoming Timekeeping Steward role at Crystal Palace in a few weeks time with the person I'll be working for (this is lots of paperwork and you have to be exceedingly organised - I LOVE it!)...

Usual Saturday - taking Little N to Sutton for training and doing house stuff. Goodness did it rain?! Stav and I had some odd jobs and shops to visit in Reigate, tried to find a crayfish shop (and didn't!) and ended up eating lunch in Tesco's at Gatwick before spending way too much money on shopping! Coffee in Redhill with the lovely Steph completed my day.