Just a brief note to say that after some thought we are not going to rush into buying somewhere.  We shall have a good look around once we are settled in the area.

Alas still no word from the Hospital in Southampton about my so called hernia.  I did contact the nurse specialist at the Hospital last week.  I do wonder sometimes whether the NHS realises that by not responding to enquiries of this nature they are adding to costs as I have no intention of going away...............except to Derbyshire.

And what is happening there?  Well since you ask here goes.

We went to Derby last week and had a good look around.  The City of Derby has a lot going for it with not one but two big markets featuring local traders.  Just outside the Inner City there are a number of very nice places and of course the wonderful Peak District is a short journey away.

Martin is already working in Derbyshire and has been living in a dormer bungalow in the very nice town of Duffield.  The original idea was that Ev and I would move in there in February and Martin would find a place that could accommodate himself, Andrea, Emily and Adam in the same town.  For quite a while now that looked unlikely.  The dormer bungalow whilst okay for the two of us would be unsuitable for a family of four where one of its members works from home. 

The reason we went to Derbyshire was to find somewhere to rent so that the Kids could start school in Duffield after half term.  The visit turned out to be useful not least because it gave us the chance to look at areas where we would like to live as well as properties.  One of the places we looked at was a nice bungalow in Allestree a pleasant suburb in the North of Derby.  Initially we were looking at renting but when we got there we saw a for sale sign as well as one for renting.  We liked it a lot.  It needs some work doing to it but Ev felt bold enough to ask how much the seller wanted.  It turns out that the owner is an estate.  Ev did some very astute bargaining and cut a long story short we have had an offer accepted which will give us enough money to get some things done to make it a great place to live.

At this stage we thought we would have to live in the bungalow whilst renovations were carried out.  However over the hill has come the cavalry.  Martin took a phone call from an agent saying that a more suitable house to rent would be available.  He went and had a look today and is happy with it.  Thus we can move initially into the dormer bungalow whilst the improvements are carried out.

All that remains is for contracts on our existing house to be exchanged.  Now regular readers might be surprised that a deal agreed in October still has not been finalised.  It would appear that our buyer's mortgage company have put the wrong names on their offer which is holding the whole thing up.  If all goes well we should be ready to roll next month.

More news as we get it.

A happy new year to all our readers.  I am happy to report that I have had only one bout of acid attack since my last report and that a very mild one.  The main concern I have had is one of indigestion which from time to time wakes me up.  Oh the joys of Gavescon.

Christmas was spent with Andrea, Martin, Emily, Adam and Martin's parents.  It was very pleasant.  Ev and Andrea did some great things for our Dinner.  We went for a walk along Ryde Esplanade.  It was very wet and muddy, a by product of endless downpours.

Next Christmas we shall of course be in Derbyshire.  Speaking of which after spending new year with the rest of the family in North Wales we visited the area where we hope to settle.  I have to say we were very impressed with the scenery and general atmosphere of the place.  Sad though I shall be to leave I wish the whole thing was done and dusted.

Going back to the new year thing we had a great time.  With Jack at University we don't get too many chances to meet up.  Lucy is a really nice Girl.  And of course Harry is as lively as ever.  When we shall move it will be a journey to North Wales of 2 hours or less which means hopefully we shall see more of Christopher's side of the family.

Finally still no sign of my medical report.  I shall pursue this next week when most will be back at work.

One week or so on I have yet to hear from the Hospital.  Still to be fair it could be caught up in the post and if it was urgent I think I would know by now.

The good news is that Ev has recovered well.  She has been singing with the Voices of the Isle of Wight during the busy Christmas Season and there have been no ill effects.  There has also been some weight loss and there is no doubt that she is very much on the mend.

Those of you who have moved house will know that it can be a tortuous business and our sale is proving to be just that.  The current delay is because the Investment Bank for the first person in the chain has only just get round to doing the necessary.  If you want to add in the fortnight shut down for Christmas and New Year nothing much is going to happen before mid January.  In the meantime Andrea and Martin have gone to a new Estate Agent.  They have been unimpressed with the existing one.

As this is likely to be my last post before Christmas I wish all readers the complements of the season.

I duly went for my appointment with Mr. Byrne in Southampton.

This was less than satisfactory because he was not able to access the pictures of my CT Scan.  Considering that I had been referred to him to see if the scar tissue had created hernia problems this wasn't all that good.  He did apologise and ask me a number of questions about eating, coughing and acid reflux. 

Mr. Byrne thinks that no further action will be needed but he will check the scan and write to me to confirm one way or the other.  I told him of our move to Derbyshire and that if action was needed I would prefer this to be done in Southampton where the staff know me. Under the NHS changes giving "patient choice" this shouldn't be a problem.

As far as our move to Derbyshire is concerned this is more likely to be in mid February.  It's important that Emily and Adam are in schools there by the end of half term.  House moves are they say the most stressful of our lives.  Hopefully this won't be too difficult.

In the meantime I made a flying visit to Canada to help celebrate my Cousin June's 80th Birthday.  It was a surprise party and I was pleased to be there.  Thanks to Cousin David and his wife Mary Anne for their hospitality and if any of you are ever in the Town of Prescott, Ontario you should stay at the Ashbury Inn on the River.  The hosts Bev and Lyle are wonderful and the Breakfasts are out of this world.

Finally I am pleased to report that at last Ev is feeling better after 5 weeks of a nasty chest infection.

A slight suprise awaited me in the form of an appointment at Southampton General Hospital.  Phone enquiries revealed that the scan showed I have a hernia.   I am due to see them on 12th December to find out if they want to repair it or leave things alone.  Dr. Cave thinks this may explain why I cough when eating.   I suppose if it was that urgent they would have sent for me earlier.  How this will impact on our move to Derbyshire I know not.

Speaking of the move, we got an acceptable offer within 5 days of the house going on the market.  However we are treading water a little bit as the buyer's survey has yet to be done.  Thus we have no dates yet on the move.

Ev got the results of the CT scan which showed everyting normal.  It looks therfore like a thyroid problem so it's back to the original referral.  Of more immediate doncren is that Ev has picked up a nasty cough from me and is not well.  She has been to the Doctor who has prescribed anti biotics.

Life is certainly not dull.

As promised, I am bringing you all up to date with matters medical.

Last Thursday I spent a jolly afternoon (having finished my Angel Radio show half an hour early) having a CT scan.  The procedure is that they stick a needle into your arm or hand so that they can put some saline through your body in order to observe what shows up on the scan.  One of the side effects of chemo is that it becomes progressively more difficult to find a vein that will co operate.  Thus it was that I spent 25 minutes whilst not one but two Doctors tried using needles so that the scan could take place.  Success came at the 5th attempt.

When I got home I started having difficulty passing water.  It was very slow.  As by now it was after surgery closing time, I rang the non emergency 111 service.  I was offered an appointment at the Beacon Centre but after my ghastly experience in January, I declined.  One of the duty Doctors rang me back and said if I could continue to pass some water it would be okay but if it dried up he would send a nurse to put a catheter on.  Fortunately by drinking plenty of water the moment passed and things returned to normal.

The good news was today in that the scan gave the all clear.  Evidently when I was operated on a hole was made in my diaphragm.  This has meant that the so called abnormality is nothing more serious than scar tissue plus a small piece of bowel peering through.  Dr. Cave assured me everything was fine.  I have another appointment in May.

If that was an example of the NHS working Ev's experience sadly showed the other side.  To cut a long story short almost 3 weeks ago she was told at the Hospital that they would be writing to the GP recommending a referral to a neurologist and an Opthomologist.  Having heard nothing we went to the surgery to find out what was happening and the answer sadly was nothing in that the GP hasn't heard from the Hospital.  Apparently delays of 8 weeks are not uncommon.  Presumably when the appointment is made it will be at the back of the queue.  In the meantime Ev, who hasn't been that well since July, is no nearer knowing what's wrong.  Very frustrating.

More when we know what's going on.  Oh and the House goes on the market later this week.