What links Newquay, Basingstoke and Southampton?
Me!
Well, a funny few days have passed:
H and I got to Newquay Thursday afternoon and checked into the hotel just fine - bit of a problem as our room was right at the top on the third floor (no lifts).. lovely view of the beaches, harbour and sea (pictures to follow).
I was a little unsteady on my feet but managed to get through the day with the aid of a walking stick (not cool!) and we had a chilled out evening.
Friday morning I was more than a little worse, my balance was totally shot so we hit the beach for a walk on the flat, hard sand which was cool. Then we had a little mooch around Newquay centre which was cool but I tripped and fell flat on my face - fell flat on my face which was never a good thing and I was SO embarrassed!
We made it to the harbour, sat down and made a few calls (Macmillan nurse/consultant oncologist etc.) and it was decided we should return home for an early trip to Basingstoke A&E on Saturday morning.
A frantic 45 minutes packing and we made it to Newquay station and we jumped on the next available train (cost another £105 but hey) and made it back to Basingstoke by midnight.
Saturday morning H and I packed a bag each (we know the drill now) and headed up to A&E.. seen pretty much straight away they conferred with Southampton and in light of the worry I wasn’t able to pee any longer (sensation is there but nothing happens) they decided they wanted me in Southampton. Quicker to go under my own steam (well, Steve gave us a lift) than to wait for a non-emergency ambulance we quickly diverted home and picked up more/different stuff for what we rightly assumed would be a couple of days stay.
I had a set of x-rays taken not long after I arrived and come 9pm last night they whisked me down for an MRI scan.. took SO long and was so hot I fell asleep, despite the clatter of machinery skimming round my head.
Came back up to the ward and fell asleep pretty much straight away, missed Match of the Day though 
Sunday morning brings the prospect of waiting to see if the consultants have any news, good or bad, so I am just lying propped up in bed listening to some Dougie MacLean on my headphones and surfing the web from my laptop via a really slow mobile connection - I have had to turn off image downloads in Firefox to make most sites usable!
Although we spent a huge wadge of cash on what was just 26 hours in Newquay, we both think it was definitely worth it. I think we both new something was hovering just over the medical horizon and the Thursday was our 10th anniversary of being together so it had real special meaning that we made it to Newquay at least fot that day. SO glad we made it, things liek that make everything worthwhile.
Pictures to follow, we seemed to take a load in those few hours as if we needed to pack as much in as we could 
September 25th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Marc and Haley,
I was truly gutted to hear your news and I was in tears on the way home after meeting you at the docs. I know there is nothing I can say or do, but Ihad to gtet in touch.
I love your tag, “it’s all about perspective”. That is exactly how I was thinking after talking to you.
Here I am moping around like a smakced arsed due to my back issues and chronic depression but basically healthly in comparison. It is just so wrong.
I am in awe of your strength and courage and well down for fighting so hard for so long for yourself, Hayley and Sam.
I will stop now before I start waffling with the dreaded platitudes but want you to know that I am around all day doing fuck all - use me, mate - anything you want, anywhere you need to go, anything you want to see - let me know and we will make it happen. I mean it.
Not sure how mobile you, Haley and Sam are so if it is just a lift up the road or a cruise to the coast (or wherever), please ask. And I will be offended if you don’t
This is not about sympathy - it’s a chance for me to, to get things in perspective too.
Plus, I may be able to get my darth vader pc monitor figure back……
Graeme
September 25th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Hi Graeme,
Not sure how you found my blog but glad you did - I couldn’t remember what you said your email address was!
I know what you are saying about the whole perspective thing but to be honest it’s different for different people isn’t it - everyone has troubles, be it health or otherwise. Your back and depression is harsh, and to be honest I imagine it affects you on a day-to-day basis than my health situation - so who’s got it worse? I’d say neither, just different.
Some of the people I’ve seen in the cancer wards over the past couple of years have made me feel exactly the same - there are some horror stories out there and I’ve been relatively lucky.
Okay, the docs said I had six months but that was last November so I’m hanging on - I had a sneak at my notes the last time I was in hospital and there was a letter from my consultant to my work’s insurance company (long term sick pay stuff) which said he now expects a 12-24 months stay of execution. So it’s not always bad and things can change..
Thank you for your offer, I can’t drive right now (that may change over the next couple of months though) and H is taking lessons so we are, in theory, okay. But I will shout if necessary
Darth Vader figure..? Not sure if I remember that one?
Take it easy, hope the back isn’t too bad,
Marc