The back of the dinghy park - with the work party fettling the five Wayfarers recently aquired by the club.

What happens when I overdo it: On Tuesday - nice day and I felt an upsurge of energy. So - off to the gym for half an hour to improve muscles. Then the the sailing club for coffee and too much talking and walking around. Then I had lunch at home and walked up to the main shopping road to the bank and to have an iced tea in Costas. The result - I felt ill when I got home - as if I had flu. At least I went to bed early and slept for 12 hours.

So I won't be doing that again for a while. Today - coffe out in the sun - brief walk to marina - lunch out in the sun and then a lot more sitting in the sun along the river bank.

The start of the sailing season

On Sunday I made it to the sailing club to watch the first races of the season and to eat 'brunch' - mostly in sunshine. I also checked over my streaker and found it has survived the winter very well. Progress slightly slowed by overdoing it.

Various boats at the quay, Woodbridge

New and old boats moored at the quay - a few are lived on all the time, many are undergoing renovation and some are lived on intermittantly. More activity there since the sun came out.

Still far to go - - - but yesterday I managed to walk to the sailing club for a coffee with the work party and a quick look at my Streaker. This confirmed gradual improvement in my energy levels. I have started back at the gym - doing resistance training with the lightest weights - my muscle tone has deteriorated a lot. The picture was taken from the top of the railway crossing, showing I can get up the steps.

Downstream on Deben viewed from the shelter.

Really to show that the boats are mostly out of the water and the river looks open and uncluttered. I have sat here a few times - it is best in sunshine as today. I also continue to eat chips in the cafe and have stopped weight loss as a result. So slight improvements continue day by day - slowly.

Black headed gull trying to catch bread.

I sat and watched the tide come in for some time - as well as the antics of the gulls. Encouraged by sunshine with a cool wind - as well as a large lunch in the caravan cafe. I have also put my mind round some issues with the U3A website. So some slow improvement and at least in the right direction.

A barge is towed up-river.

I was around to snap this after lunch (chips in the caravan cafe).

The tree I see from my chair - and watch the blossom come out. Rehabilitation will be when I see less of it.

 Rehabilitation: It looks as if the prediction that the side effects would lessen after 11 days is right. I am less totalled out by fatigue today and yesterday than previously, although the improvement is slow. Good weather is also encouraging and I have tottered out for a while to find food and coffee. I am now trying to figure out a strategy for rehabilitation without overdoing it and getting exhausted.

Ups and (mostly) downs of chemotherapy side effect of fatigue: I was OK for a few days after the chemo - but have been completely wiped out for the last few days. If it follows the same pattern as before - I may buck up a bit by the weekend. Meantime - I sit it out and hope the sun shines.

February 29th - leap year, 1972 and 2012.

We bought this at the time. It is tin glazed earthenware - delftware - decorated in the traditional way - hand painted blue.

How does Rhoda get to be 40 already! Amazing.
(Aidan has one too - coming later)

Update: I went into Ipswich hospital to have the next lot of chemotherapy on Tuesday afternoon. It all went OK on Wednesday, although I got a bit short of sleep (as you do). The process is a bit trying as the infusion of various drugs and solutions takes 8 hours or so. It is immobilising but one can walk around with the drip machine - thank goodness  - as I am not good at sitting still. If there are side-effects they come later. Stayed in overnight on Wednesday as it was a late finish - so left this morning as soon as I could get out (after breakfast).

It seems to be working and I am due to go onto a different combination that does not require overnighters in hospital and is said to have fewer side effects - starts in about 4 weeks.

 I managed to sit out in the sun, overlooking the river, for a couple of hours - tee shirt and sun hat weather. So - let's hope the sun shines and the fatigue is just fatigue rather than life-zapping.