Slad, Brooklyn and Stoke

Tomorrow is another big day in my cancer life.  I see Dr McLean, my oncologist, to hear her views on my latest scan and I am not looking forward to it one little bit. I doubt I can keep putting off chemo treatment much longer as I'm slowly getting  more breathless, which would seem to suggest my tumours are increasing, though I have had a cold, if not slight flu, so maybe that accounts for some of my breathlessness. I will know in a few hours.

The best I could hope for would be that my tumours have stopped growing altogether, but seems unlikely, so next best would be that growth has slowed down and no chemo necessary until next year. My palliative care doctor suggested I should ask for that delay anyway, but I think I will leave decision on timings to Dr McLean. I remain quietly confident but prepared for the worst. I know its going to catch up with me sooner or later. Later and still later would be best. Obviously.

Some people say the most stupid, silly things to me. I'm not going to list some of the things I don't like and that distress me, just in case some one reading this has said something daft to me or anyone else with cancer. But I have to mention one thing, mainly because I found it so ridiculously awful. I told a woman of my acquaintance that the cancer had spread to my lungs and was no longer curable. To which her response was "how awful, that must be so depressing for you" and she walked away. She has a talent for understatement. There must be a word for it but it escapes me right now.

I've not made it to the cinema much recently. I'm planning to see Brooklyn in next week or so. Based on the book by Colm Tóibín, which I can highly recommend and have probably mentioned in his blog before. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie and if anyone wants to join me you know where to find me. The Good Doctor praises it highly so that's good enough for me.

There was a magnificent film version of Cider with Rosie on the BBC recently, well maybe a month ago. There have been one or two versions of the book that I've seen over the years, but this was by far the best. It's always been one of my favourite books, as I've maybe mentioned before, and to see it brought to life so beautifully was an absolute joy. The young actors playing him as a boy and as a teenager were superb and I'm sure they have a brilliant future ahead of them, and wish I could be around to witness it.

At least I've seen the start of their careers. The kissing scene was a joy to behold. Very well done and very sexy  The mother was terrific as was their teacher who gave a hilarious performance. The whole thing reduced me to tears of joy and happiness/sadness. To cap it all it was filmed in Slad, where Lee was born and it all happened and where I visited in 1974 or '75 when I was living in Cheltenham. Lovely memories of that day and the person I was with. It may still be available on iPlayer but if not I'm sure the beeb will show it again sometime soon, so look out for it. I don't mean that my visit to Slad will be available on iPlayer, at least not yet.

I bought the latest in Dylan's Bootleg Series, vol 12, The Cutting Edge 1965 to 1966. Which is what I've mostly been listening to last night and today and needless to say it's another gem from the genius that is Bob Dylan. I can't thank the man enough for the pleasures of the past fifty or more years. If you're a Dylan fan this is a must buy or steal or whatever folk do nowadays to get their music. There are many rocking, rollicking versions of some of his best songs, it will amaze and pleasure you. I could list them but best if you go listen.

It brought back many memories of my brothers, my parents and life at home and then in Stoke where I was living by the end of 1966. I had no record player there, mind you we didn't at home either, but I had a friend who was a bit of a hell's angel and Dylan lover, and my first hearing of Blonde on Blonde was on his record player. I refused to go on his bike but he didn't seem to mind my lack of faith in his riding abilities and was happy to play Dylan for me. And tape him.

My next post will be a poem. Maybe later tonight as don't wish to overload the www. I continue to read and more about that soon.