Reasons to be Happy

Firstly, more good news about my myeloma. I saw the consultant this week and, yet again, my paraprotein is not detectable. I'm extremely fortunate to receive my treatment in Bristol as the senior consultant is Dr Jenny Bird. She is one of the leading specialists in this field and chair of the United Kingdom Myeloma Forum. The UKMF sets the guidelines that are used throughout the country in the treatment of this cancer.

Next is the fact that Margaret and I have just returned from 2 weeks holiday in Cyprus. There was, as usual, lots of work (Gardening) to be done but it is always worthwhile.

The bougainvillea set against a clear blue sky always produces a cheerful sight.

Finally I have at last achieved an ambition I've held for a very long time. Last week I was appointed as a Magistrate (or Justice of the Peace, JP) and will sit in the Bristol Court. Many years ago, and aware that an uncle had been a JP, I heard a radio program about the selection and training procedure. When I retired in 2011 I decided that I would apply. I attended our local court and observed the proceedings. Having talked to some of the staff I was encouraged to return for an "open day". On this occasion I had the guidance of a serving JP who explained what was happening - I was hooked! At that time there were no vacancies but my name was added to a list of potential applicants.

It was a further year before I was invited to make a formal application. There then followed a long process which included attending two very searching interviews. The panel seemed only mildly concerned about my cancer and took my word that it was under control. I was then told that I had not been selected to sit on my local court but that my name would be kept on a waiting list which had a "life" of 18 months. After a further year, I was invited to become a JP to serve in the court in Bristol.

The court in Bristol is modern, highly efficient and surprisingly friendly (at least from my perspective!). Last week, and along with the other new JPs I attended a ceremony in Bristol's Crown Court where we each had to swear allegiance to the Queen and then to take the Judicial Oath. Over the next few weeks I will start to sit (as one of a three person team called a Bench). It is our role to decide guilt, or innocence, and then to award sentence by interpretation of guidelines. For someone who has not, perhaps, experienced the court process it must be difficult to understand why I would want to become a JP. For a very long time I have been interested in justice.

In the same year that I first observed in my local court, I was diagnosed with Myeloma. In July 2012 I was admitted to hospital for High Dose Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant. I can only hope that my current good health will continue for the next 5 years until, by virtue of age, I will have to retire from the Bench.

In the musical South Pacific is the song "Happy Talk" the memorable line from which is

"You gotta have a dream, if you don't have a dream,

How you gonna have a dream come true?"

My dream has come true.

Keep well and KBO

Stephen