Stability

Today, I attended my clinic appointment.  As always I had blood samples taken before seeing my consultant.  It is customary for the "full blood test" results to be available there and then.  My consultant was very upbeat.  My paraprotein level has only raised from 5 (in both April and May) to 6 at my last appointment in June.  Significantly, the results of today's "full blood test" were all very good.  That test includes Haemoglobin, White Cells, Neutrophils, and Platelets.  All show excellent levels meaning that the myeloma, although detectable, is not affecting the way my bone marrow is performing.  The fact that my results were better than two months ago also indicates that the effect of the medication I was taking during maintenance (which suppresses some bone marrow activities) has now worn off.  Certainly I continue to feel very well with lots of energy.  It would seem that I have commenced a period of plateau which could last months, even years.  Right now, I need not see the consultant for a further two months.

Immediately following my June clinic, Margaret and I travelled to Gibraltar for a short stay.  This British territory is steeped in history and deserved to be visited at least once.  Margaret had found and booked an excellent hotel which was within easy walking distance of the main street.  Once we had consulted the tourist centre, we also found it fairly easy to get around.  I was determined to visit the World War 2 tunnels and this formed our first excursion.

When combined with previous tunnels from the 18th century, the WWII tunnels resulted in there being more tunnel miles inside the rock than road miles outside!

A taxi journey took us up on top of the "rock" to first see St. Michael's cave which is so big that music concerts are held there.  Given the moisture levels, waterproof clothing would seem necessary.

From there we were treated to the dubious pleasure of the rock's apes before we we taken to visit the 18th Century tunnels.

The authorities have done an excellent job of restoring and displaying the many artifacts inside the tunnels and thus telling the story.  Also of note are the many opportunities to look out from the galleries and to take in the extraordinary views.

In the foreground is the northern edge of Gibraltar's town.  Running East/West is the runway beyond which is the airport terminal.  Immediately beyond (where there is woodland) is Spanish territory.
Packing so much into such a short time, we also visited the southern-most tip where we could just about see the North African coastline.  We also visited the East side of the rock where, unlike the West side which is one big city, the East side is relatively undeveloped and certainly more peaceful.

Following our trip to Gibraltar, Margaret travelled to Harrogate for a literary conference.  Yorkshire being my place of birth, I joined her and we met a significant number of my relatives.  One cousin and her husband, by chance, had come from Australia.  Another cousin and her husband had travelled from the island of Islay.  I used the opportunity to hand out copies of my book (see April post) but of course also to catch up with everyone's news with 11 of us sitting down for dinner together.  I greatly value such reunions.

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege

it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love

Marcus Aureliu

Keep well

Stephen