Another year, another Walpole trip. This trip, down to the South coast of WA, has become an annual pilgrimage to a place of tall trees, cool weather, misty rain followed by strong sunshine, clear water in which to swim, all with great local food and wine. If it sounds idyllic, well it is a small … Continue reading Walpole, with measurable improvement →

I'm sitting here, listening to Spotify playing in the background, letting it do the hard work of choosing the music. The current playlist is all classical music, there's one for me that's rock based, and one more musicals and film sound tracks. There is clearly a great algorithm which watches what I listen to, and … Continue reading Precious time →

It's been almost exactly 14 months since my stem cell transplantation, and there have been a number of milestones creeping up on me. The one year anniversary was less important than I'd realised, however this weekend I was sitting out ( surrounded by tall trees while camping), reflecting on a few gradual changes. I've had … Continue reading Recovery milestones, MRI results →

Yes, camping again and it’s so pleasant to be out with the camper trailer again. Not exactly a wilderness camp, but on the banks of Wellington Dam with clear, fresh water on which to paddle board around. There’s a word here in Australia, ‘bogan’. It’s hard to define, other than by example; this place captures … Continue reading Camping again →

The rollercoaster, I knew it was real and everyone is aware of it. I'll maintain that I am having a very easy recovery, and the dips of the roller coaster for me have been fatigue, aches & pains, decreases in walking ability rather than major infections and hospitalisations.However, it's so real ! The holiday with … Continue reading Recovery & Waterlicht →

One aspect this journey has taught me is to be flexible with lifestyle. I spend much less time kayaking, hiking and skiing, and way more time listening to music, seeing awesome Shakespeare plays ( I love A Midsummer’s Night Dream) in pop up full scale models of the Globe, and reading good books. Eating good … Continue reading Lifestyle change →

I have had a very peaceful weekend, celebrating one year since my AHSCT but also just getting on with a weekend of relaxation, camping and mild activity. We went down to Margaret River, a beautiful area about 3 hours south of Fremantle, camping in a lovely unpowered bush setting. The weekend was far less about … Continue reading A peaceful one year weekend →

Here’s a link to my blog from one year ago, the day my stem cells were returned to me after four days of chemotherapy to suppress my immune system. Stem cell transplantation day It’s hard to know what to say. It’s been a tough year in many ways, and the roller coaster we all talk … Continue reading One year ago →

This journey of recovery, wherever it takes me, is definitely a holistic approach. I've kept in touch with a few people who have been through the treatment, and it seems pretty clear that there's a few basic themes for those doing well. Not everyone reacts well, and there are non-responders, so please be aware this … Continue reading Holistic approach to recovery →

A year ago, I was in Russia, going through testing prior to commencement of my treatment. I’ve found myself looking back, and reflecting, way more than I’d anticipated. Sure, I thought I’d celebrate on my stem cell birthday, but I hadn’t realised how much time I’d spend thinking about the decision, the time in Russia, … Continue reading Reflections →