A frightening hospital visit
John: After chemo round four things were looking all good and routine. I had been eating well - pizza, fish and chips, venison burger....
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John Burkinshaw
Feb 174 min read
Chemo round two, three, four and five
After the adventures of the first round of chemo, we quickly settled into a 2 weekly routine: First Tuesday bloods are taken at home then...
John Burkinshaw
Feb 134 min read
Burns night
Burns Night celebrations in Scotland are a national institution and our local pub The Oystercatcher was putting on a night. Nigel, John's...
John Burkinshaw
Feb 103 min read
January in Glendaruel
Life goes on and stuff needs to get done - and getting stuff done gives you a sense of purpose. Liz is still working 4 hours a day,...
John Burkinshaw
Feb 33 min read
Cool, Creative Kathryn returns
Our good friend Kathryn was keen to come up again, to see both of us and experience more of what Argyll has to offer. The beginning of...
John Burkinshaw
Jan 274 min read
First trip away!
With everything that had been thrown at us, we had not planned a trip away from Glendaruel until late January when Charlotte's (and...
John Burkinshaw
Jan 203 min read
Out for dinner(s)
Local food can also be described as pretty darn good. Opening hours may be a little restricted (this is rural, out of season and many...
John Burkinshaw
Jan 134 min read
First Christmas at Clacheranmor
Our first Christmas at Clacheranmor was always going to be a major milestone and special for us as we started a new chapter of our lives....
John Burkinshaw
Jan 93 min read
December in Glendaruel
John: The next few days back home were fragile, balancing pain, trying to eat to build up my strength, living out of cardboard boxes and...
John Burkinshaw
Jan 67 min read
Chemo...but not before a world of trouble!
John: We had been anxiously awaiting feedback from histology at the hospital - we didn't want to waste any more time before any potential...
John Burkinshaw
Dec 30, 20235 min read
About Us
This is a post we wrote a while ago, before the move and other things took priority, but thought we would share it now anyway... I feel...
John Burkinshaw
Dec 26, 20234 min read
Getting home!
Friday 24th November John: Today was going to be release day - they couldn't spin it out any longer and when Elizabeth, the palliative...
John Burkinshaw
Dec 23, 20234 min read
Small positive things part 2
Thursday 23rd November John: We'd been pushing for Thursday as a release day, but it was not to be. Although a little disappointed, we...
John Burkinshaw
Dec 20, 20236 min read
Small positive things part 1
Beware - photos you might not want to see! Tuesday 21st November Liz: Having had another sleepless night in the reclining chair I was...
John Burkinshaw
Dec 16, 20238 min read
Dark days and darker nights part 2
And so we reach rock bottom - well done if you're still reading! I promise the next posts will turn a corner... Monday 20th November Liz:...
John Burkinshaw
Dec 12, 20239 min read
Dark days and darker nights part 1
Thank you for sticking with us and keeping reading - it helps to be able to tell the story just once because it makes it easier. And...
John Burkinshaw
Dec 9, 20236 min read
The diagnosis
Thursday 16th November Liz: John has little memory of these days, which is probably a good thing. He was confined to bed, unable to walk...
John Burkinshaw
Dec 5, 20234 min read
The bitter bitter turn of fate - part 2
Tuesday 14th Nov John: At 6am I was sick and got up about 7:30am to move our bed from the main bedroom to third bedroom so our lovely...
John Burkinshaw
Dec 2, 20235 min read
The bitter bitter turn of fate - part 1
Moving day was set for 13th November 2023 - the house sale was for real, with contracts exchanged for completion 14th November. Over many...
John Burkinshaw
Nov 25, 20232 min read
Dad and Daughter Trip
We want the kids to see our new house and encourage them to come spend time with us. We also want them to understand why we've done what...
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