h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Bels, when my son had chemo, he'd only eat cucumber & melton mowbray pork pies & drank gallons of vimto. He said they were the only things that 'were nice on my tongue' - he was only three/four at the time

Granny, I have to confess I have never tasted vimto. I shall now have to track some down and try it.

My daughter bought me some sugar-free Barley Sugar sweets for diabetics. These are very nice on my tongue.

Bels - . It's good to 'see' you. How are things at the moment?
You're often in my thoughts and I hope you're feeling well. If things are not so good, please share with us if you're able - because we really do want to know how you are.
Love J

ps - I used to love Vimto - it was . to ask TPTB to give us a Vimto smiley

Not so good but OTOH not so bad either. Far too boring and tiring to give you a catalogue of woes. Slow progress is being made. Let's talk vimto and pork pies.

I've never been a vegetarian but the past few months I have eaten virtually no meat. Just can't face it. Don't know why. Not eating much of anything, mind, but meat is definitely off my menu. Eggs ok, mostly boiled. I don't mind which end I start from.

Glad to see you here again. I've been thinking of you too.
Doesn't seem at all surprising that your sense of taste is altered, with body chemistry upset. I recall when I was last recovering from flu how I'd fancy things I would never normally choose.

Never had Vimto, not keen on fizz. Always sounded a bit like a floor cleaner . Pork pies now - best part is a crunchy crust with a bit of meat jelly .

When I'm feverish I always have an urge for lettuce and salad cream, cool but tangy, I suppose.

Good to see you online, Bels.

Another late arrival (..........at the oncologists ball: Mr and Mrs D O therapy and their son Ray. )



Have literally just discovered this thread and read it all and the accompanying entry. I second all that everyone has said, and thank you for all your work so far and look forward to reading on, whilst wishing you all the best.

Thank you for explaining the radiotherapy. *O God here comes another cancer story* ... My sister-in-law had a small malignant lump removed from her breast about 8 years ago. She was terrified of the subsequent radiotherapy and had nightmares about it. Her case wasn't serious enough for chemotherapy, but the whole thing affected her so seriously mentally that she has never been back to work since, and is still easily tired. I have never worked out whether this was due to her weakened state at the time of contracting the lump (about a year after both her parents died) or because she never had the treatment explained to her adequately - or didn't understand properly.

Bels - you don't seem to be experiencing this phenomenon that "cancer makes you deaf" - i.e. one is so pre-occupied, one can't take in anything anyone says. Perhaps, because you are writing this entry, you make the effort to listen to what the doctors are saying, so that you can reproduce it for your public's benefit. You have certainly helped me understand a little more about what my sister-in-law went through, although I have always accepted that she is not just being whiney about the whole thing - it just affects everyone differently, a point which you have made several times.

I wish you all the best and will follow this closely from now on.

Also, on wandering to your personal space I found your entry on the Chichester Psalms which is one of the most beautiful works I have ever sung in. Thank you for that

Good to hear from you again Bels, I can honestly say I think about you almost daily - usually when I'm on the toilet.

Hi Bels,

Just calling in to say hello.

Hello.

Keep well.

'non sec illegitimus con carborundus' as they say.

F

Thanks very much, McKay. From now on I shall be thinking about you almost hourly - usually when I'm on the toilet.

Hello TC! Nice to bump into you here. Ships that pass in the night, eh?

Mr and Mrs E R Accelerator and their daughter Lynn?

Mr and Mrs R I Scan and their daughter Em?

I'm sorry, I haven't a clue.

Thanks for cheering me up. I've just had a posting yikesed and was feeling a bit down.

Bels??????? Never had Vimto??????????? with or without vodka it's a must, gotta be the low sugar kind tho, & the cordial's great when diluted with hot water on a cold day, or ice water on a hot day & anyhow mixed with vodka, but the fizzy low sugar's best as a mixer

Hi Bels...phew it's tough getting an audience with you. That Matron makes us stand in line for ever... (waves to teuchter and caerwynn who Matron has just ejected and not before time .) Have just introduced a friend to site. She has a bit of a problem in her head but the chemo is making her better (even though she doesn't feel that good). Hopefuly she will feel up to posting soon. I have told her all about you and you have become an inspiration. She would really love to have a chat but knows she cannot put too much pressure on her wound so we just talk a little about you and I know that makes her feel better. She is, like you, really special and I do hope you meet one day. Ok Matron I'm going, I know he's tired. (grape and mango icecream under the crossword book Bels ) look after yourself oh, and by the way you haven't filled in your London Marathon form yet... we have to get them in early you know!
take care
boots

London Marathon? I get out of breath just running up a bill.

boots

Just got through reading your entry Bels (have been meaning to for and age, but have only just got internet at home. Work ain't the best place to be found reading H2G2 I've found)It's a luvverly bit of writing.
Shan't bore you with the family trials and tribulations, just a thanks for the insight from the insider view.
There was a guy who did much the same as you are doing - but in the Glasgow Herald sunday magazine, rather than online. I'd give you a link, but they seem to have wiped the internet version of his journal. T'was like yours, insightful without being morbid.

Luv the name by the way

Thoughts and s with you.

Zantic

Hi Bels,
just checking in to see how you're doing. Good to see you still have your sense of humour.

Keep up the good cheer,

Ythika

Hi Bels,

Best Wishes. Just popped by to say hello. Hope it's all going well for you.

F

Yes, it's been awhile since we've heard from you. Hope you are doing okay.

much love and a big

az