Papworth Hospital, its Memorable Staff, my Garden and the Lane

For my friends and followers who are aware of the cancer which has lived with and within me for the last four years, I have some very exciting news which I would like to share with you. I have been looked after by an amazing oncologist Dr. Suzie Harden at the Papworth Hospital, she has looked after me unsparingly during this time, I believe that I have had the best possible care and treatment. Sadly a couple of months ago she had to tell me that I had a regrowth, I was quickly sent for a CT/PET scan (eyes to thighs) and a brain scan. When I went for the CT/PET scan it was explained to me that the two scans would be merged together to give a clearer picture. I had not heard of this before and found it very interesting.

When I returned for the results my wonderful oncologist, explained that there was definite regrowth, shown as a hot spot and smaller looking hot spots on the mediastinal lymph nodes, now for the exciting part, this exceptional lady had found a surgeon willing to see me with a view to operating on me. His name is Mr. Coonar, he also works at Papworth Hospital and is such a special person that I knew as soon as he agreed, that I was in immensely capable hands and looked forward to the operation with great joy and happiness. Mr. Coonar was going to remove the right upper lobe of my lungs and I hoped the previously troublesome lymph nodes. The operation was carried out on 15th July by the great man himself, he removed all he intended and now I am feeling very positive and am sure my cancer has gone. Of course I realise that there will be checks for the next five years, but as I said I am feeling very positive, having been operated on by the brilliant Mr. Coonar.

I would also like to pay tribute to the medical team at Papworth who have also been there for me the whole time, in particular Dr.Chris Johnson. He is such a kind, caring person and one who takes the time not only to listen but also to explain.

One last tribute must go to all the Doctors, Nurses (especially oncologist specialist nurse Georgina Howell) and all the other Papworth people who had a hand in my care. Many, many thanks to everyone I have mentioned for the truly caring way I have been looked after.

Many memorable hours were spent enjoyably exploring the huge and very impressive grounds of Papworth Hospital pictured below.

Meanwhile ...... our garden has not looked such a wilderness since we moved in. However the fox still comes nightly, sadly all but one of the squirrels have deserted us, but I am hoping they will soon find us again. As always birds still fill the garden:- goldfinches, thrushes, blackbirds, wrens, robins, dunnocks and of course magpies who are still first on the scene when food is put out. Interestingly No Tail and his first and second partner appear to have left us, it will be interesting to see if they return.

Bees are especially abundant, although the Jasminium Beesianum has finished flowering and is now covered in berries, there are still plenty of other flowers for the bees to forage in, the tall yellow flowers are the favourite at present surprisingly the bees often overnight in them. The pale pink jasmine is also over now, but the white jasmine is still happily flowering. The fuschias are giving a good show, this makes me happy because the bees like them during the day and the moths enjoy them at night. There are many wild cranesbills still in flower in the garden, I know these are considered a weed, but I like them, they attract both bees and butterflies and I wouldn't have the garden without them.

Perhaps best of all are the spiders webs, there is a wonderful one which is like a misshapen box, with wing like structures coming from each side which attach it to nearby twigs. Underneath one of these extensions is a round hole, the entrance no doubt, and caught up in the extensions are many dead winged creatures, an assortment of moths, flies and even a ladybird.

It is so good to be home to be able to look out of my own windows on to the garden, walk the lane again, to smell the fresh air, feel the warm summer breeze on my face and enjoy the flora and fauna again.

I walk the lane progressing a little further every day. The river is running low, a sure sign of lack of rain. The changes in the wild flowers from a month ago are great, with the exception of patches of great willow herb, yellow and purple thistles all in tall groupings and very eye catching. These apart there are no flowers to be seen. However the biggest surprise are the stinging nettles they are higher than my shoulders! The alder tree is laden with small tight bright green cones and last years catkins, the tree is also decked out in fresh green leaves and very attractive. Alders are only a small tree but are greatly attractive to wild life, and if you have a wet enough area to support one, it would make a great addition to a wildlife garden

It was a pleasure to see hawthorns with their branches bowed under the weight of the still green berries which are held high above the branches in their thousands. I shall take much pleasure in watching the berries slowly change colour, to a palish pink round the edges and gradually changing to a deep red all over. At the same time I will see that they are slowly changing position on the branch and to note that when they are at their deepest red they will no longer be held aloft, but instead be hanging from the underside of each branch.

Already the hazel bushes are bereft of nuts, but the ground underneath is littered with broken, empty shells, from the feasting squirrels I would guess.

The oak trees are a sight to behold, never have we seen so many acorns on trees before, they are still very young. The jays are going to be very busy in a few weeks time and I can see there will be many young oak trees sprouting in the near vicinity.

Perhaps the greatest surprise of all are the hops, they joyfully and abundantly scramble along a  large stretch of the lane, their rough stems and prettily shaped leaves give them away as they lean thickly and heavily across hedges and bushes and stretch longingly up into trees. They cover every plant densely soon they will have thousands of hops hanging from their autumn selves and slowly turning their own autumn shade of brown and giving off their very own distinctive aroma. Then there will be a strong temptation to gather some and carry them home to hang in doors.