Uni reunion

 My weekend started with prep for my evening of uni mates. There were 6 of us in the flat above the frame shop that we lived in in Norwich all those years ago and 5 of us who are still properly in touch. Laughing together was really lovely and we bemoaned the state of the world today and shared our various woes and rejoiced in the pride we have in our children (mine's the best one of course). There was a short stand with Steve and his missing glasses the next morning but all was well in the end! 

 We had a flying visit from Ma, and BigAwhipped up a lovely lunch and she did a bit of apple tree maintenance, my garden really wouldn't flourish quite so wonderfully without her help and guidance. I sang again on Sunday at the folk event and, as often happens, Edgar came to listen to it all and support and to my surprise and delight so did my husband. It's the first time he's heard me sing a solo in quite some time. I just did one song and still can't quite bring myself to utter Daren's name in case it sets me off and I end up crying rather than singing, but it is still wonderful to have a space where people get to hear what we referred to once as, our creative genius, again. 

Cat update - S still insists on bringing in worms and meowing loudly to get praise and P continues to chase his brother through the night. And as BigA had been up to see A on his way to a training thing this week. I admit to leaving one of the worms on the bedroom floor ready for his return. 

The working week was again straightforward - an annoying child, difficult year 9, good much exam for yr13 and a few laughs so mostly good and half term arrived and the reality of just 5 more weeks at the school for me hit home. Also means our Japan trip is very close and Paris even closer than that. 

My week ended with seeing one of my longest lasting friends for a planned catch up. We faced the grey for food and a beer sensible glass of white wine and soda. Shared our stories since we last saw each other, which were, potentially tragically more about our university aged children than much else except work! That morning I'd been to Moorefields for a more detailed look at my eye and the angioma. Embarrassingly I had arrived at my appointment a month early. They very kindly saw me anyway, I don't know how busy that clinic usually is but it really wasn't very busy. Possibly due to the date. I had 3 different types of scans, including an ultrasound, a new one for my eye and yes, it involves gel. It's a strange request to look left when your eyes are closed. No pain, a little discomfort with bright light and the slightly drunk feeling you get when your pupils are forced to be dilated. Headline is that the tumour in my optic nerve has grown a tiny bit in 10 years. They are getting bloods done to see if I can have the scan with the yellow dye. I used to get this every year when I was younger, they would give me, my brother and my dad the same amount meaning I looked like a reject from the Simpsons. I couldn't quite work out if they actually wanted me to have that scan. Apparently having had kidney surgery they can't just fill me up with the dye. The corridor discussion with the big wig was - is it worth applying for the newish drug, Belzutifan. I'm not keen on taking it unless I really need it. 

I doubt I'd reach threshold for it given my sight isn't any different. It's a chemo drug and still so new no one quite knows what the long term effects are. I know that lots of people with VHL report that they get very anaemic on it. Given my dad had an experimental thing that didn't work out brilliantly, I don't think I'm ready for it. The second Dr I saw seemed less convinced by the need. I suspect the 'main' Dr would quite like to be able to write up the success of it and get lots of lovely credit for the benefits. But it wouldn't give me back my central vision so I'm really not that bothered. 

My dad would have taken anything to benefit me. I'm in the lucky position that I don't need to be the guinea pig for A. 

I've woken to see a gift and card by my bed and a snoring husband the other side so feeling loved and happy. I don't know what it is - tune in next week to find out.