Hiatus

hiatus

hʌɪˈeɪtəs/

noun

1. a pause or break in continuity in a sequence or activity.

Apologies for our absence. A recent comment nudged me to explain the recent gap in posting. At the end of July, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, following a routine mammogram screen. The weeks since then have passed in a blur of hospital appointments, scans, minor op, and the first of six rounds of chemotherapy last week.

Having nothing interesting to blog about, coupled with an inability to bring just the right words to mind, have left the blog sadly neglected.

Somebody suggested that I blog about the illness and treatment. We won't be doing that. Firstly, there are plenty of health and wellbeing blogs already. Secondly, this blog is about our farm, and thirdly, I am protective of details of my health, to ensure the privacy of my family and other loved ones.

Once my treatment is over, I plan a piece praising the excellent treatment we have received from the NHS, as absolutely no cost to us at the point of delivery. I rail against any plans to privatise this service. I know that it isn't perfect, but when I discovered that each round of my chemotherapy drugs cost £5000, I was amazed. That is Thirty Thousand of your English Pounds, just for the chemo drugs. Not to mention the time of nurses, surgeons, consultants, GPs, lab staff, ancillary staff; associated prescription drugs; operations; scans and a wig, and probably a whole heap more costs of which I am unaware.

So please bear with us - I will get better, our farm will be delayed slightly, but we have big plans, and can't wait to get started properly once my treatment is over in the spring.

I leave you with a gratuitous picture of a blanket I knitted for the youngest person I know. Welcome to the world Baby G - may you have a long, happy and healthy life.