6 months (plus) on

Well, i've had a week without nausea, despite snacking (for England) on all sorts of rubbish.

Have i learned anything?

Maybe the upper part of my small intestine is now working more like a stomach, or i've just beaten it into submission.

7 months+ on from surgery and my eyes are starting to twinkle again, i'm walking straighter and i weight about 75kg - which is enough... or else i'll start snoring again.

The mind is a different matter. Its quite hard to keep on top of my emotions at times. Work is particularly stressful. Not because of any pressure placed on me. Its just that i'm starting work again in a completely different place, mentally, to where i left off, all those many months ago. I'm a different person to the Pete of May 2009.
Is it a process of finding my way back to where i was or of finding out who the new me is? This question could be applied to many aspects of my life.

Heavy stuff.

GSCE maths - age 4?

Shrugging off the question "in Japanese, what title is used as a mark of respect, as a suffix to the given name or surname?"...

He went straight onto the bonus challenge "count to 10 in German".

This boy is truelly amazing (and 100% free of pushy parenting).

The Big Freeze..

Antarctica or the White Cliffs of Dover?

After driving 2700km in 10 days, half of it through snow and subzero temperatures, we were amused to see the wall-to-wall news coverage of Britain's arctic experiences, on the ferry crossing back to Dover.

Honestly. A few inches of snow falls and the government crisis group "Cobra" has a crisis meeting to decide what to do in this time of crisis. Admittedly we do get less snow than our continental counterparts, but to a large extent, the way we deal with it reflects the litigation-mad society we've become.

No-one clears the snow and ice from the pavements anymore in the UK, because if you tried to clear it away and then someone slipped over and hurt themselves, you'd be liable...
In Germany, the exact opposite is the case. Residents are obliged to keep the pavements clear of snow and ice in front of their houses. Otherwise, they are liable for any injuries. The result? Clear pathways, no injuries, the old and disabled are not stuck at home.

Schools close in the UK during snowy weather, because if a child or parent slips and injures themselves coming to school, they could successfully sue..

I won't go on with the "in Germany this and in Germany that" thing, but it is fascinating to see how differently 2 countries deal with the same conditions.

So we're back in the saddle again. Claudia started work today, i'm on 4 mornings a week and the boys had to go to nursery again. Poor little Louis' face was heart-breaking to behold, as he recognised the room he shares with the other "ladybirds". I think i'll pick him up early.

New Year - new anything?

I've done it so many times before.. promised myself that THIS year will be different. I will learn a new skill, become a better husband, read more bible etc
But this new year will be significant for me, in view of something i wish NOT to happen, but which is something i can do nothing about.
I don't want cancer to be a part of my 2010.
Its all happened so quickly. This time last year i had no idea i'd be diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.
Now its theoretically all over, bar the all-clear, inevitably the doubts linger. Is it really all over? did they really catch every cell? might it come back?
I'd like to think that the millions of cancer patients in my shoes, think the same way. Its seems so terribly cowardly.
Its just that New Year offers a unique opportunity to ponder on the next complete calendar year of your life, and what you hope might/not happen in it. Based on 2009's revelations, i think i'll be opting for the sober hope for 2010, that nothing too dramatic occurs.
Ask me how i feel in February. I hope i'll have a braver resolution ready by then!