This morning I had some (modified) good news.
About ten days ago, I went to Netherton Health Centre for a blood test to see whether or not I had prostate cancer. The fact that the test was for a cancer meant that I was bumped up the waiting list. Having been told that there were no appointments until mid-December, suddenly there was a cancellation when I mentioned the "C" word.
The turn around was much quicker too. I'm used to waiting weeks for the results. On this occasion, the results were there in a matter of days and the problem was more a case of getting an appointment with my GP.
Anyhow, I saw Dr Dye this morning and she has told me that the results are not indicative of cancer at all. There is apparently some slight measure of uncertainty with the test itself but really I don't want to get into that. Primarily now, I have tablets to take which will, over time, reduce the size of my prostate and release the pressure on my urethra allowing me to piss more freely.
Sounds like a small thing but Colin has had more complicated problems in this area recently leading to hospitalisation, catheterisation and finally an operation to relieve the problem. So, I'm getting off lightly.
There's been some early snow around. Crosby seems to have its own micro climate and so we've not really been affected locally. Scotland and the East Coast appear to have been worst hit but the Welsh Hills have also taken a dusting.
Albert and Grace have been battening down the hatches. Although the Wirral only received an inch or two of snow, I think that my mum has been dramatising the event in order to prevent my dad from using the car.
He is well past the stage when he should be driving but pride will not allow him to let go of the independence. The best concession which we have been able to get out of him has been that, come next spring, he will not renew his license. In some ways, I hope that the weather continues to make things difficult enough so that he can be dissuaded from taking the car out.
Ross and I saw a little of the snow when we took part in another Gifted and Talented workshop over in Neston on the Wirral. The air was certainly frosty and there was an inch or two of crunchy show in the sheltered parts out of direct sunlight. Elsewhere, there had been considerable melting.
Unlike the workshop in Blackpool, we worked with two groups rather than four and so we were able to tackle a larger piece of work. The them this time was The Orient. Ross decided to let the kids work on a large scale with inks and oils to make a Japanese-style illustration.
Inevitably, one small boy's view of the Orient was a massed battle with invading alien monsters but the vast majority of efforts were incredibly bold and colourful. I really enjoy these days with Ross.
The only other thing of note is that we have dispensed with two single divan beds given to us by my parents when we moved in here. They've been kept on in case we have visitors. Well, we never do and my parents will now never stay with us here again.
So, they were simply taking up room.
And I have to say that, despite the freezing weather, the council collection service for large furniture worked well and the two beds and their mattresses were collected and taken away as organised.