Llama Lashes And Grumpy Old Gits
I guess I’m really chuffed. BBC Radio 4 are doing a play about HepC and how the HepC blogging community grew from me starting this blog in November 2004 with others starting theirs and joining in, forming an online community.
I’ve seen the script and it made me laugh and touched me too – the interchanges between me and others through our blogs does making a surprisingly interesting story. It tells about the experience of treatment and the supportive relationships which grew in the early days of blogging. I’m delighted a BBC producer recognised the potential in the blogs and pulled together an interesting take on it all.
Several of us were invited to Bush House a few weeks ago to meet the producer and the writer collating the blogs into a script – me, Jonathan, Martin Wendy and Paul. Ijaz and Lu couldn’t make it sadly.
Their efforts have produced a 45 minute afternoon radio play which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4, June 5 at 2:15 in the afternoon. It will also be available to listen to on the Radio 4 website
I know the producer had hoped to have an online chat after the broadcast but this has not proven possible. I understand The Hepatitis C Trust may well have one after the broadcast – I’ll confirm details when I hear them.
I also suspect I may get a copy of the broadcast which I may be able to make downloadable on this site – although this may not be possible for technical and copyright reasons, we’ll see.
The title of course refers to the side-effects of interferon causing long eyelashes and making me feel like a grumpy old man.
When I first faced the prospect of treatment and could find no information on the internet about what’s like to live with HepC and go through the combination therapy treatment, I decided to write this blog as an online record of my journey. I decided it would help me and I hoped it would help some others too travelling along the same path.
I have seen a blogging community grow, then an international Forum community develop and now that decision continues to have an impact through this play. I guess I really am chuffed.
May 22nd, 2006 at 12:21 am
And so you should be chuffed! What enormous value you have created for yourself and many others. Looking forward to hearing the play.
Best wishes to you
May 24th, 2006 at 4:55 pm
I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again - I was and am so impressed with how constructively you used your treatement time. Just look at what you have achieved. Well done Ron, and thanks again.
Maggie
June 2nd, 2006 at 10:18 pm
Yes, I echo the previous comments. Good on you Ron. What a difference all this blogging has made. Looking forward to hearing it monday.
All the best and hope you’re doing just great.
Lu
June 5th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Hi Ron
I just listened to the play and found it inspiring and also scary. My daughter has Hep C. She is now 32 and was diagnosed 5 years ago. She was getting close to beginning treatment when she got pregnant. She now has a 10-month old daughter, which is great, but I know she is not feeling too good a lot of the time. I wonder now how she will ever begin the treatment, or when she will begin it, with a young child to care for. I’m scared for her if she does and scared for her if she doesn’t. And of course I also know that there is a risk of her daughter getting infected at some point.
Anyway, I’m so glad I heard the play (it was only by chance that I had the radio on) and discovered the blog. I will tell my daughter about it.
All the best to you.
June 6th, 2006 at 11:32 am
The play was excellent, well done.
While on treatment I read your and Martins blogs it made me feel less solitary.
June 6th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
Have been updating my BLOG and listening to the Radio 4 play. Congratulations as the play has helped me no end as I can at last realise I am not alone….
Listening to the play I was thinking that it would be a shame if they did not develop it into a TV play so that it could reach a larger audience (Sorry Radio 4 - you are not my first choice of listening).
I now realise the power of being able to put your thoughts, dreams and fears onto a public domain like a BLOG to be able to vent your spleen so to speak and have others know just what you are going through.
Once again congratulations and good luck in the future.
June 7th, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Thanks to you and the BBC,I didnt know this all existed untill the play,so now I dont feel so alone anymore,and Ican unberden some of the pressure Ive put on my wife,Ive set up a blog,just need to write on it,Ime type 3 , cronic cyrosis and in week 11 of treatment . Ime going to the Isle of wight festival tomorrow ,when I get back Ill start my jurnal.Once again Thanks
June 7th, 2006 at 11:27 pm
Wow - just listened to your story and was blown away. I am lucky as I do not have (as far as I am aware) this horrible virus. i wiah you, and all that are living with the disease, a full and permanent receovery.
June 12th, 2006 at 11:37 am
The play goes a long way to increase awareness and eradicate the stigma of Hep C. I applaud you and all concerned for the fantastic material and production. The well chosen blog excerpts explain succinctly, many of the things we sometimes wish other people could understand. Nice one Ron, I hope you manage to publish it on your blog.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:31 am
Really sorry to have missed the play. Did you manage to make a copy and would it be possible to hear it, email it? I love to hear it.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
hello evryone,
i am now into month four of ineterferon,rebetol treatment and i am on the maximum dose. I have really enjoyed reading some of the blogs as i can easily relate to them and how the treatment feels etc.I am very sad that i missed the hepc radio4 play because before i read about it here it was recommended to me but sadly i can`t find a replay or podcast to listen to it now, I hope it is repeated one day soon. I have only just found this site and would like to get more involved and also do some blogging and if anyone in the know reads this please feel free to e mail me and let me know how to carry on and contribute. I would be most grateful. Bill Beeby Dover in kent.
January 27th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Hi Bill
I know you have found your way to the Forum
http://www.ronmetcalfe.com/hepcforum/
and glad you have joined.
I suspect someone will have access to a location on the net to hear Llama Lashes and Grumpy Old Gits. For copyright reasons I can’t provide access here.
Wishing you well