One of the things that changed when I was diagnosed with HepC – I slowed down and looked at the world differently. And that led to taking photographs from a different perspective than before, and more prolifically too. I really discovered a passion for images and capturing memories.
Now that I have decided to stop keeping this so blog firmly focused on my treatment for HepC, I think I will share more of my photos.
It is just over a year now that I finished working in Plymouth and moved away from an idyllic place to live.
This is the view from my living room window – what I saw every morning drinking my coffee, coming to and getting up to speed for the day. 
And in the evening …….
This is one of the views from outside the building – a quiet walk along the promenade most evenings looking at this vista, winding down from the hectic activities of the day.
Working in Plymouth was my return to the working world. It was a challenge – stressful work days, helping to mend an organisation that was “broke” and needed fixing, getting up to speed remembering legislation and policy, learning a new computerised database, absorbing details of cases and remembering staff and colleague’s names. Fighting the brain fog that kept hanging around – and the fatigue which lingered on and on.
Living at Royal William Yard and savouring the weekends with Carol – at the beach, exploring Cornwall and Devon, shopping for and cooking the wonderful local fresh fish. All this provided a welcome respite and contrast. And has given me many happy memories.
Today I am missing living in Plymouth.
Just opening this blog and not seeing “My ‘Hepatitis C’ Weblog” at the top of the page is so liberating.
Previously I have rigorously kept all my blogging ‘on topic’ about my experience of HepC. After treatment and recovery I felt like I have less and less to say because I no longer have HepC. Great gaps in time between blog entries illustrate that.
It’s only now that I see a different title to this blog I realise how much I did need to refresh and change the header. And that I still do have lots to say – about living without HepC. I don’t have to restrict myself to writing about HepC. There are other things in my life too.
This is the view from where I sit while I’m at work. Canal boats and walkers pass by occasionally.
I have just started a new consultancy assignment and I am enjoying my new work environment.
Technologically modern and sleek juxtaposed to the countryside and flowing water. Just thought I would share that.
Time for a refresh I thought, so out with the old look and in with the new.
Many thanks to Ben. As usual it took him two minutes to do what I had spent hours trying to begin. That’s why he’s a consultant developer to MySpace in Los Angeles and I’m not.
And time for a new title – and some other changes. One step at a time …
on THURSDAY 6th DECEMBER 2007
Pauline Hennessey of the UK Hepatitis C Resource Centre recently sent me an email about this conference.
This event is FREE for anyone living with Hepatitis C. Friends, family, carers and professionals affected by hepatitis C are also welcome.
The event offers a series of talks from nurse, doctors and local agencies to give an update and overview on what is now known about Hepatitis C, its treatment, support, care and well-being for all concerned in layman’s terms. This event has played an important role in the past as it allows people to come and meet others living with Hepatitis C, listening to experiences and tips they have living with or overcoming the virus. Afternoon workshops on the day are chance to ask questions or simply listen to items of most interest.
A full programme and more information can be found at the UK Hepatitis C Resource Centre website
I am really sorry I cannot attend this year. Carol and I are going to attend some teachings from the Dalai Lama which we had booked months and months ago.
The first year I attended this event however stands out in my memory very vividly. I had been diagnosed for a few months and was still reeling with all it means to find out you have a serious illness. To spend the day with hundreds of others who have the same diagnosis was very special. I was not alone. I learned more about the virus and living with it – and met people who were going through treatment. It was a very powerful experience. So this event is one I would recommend to people.
The technical problem in the background (in the back room?) has been sorted out and I am really pleased and relieved to say my blog is now back online. It was something to do with the dials and settings on the computers where my “ISP provider” has their servers (London Docklands? New York?) and after much head-scratching and ‘instant messaging’ it has got sorted out.
I have really missed being able to access my blog for the five weeks or so that it was problematic. And I felt increasingly frustrated about it. What is odd about that is – I haven’t really posted anything new since July and before that, well, May really. I haven’t exactly been an avid blogger so how odd to miss the access.
That got me thinking. This blog was set up to make a record of my treatment. And I have done that. And it does what it says on the tin (as they say). When I finished treatment I realised it wasn’t “all over” – my post treatment experience was also relevant to record. But I did get to the point of feeling “I am no longer a patient with Hepatitis C” and it was time to move on and move away. That was certainly my thinking when I returned to work fulltime and when I decided to hand over the ownership and running of my Hepatitis C Forum.
So how come I miss the blog? People have been emailing me and asking if I am alright because my blog is offline. I have been asked why I have cut back on blogging. I replied that I’m not sure I have much to say these days as I have been SVR for two years now. But it’s obvious there is still a connection there between me and others and it is still Hepatitis C which is the common ground. It has been really useful to have the five week “blip” to bring home to me that I too miss that connection.
And it makes me think about it – I haven’t moved away completely from Hepatitis C, despite making a fulltime commitment to work and handing on the Forum. I have recently written some newsletter articles for Roche’s twentyfour7 programme. At the moment I am working on the results of the Post Treatment Survey for the Hepatitis C Trust. I have been talking to people about publishing my blog in book form and discussing other book ideas too. I am in email contact with a US University School of Medicine academic discussing our mutual interest and experiences of Online Health Communities as a course for students.
Rather than moving away completely I think I am just moving in a different direction. And the blog I guess will need to reflect that. I feel strongly I don’t want this to become a “cobweb-site”. It isn’t finished yet. I don’t know what I want to say yet but it’s obvious I still have something to add to the debate and knowledge-base about Hepatitis C. So I’m back to blogging. And I’m glad to be back.