• October 2026
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    In spinnng, sometimes a yarn is said to have a halo. It happens when there are tiny fibres that aren’t fully spun in which create an almost invisible extra width to the strand od spun and plied yarn. While it’s barely visible, it makes a difference when you knit with it because it adds a softness and fuzziness to the fabric.  That can be a good thing for some projects, but it can make cables and lacework fuzzy and undefined.

    A couple of weeks ago I  noticed the top of my head felt different.  I couldn’t see anything in the mirror but my fingers knew there was a change. A few days later there was what I’d call peach fuzz. It all seemed to be white and was only visible in the sense that it made the top of my head less shiny, more blurry, but not noticeably unless you were looking for it.

    A few days ago the pale blur had turned darker and there was a defined hairline, but the hair itself was still difficult to see.

    Here’s a photo from yesterday. At this dstance you’ll see nothing much but if you zoom in you can start seeing the growth.

    fuzzy not-quite-visible hair growth

    This morning I’d say it’s similar to a number 1 buzz cut, though the hairs are very soft.

    It’s going to take time, but it’s happening.  I guess I’ll have hair for Christmas

  • October 2026
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    Today I looked out the window and saw the peach tree has started blooming.

    It’s a bit hard to see in the photo so I got a close up.

    peach blossoms

    Sarah wanted to share some photos of the peach blossoms of the trees my great-grandfather cultivated but the comments section won’t allow attachments so here they are: aren’t they beautiful? I wish I had them here.

    great-grandfather’s double pink peach flower, in Christchurch
    great-grandfather’s double white peach blossom in Christchurch

    On my way to the peach tree I caught the first signs of blossom on the pear tree. It’s probably going to burst tomorrow.

    pear blossoms still closed up tight but not for too much longer

    What else did I see in the garden?

    The fig is developing leaves.

    fig leaves still bundled tight

    I also spotted an iris I didn’t know we had. The blue is so pale it looks grey.

    pale grey-blue irises

    The new plum tree has more foliage…

    leaves on the black doris plum

    …and our thornless blackberry from the old house is funally showing the first signs of growth in its new home.

    new green leaves after months of dormancy for the blackberry

    Spring is definitely here an the garden is enjoying it, though it remains to be seen how much it will enjoy the dry summer forecast to come.

  • October 2026
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    Our established plum tree is the first of the deciduous fruit trees to get started and it’s in full bloom.

    heavily flowering plum tree

    This tree didn’t fruit particularly well last year but it’s had a trim and it’s getting more light than it’s had in years thanks to the neighbours thinning the trees on their border. It’ll be interesting to see ho it des this year.

    Our new plum is also waking up, small as it is.

    black doris plum with first tiny leaves

    The other trees are still dormant,  but that will change, probably when I’m not looking.

    pear tree in the foreground,  apple and peach behind, plum at the back right. The lemon tree belongs to the neighbour

    It’s been a long week, mostly thinking about the change proposal at work. But today I sumitted the main bits of feedback I wanted to cover and I feel lighter for having gotten it done. I have another week to add more if I want to, but I’m happy that I’ve made the arguments I most needed to. How much difference it will make remains to be seen but I’ve done what I can and I can have a restful weekend without dwelling on it.

    It’s a bit stormy right now but I believe we’re in for a nice weekend. I hope so.

  • October 2026
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    I heard from the oncologist this afternoon, following yesterday’s expert meeting where my case was discussed.

    Long story short, they think the growth in the lymph nodes is more likely a sign of the cancer than not. They can’t be 100% sure, but that’s their opinion. It’s weird for this particular cancer to be in the lymphatic system rather than organs, and equally weird that it’s growing so slowly, but these are both good news for me, so long may it continue to be so.

    At this stage the plan is to let my body recover from the chemotherapy, keep doing regular scans and watch for symptoms. Every treatment has side effects, and right now nothing is happening fast, so there’s no need to rush into anything new.

    If I do get symptoms, or if the scans show anything worrying then I have options. We can try radiation therapy, or we can try a different type of chemotherapy,  or both. Those are decisions for later.

    For now I’m comfortable that I’m being monitored and I have a chance to catch my breath.

    Which is fortunate, given that I may be about to lose my job. The library has just released a plan to cut staff and my job is one that’s affected.  We have two weeks to make submissions to change their minds. If that doesn’t work – and realistically it probably won’t, at least not for everyoneaffected – we then have to put in a formal expression of interest to get one of the remaining positions.

    So I guess I should be grateful the chemo has stopped so I can focus on a different fight for awhile.

    Never rains but it pours, eh?

    Wish me – and my colleagues – luck  we’re going to need it.

  • October 2026
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    Yesterday we were under an orange heavy rain warning, and it was certainly wet. This morning, though, the westerly winds have mostly blown the clouds away.

    I’m not sure it comes through on the video, but the wind is creating white caps on the waves heading out of the harbour even as the tide comes in.

    wind in the trees and across the water

    Not a day forflying kites, the wind would either crumple it before you got it up, or tear it from your hands in seconds

  • October 2026
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    I’ve just had the phone call I was waiting for… and still basically have no news.

    While my case was on the agenda for yesterday it seems that the cases before mine took longer than expected to deal with so they didn’t get to me, so we’re waiting for next Wednesday now.

    Another learning for today: while I had excellent and almost immediate updates after MDM sessions from my private specialists in the past, apparently for the public side I can expect to be calld with an update  “by the end of the week”, meaning it could well be Friday next week before I have any actual information.

    So we just settle in, and we’ll know more when we do.

  • October 2026
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    Quick post to say I’ve heard nothing so I guess I’ll hear tomorrow.

  • October 2026
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    Today we had the check in with the doctor after the midway chemo scan.

    The good news is that there’s still no sign of anything going on in my organs, which is important. But there is growth in some lymph nodes and since the cancer was in some lymph nodes earlier this is a sign it could be still in that system.

    At this point what this means is that we’re stopping the current chemo treatment. I’ll recover from this dose and that’s that done.

    My case is being taken to the multidisciplinary team week and I’ll hear on Wednesday or Thursday what the new plan is. It simply isn’t clear right now, but there will be a plan and we’ll go forward from there.

    In the meantime I don’t see any need to panic. They’re being vigilant and proactive. We’ll figure this out.

    You’ll know more when I do, later next week.

  • October 2026
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    The sun has caught this amazing cloud in the distance and I felt like sharing.

    It looks like the cloud got caught on the mountain peak and got stretched by the wind.

    Doesn’t lookso impressive in my photo but hopefully you can see what I mean

  • October 2026
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    The weather has been rather changeable, recently. It’s desperately trying to be spring, weeks too early, but it’s not quite there.

    A week ago we had the coldest day. There was apparently snow on the ranges. We couldn’t see that from here but we did get a hard frost.

    frost on the grass
    frost on the neighbour’s beautifully trimmed bush
    frost on the rooves, melting away in the sun

    Then this week we had a deluge overnight that caused flooding and debris on the roads which stopped two of the three school buses getting through. My kids were bitter that some of their classmates got the day off when they didn’t, but then by mid-morning it was over and I got two loads of washing dry.

    Then we’ve had misty rain mornings like today.

    drizzle over town, heading our way

    It’ll clear and we’ll probably have another nice day.

    This coming week I have two trips to Thames. My fourth chemo dose on Tuesday and then an oncologist appointment on Friday. I’m not sure what the weather will do, but we’ll get through regardless.