Life is not fair

One of my ex-students from Mahidol University (where I used to work) emailed me yesterday. She took my freshmen comp course, and also my Creative Writing course (about two years later, I think). She didn’t tell me this in the class, but she was working on a book at the time. She’s now in her final semester at Mahidol, and her book has been picked up by a publisher in Thailand. Which is awesome and grin-inducing news!

Now, if only I can sell my own book . . .

It’s now a full week since I did any running. The knee feels fine–some very minor twinges yesterday, but only to the same level as my hips and ankles, which always feel a bit wobbly (the perils of weighing 200 pounds). I could walk fast, and the joint felt loose and easy most of the time. So hopefully I should be good for the Berkhamsted Half Marathon on Sunday.

I really want to go out for a run–but exacerbating the knee and turning it into a long term injury would really suck, so better to lay off now than have it plaguing me for months. Patience, patience…

On the other hand, I’ve finished 6 chapters in my novel, so at least the break is good for something.

An interesting news item today. Apparently a group of researchers at Sloan-Kettering in New York have developed a nano-particle that seeks out and sticks to melanoma cells.It’s non-toxic, and emits bright infra-red light. The pic in the article shows the technology being used to highlight a melanoma tumour in a rat.

This is interesting, as it’s the first time that the spread of melanoma can be imaged so precisely. This more more precise and less invasive surgery, and fewer complete lymphadenectomies like mine. And of course, once you’ve developed nano-particles that track and adhere selectively to melanoma cells, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine piggybacking something that kills melanoma on the back of these nano-particles. You’d then have something that targets and kills melanoma, while leaving healthy cells untouched. A cure? Sounds like it to me . . .

Very nice recovery cycle ride along the Ebury Way. Didn’t break a sweat–not because of lack of effort, but because the weather has turned pretty chilly. There were small patches of ice in the shade, so I’m guessing it wasn’t more than 1 or 2 degrees, and that’s before wind chill. My face feels rosy. Time to go and get the old man’s moisturizer out.

9.31 miles. 54:25. 10.3 mph. <= slow, but it was a recovery ride.

Some hip pain this morning, both sides, but mainly left. Something’s clicking inside it–the tendon I guess. Definitely no running today. Time to apply Tiger Balm, eat a LOT of food, and sit on the sofa working on a laptop.

If you’d like to sponsor me for the Watford Half Marathon, you can do it here:

These people are the reason I’m not dead, so if you think that’s a good thing, give them some money.

Nice recovery run/walk. Went down the Ebury Way to the Grand Union Canal, then along the towpath to Cassiobury Park. 8 miles total. Robert (son number one) came along on his bmx, so I had my own pace bike. And someone to carry the water and cagoule, etc.

The scan was clear, meaning the cancer has not spread to my stomach. More tomorrow. It’s late.

I haven’t been on a holiday in the UK for about fourteen years. Some holidays in Thailand–not many, as money was often tight and hotels are expensive–but nowt in the UK since a couple of years before I left to make my fortune overseas. (Didn’t end up making my fortune in the end, or if I did, it wasn’t a financial fortune.) Read the rest of this entry »

Powerful stuff. Remember: shirt, hat, sunblock. Slip Slop Slap. Especially if you have the same pale English skin I do, the type that gets burned in January.