Hairy Mel's transition to Hairless Mel: 2014 730 days down!

Dear all, Hairy here!
I wrote the post below and made minor updates since it hadn't been posted. However I've just had a week of tests and such like so thought I'd further update you all.
I saw Tony 17th July, he was happy with my bloods and etc and then I had a further venesection (blood taking) session. In my chats to Tony I always mention aches and pains in order to let him decide on what is required from a testing perspective. So I mentioned an ache in my abdomen on the right hand side. Well the outcome of that was to send me for a PET/CT scan. This is reasonably unusual for him - he tries to minimise how many scans I receive, however it's been two years since my last scan. So a week of scans, waiting, (worrying) and then back to visit Tony on Monday 28th. The upshot was clear scans but with "hot" tonsils. Now the scans can't distinguish between some reactions, and both Liz and I had been slightly under the weather on our return from holiday on 13th July. So an extra visit to the ENT specialist and he was happy that all is well and the hotspots were from the cold remnants. I still have a slight ache in my abdomen! I'll add some pics from our Red centre holiday July 3rd-13th.....

Garden of Eden in Kings Canyon

a local

Jim Jim falls

Ancient rock art

Sunset over the billabong

Sunset and champers at Uluru

Written June 2014 with updates
Hi folks, guess who?. I've been out of your lives for a year +, and thankfully it has been an uneventful year.
So what's the update then? Well on 3rd July it was two years since that magic word "remission" entered our lives, dear Hayley wrote a fantastic blog entry about that day. http://hairymel.blogspot.com.au/2012_07_01_archive.html
We were on holiday then so I'd thought I'd prepare this a little bit earlier, but of course I didn't get to post it!!

Since the last blog update my health has been pretty good, for which I am always thankful. I have had a couple of illnesses and minor issues which have been or are being resolved. I got shingles which was treated quickly and was essentially a non event. What it did do was highlight that I had elevated iron in my blood, so I've been having blood taken initially fortnightly then monthly which is bringing my iron levels down. This should be the end of the process (hopefully complete in July) and is likely due to iron build up from the transfusions I received back in 2012. I've also had some painful sinus problems which having now seen a specialist is clearing up, and will hopefully be gone in the next month or so (woo hoo to that!). I see Tony in late July for the usual check up, but all has been good in my (more frequent) visits due to the iron level issues.

In the last year I have of course been back at work, and life is essentially back to normal. We have made the point of booking up some holidays and were lucky enough to get back to the UK and Europe in December / January - during Aussie school summer holidays.

Our trip started in December with a few days in London, then a trip to Berlin for a week (our holiday!). Berlin is a fantastic city, with old history, 20th century history and of course the cold war history - quite fascinating. Of course with it being Christmas time we were able to visit quite a few Christmas markets and sample the Gluwein and heisse schockolade mit rom!! On our return to the UK it was a round of visiting, catching up and being entertained. Catch ups with friends from work, swimming, Scouts, long term mates and so forth. Then we went to my god-daughter Jacky Evans wedding to Robert Tidbury. Interestingly Jacky was the third of our three bridesmaids to get married in 2013. (Previously Liz's sister Gillian and her cousin Emily had tied the knot in 2013). A great day thoroughly enjoyed.
Christmas was spent chilling with Gillian and Marshall down in Salisbury with Gillian and Marshall having a great party in the local village hall to celebrate their wedding. We got to meet so many family plus friends from way back.
The next few weeks were back to London for New Year, up to my sisters near Newcastle with more rellies and then all the way back south to my brothers - I thought this was a holiday!! We had a great time and enjoyed every minute.
We've had a few, and are going to have more, short breaks back here in Aus. often for sporting events like the Mooloolaba, Gold Coast and Noosa triathlons, plus "us time" since the kids are off doing their own thing! Liz and I are off for our first trip to the "Red Centre" early in July. A tour from Alice Springs to Darwin over 9 days - we're looking forward to that!
On the kids front they have been busy as usual, Kathryn taking an honours year at University of Queensland, plus being successful in her application to join the Queensland Police Service - well done KT. (She's been doing real work also!).
Hayley is busy in year 3 of her degree and has been selected for a special stream to undertake teaching practices in disadvantaged schools which should help her in obtaining a job post graduation. She is also busy organising a mega trip to Nepal, India and Sri Lanka at the end of the year, I'll worry about that later!!
Kyle has been enjoying a gap year since graduating from High school late last year. He's been working as a lifeguard and at Maccas whilst organising a big Gap year trip. He left Australia this week to travel to California USA to work at Camp America as Mountain Bike leader. This is 9 weeks of leading kids in MTB activities whilst they are at camp. Following that the rough plan is to travel through the States to New York and then onto London to work (and travel) leaving Europe from Paris early in December. Wow what a trip for an 18 year old!!

Well I think that is enough of an update. I'm really glad I'm not having to update you all more (if you know what I mean!). Be good, keep well,